User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system

Abstract

A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

1 . A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising the steps of: 
 delivering the media to a first client device through a first communications link;    recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media; and    delivering the media to a second client device through a second communications link, said delivery to said second client device beginning at said position specified by said recorded bookmark.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying device properties for each of said first and second client devices; and,    delivering the media to said first and second client devices through said respectively established first and second communications links, the media delivered in a format compatible with said identified device properties.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the media is stored in a media-on-demand server (MODS) and delivered to said first and said second client devices via said first and said second communications link respectively.  
   
   
       4 . The method according  claim 3 , wherein said step of delivering the media to said first client device via said first communications link, comprises: 
 receiving the media from said MODS in an intermediate server;    in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said first client device; and    delivering said converted media to said first client device via said first communications link.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said step of delivering the media to a second client device via said second communications link, comprises: 
 receiving the media in an intermediate server from said MODS;    in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said second client device; and    delivering said converted media to said second client device via said second communications link.    
   
   
       6 . The method according  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;    selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said first client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said first client device; and    delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said first client device.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said selecting step further comprises: 
 determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;    if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said first client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said first client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said first client device.    
   
   
       8 . The method according  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;    selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said second client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said second client device; and    delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said second client device.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said selecting step further comprises: 
 determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said second client device;    if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said second client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said second client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said second client device.    
   
   
       10 . A user-controlled media-on-demand system comprising: 
 a media-on-demand server (MODS) for delivering media to client device sessions;    a first communications link between said MODS and a first client device session;    a second communications link between said MODS and a second client device session; and,    a bookmark in said MODS specifying a position in said delivered media;    said MODS delivering media to said first client device session over said first communications link;    said MODS delivering said media to said second client device session over said second communications link beginning at said position specified by said bookmark.    
   
   
       11 . The system according  claim 10 , wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in first and second client devices respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The system according  claim 10 , wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in a single client device.  
   
   
       13 . The system according  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an intermediate server disposed between said MODS and said first and second client devices;    said intermediate server receiving said delivered media from said MODS;    said intermediate server identifying device properties for each of said client devices;    said intermediate server converting said delivered media to a media format compatible with said identified device properties for each client device; and    said intermediate server delivering said converted media to said client devices.    
   
   
       14 . The system according  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 an intermediate server disposed between said MODS and said single client device;    said intermediate server receiving said delivered media from said MODS;    said intermediate server identifying device properties for said single client device;    said intermediate server converting said delivered media to a media format compatible with said identified device properties for said single client device; and    said intermediate server delivering said converted media to said single client device.    
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each said MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing media in at least one format compatible with specific device properties; and,    an intermediate server;    said intermediate server identifying device properties of a client device containing a client device session;    said intermediate server selecting a MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers for delivering said media to said client device;    said selected MODS storing said media in a format compatible with said identified device properties;    said selected MODS delivering said media to said client device in said format compatible with said identified device properties.    
   
   
       16 . The system according  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a backup MODS for storing media in a standard format; and,    a conversion filter in said intermediate server;    said intermediate server determining if a MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers is available for delivering said media to a client device in a format compatible with said client device;    said intermediate server selecting said backup MODS if it is determined that no MODS is available for delivering media to said client device in a format compatible with said client device;    said backup MODS delivering said media to said intermediate server in said standard format;    said intermediate server converting said media to a format compatible with said client device in said conversion filter.    
   
   
       17 . A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising: 
 delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;    interrupting said delivery of said media;    recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media when said interruption occurred; and    resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, said resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by said recorded bookmark.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a device type for each of said first and second client devices;    delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said first client device; and,    delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said second client device.    
   
   
       19 . A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of: 
 delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;    interrupting said delivery of said media;    recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where said interruption occurred; and    resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, said resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by said recorded bookmark.    
   
   
       20 . The machine readable storage according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a device type for each of said first and second client devices;    delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said first client device; and,    delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said second client device.    
   
   
       21 . A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising the steps of: 
 delivering the media to a first client device session through a first communications link;    recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media; and    delivering the media to a second client device session through a second communications link, said delivery to said second client device session beginning at said position specified by said recorded bookmark.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in a single client device.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying device properties for said single client device; and,    delivering the media to said first and second client device sessions in said single client device through said respectively established first and second communications links, the media delivered in a format suitable for said identified device properties.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the media is stored in a media-on-demand server (MODS) and delivered to said first and said second client device sessions via said first and said second communications link respectively.  
   
   
       25 . The method according  claim 24 , wherein said step of delivering the media to said first and second client device sessions via said first and second communications links, comprises: 
 receiving the media from said MODS in an intermediate server;    in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said single client device; and    delivering said converted media to said first and second client device sessions via said first and second communications links respectively.    
   
   
       26 . The method according  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;    selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said single client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said single client device; and    delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said single client device.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said selecting step further comprises: 
 determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said single client device in a format compatible with said single client device;    if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said single client device in a format compatible with said single client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said single client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said single client device.