Simultaneous video streaming across multiple channels

Abstract

Methods and systems for a media controller subsystem that can provide video streaming using a distributed network control server, media server, and virtual network console on a common processing or circuit board and filter and apply restrictions to media content based on one or more of the identity of the vehicle occupant requesting media content, the identity of a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, and the spatial location of the vehicle occupant and/or remote computational device.

1 . A media controller subsystem comprising:
 a microprocessor executable distributed network control server operable to access selected content on a public network external to a vehicle comprising the media controller subsystem, the distributed network control server having at least one of an assigned Internet Protocol address and global unicast address;   a microprocessor executable media server operable to receive requests for content from a vehicle occupant and provide requested content to a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, the media server having a contactable electronic address on a local area network maintained by the vehicle;   microprocessor readable memory to store content; and   a microprocessor executable virtual network console operable to provide the computational device with remote access to the media server.   
     
     
         2 . The media controller subsystem of  claim 15 , wherein the distributed network control server, media server, and virtual network console are on a common media processing board mounted on the vehicle and wherein the portable computational device is discrete from, remote from, and in wireless communication with the media processing board. 
     
     
         3 . The media controller subsystem of  claim 16 , wherein the virtual network console operates in accordance with the Remote Frame Buffer protocol on top of the TCP/IP suite of protocols, thereby causing the remote computational device to appear to a computer mounted in the vehicle as if the remote computational device is part of the on board vehicle control system comprising the computer. 
     
     
         4 . The media controller of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle occupant, through the remote computational device, can control one or more of the following media presentation features of a screen and sound system mounted on the vehicle: volume, contrast, resolution, and channel selection. 
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a microprocessor executable media server, at least one of an identity of a vehicle occupant requesting media content, an identity of a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, and a spatial location of the vehicle occupant and/or remote computational device;   based on the at least one of the identity of the vehicle occupant requesting media content, the identity of a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, and the spatial location of the vehicle occupant and/or remote computational device, applying, by the microprocessor executable media server, at least one of a filter and restriction to the requested media content to form filtered and/or permitted media content to be provided to the portable computational device; and   providing, by a microprocessor executable media server, the filtered and/or permitted media content to the portable computational device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the portable computational device is discrete from, remote from, and in wireless communication with the media processing board, wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is applied to a media request of the vehicle occupant before the requested media content is accessed and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is one or more of an age-related content filter and/or restriction, a vehicle occupant seating location filter and/or restriction, and a privacy filter and/or restriction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction bans a type of content requested, bans a source of the content, redirects the request to a different source of the content, and/or limits the vehicle occupant to content from an approved source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the portable computational device is discrete from, remote from, and in wireless communication with the media processing board, wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is applied after the requested media content is accessed and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is one or more of an age-related content filter and/or restriction, a vehicle occupant seating location filter and/or restriction, and a privacy filter and/or restriction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a menu displayed to each occupant enables access to media content and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction determines a content and/or configuration of the menu presented to each occupant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein application of the at least one of a filter and restriction is based on an electronic address of the portable computational device on a network of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a microprocessor executable media server operable to:   determine, at least one of an identity of a vehicle occupant requesting media content, an identity of a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, and a spatial location of the vehicle occupant and/or remote computational device;   based on the at least one of the identity of the vehicle occupant requesting media content, the identity of a portable computational device associated with the vehicle occupant, and the spatial location of the vehicle occupant and/or remote computational device, apply at least one of a filter and restriction to the requested media content to form filtered and/or permitted media content to be provided to the portable computational device; and   provide the filtered and/or permitted media content to the portable computational device.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the portable computational device is discrete from, remote from, and in wireless communication with the media processing board, wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is applied to a media request of the vehicle occupant before the requested media content is accessed and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is one or more of an age-related content filter and/or restriction, a vehicle occupant seating location filter and/or restriction, and a privacy filter and/or restriction. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction bans a type of content requested, bans a source of the content, redirects the request to a different source of the content, and/or limits the vehicle occupant to content from an approved source. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the portable computational device is discrete from, remote from, and in wireless communication with the media processing board, wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is applied after the requested media content is accessed and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction is one or more of an age-related content filter and/or restriction, a vehicle occupant seating location filter and/or restriction, and a privacy filter and/or restriction. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein a menu displayed to each occupant enables access to media content and wherein the at least one of a filter and restriction determines a content and/or configuration of the menu presented to each occupant. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein application of the at least one of a filter and restriction is based on an electronic address of the portable computational device on a network of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)