Portable device for use with digital over-the-air communication system for use with terrestrial broadcasting system

• US 20010039663A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sibley, Erin H.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A portable user appliance for receiving a digital video stream embedded excess over-the-air television signals such as within a vertical blanking interval of a broadcast television signal or excess bandwidth of a digital over-the-air-signal includes a television tuner for receiving the over-the-air broadcast signal. A vertical blanking interval frame grabber receives the digital video stream. A digital decompressor decompresses said digital video stream into a decompressed video stream. A display displays the decompressed video stream.

Claims

1. A portable user appliance for receiving a digital video stream embedded in a vertical blanking interval of a broadcast television signal comprising:

a television tuner for receiving the over-the-air broadcast signal;

a vertical blanking interval frame grabber for receiving the digital video stream;

a digital decompressor for decompressing said digital video stream into a decompressed video stream;

a display displaying the decompressed video stream.

2. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 1

further comprising a cradle coupled to a first antenna, said cradle receiving said portable user appliance.

3. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 2

wherein said cradle is disposed within an automotive vehicle.

4. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 2

further comprising a second antenna coupled to said cradle, said first and second antenna coupled to a control circuit for determining a first signal strength of said first signal and a second signal strength of said second signal and comparing the first signal strength to the second signal strength and coupling the greater of the first signal strength and the second signal strength to said portable user device.

5. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 1

wherein said timer, said frame grabber, and said display are coupled within a personal digital assistant.

6. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 1

wherein said timer, said frame grabber, and said display are coupled within a cellular phone.

7. A portable user appliance for receiving a digital video stream embedded in excess bandwidth of an over-the-air digital broadcast television signal comprising:

a television tuner receiving the over-the-air digital broadcast signal;

an excess bandwidth frame grabber for receiving the digital video stream;

a digital decompressor for decompressing said digital video stream into a decompressed video stream;

a display displaying the decompressed video stream.

8. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 7

further comprising a cradle coupled to a first antenna, said cradle receiving said portable user appliance.

9. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 8

wherein said cradle is disposed within an automotive vehicle.

10. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 9

further comprising a second antenna coupled to said cradle, said first and second antenna coupled to a control circuit for determining a first signal strength of said first signal and a second signal strength of said second signal and comparing the first signal strength to the second signal strength and coupling the greater of the first signal strength and the second signal strength to said portable user device.

11. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 10

wherein said timer;

said frame grabber;

said display are coupled within a personal digital assistant.

12. A portable user appliance as recited in

claim 7

wherein said timer;

said frame grabber;

said display are coupled within a cellular phone.

13. A method of operating a portable user device comprising the steps of:

receiving over-the-air analog broadcast signals with an antenna;

receiving a digital video stream within the vertical blanking interval;

decompressing said digital video stream into a decompressed video stream; and

displaying the decompressed video stream.

14. A method as recited in

claim 13

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air analog broadcast signals with an antenna comprises receiving over-the-air analog broadcast signals with an automobile antenna.

15. A method of operating a portable user device comprising the steps of:

receiving the over-the-air broadcast digital broadcast signals with an antenna;

receiving a digital video stream within excess bandwidth of the digital broadcast signals;

decompressing said digital video stream into a decompressed video stream; and

displaying the decompressed video stream.