Receiver

• US 20020010763A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Oyj (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Salo, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Cellular receivers, in the form of portable radiotelephones are commonplace, and their design and operation is well understood. Such portable radiotelephones can be used for making and receiving telephone calls, sending and receiving messages, and even browsing world-wide computer network such as the Internet. Many standards exist for portable radiotelephones, including global system for mobile communications (GSM), general radio packet service (GPRS)

Receivers capable of receiving digital television signals, such as signals according to the terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T) standard are also commonplace.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting signals via multiple communication channels.

Claims

1. A terminal having a first receiver for receiving a first signal from a first communications network comprising:

a second receiver for receiving a second signal conveying complementary information relating to said first signal from a second communications network.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for configuring said first receiver according to said complementary information.

3. A terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first receiver is enabled to receive said first signal in response to said complementary information.

4. A terminal according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said complementary information comprises schedule and configuration data.

5. A terminal according to any preceding claim, further comprising storage means for storing user preferences.

6. A terminal according to claim 5, further comprising decision means for deciding whether said second signal should enable said first receiver in dependence on the stored user preferences.

7. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said first signal is a digital video broadcasting (DVB) signal, and said first receiver is a digital video broadcasting (DVB) receiver.

8. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said second signal is a global system for mobile (GSM) signal, and said second receiver is a global system for mobile (GSM) receiver.

9. A terminal according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second signal is a general packet radio service (GPRS) signal, and said second receiver is a general packet radio service (GPRS) receiver.

10. A terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first signal includes a data file, said terminal being actuable in response to said complementary information to receive said data file.

11. Apparatus for transmitting a signal to a receiver via a first communications network comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting complementary information relating to said signal via a second communication network.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said complementary information comprises schedule and configuration data relating to said first signal.

13. Apparatus according claim 11 or 12, further comprising storage means for storing details of subscriber preferences.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising decision means for deciding to which subscribers to transmit said second signal in dependence on said stored subscriber preferences.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein said first signal is a digital video broadcasting (DVB) signal, and said first communications network is a digital video broadcasting (DVB) network.

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said second communications network is a global system for mobile (GSM) network, and said transmitter is a global system for mobile (GSM) transmitter.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said second communications network is a general packet radio service (GPRS) network, and said transmitter is a general packet radio service (GPRS) transmitter.

18. A method of receiving a first signal from a first communications network comprising:

receiving a second signal conveying complementary information relating to said first signal from a second communications network.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising receiving said first signal in accordance with said complementary information.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19, further comprising storing user preferences.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising deciding whether said second signal should be received in dependence on said stored user preferences.

22. A method of transmitting a signal to a receiver via a first communications network comprising:

transmitting complementary information relating to said signal via a second communication network.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of transmitting complementary information comprises transmitting schedule and configuration data relating to said signal.

24. A method according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising storing details of subscriber preferences.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising deciding whether to transmit said complementary information to a subscriber in dependence on said stored preferences.

26. A method according to any of claims 22 to 25, comprising transmitting said signal as a digital video broadcasting (DVB) signal.

27. A method according to any of claims 22 to 26, comprising transmitting said complementary information via a global system for mobile (GSM) network.

28. A method according to any of claims 22 to 26, comprising transmitting said complementary information via a general packet radio service (GPRS) network.

29. A method of transmitting a signal to a receiver via a first communications network, comprising receiving a request for non-scheduled content to be included in said signal and transmitting service information via a second communications network identifying availability of said non-scheduled content.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said service information is generated in accordance with changes to scheduled content to include said non-scheduled content in said signal.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29 or claim 30, wherein said service information includes schedule and configuration data relating to said signal.

32. A method as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein said service information identifies a time and channel location at which said non-scheduled content will be transmitted.

33. A method of receiving a first signal from a first communications network, comprising requesting non-scheduled content to be included in said signal, receiving a second signal conveying service information via a second communications network identifying availability of said non-scheduled content and activating reception of said first signal in accordance therewith.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein reception of said first signal is deactivated following reception of said non-scheduled content.

35. A method as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34, wherein acknowledgement of reception of said non-scheduled content is made to said first communications network.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35, including storing said non-scheduled content following reception of said signal.

37. A method of transmitting a signal to a receiver via a first communications network comprising transmitting complementary information relating to said signal via a second communications network, wherein said first signal contains public data and said complementary information contains personal data.

38. A method of receiving a first signal from a first communications network comprising receiving a second signal conveying complementary information relating to said first signal from a second communications network, and combining said information from said second signal with content in said first signal.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said complementary information comprises personal data, said data being combined with generic data forming said content of said first signal.

40. A method as claimed in claim 38 or claim 39, wherein said second signal further comprises schedule and configuration data relating to said first signal identifying said content.

41. A terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. Apparatus for transmitting a signal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

43. A method of receiving substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

44. A method of transmitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.