Broadcast network

• US 20020069406A1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Salo, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/24 Arrangements for distribution of identical information via broadcast system and non-broadcast system
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A content delivery service is described for delivering content over a broadband digital broadcast network (7). A controller (27) allows the delivery of content to be made in accordance with activity in a public land mobile network 1. The delivery of content may therefore be effectively scheduled and n appropriate revenue level.

Claims

1. A controller connectable to first and second wireless networks, the controller including a processor operable to initiate delivery of content by said first network in response to a criterion being met by data derived from said second network.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1, further including criterion establishing means operable to establish a criterion as a function of a at least one indicia representative of user activity in said second network.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the criterion establishing means is further operable to associate said criterion with particular content to be delivered over said first network.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is operable to initiate delivery of content whose associated criterion is met.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the criterion is met when the data derived from said second network exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

6. A controller as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data derived from the second network comprises a number of connected user terminals to said second network.

7. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a unidirectional digital broadband network and the second wireless network is a bi-directional Communications network.

8. A controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the unidirectional digital broadband network is a Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) network.

9. A content delivery system comprising first and second wireless networks and a controller connected thereto, the controller including a processor operable to initiate delivery of content by said first network in response to a criterion being met by data derived from said second network.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller includes criterion establishing means, operable to establish a criterion as a function of a at least one indicia representative of user activity in said second network.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the second network includes a register of user activity data derivable by said controller.

12. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the criterion establishing means is further operable to associate said criterion with a respective at least one content to be delivered by said first network.

13. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, further including at least one source of content said source being responsive to said controller to supply content to said first network for delivery thereby.

14. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the criterion is met when the data derived from said second network exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the data derived from the second network comprises a number of connected user terminals to said second network.

16. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first wireless network is a unidirectional digital broadband network and the second wireless network is a bi-directional communications network.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the unidirectional digital broadband network is a Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) network.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, including associating said criterion with particular content to be delivered by the first network.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, including comparing said content with a profile of a user of a terminal such that content compatible with said profile is delivered.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said profile is obtained by determining a pattern of use of said second network by said user.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the criterion is met when the data derived from said second network exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the data derived from the second network comprises a number of connected user terminals to said second network.

24. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first wireless network is a unidirectional digital broadband network and the second wireless network is a bi-directional communications network.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the unidirectional digital broadband network is a Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) network.

27. A controller as claimed in claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to associate a certain threshold value with a particular content.

28. A controller as claimed in claim 27, wherein the threshold value is corresponding to a number of active user terminals in the determined area.

30. A controller as claimed in claim 29, wherein the processor is further operable to associate a certain threshold value with a particular content.

31. A controller as claimed in claim 30, wherein the threshold value is corresponding to a number of active user terminals in the determined area.

18. A content delivery method comprising monitoring user activity in a second network relative to a criterion and delivering content to a terminal of a first network when the criterion is met.

26. A controller connectable to a wireless unidirectional digital broadband network and to a wireless bi-directional communications network, the controller including a processor operable to initiate delivery of content via the wireless unidirectional digital broadband network to a determined area in response to a number of user terminals in the determined area connected to the wireless bi-directional communications area exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

29. A content delivery system comprising:

a wireless unidirectional digital broadband network;

a wireless bi-directional communications network; and

a controller connected to both networks, the controller including a processor operable to initiate delivery of content via the wireless unidirectional digital broadband network to a determined area in response to a number of user terminals in the determined area connected to the wireless bi-directional communications area exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

32. A content delivery system, comprising;

a wireless unidirectional digital broadband network;

a wireless bi-directional communications network; and

a controller connected to both networks, the controller comprising;

a processor;

a storage device; and

software means operative on the processor for;

maintaining in the storage device a database including threshold values associated with content corresponding to user activity;

monitoring user activity in a wireless bi-directional communications network; and

delivering the content to a terminal connected to a wireless unidirectional digital broadband network when the user activity exceeds the corresponding threshold value.

33. A content delivery method comprising monitoring user activity in a wireless bi-directional communications network within an area and delivering content to a user terminal of a wireless unidirectional digital broadband network when a number of connected user terminals to the wireless bi-directional communications network within said area exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

34. A content delivery method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the threshold value is corresponding to a number of active user terminals in said area.