Wireless Entertainment system

• US 20020133824A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linda S. Mensch
• Original Assignee: Chinaonline, Inc.
• Inventors: Mensch, Linda S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• 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 21/41407 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A wireless entertainment system includes a delivery station, a wireless telephone network, and a receiver. Entertainment, such as a motion picture, is ordered by a customer through a wireless telephone, and is delivered to the customer through the wireless telephone network. The entertainment is delivered in a non-permanent method (streaming) to the customer through the network, to a receiver, such as a television viewing set in the customer'"'"'s home, or to an intermediate storage medium, such as a memory device, that is then communicated directly to a viewing device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering entertainment by wireless communication, comprising:

a wireless communication transmitter;

a delivery station;

a wireless network; and

a receiver, wherein the wireless communication transmitter orders entertainment from the delivery station and the receiver receives entertainment from the delivery station, delivered through the wireless network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein billing and delivery information for the entertainment are provided by the transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication transmitter and the receiver are the same or different cellular telephones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a television receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein billing information for the entertainment is derived from a billing account associated with said transmitter.

6. A method of providing entertainment, comprising:

ordering entertainment from a wireless communication device;

billing a designated person; and

delivering entertainment through a wireless network to a designated person.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein ordering entertainment is accomplished through a cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 7, further including automatically identifying a designated person by using information from a cellular telephone account.

9. The method of claim 7, further including automatically identifying a designated person by using information submitted while ordering.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein ordering entertainment is accomplished through an Internet, and identifying a designated person is accomplished automatically by using information submitted while ordering.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering is accomplished by streaming entertainment to a receiver.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering is accomplished by delivering entertainment to a receiver in accordance with selected restricted use criteria.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering is accomplished by downloading entertainment to a receiver, said entertainment having an ability to play only a specified number of times.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering is accomplished by downloading entertainment with access for a limited time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein information from ordering entertainment is used in selecting the designated persons.

16. The method of claim 6, further comprising relaying entertainment before delivering the entertainment through the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein relaying is accomplished through an intermediate delivery station.

18. The method of claim 6, further comprising relaying entertainment after delivering the entertainment through the wireless network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein relaying is accomplished through an intermediate delivery station.

20. The method of claim 6, wherein the entertainment is a motion picture, a television show, a video game, an educational, cultural or political event, sports programming, news, financial news, weather, or music.