Video-on-demand service system and method of dynamic image distribution

• US 20030217366A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kiyo
• Application Number:
  US10/425,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/98
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In a video-on-demand service system, when a PDA terminal 8 is operated and a request is made for the distribution of the desired dynamic image content, that request is received by the nearest base station device 32 and is transmitted to a communication equipment 2 through a wireless LAN 200. The communication equipment 2 converts the request signal of the PDA terminal 8 to an appropriate format and transmits it to a data center 5 through an optical fiber 100. In the data center 5, the request signal is decoded, and the requested dynamic picture content is downloaded from a server and is then downloaded to the PDA terminal 8 of the user through the optical fiber 100, the communication equipment 2, the wireless LAN 200 and the base station device 32.

Claims

1. A video-on-demand service system, comprising:

a wireless LAN (Local Area Network); and

a unit for distributing a dynamic image corresponding to a request to a portable information terminal through said wireless LAN in response to said request from the portable information terminal.

2. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless LAN is provided in a facility in which at least one user is present.

3. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless LAN is provided in a station house facility of a railroad.

4. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) terminal or a personal computer.

5. The video-on-demand service system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) terminal or a personal computer.

6. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) terminal or a personal computer.

7. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a, and which downloads said dynamic image to said portable information terminal.

8. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a, and which downloads said dynamic image to said portable information terminal.

9. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a, and which downloads said dynamic image to said portable information terminal.

10. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a, and which downloads said dynamic image to said portable information terminal.

11. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said dynamic image comprises at least one of a television program and a movie program.

12. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said dynamic image comprises at least one of a television program and a movie program.

13. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said dynamic image comprises at least one of a television program and a movie program.

14. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said dynamic image comprises at least one of a television program and a movie program.

15. The video-on-demand service system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said dynamic image comprises at least one of a television program and a movie program.

16. A video-on-demand service system, comprising:

a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) for distributing a dynamic image;

a plurality of distribution facilities in which said wireless LAN is provided for distributing a dynamic image corresponding to a request to a portable information terminal through said wireless LAN in response to said request from said portable information terminal;

a data center in which said dynamic image is provided to said distribution facility;

a first optical transmission line interconnecting said plurality of distribution facilities; and

a second optical transmission line interconnecting at least one of said plurality of distribution facilities and said data center.

17. A method of dynamic image distribution, comprising:

receiving through a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) a request from a portable information terminal in an area in which said LAN is provided; and

distributing a dynamic image corresponding to said request to the portable information terminal through said wireless LAN in response to said request.

18. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

providing said wireless LAN in a facility in which at least one user is present.

19. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

providing said wireless LAN in a station house facility of a railroad.

20. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a personal computer.

21. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a personal computer.

22. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

the portable information terminal is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a personal computer.

23. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a; and

said dynamic image is downloaded via said wireless LAN to said portable information terminal.

24. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a; and

said dynamic image is downloaded via said wireless LAN to said portable information terminal.

25. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a; and

said dynamic image is downloaded via said wireless LAN to said portable information terminal.

26. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

said wireless LAN comprises a transmission line having at least about the same transmission speed as that of an IEEE802.11a; and

said dynamic, image is downloaded via said wireless LAN to said portable information terminal.

27. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said dynamic image is at least one of a television program and a movie program.

28. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said dynamic image is at least one of a television program and a movie program.

29. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said dynamic image is at least one of a television program and a movie program.

30. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

said dynamic image is at least one of a television program and a movie program.

31. The method of dynamic image distribution as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said dynamic image is at least one of a television program and a movie program.