System and method for providing event spectators with audio/video signals pertaining to remote events

• US 20040136547A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Kniskern, Robert J., Steele, Todd H., Anderson, Tazwell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

A system and method providing content for access by a portable device at an event is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources and combining at least some of the plurality of signals for transmission to a plurality of broadcast systems, with the plurality of broadcast systems corresponding to a plurality of events. The method further includes determining the broadcast systems to which each of the combined signals is to be transmitted, transmitting the combined signals to at least one of the determined broadcast systems, and broadcasting the combined signals received by at least one of the broadcast systems corresponding to at least one event. The combined signals are configured to allow selection of content with a portable device, with the content defined by at least one of audio and video signals of the combined signals.

Claims

1. A method for providing content for access by a portable device at an event, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources;

combining at least some of the plurality of signals for transmission to a plurality of broadcast systems, the plurality of broadcast systems corresponding to a plurality of events;

determining the broadcast systems to which each of the combined signals is to be transmitted;

transmitting the combined signals to at least one of the determined broadcast systems; and

broadcasting the combined signals received by at least one of the broadcast systems corresponding to at least one event, the combined signals configured to allow selection of content with a portable device, the content defined by at least one of audio and video signals of the combined signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sources is located remote from the event.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the broadcast systems is located at an event.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising categorizing the plurality of signal based upon geographic location for use in combining the signals.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting signals for combining based upon predetermined criteria.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting signals for combining based upon user preferences at each of the events.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining at least one communication link for use in transmitting the combined signals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises at least one of audio relating to the event, video relating to the event, audio relating to another event, video relating to another event, and advertising content.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprise one of live and stored content.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcasting comprises transmitting the combined signals within a proximity of the event.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein audio and video signals of the combined signal are broadcast on a plurality of frequencies and the portable device is configured to select content from the plurality of frequencies.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein audio and video signal of the combined signal are broadcast on a plurality of frequencies and the portable device is configured to select content from the plurality of frequencies each defined by a predetermined selectable channel of the portable device.

13. A method of providing content for access by a user at an event, the method comprising:

receiving via a portable device content defined by a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources, each of the signals selectable using the portable device, the plurality of signals received at an event and broadcast by a system located at the event; and

outputting at least one of video and audio content based upon at least one of the plurality of signals selected with the portable device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the content defined by the plurality of signals is selected based upon at least one of geographic location and user preferences.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of signals are each transmitted via a different frequency corresponding to a channel of the portable device, and wherein the outputting is based upon a channel selection.

16. A system for providing content for access by a portable device at an event, the system comprising:

a combining component for combining at least some of a plurality of received signals for transmission at a plurality of events;

a transmission component for transmitting at least one of the combined signals to at least one of the plurality of events; and

a broadcast component corresponding to one or more of the events for receiving the at least one combined signal and broadcasting at the event audio and video signals defined by the combined signal, the audio and video signals configured to allow for selection with a portable device at the event.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the signals are received from a plurality of sources, wherein at least one of the sources is located remote from the event.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the combining component is configured to combine the signals based upon at least one of geographic location and user preferences.

19. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a routing component to route signals for transmission to events based upon at least one of geographic location and user preferences.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the broadcast component is configured to broadcast the plurality of audio and video signals at a plurality of frequencies, with the portable device configured such that a predetermined selectable channel corresponds to each of the frequencies.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the broadcast components is located at one or more of the events.