System, method, and apparatus for facilitating media content channels

• US 20040248561A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nykanen, Petri, Mononen, Jari, Konkarikoski, Ulla, Pohja, Seppo, Kolehmainen, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus that enables end user (402) of mobile terminal (430) to establish primary content channel (426) having primary content feedback provided via path (434). In response, User Interface (UI) logic block (404) detects the primary content channel selection and queries media channel controller (406) for secondary content channel selections that may be instantiated in response to the primary content channel selection. Secondary media channel (428) is automatically established upon an affirmative match made between parameters contained within database (408) and characteristics associated with the primary media channel selection.

Claims

1. A media content channel system for providing a plurality of media content channels to a mobile user, the media content channel system comprising:

a first network element coupled to provide primary content;

a second network element coupled to provide secondary content; and

a mobile terminal coupled to select the primary content, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a media channel controller coupled to detect the selection of the primary content and coupled to instantiate a secondary media content channel to receive the secondary content in response to the selection of a primary media content channel.

2. The media content channel system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises:

a primary player coupled to the primary media content channel to play the primary content;

a secondary player coupled to the secondary media content channel to play the secondary content;

a user interface to receive user selection commands; and

a database coupled to the media channel controller, wherein the media channel controller retrieves channel selection parameters from the database in response to the selection commands.

3. The media content channel system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary player is configured to manually contact a source of the secondary content in response to selection of the primary content.

4. The media content channel system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary player is configured to automatically contact a source of the secondary content in response to selection of the primary content.

5. The media content channel system according to claim 4, wherein the secondary player includes a browser coupled to receive markup language content from the second network element.

6. The media content channel system according to claim 5, wherein the browser is configured to retrieve the markup language content at predetermined intervals.

7. The media content channel system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined intervals are configured by the media channel controller.

8. The media content channel system according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined intervals are programmed into the database using the user interface.

9. The media content channel system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined intervals are configured by the second network element.

10. The media content channel system according to claim 5, wherein the second network element is coupled to automatically provide the markup language content to the browser via Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) standards.

11. The media content channel system according to claim 5, wherein the browser comprises:

a first buffer to contain old markup language content received from the second network element; and

a second buffer to contain new markup language content received from the second network element.

12. The media content channel system according to claim 11, wherein the browser is configured to determine differences between the old markup language content and the new markup language content.

13. The media content channel system according to claim 12, wherein the browser updates a display of the mobile terminal from the first buffer when no differences are found between the new markup language content and the old markup language content.

14. The media content channel system according to claim 12, wherein the browser updates a display of the mobile terminal from the second buffer when differences are found between the new markup language content and the old markup language content.

15. The media content channel system according to claim 14, wherein the display is updated only after all of the new markup language content is received from the second network element.

16. The media content channel system according to claim 5, wherein the user interface detects user interaction with the secondary media content channel.

17. The media content channel system according to claim 16, wherein the secondary media content channel is removed if no user interaction has been detected within a predetermined amount of time.

18. A mobile terminal wirelessly coupled to a network which includes a plurality of network elements capable of providing content, the mobile terminal comprising:

a memory capable of storing at least one of a media channel controller, a primary player, a secondary player, and a database;

a processor coupled to the memory and configured by the media channel controller to enable the secondary player to receive content in response to detecting that the primary player is selected to receive content; and

a transceiver configured to facilitate content exchange with the plurality of network elements.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 18, further comprising a user interface coupled to the memory to allow user control of the primary player and the database.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 19, wherein the user interface allows user interaction through one of audible, visual, or tactile inputs.

21. The mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein the primary player provides audio and visual playback capability.

22. The mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein the secondary player provides audio and visual playback capability.

23. The mobile terminal according to claim 22, wherein the secondary player further comprises a browser with markup language capability.

24. The mobile terminal according to claim 23, wherein the browser is configured by the media channel controller to automatically contact a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in response to the primary player'"'"'s media content channel activity.

25. The mobile terminal according to claim 24, wherein the URL is located in the database as being associated with the primary player'"'"'s media content channel activity.

26. The mobile terminal according to claim 24, wherein the browser pulls content from the URL at predetermined intervals.

27. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the predetermined intervals are configured by the media channel controller.

28. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the predetermined intervals are configured by data contained at the location defined by the URL.

29. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the memory further comprises:

a first buffer coupled to store old data from the URL; and

a second buffer coupled to store new data from the URL.

30. The mobile terminal according to claim 29, wherein the processor compares contents of the first buffer to contents of the second buffer.

31. The mobile terminal according to claim 30, wherein the processor updates a display of the mobile terminal from the first buffer if no differences exist between the contents of the first buffer and the contents of the second buffer.

32. The mobile terminal according to claim 30, wherein the processor updates a display of the mobile terminal from the second buffer if differences exist between the contents of the first buffer and the contents of the second buffer.

33. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a mobile terminal for facilitating content channel creation by performing steps comprising:

establishing a primary content channel in response to a primary content channel request;

creating a secondary content channel in response to the primary content channel request; and

establishing interaction capability with the secondary content channel, wherein the interaction is related to the primary content channel.

34. A method for providing a plurality of content channels, comprising:

establishing a primary content channel in response to a primary content channel request;

creating a secondary content channel in response to the primary content channel request; and

establishing interaction capability with the secondary content channel, wherein the interaction is related to the primary content channel.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein creating the secondary content channel comprises:

retrieving parameters associated with the primary content channel;

analyzing the parameters associated with the primary content channel to determine the necessity of the secondary content channel; and

establishing the secondary content channel when the parameters define a secondary content channel to be created.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the parameters associated with the primary content channel include:

a broadcast frequency of a radio station; and

a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the radio station.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the primary content channel is configured to receive broadcast content from the radio station and the secondary content channel is configured to receive markup language content from the location defined by the URL.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein interaction with the secondary content channel is synchronized with primary content channel activity.