System and method for managing content between devices in various domains

• US 20060010480A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhaskaran, Parvathy, Clayton, Richard M., Gaumond, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A system and method for managing content between different client devices in various domains (such as vehicle, home, and person). The system and method include receiving an input from a user on the first client device to delay the content. After receiving the input, the first client device determines whether the first client device is connected to a wireless communication system. If the first client device is connected to the wireless communication system, the first client device sends a data message to a host system. In one embodiment, the host system will then obtain the content (in whole or in part) after receiving the data message to permit the user to resume playback of the content on the first client device or another client device.

Claims

1. A method for managing content that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input from a user on a first device to delay the content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

determining whether the first device is connected to a first wireless communication system;

sending a data message to a host controller if the first device is connected to the first wireless communication system, the data message comprising a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction; and

obtaining the content scheduled for broadcast during the first time period to permit the user to playback the content during the second time period;

wherein the first device being in a domain selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the host controller obtaining the content through an Internet connection from a content provider.

3. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the host controller obtaining the content through a digital satellite communication system.

4. The method in claim 3, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a satellite channel identification.

5. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the host controller obtaining the content through a radio tuner.

6. The method in claim 5, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a radio frequency identification.

7. The method in claim 1, wherein the content is a broadcast program and the step of obtaining the content includes the step of determining whether to obtain the entire broadcast program or a portion of the broadcast program.

8. The method in claim 7, wherein the host controller obtains a first segment of the broadcast program if it is determined to obtain a portion of the broadcast program and sends the first segment of the broadcast program to the first device.

9. The method in claim 8, wherein the first device stores a second segment of the broadcast program and connects the first segment of the broadcast program to the second segment of the broadcast program.

10. The method in claim 9, wherein the first device begins to automatically play the broadcast program to the user at a beginning of the first segment during the second time period.

11. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the data message in the first device if it is determined that the data message is not connected to the first wireless communication system, the data message being sent to the host controller when it is determined that the first device is connected to the first wireless communication system.

12. The method in claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth™

communication system, an IEEE 802.11 communication system, an IEEE 802.16 communication system, an IEEE 802.20 communication system, a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) system, or a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) system.

13. The method in claim 12, wherein the first device has a first transceiver to communicate with the first wireless communication system and a second transceiver to communicate with a second wireless communication system.

14. The method in claim 13, wherein the second wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

15. The method in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the first device is connected to the second wireless communication system if it is determined that the first device is not connected to the first wireless communication system;

sending the data message to the host controller if the first device is connected to the second wireless communication system.

16. The method in claim 15 further comprising the step of storing the data message in the first device if it is determined that the data message is not connected to the second wireless communication system, the data message being sent to the host controller when it is determined that the first device is connected to the first wireless communication system or the second wireless communication system.

17. The method in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user of the first device has subscribed to a preferred service plan; and

connecting to the second wireless communication system if it is determined that the user of the first device has subscribed to the preferred service plan.

18. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of sending the obtained content to the first device to permit the user to playback the content during a second time period on the first device.

19. The method in claim 18 further comprising the steps of determining in the host controller a content type associated with the first device and formatting the content according to the content type associated with the first device before the step of sending the obtained content to the first device.

20. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of sending the obtained content to a second device to permit the user to playback the content during a second time period on the second device, the first device being in a domain that is different than the second device.

21. The method in claim 20 further comprising the steps of determining in the host controller a content type associated with the second device and formatting the content according to the content type associated with the second device before the step of sending the obtained content to the second device.

22. The method in claim 20 further comprising the step of sending at least a portion of the obtained content from the second device to a third device to permit the user to playback the content during the second time period on the third device.

23. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of sending the obtained content to a plurality of client devices to permit the user to playback the content during a second time period on at least one of the client devices.

24. The method in claim 1, wherein the first device is selected from a group consisting of a vehicular entertainment system, a home entertainment system, and a portable electronic device.

37. The method in claim 23 further comprising the step of sending the content from the first device to a second device to permit the user to playback the content on the second device.

38. The method in claim 23 further comprising the step of sending the content to a plurality of client devices to permit the user to playback the content on at least one of the client devices.

25. A method for managing content for a first device that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the first device being in a first domain that is selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data message from the first device over a wireless communication system, the data message being received in response to an input from a user on the first device to delay the content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

obtaining the content scheduled for broadcast during the first time period; and

sending the content to the first device over the wireless communication system to permit the user to playback the content on the first device during the second time period;

wherein the data message comprises a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction.

26. The method in claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through an Internet connection from a content provider.

27. The method in claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a digital satellite communication system.

28. The method in claim 27, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a satellite channel identification.

29. The method in claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a radio tuner.

30. The method in claim 29, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message includes at least a radio frequency identification.

31. The method in claim 25, wherein the content is a broadcast program and the step of obtaining the content includes the step of determining whether to obtain the entire broadcast program or a portion of the broadcast program.

32. The method in claim 31, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining a first segment of the broadcast program if it is determined to obtain a portion of the broadcast program.

33. The method in claim 25, wherein the wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth™

communication system, an IEEE 802.11 communication system, an IEEE 802.16 communication system, an IEEE 802.20 communication system, a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) system, or a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) system.

34. The method in claim 25, wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

35. The method in claim 25 further comprising the steps of determining a content type associated with the first device and formatting the content in the content type associated with the first device before sending the content to the first device.

36. The method in claim 25, wherein the first device is selected from a group consisting of a vehicular entertainment system, a home entertainment system, and a portable electronic device.

39. A method for managing content between a first device and a second device that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the first device being in a first domain and the second device being in a second domain, the first domain and the second domain selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data message from the first device over a wireless communication system, the data message being received in response to an input from a user on the first device to delay the content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

obtaining the content scheduled for broadcast during the first time period; and

sending the content to the second device over the wireless communication system to permit the user to playback the content on the second device during the second time period.

40. The method in claim 39, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through an Internet connection from a content provider.

41. The method in claim 39, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a digital satellite communication system.

42. The method in claim 41, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a satellite channel identification.

43. The method in claim 39, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a radio tuner.

44. The method in claim 43, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a radio frequency identification.

45. The method in claim 39, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the step of determining whether the second device has access to the content.

46. The method in claim 45, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the step of storing the content in a host system and sending the content to the second device if the second device does not have access to the content.

47. The method in claim 45, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes the step of generating and sending a second data message to the second device instructing the store the content if the second device has access to the content.

48. The method in claim 39, wherein the wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth™

communication system, an IEEE 802.11 communication system, an IEEE 802.16 communication system, an IEEE 802.20 communication system, a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) system, or a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) system.

49. The method in claim 39, wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

50. The method in claim 39 further comprising the steps of determining a content type associated with the second device and formatting the content in the content type associated with the second device before sending the content to the second device.

51. The method in claim 39, wherein the first device and the second device is selected from a group consisting of a vehicular entertainment system, a home entertainment system, and a portable electronic device.

52. A client device in a communication system, the communication system being capable of managing content that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period between the client device and other client devices, the client device and other client devices being in different domains, the domains selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the client device comprising:

a user interface for receiving an input from a user to delay content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

a first wireless transceiver that is capable of wirelessly connecting the client device to a first wireless communication system;

a controller, responsive to the input from the user to access the content during a second time period, for determining whether the client device is connected to the first wireless communication system and sending a data message to a remote host controller if the client device is connected to the first wireless communication system; and

a memory for storing the content that is scheduled for broadcast during the first time period to permit the user to playback the content during the second time period, the content stored in the memory received from the remote host controller in response to the data message sent to the remote host controller;

wherein the data message sent to the remote host controller comprises a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction.

53. The client device in claim 52, wherein the first wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth™

communication system, an IEEE 802.11 communication system, an IEEE 802.16 communication system, an IEEE 802.20 communication system, a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) system, or a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) system.

54. The client device in claim 53 further comprising a second transceiver to communicate with a second wireless communication system.

55. The client device in claim 54, wherein the second wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

56. The client device in claim 54, wherein the controller further determines whether the client device is connected to the second wireless communication system if it is determined that the client device is not connected to the first wireless communication system and sends the data message to the remote host controller if the client device is connected to the second wireless communication system.

57. The client device in claim 56, wherein the controller further stores the data message in the client device if it is determined that the data message is not connected to the second wireless communication system, the data message being sent to the remote host controller when it is determined that the client device is connected to the first wireless communication system or the second wireless communication system.

58. The client device in claim 52, wherein the client device is selected from a group consisting of a vehicular entertainment system, a home entertainment system, and a portable electronic device.

59. A host system for managing content for a mobile client device that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the mobile client device being in a domain selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the host system comprising:

a wireless gateway for receiving a data message over a wireless communication system from the client device, the data message being received in response to an input from a user on the client device to delay the content to a second time period, the data message comprising a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction;

a database for storing information regarding the client device; and

a controller connected to the wireless gateway, the controller capable of identifying the client device from the database and obtaining the content scheduled for broadcast during the first time period;

wherein the controller sends the content to the client device over the wireless communication system to permit the user to playback the content on the client device during the second time period.

60. The host system in claim 59, wherein the controller obtains the content through an Internet connection from a content provider.

61. The host system in claim 59, wherein the controller obtains the content through a digital satellite communication system.

62. The host system in claim 61, wherein the information elements of the data message further including at least a satellite channel identification.

63. The host system in claim 59, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a radio tuner.

64. The host system in claim 63, wherein information elements of the data message further including at least a radio frequency identification.

65. The host system in claim 59, wherein the wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth™

communication system, an IEEE 802.11 communication system, an IEEE 802.16 communication system, an IEEE 802.20 communication system, a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) system, or a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) system.

66. The host system in claim 59, wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

67. The host system in claim 59 wherein the controller is further capable of determining a content type associated with the client device and formatting the content in the content type associated with the client device before sending the content to the client device.

68. The method in claim 59, wherein the client device is selected from a group consisting of a vehicular entertainment system, a home entertainment system, and a portable electronic device.

69. A method for managing content for a first device that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the first device being in a first domain that is selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data message from a user, the data message being received in response to an input from the user to delay the content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

obtaining the content scheduled for broadcast during the first time period; and

sending the content to the first device over a wireless communication system to permit the user to playback the content on the first device during the second time period;

wherein the data message comprises a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction.

70. The method in claim 69, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through an Internet connection from a content provider.

71. The method in claim 69, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a digital satellite communication system.

72. The method in claim 71, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message also includes at least a satellite channel identification.

73. The method in claim 69, wherein the step of obtaining the content includes obtaining the content through a radio tuner.

74. The method in claim 73, wherein the plurality of information elements of the data message includes at least a radio frequency identification.

75. The method in claim 69, wherein the content is a broadcast program and the step of obtaining the content includes the step of determining whether to obtain the entire broadcast program or a portion of the broadcast program.

76. The method in claim 69 further comprising the steps of determining a content type associated with the first device and formatting the content in the content type associated with the first device before sending the content to the first device.

77. The method in claim 69, wherein the first domain is the vehicle domain and the data message is generated by a personal computer in a second domain, the second domain being different from the first domain.

78. The method in claim 69 further comprising the step of sending the content to a plurality of client devices to permit the user to playback the content on at least one of the client devices.

79. A method for managing content for a first device that is scheduled for broadcast during a first time period, the first device being in a first domain that is selected from a group consisting of at least the home, vehicle, and person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first data message from a user, the first data message being received in response to an input from the user to delay the content to a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period;

using a database to obtain information about the first device;

generating a second data message that comprises a plurality of information elements including at least a delay content instruction; and

sending the second data message to the first device over a wireless communication system to permit the user to playback the content on the first device during the second time period.

80. The method in claim 79, wherein the plurality of information elements of the second data message also includes at least a satellite channel identification.

81. The method in claim 79, wherein the plurality of information elements of the second data message also includes at least a radio frequency identification.

82. The method in claim 79 further comprising the steps of determining a content type associated with the first device and the plurality of information elements of the second data message also includes at least information associated with the content type.

83. The method in claim 79, wherein the first domain is the vehicle domain and the first data message is generated by a personal computer in a second domain, the second domain being different from the first domain.

84. The method in claim 79 further comprising the step of sending the second data message to a plurality of client devices to permit the user to playback the content on at least one of the client devices.