Mobile communication device and system supporting media flow control

• US 20060126544A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Civiello, Michael, Markel, Shlomo
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33

Abstract

A system and method for presenting information to a user of a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a first portion of media information from a remote media information source and presenting the first portion to a user. While presenting the first portion to the user, a first signal may be received. In response to the first signal, a control signal may be transmitted to the remote media information source to cause the remote media information source to stop transmitting the media information. A second signal may be received, and in response to the second signal, a second control signal may be transmitted to the remote media information source to cause the remote media information source to resume transmitting the media information. A second portion of the media information may then be received from the remote media information source and presented to the user.

Claims

1. In a mobile communication device, a method for presenting media information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile communication device, a first portion of a unit of media information from a remote media information source;

presenting, at the mobile communication device, the first portion of the unit of media information to a user;

after presenting the first portion of the unit of media information to the user, receiving a signal at the mobile communication device; and

in response to the received signal, transmitting a control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to stop transmitting the unit of media information to the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal comprises receiving a signal representative of a user input to the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input comprises an indication that the user desires to service an incoming phone call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal comprises receiving a signal from a communication system external to the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is indicative of an incoming phone call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the remote media information source stopping transmission of the unit of media information, stopping presentation of the first portion of the unit of media information to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second signal at the mobile communication device; and

in response to the received second signal;

transmitting a second control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the second control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to resume transmitting the unit of media information to the mobile communication device;

receiving, at the mobile communication device, a second portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

presenting, at the mobile communication device, the second portion of the unit of media information to the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second control signal comprises information indicative of a particular point in the unit of media information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a third signal, at the mobile communication device; and

in response to the received third signal;

transmitting a third control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the third control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to transmit the unit of media information to the mobile communication device in a sequentially forward manner at a faster rate than normal;

receiving, at the mobile communication device, a third portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

presenting, at the mobile communication device, the third portion of the unit of media information to the user in a sequentially forward manner at a faster rate than normal.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a third signal at the mobile communication device; and

in response to the received third signal;

transmitting a third control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the third control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to transmit the unit of media information to the mobile communication device in a sequentially reversed manner;

receiving, at the mobile communication device, a third portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

presenting, at the mobile communication device, the third portion of the unit of media information to the user in a sequentially reversed manner.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising, while presenting the second portion of the unit of media information to the user, presenting to the user an indication of how far the media information currently being presented to the user lags a corresponding real-time transmission.

12. In a mobile communication device, a method for presenting media information to a user, the method comprising:

performing a first communication between the mobile communication device and a remote media information source, wherein performing the first communication comprises receiving a first portion of a unit of media information from the remote media information source, and presenting the first portion of the unit of media information to a user;

after presenting the first portion of the unit of media information to the user, stopping the first communication, stopping presentation of the unit of media information at a stopping point, and performing a second communication; and

after completing the second communication, resuming the first communication, wherein resuming the first communication comprises receiving a second portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source beginning near the stopping point and presenting the second portion of the unit of media information to the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein stopping the first communication comprises communicating a control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to stop the first communication.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein resuming the first communication further comprises communicating a control signal from the mobile communication device to the remote media information source, where the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to resume the first communication.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to performing the second communication, receiving a signal at the mobile communication device from the user indicating that the user desires the mobile communication device to perform the second communication.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to resuming the first communication, receiving a signal at the mobile communication device from the user indicating that the user desires the mobile communication device to resume presentation of the unit of media information.

17. A mobile communication device comprising at least one module, wherein:

the at least one module is adapted to receive a first portion of a unit of media information from a remote media information source;

the at least one module is adapted to present the first portion of the unit of media information to a user;

the at least one module is adapted to receive a signal after the first portion of the unit of media information is presented to the user; and

the at least one module is adapted to, in response to the received signal, transmit a control signal to the remote media information source, where the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to stop transmitting the unit of media information to the mobile communication device.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein the signal is representative of a user input to the mobile communication device.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 18, wherein the user input comprises an indication that the user desires to service an incoming phone call.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein the signal is received from a communication system external to the mobile communication device.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 20, wherein the signal is indicative of an incoming phone call.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein the at least one module is adapted to stop presenting the first portion of the unit of media information to the user prior to the remote media information source stopping transmission of the unit of media information to the mobile communication device.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one module is adapted to receive a second signal; and

the at least one module is adapted to, in response to the received second signal;

transmit a second control signal to the remote media information source, where the second control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to resume transmitting the unit of media information to the mobile communication device;

receive a second portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

present the second portion of the unit of media information to the user.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the second control signal comprises information indicative of a particular point in the unit of media information.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein:

the at least one module is adapted to receive a third signal; and

the at least one module is adapted to, in response to the received third signal;

transmit a third control signal to the remote media information source, where the third control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to transmit the unit of media information to the mobile communication device in a sequentially forward manner at a faster rate than normal;

receive a third portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

present the third portion of the unit of media information to the user in a sequentially forward manner at a faster rate than normal.

26. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein:

the at least one module is adapted to receive a third signal; and

the at least one module is adapted to;

transmit a third control signal to the remote media information source, where the third control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to transmit the unit of media information to the mobile communication device in a sequentially reversed manner;

receive a third portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source; and

present the third portion of the unit of media information to the user in a sequentially reversed manner.

27. The mobile communication device of claim 23, wherein the at least one module is adapted to present to the user an indication of how far the media information currently being presented to the user lags a corresponding real-time transmission.

28. A mobile communication device comprising at least one module, wherein:

the at least one module is adapted to perform a first communication with a remote media information source, wherein performing the first communication comprises receiving a first portion of a unit of media information from the remote media information source, and presenting the first portion of the unit of media information to a user;

the at least one module is adapted to, after the first portion of the unit of media information is presented to the user, stop the first communication, stop presentation of the unit of media information at a stopping point, and perform a second communication; and

the at least one module is adapted to, after the second communication is completed, resume the first communication, wherein resuming the first communication comprises receiving a second portion of the unit of media information from the remote media information source beginning near the stopping point and presenting the second portion of the unit of media information to the user.

29. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the at least one module is adapted to stop the first communication by, at least in part, communicating a control signal to the remote media information source, where the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to stop the first communication.

30. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the at least one module is adapted to resume the first communication by, at least in part, communicating a control signal to the remote media information source, wherein the control signal is adapted to cause the remote media information source to resume the first communication.

31. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the at least one module is adapted to, prior to performing the second communication, receive a signal from the user indicating that the user desires the mobile communication device to perform the second communication.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the at least one module is adapted to, prior to resuming the first communication, receive a signal from the user indicating that the user desires the mobile communication device to resume presentation of the unit of media information.