Method and a mobile terminal for performing a handover in a broadcast system

• US 20060262751A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pekonen, Harri, Vermola, Larri
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

In a digital broadcasting network, a mobile terminal receives hierarchical ESG data relating to available broadcast programs adjacent network areas. The terminal is operable whilst receiving a first program from a transmitter in a first network area for detecting a need for handover to a second network area, and for then determining from the ESG data if the same program is available in the second network area If it is, the terminal then receives the program from a transmitter in the second network area. Otherwise, it determines one or more programs which are similar to the first program, and presents them on a display for selection by a user. This involves determining which programs have an identifier in common with the first program. The identifier can be any one or more of a program identifier, a service identifier, a channel identifier, a category identifier and a genre identifier, for example.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving data relating to available broadcast programs in a first network area, and storing said data in the mobile terminal;

whilst receiving a first program from a transmitter in the first network area, detecting a need for handover to a second network area;

using data relating to available broadcast programs in the second network area to determine if the first program is available in the second network area, and

receiving the first program from a transmitter in the second network area if it is available, and

otherwise determining at least one program which is similar to the first program, and subsequently receiving the at least one similar program from the second network area transmitter.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising presenting the first program or the one or more similar programs using a user interface.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the presenting step includes indicating with the or each similar program one or more data elements which are common to that program and to the first program.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising requiring user acknowledgement prior to the step of receiving one of the similar programs from the second network area transmitter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising requiring a user to select one of at least two similar programs prior to the step of receiving it from the second network area transmitter.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data relating to available programs includes an identifier for each program.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data relating to available programs has a hierarchical classification structure.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining similar programs comprises determining which programs have an identifier in common with the first program

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the identifier is a program identifier.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the identifier is a service identifier.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the identifier is a channel identifier.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the identifier is a category identifier.

13. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the identifier is a genre identifier.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data relating to available programs includes data relating to transmission schedules of the programs.

15. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a receiver arranged to receive data relating to available broadcast programs in first and second network areas;

a memory arranged to store said program data;

a handover handler operable whilst the terminal is receiving a first program from a transmitter in the first network area for detecting a need for handover to a second network area;

a program data processor arranged to use the data relating to available broadcast programs in the first and second network areas to determine if the same program is available in the second network area, and otherwise to determine at least one program which is similar to the first program; and

a controller arranged to control the mobile terminal to receive from the second network area transmitter one of;

a) the first program, and b) the at least one similar programs, as appropriate.

16. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, comprising a user interface for presenting the received program.

17. A terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the user interface indicates with the at least one similar program at least one data element which is common to that program and to the first program.

18. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, in which the controller requires user acknowledgement through the user interface prior to receiving one of the similar programs from the second network area transmitter.

19. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, in which the controller requires a user to select one of at least two similar programs through the user interface before receiving it from the second network area transmitter.

20. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the data relating to available programs includes an identifier for each program.

21. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the data relating to available programs has a hierarchical classification structure.

22. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, wherein a program data processor arranged to use the data relating to available broadcast programs in the first and second network areas to determine which programs have an identifier in common with the first program.

23. A terminal as claimed in claim 22, in which the identifier is at least one of:

a) a program identifier, b) a service identifier, c) a channel identifier, d) a category identifier, and e) a genre identifier.

24. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the data relating to available programs includes data relating to transmission schedules of the programs.