Method and apparatus for receiving selected broadcast programs at a mobile station

• US 20070129003A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dunko, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/296,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129003A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• 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 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/326 by proximity to another entity
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for receiving common program content at a mobile station in different networks is described herein. While in a home network, the mobile station receives selected program content via a first broadcast channel. When the mobile station moves into a visited network, a mapping processor in the mobile station maps the first broadcast channel to a second broadcast channel broadcasting the selected program content in the visited network. Subsequently, the mobile station receives the selected content on the second broadcast channel as long as the mobile station remains in the visited network. As a result, the mapping process is transparent to the user.

Claims

1. A method of receiving selected program content at a mobile station roaming outside of a home network, the method comprising:

receiving the selected program content at the mobile station on a first broadcast channel while the mobile station is located in the home network;

when the mobile station roams into a visited network, mapping the first broadcast channel to a second broadcast channel broadcasting the selected program content in the visited network; and

receiving the selected program content at the mobile station on the second broadcast channel while the mobile station is located in the visited network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein mapping the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel comprises correlating a first channel indicator assigned to the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first channel indicator is assigned to the first broadcast channel by the home network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the first channel indicator comprises a user-selected channel indicator that correlates to a network-assigned channel indicator associated with the first broadcast channel.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving channel identifiers for one or more broadcast channels broadcasting program content in the visited network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein mapping the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel comprises mapping the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel based on the received channel identifiers.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving the channel identifiers comprises receiving a control signal containing the channel identifiers.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving the channel identifiers comprises receiving program content for each broadcast channel, where the program content for each broadcast channel includes channel identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning new program content to a new channel indicator when the mobile station roams into the visited network, wherein the new program content is unavailable in the home network.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing mapping information associated with mapping the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel for future use.

18. The mobile station of claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store mapping information associated with mapping the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel for future use.

11. A mobile station comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive selected program content on a first broadcast channel while the mobile station is located in a home network, and configured to receive the selected program content on a second broadcast channel while the mobile station is located in a visited network; and

a processor configured to map the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel when the mobile station roams into the visited network.

12. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the processor maps the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel by correlating a first channel indicator assigned to the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel.

13. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the first channel indicator is assigned to the first broadcast channel by the home network.

14. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the first channel indicator comprises a user-selected channel indicator that correlates to a network-assigned channel indicator associated with the first broadcast channel.

15. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive channel identifiers for one or more broadcast channels broadcasting program content in the visited network, and wherein the processor is configured map the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel based on the received channel identifiers.

16. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to assign new program content to a new channel indicator when the mobile station roams into the visited network, wherein the new program content is unavailable in the home network.

17. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the transceiver comprises a digital video broadcast receiver.