System and methods for delivering event-related multimedia content to wireless devices

• US 20080106600A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., True, Sandra Lynn, Sheen, Baoling S., Voight, Kenneth J., Overend, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A system for delivering to a wireless subscriber terminal multimedia content related to a spectator event comprises an event application server, a wireless network coupled to the event application server and a wireless subscriber terminal that interacts with the network. The event application server acquires, converts, and manages content related to a spectator event. The event application server (or its adjunct) also manages preferences and priorities established by subscribers for event-related content. When such content is available, the event application server reconciles available content with subscriber preferences and priorities to determine an optimal set of content to be delivered to the subscriber terminal, and requests that the wireless network establish a connection to the subscriber terminal for such content. Multiple streams of content, of various types of media, may be delivered simultaneously to the subscriber terminal.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a wireless telecommunications network;

a subscriber terminal in communication with said wireless telecommunication network; and

an event application server coupled to said wireless telecommunications network;

said event application server being adapted to;

acquire media content relating to a spectator event; and

receive from at least one subscriber of said wireless telecommunications network preferences defining a selection of said media content relating to the spectator event;

wherein said event application server is responsive to said preferences to deliver said acquired media content to said subscriber terminal through said wireless telecommunication network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said event application server comprises a subscription management system for receiving said preferences from said subscriber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a subscription management system for receiving said preferences from said subscriber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said event application server comprises at least one digitization subsystem for acquiring said media content.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said event application server comprises a first digitization subsystem for acquiring event-related content of a first media type, and a second digitization subsystem for acquiring event-related content of a second media type different from said first type.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said event application server is adapted to deliver through said wireless telecommunications network to said subscriber terminal said event related content of said first and second media types at the same time.

7. Apparatus comprising:

at least one acquisition subsystem for acquiring and digitizing items of media content relating to a spectator event;

a subscription subsystem for storing and maintaining preference information received from a service subscriber defining a selection of items of media content which the subscriber would like to receive on a subscriber terminal; and

a control system coupled to said acquisition subsystem and said subscription subsystem, said control system being responsive to said preference information for choosing from among the items of media content acquired by said acquisition subsystem particular ones that match said preference information, and presenting said chosen items to a telecommunications network for delivery to a subscriber terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said acquisition system is adapted to acquire and digitize items of media content of a first media type;

and further comprising an acquisition system adapted to acquire and digitize items of media content of a second media type different from said first media type.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control system is adapted for presenting to a telecommunications system for delivery to a single subscriber terminal items of media content of said first media type and said second media type at the same time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first media type is video and said second media type is audio.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first media type is video and said second media type is text.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first media type is video and said second media type is a still graphic image.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first media type is audio and said second media type is text.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a telecommunications subscriber preference information defining items of media content relating to a spectator event which items the subscriber would like to receive on a subscriber terminal;

acquiring items of media content relating to a spectator event;

determining whether a subscriber terminal matching said preference information is present on a wireless network;

responsive to a positive result in the determining step, presenting to said wireless network for delivery to said subscriber terminal selected ones of said acquired items of media content which match said preference information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

said acquiring step further comprises acquiring items of media content of at least two different media types; and

said presenting step further comprises presenting to the wireless network said acquired items of media content of at least two different media types, at the same time, for delivery to said subscriber terminal.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining, among the items of media content the subscriber would like to receive on the subscriber terminal, which items are currently available; and

responsive to said preference information and said determining step, reconciling the items the subscriber would like to receive against the items which are currently available to produce a selection of items that most closely match the subscriber'"'"'s preferences.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

said preferences information includes relative priorities assigned by the subscriber as to the desirability of certain items of media content; and

said reconciling step is responsive to said preferences;

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said presenting step further comprises presenting to the wireless network said acquired items of media content of video and text types, at the same time, for delivery to said subscriber terminal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said presenting step further comprises presenting to the wireless network said acquired items of media content of audio and text types, at the same time, for delivery to said subscriber terminal.