PORTABLE DEVICE FOR USE WITH DIGITAL OVER-THE-AIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM

• US 20080120681A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Erin Sibley
• Original Assignee: Erin Sibley
• Inventors: Sibley, Erin
• Application Number:
  US12/022,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A system of distributing electronic content includes a network operations center generating a digital television broadcast signal and digital electronic content. The system also includes a base station receiving the digital television broadcast signal from the network operations center and forming a wireless local area network. The base station over-the-air rebroadcasts at least a portion of the digital television broadcast signal as a rebroadcast signal using the wireless local area network. A user appliance is positioned within the wireless local area network and receives the rebroadcast signal. The user appliance has conditional access software therein. The conditional access software allows the user appliance to access the rebroadcast signal.

Claims

1. A system of distributing electronic content comprising:

a network operations center generating a digital television broadcast signal and digital electronic content;

a base station receiving said digital television broadcast signal from the network operations center and forming a wireless local area network, said base station over-the-air rebroadcasting at least a portion of said digital television broadcast signal as a rebroadcast signal using said wireless local area network; and

a user appliance positioned within said wireless local area network and receiving the rebroadcast signal, the user appliance having conditional access software therein, the conditional access software allowing the user appliance to access the rebroadcast signal.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the digital television broadcast signal comprises having excess bandwidth.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the digital electronic content is disposed within the excess bandwidth.

4. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the broadcast signal comprises a digital video stream within the excess bandwidth.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein the base station includes a television tuner receiving the digital television broadcast signal;

an excess bandwidth frame grabber for receiving the digital electronic content;

a digital decompressor for decompressing said digital electronic content into a decompressed video stream;

a display displaying the decompressed video stream.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein the user device further comprising a cradle coupled to a first antenna, said cradle receiving said portable user appliance.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said cradle is disposed within an automotive vehicle.

8. A portable user appliance as recited in claim 7 further comprising a second antenna coupled to said cradle, said first and second antenna coupled to a control circuit for determining a first signal strength of said first signal and a second signal strength of said second signal and comparing the first signal strength to the second signal strength and coupling the greater of the first signal strength and the second signal strength to said portable user device.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the user appliance comprises a personal digital assistant.

10. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein the user appliance comprises a cellular phone.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a television coupled to said base station, said television receiving at least a portion of said television signal different than the rebroadcast signal.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base station forms said rebroadcast signal from said digital electronic content.

13. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic content comprises digital audio signals.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic content comprises video.

15. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base station comprises an integrated receiver decoder.

16. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rebroadcast signal is compressed at the base station into a compressed signal.

17. A method of distributing electronic content comprising the steps of:

communicating a digital television signal having excess bandwidth and digital electronic content within the excess bandwidth to a redistribution device;

receiving the digital electronic content at the redistribution device;

rebroadcasting the digital electronic content from the redistribution device as a rebroadcast signal;

receiving the over-the-air electronic content through a user appliance having conditional access software therein; and

allowing the user appliance to access the rebroadcast signal in response to the conditional access software.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein rebroadcasting comprises rebroadcasting the digital electronic content through a local area network.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein rebroadcasting comprises rebroadcasting the digital electronic content from a base station.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 further compressing the digital electronic content prior to rebroadcasting and further comprising decompressing the rebroadcast signal at the user appliance.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein compressing the digital electronic content comprises compressing the digital electronic content prior to receiving the digital electronic content at the redistribution device.

22. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein compressing the digital electronic content comprises compressing the digital electronic content prior to communicating a television signal.