Apparatus for receiving and displaying cellular television content and method for billing for same

• US 20080196066A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for receiving and displaying cellular television content. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a wireless communication device for establishing a connection to a wireless telecommunications network and for receiving video content over the connection. The apparatus includes a processor for receiving the cellular television content and the television signal. The processor generates a signal for display on a video display screen from the television signal and the video content. A video display screen is also provided in the apparatus for displaying the signal. The apparatus may also include a remote control interface and a remote control device that includes a keypad for establishing a wireless telephone call through the apparatus over the wireless telecommunications network. The apparatus may alternatively include an interface for receiving and communicating with a wireless telephone capable of establishing a connection to a wireless telecommunications network and receiving cellular television.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving and displaying digital video content provided over a wireless telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication device for establishing a connection to the wireless telecommunications network and for receiving the digital video content over the connection;

a receiver for receiving a television signal;

a processor for receiving the digital video content from the wireless communication device and for receiving the television signal from the receiver, the processor operative to generate a signal suitable for display on a video display from the digital video content and the television signal;

a display controller for receiving the signal from the processor and for formatting the signal for display on a video display; and

a video display for receiving the signal from the display controller and for displaying the signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a wireless radio.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver for receiving a television signal comprises at least one of:

a tuner capable of receiving an analog over-the-air television signal, and a tuner capable of receiving a digital over-the-air television signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver for receiving a television signal comprises a tuner capable of receiving a cable television signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input for receiving an external video signal, and wherein the processor is further operative to receive the external video signal and to cause the external video signal to be shown on the video display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control interface; and

a remote control comprising a keypad, the remote control device operative to communicate with the remote control interface, and wherein

the processor is further operative to receive a signal from the remote control interface indicating that a key press has been made on the keypad and, in response thereto, to cause the wireless communication device to establish a wireless telephone call over the wireless telecommunications network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the remote control device further comprises a microphone, and wherein the remote control device is operative to receive audio from the microphone and to transmit the audio to the remote control interface for use in the wireless telephone call.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein remote control further comprises a speaker, and wherein the remote control device is operative to receive an audio portion of the wireless telephone call from the remote control interface and to play the audio portion of the wireless telephone call on the speaker.

9. An apparatus for receiving and displaying digital video content provided over a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device capable of establishing a connection to the wireless network and receiving the digital video content over the connection;

a processor connected to the interface and operative to receive the digital video content from the wireless communication device, the processor further operative to generate a signal suitable for display on a video display from the digital video content;

a display controller for receiving the signal from the processor and for formatting the signal for display on a video display; and

a video display for receiving the signal from the display controller and for displaying the signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the interface communicates with a mobile telephone.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further includes a receiver comprising at least one of a tuner capable of receiving an analog over-the-air television signal and a tuner capable of receiving a digital over-the-air television signal, and wherein the processor and display controller are further operative to cause the television signal to be displayed on the video display.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a receiver capable of receiving a cable television signal and wherein the processor and display controller are further operative to cause the cable television signal to be displayed on the video display.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an input for receiving an external video signal, and wherein the processor is further operative to receive the external video signal and to cause the external video signal to be shown on the video display.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the interface is further operative to deliver power to the wireless communications device.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a remote control interface; and

a remote control comprising a keypad, the remote control device operative to communicate with the remote control interface, and wherein

the processor is further operative to receive a signal from the remote control interface indicating that a key press has been made on the keypad and, in response thereto, to cause the mobile communication device to establish a telephone call over the wireless network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the remote control device further comprises a microphone, and wherein the remote control device is operative to receive audio from the microphone and to transmit the audio to the remote control interface for use in the telephone call.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein remote control further comprises a speaker, and wherein the remote control device is operative to receive an audio portion of the telephone call from the remote control interface and to play the audio portion of the telephone call on the speaker.

18. A method for billing a user of an integrated apparatus for viewing digital video content over a wireless telecommunications network and a television signal, the method comprising:

providing to a user an integrated apparatus capable of receiving and displaying digital video content over a wireless telecommunications network and of receiving and displaying a television signal; and

providing a rate plan to the user in order to charge the user for the delivery of the digital video content to the apparatus, the rate plan including a charge based upon whether the digital video content is also deliverable to a mobile telephone of the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the charge is further based upon the time that the digital video content is delivered to the apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the charge is further based upon the amount of wireless data bandwidth required to deliver the digital video content to the apparatus.