Pausing and Resuming Content Streaming On Wireless Devices

• US 20080282295A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Home Box Office Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Home Box Office Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Probst, Bruce, Gabriel, Michael, Cuttner, Craig D., Cotsen, Sarah, Zitter, Robert M., DiBartolomeo, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US11/630,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20080282295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/44209 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

In one embodiment, a communication system transmits video content in a looped manner using wireless communications to a cell phone capable of playing the content in a streaming manner. The cell phone is capable, after the playing of the received video content has been interrupted during a current transmission of the content, of resuming play of the content during a subsequent transmission of the looped content, based on the timing of the interruption. The timing of the interruption is compared to a schedule of content transmissions to determine when to resume the playing of the content, e.g., to enable the playing to resume from the location of the interruption.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a current transmission of content;

(b) playing the received content during the current transmission;

(c) interrupting the playing of the received content prior to the end of the content;

(d) generating information related to timing of the interruption of the playing; and

(e) resuming playing of the content during a subsequent transmission of the content, wherein the resumption of the playing of the content is based on the interruption-related information.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the content is video content played in a streaming manner;

the method is implemented by a wireless device; and

the content is transmitted in a looped manner to the wireless device using wireless communications.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the wireless device is further adapted to function as a cell phone.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the content is transmitted to the wireless device in a unicast manner.

5. The invention of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving and storing a schedule of content transmissions, wherein the timing of the interruption is compared to the schedule of content transmissions to determine timing for the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the current transmission of the content contains data corresponding to the timing of the subsequent transmission of the content.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:

(1) generating a user prompt regarding the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission; and

(2) determining whether to resume the playing of the content based on a user response to the user prompt.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the playing of the received content is directly interrupted by a user.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the playing of the received content is indirectly interrupted by a user, wherein the playing is automatically interrupted upon detection of a condition for interrupting the playing, wherein specification of the condition by the user was previously received.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the playing of the received content is interrupted by a loss of signal of the current transmission.

11. The invention of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the interruption-related information for use in non-local processing.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the content is video content played in a streaming manner;

the method is implemented by a wireless device further adapted to function as a cell phone;

the content is transmitted in a looped manner to the wireless device using unicast wireless communications;

further comprising the step of receiving and storing a schedule of content transmissions; and

the timing of the interruption is compared to the schedule of content transmissions to determine timing for the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission.

13. The invention of claim 12, wherein step (e) comprises:

(1) generating a user prompt regarding the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission; and

(2) determining whether to resume the playing of the content based on a user response to the user prompt.

14. Apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a current transmission of content;

(b) means for playing the received content during the current transmission;

(c) means for interrupting the playing of the received content prior to the end of the content;

(d) means for generating information related to timing of the interruption of the playing; and

(e) means for resuming playing of the content during a subsequent transmission of the content, wherein the resumption of the playing of the content is based on the interruption-related information.

15. The invention of claim 14, wherein:

the content is video content played in a streaming manner;

means (a)-(e) are part of a wireless device further adapted to function as a cell phone;

the content is transmitted in a looped manner to the wireless device using unicast wireless communications;

further comprising means for receiving and storing a schedule of content transmissions; and

the timing of the interruption is compared to the schedule of content transmissions to determine timing for the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission.

16. The invention of claim 14, wherein the current transmission of the content contains data corresponding to the timing of the subsequent transmission of the content.

17. A method comprising:

(a) transmitting a schedule of content transmissions to a wireless device; and

(b) transmitting content to the wireless device in a looped manner, wherein the wireless device is adapted to;

(1) receive a current transmission of content;

(2) play the received content during the current transmission;

(3) interrupt the playing of the received content prior to the end of the content;

(4) generate information related to timing of the interruption of the playing; and

(5) resume playing of the content during a subsequent transmission of the content, wherein the resumption of the playing of the content is based on the interruption-related information and the schedule of content transmissions.

18. The invention of claim 17, wherein:

the content is video content played in a streaming manner;

steps (a)-(b) are implemented using a content server;

the wireless device is further adapted to function as a cell phone;

the content is transmitted in a looped manner to the wireless device using unicast wireless communications; and

the timing of the interruption is compared to the schedule of content transmissions to determine timing for the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission.

19. A communications system comprising:

(a) means for transmitting a schedule of content transmissions to a wireless device; and

(b) means for transmitting content to the wireless device in a looped manner, wherein the wireless device is adapted to;

(1) receive a current transmission of content;

(2) play the received content during the current transmission;

(3) interrupt the playing of the received content prior to the end of the content;

(4) generate information related to timing of the interruption of the playing; and

(5) resume playing of the content during a subsequent transmission of the content, wherein the resumption of the playing of the content is based on the interruption-related information and the schedule of content transmissions.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein:

the content is video content played in a streaming manner;

means (a)-(b) are part of a content server;

the wireless device is further adapted to function as a cell phone;

the content is transmitted in a looped manner to the wireless device using unicast wireless communications; and

the timing of the interruption is compared to the schedule of content transmissions to determine timing for the resumption of the playing of the content during the subsequent transmission.