System and Method of Delivering Television Content

• US 20090199245A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmehl, Ian C., Cansler, James L., White, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A computer-readable medium is disclosed and includes processor-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method. The method includes sending a request for television content from a first device that is not equipped with a television tuner to a second device that is equipped with at least one television tuner via a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method also includes receiving the television content at the first device directly from the second device via the WLAN. The television content is received at the second device via the at least one television tuner. Further, the method includes outputting the television content at the first device.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having processor-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

sending a request for television content from a first device that is not equipped with a television tuner to a second device that is equipped with at least one television tuner via a wireless local area network (WLAN);

receiving the television content at the first device directly from the second device via the WLAN, wherein the television content is received at the second device via the at least one television tuner; and

outputting the television content at the first device.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the television content is received at the first device via narrowcast from the second device.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving input at the first device requesting that television content be output at the first device before sending the request to the second device.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the input comprises a selection of a physical switch, button or part of the first device, or a selection of a graphical menu item, icon, or text displayed at the first device.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the first device to request content associated with a particular television channel;

sending data to the second device via the WLAN indicating that the tuner is to be tuned to the particular channel; and

receiving television content associated with the particular channel at the first device directly from the second device via the WLAN.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the first device to discontinue outputting television content; and

sending data to the second device via the WLAN indicating that the second device is to discontinue sending television content to the first device.

7. A system to receive television content, the system comprising:

a first device that is not equipped with a television tuner, wherein the first device includes;

a first wireless interface adapted to communicate with a second device having a television tuner via a wireless local area network (WLAN); and

processing logic and memory accessible to the processing logic, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processing logic to;

send data to the second device via the first wireless interface indicating that the television tuner at the second device is to be tuned to a particular channel; and

output television content associated with the particular channel, the television content received directly from the second device via the first wireless interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the WLAN is a Wi-Fi network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device is a mobile phone, a computing device, a gaming console, a personal data assistant, a digital camera, a digital music player, a portable digital video disc (DVD) player, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device includes a display portion and at least one audio interface and wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processing logic to output the television content via the display portion, the at least one audio interface, or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processing logic to activate the first interface in response to input requesting that television content be output at the first device.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device includes a second wireless interface.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processing logic to deactivate the second wireless interface in response to input requesting that television content be output at the first device.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory includes at least one content buffer.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device includes a non-television tuner.

16. A computer-readable medium having processor-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving data at a first device having a television tuner from a second device not equipped with a television tuner, wherein the data is received via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and indicates that the television tuner at the first device is to be tuned to a particular channel; and

sending television content associated with the particular channel from the first device directly to the second device via the WLAN, wherein the television tuner is tuned to the particular channel in response to the data and wherein the television content is received at the first device via the television tuner.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises tuning the television tuner to the particular channel.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises sending the data to the television tuner and wherein the television tuner tunes to the particular channel in response to the data.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data at the first device via the WLAN indicating that television content is not to be sent to the second device; and

discontinuing sending television content to the second device via the WLAN.

20. A system to receive television content, the system comprising:

a first device having a television tuner and a wireless interface to communicate with at least one second device that is not equipped with a television tuner via a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the first device is adapted to;

receive a request for television content from the second device via the wireless interface; and

send the television content directly to the second device via the wireless interface, wherein the television content is received at the first device via the television tuner.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first device is adapted to narrowcast the television content to the second device via the WLAN.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first device includes a network interface and wherein the tuner receives the television content from a cable network, a satellite network, or an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network via the network interface.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the television comprises over-the-air television content.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the first device is a set-top box device, a gaming console, a television, or any combination thereof.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the television tuner at the first device sends the television content directly to the second device via the wireless interface.