Devices and/or Methods for Switching Between Program Sources

• US 20090222866A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Jenzowsky, Stefan, Löblg, Norbert, Stelzl, Rudolf
• Application Number:
  US12/094,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising: determining a second program corresponding to a received first program; recognizing an interruption of the first program; based on a time of the interruption, specifying a time of continuation of the second program; and transmitting the second program to an output unit at the time of continuation.

Claims

1. A device comprising

a receiver unit adapted to receive a program;

a determining unit communicatively coupled to the received unit and adapted to determine a second program corresponding to the first program;

an analysis unit communicatively coupled to the determining unit and adapted to;

recognize an event interrupting the first program based on a time of the interruption;

determine a time of continuation for the second program; and

transmit the second program to an output unit starting at the time of continuation.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a requesting unit communicatively coupled to the receiver unit and adapted to run procedures for handling delivery conditions between a provider providing the second program from the time of continuation and a multimedia subscriber requesting the second program from the time of continuation.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the determining unit is adapted to the second program corresponding to the first program on the basis of available identification data, selected from production date, playing time, casting, title and international program identification.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a management unit adapted to drive the output device in such that a window is formed on the output device, the window adapted to indicate available second programs from which the second program can be selected.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a management unit adapted to release second program at the time of continuation, according to a predetermined condition.

6. A method comprising:

determining a second program corresponding to a received first program;

recognizing an interruption of the first program;

based on a time of the interruption, specifying a time of continuation of the second program; and

transmitting the second program to an output unit at the time of continuation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

handling delivery conditions between a provider providing the second program from the time of continuation and a multimedia subscriber requesting the second program from the time of continuation.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

determining the second program corresponding to the first program on the basis of available identification data, allocated to the first and second programs, selected from production date, playing time, casting, title, and an international program identification.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

forming a window on an output device, the window indicating available second programs from which the second program can be selected.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

releasing the second program at the time of continuation, according to a predetermined condition.