Enhanced Video Sharing

• US 20120066722A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Gerald Michael, Cheung, Eric Sau Hoi
• Granted Patent: US 10,187,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for sharing video between devices during a voice call. A sending party and a receiving party can view a video during the voice call, enabling a live discussion of the video. During a connected voice call between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the first mobile device signals to an application server the desire to share a video with the second mobile device. The application server determines the settings and preferences of each device as well as a location of the video. The application server appropriately instructs a media server to obtain the video and transcode the video for delivery to the second mobile device, the first mobile device, and/or an external display device. The external display device is a device at the same location as the second mobile device which may receive the video instead of or in addition to the second mobile device. The media server communicates with the first mobile device, the second mobile device, and/or the external display device over a network to obtain and deliver the video. The video may be streamed to the media server from the first mobile device or the media server may otherwise locate the video from within the network. The media server streams the video to the second mobile device, the first mobile device, and/or the external display device.

Claims

1. A mobile device for receiving a shared video for a recipient having multiple video output devices, the device comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a display in communication with the processor;

an input in communication with the processor;

a transceiver in communication with the processor;

a video logic on the memory for

receiving a request to share a video with the recipient,

determining that the video should be sent to a video output device, and

sending a request to send the video to the video output device;

wherein the mobile device is connected in a voice call and the video is streamed to the video output device.

2. The mobile device in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

3. The mobile device in claim 2, wherein the determination includes determining that the mobile device is within a GPS-defined location.

4. The mobile device in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is capable of near-field communication.

5. The mobile device in claim 4, wherein the determination includes determining that the mobile device is in physical range of the video output device.

6. The mobile device in claim 1, wherein the video output device is onboard the mobile device.

7. The mobile device in claim 1, wherein the video output device is an external display device.

8. The mobile device in claim 1, wherein the external display device is one or more of a computer monitor, a television, and a set-top box.

9. A system for relaying a shared video across a network to a recipient having multiple video output devices, the system comprising:

a network;

a first mobile device in communication with the network;

a second mobile device in communication with the network;

a video output device in communication with the network;

an application server in communication with the network;

a media server in communication with the network; and

a configuration logic on the application server for

receiving a request from the first mobile device to share a video,

determining that the video should be sent to the video output device, and

instructing the media server to stream the video to the video output device.

10. The system in claim 9, wherein one or more of the first mobile device and the second mobile device controls playback of the video.

11. The system in claim 9, further comprising an external display device, wherein the video output device is onboard the external display device.

12. The system in claim 11, wherein the determination includes determining that the second mobile device is within a GPS-defined location.

13. The system in claim 11, wherein the determination includes determining that the mobile device is in physical range of the external display device.

14. The system in claim 11, wherein the external display device is one or more of a television, a set-top box, and a computer monitor.

15. The system in claim 9, further comprising a media database in communication with the media server, the media database including a plurality of videos.

16. A method for relaying a shared video across a network to a recipient having a plurality of video output devices, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first mobile device to share a video with a second mobile device connected in a voice call with the first mobile device, the first mobile device and the second mobile device connected to the network;

determining that the video should be sent to a video output device, the video output device connected to the network; and

streaming the video to the video output device.

17. The method in claim 16, wherein the video output device is onboard the second mobile device.

18. The method in claim 16, wherein the video output device is onboard an external display device.

19. The method in claim 18, wherein the determining includes determining that the mobile device is within a GPS-defined location.

20. The method in claim 18, wherein the determining includes determining that the mobile device is in physical range of the external display device.