METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING USER LOCATION WITHIN VIDEO OR AUDIO CONTENT STREAMED TO A MOBILE HANDSET

• US 20140310757A1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Information Systems America Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ho, Edwin, Wai, King Sun
• Application Number:
  US14/315,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/4325 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing audio or video content to a mobile handset is provided.

Claims

1. A method for resuming playback of streamed digital content at a location where the playing of said content previously was stopped, comprising:

providing content for playback on a mobile handset;

receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;

stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;

maintaining location information identifying a location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;

receiving a second request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and

resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing content for playback on a mobile handset comprises streaming said content to said mobile handset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a timer upon providing content for playback on said mobile handset; and

stopping said timer upon receiving said first request;

wherein said location information is based on time elapsed between starting said timer and stopping said timer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

partitioning said content into multiple data blocks based on a maximum block size; and

streaming said multiple data blocks to said mobile handset one block at a time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset comprises receiving a user command to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each portion represented by each data block has a unique starting location within said content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following;

said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and

the method further comprises;

determining which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location;

wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said precise location to said mobile handset.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a new data block upon determining that none of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location, wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming said new data block to said mobile handset.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each data block represents one of the following:

a chapter of said content or a track of said content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said content comprises one or more of:

audio content and video content.

11. A system for resuming playback of streamed digital content at a location where the playing of said content previously was stopped, comprising:

a service unit configured to;

stream content to a mobile handset;

receive a first request from said mobile handset to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;

stop streaming of said content to said mobile handset in response to said first request;

maintain location information identifying a location within said content where streaming of said content to said mobile handset was stopped;

receive a second request from said mobile handset to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset; and

resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the service unit is further configured to:

start a timer upon initiating said streaming of said content to said mobile handset; and

stop said timer upon receiving said first request;

wherein said location information is based on time elapsed between the start and stop of said timer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the service unit is further configured to:

partition said content into multiple data blocks based on a maximum block size; and

stream said multiple data blocks to said mobile handset one block at a time.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the service unit is further configured to:

generate multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each portion represented by each data block has a unique starting location within said content.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following;

said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and

the service unit is further configured to;

determine which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said particular location;

wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset is resumed at said particular location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said particular location to said mobile handset.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the service unit is further configured to:

generate a new data block upon determining that none of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said particular location, wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset is resumed at said particular location by streaming said new data block to said mobile handset.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein each data block represents one of the following:

a chapter of said content, a track of said content.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said content comprises one or more of:

audio content and video content.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions which when executed on

a computer performs a method comprising:

providing content for playback on a mobile handset;

receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;

stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;

maintaining location information identifying a location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;

receiving a second request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and

resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein:

said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following;

said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and

the method further comprises;

generating multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each data block has a unique starting location within said content; and

determining which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location;

wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said precise location to said mobile handset.

21. A method for playing digital content on a mobile handset, comprising:

receiving a first request to play content on said mobile handset;

initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;

receiving a second request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;

stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request;

gathering information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;

receiving a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and

resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request comprises:

requesting said content from a service unit;

receiving a stream of said content from said service unit; and

playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request further comprises initiating a timer upon playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset;

stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request comprises stopping said timer; and

gathering information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped comprises;

gathering information representing time elapsed between initiating said timer and stopping said timer; and

transmitting said gathered information to said service unit, wherein said service unit determines said first location based on said gathered information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said second request receiving a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset comprises;

transmitting a command to said service unit to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset;

receiving said first location from said service unit; and

displaying said first location on said mobile handset;

wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset resumes from said first location upon receiving a user command to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at said first location.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said content comprises one or more of:

audio content and video content.

26. A system for playing digital content, comprising:

a mobile handset configured to;

receive a first request to play content on said mobile handset;

initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;

receive a second request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;

stop playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request;

gather information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;

receive a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and

resume playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said mobile handset is further configured to initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset by:

requesting said content from a service unit;

receiving a stream of said content from said service unit; and

playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein:

said mobile handset is further configured to initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset by initiating a timer upon playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset;

said mobile handset is further configured to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset by stopping said timer; and

said mobile handset is further configured to gather information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped by;

gathering information representing time elapsed between initiating said timer and stopping said timer; and

transmitting said gathered information to said service unit, wherein said service unit determines said first location based on said gathered information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said mobile handset is further configured to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request by:

transmitting a command to said service unit to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset;

receiving said first location from said service unit; and

displaying said first location on said mobile handset;

wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset resumes from said first location upon receiving a user command to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at said first location.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein said content comprises one or more of:

audio content and video content.