SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC RESUMPTION OF VIDEO STREAM FOLLOWING TRANSIENT WIFI DISCONNECT

• US 20160191991A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Bruhn, Christopher William, Nguyen, Phuc H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,560,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods executable by a home based media distribution system for preserving the continuity of a video transmission following a WiFi disconnect include transmitting a media stream via a wireless access point associated with a wireless client; receiving a disconnect report from the access point; in response to the disconnect report, diverting the media stream to a digital video recorder (DVR); receiving a reconnect report from the access point; and automatically resuming the media stream from the point when the disconnect occurred.

Claims

1. A method executable by a home based media distribution system, the method comprising:

transmitting a media stream via a wireless access point associated with a wireless client;

receiving a disconnect report from the access point; and

in response to the disconnect report, diverting the media stream to a digital video recorder (DVR).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the disconnect report pertains to the status of a wireless connection between the access point and the wireless client.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless connection comprises a WiFi connection.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reconnect report from the access point.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to receiving the reconnect report, retrieving the diverted media stream from the DVR.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the retrieved media stream to the wireless client via the access point.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to receiving the reconnect report, prompting a user to select one of;

i) resuming transmission of the media stream at a point corresponding to the disconnect; and

ii) resuming near real time transmission of the media stream.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

polling the access point to obtain status information regarding the wireless connection or allowing the access point to automatically send status information regarding the wireless connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the disconnect report and reconnect report is received in response to the polling or wherein the at least one of the disconnect report and reconnect report is received automatically.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the wireless client for the media stream.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream comprises a live broadcast.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interrogating an association list maintained by the access point;

wherein the disconnect report is based on the association list.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the disconnect report is based on at least one of:

i) a number of retransmission attempts by the access point;

ii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the access point; and

iii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the wireless client.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream comprises a video stream.

15. A home based media distribution system comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) and a television receiver having a processor, a memory, and at least two television tuners, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a request from a wireless client for a video stream;

in response to the request, transmit the video stream to a wireless access point associated with the wireless client;

receive a WiFi disconnect message from the access point; and

in response to the WiFi disconnect message, record a portion of the video stream to the DVR.

16. The home based media distribution system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a WiFi restore message from the access point;

retrieve the recorded portion of the video stream from the DVR in response to the WiFi restore message; and

transmit the retrieved portion of the video stream to the wireless client via the access point.

17. The home based media distribution system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to the WiFi restore message, prompt a user to select one of;

i) resume transmission of the video stream using the recorded portion; and

ii) resume transmission of the video stream in real time.

18. The home based media distribution system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

poll the access point to obtain status information regarding the WiFi connection based on at least one of;

i) a number of retransmission attempts by the access point, ii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the access point, iii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the wireless client, iv) an association list;

or

listen for the access point to automatically send status information regarding the WiFi connection based on at least one of;

i) a number of retransmission attempts by the access point, ii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the access point, iii) a signal-to-noise level associated with the wireless client, iv) an association list.

19. The home based media distribution system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the video stream as a DLNA stream over a MoCA network.

20. A method of preserving the continuity of a video transmission in a home network following a WiFi disconnect, comprising:

receiving a request from a wireless client for a video program;

commencing streaming of the video program to the wireless client in response to the request;

receiving an indication of a WiFi disconnect between the wireless client and a wireless access point;

in response to the disconnect indication, terminating streaming to the wireless client and recording a portion of the video program to a DVR associated with the home network;

receiving an indication of a WiFi reconnect between the wireless client and the access point; and

in response to the reconnect indication, transmitting the recorded portion to the wireless client via the access point.