Method and system for providing transmission of selected media programs to a wireless subscriber

• US 6,600,918 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gillespie, Donald E., Nabkel, Jafar, Youngs, Edward A., Siegel-Jacobs, Karen, Benson, Harvey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/447,138
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/426, 455/344, 455/550, 455/552, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/414, 455/419, 455/11.1, 455/517, 455/518, 370/395, 370/396, 370/352-357, 370/913, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method and system for providing transmission of a selected media program to a wireless handset includes a source provider, such as a wireless network or a wireless handset, for receiving a transmission from at least one media program provider. At least one wireless handset transmits a request selecting one of the media programs. In response thereto, the source provider simultaneously transmits the selected media program to each of the wireless handsets.

Claims

1. A method for providing transmission of a selected media program to a wireless handset deployed in a wireless network having at least one cell site coverage area associated therewith, the method comprising:

receiving at least one transmission comprising a media program from each of a plurality of media program providers, wherein one of the plurality of media program providers comprises a source wireless handset;

receiving a request from at least one wireless handset selecting one of the at least one media programs; and

simultaneously transmitting the selected media program to each of the at least one wireless handset.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless handset includes a first wireless handset and a second wireless handset and wherein simultaneously transmitting the selected media program includes transmitting the selected media program to the first and second wireless handsets via first and second wireless receive channels, respectively, wherein the second wireless receive channel is different from the first wireless receive channel.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless handset includes a first and second wireless handset and wherein simultaneously transmitting the selected media program includes simultaneously transmitting the selected media program to both the first and second wireless handsets via a first wireless receive channel.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the request includes receiving a signal from the at least one wireless handset, wherein the signal is a predetermined number.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the request includes receiving a signal from the at least one wireless handset, wherein the signal is a single key depression prompted by the at least one wireless handset.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless handset is located within direct communication proximity to the source handset and wherein simultaneously transmitting the selected media program includes directly transmitting the selected media program from the source handset to the at least one wireless handset.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless handset is located outside direct communication proximity to the source handset and wherein simultaneously transmitting the selected media program includes indirectly transmitting the selected media program from the source handset to the at least one wireless handset via the wireless network.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein any one of the media programs is pre recorded.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein any one of the media programs is a real-time transmission.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media programs include at least one of an audio, video and data program.

11. A system for providing transmission of a selected media program to a wireless handset deployed in a wireless network having at least one cell site coverage area associated therewith, the system comprising:

a source provider for receiving a transmission of a media program from at least one media program provider, wherein the source provider comprises a source wireless handset;

at least one wireless handset for transmitting a request selecting a media program; and

wherein the source provider is further operative to simultaneously transmit the selected media program to each of the at least one wireless handset.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset includes a first wireless handset and a second wireless handset and wherein the source provider, in simultaneously transmitting the selected media program, is further operative to simultaneously transmit the selected media program to the first and second wireless handsets via first and second wireless receive channels, respectively, wherein the second wireless receive channel is different from the first wireless receive channel.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset includes a first wireless handset and a second wireless handset and wherein the source provider, in simultaneously transmitting the selected media program, is further operative to simultaneously transmit the selected media program to both the first and second wireless handsets via a first wireless receive channel.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset, in transmitting the request, is further operative to transmit a signal corresponding to a predetermined number.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset, in transmitting the request, is further operative to transmit a signal corresponding to a single key depression prompted by the at least one wireless handset.

16. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the source provider is the wireless network.

17. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset is located within direct communication proximity to the source handset and wherein the source wireless handset is operative to directly transmit the selected media program to the at least one wireless handset.

18. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one wireless handset is located outside direct communication proximity to the source handset and wherein the source wireless handset is operative to indirectly transmit the selected media program to the at least one wireless handset via the wireless network.

19. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein any one of the media programs is pre-recorded.

20. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein any one of the media programs is a real-time transmission.

21. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the media programs include at least one of audio, video and data programs.