Graphical indication of a proximately located device

• US 7,336,925 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Zilliacus, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/281,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 4551021-1023, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/522, 725/131, 725/135, 725/139, 725/81, 725/25
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A system for displaying a graphical indication of a proximately located device is disclosed. When a mobile terminal (e.g., a mobile telephone) equipped with short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth or wi-fi) as well as conventional long-range communications capabilities comes within range of set top box (e.g., a digital broadcast receiver), the set top box (STB) overlays an icon over the broadcast screen image indicating that a mobile terminal is present that can be used as a back channel to the cable operator. The overlaid icon may be presented in differing colors to indicate various characteristics of the mobile terminal, e.g., a type of the mobile terminal (phone vs. PDA) or a capability of the mobile terminal (e.g., ability to establish a GPRS or other data connection). A user of the STB can then use interactive services offered by the cable operator, and deliver interactive selections and commands to the cable operator via the mobile terminal back channel.

Claims

1. A set top box, comprising:

an input port configured to receives a video broadcast signal;

a short-range transceiver configured to communicating with mobile terminals within a coverage area of the short-range transceiver providing an interface for detecting at least one mobile terminal entering the coverage area and determining whether the at least one detected mobile terminal is capable of hosting a back channel to a broadcast provider that provides the video broadcast signal;

an overlay module configured to modify the video broadcast signal including overlaying an icon over the received video broadcast signal in response to determining that the short-range transceiver is communicating with the at least one mobile terminal capable of hosting a back channel; and

a video encoder configured to outputs the modified video broadcast signal for display on a display device.

2. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the video broadcast signal comprises a digital video signal.

3. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the short-range transceiver comprises a short-range RF transceiver.

4. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the overlay module is configured to select the icon from a plurality of icons based on a type of the mobile terminal.

5. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the overlay module is configured to select a color of the icon from a plurality of colors based on a status of availability of the back channel.

6. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the overlay module is configured to select a color of the icon from a plurality of colors based on a status of availability of interactive services.

7. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising a television.

8. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the overlay module modifies the video broadcast signal when a back-channel is established with the broadcast provider via the mobile terminal.

9. A broadcast signal receiver comprising:

a broadcast stream input port configured to receive a broadcast data signal from a broadcast provider;

a short-range RF transceiver configured to detect RF-enabled mobile terminals entering a coverage area and determining whether at least one of the detected mobile terminals is configured to host a back-channel to the broadcast provider that provides the broadcast signal, wherein upon determining at least one detected mobile terminal is configured to host a back-channel, communicating with the at least one short-range RF-enabled mobile terminal configured to host a back channel to the broadcast provider that provides the broadcast data signal;

an overlay logic module for modifying the broadcast data signal by overlaying an icon over the input broadcast data signal when a back channel has been established through the short-range RF-enabled mobile terminal to the broadcast provider; and

an output port for outputting the modified broadcast data signal for display on a display device.

10. The broadcast signal receiver of claim 9, wherein the broadcast data signal comprises a digital video signal.

11. The broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the overlay module selects the icon from a plurality of icons based on a type of the mobile terminal.

12. The broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the overlay logic module selects a color of the icon from a plurality of colors based on a status of availability of the back channel.

13. The broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the overlay modules selects a color of the icon from a plurality of colors based on a status of availability of interactive services.

14. The broadcast receiver of claim 9, further comprising a television.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a video broadcast signal;

communicating with mobile terminals within a coverage area of the short-range transceiver and providing an interface for detecting at least one mobile terminal entering the coverage area configured to determine whether the at least one detected mobile terminal is capable of hosting a back channel to a broadcast provider that provides the video broadcast signal;

modifying the video broadcast signal including overlaying an icon over the received video broadcast signal in response to determining that the short-range transceiver is communicating with the at least one mobile terminal capable of hosting a back channel, wherein the overlay module selects the icon from a plurality of icons based on criteria selected from the group consisting of;

the type of the mobile terminal, characteristics of the mobile terminal, capabilities of the mobile terminal and combinations thereof.