Method and system for selecting transmission modes for streaming media content to a wireless handset access technology

• US 7,593,686 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Knoop, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Huy Q
• Application Number:
  US10/059,538
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/517, 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/466, 455/574, 455/464, 455/62, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/514, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/203, 709/227
• US Class Current: 455/3.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A wireless handset may connect to a media server in order to receive streaming media content. The wireless handset may send the media server one or more indications of the wireless handset'"'"'s presentation capabilities. In response, the media server may send the wireless handset a list of media content and transmission modes, and the list of media content and transmission modes may be tailored, at least in part, based on the presentation capabilities of the wireless handset. A user of the wireless handset may then select from the list of media content, and the media server may stream the media content to the wireless handset using the selected transmission mode.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a transmission mode for streaming media content to a wireless handset, the method comprising:

presenting on the wireless handset a set of choices indicating transmission modes for streaming media content to the wireless handset, wherein the set of choices is tailored based on at least one presentation capability of the wireless handset;

receiving from a user of the wireless handset an indication of a transmission mode selected from the set of choices;

sending from the wireless handset to a media server an indication of the selected transmission mode;

receiving a list of available media content, wherein all media content in the list of available media content is compatible with the indicated transmission mode;

receiving from a user a selection of one of the media content in the list of available media content; and

receiving into the wireless handset the selected media content streamed from the media server at the selected transmission mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the set of choices from the media server to the wireless handset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the media server establishing the set of choices to send to the wireless handset.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending from the wireless handset to the media server a capability indication for the wireless handset; and

the media server using the capability indication as a basis to establish the set of choices to send to the wireless handset.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein sending a capability indication further comprises sending from the wireless handset to the media server a SIP INVITE message containing an SDP structure that indicates the capability indication.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein sending a capability indication further comprises sending from the wireless handset to the media server an indication of a make and model of the wireless handset.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the capability indication indicates the at least one presentation capability and wherein the at least one presentation capability defines a capability of a media player application.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the media content defines a type, the method further comprising:

the media server using the type of the media content as a basis to establish the set of choices to send to the wireless handset.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the capability indication indicates the at least one presentation capability and wherein the at least one presentation capability is selected by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one presentation capability defines a presentation capability of a media player application.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one presentation capability includes a plurality of presentation capabilities.

12. A wireless handset comprising:

a processor;

data storage;

a screen display;

transmission-choice logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to present on the screen display a set of choices indicating available transmission modes for streaming media to the wireless handset, wherein the available transmission modes are based at least in part on a presentation capability of the wireless handset, (ii) to receive a user selection of one of the choices, and (iii) to send to a media server an indication of the selected transmission mode;

selection logic, stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive from the media server a list of available media content, wherein all media content in the list of available media content is compatible with the selected transmission mode, (ii) to receive a user selection of one of the available media content from the list, and (iii) to provide the selection of the one of the available media content to the media server; and

media playing logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive media streamed from the media server to the wireless handset at the selected transmission mode and (ii) to present the streamed media to the user.

13. A media server comprising:

a processor;

data storage;

media content stored in the data storage;

transmission-choice logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor, in response to a request from a wireless handset to receive streaming media from the media server, (i) to send to the wireless handset a set of choices indicating transmission modes available for streaming the media content to the wireless handset, wherein the set of choices indicating transmission modes is based, at least in part, on a presentation capability of the wireless handset, and (ii) to then receive from the wireless handset an indication of a transmission mode selected by a user of the wireless handset;

list logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to i) establish a list of available media content, wherein all media content in the list is compatible with the indicated transmission mode, ii) to send the list to the wireless handset, and iii) to receive from the wireless handset and indication of one of the media content in the list;

media streaming logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to stream the indicated media content to the wireless handset at the transmission mode selected by the user;

choice-establishment logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to establish the set of choices; and

capability-logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to receive from the wireless handset a capability indication for the wireless handset.

14. The media server of claim 13, wherein the media content defines a type, and wherein the choice-establishment logic is executable by the processor to establish the set of choices based at least in part on the type of the media content.

15. The media server of claim 13, wherein the choice-establishment logic is executable by the processor to establish the set of choices based at least in part on the capability indication.

16. A method for streaming media content to a wireless handset, the method comprising:

providing a user of the wireless handset with a list of media content choices;

determining a list of permissible transmission modes for a selected media content choice, the selected media content choice having been selected by the user from the list of media content choices;

providing the user with the list of permissible transmission modes for the selected media content choice, wherein the list of permissible transmission modes is tailored to the presentation capabilities of the wireless handset;

receiving into the wireless handset the selected media content choice at a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode having been selected by the user from the list of permissible transmission modes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining a list of permissible transmission modes for a selected media content choice comprises:

identifying a full set of transmission modes; and

removing from the full set of transmission modes any transmission mode that is not supported by the wireless handset.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining a list of permissible transmission modes for a selected media content choice comprises:

identifying a fill set of transmission modes; and

removing from the full set of transmission modes any transmission mode that is unnecessary for the media type of the selected media content choice.