Method and mobile terminal for accessing a service portal via bi-directional network

• US 7,711,315 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lahnalampi, Timo, Vermola, Larri, Paavilainen, Jouko, Aaltonen, Erkki I., Naumi, Tero, Prokki, Kai-Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US10/574,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/518, 455/519, 455/434, 455/515, 455/520, 455/550.1, 455/553.1, 709/223, 725/4, 725/37, 725/41, 725/39, 725/48, 725/56, 725/62, 725/63, 725/117, 725/118, 725/123, 725/133, 725/38, 725/54, 725/55, 725/57, 725/58, 725/112, 370/312, 370/432, 370/310, 370/328, 386/68
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26606 for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64315 DVB-H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A user of a combined mobile telephone and IPDC receiver (10) accesses a WAP portal (16) through the Internet (82) and/or a mobile telephone network (81). The WAP portal (16) provides a service menu, comprising a number of links to service menus further down in the hierarchy or to IPDC services. The WAP portal (16) is provided with information relating to IPDC services by an IPDC operator (80). This information includes at least the name of the service, the IP address and the port number relating to each service. The information may additionally include a Network Information Table, IP/MAC Notification Table and Program Mapping Table, although this information may be provided to the mobile terminal instead by broadcast from a DVB transmitter (13). When a user of the mobile terminal (10) selects an item on the service menu presented by the WAP portal (16) which relate to IPDC service, the WAP portal pushes information relating to that service to the mobile terminal (10), allowing the mobile terminal to open an appropriate IP channel and consequently receive and consume the IPDC service.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a service portal via a bi-directional network to receive a service menu;

selecting an item on a the service menu and corresponding to a broadcast service;

receiving channel parameter data relating to the corresponding broadcast service from the service portal via the bi-directional network;

receiving service information data relating to the corresponding broadcast service;

using the received channel parameter data and the service information data to open a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network; and

receiving broadcast data for the broadcast service through the broadcast communications channel.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the channel parameter data includes an Internet protocol address and/or a port number relating to the broadcast service.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the service information data comprises one or more of an IP/MAC notification table, a network information table, and a program mapping table.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising receiving the service information data from the service portal via the bi-directional network.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising receiving the service information data over the broadcast network.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising receiving data from the service portal identifying an application, and, in response, opening the application in the mobile terminal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the service portal is a wireless application protocol service.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sending data identifying a subscriber, the mobile terminal and/or terminal capabilities to the service portal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising reading the service information data from a memory included in the terminal.

10. A mobile terminal comprising:

means for accessing a service portal via a bi-directional network to receive a service menu;

means for allowing selection of an item on the service menu and corresponding to a broadcast service;

means for receiving from the service portal channel parameter data relating to the broadcast service via the bi-directional network;

means for receiving service information data relating to the corresponding broadcast service;

means for opening a broadcast communications channel via a broadcasting network separate from the bi-directional network by using the channel parameter data and the service information data; and

means for receiving broadcast data for the broadcast service through the broadcast communications channel.

11. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, in which the channel parameter data includes an Internet protocol address and/or a port number relating to the broadcast service.

12. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, in which the service information data comprises one or more of an IP/MAC notification table, a network information table, and a program mapping table.

13. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, comprising means responsive to data received from the service portal identifying an application for opening the application in the terminal.

14. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, comprising means for reading the service information data from a memory included in the terminal.

15. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, arranged to receive the service information data from the service portal.

16. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, arranged to receive the service information data over a broadcast network.

17. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, in which the service portal is a wireless application protocol service.

18. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for sending data identifying a subscriber, the terminal and/or terminal capabilities to the service portal.

19. A method of operating a server, the method comprising:

storing data relating to channel parameters of one or more broadcast services;

receiving a request from a user terminal for accessing a service portal stored in the server over a bi-directional network;

providing over the bi-directional network one or more selectable items on a service menu included in the service portal, each item relating to a broadcast service; and

in response to the selection of an item from the user terminal, sending channel parameter data relating to the corresponding broadcast service to the user terminal, wherein the channel parameter data includes one or more instructions to access a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising recording the number of occasions of each item being selected.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising:

determining which services the terminal is capable of consuming and/or is permitted to access, and

providing on the service menu only items relating to appropriate services.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising:

determining whether the terminal is capable of consuming and/or is permitted to access the broadcast service relating to the selected item, and in response to a negative determination, providing a service menu listing one or more appropriate services.

23. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising transmitting data identifying an application suitable for consuming the broadcast service.

24. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprising:

determining whether the terminal is capable of consuming and/or is permitted to access the broadcast service relating to the selected item, and in response to a negative determination, providing a service menu listing one or more appropriate services.

25. An apparatus comprising:

an operator system including at least one transceiver and software, wherein the operator system is configured to;

store data relating to channel parameters of one or more broadcast services;

to receive a request from a user terminal for accessing a service portal stored in the apparatus over a bi-directional network;

provide over the bi-directional network one or more selectable items on a service menu included in the service portal, each of said one or more selectable items on said service menu relating to a broadcast service; and

be responsive to the selection of an item by the user terminal to send channel parameter data relating to the corresponding broadcast service to the user terminal, wherein the apparatus is a service portal and wherein the channel parameter data includes one or more instructions to access a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator system is further configured to record the number of occasions of each item being selected.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator system is further configured to determine services the terminal is capable of consuming and/or is permitted to access, and to provide on the service menu only items relating to appropriate services.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator system is further configured to determine whether the terminal is capable of consuming and/or is permitted to access the broadcast service relating to a selected item, and responsive to a negative determination to provide a service menu listing one or more appropriate services.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator system is further configured to transmit data identifying an application suitable for consuming the broadcast service.

30. A system comprising a service portal accessible via a bi-directional network by a mobile terminal,

the service portal being arranged to provide over the bi-directional network a service menu comprising one or more items each corresponding to a broadcast service;

the mobile terminal being arranged for allowing selection of one of the items over the bi-directional network;

the service portal being responsive to an item selection to send to the mobile terminal channel parameter information via the bi-directional network, the channel parameter information relating to the corresponding broadcast service;

the mobile terminal being arranged for receiving service information data relating to the corresponding broadcast service;

the mobile terminal being arranged to use the channel parameter information and the service information to open a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network, and to receive broadcast data for the broadcast service through the broadcast communications channel.

31. A method of operating a system comprising a service portal and a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

accessing the service portal from the mobile terminal via a bi-directional network;

providing a service menu comprising one or more items each corresponding to a broadcast service;

using the mobile terminal to select one of the items;

sending channel parameter information from the service portal to the mobile terminal over the bi-directional network, the channel parameter information relating to the broadcast service;

at the mobile terminal, using the received channel parameter information to open a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network; and

at the mobile terminal, receiving broadcast data for the broadcast service through the broadcast communications channel.

32. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile terminal including at least one transceiver and software, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to;

access a service portal via a bi-directional network;

allow selection of an item on a service menu included in the service portal and corresponding to a broadcast service;

receive from the service portal channel parameter data relating to the broadcast service the channel parameter data being received via the bi-directional network;

to receive service information data relating to the broadcast service;

open a broadcast communications channel via a broadcast network separate from the bi-directional network by using the channel parameter data and the service information; and

receive broadcast data for the broadcast service through the broadcast communications channel,

wherein the apparatus is a mobile terminal.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, in which the channel parameter data includes an Internet protocol address and/or a port number relating to the broadcast service.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, in which the service information data comprises one or more of an IP/MAC notification table, a network information table, and a program mapping table.

35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to receive the service information data from the service portal.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to receive the service information data over a broadcast network.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to be responsive to data received from the service portal identifying an application to open the application in the terminal.

38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, in which the service portal is a wireless application protocol service.

39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to send data identifying a subscriber, the terminal and/or terminal capabilities to the service portal.

40. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to read the service information data from a memory in the mobile terminal.