Mobile receiver solutions for accessing broadband video-on-demand services

• US 7,925,216 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sean S., Guzman, Jorge H., Casavant, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US11/595,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 725/100
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A communication system (10) includes a controller (10, 160) for communicating a selection list to a wireless device (28, 36). The wireless device includes a user interface (280) for selecting a selection from a selection list (452). The wireless device generates a selection signal in response to selecting and wirelessly transmits the selection signal to the controller (100, 160). The controller (100, 160) wirelessly transmits content corresponding to the selection signal to the wireless device. The controller (100, 160) may be a business service controller or a local communications controller.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a local controller wirelessly communicating a first portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile receiving device through a local network, said first portion corresponding to content available from the local controller;

a business controller remotely located from the local controller and wirelessly communicating a second portion of the selection list to the wireless device, said second portion corresponding to content available from the business controller; and

the mobile receiving device having a user interface for selecting from the selection list, the mobile receiving device generating a selection signal in response to selecting and wirelessly transmitting the selection signal to the local controller,

the local controller wirelessly transmitting content corresponding to the selection signal to the mobile receiving device when the selection signal corresponds to the first portion and transmitting the selection signal to the business controller when the selection signal corresponds to the second portion, and

the business controller communicating content directly to the mobile receiving device outside of the local network.

2. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a satellite receiver and a wireless network receiver.

3. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the selection list is received on the wireless network receiver.

4. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the selection list is received on the satellite receiver.

5. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a wireless network transmitter communicating the list selection to the local controller.

6. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the local network comprises a WiFi network.

7. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the local network comprises a WiMax network.

8. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the local network comprises a cellular network.

9. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

wirelessly communicating a first portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile receiving device from a local controller, said first portion corresponding to content available from the local controller;

wirelessly communicating a second portion of the selection list to the wireless mobile receiving device from a business controller, said second portion corresponding to content available from the local controller;

selecting from the selection list;

generating a selection signal in response to selecting;

wirelessly transmitting the selection signal to the local controller;

wirelessly transmitting content from the local controller when the selection signal corresponds to the first portion;

transmitting the selection signal to the business controller when the selection signal corresponds to the second portion;

communicating content directly to the mobile receiving device outside of the local network from the business controller; and

receiving the content at the mobile receiving device.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly communicating a second portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile receiving device comprises wirelessly communicating the second portion of the selection list to the wireless mobile receiving device from the business controller through a satellite.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising storing the content on the mobile receiving device.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting content from the local controller comprises streaming the content.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a mobile satellite receiver.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly communicating a first portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile device comprises wirelessly communicating the first portion of the selection list to the wireless mobile device through a WiFi network.

15. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly communicating a first portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile device comprises wirelessly communicating the first portion of the selection list to the wireless mobile device through a WiMax network.

16. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly communicating a first portion of a selection list to a wireless mobile device comprises wirelessly communicating the first portion of the selection list to the wireless mobile device through a cellular network.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting a selection signal comprises a wirelessly transmitting the selection signal through a WiFi network.

18. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting a selection signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the selection signal through a WiMax network.

19. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting a selection signal comprises a wirelessly transmitting the selection signal through a cellular network.

20. A method of operating a mobile receiving device comprising:

receiving a first portion of a selection list of content from a local controller, said first portion corresponding to content available from the local controller;

receiving a second portion of the selection list of content from a business controller, said second portion corresponding to content available from the business controller;

selecting a selection from the selection list at the mobile receiving device;

wirelessly transmitting the selection to the local controller from the mobile receiving device;

when the selection corresponds to the second portion communicating the selection from the local controller to the business controller;

receiving content corresponding to the selection at the mobile receiving device when the selection corresponds to the first portion;

receiving content directly outside of the local network from the business controller when the selection corresponds to the second portion; and

playing back the content using the mobile receiving device.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising storing the content on the mobile receiving device.

22. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein playing back the content comprises streaming the content.

23. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a mobile satellite receiver.

24. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein receiving a second portion of a selection list comprises receiving a second portion of the selection list through a satellite.

25. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein receiving a first portion of a selection list comprises a receiving the first portion of the selection list through a WiFi network.

26. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein receiving a first portion of a selection list comprises a receiving the first portion of the selection list through a cellular network.

27. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein wirelessly transmitting the selection comprises wirelessly transmitting the selection through a WiFi network.

28. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein wirelessly transmitting the selection comprises wirelessly transmitting the selection through a cellular network.

29. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein receiving content comprises receiving content through a stratospheric platform.