Methods and apparatus for providing media on mobile devices

• US 8,165,598 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MobiTV Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Tran, Monica, Peacock, Gavin, Roseborough, James, Lowell, David, Nallan, Aravind, Farmer, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHEN, EMEM O
• Application Number:
  US11/859,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.3, 455/414.3, 725 50- 54, 725 60- 62, 725 301- 306
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms are provided for sending targeted content and data to mobile devices. Location information associated with a device is determined. In some instances, the location information is manually entered. In other instances, the location information is determined automatically from characteristics associated with the device. Location information can be obtained from global positioning system (GPS) data, cell-site triangulation, Internet Protocol (IP) address detection, etc. Content and advertising can be provided in a location relevant manner to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a location associated with a mobile device, the mobile device operable to play a media stream;

receiving a request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device, the request associated with a first block of channels;

sending program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the first block of channels, the program guide information corresponding to a first time slot;

receiving a subsequent request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device, the subsequent request associated with a second block of channels not included in the first block of channels, the subsequent request triggered by user interaction with the mobile device;

sending additional program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the second block of channels, the additional program guide information corresponding to the same first time slot.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for a program included in the program guide information;

sending the program with advertising corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the program is played using a streaming media application included on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using global positioning system (GPS) data from the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using user entered data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using cell site triangulation information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using TDOA (time-difference-on-arrival) measurements.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending targeted advertising corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor operable to identify a location associated with a mobile device, the mobile device operable to play a media stream;

an interface operable to receive a request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and a first block of channels and send program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the first block of channels, the program guide information corresponding to a first time slot;

wherein the interface is further operable to receive a subsequent request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device, the subsequent request associated with a second block of channels not included in the first block of channels, the subsequent request triggered by user interaction with the mobile device, the interface configured to send for sending additional program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the second block of channels, the additional program guide information corresponding to the same first time slot.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is further operable to receive a request for a program included in the program guide information and send the program with advertising corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the program is played using a streaming media application included on the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using global positioning system (GPS) data from the mobile device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using user entered data.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using cell site triangulation information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using TDOA (time-difference-on-arrival) measurements.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising sending targeted advertising corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying a location associated with a mobile device, the mobile device operable to play a media stream;

means for receiving a request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device, the request associated with a first block of channels;

means for sending program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the first block of channels, the program guide information corresponding to a first time slot;

means for receiving a subsequent request for program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device, the subsequent request associated with a second block of channels not included in the first block of channels, the subsequent request triggered by user interaction with the mobile device;

means for sending additional program guide information corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device and the second block of channels, the additional program guide information corresponding to the same first time slot.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for a program included in the program guide information;

means for sending the program with advertising corresponding to the location associated with the mobile device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the program is played using a streaming media application included on the mobile device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using global positioning system (GPS) data from the mobile device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using user entered data.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using cell site triangulation information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the location associated with the mobile device is identified using TDOA (time-difference-on-arrival) measurements.