Methods, systems and apparatus for displaying the multimedia information from wireless communication networks

• US 8,224,381 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovation Sciences, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sellerbid Incorporated (Innovation Sciences, LLC)
• Inventors: Halal, William E., Wang, Tiehong Ann, Wang, Ximing, Wang, Tiejun
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US13/397,156
• Time in Patent Office: 153 Days
• Field of Search: 455/500, 455/418, 455/420, 455/3.06, 455/566, 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/66.1, 455/414.1, 375/240.01, 375/240.02, 375/240.18, 348/14.07, 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 348/384.1, 348/441
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/02 Handling of images in compressed format, e.g. JPEG, MPEG
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/12 Use of DVI or HDMI protocol in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/70 characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/85 using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0125 one of the standards being a high definition standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Video signals for a mobile terminal are converted to accommodate reproduction by an alternative display terminal. The video signal is processed to provide a converted video signal appropriate for an alternative display terminal that is separate from the mobile terminal. This converted video signal is then provided for the alternative display terminal to accommodate the corresponding video display on a screen provided by the alternative (e.g., external) display terminal.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals to accommodate reproduction by an alternative display terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, by a conversion device, a video signal appropriate for displaying a video content on a mobile terminal, the video signal being sent from a wireless network communication;

processing, by the conversion device, the video signal to produce a converted video signal for use by the alternative display terminal, wherein the processing by the conversion device includes converting a signal format appropriate for the mobile terminal to a different format for output to the alternative display terminal, such that the converted video signal produced by the conversion device comprises a high definition television (HDTV) digital signal for output to the alternative display terminal; and

providing the converted video signal from the conversion device to the alternative display terminal through a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) to accommodate displaying the video content by the alternative display terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the video signal, processing the video to produce the converted video signal, and providing the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal are performed using power from a source that differs from the internal power supply of the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversion device resides in a housing of the alternative display terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the video signal received by the conversion device is part of a multimedia signal that is originally received by the mobile terminal before it is received by the conversion device from the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network communication includes a cellular network communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting the signal format to the different format comprises encoding the video signal according to HDMI requirements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversion device resides in the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversion device includes the mobile terminal and an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the alternative display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal receives power through a connection to the alternative display.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal receives the video signal sent from the wireless network communication, and provides the video signal to a housing through a housing interface, such that said receiving of the video signal is through the housing interface of the housing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing comprises setting the converted video signal to have a power level required by the alternative display terminal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the video signal, processing the video signal to provide the converted video signal, and providing the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal are performed in an intermediate device that is separate from the mobile terminal and the alternative display terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the intermediate device receives an RF signal that includes the video signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network communication includes a wireless local area network communication.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a housing having a housing interface is configured to interface with the mobile terminal, and wherein the housing provides the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal through the HDMI.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said processing the video signal occurs in the housing.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code for operating a conversion device, the program code being executable to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the conversion device, a video signal appropriate for displaying a video content on a mobile terminal, the video signal being sent from a wireless network communication;

processing, by the conversion device, the video signal to produce a converted video signal for use by an alternative display terminal, wherein the processing by the conversion device includes converting a signal format appropriate for the mobile terminal to a different format for output to the alternative display terminal, such that the converted video signal produced by the conversion device comprises a high definition television (HDTV) digital signal for output to the alternative display terminal; and

providing the converted video signal from the conversion device to the alternative display terminal through a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) to accommodate displaying the video content by the alternative display terminal.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mobile terminal is a personal digital assistant.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein receiving the video signal, processing the video to produce the converted video signal, and providing the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal are performed using power from a source that differs from the internal power supply of the mobile terminal.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the conversion device resides in a housing of the alternative display terminal.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the video signal received by the conversion device is part of a multimedia signal that is originally received by the mobile terminal before it is received by the conversion device from the mobile terminal.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the wireless network communication includes a cellular network communication.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein said converting the signal format to the different format comprises encoding the video signal according to HDMI requirements.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the conversion device resides in the mobile terminal.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mobile terminal receives power through a connection to the alternative display.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mobile terminal receives the video signal sent from the wireless network communication, and provides the video signal to a housing through a housing interface, such that said receiving of the video signal is through the housing interface of the housing.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein said processing comprises setting the converted video signal to have a power level required by the alternative display terminal.

31. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the wireless network communication includes a wireless local area network communication.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein a housing having a housing interface is configured to interface with the mobile terminal, and wherein the housing provides the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal through the HDMI.

33. An apparatus for converting video signals, the apparatus comprising:

an input interface for receiving a video signal appropriate for displaying a video content on a mobile terminal, the video signal being sent from a wireless network communication;

a processing unit for processing the video signal to produce a converted video signal for use by an alternative display terminal, wherein the processing includes converting a signal format appropriate for the mobile terminal to a different format for output to the alternative display terminal, such that the converted video signal produced by the processing unit comprises a high definition television (HDTV) digital signal for output to the alternative display terminal; and

an output interface for providing the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal through a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) to accommodate displaying the video content by the alternative display terminal.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mobile terminal is a personal digital assistant.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising means for providing power to provide power for receiving the video signal, processing the video to produce the converted video signal, and providing the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the video signal received by the processing unit is part of a multimedia signal that is originally received by the mobile terminal before it is received by the processing unit from the mobile terminal.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the wireless network communication includes a cellular network communication.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said converting the signal format to the different format comprises encoding the video signal according to HDMI requirements.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit resides in the mobile terminal.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mobile terminal receives power through a connection to the alternative display.

42. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mobile terminal receives the video signal sent from the wireless network communication, and provides the video signal to a housing through a housing interface, such that said receiving of the video signal is through the housing interface of the housing.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said processing comprises setting the converted video signal to have a power level required by the alternative display terminal.

44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus comprises multiple hardware components for carrying out said processing of the video signal.

45. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the wireless network communication includes a wireless local area network communication.

46. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a housing having a housing interface is configured to interface with the mobile terminal, and wherein the housing provides the converted video signal to the alternative display terminal through the HDMI.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein at least a portion of said processing the video signal occurs in the housing.