Streaming content delivery management for a wireless communication device

• US 8,346,955 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lee, Woo Jae, Bertz, Lyle T., Perez, Cesar, Klaumann, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US12/611,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/231, 709/233
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication interface, a user interface, and a processing system. The wireless communication interface is configured to receive streaming content from a communication system. The user interface is configured to display the streaming content in a plurality of windows. The processing system is configured to monitor a screen arrangement of the wireless communication device and determine an amount that each of the windows is covered, and if the amount exceeds a threshold value, to initiate a packet indicating a source packet address of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window. The wireless communication interface is further configured to transfer the packet to the communication system, wherein the communication system receives the packet, and in response, ceases transmission of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to receive streaming content from a communication system;

a user interface configured to display the streaming content in a plurality of windows;

a processing system configured to monitor a screen arrangement of the wireless communication device and determine an amount that each of the windows is covered from view to a user, and if the amount exceeds a threshold value, to initiate a packet indicating at least a source packet address and a source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window; and

the wireless communication interface further configured to transfer the packet to the communication system, wherein the communication system receives the packet, and in response, ceases transmission of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window to the wireless communication device based on at least the source packet address and the source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the source packet address comprises an Internet Protocol address of a content provider of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the threshold value is fifty percent.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the amount that each of the windows is covered is the amount that each of the windows is not visible to a user of the wireless communication device.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device assigns a priority to each of the windows, and the threshold value for each of the windows is based on the priority assigned to each of the windows.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the threshold value is set by a user of the wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the amount that each of the windows is covered exceeds the threshold value if the window is minimized.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the amount that each of the windows is covered exceeds the threshold value if a display screen of the wireless communication device is turned off.

9. A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

receiving streaming content from a communication system;

displaying the streaming content in a plurality of windows;

monitoring a screen arrangement of the wireless communication device and determining an amount that each of the windows is covered from view to a user, and if the amount exceeds a threshold value, initiating a packet indicating at least a source packet address and a source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window; and

transferring the packet to the communication system, wherein the communication system receives the packet, and in response, ceases transmission of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window to the wireless communication device based on at least the source packet address and the source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the source packet address comprises an Internet Protocol address of a content provider of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the threshold value is fifty percent.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the amount that each of the windows is covered is the amount that each of the windows is not visible to a user of the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising assigning a priority to each of the windows, and wherein the threshold value for each of the windows is based on the priority assigned to each of the windows.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the threshold value is set by a user of the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the amount that each of the windows is covered exceeds the threshold value if the window is minimized.

16. A wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to receive streaming content from a communication system;

a user interface configured to display the streaming content in a plurality of windows;

a processing system configured to monitor a screen arrangement of the wireless communication device and determine an amount that each of the windows is covered, and if the amount exceeds a threshold value, to initiate a packet indicating a source packet address and a source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window; and

the wireless communication interface further configured to transfer the packet to the communication system, wherein the communication system receives the packet, and in response, ceases transmission of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window to the wireless communication device based on the source packet address and the source port of the streaming content being displayed in the covered window.