Method and system for providing transmission of selected media programs to a wireless subscriber

• US 8,364,126 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Youngs, Edward A., Nabkel, Jafar, Gillespie, Donald E., Benson, Harvey J., Siegel-Jacobs, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANOHARAN, MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY
• Application Number:
  US10/601,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,508 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/418, 455/11.1, 455/3.04, 455/419, 455/556.1, 455/519, 455/413.3, 370/341, 370/319, 370/320, 370/321, 370/329, 370/322, 725/62, 725/105, 725/106, 725/123
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method and system for providing transmission of a selected media program to a wireless handset includes a source provider, such as a wireless network or a wireless handset, for receiving a transmission from at least one media program provider. At least one wireless handset transmits a request selecting one of the media programs. In response thereto, the source provider simultaneously transmits the selected media program to each of the wireless handsets.

Claims

1. A method for providing transmission of a selected media program to a plurality of wireless handsets deployed in a wireless network having at least one cell site coverage area associated therewith, the method comprising:

receiving a first request to receive a selected media program from a first wireless handset in a first cell site coverage area, the request corresponding to a selection from a list of available media programs presented to a subscriber on a display of the wireless handset;

establishing a wireless channel upon which to broadcast the selected media program in the cell site coverage area;

broadcasting the selected media program to the first wireless handset over the wireless channel as a one-way phone call having no return audio-path, wherein, if it is determined that the first wireless handset can receive only a portion of the media program, broadcasting the selected media program comprises transmitting only the portion of the media program that the first wireless handset can receive;

establishing a return data-command path over the wireless channel adapted to receive a media selection or a phone call from the first wireless handset;

receiving a second request to receive the selected media program from a second wireless handset;

determining whether the second wireless handset is located within the first cell site coverage area; and

transmitting the selected media program to the second wireless handset, based on a determination of whether the second wireless handset is located within the first cell site coverage area.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected media program comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

a cable program, a television program, a satellite program, and a radio program.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected media program comprises a pre-recorded media program.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected media program comprises a real-time transmission.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected media program comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

audio program, video program, and data transmission.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

determining whether the second handset is located within the first cell site coverage area comprises determining that the second wireless handset is not located within the first cell site coverage area; and

transmitting the selected media program to the second wireless handset comprises transmitting the selected media program using an available wireless channel in a second cell site coverage area in which the second wireless handset is located.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

determining whether the second handset is located within the first cell site coverage area comprises determining that the second wireless handset is located within the first cell site coverage area; and

transmitting the selected media program to the second wireless handset comprises transmitting the selected media program using second wireless channel upon which to transmit the selected media program.

8. A system for providing transmission of a selected media program to a plurality of wireless handsets deployed in a wireless network having at least one cell site coverage area associated therewith, the system comprising:

a source provider configured to receive a transmission of a media program from at least one media program provider, the source provider being further operative to broadcast the selected media program to a first wireless handset in a first cell site coverage area, via a wireless channel; and

a wireless network configured to broadcast the selected media program from the source provider to the first wireless handset;

wherein the source provider is further configured to;

in response to a request for a requested media program, the request corresponding to a selection from a list of available media programs presented to a subscriber on a display of the handset, establish a wireless channel upon which to broadcast the requested media program in the cell site coverage area;

broadcast the requested media program to the wireless handset over the wireless channel as a one-way phone call having no return audio-path, wherein, if it is determined that the first wireless handset can receive only a portion of the media program, broadcasting the selected media program comprises transmitting only the portion of the media program that the first wireless handset can receive;

establish a return data-command path over the wireless channel adapted to receive a media selection or a phone call from the wireless handset;

receive a second request to receive the selected media program from a second wireless handset;

determine whether the second wireless handset is located within the first cell site coverage area; and

transmit the selected media program to the second wireless handset based on a determination of whether the second wireless handset is located within the first cell site coverage area.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the source provider is the wireless network.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the requested media program comprises a pre-recorded media program.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the requested media program comprises a real-time transmission.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the requested media program comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

a cable program, a television program, a satellite program, and a radio program.

13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the requested media program comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

audio program, video program, and data transmission.

14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein a wireless network communication scheme comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

TDMA, FDMA, and CDMA.