Method and apparatus for synchronizing digital multimedia broadcasting between terminals

• US 8,369,771 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Byun, Ki-Jong
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/623,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/502, 455/509, 455/515, 455/516, 455/76, 455/77, 455/154.1, 455/154.2, 455/179.1, 455/283, 709/248, 709/228, 709/229, 707/9, 707/10, 707/100, 707/203, 707/205
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/637 Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) are provided. An operation method of a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing DMB includes sending a broadcast channel synchronization request message to a second MS, receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message from the second MS, after broadcast channel synchronization, receiving information on a broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, tuning to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS based on the broadcast channel information received from the second MS, and displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

Claims

1. A method for broadcast channel synchronization by a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

sending a broadcast channel synchronization request message to a second MS, the broadcast channel synchronization request message including a synchronization time and period setting values;

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message from the second MS;

receiving information on a broadcast channel, from among a plurality of broadcast channels, viewed by the second MS, after the broadcast channel synchronization request grant message is received;

tuning to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, based on the broadcast channel information received from the second MS; and

displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the second MS.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the second MS; and

one of granting and rejecting the channel synchronization cancellation request of the second MS.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an indication that the second MS is being monitored.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel synchronization request message comprises at least one of a synchronization time, a synchronization period, and view restriction information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, after the broadcast channel synchronization, the first MS does not display the broadcast channel information transmitted by the second MS, and tunes to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

7. A method for broadcast channel synchronization by a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

sending a channel synchronization request message for viewing a restricted program to a second MS;

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message from the second MS;

receiving information on a broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, after broadcast channel synchronization;

identifying if the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS includes the restricted program using the broadcast channel information of the second MS;

if the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS includes the restricted program, tuning to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS; and

displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the second MS.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the second MS; and

one of granting and rejecting the channel synchronization cancellation request of the second MS.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying an indication that the broadcast channel of the second MS is being monitored.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the broadcast channel synchronization request message comprises at least one of a synchronization time, a synchronization period, and view restriction information.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein, after the broadcast channel synchronization, the first MS does not display the broadcast channel information transmitted by the second MS, and tunes to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

13. A method for broadcast channel synchronization by a second Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request message from a first MS, the broadcast channel synchronization request message including a synchronization time and period setting values;

sending a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message; and

after broadcast channel synchronization, transmitting information on a broadcast channel, from among a plurality of broadcast channels, that is being viewed to the first MS.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the first MS; and

receiving one of a grant and a rejection to the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, if receiving the rejection to the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS, the second MS continues transmitting the information on the broadcast channel that is being viewed and, if receiving the grant for the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS, the second MS stops transmitting the information on the broadcast channel that is being viewed.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying an indication that the first MS is monitoring the broadcast channel.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising, when the broadcast channel is changed by a user, transmitting information on the changed broadcast channel to the first MS after a preset amount of time.

19. A method for broadcast channel synchronization by a second Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request message from a first MS;

sending a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message;

identifying a restriction level of a broadcast channel that is being viewed, after broadcast channel synchronization; and

if the broadcast channel that is being viewed includes a restricted program, transmitting information on the broadcast channel that is being viewed to the first MS.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

if one of a broadcast restriction request is received from the first MS and a broadcast channel synchronization duration expires, stopping the viewing of the program being viewed; and

sending a notification that the viewing of the program has stopped to the first MS.

21. An apparatus for broadcast channel synchronization in a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the apparatus comprising:

a DMB viewing manager for sending a broadcast channel synchronization request including a synchronization time and period setting values to a second MS and, when the second MS grants the broadcast channel synchronization request, for receiving information on a broadcast channel viewed by the second MS from the second MS; and

a DMB viewing processor for tuning to the broadcast channel, from among a plurality of broadcast channels, viewed by the second MS using the received broadcast channel information of the second MS, and for displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the DMB viewing manager sends a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the second MS.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the DMB viewing manager receives a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the second MS, and

one of grants and rejects the channel synchronization cancellation request of the second MS.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a display unit for displaying an indication that the second MS is being monitored.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising, when sending the broadcast channel synchronization request to the second MS, the request comprises at least one of a synchronization time, a synchronization period, and view restriction information.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, after the broadcast channel synchronization, the DMB viewing processor does not display the broadcast channel information transmitted by the second MS, and tunes to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

27. An apparatus for broadcast channel synchronization in a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the apparatus comprising:

a DMB viewing manager for sending a broadcast channel synchronization request to a second MS and, when the second MS grants the channel synchronization request for viewing a restricted program, for receiving the broadcast channel information from the second MS, and for identifying if the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS is the restricted program using the received broadcast channel information of the second MS; and

a DMB viewing processor for, when the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS is the restricted program, tuning to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, and for displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the DMB viewing manager sends a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the second MS.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the DMB viewing manager receives a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the second MS, and one of grants and rejects the channel synchronization cancellation request of the second MS.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a display unit for displaying an indication that the second MS is being monitored.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, when the broadcast channel is changed by a user, the DMB viewing manager receives information on the changed broadcast channel from the second MS after a preset time.

32. An apparatus for broadcast channel synchronization in a second Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the apparatus comprising:

a DMB viewing manager for, while viewing a broadcast channel, receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request message including a synchronization time and period setting values from a first MS, sending a grant message for the broadcast channel synchronization request, for performing broadcast channel synchronization, and for transmitting information on a broadcast channel that is being viewed from among a plurality of broadcast channels.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the DMB viewing manager receives a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the DMB viewing manager sends a broadcast channel synchronization cancellation request to the first MS, and

receives one of a grant and a rejection to the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein, if receiving the rejection to the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS, the DMB viewing manager continues transmitting information on a broadcast channel that is being viewed and, if receiving the grant for the channel synchronization cancellation request from the first MS, stops transmitting the information on the broadcast channel that is being viewed.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a display unit for displaying an indication that the first MS is monitoring the broadcast channel.

37. An apparatus for broadcast channel synchronization in a second Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the apparatus comprising:

a DMB viewing manager for performing broadcast channel synchronization and, if a broadcast channel that is being viewed is a restricted program, transmitting information on the broadcast channel that is being viewed; and

a DMB viewing processor for identifying a restriction level of the broadcast channel that is being viewed.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein, if one of a broadcast restriction request is received from the first MS and a broadcast channel synchronization duration expires, the DMB viewing processor stops viewing of the broadcast, and sends a notification that the viewing of the broadcast has stopped to the first MS.

39. An operation method of a first Mobile Station (MS) for limiting Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

performing broadcast channel synchronization, and receiving broadcast channel information from a second MS;

based on the broadcast channel information, tuning to a broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, and displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS; and

if the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS is a restricted program, sending a broadcast restriction command message to the second MS.

40. An operation method of a second Mobile Station (MS) for limiting Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), the method comprising:

performing broadcast channel synchronization by sending a broadcast channel synchronization request message to a second MS, the broadcast channel synchronization request message including a synchronization time and period setting values, and by transmitting broadcast channel information to a first MS; and

upon receiving a broadcast restriction command message from the first MS, stopping the viewing a broadcast channel that is being viewed.