Dynamically switching between unicast and broadcas on a mobile communications network

• US 8,473,984 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ulvenes, Randy S., Harmon, Jay S., Klaumann, Jeff, Danley, Jeff B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US12/207,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 725/110
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically switching between unicast and broadcast carriers for delivering content in a mobile network. A first listing of channels is provided to a client mobile device, wherein a first unicast content stream is associated with a first channel. A determination is made to provide an event through a broadcast carrier over the first channel. The first content stream is disassociated with the first channel, and the broadcast event is associated with the first channel. A broadcast alert is communicated to the client mobile device to indicate the change. A second listing of channels is provided to the client mobile device.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of dynamically switching between unicast and broadcast delivery of content to a mobile communications device client, the method comprising:

providing a listing of a plurality of channels;

providing a first content stream that contains a first selection of content to the client using a unicast carrier transferred by a unicast module in a base station controller (BSC) that facilitates unicast communications over unicast carriers, wherein the first content stream is associated with a first channel;

communicating a broadcast alert to said client, the broadcast alert comprising an indication that a second content stream that contains a second selection of content, which is different than the first selection of content, is available to the client using a broadcast carrier transferred by a broadcast module in the BSC that facilitates broadcast communications over broadcast carriers;

receiving a request from the client for the second content stream, wherein the request comprises a user selection of the second content stream;

stopping provision of the first content stream to the client;

associating the second content stream with the first channel such that the first content stream is disassociated with the first channel; and

providing the second content stream to the client using the broadcast carrier.

2. The non-transitory media of claim 1, wherein the first content stream comprises a video clip from a video-on-demand (VOD) service.

3. The non-transitory media of claim 1, wherein the listing of the plurality of channels is displayable as an electronic programming guide (EPG).

4. The non-transitory media of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a selectable option for displaying the second content stream.

5. The non-transitory media of claim 1, further comprising associating the first content stream with a second channel.

6. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of dynamically switching between unicast and broadcast delivery of content to a mobile communications device client, the method comprising:

displaying a first listing of channels, wherein a first channel of the first listing of channels is associated with a first content stream that contains a first selection of content that is provided to the client using a unicast carrier transferred by a unicast module in a base station controller (BSC) that facilitates unicast communications over unicast carriers;

receiving a broadcast alert, said broadcast alert comprising an indication that a second content stream that contains a second selection of content that is provided to the client using a broadcast carrier transferred by a broadcast module in the BSC that facilitates broadcast communications over broadcast carriers, which is different than the first selection of content, will be available; and

receiving a second listing of channels to replace the first listing of channels, the second listing of channels comprising a representation of the second content stream that associates the second content stream with the first channel such that the first content stream is disassociated with the first channel.

7. The non-transitory media of claim 6, further comprising displaying the first content stream, wherein the broadcast alert comprises a visible alert that indicates that the second content stream will be available on the first channel.

8. The non-transitory media of claim 7, wherein the broadcast alert comprises a selectable option for displaying the second content stream.

9. The non-transitory media of claim 8, further comprising displaying the second content stream in response to a user selection of the option.

10. The non-transitory media of claim 6, further comprising displaying the first content stream, wherein the broadcast alert comprises a visible alert that indicates that the second content stream will be available on a second channel.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of dynamically enabling broadcast delivery of content to a plurality of mobile communications device clients, the method comprising:

providing a first displayable listing of channels to the plurality of clients, wherein a first channel of the listing of channels is associated with a first content stream that contains a first selection of content;

determining that at least one of the plurality of clients is displaying the first content stream, wherein the first content stream is provided using a unicast carrier transferred by a unicast module in a base station controller (BSC) that facilitates unicast communications over unicast carriers;

communicating a broadcast alert to the at least one client, the broadcast alert comprising a selectable option for displaying a second content stream that contains a second selection of content, which is different than the first selection of content;

receiving a user selection of the selectable option from a first client;

discontinuing provision of the first content stream to the first client and disassociating the first content stream with the first channel;

associating the second content stream with the first channel; and

providing the second content stream to the at least one client using a broadcast carrier transferred by a broadcast module in the BSC that facilitates broadcast communications over broadcast carriers.

12. The non-transitory media of claim 11, further comprising providing a second displayable listing of channels to the plurality of clients, the second listing of channels having a representation of the second content stream.

13. The non-transitory media of claim 11, wherein the broadcast alert is communicated at a predetermined time before the second content stream is available.

14. The non-transitory media of claim 11, further comprising associating the first content stream with a second channel.

15. The non-transitory media of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that a user selection has not been received from a second client; and

providing an instruction to the client to access the first content stream through the second channel.

16. The non-transitory media of claim 14, wherein the broadcast alert further comprises an indication that the first content stream is available through the second channel.