Method of providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content

• US 8,631,148 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Concert Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lemi Technology, LLC (Concert Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Curtis, Scott, Issa, Alfredo, Evans, Greg, Walsh, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/314,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/232, 709/203, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• 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 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A system and method for providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, including: transmitting multimedia content, and intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on proximity of a user to a particular location.

Claims

1. A method of providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, comprising:

transmitting the multimedia content; and

intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on geographic proximity of a user to a particular location including intentionally controlling the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for a one of a plurality of geographic proximity zones associated with the particular location and comprising a first geographic proximity zone having a first defined quality level, a second geographic proximity zone having a second defined quality level that is less than the first defined quality level, and a third geographic proximity zone, wherein intentionally controlling the quality level is conducted with respect to at least one of a sampling rate, a duration of the same provided musical tracks, a frequency response, a length of advertisement insertions, and a rate of advertisement insertions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is carried as a digital signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the multimedia content is music.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital signal is sent over a wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is increased such that the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content is degraded as the user moves further from the particular location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is reduced as the user moves closer to the particular location, with the user receiving a full quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content at the particular location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the intentional controlling of the quality of the multimedia content includes creating a dead zone wherein the multimedia content is completely blocked from the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the dead zone represents an area surrounding a competitor'"'"'s place of commercial business.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising customizing a proximity zone for receiving the multimedia content in order to establish a personalized proximity zone for each particular user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is a content stream which is streamed to the user depending on an encryption key to which the user has access and which is directly tied to the user'"'"'s actual physical location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a content of the content stream is made available via a multicast stream thereby to allow multiple users access to the content.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is transmitted from the particular location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular location is a commercial place of business.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the intentional controlling is conducted with respect to the sampling rate.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the intentional controlling is conducted with respect to the duration of the same provided musical tracks.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the intentional controlling is conducted with respect to the frequency response.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the intentional controlling is conducted with respect to the length of advertisement insertions.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the intentional controlling is conducted with respect to the length of advertisement insertions or the rate of advertisement insertions.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first geographic proximity zone is closer than the second geographic proximity zone and the third geographic proximity zone to a particular location and the second geographic proximity zone is closer to the particular location than the third geographic proximity zone.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the digital signal is sent over a wireless network.

20. A system for providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, comprising:

means for transmitting the multimedia content; and

means for intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on geographic proximity of a user to a particular location including intentionally controlling the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for a one of a plurality of geographic proximity zones associated with the particular location and comprising a first geographic proximity zone having a first defined quality level, a second geographic proximity zone having a second defined quality level that is less than the first defined quality level, and a third geographic proximity zone, wherein intentionally controlling the quality level is conducted with respect to at least one of a sampling rate, a duration of the same provided musical tracks, a frequency response, a length of advertisement insertions, and a rate of advertisement insertions.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the multimedia content is carried as a digital signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the multimedia content is music.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is increased such that the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content is degraded as the user moves further from the particular location.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is reduced as the user moves closer to the particular location, with the user receiving a full quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content at the particular location.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the intentional controlling of the quality of the multimedia content includes means for creating a dead zone wherein the multimedia content is completely blocked from the user.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the dead zone represents an area surrounding a competitor'"'"'s place of commercial business.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for customizing a proximity zone for receiving the multimedia content in order to establish a personalized proximity zone for each particular user.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the multimedia content transmitted from the transmitting means is a content stream which is streamed to the user depending on an encryption key to which the user has access and which is directly tied to the user'"'"'s actual physical location.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein a content of the content stream is made available via a multicast stream thereby to allow multiple users access to the content.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the multimedia content is transmitted from the particular location.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the particular location is a commercial place of business.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software for instructing a system to:

transmit multimedia content; and

intentionally control a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on geographic proximity of a user to a particular location including intentionally controlling the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for a one of a plurality of geographic proximity zones associated with the particular location and comprising a first geographic proximity zone having a first defined quality level, a second geographic proximity zone having a second defined quality level that is less than the first defined quality level, and a third geographic proximity zone, wherein intentionally controlling the quality level is conducted with respect to at least one of a sampling rate, a duration of the same provided musical tracks, a frequency response, a length of advertisement insertions, and a rate of advertisement insertions.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the multimedia content is carried as a digital signal.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the multimedia content is music.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the digital signal is sent over a wireless network.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is increased such that the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content is degraded as the user moves further from the particular location.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein a degree of controlling of the quality of the multimedia content is reduced as the user moves closer to the particular location, with the user receiving a full quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content at the particular location.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the intentional controlling of the quality level of the multimedia content includes creating a dead zone wherein the multimedia content is completely blocked from the user.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein the dead zone represents an area surrounding a competitor'"'"'s place of commercial business.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the software is further operative to instruct the system to customize a proximity zone for receiving the multimedia content in order to establish a personalized proximity zone for each particular user.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the multimedia content is a content stream which is streamed to the user depending on an encryption key to which the user has access and which is directly tied to the user'"'"'s actual physical location.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein a content of the content stream is made available via a multicast stream thereby to allow multiple users access to the content.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the multimedia content is transmitted from the particular location.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the particular location is a commercial place of business.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 wherein the first geographic proximity zone is closer than the second geographic proximity zone and the third geographic proximity zone to a particular location and the second geographic proximity zone is closer to the particular location than the third geographic proximity zone.

47. A method of providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, comprising:

transmitting the multimedia content;

intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for a one of a plurality of geographic proximity zones comprising a first geographic proximity zone having a first defined quality level, a second geographic proximity zone having a second defined quality level that is less than the first defined quality level, and a third geographic proximity zone having a third defined quality level that is less than the second defined quality level.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first geographic proximity zone is closer than the second geographic proximity zone and the third geographic proximity zone to a particular location and the second geographic proximity zone is closer to the particular location than the third geographic proximity zone.

49. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software for instructing a system to:

transmit multimedia content;

intentionally control a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for a one of a plurality of geographic proximity zones comprising a first geographic proximity zone having a first defined quality level, a second geographic proximity zone having a second defined quality level that is less than the first defined quality level, and a third geographic proximity zone having a third defined quality level that is less than the second defined quality level.

50. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the first geographic proximity zone is closer than the second geographic proximity zone and the third geographic proximity zone to a particular location and the second geographic proximity zone is closer to the particular location than the third geographic proximity zone.