Method and apparatus for multimedia communications with different user terminals

• US 8,805,358 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovation Sciences, LLC
• Original Assignee: Virginia Innovation Sciences, Inc. (Innovation Sciences, LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Tiehong, Wang, Ning, Wang, Ximing, Wang, Tiejun, Halal, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Quan M
• Application Number:
  US13/370,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20120240171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/415, 4554561-4566, 455/466, 455/418, 709/250, 709/249, 709/228, 709/201, 709/203, 709/231, 709/232, 725/62, 725 63- 72, 725/86, 725/105, 725/135
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• 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 21/4122 : additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 : receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 : Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

Multimedia communications in multimedia communications with different user terminals. Various optimization for the delivery of multimedia content across different channels are provided concurrently to a plurality of user terminals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting and sending of content to devices, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing program code executable by the processor, configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a mobile terminal, via a wireless communication network, a multimedia content item originated from a source located outside a designated location and destined for a destination device located within the designated location;

determining a signal format, a transmission protocol for the destination device, and a device identifier that uniquely identifies the destination device;

wherein the signal format, the transmission protocol for the destination device, and the device identifier are provided through the mobile terminal;

converting the multimedia content item to produce a converted multimedia content item for reproduction by the destination device according to a determined signal format; and

sending the converted multimedia content item to the destination device through a digital high definition interface, wherein the sending comprises;

querying a mapping table for the destination device corresponding to the device identifier;

establishing a predetermined channel operatively in communication with the destination device using said transmission protocol; and

transporting, via the predetermined channel operatively in communication with the destination device, the converted multimedia content item to the destination device for the destination device to display the converted multimedia content item in conjunction with a navigational command to the destination device for the predetermined channel; and

wherein the destination device is a high definition digital television and the determined signal format is a high definition digital signal format.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said predetermined channel comprises a communication path through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to the destination device;

wherein the transporting the converted multimedia content item to the destination device is through the HDMI.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a predetermined processing category for the multimedia content item, wherein converting the multimedia content item is performed according to the predetermined processing category.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined processing category identifies a communication protocol, a signal format, and an address for the destination device, wherein the converting of the multimedia content item is performed according to the signal format, and wherein the sending of the converted multimedia content item uses the address and the communication protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined processing category prompts addressing, conversion and routing to the destination device through a network connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined processing category prompts routing to the destination device through an HDMI input of the destination device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second multimedia content item sourced from a media capture device of the destination device; and

transmitting the second multimedia content item to a second destination device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein transmitting the second multimedia content item to the second destination device is through a cellular communication network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein power for converting the multimedia content item is received from the destination device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is a cellular communication network.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a content server for storing the multimedia content item and said stored multimedia content item being routed for said receiving the multimedia content item.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the multimedia content item stored in the content server of a given location is logically proximate to the mobile terminal;

wherein the multimedia content item is determined logically proximate according to one or more of;

geographical location of the mobile terminal;

frequency of access for the multimedia content item by the mobile terminal at the given location;

received signal strength for the apparatus; and

local bandwidth.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, the multimedia content item stored in the content server is refreshed according to service requirements from the mobile terminal 1;

wherein the frequency of access for the multimedia content item is monitored for knowledge of the service requirements.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone and the multimedia content item is high-resolution graphics appropriate for display on the cellular phone.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the multimedia content item in a non-volatile computer storage medium, said stored multimedia content item being routed for said receiving the multimedia content item.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal receives power through a connection to the destination device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving and said converting the multimedia content item, and said sending the converted multimedia content item are performed by an intermediary device between the mobile terminal and the destination device;

wherein the converted multimedia content item is encoded according to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) requirement by the intermediary device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving the multimedia content item, said converting the multimedia content item, and said sending the converted multimedia content item are performed within the cellular phone;

and wherein power through a source external to the cellular phone charges the internal power supply of the cellular phone for said receiving the multimedia content item, said converting the multimedia content item, and said sending the converted multimedia content item;

wherein the source is the destination device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sending via the predetermined channel comprises initiating a communication pathway through an HDMI to the destination device;

wherein the communication pathway is configured according to the predetermined processing category.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said receiving the multimedia content item, said converting the multimedia content item and said sending the converted multimedia content item are performed by the cellular phone.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor resides in the cellular phone.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high definition digital signal format has a resolution of 720 p or greater.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein converting the multimedia content item comprises increasing a resolution of the multimedia content item to the resolution of the high definition digital signal format.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sending via the predetermined channel comprises managing a communication path for said transporting the multimedia content item to the destination device, wherein said managing includes initiating the communication path, and said initiating the communication path includes engaging in an authentication procedure with the destination device prior to said transporting the multimedia content item to the destination device over the communication path.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said sending via the predetermined channel comprises initiating a communication path for said transporting the multimedia content item to the destination device, wherein said initiating the communication path includes engaging in an authentication procedure with the destination device prior to said transporting the multimedia content item to the destination device over the communication path through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection with the destination device.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal and an intermediate device, that is separate from the mobile terminal and the destination device, collectively perform the receiving the multimedia content item, the converting the multimedia content item to produce a converted multimedia content item, and the sending the converted multimedia content item to the destination device;

and wherein the converted multimedia content item being encoded according to a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) requirement and transported to the destination device through the HDMI.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising encoding the converted multimedia content item to HDMI format before the said transporting the converted multimedia content item to the destination device.

28. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a housing having a housing interface is configured to interface with the mobile terminal, wherein the housing provides the converted multimedia content item to the destination device;

wherein the converted multimedia content item is encoded according to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) requirement before being sent to the destination device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the converting is performed by the housing.

30. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal provides the multimedia content item to a housing through a housing interface, such that said receiving of the multimedia content item is through the housing interface of the housing.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the source external to the cellular phone is the destination device.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the communication path implements an HDMI connection to the destination device.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus resides in one of a cellular phone and a PDA.

84. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content item comprises a video signal with a compression format;

said converting the multimedia content item comprises converting the video signal to a decompressed digital video signal;

wherein said converting the multimedia content item further comprises encoding the decompressed digital video signal for transmission to the destination device through the digital high definition interface.

85. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said converting the multimedia content item comprises setting a signal power level for the converted multimedia content item to accommodate transmission of the converted multimedia content item to the destination device.

86. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the apparatus comprises a first component that performs said converting the video signal with the compression format to the decompressed digital video signal;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second component that performs said encoding the decompressed digital video signal for transmission to the destination device through the digital high definition interface.

87. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital high definition interface is a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).

88. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is one of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

34. An apparatus for converting and sending of content to devices, the apparatus comprising:

at least one input interface configured for receiving from a mobile terminal, via a wireless communication network, a multimedia content item originated from a source located outside a designated location and destined for a destination device located within the designated location;

wherein the multimedia content item comprises a video signal appropriate for displaying a video content on the mobile terminal;

at least one processor unit configured for determining a signal format, a transmission protocol for the destination device, and a device identifier that uniquely identifies the destination device and configured for converting the video signal to produce a converted video signal for reproduction by the destination device according to the signal format;

wherein the signal format, the transmission protocol for the destination device, and the device identifier are provided through the mobile terminal; and

at least one output interface configured for sending the converted video signal to the destination device through a digital high definition interface to accommodate displaying the video content by the destination device;

wherein the sending comprises;

querying a mapping table for the destination device corresponding to the device identifier;

establishing a predetermined channel operatively in communication with the destination device based on said transmission protocol; and

transporting, via the predetermined channel, the converted video signal to the destination device for the destination device to display the video content in conjunction with a navigational command to the destination device for the predetermined channel; and

wherein the destination device is a high definition digital television and the determined signal format is a high definition digital signal format.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said converting the video signal comprises converting the video signal with a compression format to a decompressed digital video signal;

wherein said converting the video signal further comprises encoding the decompressed digital video signal for transmission to the destination device through the digital high definition interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone, and the multimedia content item is high-resolution graphics appropriate for display on the cellular phone.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

determining a predetermined processing category for the video signal, wherein converting the video signal is performed according to the predetermined processing category.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the predetermined processing category identifies a communication protocol, the signal format, and an address for the destination device, wherein the converting of the video signal is performed according to the signal format, and wherein the sending of the converted video signal uses the address and the communication protocol.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the predetermined processing category prompts addressing, conversion and routing to the destination device through a network connection.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a second multimedia content item sourced from a media capture device of the destination device; and

transmitting the second multimedia content item to a second destination device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein transmitting the second multimedia content item to the second destination device is through a cellular communication network.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a content server for storing the multimedia content item and said stored multimedia content item being routed for said receiving the multimedia content item.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, the multimedia content item stored in the content server of a given location is logically proximate to the apparatus;

wherein the multimedia content item is determined logically proximate according to one or more of;

geographical location of the apparatus;

frequency of access for the multimedia content item by the apparatus at the given location;

received signal strength for a user; and

local bandwidth.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the multimedia content item stored in the content server is refreshed according to service requirements from the mobile terminal for the multimedia content item.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the said predetermined channel comprises a communication path through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to the destination device;

wherein the transporting the converted video signal to the destination device is through the HDMI.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

storing the multimedia content item in a non-volatile computer storage medium, said stored multimedia content item being routed for said receiving the multimedia content item.

47. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said receiving the multimedia content item, said processing the video signal and said sending the converted video signal are performed by the cellular phone.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

49. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the converted signal is encoded according to one of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) requirement and a mobile high definition interface requirement.

50. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said converting the video signal comprises setting a signal power level for the converted video signal to accommodate transmission of the converted video signal to the destination device.

51. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the digital high definition interface is one of a mobile high definition interface and a high definition multimedia interface.

52. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the digital high definition interface is for connecting the mobile terminal to the high definition digital television for audio and video transmission from the mobile terminal to the high definition digital television.

53. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal receives power through a connection to the destination device.

54. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein power for said converting the video signal is received from the destination device.

55. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wireless communication network is a cellular communication network.

56. The apparatus claim 34, wherein the wireless network communication includes a wireless local area network communication.

57. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processing unit resides in the mobile terminal.

58. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the receiving the multimedia content item, the converting the video signal to provide the converted video signal, and the providing the converted video signal to the destination device are performed in an intermediate device that is separate from the mobile terminal and the destination device.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the intermediate device receives a radio frequency (RF) signal that includes the video signal.

61. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the multimedia content item received by the input interface comprises a high definition digital signal.

62. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal and an intermediate device, that is separate from the mobile terminal and the destination device, collectively perform the receiving the multimedia content item, the converting the video signal to provide the converted video signal, and the providing the converted video signal to the destination device.

64. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone;

and wherein a housing outside the cellular phone having a housing interface is configured to interface with the cellular phone, and the housing provides the converted video signal to the destination device.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein at least a portion of said converting the video signal occurs in the housing.

66. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone.

67. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein power for converting the video signal is received from the destination device.

68. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processing unit comprises a first processing component that performs said converting the video signal with the compression format to the decompressed digital video signal;

and wherein the processing unit further comprises a second processing component that performs said encoding the decompressed digital video signal for transmission to the destination device.

69. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said receiving and said converting the video signal, and said sending the converted video signal are performed by an intermediary device between the mobile terminal and the destination device;

wherein the converted video signal is encoded according to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) requirement by the intermediary device;

wherein the mobile terminal is a cellular phone;

wherein the intermediary device receives power from the destination device.

70. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processing unit resides in the mobile terminal and power from a source external to the mobile terminal charges the internal power supply of the mobile terminal for said converting the video signal and said sending the converted video signal.

71. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the high definition digital signal format has a resolution of 720 p or greater.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein converting the video signal comprises increasing a resolution of the video signal to the resolution of the high definition digital signal format.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the source is the destination device.

74. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said sending comprises managing a communication path for said transporting the converted video signal to the destination device, wherein said managing includes initiating the communication path, and said initiating the communication path includes engaging in an authentication procedure with the destination device prior to said transporting the converted video signal to the destination device over the communication path.

75. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the mobile terminal provides the multimedia content item to a housing through a housing interface, such that said receiving of the multimedia content item is through the housing interface of the housing.

76. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the multimedia content item is a first multimedia content item and the input interface is a first input interface;

wherein a second input interface is configured for receiving a second multimedia content item for reproduction by the destination device;

the second multimedia content item being received following a communication from the apparatus to a source in response to a request received by the apparatus from a wireless device separate from the destination device.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the processing unit is configured for converting a second video signal of the second multimedia content item to produce a second converted video signal for reproduction by the destination device according to the determined signal format;

and the output interface is configured for sending the second converted video signal to the destination device through the digital high definition interface.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, the wireless device is a mobile phone.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the second input interface is the first input interface.

80. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the second multimedia content item is received through a wireless channel and the wireless channel includes one or more of Infrared (IR), WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, UWB, cellular network, and/or NFC.

81. The apparatus of claim 76, the request received by the apparatus from the wireless device is a second request;

and the first multimedia content item being received is in response to a first request received by the apparatus from the wireless device.

82. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the wireless device is the mobile terminal.

83. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein said converting the second video signal comprises converting a second video signal with a compression format to a second decompressed digital video signal;

wherein said converting the second video signal further comprises encoding the second decompressed digital video signal for transmission to the destination device through the digital high definition interface.

89. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein frequency of access for the multimedia content item by the mobile terminal is monitored for information regarding the service requirements.

63. The apparatus of 34, wherein the processing unit resides in the destination device.