Method and apparatus for managing access plans

• US 8,819,742 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dey, Spondon
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saint Cyr, Jean D
• Application Number:
  US13/428,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, wirelessly receiving adjustment information from a mobile communication device, wirelessly receiving a request for video content from the mobile communication device, generating multiple versions of the video content, wirelessly transmitting a second version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device according to the adjustment of the access plan, and transmitting a first version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device and ceasing transmitting the second version responsive to a determination of an undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a controller circuit coupled to the memory, wherein the controller circuit, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

wirelessly receiving adjustment information from a mobile communication device, wherein the adjustment information is associated with an adjustment to an access plan to provide a display device with wireless access to media services via the mobile communication device, wherein the access plan defines rules for the mobile communication device to access the media services;

wirelessly receiving a request for video content from the mobile communication device;

generating multiple versions of the video content, wherein a first version of the multiple versions has more error correction than a second version of the multiple versions;

wirelessly transmitting the second version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device according to the adjustment to the access plan;

monitoring for an undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device; and

transmitting the first version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device and ceasing transmitting the second version responsive to detection of the undesired condition.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising:

monitoring for a subsequent undesired condition associated with the presentation of the first version by the display device; and

ceasing transmitting the first version to the mobile communication device responsive to detection of the subsequent undesired condition, wherein the display device is notified to obtain a remainder of the video content from a set top box connected with the display device.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the video content is broadcast video content, and wherein the adjustment information is based on a selection comprising:

wirelessly receiving the broadcast video content from the mobile communication device; and

wirelessly receiving the broadcast video content from a media source of a service provider operating the server.

4. The server of claim 3, wherein the selection is based on monitored behavior associated with the mobile communication device.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein a format of the video content is adjusted based on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device and based on a sub-profile associated with the display device, wherein the user profile is for a subscriber of a service provider operating the server, and wherein the sub-profile is for another user that does not subscribe to the service provider.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein the display device is provided with temporary access to the video content, and wherein the temporary access expires after a pre-determined time period.

7. A method comprising:

receiving adjustment information at a server for adjustment of an access plan of a mobile communication device, wherein the access plan defines rules for the mobile communication device to access media services, wherein the adjustment information is associated with an adjustment to the access plan to provide a display device with access to the media services;

receiving a request for video content;

generating multiple versions of the video content, wherein a first version of the multiple versions has more error correction than a second version of the multiple versions;

providing the second version for presentation on the display device according to the adjustment of the access plan;

monitoring for an undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device; and

providing the first version for presentation on the display device and ceasing the providing of the second version responsive to a determination of the undesired condition,

wherein the providing of the second version for presentation on the display device is based on one of wirelessly transmitting the second version from the server to the display device via the mobile communication device or requesting transmission of the second version to the display device from a media source in communication with a service provider operating the server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the providing of the first version for presentation on the display device is one of wirelessly transmitting the first version from the server to the display device via the mobile communication device or requesting transmission of the first version to the display device from the media source.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising:

monitoring for a subsequent undesired condition associated with the presentation of the first version by the display device; and

ceasing the providing of the first version responsive to a determination of the subsequent undesired condition, wherein the display device is notified to obtain a remainder of the video content from a set top box connected with the display device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein utilization of the mobile communication device or the media source for the providing of the second version for presentation on the display device is determined based on monitored behavior associated with the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a format of the video content is adjusted based on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device and based on a sub-profile associated with the display device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user profile is for a subscriber of the service provider operating the server, and wherein the sub-profile is for another user that does not subscribe to the service provider.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the display device is provided with temporary access to the video content, and wherein the temporary access expires after a pre-determined time period.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

wirelessly receiving adjustment information from a mobile communication device, wherein the adjustment information is associated with an adjustment to an access plan to provide a display device with wireless access to media services via the mobile communication device, wherein the access plan defines rules for the mobile communication device to access the media services;

wirelessly receiving a request for video content from the mobile communication device;

generating multiple versions of the video content, wherein a first version of the multiple versions has more error correction than a second version of the multiple versions;

wirelessly transmitting the second version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device according to the adjustment of the access plan; and

transmitting the first version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device and ceasing transmitting the second version responsive to detection of an undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising monitoring for the undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring for a subsequent undesired condition associated with the presentation of the first version by the display device; and

ceasing transmitting the first version to the mobile communication device responsive to detection of the subsequent undesired condition, wherein the display device is notified to obtain a remainder of the video content from a set top box connected with the display device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the video content is broadcast video content, and wherein the adjustment information is based on a selection comprising:

wirelessly receiving the broadcast video from the mobile communication device; and

wirelessly receiving the broadcast video content from a media source of a service provider operating the server.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the selection is based on monitored behavior associated with the mobile communication device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein a format of the video content is adjusted based on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device and based on a sub-profile associated with the display device, wherein the user profile is for a subscriber of a service provider operating the server, and wherein the sub-profile is for another user that does not subscribe to the service provider.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the display device is provided with temporary access to the video content, and wherein the temporary access expires after a pre-determined time period.