Providing and receiving wireless broadcasts

• US 8,966,544 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syncbak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synbank Incorporated
• Inventors: Perry, Jack F. II, Maher, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/644,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/81
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for wirelessly providing transcoded broadcasts to mobile devices and receiving content wirelessly via mobile devices. For example, in one embodiment, a distribution device can receive an over-the-air broadcast, transcode the over-the-air broadcast, and broadcast the transcoded broadcast to mobile devices within range.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly receiving at least one transcoded broadcast, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, via a mobile device, a transcoded broadcast that is wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received the transcoded broadcast as an over-the-air broadcast from a broadcast system, wherein the over-the-air broadcast (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded the over-the-air broadcast in the over-the-air broadcast format to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the transcoded broadcast to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.

6. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

wirelessly receive a transcoded broadcast that is wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received the transcoded broadcast as an over-the-air broadcast from a broadcast system, wherein the over-the-air broadcast (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded the over-the-air broadcast in the over-the-air broadcast format to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the transcoded broadcast to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.

11. A computer program product for wirelessly receiving at least one transcoded broadcast, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to wirelessly receive a transcoded broadcast that is wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received the transcoded broadcast as an over-the-air broadcast from a broadcast system, wherein the over-the-air broadcast (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded the over-the-air broadcast in the over-the-air broadcast format to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the transcoded broadcast to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.

16. A method for wirelessly receiving a plurality of transcoded broadcasts, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, via a mobile device, a plurality of transcoded broadcasts that are wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received each of the plurality of the transcoded broadcasts as an over-the-air broadcast from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the over-the-air broadcasts (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded each of the over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the plurality of transcoded broadcasts to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.

21. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

wirelessly receive a plurality of transcoded broadcasts that are wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received each of the plurality of the transcoded broadcasts as an over-the-air broadcast from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the over-the-air broadcasts (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded each of the over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the plurality of transcoded broadcasts to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.

26. A computer program product for wirelessly receiving a plurality of transcoded broadcasts, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to wirelessly receive a plurality of transcoded broadcasts that are wirelessly broadcast from a distribution device, wherein the distribution device;

received each of the plurality of the transcoded broadcasts as an over-the-air broadcast from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the over-the-air broadcasts (a) is associated with a broadcast area, (b) is in an over-the-air broadcast format, and (c) comprises at least one television broadcast,

transcoded each of the over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format, and

wirelessly broadcast the plurality of transcoded broadcasts to a plurality of mobile devices located within a wireless broadcast range, wherein the wireless broadcast range is within the broadcast area.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the distribution device is authenticated as being associated with the broadcast area.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the transcoded broadcast is wirelessly broadcast via WiFi.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the distribution device further encrypted the transcoded broadcast.

30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the broadcast area is selected from the group consisting of a designated market area, a zip code, a block group, and a government-established area.