Providing and receiving wireless broadcasts

• US 8,966,549 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syncbak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Syncbak, Inc.
• Inventors: Perry, Jack F. II, Maher, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/644,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 725/81, 725/74
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 providing at least one transcoded broadcast to mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving, via a distribution device, 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;

transcoding, via the distribution device, the over-the-air broadcast in the over-the-air broadcast format to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format; and

wirelessly broadcasting, via the distribution device, 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 further comprising authenticating the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly broadcasting the transcoded broadcast comprises encrypting 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:

receive 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;

transcode 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 memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to authenticate the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

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

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein wirelessly broadcasting the transcoded broadcast comprises encrypting 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 providing at least one transcoded broadcast to mobile devices, 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 receive 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;

an executable portion configured to transcode the over-the-air broadcast in the over-the-air broadcast format to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format; and

an executable portion configured to 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 further comprising an executable portion configured to authenticate the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

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

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein wirelessly broadcasting the transcoded broadcast comprises encrypting 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 providing transcoded broadcasts to mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving, via a distribution device, a plurality of over-the-air broadcasts from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the plurality of 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;

transcoding, via the distribution device, each of the plurality of over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format; and

wirelessly broadcasting, via the distribution device, each of 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 further comprising authenticating the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts is via WiFi.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts comprises encrypting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts.

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:

receive a plurality of over-the-air broadcasts from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the plurality of 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;

transcode each of the plurality of over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format; and

wirelessly broadcast each of 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 memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to authenticate the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts is via WiFi.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts comprises encrypting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts.

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 providing transcoded broadcasts to mobile devices, 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 receive a plurality of over-the-air broadcasts from respective broadcast systems, wherein each of the plurality of 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;

an executable portion configured to transcode each of the plurality of over-the-air broadcasts to a transcoded broadcast in a transcoded broadcast format; and

an executable portion configured to wirelessly broadcast each of 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 further comprising an executable portion configured to authenticate the distribution device as being associated with the broadcast area.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts is via WiFi.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein wirelessly broadcasting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts comprises encrypting each of the plurality of transcoded broadcasts.

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.