Suspend mode of streaming for seamless user experience

• US 9,877,073 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Network Technologies India Private Limited
• Original Assignee: Sling Media Pvt Ltd. (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaur, Dushyant
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US14/797,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• 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 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A method for placeshifting media content with the use of a suspend mode includes the steps of receiving media content at a placeshifting device, receiving a request at the placeshifting device from a mobile device to initiate transmission of the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device, and in response to the request, transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device. The method further includes the steps of detecting an interruption of the transmission of the media content and based on the detecting the interruption, entering a suspend mode at the placeshifting device wherein transmission of the media content is temporarily suspended. Still further, the method includes the steps of detecting a resumption of ability to transmit media content and based on the detecting the resumption, exiting the suspend mode and resuming transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device. The resumed transmission begins a point in time of the media content at which entry into the suspend mode occurred.

Claims

1. A method for placeshifting media content with the use of a suspend mode, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving media content at a placeshifting device;

receiving a request at the placeshifting device from a mobile device to initiate transmission of the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device;

in response to the request, transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured such that receiving the transmission of the media content is interrupted upon the receipt or placement of a phone call at the mobile device;

detecting an interruption of the transmission of the media content, wherein detecting the interruption comprises receiving, at the placeshifting device, an interrupt message that was automatically generated by the mobile device in response to the receipt or placement of a phone call at the mobile device;

based on the detecting the interruption and receiving the automatically generated message from the mobile device, automatically entering a suspend mode at the placeshifting device wherein transmission of the media content to the mobile device is temporarily suspended;

detecting a resumption of ability to transmit media content at the mobile device, wherein detecting the resumption of ability comprises receiving, at the placeshifting device, a resumption message that was automatically generated by the mobile device in response to ending of the phone call at the mobile device; and

based on the detecting the resumption, exiting the suspend mode and resuming transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device, wherein the resumed transmission begins a point in time of the media content at which entry into the suspend mode occurred,

wherein the steps of detecting the interruption, automatically entering the suspend mode, and detecting the resumption of ability to transmit media occur based upon the receipt or placement of the phone call and without regard to any determination of network availability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving media content comprises at least one of:

a) receiving media content over a network comprising one or more of an over the air network, a cable network, a satellite network, or the internet;

or

b) receiving one or more of a live media broadcast, an on demand media broadcast, or a playback of locally stored media content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises at least one of:

a) receiving the request over a network comprising one or more of Bluetooth, WiFi, the internet, or a cellular network;

or

b) receiving the request from one or more of a cellphone, smartphone, tablet computer, or PDA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the media content comprises transmitting the media content over a network comprising one or more of Bluetooth, WiFi, the internet, or a cellular network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the suspend mode comprises commencing recording of live media content at the placeshifting device and wherein exiting the suspend mode comprises transmitting the recorded live media content from the placeshifting device and continuing to record live media content at the placeshifting device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the suspend mode comprises commencing recording of on demand media content at the placeshifting device and wherein exiting the suspend mode comprises transmitting the recorded on demand media content from the placeshifting device and continuing to record on demand media content at the placeshifting device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the suspend mode comprises sending a message from the placeshifting device to a host on demand server to pause transmission of on demand media content to the placeshifting device and wherein exiting the suspend mode comprises sending a message from the placeshifting device to the host on demand server to resume transmission of the on demand media content to the placeshifting device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the suspend mode comprises pausing playback of locally stored media content at the placeshifting device and wherein exiting the suspend mode comprises resuming playback of the locally store media content at the placeshifting device.

9. A placeshifting device configured for placeshifting media content with the use of a suspend mode, the placeshifting device comprising:

a content interface configured for receiving media content at a placeshifting device;

a communications interface configured for;

a) receiving a request at the placeshifting device from a mobile device to initiate transmission of the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device; and

b) in response to the request, transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured such that receiving the transmission of the media content is interrupted upon the receipt or placement of a phone call at the mobile device; and

a suspend mode module implemented by a controller of the placeshifting device and configured for;

a) detecting an interruption of the transmission of the media content, wherein detecting the interruption comprises receiving, at the placeshifting device, an interrupt message that was automatically generated by the mobile device in response to the receipt or placement of a phone call at the mobile device;

b) based on the detecting the interruption and receiving the automatically generated message from the mobile device, automatically entering a suspend mode at the placeshifting device wherein transmission of the media content to the mobile device is temporarily suspended;

c) detecting a resumption of ability to transmit media content at the mobile device, wherein detecting the resumption of ability comprises receiving, at the placeshifting device, a resumption message that was automatically generated by the mobile device in response to ending of the phone call at the mobile device; and

d) based on the detecting the resumption, exiting the suspend mode and resuming transmitting the media content from the placeshifting device to the mobile device, wherein the resumed transmission begins a point in time of the media content at which entry into the suspend mode occurred,

wherein the functions (a)-(c) of detecting the interruption, automatically entering the suspend mode, and detecting the resumption of ability to transmit media are performed based upon the receipt or placement of the phone call and without regard to any determination of network availability.

10. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the content interface receives media content in at least one of the following manners:

a) over a network comprising one or more of an over the air network, a cable network, a satellite network, or the internet;

or

b) as a live media broadcast, an on demand media broadcast, or a playback of locally stored media content.

11. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the communications interface receives the request in at least one of the following manners:

a) over a network comprising one or more of Bluetooth, WiFi, the internet, or a cellular network;

or

b) from one or more of a cellphone, smartphone, tablet computer, or PDA.

12. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the suspend mode module enters the suspend mode by commencing recording of live media content at the placeshifting device and wherein the suspend mode module exits the suspend mode by transmitting the recorded live media content from the placeshifting device and continuing to record live media content at the placeshifting device.

13. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the suspend mode module enters the suspend mode by commencing recording of on demand media content at the placeshifting device and wherein the suspend mode module exits the suspend mode by transmitting the recorded on demand media content from the placeshifting device and continuing to record on demand media content at the placeshifting device.

14. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the suspend mode module enters the suspend mode comprises sending a message from the placeshifting device to a host on demand server to pause transmission of on demand media content to the placeshifting device and wherein the suspend mode module exits the suspend mode by sending a message from the placeshifting device to the host on demand server to resume transmission of the on demand media content to the placeshifting device.

15. The placeshifting device of claim 9, wherein the mode suspend module enters the suspend mode by pausing playback of locally stored media content at the placeshifting device and wherein the suspend mode module exits the suspend mode comprises resuming playback of the locally store media content at the placeshifting device.