Method and apparatus for managing access plans

• US 9,998,770 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• 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:
  US14/339,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20140337870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 network server comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving a request for video content from a mobile communication device, wherein the request was generated by the mobile communication device according to user input and according to a viewing history associated with the mobile communication device, a set top box, or a combination thereof, wherein a type of the video content is selected by the mobile communication device according to a plurality of types of video content listed in the viewing history;

obtaining multiple versions of the video content, wherein video data representing the video content is formatted to generate a first version of the video content and a second version of the video content, the first version having lower resolution and more error correction than the second version, an amount of the error correction being based on monitored network reception conditions, wherein the multiple versions of the video content are stored in the memory accessible by the network server;

identifying power consumption of the mobile communication device, an access plan for a user associated with the mobile communication device and the set top box, and a transit time to provide the video content from the mobile communication device;

determining a communication protocol for transmitting the video content to the mobile communication device according to the power consumption, the access plan, and the transit time;

transmitting the second version of the video content to the mobile communication device according to the communication protocol to enable the mobile communication device to provide the second version of the video content to the set top box for presentation on a display device coupled with the set top box, wherein the second version of the video content has a second quality parameter that satisfies a quality parameter threshold;

receiving, from the set top box, a first request for a content version change according to a detection that the second quality parameter of the second version of the video content fails to satisfy the quality parameter threshold, wherein the detection is performed by the set top box;

responsive to the request for the content version change, retrieving the first version of the video content from the memory; and

transmitting to the set top box the first version of the video content for presentation on the display device and ceasing transmitting the second version of the video content to the mobile communication device.

2. The network server of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

providing access plan information to the set top box, the access plan information being associated with the access plan for the mobile communication device to access the video content; and

receive adjustment information from the set top box, the adjustment information being associated with an adjustment to the access plan to provide wireless access for the set top box to the video content.

3. The network server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a second request for another content version change from the set top box responsive to the set top device detecting network conditions between the set top box and the mobile communication device such that the second version satisfies the quality parameter threshold; and

transmitting, to the mobile communication device, the second version of the video content, wherein the mobile communication device provides the second version to the set top box for presentation on the display device.

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

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

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

6. The network 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.

7. The network 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.

8. The network server of claim 1, wherein the display device is a television device.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a request for media content from a mobile communication device, wherein the request was generated by the mobile communication device according to user input and a viewing history associated with the mobile communication device, a set top box, or a combination thereof, wherein a type of the media content is selected by the mobile communication device according to a plurality of types of media content listed in the viewing history;

obtaining, by the processing system, multiple versions of the media content, wherein video data representing the media content is formatted to generate a first version of the media content and a second version of the media content, the first version having lower resolution and more error correction than the second version, an amount of the error correction being based on monitored network reception conditions, and wherein the multiple versions of the media content are stored in a memory accessible by the processing system;

identifying, by the processing system, power consumption of the mobile communication device, an access plan for a user associated with the mobile communication device and the set top box, and a transit time to provide the video content from the mobile communication device;

determining, by the processing system, a communication protocol for transmitting the media content to the mobile communication device according to the power consumption, the access plan, and the transit time;

transmitting, by the processing system, the second version of the media content to the mobile communication device according to the communication protocol to enable the mobile communication device to provide the second version of the media content to the set top box for presentation by a media device, wherein the second version of the media content has a second quality parameter that satisfies a quality parameter threshold;

receiving, by the processing system, a first request for a content version change that is generated in response to a determination that the second quality parameter of the second version of the media content fails to satisfy the quality parameter threshold, wherein the determination is performed by the set top box;

responsive to the request for the content version change, retrieving the first version of the media content from the memory; and

transmitting, by the processing system, to the set top box the first version of the media content for presentation on the media device and ceasing transmitting the second version of the media content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the request for the content version change comprises obtaining, by the processing system, the request for the content version change in response to detecting power consumption of the mobile communication device does not satisfy a threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting of the first and second versions of the media content is a wireless transmission.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising:

receiving, by the processing system, a second request for another content version change from the set top box responsive to the set top device detecting network conditions between the set top box and the mobile communication device such that the second version satisfies the quality parameter threshold; and

transmitting, by the processing system, to the mobile communication device, the second version of the media content, wherein the mobile communication device provides the second version to the set top box for presentation on a display device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the request for the content version change is generated by the set top box that monitors for the second quality parameter satisfying the quality parameter threshold associated with the presentation of the second version of the media content by the media device.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising:

ceasing, by the processing system, the transmitting of the first version of the media content responsive to a determination of a subsequent undesired condition associated with the presentation of the first version of the media content, wherein the set top box coupled with the media device is notified to obtain a remainder of the media content from another communication device in communication with the set top box.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein a format of the media content is adjusted based on a user profile.

16. A computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving a request for media content from a mobile communication device, wherein the request is generated by the mobile communication device according to user input and according to a viewing history associated with the mobile communication device, a set top box, or a combination thereof, wherein a type of media content is selected by the mobile communication device according to a plurality of types of media content listed in the viewing history;

receiving a second version of the media content, wherein multiple versions of the media content are accessible to the processing system, wherein video data representing the media content is formatted to generate a first version of the media content and the second version of the media content, the first version having lower resolution and more error correction than the second version, an amount of the error correction based on monitored network reception conditions, and wherein the multiple versions of the media content are stored in memory of the processing system;

identifying power consumption of the mobile communication device, an access plan for a user associated with the mobile communication device and the set top box, and a transit time to provide the media content from the mobile communication device;

determining a communication protocol for transmitting the video content to the mobile communication device according to the power consumption, the access plan, and the transit time;

transmitting the second version of the media content to the mobile communication device according to the communication protocol to enable the mobile communication device to provide the second version of the media content the set top box;

receiving from the set top box a request for a content version change according to detecting a second quality parameter of the second version of the media content fails to satisfy a quality parameter threshold, wherein the detecting is performed by the set top box;

obtaining the first version of the media content responsive to the request for the content version change and ceasing receiving the second version of the media content, wherein the first version of the media content is retrieved from the memory of the processing system; and

transmitting to the set top box the first version of the media content for presentation and ceasing transmitting the second version of the media content.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein a format of the media content is adjusted based on a user profile.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the receiving the request for the content version change comprises obtaining the request for the content version change in response to detecting power consumption of the mobile communication device does not satisfy a threshold.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the transmitting of the first and second versions of the media content is via a wireless transmission.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the set top box ceases the presenting of the first version of the media content responsive to a determination of a subsequent undesired condition associated with the presentation of the first version of the media content.