Digital data transfer through different communication paths

• US 20030232593A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Elo, Timo, Ikonen, Ari, Heikkila, Tapani, Wahlroos, Esa
• Application Number:
  US10/170,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20030232593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 with local image input
• 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 21/43637 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 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 for frame-grabbing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for customizing a digital broadcast receiver to capture, send, and/or receive images. A digital broadcast receiver may capture an image in a video stream and store the captured image in memory for future use. The digital broadcast receiver may also receive an image from a mobile terminal and store the image in memory. The digital broadcast receiver may at any time transfer an image stored in memory to a mobile terminal. An album may be used for managing pictures stored on the digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver may complete an Internet call by sending a call connection request to a mobile terminal in communication with the digital broadcast receiver, and that is also connected to the Internet. User interfaces for interacting with the digital broadcast receiver are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of storing an image in a digital broadcast receiver comprising a memory module, the method comprising:

(a) receiving at said digital broadcast receiver a picture from a mobile terminal device via a short range wireless communication link; and

(b) storing said picture into said memory module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said short-range wireless communication link comprises a BLUETOOTH link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:

(1) receiving a connection request from said mobile terminal device;

(2) sending to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver a signal to display an indication of said connection request from said terminal;

(3) receiving a user-generated assent for said connection request;

(4) establishing a connection between said digital broadcast receiver and said mobile terminal device; and

(5) receiving said picture from said mobile terminal device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(6) sending to said display device a signal to display options associated with said picture, said options comprising an option for saving said picture to said memory module; and

(7) in response to (6), receiving a user-generated selection of one of said options.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said options associated with said picture further comprise an option for displaying said picture, and said method further comprises the step of sending to said display device a signal for displaying said picture.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of converting said picture into a digital image formatted into an MPEG I-frame.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said picture received from said mobile terminal device comprises an MPEG I-frame.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of (6) as long as said mobile terminal device maintains a connection with said digital broadcast receiver, sending to said display device a signal to display an icon representing connection with said mobile terminal device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of converting said picture into a digital image formatted into an MPEG I-frame.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(c) receiving at said digital broadcast receiver a second picture from a terminal device via a wired communication link;

(d) storing said second picture into said memory module.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of storing said picture in an album maintained within said memory module.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of (c) sending to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver a signal to display an icon representing said album on a user interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a user-generated selection of said album icon; and

(e) sending to said display device a signal to display options associated with pictures stored in said album.

14. A method of transmitting an image to a mobile terminal device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving at a digital broadcast receiver a user-generated picture transfer command requesting the transfer of a picture; and

(b) in response to step (a), transmitting said picture via a short-range wireless communication link to the mobile terminal device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said short-range wireless communication link comprises a BLUETOOTH link.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of sending to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver a display signal to display a graphical symbol representing said picture on said display device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said graphical symbol comprises a reduced-size version of said picture.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:

(1) receiving a user-generated selection of said graphical symbol;

(2) sending a display signal to said display device to display a list of options associated with said picture, said options comprising a picture transfer command; and

(3) receiving an indication that said picture transfer command has been user-selected.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

(4) searching for mobile terminal devices connected to said digital broadcast receiver that support displaying and exchanging said picture; and

(5) if a plurality of mobile terminal devices supporting picture exchange are found, sending a display signal to said display device to display a list of said plurality of mobile terminal devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein step (4) comprises searching for mobile terminal devices that support OBEX.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of (c) receiving said picture at said digital broadcast receiver.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(1) receiving at said digital broadcast receiver a broadcast signal including video data;

(2) converting said broadcast signal to a television input signal;

(3) transmitting said television input signal to a television connected to said digital broadcast receiver;

(4) receiving a user-generated capture command; and

(5) in response to step (4), storing as said picture a picture frame from said video data into a memory module of said digital broadcast receiver.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises the step of receiving said picture from a mobile terminal device via a short range wireless communication link between said mobile terminal device and said digital broadcast receiver.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein said picture is received via a wired communication link with a second terminal device.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said step (a) comprises the steps of:

(1) sending to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver a signal to display an icon representing said album on a user interface, said album being stored in said digital broadcast receiver and containing said picture;

(2) receiving a user-generated selection of said album icon;

(3) sending to said display device a signal to display options associated with pictures stored in said album, said options comprising a picture transfer option; and

(4) receiving a user-generated selection of said picture transfer option.

26. A method of communicating with a remote terminal device via a digital broadcast receiver having a short range wireless communication link with a local mobile terminal device, said local mobile terminal device connected to the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving at said digital broadcast receiver a user-generated call connection request to place a phone call via the Internet, said request including call connection information; and

(b) sending said call connection request to said local mobile terminal device for call completion via the Internet.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(1) sending a display signal to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver to display a graphical user interface associated with said local mobile terminal device, said graphical user interface comprising a call option; and

(2) receiving a user-generated selection of said call option.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

(a) receiving a connection request from a mobile terminal device;

(b) sending to a connected display device a signal to display an indication of said connection request from said terminal;

(c) receiving a user-generated assent for said connection request;

(d) establishing a short-range wireless communication connection with said mobile terminal device;

(e) receiving a picture from said mobile terminal device; and

(f) saving said picture into a memory module.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

(g) sending to said display device a signal to display options associated with said picture, said options comprising an option for saving said picture to said memory module; and

(h) in response to (g), receiving a user-generated selection of one of said options.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

(a) receiving a user-generated picture transfer command requesting the transfer of a picture; and

(b) in response to step (a), transmitting said picture via a short-range wireless communication link to a mobile terminal device.

31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

(a) receiving a user-generated call connection request to place a phone call to a remote terminal via a short range wireless communication link with a local mobile terminal device connected to the Internet, said request including call connection information; and

(b) sending said call connection request to said local mobile terminal device.

32. A digital broadcast receiver comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a memory module coupled to the central processing unit and containing computer-executable instructions that cause the receiver to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving a connection request from a mobile terminal device;

(b) sending to a display device connected to said digital broadcast receiver a signal to display an indication of said connection request;

(c) in response to (b), receiving a user-generated assent for said connection request;

(d) establishing a connection with said mobile terminal device;

(e) receiving a picture from said mobile terminal device; and

(f) saving said picture into said memory module.

33. The digital broadcast receiver of claim 32, said memory module comprising further computer-executable instructions that cause the receiver to perform further steps comprising:

(g) sending to said display device a signal to display options associated with said picture, said options comprising an option for saving said picture to memory; and

(h) in response to (g), receiving a user-generated selection of one of said options.

34. A digital broadcast receiver comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a memory module coupled to the central processing unit and containing computer-executable instructions that cause the receiver to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving a user-generated picture transfer command requesting the transfer of a picture; and

(b) in response to (a), transmitting said picture via a short-range wireless communication link to a mobile terminal device.

35. A digital broadcast receiver comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a memory module coupled to the central processing unit and containing computer-executable instructions that cause the receiver to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving a user-generated call connection request to place a call to a remote terminal via a short range wireless communication link with a local mobile terminal device connected to the Internet, said request including call connection information; and

(b) sending said call connection request to said local mobile terminal device.

36. A mobile terminal device, comprising:

a short range wireless transceiver for communicating over a short range wireless communication link;

a processor for controlling operation of the mobile terminal device according to computer executable instructions stored in a memory, the computer executable instructions comprising

(1) receiving user input identifying a stored picture to send to a digital broadcast receiver; and

(2) sending the identified stored picture to the digital broadcast receiver over the short range wireless communication link.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the short range wireless communication link comprises a BLUETOOTH link.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise:

(3) receiving from the digital broadcast receiver, options that may be performed for the sent picture; and

(4) sending to the digital broadcast receiver a selection of a ‘

save’

option indicating that the picture should be saved by the digital broadcast receiver.

39. A mobile terminal device, comprising:

a short range wireless transceiver for communicating over a short range wireless communication link;

a processor for controlling operation of the mobile terminal device according to computer executable instructions stored in a memory, the computer executable instructions comprising

(1) sending a request message to a digital broadcast receiver over the short range wireless communication link, the request message indicating a graphical image; and

(2) in response to sending the request message, receiving the graphical image from the digital broadcast receiver.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein in step (1) the indicated graphical image comprises a frame in a video stream.

41. A mobile terminal device, comprising:

a short range wireless transceiver for communicating over a short range wireless communication link;

a processor for controlling operation of the mobile terminal device according to computer executable instructions stored in a memory, the computer executable instructions comprising

(1) sending to a digital broadcast receiver a user-generated call connection request to place a phone call via the Internet, said request including call connection information; and

(2) receiving from the digital broadcast receiver a request to complete the call via an Internet connection of the mobile terminal device.