Wireless digital video recorder

• US 20060184975A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for receiving and recording video content on a wireless phone. Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments provides a wireless phone with the capability to receive a broadcast video signal and to decode, digitize and record the broadcast video signal. In other embodiments, the wireless phone has the capability to receive broadcast video signals and/or video signals streamed over a network and to record these signals. In still further embodiments, the wireless phone may receive video content transmitted over a wireless network and may format and/or encode the video content and record the video content. In some embodiments the wireless phone comprises a video player for playing video content.

Claims

1. A wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content, comprising:

a wireless phone;

a receiver associated with the wireless phone configured to receive a broadcast signal containing video content; and

a digital video recorder in communication with the receiver and configured to digitally record the video content received by the receiver.

2. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver and the digital video recorder are incorporated within the wireless phone.

3. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the receiver comprises a one of a UHF antenna, a VHF antenna, an HD antenna, a satellite receiver, a WiFi receiver, WiMAX receiver, a broadband connector, a cable connector and a modem.

4. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the receiver is associated with the wireless telephony functions of the wireless digital video recorder and is capable of receiving wireless voice data.

5. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the digital video recorder records the video content to a hard drive.

6. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the digital video recorder records the video content to a memory card.

7. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the digital video recorder records the video content to a flash memory.

8. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a storage controller in communication with the digital video recorder, the storage controller being configured to create an alert when storage space available to the digital video recorder reaches a predetermined threshold.

9. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 8, wherein the alert comprises a one of an audible alert, a visual alert and a combination of an audible and a visual alert.

10. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a decoder in communication with the receiver and configured to decode the video content.

11. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a decoder in communication with the receiver and configured to digitize the video content.

12. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a formatter in communication with the receiver and configured to format the video content.

13. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a bitrate encoder in communication with the receiver and configured to encode the video content.

14. A wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content, comprising:

a wireless phone;

a receiver in communication with the wireless phone and configured to receive a broadcast signal containing the video content;

a tuner in communication with the receiver and configured to select the broadcast signal containing the video content; and

a digital video recorder in communication with the tuner and configured to record the video content1.

15. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein the receiver, the tuner and the digital video recorder are incorporated within the wireless phone.

16. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcast signal containing the video content comprises a television signal; and

the receiver comprises an antenna.

17. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcast signal containing the video content comprises a satellite broadcast; and

the receiver comprises a satellite receiver.

18. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcast signal containing the video content comprises an Internet broadcast; and

the receiver comprises a WiFi receiver.

19. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcast signal containing the video content comprises an Internet broadcast; and

the receiver comprises a WiMAX receiver.

20. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcast signal containing the video content comprises an Internet broadcast; and

the receiver comprises a broadband connector.

21. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the digital video recorder is configured to record the video content to a hard drive.

22. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the digital video recorder is configured to record the video content to a memory card.

23. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the digital video recorder is configured to record the video content to a flash memory.

24. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a storage controller in communication with the digital video recorder and configured to create an alert to a user of the wireless digital video recorder when storage space available to the digital video recorder reaches a predetermined threshold.

25. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 24, wherein the alert comprises a one of an audible alert, a visual alert and a combination of an audible and a visual alert.

26. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a formatter in communication with the tuner and configured to format the video content.

27. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, wherein the formatter formats the video content into a one of quarter common intermediate format and quarter video graphics array format.

28. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a bitrate encoder in communication with the tuner and configured to encode the video content.

29. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

a bitrate encoder in communication with the formatter and configured to encode the video content.

30. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 29, wherein the bitrate encoder encodes the video content to a fixed bitrate.

31. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 29, wherein the bitrate encoder encodes the video content to a variable bitrate.

32. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 29, wherein the bitrate encoder encodes the video content to a one of MPEG format, MPEG4 format, Windows Media 9 format and Windows Media 10 format.

33. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a signal strength monitor in communication with the receiver and configured to monitor strength of the broadcast signal received by the wireless digital video recorder.

34. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a user interface in communication with the wireless phone and configured to display information concerning the video content available to the wireless digital video recorder.

35. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 34, wherein the user interface includes a browser configured to connect to and browse the Internet.

36. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a digital rights management system in communication with the digital video recorder.

37. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a position locator in communication with the digital video recorder configured to store one or more pointers associated with one or more locations within video content recorded by the digital video recorder.

39. A wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content, comprising:

a wireless phone;

a receiver attached to the wireless phone and configured to receive a broadcast signal containing the video content;

a tuner in communication with the receiver and configured to select the broadcast signal containing the video content;

a decoder in communication with the tuner and configured to digitize the video content; and

a digital video recorder in communication with the tuner and configured to record the video content.

38. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, wherein:

a user of the wireless digital video recorder uses the position locater to store the pointer to identify the location of a video segment in the video content recorded by the digital video recorder.

40. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, wherein the receiver, the tuner, decoder and the digital video recorder are incorporated within the wireless phone.

41. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a formatter in communication with the decoder and configured to format the digitized video content.

42. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 41, wherein the formatter formats the digitized video content into quarter common intermediate format.

43. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 41, wherein the formatter formats the digitized video content into quarter video graphics array format.

44. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a bitrate encoder in communication with the formatter and configured to encode the digitized video content.

45. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 44, wherein:

the bitrate encoder encodes the digitized video content to a fixed bitrate.

46. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 44, wherein the bitrate encoder encodes the digitized video content to a variable bitrate.

47. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 44, wherein the bitrate encoder encodes the digitized video content to a one of MPEG format, MPEG4 format, Windows Media 9 format and Windows Media 10 format.

48. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a signal strength monitor in communication with the receiver configured to monitor strength of the broadcast signal received by the wireless digital video recorder

49. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a user interface in communication with the wireless phone and configured to display information concerning the video content available to the wireless digital video recorder.

50. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 49, wherein the user interface includes a browser configured to connect to and browse the Internet.

51. The wireless digital video recorder for mobile and on-demand digital recording of video content as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a digital rights management system in communication with the digital video recorder.

52. A method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving at a wireless phone a set of video content, wherein the wireless phone incorporates a digital video recorder; and

storing the set of video content on the digital video recorder.

53. A method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving a broadcast video signal containing the video content at a receiver associated with a wireless phone;

decoding the video content;

digitizing the video content;

encoding the video content; and

storing the video content on a storage medium.

54. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

tuning the receiver to the broadcast video signal comprising the video content.

55. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

formatting the video content.

56. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, wherein:

the storage medium is a hard-drive.

57. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, wherein:

the storage medium is a memory card.

58. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, wherein:

the storage medium is a flash memory.

59. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

generating an alert when the broadcast video signal strength received by the receiver falls below a threshold value.

60. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

generating an alert when available storage space on the storage medium falls below a threshold value

61. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

displaying the video content available for recording on the wireless phone to a user.

62. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

accessing the Internet with a browser to obtain information concerning the video content.

63. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 62, wherein

the browser is incorporated within the wireless phone.

64. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

receiving information from a video content provider concerning the video content.

65. The method for digitally recording video content on a wireless phone as recited in claim 53, further comprising:

receiving information from a wireless service provider concerning the video content.