Providing Devices With Command Functionality in Content Streams

• US 20080248782A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MobiTV Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MobiTV Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Stiers, Todd, de Bonet, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US11/694,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for delivering command functionality such as out-of-band data to a mobile device in a media stream. A media stream may be divided into multiple portions. One or more portions are modified to include command functionality. The command functionality associated with the media stream is extracted at a mobile device. In particular instances, the command functionality provides notification of an event. The command functionality may be executed using one or more virtual machines associated with the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a media stream, wherein the media stream is separated into a plurality of portions;

modifying one of the plurality of portions to include a first procedure;

transmitting the plurality of portions to a mobile device, the mobile device operable to receive the first procedure included in the media stream, decode the media stream, and execute the first procedure, wherein the first procedure is operable to provide notification of an event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first procedure is executed in a first address space associated with a first virtual machine on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising modifying one of the plurality of portions to include a second procedure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second procedure is executed in a second address space associated with a second virtual machine on the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first procedure corresponds to a Java procedure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second procedure corresponds to a Python procedure.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first address space and the second address space are distinct areas in a memory address space associated with the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first procedure is a first procedure call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying one of the plurality of portions comprises augmenting one of the plurality of portions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first procedure is associated with a first command.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first commands includes a command identifier, a length indicator, and a data payload.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second procedure is associated with a second command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is receipt of an email or voicemail.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is receipt of a text message.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is proximity detection of another mobile device.

16. A system, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a media stream, wherein the media stream is separated into a plurality of portions;

a processor operable to modify one of the plurality of portions to include a first procedure;

wherein the interface is further operable to transmit the plurality of portions to a mobile device, the mobile device operable to receive the first procedure included in the media stream, decode the media stream, and execute the first procedure, wherein the first procedure is operable to provide notification of an event.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first procedure is executed in a first address space associated with a first virtual machine on the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising modifying one of the plurality of portions to include a second procedure.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second procedure is executed in a second address space associated with a second virtual machine on the mobile device.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a media stream, wherein the media stream is separated into a plurality of portions;

means for modifying one of the plurality of portions to include a first procedure;

means for transmitting the plurality of portions to a mobile device, the mobile device operable to receive the first procedure included in the media stream, decode the media stream, and execute the first procedure, wherein the first procedure is operable to provide notification of an event.