Method and apparatus for multimedia communications with different user terminals

• US 20110211113A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation Sciences, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sellerbid Incorporated (Innovation Sciences, LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Ximing, Halal, William E., Wang, Ning, Wang, Tiejun, Wang, Tiehong
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 : additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 : receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 : Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

Multimedia communications with cross-layer optimization in multimedia communications with different user terminals. Various optimization for the delivery of multimedia content across different channels are provided concurrently to a plurality of user terminals.

Claims

1. A method for conversion and sending of content to devices, the method comprising:

receiving a multimedia content item originated from a source located outside a home location and destined for a destination device located within the home location;

wherein the multimedia content item is received through a wireless communication network;

converting the multimedia content item for reproduction according to a determined signal format of the destination device; and

sending the converted multimedia content item to the destination device, wherein the sending comprises establishing a predetermined channel with the destination device, and transporting the multimedia content to the destination device via said predetermined channel in order for the destination device to display the multimedia content, and wherein the destination device is a television.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a predetermined processing category for the multimedia content item, wherein converting the multimedia content item is performed according to the predetermined processing category.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined processing category identifies a communication protocol, a signal format, and an address for the destination device, wherein the converting of the multimedia content item is performed according to the signal format, and wherein the sending of the converted multimedia content item uses the address and the communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined processing category prompts addressing, conversion and routing to the television through a network connection.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined processing category prompts routing to the television through an HDMI input of the television.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving other multimedia content item sourced from a media capture device of the television; and

transmitting the other multimedia content item to an other destination device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the other multimedia content item to the other destination devices is through a cellular communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is a cellular communication network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the converted multimedia content item in a non-volatile computer storage medium; and

routing the stored, converted multimedia content item to an input of the television.

10. An apparatus for conversion and sending of content to devices that employ differing communication protocols, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a multimedia content item originated from a source located outside a designated location and destined for a destination device located within the designated location;

wherein the multimedia content item is received through a wireless communication network;

means for converting the multimedia content item for reproduction according to a determined signal format of the destination device; and

means for sending the converted multimedia content item to the destination device, wherein the sending comprises establishing a predetermined channel with the destination device, and transporting the multimedia content to the destination device via said predetermined channel in order for the destination device to display the multimedia content, and wherein the destination device is a television.

11. A method performed by a centralized HUB system located within a designated location, for converting and routing of content to devices that employ differing communication protocols, the method comprising:

receiving, by the centralized HUB system, a multimedia content item originated from a source located outside the designated location and destined for a destination device;

determining, by the centralized HUB system, a communications protocol, a signal format and an address for the destination device;

converting, by the centralized HUB system, the multimedia content item for reproduction according to the determined signal format; and

routing, by the centralized HUB system, the converted multimedia content item to the destination device using the determined address and communications protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the centralized HUB system route addresses between IP and cellular telephone number.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the centralized HUB system communicates with electronic items through a wireless channel, wherein the wireless channel is one of Bluetooth, UWB, and NFC.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the centralized HUB system receives a signal from a home appliance and delivers the signal to an electronic device of a corresponding recipient.

15. The method of claim 11, the centralized HUB system connects to cellular network through a leased line or wireless line.

16. The method of claim 11, the centralized HUB system includes a WiFi router function.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein a virus screening is performed on the multimedia content item.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein a security process or error correction process is performed on the multimedia content item.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving another multimedia content item originated from the centralized HUB system and destined for the destination device located outside the designated location;

determining a communications protocol, a signal format and an address for the destination device;

converting the other multimedia content item for reproduction according to the determined signal format; and

routing the converted multimedia content item to the destination device using the determined address and communications protocol.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the multimedia content is received from the source in connection with a data package that identifies the destination device.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein a mapping table maps a destination device to an appropriate communications protocol, signal format and address.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request to order access to the multimedia content item through a cellular communication with a user initiating the request using a mobile terminal, wherein the source device is a content provider separate from the mobile terminal.