System and method for providing event spectators with audio/video signals pertaining to remote events

• US 7,929,903 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Mark A., Anderson, Geoffrey L., Steele, Todd H., Anderson, Tazwell L. Jr., Kniskern, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safaipour; Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US12/557,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/145, 455/3.03, 455/566, 455/567, 455/556.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for providing content for access by a portable device at an event are provided. The system includes an interface to receive signals from a plurality of sources. The plurality of sources are located at an event and remote from the event. The signals define event content and non-event content. The system further includes a processor for processing the received signals to generate combined signals based upon the received signals from the plurality of sources. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting to a plurality of portable devices at the event the combined signals. The combined signals are configured to allow a user to select content using the portable device receiving the combined signals.

Claims

1. A system for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the system comprising:

a central facility to receive signals defining video event content associated with a plurality of entertainment events, the central facility including a mixer and a user interface;

the mixer to mix the received signals to generate at least one combined signal including the video event content from the entertainment events;

the user interface coupled to the mixer to receive inputs from a user that instruct the mixer to mix desired combinations of the video event content to generate the at least one combined signal;

a broadcast system having antenna located to service different coverage areas, at least a first antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the combined signal to portable devices within a corresponding coverage area, the combined signal configured to allow a user to view the video event content on one of the portable devices;

a control unit to designate which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal; and

a router capable of routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mixer categorizes the video event content based upon one of a geographic location of the corresponding entertainment event, and a type of the entertainment event.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the router routes first video event content to at least a first antenna and second video event content to at least a second antenna.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic provides conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mixer generates first and second channels in the combined signal, the first channel including video event content from a local entertainment event, the second channel including video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a monitoring system configured to view content from the sources.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a quality control system configured to determine a quality level for the signals received from the sources.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first antenna is located proximate to a stadium where a local entertainment event is occurring and a second antenna is located remote from the local entertainment event, the first and second antenna transmitting local event content.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sources comprises at least one of over air television, event cameras, AM/FM radio, satellite, VCR/DVD, cable television, satellite television, and Internet.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mixer is configured to select signals to combine based on signal selection criteria, the signal selection criteria based on at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, and (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising content insertion control logic configured to insert, into the combined signal, non-event content including at least one of advertisements and commercials.

12. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to designate each of the antenna to receive the combined signal.

13. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to designate a plurality of the antenna to receive the combined signal.

14. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mixer generates multiple combined signals.

15. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of frequency modulators configured to modulate the received signals on different frequencies.

16. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mixer is located remote from the antenna.

17. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and the antenna communicate with the cellular telephones.

18. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control logic designates that each of the multiple broadcast antenna are to receive each of the combined signals.

19. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control logic determines a type of communication link to be used to transmit the combined signal.

20. A method for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central facility, signals defining video event content associated with entertainment events;

receiving, at a user interface, user inputs from a user to designate desired combinations of the video event content;

processing the received signals, at a mixer, based on the user inputs of the desired combinations, to generate at least one combined signal of the video event content;

connecting to a broadcast system having antenna that are located to service different coverage areas;

designating, which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal;

routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signal;

wirelessly transmitting, from the designated antenna, the combined signal to portable devices within the coverage area of the designated antenna; and

configuring the combined signal to allow users of the portable devices to view the video event content on one of the portable devices.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising categorizing the video event content based upon one of a geographic location of the corresponding entertainment event, and a type of the entertainment event.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the routing first includes routing video event content to at least a first antenna and routing second video event content to at least a second antenna.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the processing operation to generate the combined signal comprises:

generating a first channel, carrying video event content from a local entertainment event; and

generating a second channel, carrying video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

25. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the combined signal is configured to allow selection of content by the portable devices.

26. A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising selecting additional content to include in the combined signal.

27. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the processing comprises selecting signals to combine based on signal selection criteria including at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

28. A system for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the system comprising:

a central facility to receive signals defining video event content associated with a plurality of entertainment events, the central facility including a mixer and a user interface;

the mixer to mix the received signals to generate at least one combined signal including the video event content from the entertainment events;

the user interface coupled to the mixer to receive inputs from a user that instruct the mixer to mix desired combinations of the video event content to generate the at least one combined signal;

a broadcast system having antenna located to service different coverage areas, at least a first antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the combined signal to portable devices within a corresponding coverage area, the combined signal configured to allow a user to view the video event content on one of the portable devices;

a control unit to designate which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal; and

a router capable of routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signals wherein the router routes first video event content to at least a first antenna and second video event content to at least a second antenna.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first antenna is located proximate to a stadium where a local entertainment event is occurring and a second antenna is located remote from the local entertainment event, the first and second antenna transmitting local event content.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mixer categorizes the video event content based upon one of a geographic location of the corresponding entertainment event, and a type of the entertainment event.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the mixer generates first and second channels in the combined signal, the first channel including video event content from a local entertainment event, the second channel including video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the mixer is configured to select signals to combine based on signal selection criteria, the signal selection criteria based on at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, and (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the control logic provides conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

34. The system of claim 29, further comprising content insertion control logic configured to insert, into the combined signal, non-event content including at least one of advertisements and commercials.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and the antenna communicate with the cellular telephones.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the control logic designates that each of the multiple broadcast antenna are to receive each of the combined signals.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the control logic determines a type of communication link to be used to transmit the combined signal.

38. A system for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the system comprising:

a central facility to receive signals defining video event content associated with a plurality of entertainment events, the central facility including a mixer and a user interface;

the mixer to mix the received signals to generate at least one combined signal including the video event content from the entertainment events, the mixer to categorize the video event content based upon one of a geographic location of the corresponding entertainment event, and a type of the entertainment event;

the user interface coupled to the mixer to receive inputs from a user that instruct the mixer to mix desired combinations of the video event content to generate the at least one combined signal;

a broadcast system having antenna located to service different coverage areas, at least a first antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the combined signal to portable devices within a corresponding coverage area, the combined signal configured to allow a user to view the video event content on one of the portable devices;

a control unit to designate which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal; and

a router capable of routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signals.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the mixer generates first and second channels in the combined signal, the first channel including video event content from a local entertainment event, the second channel including video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the control logic provides conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and the antenna communicate with the cellular telephones.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and the antenna communicate with the cellular telephones.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the control logic provides conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the mixer is configured to select signals to combine based on signal selection criteria, the signal selection criteria based on at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, and (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the mixer generates first and second channels in the combined signal, the first channel including video event content from a local entertainment event, the second channel including video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the mixer generates multiple combined signals.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and the antenna communicate with the cellular telephones.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the control logic designates that each of the multiple broadcast antenna are to receive each of the combined signals.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the control logic determines a type of communication link to be used to transmit the combined signal.

50. A system for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the system comprising:

a central facility to receive signals defining video event content associated with a plurality of entertainment events, the central facility including a mixer and a user interface;

the mixer to mix the received signals to generate at least one combined signal including the video event content from the entertainment events;

the user interface coupled to the mixer to receive inputs from a user that instruct the mixer to mix desired combinations of the video event content to generate the at least one combined signal;

a broadcast system having antenna located to service different coverage areas, at least a first antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the combined signal to portable devices within a corresponding coverage area, the combined signal configured to allow a user to view the video event content on one of the portable devices, wherein the portable devices represent cellular phones and wherein the first antenna communicates with the cellular telephones;

a control unit to designate which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal; and

a router capable of routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signals.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the router routes first video event content to at least the first antenna and second video event content to at least a second antenna.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the control unit is configured to designate each of the antenna to receive the combined signal.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the control unit is configured to designate a plurality of the antenna to receive the combined signal.

54. A method for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central facility, signals defining video event content associated with entertainment events;

receiving, at a user interface, user inputs from a user to designate desired combinations of the video event content;

processing the received signals, at a mixer, based on the user inputs of the desired combinations, to generate at least one combined signal of the video event content;

connecting to a broadcast system having antenna that are located to service different coverage areas;

designating, which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal;

routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signal, the routing including routing first video event content to at least a first antenna and routing second video event content to at least a second antenna;

wirelessly transmitting, from the designated antenna, the combined signal to portable devices within the coverage area of the designated antenna; and

configuring the combined signal to allow users of the portable devices to view the video event content on one of the portable devices.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the processing operation to generate the combined signal comprises:

generating a first channel, carrying video event content from a local entertainment event; and

generating a second channel, carrying video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising categorizing the video event content based upon one of a geographic location of the corresponding entertainment event, and a type of the entertainment event.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising providing conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

58. A method of claim 56, wherein the combined signal is configured to allow selection of content by the portable devices.

59. A method of claim 54, wherein the processing comprises selecting signals to combine based on signal selection criteria including at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising providing conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the processing comprises selecting signals to combine based on signal selection criteria including at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.

62. The method of claim 54 wherein the first antenna is located proximate to a stadium where a local entertainment event is occurring and a second antenna is located remote from the local entertainment event, the first and second antenna transmitting local event content.

63. A method for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central facility, signals defining video event content associated with entertainment events;

receiving, at a user interface, user inputs from a user to designate desired combinations of the video event content;

processing the received signals, at a mixer, based on the user inputs of the desired combinations, to generate at least one combined signal of the video event content, wherein the processing comprises selecting signals to combine based on signal selection criteria including at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety;

connecting to a broadcast system having antenna that are located to service different coverage areas;

designating, which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal;

routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signal;

wirelessly transmitting, from the designated antenna, the combined signal to portable devices within the coverage area of the designated antenna; and

configuring the combined signal to allow users of the portable devices to view the video event content on one of the portable devices.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising providing conditional access to the combined signal such that only authorized portable devices are able to display the video event content.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the processing operation to generate the combined signal comprises:

generating a first channel, carrying video event content from a local entertainment event; and

generating a second channel, carrying video event content from at least one remote entertainment event.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the combined signal is configured to allow selection of content by the portable devices.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the routing includes routing video event content first to at least a first antenna and routing second video event content to at least a second antenna.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the first antenna is located proximate to a stadium where a local entertainment event is occurring and a second antenna is located remote from the local entertainment event, the first and second antenna transmitting local event content.

69. A method for providing entertainment event content to a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central facility, signals defining video event content associated with entertainment events;

receiving, at a user interface, user inputs from a user to designate desired combinations of the video event content;

processing the received signals, at a mixer, based on the user inputs of the desired combinations, to generate at least one combined signal of the video event content;

connecting to a broadcast system having antenna that are located to service different coverage areas;

designating, which of the antenna are to receive the combined signal;

routing the combined signal to one or more of the antenna that are designated to receive the combined signal;

wirelessly transmitting, from the designated antenna, the combined signal to portable devices within the coverage area of the designated antenna, the portable devices representing cellular phones and the antenna communicating with the cellular telephones; and

configuring the combined signal to allow users of the portable devices to view the video event content on one of the portable devices.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the routing includes routing first video event content to at least a first antenna and routing second video event content to at least a second antenna.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the first antenna is located proximate to a stadium where a local entertainment event is occurring and a second antenna is located remote from the local entertainment event, the first and second antenna transmitting local event content.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein the combined signal is configured to allow selection of content by the portable devices.

73. The method of claim 69, further comprising selecting additional content to include in the combined signal.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein the processing comprises selecting signals to combine based on signal selection criteria including at least one of (i) spectator or regional preferences, (ii) a geographic location of a source of the signals, (iii) predetermined criteria, (iv) time of day, (v) type of event and (vi) content variety.