Buffering content on a handheld electronic device

• US 8,701,147 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FanVision Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kangaroo Media Incorporated (Game Day Entertainment LLC)
• Inventors: Thomas, Genevieve, Lambert, Felix, Fortier, Stephane, Lazure, Guillaume, Tardif, Robert, Arseneau, Jean, Charette, Alain, Lemire, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, CAI Y
• Application Number:
  US13/236,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20120246689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A handheld device receives a wireless RF transmission that includes multiple video streams and buffers all video streams or selected video streams based on an identification of video streams to buffer. The device might also buffer all or selected audio streams or other real-time data content that is received in the wireless RF transmission. The wireless RF transmission may include a set of video streams (and/or audio streams, and/or other real-timed data) for the handheld device to buffer. A head end that sends the RF transmission may determine which streams to buffer based on operator input, user preferences, and other factors. Alternatively, the handheld device may automatically determine which streams to buffer based on information such as user preferences and information in the RF transmission. Alternatively, a user may select which streams to buffer.

Claims

1. A method of presenting content to a wireless mobile computing device, comprising:

receiving multiple video streams depicting a live event;

wirelessly transmitting the multiple video streams to a first set of mobile computing devices during the live event;

and transmitting to the first set of mobile computing devices first information that identifies a first subset of the video streams for the first set of mobile computing devices to buffer for replay mode playback;

wherein;

the transmitting of the first information includes wirelessly transmitting the first information to the first set of mobile computing devices,

the first subset of the multiple video streams comprises a first plurality of the multiple video streams, the first information causes the first plurality of the multiple video streams to be buffered on each of the first set of mobile computing devices, the first plurality of the multiple video streams corresponds with a number of video streams less than the multiple video streams transmitted to the first set of mobile computing devices;

wherein;

the wirelessly transmitting the multiple video streams to the first set of mobile computing devices includes wirelessly transmitting the multiple video streams to a second set of mobile computing devices;

and the method further comprises transmitting to the second set of mobile computing devices second information that identifies a second subset of the multiple video streams for the second set of mobile computing devices to buffer for replay mode playback, the first subset of the multiple video streams is different than the second subset of multiple video streams.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding the multiple video streams and the first information to a common wireless signal, the wirelessly transmitting the multiple video streams includes transmitting the common wireless signal to the first set of mobile computing devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first subset of video streams includes five video streams.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically choosing the first subset of the video streams and creating the first information based on the automatically choosing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the automatically choosing the first subset of video streams is based on recognizing video content in at least one of the multiple video streams.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the automatically choosing the first subset of video streams is based on recognizing audio content associated with at least one of the multiple video streams.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the automatically choosing the first subset of video streams is based on identifying data received for the live event.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the automatically choosing the first subset of video streams is based on user data for one or more users of the first set of mobile computing devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the live event, dynamically changing the first information to identify a second subset of the video streams and transmitting the changed first information to the first set of mobile computing devices.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving multiple audio streams of the live event during the live event;

wirelessly transmitting the multiple audio streams to the set of mobile computing devices;

transmitting to the first set of mobile computing devices audio selection information that identifies a first subset of the audio streams for the first set of mobile computing devices to buffer for replay mode playback, the audio selection information is separate from the first information.

11. A content transmission system, comprising:

one or more storage devices that store multiple video streams depicting a live event during the live event;

a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the multiple video streams to a first set of mobile computing devices during the live event; and

a processor in communication with the one or more storage devices and the wireless transmitter, the processor communicates first information to the first set of mobile computing devices that identifies a first subset of the video streams for the first set of mobile computing devices to buffer for replay mode playback;

wherein;

the processor communicates the first information to the first set of mobile computing devices via the wireless transmitter, the first subset of the multiple video streams comprises a first plurality of the multiple video streams, the first information causes the first plurality of the multiple video streams to be buffered on each of the first set of mobile computing devices the first plurality of the multiple video streams corresponds with a number of video streams less than the multiple video streams transmitted to the first set of mobile computing devices;

wherein;

the wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the multiple video streams to a second set of mobile computing devices during the live event;

and the processor communicates second information to the second set of mobile computing devices that identifies a second subset of the video streams for the second set of mobile computing devices to buffer for replay mode playback, the first subset of the video streams is different than the second set of video streams.

12. The content transmission system of claim 11, wherein:

the processor combines the multiple video streams and the first information into a single signal that is sent to the first set of mobile computing devices via the wireless transmitter.

13. The content transmission system of claim 11, further comprising:

the processor automatically chooses the first subset of the video streams and creates the first information based on the automatically choosing.

14. The content transmission system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor automatically chooses the first subset of the video streams based on recognizing video content in at least one of the multiple video streams.

15. The content transmission system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor automatically chooses the first subset of the video streams based on recognizing audio content associated with at least one of the multiple video streams.

16. The content transmission system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor automatically chooses the first subset of the video streams based on identifying data received for the live event.

17. The content transmission system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor automatically chooses the first subset of the video streams based on user data for one or more users of the first set of mobile computing devices.

18. The content transmission system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor includes multiple microprocessor in multiple computers.

19. The content transmission system of claim 11, wherein:

during the live event, the processor dynamically changes the first information to identify a second subset of the video streams and the wireless transmitted sends the changed first information to the first set of mobile computing devices.