Method and system for dynamically inserting content information into a mobile TV application

• US 8,984,564 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
• Original Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
• Inventors: Tausworthe, Robert D., Marshall, Vernon Carter
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US13/316,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20120180085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36, 725/62, 455/403, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 725/62
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• 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 method operates a mobile communication device configured for outputting a television application and displaying selected content within a television environment of the mobile communication device. The method includes initiating a TV application using a user interface coupled to the mobile communication device. The method also includes capturing a television signal using a tuning device provided in the mobile communication device. The television signal is one of a plurality of television signals from respective television channels. The method further includes outputting a TV program associated with the television signal for the captured television channel on a display of the mobile communication device. Additionally, the method includes retrieving a configurable content object from a database provided within the mobile communication device. The configurable content object is one of a plurality of configurable content objects numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile communication device configured for outputting a television application and displaying selected content within a television environment of the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

initiating a TV application using a user interface coupled to the mobile communication device;

capturing a television signal using a tuning device provided in the mobile communication device, the television signal being one of a plurality of television signals from respective television channels;

outputting a TV program associated with the television signal for the captured television channel on a display of the mobile communication device;

retrieving a configurable content object from a database provided within the mobile communication device, the configurable content object being one of a plurality of configurable content objects numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1;

associating the configurable content object to one of a plurality of the television channels using one of a plurality of presentation criteria, the plurality of presentation criteria being based on the configurable content object and a real world state of the mobile communication device;

displaying a dynamically generated content based on the configurable content object on the display when a user selects a new channel associated with the configurable content object, the new channel being one of the plurality of channels, the dynamically generated content and the TV program not being displayed contemporaneously;

displaying a new TV program associated with the new channel after displaying the dynamically generated content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the TV application comprises a channel control, volume control, and display format control.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the television signal comprises an analog television signal ranging from 40 MHz to 960 MHz.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the television signal comprises a digital signal configured in one of a plurality of formats selected from DVB-T, DVB-S, ATSC, DMB-T, CMMB, and T-DMB.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises a video file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises an advertisement.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises messaging.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the content is from a social network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises a gaming application.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the configurable content objects being provided in one or more memories of the mobile communication device upon sale of the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the configurable content objects are updated via a worldwide network of computers coupled to a configurable content object database.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing one or more of the configurable content objects.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting another channel from the plurality of channels.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring feedback information from the user, the feedback information being associated with the selected configurable content object.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein updating one or more of the configurable content objects via a worldwide network of computers coupled to a content server.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected configurable content object comprises a file format, the file format being selected from bmp, JPEG, and GIF.

17. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter/receiver device coupled to the processor;

a TV tuner coupled to the processor;

one or more computer readable memories, the one or more computer readable memories coupled to the processor;

a configurable content database comprising a plurality of configurable content objects;

a presentation criteria database comprising a plurality of presentation criteria based on the configurable content object and a real world state of the mobile communication device; and

a channel selector configured to initiate transfer of either one of a plurality of TV channels or at least one of the configurable content objects;

wherein a dynamically generated content based on the configurable content objects is displayed between a first TV channel and a second TV channel when the switching from the first TV channel to the second TV channel, the dynamically generated content and the first TV channel not being displayed contemporaneously.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the selected configurable content object comprises a file format, the file format being selected from bmp, JPEG, and GIF.

19. A method for operating a mobile communication device configured for outputting a television application and operating selected action objects within a television environment of the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

initiating a TV application using a user interface coupled to the mobile communication device;

capturing a television signal using a tuning device provided in the mobile communication device, the television signal being one of a plurality of television signals from respective television channels;

outputting a TV program associated with the television signal for the captured television channel on a display of the mobile communication device;

retrieving a configurable action object from a database provided within the mobile communication device, the configurable action object being one of a plurality of configurable action objects numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1;

associating the configurable action object to one of a plurality of the television channels using one of a plurality of presentation criteria, the plurality of presentation criteria being based on the configurable content object and a real world state of the mobile communication device;

displaying a dynamically generated content based on the configurable action object on the display when a user selects a new channel associated with the configurable action object, the new channel being one of the plurality of channels, the dynamically generated content and the TV program not being displayed contemporaneously; and

initiating a selection associated with the configurable action object in response to a user selection of the configurable action object.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the TV application comprises a channel control, volume control, and display format control.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the television signal comprises an analog television signal ranging from 40 MHz to 960 MHz.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the television signal comprises a digital signal configured in one of a plurality of formats selected from DVB-T, DVB-S, ATSC, DMB-T, CMMB, and T-DMB.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the content comprises a video file.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the content comprises an advertisement.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the content comprises messaging.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the content is from a social network.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the content comprises a gaming application.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the configurable action objects being provided in one or more memories of the mobile communication device upon sale of the mobile communication device.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein one or more of the configurable action objects are updated via a world-wide network of computers coupled to a configurable content action database.

30. The method of claim 19 further comprising removing one or more of the configurable action objects.

31. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter/receiver device coupled to the processor;

a TV tuner coupled to the processor;

one or more computer readable memories, the one or more computer readable memories coupled to the processor;

a configurable content database comprising a plurality of configurable action objects;

a presentation criteria database comprising a plurality of presentation criteria;

a channel selector configured to initiate transfer of either one of a plurality of TV channels or at least one of the configurable action objects; and

an action object selector configured to interface between the configurable action object and a user;

wherein a dynamically generated content based on the configurable content objects is displayed between a first TV channel and a second TV channel when the switching from the first TV channel to the second TV channel, the dynamically generated content and the first TV channel not being displayed contemporaneously.