Apparatus and method for file size estimation over broadcast networks

• US 9,369,771 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Sridhar, Avinash, Campana, David Anthony, Boyce, Jill MacDonald, Anthru, Shemimom M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMBAYE, MEWALE A
• Application Number:
  US12/735,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,101 Days
• Field of Search: 370/390, 370431-433, 725/39, 709/203, 707821-831
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006

Abstract

The apparatus and method for estimating the size of content being received before the actual transmission of the data utilizes Electronic Service Guide (ESG) information. The ESG information assists a client device in obtaining file information before the file is actually transmitted by the source of the same. In this manner, the power supply of the user device can be managed more efficiently and provide the user with the ability to make storage determinations at their user device before expending the power resources necessary to obtain (i.e., download) and store a particular file of interest to the user without requiring any user intervention.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an electronic service guide (ESG) data from a server, said ESG data including a schedule list;

determining a bandwidth of a communication channel between said server and a client, said client including a reception module for storing a broadcast content from said server;

iterating over said schedule list for a new broadcast content;

estimating a size of said new content from said determined bandwidth and said schedule list, said schedule list including start and stop times of said new content;

determining whether to provide an operating power to said reception module for storing said new content at said client based upon said estimated size of said new content and a preference pre-provided by a user; and

removing said operating power from said reception module after said new content is stored when said operating power is provided to said reception module.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a storage space limitation of said client based upon said estimated size of said new content, wherein

said preference includes storing said new content by replacing an existing content on said client.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring an actual size of said new content after said new content is stored;

adjusting a parameter for said bandwidth determination step in accordance with said actual size of said new content.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a client having a communication channel with a server via a network;

a memory included in said client;

a reception module included in said client operative to store a broadcast content from said server to said memory;

said client operative to;

receive an electronic service guide (ESG) data from said server, said ESG data including a schedule list;

determine a bandwidth of said communication channel between said server and said client;

iterate over said schedule list for a new broadcast content;

estimate a size of said new content from said determined bandwidth and said schedule list, said schedule list including start and stop times of said new content;

determine whether to provide an operating power to said reception module for storing said new content based upon said determined size of said new content and a preference pro-provided by a user; and

remove said operating power from said reception module after said new content is stored when said operating power is provided to said reception module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

said client is operative to determine a storage space limitation of said memory based upon said estimated size of said new content, and

said preference includes storing said new content by replacing an existing content on said memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

said client is operative to measure an actual size of said new content after said new content is stored, and

said client is operative to adjust a parameter for said bandwidth determination in accordance with said actual size of said new content.