Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
  • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
  • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/414—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
  • H04N21/41407—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
  • H04N21/4788—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to portable communication devices, and, more particularly, to a portable communication device and method for sharing TV content with a remote device.
• portable communication devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, mobile terminals, etc.
• mobile phones such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, mobile terminals, etc.
• today's wireless landscape is rapidly changing as mobile phones and networks are being enhanced to provide features and services beyond voice communications.
• the wireless industry is experiencing a rapid expansion of mobile data services.
• features associated with certain types of portable communication devices have become increasingly diverse.
• many portable communication devices have cameras, text messaging capability, Internet browsing functionality, electronic mail capability, video playback capability, audio playback capability, image display capability and hands-free headset interfaces.
• TV television
• One aspect of the invention relates to a method of sharing TV content with a remote device.
• the method includes receiving a signal or data representative of TV content, in response to a user command, selecting a portion of the TV content to be sent, and triggering a multimedia message to be sent to the remote device, where the multimedia message includes the selected portion of the TV content.
• the triggering includes creating a multimedia message including the selected portion of the TV content.
• the triggering includes interfacing with an Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) application to send a message including the selected portion of the TV content.
• MMS Multimedia Messaging Service
• the multimedia message is an MMS message or an e-mail message.
• the selected portion of the TV content includes a snapshot of the TV content.
• receiving includes receiving a TV signal over the air and converting the TV signal into TV video data.
• receiving includes receiving streaming video representative of TV content.
• the method further comprises recording the selected portion of the TV content.
• triggering a multimedia message to be sent to the remote device does not interrupt display of the TV content.
• the method further comprises automatically storing the last X minutes of received TV content, where X is a predetermined value.
• the multimedia message includes the last Y seconds of TV content viewed by the user, where Y is a predetermined value or a user-selectable value.
• the multimedia message includes electronic program guide (EPG) data related to the TV content.
• EPG electronic program guide
• Another aspect of the invention relates to a program stored on a machine readable medium, the program being suitable for use in a portable communication device, wherein when the program is loaded in memory in the portable communication device and executed causes the portable communication device to: receive a signal or data representative of TV content, select a portion of the TV content to be sent to a remote device in response to a user command, and send a multimedia message including the selected portion of the TV content.
• the multimedia message is an MMS formatted message or an e-mail message.
• the program causes the portable communication device to automatically store the last X minutes of received TV content, where X is a predetermined value.
• the program causes the portable communication device to send a multimedia message that includes the last Y seconds of TV content viewed by the user, where Y is a predetermined value or a user-selectable value.
• the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
• a portable communication device comprises a memory and a processor that executes an application program within the memory that causes the portable communication device to: receive a signal or data representative of TV content, select a portion of the TV content to be sent to a remote device in response to a user command, and send a multimedia message including the selected portion of the TV content.
• Another aspect of the invention relates to a portable communication device that includes a receiver for receiving a signal or data representative of TV content, and a program stored in a memory, where the program triggers a multimedia message to be sent to a remote device, and the multimedia message includes a user- selected portion of the TV content.
• the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a communication system including a portable communication device on which aspects of the present invention are carried out;
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portable communication device on which aspects of the present invention are carried out;
• FIG. 3 is a flow chart or diagram representing the relevant operation of a portable communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart or diagram representing the relevant operation of a portable communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart or diagram representing the relevant operation of a portable communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• the term “portable communication device” includes portable radio communication equipment.
• TV television
• a communication system 10 includes a mobile network 12, such as a mobile cellular telephony network, that facilitates communication, such as voice communication and/or data transfer between a plurality of portable communication devices 14, such as mobile phones, mobile terminals or the like.
• the communication system 10 and at least one of the portable communication devices 14 support a TV application, e.g., by including appropriate hardware and/or application programs for receipt and processing of signals and/or data representative of TV content.
• portable communication device 14 will be described in terms of sharing or otherwise transmitting TV content with one or more other portable communication devices or some other remote device.
• the communication system 10 includes a network infrastructure 18, portions of which are used or otherwise accessed by the portable communication devices in connection with aspects of the invention.
• the portable communication devices 14 may interact with each other and/or the network infrastructure in accordance with any suitable communication standard, including, but not limited to, Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service (D-AMPS), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Voice-Over IP (VoIP), Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or the like.
• AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone Service
• D-AMPS Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service
• GPRS General Packet Radio Service
• UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
• VoIP Voice-Over IP
• SIP Session Initiated Protocol
• WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
• the network infrastructure 18 includes one or more application servers, which are indicated generally by the numeral 20, and a storage device 22, such as a memory for storing data accessible or otherwise usable by the application servers 20.
• the network infrastructure 18 depicted in FIG. 1 includes a TV application server 24, e.g., an application server suitable for providing TV content to the portable communication device 14, and a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) 26, which is used hi connection with the exchange of Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) formatted messages (also referred to simply as MMS messages).
• MMS Multimedia Messaging Service
• the TV application server can include any TV network or infrastructure, including, but not limited to Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T), Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H), Terrestrial-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting for Television (DMB- T), Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS), 3 G Streaming, Media FLO and the like.
• the application servers 20, including the TV application server 24 and the MMSC 26, are computer servers that serve different functions in the communication system. As is described more fully below, one or more of the portable communication devices 14 are operable share quickly or otherwise transmit quickly a user-selected TV clip to a remote device.
• FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of a portable communication device 14 in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
• the portable communication device 14 includes a processor 30 for controlling the overall operation of the portable communication device.
• the processor 30 may be any commercially available or custom microprocessor.
• Memory 32 is operatively connected to the processor 30 for storing control programs and data used by the portable communication device.
• the memory 32 is representative of the overall hierarchy of memory devices containing software and data used to implement the functionality of the portable communication device in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
• memory 32 stores device drivers 34, e.g., I/O device drivers, application programs, including a TV application 36, a TV share application 38 (also referred to as a TV share processor), a messaging application 40, e.g., an application that facilitates the exchange of MMS messages, e-mails or the like, and application program data 42, including one or more memory buffers 44 in which portions of TV content may be stored for time-shifted access.
• the I/O device drivers include software routines that are accessed through the processor 30 (or by an operating system (not shown) stored in memory 32) by the application programs, including the TV share application program 38, to communicate with devices such as the display 42 and other input/output ports.
• the application programs comprise programs that implement various features of the portable communication device 14, such as e-mail, Internet access, contact manager and the like.
• the TV share application program 38 comprises a program that facilitates quickly sharing or otherwise transmitting user-selected TV clips with a remote device, e.g., another portable communication device, a remote computer or the like.
• TV share application program 38 any interfacing between the TV share application program 38 and other application programs, e.g., the TV application program 36 and the messaging application program 40. Accordingly, details as to specific programming code have been left out for the sake of brevity. Also, while the TV share functionality is carried out via the processor 30 and TV share application program 38 (alone or in conjunction with other application programs) in memory 32 in accordance with aspects of the invention, such function could also be carried out via dedicated hardware, firmware, software or combinations thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• the processor 30 interfaces with the display 46, a user interface unit
• the user interface unit 48 includes or is operatively coupled to a keypad 54.
• the user interface unit may include other actuators or input devices that allow the user to interact with the mobile phone.
• keypad 54 allows the user to dial numbers, enter commands and data, and select options.
• the display 46 allows the user to view a variety of information, such as dialed digits, stored information, and output from various applications, including the TV and TV share application programs 36 and 38.
• the mobile phone includes a TV reception unit 60, including an appropriate antenna 62.
• the TV reception unit 60 and antenna 62 facilitate receiving TV signals transmitted over the air.
• the TV reception unit 60 alone or together with the TV application program 36 extract an appropriate TV image signal from the TV signal transmitted over the air.
• the mobile phone may receive signal data representative of TV content that is streamed or otherwise transmitted from a remote location, e.g., making use of a TV application server 24 (FIG. 1).
• An antenna 64 is coupled to the transmitter/receiver 50 such that the transmitter/receiver 50 transmits and receives signals via the antenna 64, as is conventional.
• the portable communication device 14 includes an audio processor 52 for processing the audio signal transmitted by and received from the transmitter/receiver 46
• FIGs. 3-5 include a series of steps or functional blocks that represent one or more aspects of the relevant operation of the portable communication device 14, it is to be understood and appreciated that aspects of the present invention are not limited to the order of steps or functional blocks, as some steps or functional blocks may, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other steps or functional blocks from that shown and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated steps or functional blocks of aspects of relevant operation may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with an aspect of the invention. Furthermore, additional steps or functional blocks of aspects of relevant operation may be added without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• a method of sharing TV content e.g., a TV clip, a portion of a TV program, a
• receiving TV data includes receiving TV signals transmitted over the air, e.g., using an antenna 62 and a TV reception unit 60 (FIG. 2).
• the mobile phone software and hardware may interface to extract an appropriate TV image signal from the TV signal transmitted over the air.
• receiving TV data may include receiving a video data signal from an appropriate content source, e.g., a TV application server 24 or TV network (FIG. 1), in a streaming video or time-shifted fashion.
• the mobile phone may receive a request from the user to send a TV moment, e.g., a TV clip or portion of a TV program being viewed by the user or a snapshot of a TV show being viewed.
• a TV moment e.g., a TV clip or portion of a TV program being viewed by the user or a snapshot of a TV show being viewed.
• the user can signal or otherwise command the mobile phone by pressing or otherwise actuating the appropriate button on the mobile phone, e.g., by pressing a dedicated "Send TV Moment" button or pressing another appropriate soft key to initiate the functionality provided by the TV share program.
• a message is created or otherwise triggered including the user-selected TV moment or TV clip.
• the mobile phone creates or otherwise triggers an MMS message including the user-selected TV moment, clip or content.
• the mobile phone creates another type of multimedia message with the user-selected TV clip, such as an e-mail message.
• the TV share application program 38 may work alone or in conjunction with an appropriate messaging application, e.g., a message application program on or otherwise programmed into the mobile phone.
• the mobile phone upon receipt of a user command to send a TV moment, TV clip or the like, the mobile phone will automatically create or otherwise trigger an appropriate multimedia message including a TV moment made up of the last X seconds viewed by the user.
• the clip will be made up of a predetermined time period, for example, the last ten seconds, the last twenty seconds, the last forty seconds or the like.
• the TV share application program may prompt the user to enter what length of TV clip should be sent by way of the multimedia message. Sharing of TV content in this matter may be achieved because the mobile phone typically buffers the last Y minutes of TV content, e.g., consistent with time-shifting of TV content.
• the mobile phone may transmit a message, e.g., a multimedia message, including the desired TV clip while allowing the user to continue to watch TV on the mobile phone.
• a method of sharing TV content begins at functional block 120 where the mobile phone records TV data.
• the recorded TV data corresponds to image data extracted from a TV signal transmitted over the air.
• the TV data is recorded from streaming or other video data transfer provided by an appropriate content source, e.g., a TV application server.
• the mobile phone receives a request from the user to retrieve a TV moment.
• the command to retrieve a TV moment or TV clip may be provided while the user is viewing a previously recorded TV program.
• the user may command the mobile phone to provide a menu of previously recorded TV clips.
• the mobile phone creates or otherwise triggers a message, e.g., a multimedia message, to be sent including the desired TV moment or TV clip.
• a message e.g., a multimedia message
• creating or otherwise triggering a multimedia message can include, but is not limited to, an MMS message, an e-mail message or the like.
• receiving TV data can include receiving a TV signal over the air and extracting TV image data from the signal received over the air.
• receiving TV data may include a video data signal from a content source, e.g., a TV application server, in a streaming fashion.
• the user has the option of recording the received TV program, or a portion thereof. If the user wishes to record some or the entire TV program, the user may command the mobile phone to store the TV program in memory (functional block 150).
• the user has the option of sending a TV clip at functional block 155.
• the clip can be based on TV data as received, e.g., a portion of which will be stored in an appropriate memory buffer, or from a TV program or portion thereof already recorded or otherwise stored in memory.
• the mobile phone will create or otherwise trigger a message, e.g., a multimedia message, including the desired TV clip (functional block 160), As is discussed above, the multimedia message can include an MMS formatted message, and e-mail message or the like.
• creating or otherwise triggering a message with a TV clip may include the triggering or prompting of any other application program, e.g., a messaging application program loaded or otherwise running on the mobile phone, to take an appropriate action in accordance with the functionality associated with the specific application program being triggered.
• the message e.g., the multimedia message, including the desired TV clip may be transmitted along with other information or data.
• each multimedia message may include information regarding the TV clip transmitted in the multimedia message.
• Such information can include information from or portions of an electronic program guide (EPG) that corresponds to the program being transmitted.
• EPG information may include the title of the program, the tune and date at which the program originally aired, a brief description of the program or portion of the program being transmitted and the like.
• a mobile phone having the capability of sharing a TV clip without interrupting the user's watching of a TV program provides the user with additional convenience and enhanced mobile phone functionality.
• the user may wish to send a funny clip to a friend by itself or along with a message, such as, "you should check this program out; it is on right now.”
• the user can share a TV clip while the clip is fresh in the user's mind.
• This TV sharing functionality should prove useful to avoid a user saying to a friend, "did you happen to see that crazy play last night?" Instead, the user can share the TV clip, and say, "did you see the clip that I sent you showing that crazy play last night?”
• computer program elements and/or circuitry elements of the invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.)-
• the invention may take the form of a computer program product, which can be embodied by a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program instructions, "code” or a "computer program” embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system.
• a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
• the computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium such as the Internet.
• the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner.
• the computer program product and any software and hardware described herein form the various means for carrying out the functions of the invention in the example embodiments.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=37994982

Family Applications (1)

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Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (2)

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• 2006
  • 2006-11-20 WO PCT/IB2006/003280 patent/WO2007135479A1/en active Search and Examination
  • 2006-11-20 JP JP2009511591A patent/JP2009538079A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-11-20 KR KR1020087028628A patent/KR20090008399A/ko active Search and Examination
  • 2006-11-20 EP EP06820930A patent/EP2022269A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-11-20 CN CNA2006800545280A patent/CN101438587A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

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