GB2566925A

GB2566925A - Media distribution apparatus and system

Info

Publication number: GB2566925A
Application number: GB1712445.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donohoe Vincent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-02
Filing date: 2017-08-02
Publication date: 2019-04-03
Also published as: GB201712445D0

Abstract

A system having at least one mobile viewing device 9 and a storage and distribution device (8, fig 1); wherein a file and streaming application is capable of: transferring video content to the storage and distribution device, and streaming the video content to the at least one mobile viewing device. The storage and distribution device may be a media stick for connecting to an in-car cigarette lighter socket via a plug section 14, where the video content may be streamed to the at least one mobile viewing devices of passengers in the car. The storage and distribution device may include USB sockets for charging the mobile viewing devices. The system may allow video content to be viewed on a car journey when wireless or wired networks are unavailable or impractical. The system may allow each passenger to watch a different movie simultaneously. The storage and distribution device may have a large capacity memory to overcome problems of limited data storage capacity in a mobile device. The storage and distribution device, the file and streaming application, and a second storage and distribution device may be claimed separately to the system.

Description

MEDIA DISTRUBUTION APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

The present specification relates to media apparatus device and system, that is, a system and device or devices to distribute media, particularly but not exclusively films or video content, to other devices capable of playing them.

It is common to watch movies and other televised programmes on a mobile device such as a tablet. Particularly on car journeys, children and other passengers may each have a tablet, so that each passenger is watching a different movie. Whilst travelling in a car, it is impractical to connect to a wireless service to stream the movie, since cellular network speeds are insufficient, the connection unreliable, and to transfer such an amount of data becomes expensive. Therefore the video content to be watched must be transferred to each tablet beforehand. This is slow and inconvenient, and a tablet often has a limited amount of data storage.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system and the related apparatus to allow people to more easily watch video content and other media on mobile device, particularly when a wireless or wired network is unavailable or impractical.

According to the present invention, there is provided a according to claim 1.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the system.

Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the media stick 8 and home base 6.

Figure 2a is a perspective view an embodiment of the media stick.

Figure 2b is a top view of an embodiment the home base.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show front, side and rear views of an embodiment of the home base.

Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic view of some of the internal components of the home base.

Figures 7 to 12 shows a diagrammatic view of some of the internal

Referring to figure 1, in the home environment, the system includes a media stick 8, will generally include a home base 6. Other devices that can be included in the home environment include a personal computer 1, a mobile device 7, a local data storage device 11, as well as a television 4 and streaming device 5. The home environment will typically have access to online cloud storage 2 and/or media provider platforms 3.

However, not every one of the other devices essential, and it will be apparent that some may be omitted, or replaced by other devices; the generally noninterchangeable components of the system are the media stick 8, and the home base 6, which may however each be used separately.

A user will generally access video content, such as movies, documentaries, series and so on, via online cloud storage 2 or media provider platforms 3 (such as Netflix(R)). These are transmitted to the user’s personal computer 1, mobile device 7, to be stored in those devices memories (they may be watched simultaneously as well) in a manner well known in the art. The home base 6 is similarly capable of receiving and storing the video content; for this purpose, the home base 6 may communicate with a local data storage device 11.

The personal computer 1, mobile device 7, and home base 6 are all able to communicate, so that the video content can be transferred between them. The mobile device 7 may have limited data storage capacity, so it is convenient that the video content is transferred from the mobile device 7 to either the personal computer 1 or the home base 6 as the mobile device 7 receives it, rather than the mobile device 7 storing it. This transfer may be effected using proprietary software, which will be described below.

The media stick 8 includes a large-capacity memory, and a wireless data transmitter and receiver (such as Bluetooth(R) or wifi). Video content received by the personal computer 1, mobile device 7 or home base 6 is then transmitted to the media stick 8, which stores it.

A home environment may also include a television 4 and a streaming device 5. The home base 6 can transmit video content to the television 4 (either directly, or via the streaming device 5) so that the user can watch the downloaded video content on their television. The media stick 8 may also be configures to transmit video content to the television 4 and/or streaming device 5.

Referring to figures 2 and 2a, the media stick 8 is shaped so that its lower end includes a plug section 14 that is adapted to fit into a cigarette light socket of a car and includes contacts 15 that electrically connect with such a socket, which conventionally supplies 12V power. Referring to figure 2b, the home base 6 includes a power output socket 12 having the same shape and electrical contact configuration as a car cigarette light socket, so that the media stick 8 can be plugged into the home base 6 and receive power from the home base 6to allow the media stick 8 to transfer video content to the mobile devices 9 and the other devices described in relation to figure 1.

The media stick 8 may also be placed in the into a cigarette light socket of a car (not shown), independently from the home base 6. Passengers in the car having mobile devices 9 can, via their mobile devices, select the video content that is stored on the media stick 8. When a user has selected the content, the media stick 8 then transmits it to the mobile device so that the mobile device can display the content in a streaming manner, that is, without buffering or with only a small amount of buffering (although file transfer of the video content may also be supported). The media stick 8 is capable of streaming different video content to several mobile devices, so that different users in the car can watch different movies independently, or the same movie at different starting at different points or times.

This means that video content can be played on any mobile device without the mobile device requiring a large amount of memory, and also avoiding having to download video content to each mobile device either as a separate step before a car journey commences, or wait while video content slowly downloads through a wireless or mobile connection.

The media stick 8 also includes at least one, and ideally two USB ports 16 (only one being visible in figure 2a) set in flat angled surfaces 17 for convenient access; these allow the users’ mobile devices to be charged, and may also provide for faster data transfer. Additional or alternative charging and/or data transfer connections may be provided.

Referring to figures 3, 4 and 5, the home base 6 includes an information display and indicator lights 22, by which means information is communicated to the user in a visual way. The rear of the device includes a de power input 24, video in connection 26 and video out connection 25, a network cable connection 27 and other data cable connections 28. These various data connection ports allow video content to the uploaded and downloaded to the home base 6 by various known methods. Depending on the connection port and the device being attached, this could either be a video stream, or a video file.

Referring to figure 6, the home base 6 components conveniently arranged on a first printed circuit board 40 and second printed circuit board 41, although other arrangements are possible. The first printed circuit board 40 includes a CPU and GPU 31 that performs the main processing requirements of the home base 6, and a RAM 32, storage controller 33, platform chipset 34. On the second printed circuit board 41 are located a wireless transceiver 35, data storage module 36 and video encoder 37.

Video content may be received via the wireless transceiver 35, as previously described, and stored on the local data storage module 36, to be transmitted back through the wireless transceiver 35 (if necessary, after being encoded by the video encoder 37).

Operation of the system is ideally controlled via media control application loaded and installed on the devices on which the video content is to be watched. Referring to figure 7, after starting the media control application on a mobile device 6, a media application 52 interface displays a media stick file list 53, showing the available video content on the media stick 8. To play the video content, the users selects the desired media stick file item 54, and this chose is transmitted to the media stick 8. The selection (as with all the user action with the media application 52) may be effected by either an on-screen touch with finger or stylus, or using buttons or other hardware input, or other methods well known in the art). This commands the media stick 8 to begin transmitting the video content to the mobile device 7 in a streaming manner, where it is played in a media playback display 55. The media playback display 55 includes controls such as play, pause, fast forward, rewind, whose activation by the user commands the media stick 8 to start or stop streaming the video content, or change the speed and/or direction of the streamed video content as appropriate.

Referring to figure 8, in order to download video content from the internet, the user toggles to 'Connect to Internet' mode 63 on the media application 52, which commands the mobile device 7 to scan and list the available wireless local networks 64, so that the user can select the desired network to use. If applicable, the application prompts the user to enter the network password and the media application securely transmits the network name and password to the media stick 8 and instructs it to connect to the network 65 on the network router 66, and via this access the internet 60. A resource of files of available video content (for example, the media stick 8 may connected to a media content provided that the user has subscribed to) is accessed by the media stick 8, and the available filed are transmitted to the mobile device 7 to be displayed as shown in figure 9. The user selects one or more files, for example by tapping the download button next to each individual file item. The list may contain both content stored online and on local devices (such as computers, the home base 6 and the local data storage device 11. The media application 52 commands the media stick 8 to download the file(s) or transfer them from local sources. The media stick 8 connects to the local wireless network using stored credentials and content is downloaded from online platforms as necessary.

Figure 10 shows the process for transferring video content from local sources to the media stick 8. The media application 52 displays the available sources in a source selection bar 73, beneath which the available files list 74 is displayed. The media application interface includes contextual commands 77 which include an option to transfer the selected files. When the user selects this option, the media application instructs the media stick 8 to transfer the media file 78. The media stick 8 and the local storage device on which the media file is stored, such as a personal computer 1 or a local data storage device 11. The progress of the file transfer may be monitored by the media application 52, with the files list 76 being displayed the download status and transfer percentage. Contextual commands 77 allow for the transfer of a selected file 79 to be paused or cancelled.

The system is principally intended for the transfer, storage and streaming of video content, however other file types, application, programs and games may be transferred or streamed in a similar manner. Referring to figure 11, the media application 52 on the mobile device 7 may be used to back up files 83 stored on the mobile device 7, such as videos and photographs, documents, contact lists, and so on. The interface includes a granular control that allows the user to search or select individual files within a given file type. Once the files have been selected, the user selects ‘backup’ from a contextual commands 84, and the selected file or files are transmitted from the mobile device 7 to the media stick 8 for storage.

Referring to figure 12, the media application 52 may also be used to upload files from the media stick 8 to the mobile device 7. From the media application interface, the user selects the upload command and a file 93 to be uploaded to the media stick 8. The file 93 is placed in the location currently in view. The user then selects the filetype and subsequently the individual file to be uploaded. The media application 52 commences the transfer of the file to the media stick 8, and the user may then closer 95 the upload menu.

It will be apparent that the media application described herein could be effected in a various ways. Although a dedicated media application is envisaged, generic network file transfer and/or streaming software could be utilised.

The term car has been used here as a particular environment for use of the system; it will be realised that the system may be implemented in other vehicles, including other land vehicles, as well as boats and aircraft. Although 5 the media stick 8 is here shown with a cigarette lighter style plug and connector, it could alternatively or additionally be provided with a different shaped power connection, in which case the home base could also be provided with the corresponding opposite connection type.

Claims

1. A system comprising at least one mobile viewing device a first storage and distribution device a file transfer and streaming application the file transfer and streaming application being capable of transferring video content to the least one storage and distribution device and being capable of streaming that video content to the at least one mobile viewing device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a second storage and distribution device, The file transfer and streaming application being capable of transferring video content between the first storage and distribution device and the second storage and distribution device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of viewing devices, and the first storage and distribution device can stream different video content to each of the plurality of viewing devices.

4. The first storage and distribution device according to any previous claim, wherein the first storage and distribution device includes a contact means adapted to connect with an in-car electrical power output.

5. A first storage and distribution device according to claim 4, wherein the contact means are adapted to connect with an in-car cigarette lighter socket.

6. A first storage and distribution device according to claim 4, wherein there 5 are included one or more power output sockets suitable for charging the at least one mobile viewing device.

7. The second storage and distribution device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second storage and distribution device includes an electric socket

10 of dimensions adapted to electrically connect with the first storage and distribution device of claim 4.

8. A file transfer and streaming application according to any previous claim.