TWI475832B - Local broadcast of data using available channels of a spectrum - Google Patents

Description

Regional broadcasting using information on available channels in the spectrum

The present invention relates to the transmission of data over a broadcast network.

This application claims US Provisional Application No. 61/148,872 filed on February 3, 2009, US Provisional Application No. 61/222,845, filed on July 2, 2009, and US Provisional Application filed on July 31, 2009 The right to each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference.

Currently, several solutions for wireless display of multimedia materials such as wireless HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) are under development. The primary intent of these solutions is to replace the HDMI cable between a particular component (eg, a set-top box, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, a computing device) and a display device.

Some providers have developed solutions that utilize proprietary methods for the transmission of uncompressed video. Other solutions may target consumer electronic devices (eg, gaming machines or DVD players) and require dedicated hardware on both the host side and the user side. The power consumption of such dedicated devices can be high. In addition, the transmission of uncompressed video in some scenarios may limit any expansion capabilities that support higher resolution data transfers.

In general, the present invention relates to techniques for transmitting data for an application using one or more available channels of a spectrum. Certain techniques may facilitate the wireless transmission of data for various services/applications from one or more devices (eg, mobile devices or handheld devices) to external devices using the identified available channels of the spectrum. For example, a mobile device can transmit certain multimedia material to a display device using one of the available channels on a television band spectrum.

An example method includes: converting data into a digital broadcast format; identifying at least one available channel of a spectrum; and transmitting the converted material in the at least one identified available channel.

An example communication device includes a conversion unit, a channel identifier, and a digital transmitter. The conversion unit is configured to convert the data into a digital broadcast format. The channel identifier is configured to identify at least one available channel of a spectrum. The digital transmitter is configured to transmit the converted material in the at least one identified available channel.

An example computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing one or more processors to: convert data into a digital broadcast format; identify at least one available channel of a spectrum; and at the at least one identified available channel Transmitting the converted data.

The techniques described in this disclosure can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, various techniques may be implemented or performed by one or more processors. As used herein, a processor may refer to a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic. Circuit. The software can be executed by one or more processors. Software containing instructions to perform such techniques may initially be stored on a computer readable medium and loaded and executed by a processor.

Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a computer readable storage medium containing instructions for causing a processor to perform any of the various techniques described in this disclosure. In some cases, the computer readable storage medium can form part of a computer program storage product that can be sold to a manufacturer and/or for use in a device. The computer program product can include a computer readable medium and, in some cases, can also include packaging materials.

The details of one or more aspects are set forth in the drawings and the description below. Other features, objectives, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communication device communicatively coupled to a data sink via a wireless network. The communication device 1 is capable of transmitting data (for example, multimedia) to the data receiver 9 and/or receiving data from the data receiver 9. In some cases, the data may include multimedia material including at least one of audio material, video material, text data, voice data, and graphic data. In the example of FIG. 1, although the communication device 1 is shown as transmitting data only to a data receiver 9 via the wireless network 7, in some cases, the communication device 1 can also transmit data via the wireless network 7. Or broadcast to one or more data receivers (including data receiver 9).

In some instances, wireless network 7 may include a network that provides support for communications over the spectrum used in digital broadcast formats, such as the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), to name a few. Format, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) format, Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting (T-DMB) format, Terrestrial Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB-T) format or Animation Professional Community Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format (by international standard ISO/ IEC 13818-1 provides) as will be described in more detail below. (The DVB standard is a set of internationally accepted open standards for digital television, and is governed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the European Electrotechnical Standardization Committee (CENELEC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Joint Technical Committee (JTC). Release. The DMB is a digital radio transmission technology used to transmit multimedia material to mobile devices. The digital broadcast format can be provided in the transmitted data or in the broadcast format specified by the transmitted data without specific or specific destinations. For example, the digital broadcast format may include the format in which the header of the broadcasted data packet or unit does not include any destination address.

The communication device 1 may include a fixed device that transmits or receives data at a specified location, or a mobile device. The communication device 1 may comprise a separate device or may be part of a larger system. For example, the communication device 1 may include a wireless multimedia communication device (such as a wireless mobile phone), a digital camera, a digital TV, a video camera, a video phone, a digital multimedia player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a video game machine, and an individual. A computer or laptop device or other video device, or part of the device. Communication device 1 may also be included in one or more integrated circuits or wafers that may be used in some or all of the above devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 1 can include a digital data conversion unit/transmitter 3 coupled to the channel identifier 5. Although the digital data conversion unit/transmitter 3 and the channel identifier 5 are shown as being included in the communication device 1 in FIG. 1, in all of the examples, one or both of the components 3, 5 may not necessarily It needs to be included in the communication device 1. For example, in some cases, such components 3, 5 can be included in separate devices or peripheral devices that are coupled to communication device 1. Thus, the digital data conversion unit/transmitter 3 and channel identifier 5 can be part of one or more devices, one of which can be the communication device 1. In FIG. 1, for purposes of illustration only, it is assumed in this example that such components 3, 5 are part of communication device 1.

The communication device 1 is capable of receiving, processing and generating data. For example, communication device 1 may receive data on any of a number of possible radio or access networks, including cellular, regional wireless or broadcast formats, including ATSC, DVB, or T-DMB. In some examples, communication device 1 can receive data on a wired interface or via one or more embedded interfaces. For cameras or other camcorder applications, data can also be generated in an uncompressed format via an image/video sensor. In some examples, the data may include one or more of audio data, video data, graphic data, text data, voice data, or relay data.

The communication device 1 is further capable of broadcasting data to one or more other devices (such as the data sink 9) via the wireless network 7. The digital data conversion unit/transmitter 3 is capable of converting data into a specific digital broadcast format. For example, the digital data conversion unit/transmitter 3 may be capable of encoding data that conforms to a particular digital broadcast format (eg, ATSC, DVB, T-DMB) and modulating the encoded material.

The channel identifier 5 is capable of identifying at least one available channel of the spectrum, wherein the device 1 may be involved in the identification of the at least one available channel. For example, the identification of the at least one available channel can be initiated by the communication device 1. In some cases The channel identifier can identify at least one of the unused and/or unlicensed portions of the broadcast spectrum, such as the digital television broadcast spectrum. In some examples, the at least one available channel can include a television band white space. As specified in the "Second Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order" issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on November 4, 2008 and issued as FCC Order 08-260 on November 14, 2008, "White The space may contain unused portions or locations of the broadcast television spectrum that are not currently utilized by the licensed service and thus may be utilized by an unlicensed radio transmitter.

In some examples, the available channels may include channels that are currently unoccupied. In an example, the available channels may include channels that are not currently utilized by any authorized or licensed user (eg, a user authorized by the FCC). In an example, the available channels may include channels that are not currently utilized by a licensed user or by an unlicensed user (eg, other white space channel users). In some cases, an available channel may include a channel that may be utilized by a user after obtaining a secondary license from another licensed user.

In some cases, channel recognizer 5 may identify a plurality of available channels that a data broadcast may require based on any particular requirement or requirement of an application or service executing on communication device 1. In an example, the available channel is a channel that is currently not utilized by an authorized user at or near the same geographic location as the communication device 1 and that is acceptable for use by the communication device 1.

After the identification of the one or more available channels, the conversion unit/transmitter 3 can transmit the converted (eg, encoded, modulated) data over the wireless network 7 in at least one identified available channel. To the data receiver 9. In some cases, the communication device 1 will perform one or more of the above actions, either automatically or via user input, based on the execution of one or more services or applications that are regionally executed on the communication device 1. In some cases, data receiver 9 may include functionality for demodulating and/or decoding received broadcast material from communication device 1. In some cases, the conversion unit/transmitter 3 can broadcast the data to the plurality of data receivers (including the data sink 9) via the wireless network 7 in at least one of the identified available channels.

As described above, the channel identifier 5 is capable of identifying at least one available channel for the broadcast spectrum of a particular digital broadcast format. In one example, channel identifier 5 can include a spectrum sensor for identifying at least one available channel by sensing signal information within one or more channel ranges or a frequency band within the broadcast spectrum. In one example, channel identifier 5 can access a database (e.g., a digital TV band library, such as the digital TV band library shown in Figure 5) to identify at least one available channel.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a multimedia communication device 4 that may include a channel identifier 8 communicatively coupled via wireless network 10 to one or more communication receivers 12A-12N and/or A plurality of multimedia output devices 14A-14N. The multimedia communication device 4 is capable of transmitting data (e.g., multimedia) to one or more of the receivers 12A-12N and/or receiving data from one or more of the receivers 12A-12N. In some cases, the data may include multimedia material including at least one of audio material, video material, text data, voice data, and graphic data.

In some instances, wireless network 10 may include a network that provides support for communications over a broadcast spectrum for a digital broadcast format, such as the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), to name a few. Format, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) or Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB) format, as will be described in more detail below. (The DVB standard is a set of internationally accepted open standards for digital television, and is governed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the European Electrotechnical Standardization Committee (CENELEC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Joint Technical Committee (JTC). Release. DMB is a digital radio transmission technology used to send multimedia materials to mobile devices.)

The multimedia communication device 4 can include a fixed device that transmits or receives data at a specified location, or a mobile device. The multimedia communication device 4 may comprise a separate device or may be part of a larger system. For example, the multimedia communication device 4 may include a wireless multimedia communication device (such as a wireless mobile phone), a digital camera, a digital TV, a video camera, a video phone, a digital multimedia player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a video game console, A personal computer or laptop device or other video device, or part of the device. The multimedia communication device 4 can also be included in one or more integrated circuits or wafers that can be used in some or all of the above devices.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multimedia communication device 4 can include a digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter 6 coupled to the multimedia channel identifier 8. Although the digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter 6 and the multimedia channel identifier 8 are shown as being included in the multimedia communication device 4 of FIG. 2, in all of the examples, one or both of the components 6, 8 or both It may not necessarily be included in the multimedia communication device 4. For example, in some cases, such components 6, 8 can be included in separate devices or peripheral devices that are coupled to the multimedia communication device 4. Thus, the digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter 6 and the multimedia channel identifier 8 can be part of one or more devices, one of which can be the multimedia communication device 4. In FIG. 2, for purposes of illustration only, it is assumed in this example that such components 6, 8 are part of the multimedia communication device 4.

The multimedia communication device 4 is capable of receiving, processing and generating multimedia material. For example, communication device 4 may receive multimedia material on any of a number of possible radio or access networks, including cellular, regional wireless or broadcast formats, including ATSC, DVB, or T-DMB. For camera or other camcorder applications, multimedia data can also be generated in an uncompressed format via an image/video sensor. In some examples, the multimedia material may include one or more of audio material, video data, graphic data, text data, voice data, or relay data.

The multimedia communication device 4 is further capable of broadcasting multimedia material to one or more other devices (such as the multimedia output devices 14A-14N) via the wireless network 10. The digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter 6 is capable of converting multimedia material into a specific digital broadcast format. For example, the digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter 6 may be capable of encoding multimedia material that conforms to a particular digital broadcast format (eg, ATSC, DVB, T-DMB) and modulating the encoded multimedia material.

The multimedia channel identifier 8 is capable of identifying at least one available channel of a spectrum, wherein the identification is initiated by the multimedia communication device 4. In some cases, multimedia channel identifier 8 may identify a plurality of available channels that may be required for a multimedia broadcast based on any particular requirement or requirement of an application or service executing on multimedia communication device 4. In one example, the available channels are channels that are currently not utilized by authorized users at or near the same geographic location as the multimedia communication device 4 and that are acceptable for use by the multimedia communication device 4.

After the identification of the one or more available channels, the conversion unit/transmitter 6 can convert the converted (eg, encoded, modulated) material via the wireless network 10 in at least one identified available channel. Transfer to one or more of the multimedia output devices 14A-14N. In some cases, the multimedia communication device 4 will perform one or more of the above actions, either automatically or via user input, based on execution of one or more services or applications that are regionally executed on the multimedia communication device 4. .

For example, in an example, an application can determine to broadcast only designated multimedia content to multimedia output device 14A via wireless network 10. The multimedia receiver 12A can receive broadcast material and can include a tuner that tunes the multimedia receiver 12A to the appropriate channel through which the material is being broadcast from the multimedia communication device 4. The multimedia receiver 12A then provides the received data to the multimedia output device 14A for processing (e.g., for display).

In another example, an application can determine to broadcast a specified multimedia content to a plurality of multimedia output devices 14A-14N in parallel (eg, simultaneously transmit video data to a plurality of display devices). In such a situation, the multimedia receivers 12A-12N can each receive broadcast material and can each include a tuner tuned to the appropriate channel (e.g., frequency or frequency band) through which the data is being broadcast from the multimedia communication device 4. . Each of the multimedia receivers 12A-12N then provides the received data to its respective multimedia output device 14A-14N for processing.

In some cases, the multimedia receivers 12A-12N may include functionality for demodulating and/or decoding the received broadcast material from the multimedia communication device 4. In some cases, multimedia output devices 14A-14N may include this functionality. One or more of the multimedia output devices 14A-14N may each include an external device relative to their respective multimedia receivers 12A-12N. In some examples, one or more of the multimedia output devices 14A-14N may each be part of their respective multimedia receivers 12A-12N or integrated into their respective multimedia receivers 12A-12N.

As described above, the multimedia channel recognizer 8 is capable of identifying at least one available channel for the broadcast spectrum of a particular digital broadcast format. In an example, the multimedia channel identifier 8 can include a spectrum sensor for identifying at least one available channel by sensing signal information within one or more channel ranges or a frequency band within the broadcast spectrum. . In one example, the multimedia channel identifier 8 can access a database (e.g., a digital TV band library, such as the digital TV band library shown in Figure 5) to identify at least one available channel.

For example, the multimedia communication device 4 can include geographic location functionality whereby the multimedia communication device 4 can determine its geographic location (eg, by utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) or other similar component; pilot signals or other location techniques) . In this example, the multimedia communication device 4 can provide this location information to the digital TV band library. The digital TV band library may be populated with location based channel information and may be capable of providing the multimedia communication device 4 with a list of any available channels within the geographic area currently occupied by the multimedia communication device 4.

Broadcasting of one or more of the multimedia material from the multimedia communication device 4 to the multimedia output devices 14A-14N may provide certain advantages. For example, regional broadcasts from the multimedia communication device 4 to the multimedia output devices 14A-14N can be established similar to a decentralized transmitter network (but with potentially fewer problems) (eg, when the locations of such devices are close) When, for example, in a house or building. Since the broadcast can be limited to short-range and even use potential line-of-sight propagation, synchronization problems can be avoided.

Moreover, if the multimedia communication device 4 is a mobile device and the multimedia output devices 14A-14N include one or more television devices, the communication device 4 facilitates the ability to extend the mobile multimedia content to one or more television devices without the need for physical The communication device 4 is coupled to the output devices 14A-14N (such as by utilizing HDMI, VGA, or other audiovisual cable). Further, the communication device 4 is capable of simultaneously broadcasting digital TV content to a plurality of television devices (for example, in a home having one of a plurality of television sets).

Thus, in one scenario, the user can use the multimedia communication device 4 to broadcast the multimedia material to other aligned or unsorted output devices 14A-14N. For example, the user can set up a wireless network in the user's home to couple the multimedia communication device 4 to other devices. In an example, the multimedia communication device 4 can include a personal computer or a laptop. The user may wish to transmit multimedia material (eg, personal presentation, television program or movie, web content, streaming video, digital photo) as processed by the multimedia communication device 4 to one or more televisions (eg, In one or more rooms at home). The multimedia communication device 4 can identify one or more available channels to broadcast the multimedia material to the one or more televisions, which provides for extending the content from the computer to the television without the use of any wires or other physical connections (eg, Convenient way for large screens and/or high definition television).

3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a multimedia communication device 16 that may include a digital TV channel identifier 20 communicatively coupled to one or more digital TV receivers 24A via a wireless network 22. - 24N and one or more display devices 26A-26N. In FIG. 3, the digital TV channel identifier 20 of the multimedia communication device 16 is an example of a multimedia channel identifier, such as the multimedia channel identifier 8 of the multimedia communication device 4 shown in FIG. Display devices 26A-26N are examples of multimedia output devices, such as multimedia output devices 14A-14N shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multimedia communication device 16 includes a digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 18 coupled to the digital TV channel identifier 20. Although the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 18 and the digital TV channel identifier 20 are shown as being included in the multimedia communication device 16 of FIG. 3, in all of the examples, one or both of the components 18, 20 It may not be necessary to include in the multimedia communication device 16. For example, in some cases, such components 18, 20 can be included in separate devices or peripheral devices that are coupled to the multimedia communication device 16. Thus, digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 18 and digital TV channel identifier 20 can be part of one or more devices, one of which can be multimedia communication device 16. In FIG. 3, for purposes of illustration only, it is assumed in this example that such components 18, 20 are part of a multimedia communication device 16.

The multimedia communication device 16 is capable of receiving, processing, and generating multimedia material. The multimedia communication device 16 is further capable of broadcasting multimedia material to one or more other devices, such as display devices 26A-26N, via the wireless network 22. The digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 6 is capable of converting multimedia material into a digital broadcast format (eg, encoding multimedia material that conforms to a particular digital broadcast TV format (eg, ATSC), and modulating the encoded multimedia material).

The digital TV channel identifier 20 is capable of identifying at least one of the available TV channels in the unused portion of the broadcast TV spectrum for a particular digital broadcast TV format, wherein the identification is initiated by the multimedia communication device 16. In some cases, digital TV channel recognizer 20 may identify a plurality of available channels that a multimedia broadcast may require based on any particular requirement or requirement of an application or service executing on multimedia communication device 16.

After the identification of the one or more available channels, the conversion unit/transmitter 18 can transmit the converted material (eg, encoded, modulated multimedia material) via the wireless network 22 using at least one identified available channel. To one or more of the multimedia output devices 26A-26N. In some cases, multimedia communication device 16 will initiate one or more of the above operations, either automatically or via user input, based on execution of one or more services or applications that are regionally executed on multimedia communication device 16.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a mobile multimedia communication device 30 that can be used as the multimedia communication device 4 shown in FIG. 2 and/or the multimedia communication device 16 shown in FIG. The mobile multimedia communication device 30 includes a mobile device, such as a wireless communication device or a cell phone.

As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the mobile multimedia communication device 30 includes various components. For example, in this particular example, the mobile multimedia communication device 30 includes one or more multimedia processors 32, a display processor 34, an audio output processor 36, an embedded display 38, an embedded speaker 40, and a Digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 and a channel identifier 44. The multimedia processor 32 can include one or more video processors, one or more audio processors, and one or more graphics processors. Each of the processors included within multimedia processor 32 may include one or more decoders.

The multimedia processor 32 is coupled to both the display processor 34 and the audio output processor 36. The video and/or graphics processor included within the multimedia processor 32 can generate image and graphical multimedia material that is provided to the display processor 34 for further processing and display on the embedded display 38. For example, display processor 34 may perform one or more operations on the image and/or graphics material, such as scaling, rotation, color conversion, cropping, or other rendering operations. Any audio processor included within the multimedia processor 32 can generate audio multimedia material that is provided to the audio output processor 36 for further processing and output to the embedded speaker 40. The user of the mobile multimedia communication device 30 is thus able to view and hear the representation of the multimedia material via the embedded display 38 and the embedded speaker 40.

In addition to providing output multimedia material to the embedded display 38, the display processor 34 can also provide its output to the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42. Additionally, the audio output processor 36 can provide its output to the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42. As a result, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 is capable of processing a plurality of multimedia material streams. In some examples, display processor 34 and/or audio output processor 36 may store the corresponding output multimedia material in one or more buffers, and then access the one or more by digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42. Buffers to retrieve data. Digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 may include means for converting multimedia material into a particular digital broadcast form (eg, encoding, modulating data) and converting it over a wireless network in one or more identified available channels The data is transmitted to various components of another device (as described in more detail below with reference to Figure 5).

In some cases, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 can convert and/or encapsulate a plurality of received multimedia data streams from the display processor 34 and the audio output processor 36 for transmission over a plurality of broadcast channels. Individual single program transport streams. In some cases, multiple multimedia streams may be encapsulated in the same transport stream and transmitted in a single channel. A multimedia stream can be transmitted as a picture-in-picture (PIP) data path including supplemental multimedia information or relay material for multimedia material. The relay data may include, for example, one or more of text, notification messages, program guide information, or menu information. In some cases, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 can receive material directly from the multimedia processor 32. Under such conditions, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 can convert and/or encapsulate the data received directly from the multimedia processor into a transportable transport stream.

In order for the mobile multimedia communication device 30 to be able to broadcast or otherwise transmit multimedia material in one or more streams to the remote device via the wireless network, the mobile multimedia communication device 30 recognizes the spectrum after the start of the mobile multimedia communication device 30. One or more of the available channels in the unused portion. Channel recognizer 44 is capable of identifying one or more of the available channels.

As will be described in further detail below with reference to the channel identification processing procedure, channel identifier 44 may identify the available channels in one or more ways. For example, channel identifier 44 may use a spectrum sensor (such as the spectrum sensor shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6) that is capable of dynamically sensing one or more frequency bands. Available channels. The spectrum sensor may be capable of assigning certain quality values (e.g., interference levels, signal to noise ratio) with respect to the sensed signal in order to determine the quality of any available channel within the spectrum for data transmission. The sensing algorithm can be performed periodically, and the sensing algorithm can be based on the format of the particular video stream being processed.

Channel recognizer 44 may also use (join spectrum sensing or independently) geographic location functionality. The geographic location refers to the mobile multimedia device 30 determining its geographic coordinates via utilizing a geographic location sensor (such as the geographic location sensor shown in FIG. 5) that may include (in one example) a GPS sensor. ability. Channel recognizer 44 may query an external digital channel library (e.g., a digital TV band library, such as the digital TV band library shown in Figure 5) to obtain a list of available channels via wireless communication. Typically, this external physical library may be maintained by one or more external devices or sources, but may be updated based on requests and data streams from various devices, such as mobile multimedia communication device 30.

In an example, channel identifier 44 can transmit geographic location coordinates about the location of mobile multimedia communication device 30 to an external digital channel repository, such as via a network (e.g., wireless network) connection. Channel recognizer 44 may then receive a list of available channels from the external database (as indicated by the geographic location coordinates) associated with the location of mobile multimedia communication device 30. Channel recognizer 44 may then select one or more of the identified channels for utilization and send back information about the intended utilization of the channels by mobile multimedia communication device 30 to the external database. Accordingly, the external repository can be updated based on the received data from the mobile multimedia communication device 30 accordingly.

In some cases, the external database, once updated, can indicate that the selected channel is utilized by the mobile multimedia communication device 30 until the mobile multimedia communication device 30 sends a subsequent message indicating that the channel is no longer needed or is being used to the external database. until. In other cases, the external database may retain selected channels for device 30 only for a defined period of time. In such situations, device 30 may need to transmit to the external database that the pointing device 30 is still utilizing the selected channel during the defined time period, in which case the external database will continue for the second time period. The reservation of the selected channel is utilized by device 30.

In some examples, channel identifier 44 may be based on the bandwidth requirements or requirements of any service or application being executed on multimedia communication device 30 (eg, by, for example, one or more of multimedia processors 32) During the period) to select one or more of the available channels for utilization. For example, a particular multimedia application may require multiple broadcast streams each having a high bandwidth requirement. In this case, channel identifier 44 can allocate a plurality of different available channels for transmission to accommodate the bandwidth requirements of the plurality of broadcast streams.

In some examples, channel identifier 44 may identify one or more available channels based on information received from multiple sources. For example, if channel identifier 44 uses both spectrum sensor and geographic location functionality, channel identifier 44 may need to process channel information from both of these sources when determining which channels are available for utilization. . In some cases, when one or more channels are selected, channel identifier 44 may need to manage conflicting channel information that may be provided by such multiple sources. Figure 9, which is explained in more detail below, provides an example of a manner in which devices such as mobile multimedia communication device 30 can process channel information from multiple sources in some examples.

After the channel identifier 44 identifies one or more of the available transmission channels, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 can then broadcast the multimedia content or material via a network using the (identified) identified transmission channel or other The mode is transmitted to an external device. The mobile multimedia communication device 30 can initiate a broadcast transmission directly with the external device.

5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A that may be implemented within the mobile multimedia communication device 30A along with a channel identifier 44A. In FIG. 5, digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A may be an example of digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 shown in FIG. 4, and channel identifier 44A may be channel identifier 44 shown in FIG. An example. In the example of FIG. 5, the mobile multimedia communication device 30A is capable of broadcasting multimedia material in accordance with a specific digital broadcast format ATSC. The mobile multimedia communication device 30A can facilitate low power transmission to an ATSC ready external device such as a high definition or flat panel television. In such a situation, the ATSC-ready device can include one of the multimedia output devices 14A-14N shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A can include various components such as a video and/or audio encoder 50A, a transport encoder/multiplexer 52A, an error correction encoder 54A, an ATSC modulator. 56A, radio frequency (RF) duplexer/switch 58A and transmitter 59A. These components help support Data transmission over the transmission spectrum of the ATSC standard. The ATSC standard is a multi-layer standard that provides layers for video coding, audio coding, transport streaming, and modulation. In an example, the RF duplexer/switch 58A can include an ultra high frequency (UHF) duplexer/switch. The duplexer can allow the received signal to be used for sensing purposes and to transmit signals for communication purposes.

Video/audio encoder 50A may include one or more video encoders and one or more audio encoders to encode video and/or audio data into one or more streams. For example, video/audio encoder 50A may include an Animation Professional Community 2 (MPEG-2) encoder or H.264 encoder (from the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, ITU-T) to encode video material. The video/audio encoder 50A may also include a Dolby digital (Dolby AC-3) encoder to encode the audio material. The ATSC stream can contain one or more video programs and one or more audio programs. Any video encoder utilized can implement a master specification for standard definition video or a high specification for high definition resolution video.

The transport (e.g., MPEG-2 Transport Stream, or TS) encoder/multiplexer 52A receives the encoded data stream from the video/audio encoder 50A and can combine the data streams for broadcast, such as, for example, Or a plurality of packetized elementary streams (PES). These PESs can then be packaged into individual program transport streams. In some examples, the transport encoder/multiplexer 52A can provide an output transport stream to an error correction encoder 54A (eg, a Reed-Solomon encoder) that can perform an error. Correct the coding functionality.

The ATSC modulator 56A is capable of modulating the transport stream for broadcast. In some cases, the ATSC modulator 56A can be modulated with an 8th order vestigial band (8VSB). Broadcast transmission. The RF duplexer/switch 58A can then be a duplex transport stream or act as a switch for transporting the stream. Transmitter 59A can broadcast one or more transport streams to one or more external devices using one or more available channels identified by channel identifier 44A.

Channel identifier 44A includes a database manager 62, a channel selector 64A, an optional channel selection user interface (UI) 66A, and a spectrum sensor 70A. Both channel identifier 44A and digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A are coupled to memory 60A, which may include one or more buffers. The channel identifier 44A and the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A can exchange information directly, or can also exchange information indirectly through storage and retrieval of information via the memory 60A.

Channel identifier 44A includes a spectrum sensor 70A. As previously discussed, a spectrum sensor, such as spectrum sensor 70A, is capable of sensing signals in one or more frequency bands within a broadcast spectrum for a particular digital TV format, such as ATSC. Spectrum sensor 70A may determine channel availability and signal strength based on its ability to identify any broadcast material occupying one or more of the utilized channels within the spectrum. Spectrum sensor 70A may then provide information regarding channels that are currently unused or available to channel selector 64A. For example, if spectrum sensor 70A does not detect any material being broadcast by any external, separate device on a particular channel, it can detect that the channel is available.

As shown in FIG. 5, channel selector 64A may also receive information from a digital TV band (geographical) database via network 72 and database manager 62. The digital TV band database 74 is located outside of the mobile multimedia communication device 30A, and Includes information about the currently utilized or available channels within the broadcast spectrum for a particular digital TV format, such as within the ATSC spectrum. Typically, the digital TV band library 74 is dynamically updated when the channel is put into use or released for use by other devices. In some examples, the digital TV band library 74 may be organized by a geographic location/region or by a frequency band (eg, low VHF, high VHF, UHF).

In order for channel identifier 44A to obtain channel availability information from digital TV band library 74, channel identifier 44A may provide geographic location information as input to digital TV band library 74 in some cases. Channel identifier 44A may obtain geographic location information or coordinates from geographic location sensor 73, which may indicate the geographic location of mobile multimedia communication device 30A at a particular point in time. In some examples, the geographic location sensor 73 can include a GPS sensor.

Upon receiving the geographic location information from the geographic location sensor 73, the channel selector 64A can provide this information as input to the digital TV band library 74 via the database manager 62. The database manager 62 can provide an interface to the digital TV band library 74. In some cases, when the selected content of the digital TV band library 74 is retrieved, the library manager 62 can store its local copy. In addition, the repository manager 62 can store selection information (such as geographic location information) provided by the channel selector 64A to the digital TV band library 74.

After transmitting the geographic location information associated with the mobile multimedia communication device 30A, the channel selector 64A can receive from the digital TV band library 74 one or more of the available channels as presented in the digital TV band library 74. The collection. The set of available channels may be those available in the geographic area or location currently occupied by the mobile multimedia communications device 30A (as indicated by the geographic location sensor 73).

After receiving available channel information from either or both of the spectrum sensor 70A and the digital TV band library 74, the channel selector 64A can be selected automatically or via user input via the channel selection UI 66A. One or more available channels. The channel selection UI can present available channels within the graphical user interface, and the user of the service or application can select one or more of these available channels.

In some examples, channel selector 64A may automatically select or identify one or more of the available channels to be used for broadcast transmission by mobile multimedia communication device 30A. For example, channel selector 64A can use the information provided by one or more of multimedia processors 32 (FIG. 4) to determine which of the available channels or which to use for broadcast transmission. In some cases, channel selector 64A may select multiple channels based on the requirements or needs of the service or application being executed. One or more transport streams associated with such services or applications may be broadcast by transmitter 59A on one or more of the identified channels.

6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42B that may be implemented within mobile multimedia communication device 30B along with channel identifier 44B. In FIG. 6, digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42B may be an example of digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 shown in FIG. 4, and channel identifier 44B may be channel identifier 44 shown in FIG. An example. The digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42B and the channel identifier 44B can each store information Information is retrieved from the memory device 60B and from the memory device 60B. Similar to the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42A, the digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42B includes one or more video/audio encoders 50B, a transport encoder/multiplexer 52B, an error correction encoder 54B, an ATSC. Modulator 56B, an RF duplexer/switch 58B and a transmitter 59B.

The channel identifier 44B of FIG. 6 differs from the channel identifier 44A of FIG. 5 in that the channel identifier 44B does not include a library manager that interfaces to the digital TV band library. In FIG. 6, channel identifier 44B includes only one spectrum sensor 70B. Since the non-geographic functionality is implemented in the example of FIG. 6, the mobile multimedia communication device 30B does not include a geographic location sensor. Channel selector 64B identifies one or more available channels for broadcast transmission based on input received from spectrum sensor 70B. Channel selector 64B may also receive user selection of a channel from a list of available channels via channel selection UI 66B. A list of available channels may be presented on channel selection UI 66B based on the sensed signal information provided by spectrum sensor 70B.

7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of multimedia communication devices, wherein one multimedia communication device functions as a master device 82 coupled to a digital TV band (geographic location) database 80, and wherein the remaining multimedia communication device functions as a client device (e.g., client devices 88 and 94). In some cases, the primary device 82, the client device 88, and the client device 94 can each include a multimedia communication device (such as a multimedia communication device 4 (FIG. 2)) capable of one or more broadcasts. The multimedia material is broadcasted to the remote multimedia output device. However, as explained below, the master device 82 can control the ability of the client devices 88 and 94 to perform such broadcast transmissions.

In the example of FIG. 7, the client device 88 and the client device 94 can each operate in a client mode, wherein the transmission of the client devices 88 and 94 along with the operating channel can be under the control of the master device 82. Typically, client devices 88 and 94 do not initiate a network that initiates a broadcast transmission until its autonomous device 82 receives an enable or control signal.

The master device 82 can operate in a master mode in which the master device 82 has the capability to transmit without receiving an enable signal. The master device 82 is capable of selecting a channel by itself and initiating the network by transmitting an enable signal or control signal to the client devices 88 and 94.

As shown in FIG. 7, the master device 82 is coupled to a digital TV band (geographic location) database 80. The primary device 82 may be capable of identifying one or more available channels for broadcast transmission of the multimedia material using its digital TV channel identifier 86. The digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 84 is capable of converting multimedia material into a digital broadcast format (eg, encoding multimedia material, modulating the data) and transmitting the data to one or more multimedia output devices in one or more data streams . The primary device 82 can include a geographic location sensor, and the digital TV channel identifier 86 can identify the available channels based on the channel information provided by the digital TV band library 80. In some examples, the digital TV channel identifier 86 can also use signal information from the spectrum sensor when identifying available channels. (In an alternate example, when multiple primary devices are utilized, one primary device can perform a geographic location function while another primary device performs a spectrum sensing function.)

The client device 88 includes a digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 90 and a digital TV channel identifier 92. Similarly, the client device 94 includes a digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 96 and a digital TV channel identifier 98. In the example of FIG. 7, client devices 88 and 94 are not coupled to digital TV band library 80 and may not include a geographic location sensor. Client devices 88 and 94 may include spectrum sensors for sensing available broadcast channels. However, prior to beginning any broadcast transmission to one or more of the multimedia output devices, the client devices 88 and 94 may first require the autonomous device 82 to obtain an enable or control signal.

Moreover, in some cases, the master device 82 can provide the client devices 88 and 94 with a list of identified available channels as determined by the digital TV channel identifier 86 as available to the client devices 88 and 94. Client devices 88 and 94 can be configured to utilize the channel identified by host device 82 when starting a broadcast transmission. Under such conditions, the primary device 82 and the client devices 88 and 94 can be located in relatively close or similar geographic locations.

If the client devices 88 and/or 94 include their own spectrum sensing functions, such devices may use the channel information provided by the host 82, possibly along with their own, when identifying available channels for broadcast multimedia transmissions. Signal information provided by the spectrum sensor. In some examples, master device 82 and client device 88 and/or 94 may perform a negotiation operation to determine which of the available channels to select when broadcasting material from client device 88 and/or 94.

For example, client device 88 and/or 94 may execute a service or application having certain bandwidth requirements or requirements and may negotiate with host device 82 to determine that the user device is for such service or application. Which of the available channels is best suited for use when broadcasting 88 and/or 94.

8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method that may be performed by a communication device, such as one or more of the communication devices shown in FIGS. 1-4, in a frequency spectrum (such as a digital TV) Broadcast media material on the identified channel of the broadcast spectrum). In the following description of FIG. 8, for purposes of illustration only, it will be assumed that the method of FIG. 8 may be performed by the mobile multimedia communications device 30 shown in FIG.

Apparatus 30 may convert the data into a digital broadcast format (100) (e.g., utilizing a conversion unit such as the conversion unit included in digital TV conversion unit/transmitter 42 of FIG. 4). The communication device can include a multimedia communication device having multimedia capabilities, and the data can include multimedia material including at least one of audio data, video data, text data, voice data, and graphic data. In some examples, the digital broadcast format may be an ATSC format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting) format, or a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, although various other digital formats may also be used. When converting multimedia material, device 30 may utilize one or more video and/or audio encoders (e.g., video/audio encoder 50A shown in FIG. 5 or video/audio encoder 50B shown in FIG. 6). And / or multiplexer, with one or more modulator / duplexer / switch. Converting multimedia material may include encoding multimedia material to comply with digital broadcast formats and modulating encoded multimedia material.

If the multimedia material contains video or graphic material, device 30 can display the video or graphic material on a display such as embedded display 38 (FIG. 4) or a display external to device 30. If the multimedia material contains audio material, device 30 can provide the audio material to one or more speakers, such as to embedded speaker 40 (FIG. 4) or a speaker external to device 30.

Apparatus 30 can identify at least one available channel (104) of a spectrum (e.g., utilizing a channel identifier, such as channel identifier 44 of FIG. 4). In some cases, this identification can be initiated by the device. For example, device 30 may utilize a spectrum sensor (eg, spectrum sensor 70A of FIG. 5 or spectrum sensor 70B of FIG. 6) and/or a digital TV band library (eg, digital TV of FIG. 5) The information accessed by the band database 74) identifies at least one available channel. In some cases, device 30 may identify at least one of the available channels of the broadcast spectrum, such as the broadcast television spectrum. In some cases, the at least one available channel can include a television band white space. To name a few non-limiting examples, the digital broadcast format may include an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, or an animated professional community transport stream (MPEG- TS) format.

In some examples, if the at least one available channel becomes occupied (eg, by a licensed user), device 30 may use a channel identifier to identify at least one of subsequent transmissions and/or broadcasts for the material. Other available channels. In some cases, device 30 may utilize a channel identifier to periodically determine whether the at least one available channel is still available or has become occupied for a period of time. In some cases, when making this determination, device 30 may utilize a spectrum sensor and/or access a geographic location database.

In an example, device 30 can include a geographic location sensor (e.g., geographic location sensor 73 of FIG. 5) to determine the geographic coordinates of device 30. Device 30 may then provide the geographic coordinates as an input to a digital TV band library.

When device 30 uses a spectrum sensor, device 30 can assign one or more quality values associated with sensing one or more channels by the spectrum sensor. Quality values may be based on noise levels, interference (eg, from external signals or unauthorized/unlicensed users), or other factors. For example, device 30 may use a spectrum sensor to obtain certain quality values for each of the individually sensed channels within a defined frequency range or frequency band, such as interference levels or signals that may be associated with the channels. ratio. The device 30 can evaluate the quality of each channel (e.g., low quality, medium quality, high quality) using relay information provided by such quality values. For example, if the quality value of an available channel indicates that the channel will have a high signal-to-noise ratio with a small amount of interference, device 30 may determine that the channel may be a high quality channel. On the other hand, if the quality value of the available channel indicates that the channel will have a low signal to interference ratio or has a large amount of interference, device 30 may determine that the channel may be a low quality channel.

Apparatus 30 may correlate one or more quality values with available channel information provided by a digital TV band library to identify at least one available channel, such as shown in the example of FIG. For example, in one case, the correlation can include determining that a channel is available when the channel information provided by the digital TV band library is available and determining that one of the quality values associated with the channel exceeds a certain quality threshold Channel is available.

After device 30 has identified at least one available channel, device 30 may transmit (eg, via transmitter 59A of FIG. 5 or transmitter 59B of FIG. 6) the converted material in the at least one identified available channel (eg, To one or more separate external devices) (106). For example, upon request by device 30, device 30 may initiate a broadcast transmission to one or more external multimedia output devices, such as television devices. In an example, device 30 can include a host device (e.g., host device 82 of FIG. 7). In this example, device 30 may transmit information identifying at least one available channel to one or more separate client devices (e.g., client device 88 and/or 94 of FIG. 7).

9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method that may be performed by a multimedia communication device, such as one or more of the multimedia communication devices shown in FIGS. 1-4, to identify available channels. In some cases, the device can identify an available channel using a spectrum sensor and information received from a digital TV band (geographical) database. In some cases, the device may utilize only one spectrum sensor to identify an available channel. In the following description of FIG. 9, for purposes of illustration only, it will be assumed that the method illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed by the mobile multimedia communications device 30 shown in FIG.

In some cases, the mobile multimedia communication device 30 can receive channel information (120) for a particular channel from a geographic location database, such as the digital TV band (geographic location) library 74 shown in the example of FIG. The channel may include channels in a frequency band for a broadcast spectrum of a digital TV format, such as ATSC. The mobile multimedia communication device 30 can provide the geographic location information of the device 30 as an input to the geographic location database using a geographic location sensor (eg, the geographic location sensor 73 of FIG. 5) such that the geographic location database is based on the device 30 The location provides channel information for the channel back to device 30. However, in some embodiments (such as shown in the example of FIG. 6), device 30 may not receive any channel information from the geographic location database when the geographic location database is not utilized or accessed.

Device 30 may further receive signal information (122) for the same channel from a spectrum sensor, such as spectrum sensor 70A as shown in FIG. In this example, device 30 receives channel information for the channel from both the geographic location database and the spectrum sensor.

In the condition that device 30 is in communication with a geographic location database, device 30 may first determine whether channel information provided by the geographic location database indicates that the channel is unavailable (126). For example, the geographic location database may indicate that the channel is currently being utilized by another authorized service provider or user. In such a situation, device 30 may determine to find and utilize another channel (124) available for broadcast transmission, regardless of whether the spectrum sensor indicates that the channel is available or not available.

However, if the geographic location database indicates that the channel is available, device 30 may then determine whether the channel information provided by the spectrum sensor indicates that the channel may be occupied or has a low quality level (128). In some cases, the latest geographic location database may not be implemented, in which case the channel may still be occupied even if the geographic location database indicates otherwise. If the spectrum sensor indicates that the channel may be occupied, device 30 may determine to ignore the channel and look for another channel available (124).

If the spectrum sensor identifies an available channel, but based on one or more decision quality value indications or from relay information, the channel may be available but will have a low quality level (eg, high noise level, large amount of interference) Then, device 30 may determine to ignore the channel and look for another available channel (124) for broadcast transmission. Quality values may be based on noise levels, interference (eg, from external signals or unauthorized/unlicensed users), or other factors. The quality value may be based on one or more metrics such as signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, measured noise reference or other metric. (When the device 30 communicates with the geographic location database, the device 30 may again receive channel information from the geographic location database when looking for another available channel. In other situations, the device 30 may only be self-sense. The detector receives channel information to find another available channel.)

However, if the spectrum sensor indicates that the channel is available and also has a medium to high quality level (as indicated by the quality value), device 30 may then select the channel for broadcast transmission of the multimedia material (130). In some cases, when device 30 determines that the channel may have only a medium quality level (eg, based on the quality value of the process), device 30 may select the channel for utilization, but attributed to the channel, etc. (rather than high) A quality level that increases the transmission power used for broadcast communication using the channel.

In some examples, device 30 may rely solely on information provided by a geographic location database regarding the availability of one or more channels. In such instances, even if device 30 includes a spectrum sensor, device 30 may deactivate the spectrum sensor or ignore channel information provided by the sensor and only based on information provided by the geographic location database. Select an available channel.

In some examples, during execution of one or more services or applications, a communication device, such as device 30, may perform the method shown in FIG. 9 multiple times to identify a plurality of available channels available for broadcast of multimedia material. . For example, a particular application may have high bandwidth requirements, but may require multiple transmission channels. Device 30 may perform the method illustrated in Figure 9 one or more times to identify a plurality of available transmission channels that may be utilized by the application to broadcast multimedia material to an external device, such as a television.

The techniques described in this disclosure can be implemented in general purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), special application integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs). Or one or more of the equivalent logical devices. Accordingly, the term "processor" or "controller" as used herein may refer to any one or more of the foregoing structures, or any other structure suitable for implementing the techniques described herein.

The various components described herein can be implemented by any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. In these figures, various components are depicted as separate units or modules. However, all or a few of the various components described with reference to such figures may be integrated into a combined unit or module of a common hardware, firmware, and/or soft body. Thus, for ease of description, a feature is represented as a component, unit, or module that is intended to emphasize particular functional features, and does not necessarily need to be implemented by a separate hardware, firmware, or software component. In some cases, various units may be implemented as a programmable process that may be executed by one or more processors.

Any features described herein as modules, devices or components may be implemented together in an integrated logic device or separately as discrete but interoperable logic devices. In various aspects, the components can be at least partially formed as one or more integrated circuit devices, which can be collectively referred to as integrated circuit devices, such as integrated circuit chips or wafer sets. . The circuit can be provided in a single integrated circuit chip device or in a plurality of interoperable integrated circuit chip devices and can be used in any of a variety of image, display, audio or other multi-multimedia applications and devices. In some aspects, for example, such components can form part of a mobile device such as a wireless communication device handset (eg, a mobile phone handset).

If implemented in software, the techniques can be implemented, at least in part, by a computer readable material storage medium containing a program code having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform the above-described methods One or more. The computer readable storage medium can form part of a computer program product, which can include packaging materials. The computer readable medium can include random access memory (RAM) such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), read only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), and electrically erasable In addition to programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage media. Any software used may be executed by one or more processors, such as one or more DSPs, general purpose microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuits.

Various aspects have been described in the present invention. These and other aspects are within the scope of the following patent application.

1. . . Communication device

3. . . Digital data conversion unit / transmitter

4. . . Multimedia communication device

5. . . Channel recognizer

6. . . Digital multimedia conversion unit/transmitter

7. . . Wireless network

8. . . Multimedia channel recognizer

9. . . Data receiver

10. . . Wireless network

12A. . . Multimedia receiver

12N. . . Multimedia receiver

14A. . . Multimedia output device

14N. . . Multimedia output device

16. . . Multimedia communication device

18. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

20. . . Digital TV channel recognizer

twenty two. . . Wireless network

24A. . . Digital TV receiver

24N. . . Digital TV receiver

26A. . . Display device

26N. . . Display device

30. . . Mobile multimedia communication device

30A. . . Mobile multimedia communication device

30B. . . Mobile multimedia communication device

32. . . Multimedia processor

34. . . Display processor

36. . . Audio output processor

38. . . Embedded display

40. . . Embedded speaker

42. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

42A. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

42B. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

44. . . Channel recognizer

44A. . . Channel recognizer

44B. . . Channel recognizer

50A. . . Video and / or audio encoder

50B. . . Video/audio encoder

52A. . . Transport encoder/multiplexer

52B. . . Transport encoder/multiplexer

54A. . . Error correction encoder

54B. . . Error correction encoder

56A. . . ATSC modulator

56B. . . ATSC modulator

58A. . . Radio Frequency (RF) Duplexer / Switch

58B. . . RF duplexer / switch

59A. . . Transmitter

59B. . . Transmitter

60A. . . Memory

60B. . . Memory device

62. . . Database manager

64A. . . Channel selector

64B. . . Channel selector

66A. . . Optional channel selection user interface (UI)

66B. . . Channel selection UI

70A. . . Spectrum sensor

70B. . . Spectrum sensor

72. . . network

73. . . Location sensor

74. . . Digital TV band database

80. . . Digital TV band (geographic location) database

82. . . Main device

84. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

86. . . Digital TV channel recognizer

88. . . Client device

90. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

92. . . Digital TV channel recognizer

94. . . Client device

96. . . Digital TV conversion unit / transmitter

98. . . Digital TV channel recognizer

1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a communication device communicatively coupled to a data sink via a wireless network.

2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a multimedia communication device communicatively coupled to one or more multimedia receivers and one or more multimedia output devices via a wireless network.

3 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a multimedia communication device communicatively coupled to one or more digital TV receivers and one or more display devices via a wireless network.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a mobile multimedia communication device that can be used as the multimedia communication device shown in FIGS. 2 and/or 3.

5 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a digital TV processor and a modulator/transmitter, along with a channel identifier, that may be implemented within a mobile multimedia communication device, such as the mobile multimedia communication device shown in FIG.

6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a digital TV processor and modulator/transmitter, along with a channel identifier, that may be implemented within a mobile multimedia communication device, such as the mobile multimedia communication device shown in FIG.

7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of multimedia communication devices, wherein a multimedia communication device functions as a master device coupled to a digital TV band (geographic location) database, and wherein the remaining multimedia communication device functions as a client device.

8 is a flow diagram of an example of a method that may be performed by a multimedia communication device, such as one or more of the multimedia communication devices shown in FIGS. 1-4, to broadcast spectrum in a digital TV. The media material is broadcast regionally on the identified channels in the usage section.

9 is a flow diagram of an example of a method that may be performed by a multimedia communication device, such as one or more of the multimedia communication devices shown in FIGS. 1-4, to utilize a spectrum sensor and view The information received from the digital TV band (geographical location) database identifies the available channels.

1. . . Communication device

3. . . Digital data conversion unit / transmitter

5. . . Channel recognizer

7. . . Wireless network

9. . . Data receiver

Claims (47)

A method for transmitting data, comprising: converting data into a digital broadcast format; identifying at least one available channel of a spectrum; and transmitting the converted data in the at least one identified available channel; wherein the at least one is identified The available channel includes identifying the at least one available channel with a spectrum sensor; wherein identifying the at least one available channel further comprises accessing a digital television (TV) band library to identify the at least one available channel; and further comprising determining one A geographic coordinate of the communication device, and wherein accessing the digital TV band library includes providing the geographic coordinates as an input to the digital TV band library. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the at least one available channel comprises identifying the at least one available channel in an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one available channel comprises identifying a television band white space. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television System Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, and a terrestrial integrated service digital broadcasting. (ISDB-T) format or an Animation Professional Community Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one available channel is identified by a The communication device begins. The method of claim 5, wherein: the communication device comprises a multimedia communication device having multimedia capabilities; and the data comprises multimedia material comprising at least one of audio data, video data, text data, voice data and graphic data. The method of claim 6, wherein: converting the multimedia material comprises encoding the multimedia material to comply with the digital broadcast format, and modulating the encoded multimedia material; and transmitting the converted material is included in the at least one identified The converted material is transmitted from the multimedia communication device to one or more external devices in the channel. The method of claim 6, wherein when the multimedia material comprises video or graphic material, the method further comprises displaying the video or graphic material on a display of the multimedia communication device. The method of claim 6, wherein when the multimedia material comprises audio material, the method further comprises providing the audio material to one or more speakers. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one available channel comprises identifying the at least one available channel with a spectrum sensor. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning one or more quality values associated with one or more channels sensed by the spectrum sensor. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the at least one available channel comprises causing the one or more quality values to be available from the digital TV band database The channel information is related to identify the at least one available channel. The method of claim 12, wherein the correlating includes the channel information provided by the digital TV band database indicating that a channel is available and when one of the quality values associated with the channel exceeds a quality threshold It is determined that the channel is available. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one other available channel if the at least one available channel becomes occupied by another user. The method of claim 14, further comprising periodically determining whether the at least one available channel is still available or has become occupied by another user. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing one or more processors to: convert data into a digital broadcast format; identify at least one available channel of a spectrum; and select at least one of the available channels Transmitting the converted data; wherein the instructions for identifying the at least one available channel include instructions for identifying the at least one available channel with a spectrum sensor; wherein the at least one available channel is identified The instructions further include instructions for accessing a digital television (TV) band library to identify the at least one available channel; and further comprising instructions for determining a geographic coordinate of the communication device, and wherein the The instructions of the digital TV band database include the use of the geographic coordinates as input to the digital TV band The instructions of the library. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions for identifying the at least one available channel comprise instructions for identifying the at least one available channel of an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions for identifying the at least one available channel include instructions for identifying a white space of the television band. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the identification of the at least one available channel is initiated by a communication device. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions for identifying the at least one available channel comprise instructions for identifying the at least one available channel using a spectrum sensor. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for identifying at least one other available channel if the at least one available channel becomes occupied by another user. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for periodically determining whether the at least one available channel is still available or has become occupied by another user. A communication device comprising: a conversion unit configured to convert data into a digital broadcast format; a channel identifier configured to identify at least one available channel of a spectrum; and a digital transmitter Configured to be available in at least one identified Transmitting the converted material in a channel; further comprising a spectrum sensor, wherein the channel identifier is configured to identify the at least one available channel with the spectrum sensor; wherein the channel identifier is configured to at least Identifying the at least one available channel by accessing a digital television (TV) band library to identify the at least one available channel; and further comprising a geographic location sensor configured to determine The geographic coordinates of the communication device, and wherein the channel identifier is configured to access the digital TV band library at least by providing the geographic coordinates as input to the digital TV band library. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the channel identifier is configured to identify the at least one available channel in an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the channel identifier is configured to identify the at least one available channel by identifying a television band white space. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television System Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, and a terrestrial integrated service digital device. Broadcast (ISDB-T) format or an Animated Professional Community Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the channel identifier is configured to identify the at least one available channel upon initiation by the communication device. The communication device of claim 23, wherein: the communication device comprises a multimedia communication device with multimedia capabilities And the information includes multimedia material including at least one of audio material, video material, text data, voice data and graphic data. The communication device of claim 28, wherein: the conversion unit includes a digital multimedia encoder configured to encode the multimedia material to comply with the digital broadcast format, and the conversion unit further includes a configuration to modulate the encoded a digital multimedia modulator of the multimedia material; and the digital transmitter is configured to transmit the converted material from the multimedia communication device to the one or more external devices at least by the at least one identified available channel Transmitting the converted material. The communication device of claim 28, wherein when the multimedia material comprises video or graphic data, the multimedia communication device further comprises a display device for displaying the video or graphic data. The communication device of claim 28, wherein when the multimedia material comprises audio data, the multimedia communication device further comprises one or more speakers for outputting the audio data. The communication device of claim 23, further comprising a spectrum sensor, wherein the channel identifier is configured to identify the at least one available channel with the spectrum sensor. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the channel identifier is further configured to assign one or more quality values associated with one or more channels sensed by the spectrum sensor. The communication device of claim 33, wherein the channel identifier is configured to The one or more quality values are associated with available channel information provided by the digital TV band library to identify the at least one available channel. The communication device of claim 34, wherein the channel identifier is configured to indicate, in the channel information provided by the digital TV band library, that one channel is available and one of the quality values associated with the channel The channel is determined to be available when a quality threshold is exceeded. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the channel identifier is further configured to identify at least one other available channel if the at least one available channel becomes occupied by another user. The communication device of claim 36, wherein the channel identifier is further configured to periodically determine whether the at least one available channel is still available or has become occupied by another user. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the communication device comprises a primary device, and wherein the digital transmitter is further configured to transmit information identifying the at least one available channel to a different device than the primary device. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication device handset. The communication device of claim 23, wherein the communication device comprises one or more integrated circuit devices. A communication device comprising: means for converting data into a digital broadcast format; means for identifying at least one available channel of a spectrum; and for transmitting the converted data in the at least one identified available channel Component The means for identifying the at least one available channel includes means for identifying the at least one available channel with a spectrum sensor; wherein the means for identifying the at least one available channel further comprises for accessing a digit a television (TV) band library to identify components of the at least one available channel; and further comprising means for determining a geographic coordinate of the multimedia communication device, and wherein the means for accessing the digital TV band library comprises Means for providing the geographic coordinates as input to the digital TV band library. The communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for identifying the at least one available channel comprises means for identifying the at least one available channel in an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum. The communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for identifying the at least one available channel comprises means for identifying a white space of the television band. The communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for identifying the at least one available channel comprises means for identifying the at least one available channel upon initiation by the communication device. The communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for identifying the at least one available channel comprises means for identifying the at least one available channel with a spectrum sensor. The communication device of claim 41, further comprising means for identifying at least one other available channel if the at least one available channel becomes occupied by another user. The communication device of claim 46, further comprising for periodically determining It is determined that the at least one available channel is a component that is still available or has become occupied by another user.