Session Handover Between Terminals

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and devices for facilitating transfer of a remote session from a first user terminal to a second user terminal are disclosed herein. According to one example, the transferred remote session is a telephone call session. According to another example, the transferred remote session is a session of a rights-enabled remote on-demand service—for example, a service where on demand media content is remotely provided or an interactive game service In some embodiments, data indicative of usage rights for the remote service is transferred from the first to the second user terminal In some embodiments, in order to transfer the session between the first terminal and second terminal, the user terminals are brought in proximity or into contact, and data indicative of the session is sent via a short-range communications channel, for example a short-range contact or ‘wired’ channel, or a short-range wireless link, for example, a Bluetooth or infrared link.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary system for session handover in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart describing all exemplary technique for operating the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary system for session handover between telephone handsets

FIG. 3B is a schematic block diagram describing a telephone session-provider and a telephone session request-handler deployed in a telephone network in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4A is a schematic flowchart describing an exemplary technique for operating the system of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4B is a schematic flowchart describing an exemplary technique for operating the elements depicted in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary session handover between broadcast receivers.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart describing an exemplary technique for operating the system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary system for session handover between on-demand terminals

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart describing an exemplary technique for operating the system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart describing an exemplary technique for handling a transfer, of an on-demand remote service from a first terminal to a second terminal

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary first user terminal

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary technique for operating the exemplary first user terminal depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram describing an exemplary second user terminal.

FIG. 13A-13B provide schematic block diagrams describing exemplary techniques for operating the exemplary second user terminal depicted in FIG. 12.

Claims

1) A method of handling transfer of a remote session, the method comprising: a) maintaining the remote session by a first user terminal;b) transmitting a short range communication indicative of the remote session from said first user terminal to a second user terminal different from said first user terminal;c) receiving said session-indicative communication by said second user terminal; andd) in response to said receiving of said session-indicative communication, establishing the remote session by said second user terminal.

2) The method of claim 1 wherein said short range communication is a short range wired communication.

3) The method of claim 2 wherein said transmitting of said short range communication includes contacting a housing of said first user terminal with a housing of said second user terminal.

4) The method of claim 1 wherein said short range communication is a short-range wireless communication.

5) The method of claim 4 wherein said short-range wireless communication is selected from the group consisting of: i) a Bluetooth communication;ii) an infrared communication;iii) an ultrasound communication

6) The method of claim 1 wherein said session-indicative communication is indicative of at least one of: a) a tuning parameter;b) a telephone session parameter;c) usage rights to a remote service;d) a media playback position parameter; ande) a media presentation parameters

7) The method of claim 1 wherein said sending of said indicative short range communication includes sending at least one session parameter from said first user terminal to said second user terminal

8) The method of claim 1 further comprising: e) upon said establishment of the remote session by said second user terminal, effecting at least one session-modifying operation selected from the group consisting of: i) terminating the remote session; andii) degrading the remote session

9) The method of claim 1 wherein said short-range transmitting is carried out via a local communications channel that is different from a remote communications channel of said remote session maintained by said first user terminal.

10) A user terminal device comprising: a) a content receiver operative to maintain a remote session and to receive content: i) via a remote communication channel; andii) in accordance with at least one remote session parameter of said remote session;b) a content presenter operative to present, to a user, said received content; andc) a session parameter transmitter operative to transmit, via a short-range communication channel that is different from said remote communication channel, an indication of at least one said remote session parameter.

11) The user terminal device of claim 10 wherein content receiver is operative, subsequent to said transmitting of said session-parameter indication via said short-range communication channel, to effect at least one session-modifying operation selected from the group consisting of: i) terminating the remote session; andii) degrading the remote session,

12) A method of operating a user terminal device, the method comprising: a) using the user terminal device to maintain a remote session at a client end of a remote communication channel;b) receiving content, by the user terminal device, via said remote communication channel, said receiving being carried out in accordance with at least one session parameter of said remote session;c) presenting, using the user terminal device, said received content; andd) transmitting, from the user terminal, an indication of at least one said session parameter via a short-range communication channel that is different from said remote communication channels

13) The method of claim 12 wherein further comprising; e) subsequent to said transmitting of said session-parameter indication via said short-range communication channel, effecting at least one session-modifying operation selected from the group consisting of: i) terminating said remote session; andii) degrading said remote session.

14) A system for handling transfer of a remote session, the system comprising: a) a first user terminal;b) a second user terminal different from said first user terminal;wherein said first user terminal is operative i) to maintain the remote session andii) to send a short range communication to said second user terminal indicative of said remote session,and wherein said second user terminal is operative to: i) receive said session-indicative communication; andii) in response to said receiving of said session-indicative communication, establish the remote session.

15) The system of claim 14 wherein said first user terminal is operative, subsequent to said short-range transmitting of said remote session indication, to effect at least one session-modifying operation selected from the group consisting of: i) terminating said remote session; andii) degrading said remote session.

16) The system of claim 14 further comprising: c) a remote server array said remote server array being operative: i) to maintain the remote session with said first user terminal;ii) upon receipt, from said second user terminal, of a session-request associated with said remote session establishing by said second user terminal, to effect at least one session-modifying operation selected from the group consisting of: i) terminating said remote session; andii) degrading said remote session.

17) A method for providing a rights-enabled service, the method comprising: a) providing a remote service to a first user terminal in accordance with at least one session parameter including an indication of usage rights for said remote service;b) receiving a request to establish a remote session from a second user terminal different from said first user terminal, said remote session request including an indication of said at least one session parameter including said indication of said usage rights for said remote service; andc) in response to said received remote session request, providing said remote-service to said second user terminal device in accordance with at least one said session parameter including said indication of said usage rights for said remote service.

18) The method of claim 17 further comprising: d) in response to said received remote session request, degrading or terminating said provided remote service for said first user terminal.

19) The method of claim 17 wherein said provided remote service is an on-demand service.

20) An apparatus for providing a rights-enabled content service, the apparatus comprising: a) a content server-array operative to provide a remote service to a first user terminal in accordance with at least one session parameter including an indication of usage rights for said remote service;b) a request-receiver operative to receive a request to establish a remote session from a second user terminal different from said first user terminal, said remote session request including an indication of said at least one session parameter including said indication of said usage tights for said remote service,wherein said content server-array is further operative, in response to said received session request, to provide said remote-service to said second user terminal device in accordance with at least one said session parameter including said indication of said usage rights for said remote service.

21) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said content server-array is further operative, in response to said received remote session-continuation request, to degrade or terminate said provided remote service for said first user terminal device.

22) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said provided remote service is an on-demand service.

23) A method for transferring a telephone session, the method comprising: a) maintaining the telephone session with a first user terminal in accordance with at least one session parameter;b) receiving, from a second user terminal different from said first user terminal, a request to transfer the telephone session, said request including at least one said session parameter; andc) in response to said received session-transfer request, establishing the telephone session with said second user terminal in accordance with at least one said session parameter of said session-transfer request,

24) Apparatus for handling telephone session transfer, the apparatus comprising: a) a telephone session-provider to provide the telephone session to a first user terminal in accordance with at least one session parameter;b) a session-request handler operative: i) to receive, from a second user terminal different from said first user terminal, a request to transfer the telephone session;ii) to determine from said session-transfer request at least one said session parameter; andwherein said telephone session-provider is further operative, in response to said received session-transfer request, to establish the telephone session with said second user terminal in accordance with at least one said session parameter of said session-transfer request

25) A user terminal device comprising: a) a session parameter receiver operative to receive, via a short-range communication channel, an indication of at least one session parameter including an indication of usage rights for a remote service; andb) a content receiver operative: i) to establish, via a remote communication channel that is different from said short-range communication channel, a remote session in accordance with at least one said received session parameter including said indication of usage rights for said remote service;ii) to receive content of said remote service in accordance with said established remote session.

26) A method of session establishing, the method comprising: a) receiving, via a short-range communication channel, all indication of at least one session parameter including an indication of usage rights for a remote service;b) establishing, via a remote communication channel that is different from said short-range communication channel, a remote session in accordance with at least one said received session parameter including said indication of usage rights for said remote service,

27) The method of claim 26 further comprising: c) receiving content of said remote service in accordance with said established remote session