Patent Application
20070153713
The invention relates to wireless data transmission and, particularly, to wireless transmission of a media content stream from a content provider to a mobile terminal of a wireless communication network.
Nowadays, a wide range of media services is provided to users of mobile communication devices. In addition to conventional radio broadcasting media services, visual media services are entering the field of media services. A visual service related to radio broadcasting has been proposed. In addition to broadcasting a conventional radio program through a radio broadcasting system, supplemental data related to the radio program may be transmitted to mobile terminals of a telecommunication network. The supplemental data is transmitted through the telecommunication network to mobile terminals which have subscribed for the supplemental data. The supplemental data may be displayed in a display unit of a mobile terminal and the supplemental data may include, for example, a play list, news reports, events, program list, etc.
Digital video broadcasting-hand held (DVB-H) is a standard for transmitting video media to mobile communication devices. According to the DVB-H standard-by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), the media content is broadcasted to the mobile communication devices through a wireless broadcasting system. The DVB-H standard is basically an extension of the Digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) standard. DVB-H is a terrestrial digital TV standard that consumes less power at the receiver end than DVB-T, and it allows the receiver to move freely while receiving the transmission, thus making the DVB-H ideal for mobile phones and hand held computers to receive digital TV broadcasting over the DVB-H broadcasting system without using mobile phone networks at all.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved solution for providing a media content stream to mobile terminals of a wireless communication network.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a media content stream to mobile terminals of a wireless communication network. The method comprises broadcasting, through a broadcasting system, the media content stream to the mobile terminals, receiving, from a mobile terminal of the wireless communication network, a request for the transfer of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted, the transfer of the at least a portion of the media content stream being requested to be carried out through a downlink channel of the wireless communication network, and transmitting, in response to the request, the at least a portion of the media content stream to the mobile terminal through the downlink channel of the wireless communication network while broadcasting the media content stream through the broadcasting system.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a media content stream reception method carried out in a mobile terminal of a wireless communication network. The method comprises receiving a media content stream broadcasted through a broadcasting system, transmitting a downlink channel assignment request for the reception, through the wireless communication network, of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted through the broadcasting system, receiving the at least a portion of the media content stream through the wireless communication network, and presenting the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for providing media content to mobile terminals of a wireless communication network. The arrangement comprises a media content production unit configured to produce a media content stream to be transmitted to the mobile terminals, a broadcasting system configured to broadcast the media content stream to the mobile terminals, and a wireless communication network configured to transmit, in response to a request from a mobile terminal, at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted by the broadcasting system.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile terminal of a wireless communication network. The mobile terminal comprises a media content receiver configured to receive a media content stream broadcasted through a broadcasting system, a communication interface configured to transmit and receive data through the wireless communication network, an audiovisual interface for presenting the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal, and a processing unit configured to transmit a downlink channel assignment request to the wireless communication network for the reception of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted through a broadcasting system, to receive, through the communication interface, the at least a portion of the media content stream, and to present the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal through the audiovisual interface.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement for transferring media content. The arrangement comprises a media content production unit configured to produce a media content stream to be transmitted to mobile terminals of a wireless communication network, a broadcasting system configured to broadcast the media content stream to the mobile terminals, a wireless communication network configured to transmit, in response to a request from a mobile terminal, at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted by the broadcasting system, and a mobile terminal of the wireless communication network. The mobile terminal comprises a media content receiver configured to receive a media content stream broadcasted through a broadcasting system, a communication interface configured to transmit and receive data through the wireless communication network, an audiovisual interface for presenting the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal, and a processing unit configured to transmit a downlink channel assignment request to the wireless communication network for the reception of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted through a broadcasting system, to receive, through the communication interface, the at least a portion of the media content stream, and to present the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal through the audiovisual interface.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for media content stream reception in a mobile terminal of a wireless communication network. The process comprises transmitting a downlink channel assignment request for the reception, through the wireless communication network, of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted through a broadcasting system, receiving the at least a portion of the media content stream through the wireless communication network, and presenting the received media content stream to a user of the mobile terminal.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for providing a media content stream to mobile terminals of a wireless communication network. The process comprises broadcasting through a broadcasting system the media content stream to the mobile terminals, receiving from a mobile terminal of the wireless communication network a request for the transfer of at least a portion of the media content stream being broadcasted, the transfer of the at least a portion of the media content stream being requested to be carried out through a downlink channel of the wireless communication network, converting the media content stream to a format suitable for transmission through the wireless communication, and transmitting, in response to the request, the at least a portion of the media content stream to the mobile terminal through the downlink channel of the wireless communication network while broadcasting the media content stream through the broadcasting system.
The invention provides several advantages. The invention provides a solution for those users who want to be up to date on the broadcasted media content such as television programs, but who do not have the time or ability to fully concentrate on the media content. Additionally, if the mobile terminal of the user is temporarily incapable of receiving the broadcasted media content, the invention-provides a more reliable solution for delivering a version of the broadcasted media content to the user. Thus, the user will not be prevented from following the content of high interest to the user, such as breaking news or a sports event, due to a failure in the reception of the broadcasted media content.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which
With reference to
The mobile terminal 100 comprises a communication interface 106 configured to provide a communication connection with the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network may be, for example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a mobile phone network, such as GSM (global system for mobile communication), GPRS (general packet radio service), EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution), UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication system), CDMA 2000, etc. The communication interface 106 is configured to communicate with the wireless communication network according to data transfer schemes applied in the wireless communication network. The data transfer may be divided into uplink and downlink data transmission.
The mobile terminal 100 further comprises a media content receiver 108 configured to receive a media content stream broadcasted through a broadcasting system. The media content receiver 108 may be configured to receive a media content stream transmitted according to digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) standard.
The mobile terminal 100 further comprises an audiovisual interface 102 for presenting information to a user of the mobile terminal 100. The audiovisual interface 102 may comprise a display unit and a sound production system comprising an amplifier and a speaker, and the audiovisual interface 102 may be configured to present the received media content stream to the user. The video component of the media content stream may be displayed in the display unit while an audio component of the media content stream may be played through the speaker. The audiovisual interface 102 may comprise more than one display units and an output for headphones, for example.
The mobile terminal 100 further comprises a user input device 110 configured to receive inputs from the user of the mobile terminal. The user input device 110 may comprise a keyboard or a keypad. The audiovisual interface 102 and the user input device 110 may also be integrated into a touch sensitive display unit. The mobile terminal 100 may also have a separate audiovisual interface and/or input components which communicate with the main terminal component using Bluetooth or infrared communication means, for example.
The mobile terminal 100 further comprises a processing unit 104 configured to control the operations of the mobile terminal 100. The processing unit 104 may be configured to process information being transmitted or received through the communication interface 106. The processing unit 104 may also be configured to control the audiovisual interface 102 and process inputs received from the user input device 110. In particular, the processing unit 104 may be configured to process media stream content received either through the media content receiver 108 or through the communication interface 106. The processing unit 104 may also control the communication with the wireless communication network. The processing unit 104 may be implemented with a digital signal processor provided with suitable software embedded in a computer readable medium, or with separate logic circuits, for example with ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
Next, the provision of media stream content according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
The media content production unit 202 may then output the generated media content to a DVB-H content creation unit 204 and to a content creation unit 206 for the creation of media content to be transmitted through a wireless communication network. In this example, the content creation unit 206 (3G content creation unit) creates media content to be transmitted through 3rd-generation mobile phone network, e.g. UMTS or CDMA 2000, but it should be appreciated that the content creation unit 206 may also create the media content for transmission through another mobile phone network or through the Internet and a WLAN.
The DVB-H content creation unit 204 processes the received media content stream into a format suitable for broadcasting over a DVB-H broadcasting system 208, i.e. according to the DVB-H standard. The DVB-H content creation unit 204 then outputs the processed media content to be broadcasted to the broadcasting system 208 which broadcasts the media content stream according to the DVB-H standard. The DVB-H broadcasting system utilizes a so-called time slicing principle where data is provided for terminals in bursts. Data is transmitted in a compressed form using high throughput in short bursts which are separated by much larger gaps during which the terminal may stream data received during the previous burst. Parameters of the actual network implementation may vary but current implementations use approximately a 10% stream rate where audio and video data for about the next 2 seconds is transmitted in approximately 300 ms bursts. The broadcasted media content stream is received by the mobile terminal 100.
The 3G content creation unit 206 converts the received media content stream into a format suitable for transmission through the 3G mobile communication network 210. The content creation unit may reduce the data rate of the media content stream to a data rate more suitable for the mobile communication network.
The data rate of the media content stream transmitted through the wireless communication network may also vary. For example, the user may define the data rate of the media content stream according to the desired quality of the received media content stream. If the user wishes a high quality media content, i.e. a high data rate stream, the video component of the media content stream may comprise images transmitted more frequently. The video component may also comprise streaming video. The audio component may also be of a higher quality.
The 3G content creation unit 206 then outputs the 3G media content stream to a 3G communication network 210 for transmission to mobile terminals 100 which have requested the transmission of the media content stream through the 3G communication network.
In S1, the user gives an input to the mobile terminal, the input indicating that the user wishes to watch television. The input may also indicate a particular television channel. The user gives the input through the user input device 110 of the mobile terminal 100. In S2, a DVB-H receiver (media content receiver 108) receives a command that the DVB-H reception is to be switched on. Accordingly, a media content stream broadcasted through the DVB-H broadcasting system 208 is received through the DVB-H receiver. Upon the reception of a command to start presenting the received media content stream in S3, the audiovisual interface 102 starts presenting the media content (video and audio) to the user.
After watching the television for a while, the user may wish to put the mobile terminal aside and do something else (resume working, read a book, cook, etc.) but still follow the program being currently broadcasted. Alternatively, the quality of the DVB-H reception may degrade such that watching the program becomes uncomfortable or even impossible. Then, the user may wish to receive the program through the 3G network. In S4, the user gives an input that the reception of the program should be switched to the 3G network. The user may also give an input indicating a television channel he/she wishes to receive, or the channel may be determined from the channel the user was watching. In response to the user input, the DVB-H receiver receives a command that DVB-H reception should be terminated in S5 and the DVB-H receiver terminates the DVB-H reception in S6.
In response to the user input to switch the reception from the DVB-H broadcasting reception to the 3G network reception, a 3G module (communication interface 106) also receives in S7 a command to activate the reception of the media content stream through the 3G network. The 3G module may also receive information on the quality of the received content. The quality of the received content may be preset by the user. The information on the quality of the received content may comprise the quality of the audio component of the received media content stream as well as the quality of the received images. The 3G module may also receive information on the type of the reception, for example reception of only audio or video (still images) component of the media content stream. The user may wish only to listen to the media content stream and he/she may deactivate the reception of the images accordingly. The 3G module then transmits a channel assignment request to the 3G wireless communication network 210 in S8 for the assignment of a downlink channel for the reception of the media content stream being broadcasted through the broadcasting system. The request may also comprise information on which media content is to be received (television channel information and information on the quality and type of the reception). The 3G network 210 then assigns a downlink channel for the mobile terminal 100 and also conveys the request for the transmission of the media content stream as well as media content information to the 3G content creation unit 206 in S9.
In S10 and S11, the 3G content creation unit 206 transmits the requested media content stream to the 3G module of the mobile terminal 100 through the 3G wireless communication network. This media content stream corresponds to the media content stream being broadcasted through the DVB-H broadcasting system 208. Accordingly, the same media content is being transmitted through the broadcasting system and the wireless communication network substantially at the same time. Obviously, there exist time differences between the two different systems due to different processing of the media content streams. As mentioned above, the media content stream transmitted through the 3G network may be processed into a lower data rate stream with respect to the broadcasted media content stream.
In S12, the received media content stream is conveyed to the audiovisual interface 102 of the mobile terminal 100 and is presented to the user. In S13 and S14, the transmission of a media content stream through the 3G wireless communication network to the mobile terminal 100 is continued. The media content transmitted in S14 and S15 and received at the mobile terminal 100 is presented to the user through the audiovisual interface in S15.
In S16, the user wishes to switch the television off and gives the corresponding input through the user input device 110. In response to the input, a command to terminate the reception of the media content stream is transmitted to the 3G module in S17. The 3G module then transmits a request to terminate the reception of the media content stream to the 3G wireless communication network in S18. The request to terminate the reception of the media content stream may comprise a request for releasing the downlink channel that was used for transmitting the media stream content to the mobile terminal 100. Accordingly, the 3G network transmits the corresponding request to the 3G content creation unit 206 in S19. Then, the 3G content creation unit 206 terminates the transmission of the media content stream to the mobile terminal 100.
Next, the presentation of the media content stream to the user by using the audiovisual interface 102 of the mobile terminal 100 will be described with reference to
Then, the user wishes to switch the reception of the television program from the broadcasting system to the wireless communication network. Accordingly, the user switches the display mode. The user may select a corresponding option from the options menu of a media player software application. Altematively, the user may press a specific button of the user input device of the mobile terminal 100. In response to the input from the user, the mobile terminal 100 terminates the DVB-H reception and starts the reception of the television program through the wireless communication network. At the same time, the mobile terminal 100 switches the display mode to correspond to the reception of the program through the wireless communication network. Now, the video component of the received media content stream is received as images with determined time intervals between the images. These images are then displayed as an alternative view in the display unit 500. If the determined time interval between the received images is, for example, one second, the displayed image changes to another at one-second intervals. The audio component of the received media content stream may be received as a continuous stream but with a lower data rate, i.e. lower quality. The audio component may then be played as a continuous audio stream through the sound production system (not shown) of the mobile terminal 100.
Now, let us assume that the user of the mobile terminal has activated the DVB-H reception and the mobile terminal is in the operational state as illustrated in
Embodiments of the invention may be realized in an arrangement comprising a media content production unit, a broadcasting system, and a wireless communication network. The arrangement may be configured to perform at least some of the steps described in connection with the flowchart of
Other embodiments of the invention may be realized in a mobile terminal of a wireless communication network, the mobile terminal comprising a media content receiver, a communication interface, and an audiovisual interface. The mobile terminal also comprises a processing unit operationally connected to the media content receiver, a communication interface, and an audiovisual interface. The processing unit may be configured to perform at least some of the steps described in connection with the flowchart of
Each of the computer programs may be stored on a computer program distribution medium readable by a computer or a processor. The computer program medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electric, magnetic, optical, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or transmission medium. The computer program medium may include at least one of the following media: a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a random access memory, an programmable read-only memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, computer readable printed matter, and a computer readable compressed software package.
Even though the invention has been described above with reference to an example according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear that the invention is not restricted thereto but can be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.
