(12) Unrted States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`Galensky et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jan. 18, 2005
`
`USOO6845398B1
`
`(54) WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA PLAYER
`
`(75)
`
`-
`.
`(73) Ass1gnee.
`.
`( >1 ) Not1ce:
`
`Inventors: Duane Galensky, Eatontown, NJ (US);
`Andrew Zidel,Westfie1d, NJ (US)
`-
`-
`Ifiuiejgfechnologles Inc., Murray H111,
`.
`.
`.
`.
`Subject. to any d1scla1mer, the term of th1s
`patent 15 extended or adjusted under 35
`U~S~C~ 154(b) by 0 days
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/366 351
`’
`Aug. 2, 1999
`
`Filed:
`
`(22)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ G06F 13/00
`(51)
`(52) US. Cl.
`....................... 709/231; 709/203; 709/217;
`709/219
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 709/200, 201,
`709/203, 217, 218, 219, 216, 225, 226,
`227’ 228, 229’ 230’ 231’ 232’ 236
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`5,831,664 A * 11/1998 Wharton et a1.
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`
`5,848,422 A * 12/1998 Sam 6t al~
`32:33:?) 2
`$333 gowalcztyklm-
`W73???)
`,
`,
`zawa e a .
`...............
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`9/1999 Wong et a1.
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`
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`6/2000 Kilkki et al.
`............... 709/232
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`6,151,634 A * 11/2000 Glaser et a].
`6,175,822 131 *
`1/2001 Jones
`.
`.
`(W confirmed 0“ “6’“ Page“)
`.
`.
`Primary Exammer—Moustafa M. Meky
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireless device, system and method for receiving and
`playing multimedia files streamed from a multimedia server
`over a wireless telecommunications network. A desired
`multimedia file is selected from one or more multimedia
`files stored in the multimedia server, which server is opera-
`tively connected to the wireless telecommunications net-
`work. Successive blocks of data from the desired multime-
`dia file are streamed over the wireless telecommunications
`network in a digitized and compressed format and received
`by the wireless telecommunications device. The received
`blocks of data from the streamed multimedia file are tem-
`porarily stored in a buffer in the wireless device, decoded
`and decompressed, and successively played through an
`audio and/or video output
`in the wireless device. The
`wireless device monitors the blocks of data stored in the
`buffer and signals the wireless telecommunications network
`to increase the rate that the data blocks are transmitted over
`the wireless network in the event that the data stored in the
`buffer falls below a minimum threshold level.
`
`69 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`US PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`1/1997 Daum
`596849716 A * 11/1997 Freeman
`576947334 A * 12/1997 Donahue 6t a1~
`3’233’33: 2 * 12/1997 goodman """""""""" 455/413
`5,721,956 A *
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`5,768,527 A
`6/1998 Zhu et al~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 709/231
`577847649 A
`7/1998 Begl.“ 6t al~ ~~~~~
`71052
`
`“ 71056
`:gigégi 2 * 3133: 156W“ 6: ai‘ ”””
`5,822,524 A * 10/1998 C3231; a? ’
`5,822,537 A * 10/1998 Katseff et 211.
`5,822,553 A
`10/1998 Gifford et a1.
`
`............... 709/203
`
`................ 709/311
`
`.............. 710/305
`
`
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC Ex. 1010 p. 1
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 1
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`

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`US 6,845,398 B1
` Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,199,076 B1 *
`6,208,804 B1 *
`6,275,896 B1 *
`6,292,834 B1 *
`
`3/2001 Logan et a1.
`3/2001 Ottesen eta1~
`8/2001 Kojima
`9/2001 Ravi et a1.
`
`............ 715/501.1
`
`.................. 709/233
`
`6,300,880 B1 * 10/2001 Sitnik
`6,460,076 B1 * 10/2002 Srinivasan .................. 709/219
`6,487,663 B1 * 11/2002 Jaisimha et a1.
`6,502,194 B1 * 12/2002 Berman et 211.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC Ex. 1010 p. 2
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 2
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 18,2005
`
`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`B4
`
`DISPLAY
`
`DATA STORAGE
`MEMORY
`
`NON-VOLATILE
`
`“5
`
`CONTROLS
`(BUTTONS. DIALS,
`
`HICROCONTRULLER
`
`BAITERY
`
`MEMORY
` VISUAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`32
`
`33
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`
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`33
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`AUDIO
`
`JACK
`
`g4
`
`95
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1010 p. 3
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 3
`
`

`

`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`1
`WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA PLAYER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates generally to the field of
`multimedia communications and, more particularly,
`to a
`method and device for streaming and/or storing high quality,
`real time multimedia information over a wireless telecom-
`munications network.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In recent years, the availability of multimedia information
`(e.g., audio, video, data, etc.)
`to consumers has grown
`tremendously. Currently, with the popularity of the Internet,
`high quality, digital multimedia information can readily be
`obtained by a user of a personal computer hard wired to a
`multimedia server over the Internet.
`
`One common example is the transmission and download-
`ing of digital audio data files (e.g., music) from a multimedia
`server connected to a user’s computer over the Internet. The
`user is able to select desired audio files from a list of such
`
`files stored in or otherwise accessible by the multimedia
`server. To ensure high quality and minimal degradation of
`the original audio source, such digital audio files are typi-
`cally encoded and compressed in a file format, such as
`MPEG, audio layer 3 (“MP3”). Software stored on the user’s
`computer (e.g., MP3 player) enables the user to play such
`downloaded digital audio data files by opening, decoding
`and decompressing the audio file at the user’s computer.
`In addition to downloading and storing such digital audio
`files to a user’s computer over the Internet, it is also known
`to stream the audio data file to the user’s computer from the
`multimedia server over the Internet without otherwise down-
`
`loading or permanently storing the audio file in the user’s
`computer. Streaming of the audio data file allows the user to
`decode, decompress and play the audio file almost imme-
`diately without waiting for the complete audio data file to
`first be downloaded to the user’s computer.
`In today’s increasingly mobile society, it is desirable for
`a user to access and play high quality multimedia files using
`a portable device that can be carried by the user. Existing
`portable devices play MP3 audio data files that have previ-
`ously been downloaded to the user’s computer and then
`downloaded from the computer to the portable device over
`a cable connection (e.g.,
`through a serial port on the
`computer). These existing devices utilize the user’s com-
`puter as an intermediate connection between the portable
`device and the multimedia server to ultimately store MP3
`audio files on the portable device. A disadvantage of such
`existing devices is that the user must select the particular
`audio files to be downloaded to the portable device, and
`arrange to download and store such files in the device prior
`to using the portable device. Furthermore, while advances
`have been made on the available memory in such portable
`devices, the number of audio files that can be downloaded
`and stored in the portable device continue to be limited by
`the memory associated with the device.
`It would be advantageous to have a portable device
`capable of playing multimedia files, such as high quality,
`digital audio files,
`in real
`time without first having to
`download the preselected files from the user’s computer for
`ultimate transfer and storage in the portable device prior to
`playing. It would also be advantageous for the user to access
`such files in the multimedia server without using the user’s
`computer as an intermediate connection to the multimedia
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`server. To avoid the entertainment industry’s concerns over
`unauthorized reproduction of such copyrighted multimedia
`files, it would be desirable for the portable device to be
`capable of playing the multimedia file without storing the
`multimedia file in the device’s memory for subsequent use.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The foregoing and other objects and advantages are
`achieved in accordance with the present invention through
`the provision of a portable device that receives and plays
`streamed multimedia files over a wireless network from a
`multimedia server.
`
`invention, a system,
`In accordance with the present
`method and wireless device are provided for receiving and
`playing multimedia files streamed from a multimedia server
`over a wireless telecommunications network. A desired
`multimedia file is selected from one or more multimedia
`
`files stored in the multimedia server, which server is opera-
`tively connected to the wireless telecommunications net-
`work. Successive blocks of data from the desired multime-
`dia file are streamed over the wireless telecommunications
`
`network in a digitized and compressed format and received
`by the wireless telecommunications device. The received
`blocks of data from the streamed multimedia file are tem-
`
`porarily stored in a buffer in the wireless device, decoded
`and decompressed, and successively played through an
`audio and/or video output in the wireless device.
`In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present
`invention, the wireless device receives the blocks of data
`over the wireless telecommunications network at a first
`transmission rate until a minimum threshold level of data is
`stored in the buffer and at a second transmission rate after
`the minimum threshold level of data is stored in the buffer,
`the first
`transmission rate being higher than the second
`transmission rate when at least the minimum threshold level
`
`of data is stored in the buffer. A microprocessor in the
`wireless device monitors the size of the buffer to ensure that
`the data contained in the buffer does not fall below the
`
`minimum threshold level prior to receiving all of the blocks
`of data associated with the streamed multimedia file. If the
`size of the buffer falls beneath the minimum threshold level,
`the microprocessor signals the wireless telecommunications
`network to increase the rate that data is transmitted to the
`device over the wireless telecommunications network until
`the data contained in the buffer reaches or exceeds the
`minimum threshold level.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user of the
`device may be billed for the use of the multimedia file prior
`to streaming the multimedia file to the wireless device. In
`another preferred embodiment, an authentication code is
`required to play multimedia files stored in a local memory of
`the wireless device, which code is transmitted to the wireless
`device upon receipt of payment information from the user of
`the device.
`
`The foregoing specific objects and advantages of the
`invention are illustrative of those that can be achieved by the
`present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or
`limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized.
`Thus, these and other objects and advantages of this inven-
`tion will be apparent from the description herein or can be
`learned from practicing this invention, both as embodied
`herein or as modified in view of any variations which may
`be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the
`present invention resides in the novel parts, constructions,
`arrangements, combinations and improvements herein
`shown and described.
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC Ex. 1010 p. 4
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 4
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`

`

`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`3
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing features and other aspects of the invention
`are explained in the following description taken in connec-
`tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless multimedia
`communications system in accordance with the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portable device for
`receiving and playing multimedia files over a wireless
`network in accordance with the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`10
`
`The present invention provides a system, method and
`portable, wireless device for receiving, playing and storing
`streamed multimedia files over a wireless telecommunica-
`
`15
`
`tions network from a multimedia server. A preferred
`embodiment of the present invention is described below
`with reference to the drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred wireless
`multimedia communications system in accordance with the
`present invention. A multimedia server 10 is connected to a
`telecommunications network 40 via communications link
`
`20. High quality, digital multimedia files (e.g., audio, video,
`data, etc.) are stored within or otherwise accessible to the
`multimedia server 10. Preferably, the multimedia files are
`stored within the server 10 in an encoded and compressed
`file format, such as MP3. The multimedia server 20 may be
`a conventional third party server accessible over the Internet
`or a dedicated server maintained by the network provider.
`While only one server 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, it is
`understood that more than one multimedia server 10 may be
`utilized in accordance with the present
`invention. For
`instance, several multimedia servers 10 may be either linked
`to one another or otherwise connected to the telecommuni-
`cations network 40 via one or more communications links
`20.
`
`The telecommunications network 40 may be a known
`wireless communications network or a combination of a
`wireless network interconnected with a conventional land-
`based telecommunications network, such as the Public
`Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”). The wireless net-
`work is preferably a high bandwidth network capable of
`operating at speeds in excess of 144 kbps, such as a
`wideband Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) plat-
`form. Other known wireless platforms, such as the Universal
`Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”), Local Mul-
`tipoint Distribution System (“LMDS”), Global Systems for
`Mobile (“GSM”) and even satellite-based systems (e.g., the
`Teledesic network), may be utilized as the wireless network
`in accordance with the present invention.
`A portable wireless multimedia device 80, capable of
`decoding streamed, compressed data for playback to the user
`in real time, is connected to the network 40 over a wireless
`channel 60. As will be discussed below,
`the user of the
`wireless device 80 is able to access the multimedia server 10
`over the network 40 to select one or more desired multime-
`dia files stored or otherwise accessible to the server 10. The
`selected multimedia files are streamed to the wireless device
`
`80 over link 20 through the network 40 and to the wireless
`device 80 over wireless channel 60. The streamed multime-
`
`dia files are decoded, decompressed and played by the
`wireless device 80.
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`A preferred embodiment of the wireless device 80 is
`illustrated in FIG. 2. The wireless device 80 includes a
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`65
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`4
`The wireless device 80 also includes an antenna 96 and a
`transceiver 94 for transmitting or receiving information over
`wireless channel 60. The antenna 96 is connected to the
`transceiver 94 to facilitate transmission or reception of
`information/data over the wireless channel 60. Preferably, a
`conventional wideband transceiver and antenna are used in
`the wireless device 80. The transceiver 94 is connected to the
`microprocessor 82.
`A battery 98, such as a conventional lightweight lithium-
`ion rechargeable battery, provides power to the wireless
`device 80. Preferably, the battery 98 is electrically connected
`to each of the various components of the wireless device 80
`that require power, either directly or via the microprocessor
`82. The microprocessor 82 may be configured to regulate the
`power consumption of the various components of the device
`80.
`
`The wireless device 80 also includes a data storage
`memory 90 and a non-volatile memory 92, each of which is
`connected to the microprocessor 82. The data storage
`memory 90 is the buffer used for streaming and/or the flash
`memory for storing the multimedia files in the wireless
`device 80. Multimedia files stored in the data storage
`memory 90 may be erased or recorded over. A conventional
`8 Mbyte flash memory is suitable for use as the data storage
`memory 90. However, if the multimedia file is only being
`streamed and not stored in the device 80, then conventional
`1, 2 or 4 Mbyte flash memory chips may be used as a buffer
`for streaming of multimedia files to the wireless device 80.
`The non-volatile memory 92 serves as the ROM for the
`wireless device 80, permanently storing programmed infor-
`mation (e.g., software for decoding and decompressing the
`multimedia file) and data for running the microprocessor 82.
`The wireless device 80 also includes a visual display 84,
`controls 86 and an audio output 88, each of which are
`connected to the microprocessor 82. The visual display 84 is
`used to display information to the user of the wireless device
`80, such as playing a streamed video data file, displaying
`selections, operating the device 80, and providing feedback
`to the user regarding battery life and connection to the
`network 40. The display 84 may be a conventional LCD,
`touch display or LED display.
`The controls 86 allow the user to operate the wireless
`device 80 and interface with the microprocessor 82. Various
`input controls (e.g., buttons, dials, soft keys, jog shuttles,
`etc.) may be used to allow the user to turn power to the
`device 80 on or off, to select desired multimedia files for
`streaming and/or downloading, to select user preferences for
`the device 80, or to scroll through different options.
`The audio output 88 allows the user of the wireless device
`80 to listen to a streamed or downloaded audio data file
`
`through one or more audio speakers (not shown) that may be
`incorporated into the wireless device 80 or otherwise con-
`nected through a conventional audio jack (e.g., headphones).
`In operation, the user turns the power on to the wireless
`device 80 by selecting the appropriate input control 86. By
`selecting the appropriate input control 86, the user may view
`different songs, artists, genres, file names, etc. through the
`visual display 84. The user may also view a list of previous
`files (e.g., songs) and/or links that were previously accessed
`and stored in the data storage memory 90 of the device 80.
`Upon making a selection via the appropriate input control 86
`and visual display 84, the user may access and listen to
`and/or view the selected multimedia file previously stored in
`the data storage memory 90 without establishing a connec-
`tion to the network 40 over wireless channel 60.
`
`microprocessor or microcontroller 82 for controlling the
`operation of the wireless device 80.
`
`In addition, upon making a selection via the appropriate
`input control 86 and visual display 84, the user may alter-
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`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1010 p. 5
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`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 5
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`

`

`5
`natively establish a connection to the appropriate, desired
`multimedia server 10 via the wireless channel 60,
`the
`network 40 and link 20. Alternatively,
`the user of the
`wireless device 80 may select an appropriate input control
`86 on the device to establish a connection to a prime
`multimedia server 10 via the wireless channel 60,
`the
`network 40 and link 20, which prime media server 10 either
`stores multimedia files or a list of particular multimedia files
`and their respective address/location.
`To connect
`the wireless device 80 to the multimedia
`
`server 10, the microprocessor 82 instructs the transceiver 94
`to make a connection over the wireless network 40 to the
`
`multimedia server 10. As discussed above with respect to
`FIG. 1, this connection may be made using solely a wireless
`telecommunications network or a combination of a wireless
`telecommunications network with the PSTN, Internet and/or
`similar type of wired telecommunications network.
`Once connected to the multimedia server 10, the user of
`the wireless device 80 may view a list of multimedia files
`(e.g., audio, video, data, etc.) or general categories of such
`multimedia files (e.g., by artist, genre, etc.) on the visual
`display 84 of the device 80, which list was communicated to
`the device 80 by the multimedia server 10 over link 20,
`network 40 and wireless channel 60. Preferably, the list was
`communicated by the server 10 to the network 40 in a
`TCP/IP packet format, which list would then be reformatted
`for transmission over the wireless network in a conventional
`manner. The reformatted list is received at the transceiver
`
`94, processed by the microprocessor 82 and displayed on the
`visual display 84.
`The user of the wireless device 80 selects the desired
`
`item(s) from the displayed list through use of the appropriate
`input control 86 and the microprocessor 82 instructs the
`transceiver 94 to transmit the selection to the multimedia
`server 10 over the wireless channel 60, network 40 and link
`20.
`
`the multimedia
`Upon receipt of the desired selection,
`server 10 then streams the selected multimedia files (e.g.,
`digital MP3 audio files, video data files, etc.) back to the
`wireless device 80 over link 20, network 40 and wireless
`channel 60. The digital multimedia file is preferably trans-
`mitted in an encoded and compressed format, such as MP3,
`to the network 40 in TCP/IP packets, which are reformatted
`in a conventional manner for transmission over the wireless
`network and wireless channel 60 to the wireless device 80.
`The wireless device 80 receives the transmitted multime-
`dia file at the transceiver 94 and transfers the multimedia file
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`to the microprocessor 82, which creates a temporary buffer
`in the data storage memory 90. The use of a buffer ensures
`that there is a continuous transmission of data so that the
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`multimedia file (eg., digital MP3 audio file) sounds of high
`quality. Once an acceptable buffer is created, the micropro-
`cessor 82 converts the data temporarily stored in the buffer
`to a voltage signal suitable for audio/video output and sends
`that converted data from the buffer to the audio output 88
`(for audio data files) and/or video display 84 (for video data
`files)
`for listening/viewing playback to the user of the
`wireless device 80.
`
`In addition to streaming the multimedia file to the wireless
`device 80 from the multimedia server 10, the user may store
`the file in the data storage memory 90 (flash memory) of the
`device 80 for playback at a later time from a list of stored
`files displayed on the visual display 84 and selected through
`the use of the appropriate input controls 86.
`To allow the wireless network provider to serve more
`subscribers and allow more users to access the system in
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`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`6
`accordance with the present invention, it is advantageous to
`conserve bandwidth within the wireless network 40. One
`way of accomplishing this is to preferably transmit data at
`the highest data rate possible over the wireless network 40
`at the point in time when the data stream is initiated (e.g., the
`maximum bandwidth that the wireless network 40 can afford
`to allocate to a user and the maximum bandwidth the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`wireless device 80 can accept) to permit the microprocessor
`82 of the device 80 to create approximately 5—10 seconds of
`buffer (which may take approximately 1 second). Once an
`acceptable buffer is created (e.g., approximately 5—10 sec-
`onds of buffer),
`the microprocessor 82 will
`instruct the
`transceiver 94 to signal the wireless network 40 to decrease
`the data transmission rate to the minimum rate necessary for
`adequate transmission—that is, fast enough so that the buffer
`does not fall below a minimum threshold level (e.g., 2—3
`seconds of audio) and empty before receiving subsequent
`streamed data. If the buffer falls beneath this minimum
`
`20
`
`threshold level, then the microprocessor 82 will instruct the
`transceiver 94 to signal the wireless network 40 to increase
`the data transmission rate until the minimum threshold level
`
`is satisfied, at which point in time the microprocessor 82 will
`then instruct the transceiver 94 to signal the wireless net-
`work 40 to decrease the data transmission rate to the
`maintain the minimum threshold level in the buffer until all
`
`25
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`the data is transmitted and the multimedia file (e.g., digital
`MP3 audio file) has ended.
`It
`is understood that a Mobile Identification Number
`
`(“MIN”) may be used to identify and locate the wireless
`device 80 within the wireless network 40. As discussed
`
`30
`
`above, information may preferably be communicated over
`link 20 from the multimedia server 10 to the wireless
`
`network 40 in TCP/IP formatted packets addressed to the
`MIN assigned to the wireless device 80. The wireless
`network 40 preferably reformats the packets sent by the
`server 10 into an appropriate format for the wireless network
`40. Because the wireless device 80 registers with the wire-
`less network 40 in a conventional manner,
`the wireless
`network 40 identifies the approximate location of the wire-
`less device 80 and transmits the reformatted data to the base
`
`station (not shown) within the wireless network 40 where
`the device 80 is currently registered. The reformatted data is
`then transmitted from the base station to the device 80 over
`wireless channel 60.
`
`invention is particularly well-suited to
`The present
`address and alleviate the entertainment industry’s concern
`over unauthorized copying, reproduction or distribution of
`copyrighted works contained in the multimedia files. To
`avoid this concern, the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention provides the ability to stream the multimedia file
`from the multimedia server 10 to the wireless device 80 over
`
`network 40 for temporary storage in a buffer in the data
`storage memory 90 of the device 80. In this manner, the
`streamed multimedia file may be played once in real time on
`the wireless device 80, rather than requiring the multimedia
`file to be stored in the device 80 for subsequent use. The user
`of the device 80 may be billed for each time the multimedia
`file is streamed to the device 80.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user of the
`wireless device 80 may be billed prior to transmitting the
`multimedia file to the device. To start, a connection to a
`multimedia server 10 is established over the network 40 in
`a manner as discussed above. Then, a desired multimedia file
`is selected for listening and/or viewing by the user of the
`wireless device 80, also in a manner as discussed above.
`Next, a secure financial transaction is conducted by first
`determining the user’s account (i.e., a cellular phone bill,
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1010 p. 6
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1010 p. 6
`
`

`

`US 6,845,398 B1
`
`7
`
`credit card account, etc.), then debiting the account a specific
`amount for the use of the multimedia file, and finally
`confirming that
`the transaction has been approved. The
`specific details associated with this billing will be predeter-
`mined by the service provider, likely in a manner consistent
`with already established practices. Once the user of the
`wireless device 80 has been properly charged, the selected
`multimedia file is streamed to the wireless device 80 by the
`multimedia server 10 over the wireless network 40 in a
`manner as described above.
`
`Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment, the mul-
`timedia server 10 may first transmit the multimedia file to
`the wireless device 80 over network 40 and store the file
`
`locally in memory 90 of the device 80. An authentication
`code to be sent by the multimedia server 10 over the wireless
`network 40 to the wireless device 80 would be required
`when the user desires to play the multimedia file on the
`device 80. One benefit of this approach is that the multime-
`dia file only needs to be transmitted once for multiple
`playback, reducing airtime costs. Since the authentication
`code must be used to play the multimedia file on the wireless
`device 80, the ability to bill the user of the device 80 each
`time the multimedia file is played on the device 80 by the
`user is ensured.
`
`in this preferred embodiment of the
`More specifically,
`invention, the user of the wireless device 80 is billed for the
`replay of multimedia files already received and stored at the
`device 80.
`In this case,
`the desired multimedia file is
`downloaded from the multimedia server 10 in a manner as
`
`discussed above and stored locally in memory 90 of the
`device 80. Once the user of the device 80 chooses to play
`(e. g., listen and/or view) the multimedia file, a connection is
`established between the wireless device 80 and the multi-
`media server 10 over the network 40 to authenticate the user
`
`and record the billing information in a manner predeter-
`mined by the provider of the service. Once completed, an
`authentication code is transmitted by the multimedia server
`10 over the network 40 to the wireless device 80, which code
`is used as a key to allow the stored multimedia file to be
`played on the wireless device 80. Without the code,
`the
`stored multimedia file is unable to be played by the wireless
`device 80.
`
`Although an illustrative preferred embodiment has been
`described herein in detail, it should be noted and will be
`appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous varia-
`tions may be made within the scope of this invention without
`departing from the principle of this invention and without
`sacrificing its chief advantages. The terms and expressions
`have been used herein as terms of description and not terms
`of limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or
`
`expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown
`and described or portions thereof and this invention should
`be defined in accordance with the claims that follow.
`We claim:
`
`1. A device for receiving and playing a multimedia file
`streamed from a multimedia server over a wireless telecom-
`
`munications network, comprising:
`a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the
`device;
`a transceiver operatively connected to the microprocessor
`for receiving successive blocks of data from the
`streamed multimedia file over the wireless telecommu-
`nication network, wherein blocks of data are received
`at an initial data transfer rate which is reduced upon
`receipt of a predetermined amount of data;
`a buffer operatively connected to the microprocessor for
`temporarily storing the received blocks of data from the
`
`8
`streamed multimedia file, wherein the temporarily
`stored blocks of data are processed without storing the
`received blocks of data in a long term memory
`medium; and
`an output operatively connected to the microprocessor for
`playing the processed successive blocks of data from
`the streamed multimedia file, wherein the processed,
`successive blocks of data are deleted by the device
`following playback.
`2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the blocks of
`the multimedia file are received in a digitized and com-
`pressed format, transmitted at a first transmission rate until
`an initial threshold of blocks are received and subsequent
`blocks are transmitted at a second lower transmission rate.
`3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the micro-
`processor is programmed to decode and decompress the
`blocks of data prior to playing through the output.
`4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a
`non-volatile memory operatively connected to the micro-
`processor for storing the decoding and decompression
`program, said memory is configured to store a program for
`transmitting a signal to a streaming device when a number
`of data blocks corresponding to a predetermined initial
`minimum threshold of data blocks have been received.
`
`5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a
`visual display operatively connected to the microprocessor
`for displaying a the name of the streamed multimedia file
`stored in the memory.
`6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a
`memory operatively connected to the microprocessor for
`storing the received blocks of data from the multimedia file
`for subsequent playback through the output.
`7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a
`user control panel operatively connected to a microprocessor
`to signal the microprocessor to play the blocks of data from
`the multimedia file that are stored in the memory.
`8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the micro-
`processor is configured to establish a connection with the
`wireless telecommunication network and display a listing of
`at least one multimedia file server connected to the wireless
`
`telecommunication network on the visual display.
`9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the displayed
`listing of at least one multimedia file server includes a
`remote multimedia file server and a file stored on said
`remote multimedia file server.
`
`10. The device accor