I IIIII
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007899492B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Wang et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`(54) METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR
`DISPLAYING THE MULTIMEDIA
`INFORMATION FROM WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Tiejun (Ronald) Wang, La Jolla, CA
`(US); William E. Halal, Washington,
`DC (US); Tiehong (Ann) Wang,
`Arlington, VA (US); Ximing Wang,
`Beijing (CN)
`
`(73) Assignee: Seller Bid, Inc., Arlington, VA (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 213 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/165,341
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun.24,2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0077310 AI
`
`Apr. 13, 2006
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/588,358, filed on Jul.
`16, 2004.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 1100
`(2006.01)
`H04B 1138
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................................... 455/556.1; 455/566
`(58) Field of Classification Search .......... 455/556.1-2,
`455/414.1-4, 466, 66.1, 550.1, 553.1, 557,
`455/90.3, 566, 559, 3.01, 3.06, 3.04, 414.4;
`348/14.08, 14.04, 838, 554, 14.02, 14.07,
`348/575, 14.13, 14.12, 384.1, 441; 375/240.1,
`375/240.02, 240.18
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,740,963 A
`
`4/1988 Eckley
`
`3/1997 Vandivier
`5,610,971 A
`5,880,732 A * 3/1999 Tryding ...................... 715/810
`6,128,509 A * 10/2000 Veijola eta!. ............ 455/556.1
`6,181,954 B1
`1/2001 Monroe eta!.
`6,275,333 B1
`8/2001 Shaffer
`6,404,763 B1
`6/2002 Renucci et al.
`6,546,263 B1
`4/2003 Petty eta!.
`6,690,417 B1
`2/2004 Yoshida et a!.
`6,718,182 B1
`4/2004 Kung
`6,781,635 B1 * 8/2004 Takeda ....................... 348/552
`2/2005 Baldwin et a!.
`6,859,358 B2
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1429511 A1 * 6/2004
`
`EP
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report and the
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, or the
`Declaration; International Application No. PCT/US05/25284; Filing
`Date: Jul. 15, 2005.
`
`Primary Examiner-George Eng
`Assistant Examiner-Brandon J Miller
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rader Fishman & Grauer
`PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Video signals for a mobile terminal are converted to accom(cid:173)
`modate reproduction by an alternative display terminal. The
`video signal from a wireless communication network is pro(cid:173)
`cessed to provide a converted video signal appropriate for an
`alternative display terminal. This converted video signal is
`then provided to accommodate the corresponding video dis(cid:173)
`play on a screen provided by the alternative (e.g., external)
`display terminal.
`
`33 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`HTC EXHIBIT 1026
`
`Page 1 of 14
`
`

`

`US 7,899,492 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,873,853 B2 *
`6,907,276 B2
`6,970,127 B2 *
`7,248,888 B2 *
`7,257,202 B2 *
`7,312,813 B1 *
`7,360,085 B2 *
`2002/0090980 A1 *
`2002/0094826 A1
`2002/0102998 A1 *
`2002/0137505 A1
`2002/0137551 A1
`2003/0054794 A1
`
`3/2005 Kim ........................... 455/466
`6/2005 Toba
`1112005 Rakib ......................... 3411173
`7/2007 Inselberg .................... 455/517
`8/2007 Umemura eta!. ........ 379/88.14
`12/2007 Heinonen ................... 348/158
`4/2008 Loveria, III ................. 713/165
`7/2002 Wilcox eta!. ............... 455/566
`7/2002 Lee
`8/2002 Lin ............................ 455/466
`9/2002 Eiche eta!.
`9/2002 Toba
`3/2003 Zhang
`
`2003/0104806 A1 *
`2003/0130009 A1 *
`2004/0046783 A1
`2004/0056985 A1
`2004/0125136 A1
`2004/0157642 A1
`2004/0177376 A1 *
`2004/0212731 A1 *
`2005/0036509 A1 *
`2005/0085183 A1 *
`2005/0088463 A1
`2005/0144641 A1 *
`2006/0001737 A1 *
`2007/0287498 A1 *
`* cited by examiner
`
`6/2003
`7/2003
`3/2004
`3/2004
`7/2004
`8/2004
`9/2004
`10/2004
`2/2005
`4/2005
`4/2005
`6/2005
`112006
`12/2007
`
`Ruef eta!. .................. 455/422
`Kung ......................... 455/557
`Montebovi
`Seong
`Wallenius
`Lee eta!.
`Caspi eta!. ................... 725/81
`Sie eta!. ..................... 348/445
`Acharya eta!. ............. 370/466
`Lee ........................... 455/3.01
`Schilling
`Lewis .......................... 725/60
`Dawson eta!. ........... 348/14.08
`Wang eta!. .............. 455/556.1
`
`Page 2 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 1 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`multimedia
`
`tocf
`
`/o <:j
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Page 3 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 2 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`Computing System
`
`Memory
`
`MTSCM
`
`Processor
`
`~200
`
`~202
`
`Mobile Terminal Interface Module
`
`~204
`
`Signal Conversion Module
`
`~206
`
`External Device Interface
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 4 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.1,2011
`
`Sheet 3 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`~
`
`'
`
`MTSCM
`
`300
`
`3o4a
`
`3o'f b
`
`3o6 a
`
`Digital/Digital
`Video Encoder
`
`~o 6 bj
`
`:o.-ooooooooooooouoo ••••••••• •••••••••••••••• •••••••••-•• ••••-••••••••••••••-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••oououoouoooooooo••-••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••• ••••••••• ··••••••••••••-••••;.
`
`CT1
`
`;;
`
`--..1
`--..1
`C>
`
`w
`
`?:J
`0
`to
`{/1
`
`w
`<
`0.:
`"'
`0
`
`;;o
`0
`to
`::r:
`<
`
`::r:
`t:J
`~
`
`t:J
`
`t:J
`s s
`0
`
`m
`
`CT1
`CT1
`w
`'D
`""'"
`
`Analog display
`tem1inal
`
`310
`
`Digital display
`terminal
`
`322
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 5 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 4 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`Mobile terminal. receives multimedia signal through ~ 402
`wireless connection .
`
`.,,
`
`MTSCM receives multimedia signal that
`accommodates display by a mobile terminal.
`
`~404
`
`MTSCM processes the multimedia signal to provide . ______,., 406
`a converted signal appropriate for an external display / (cid:173)
`device.
`
`·u
`
`MTSCM provides the converted signal to the external
`408
`display device to accommodate corresponding ~
`reproduction (e.g .• video} using facilities provided by
`the external display·device.
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 6 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 5 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 7 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 6 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`mu!fimedia
`
`Goo
`
`~ 0
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 8 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1,2011
`
`Sheet 7 of7
`
`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`llltiftimedia
`data stream
`
`t(o,f
`
`Applications
`
`Locations
`
`GPS
`
`---
`
`Video on
`Demand
`
`~/0
`FIG. 7
`
`veHICleS
`
`Airports
`
`Hotels
`
`Remote
`Resorts
`
`Page 9 of 14
`
`

`

`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`1
`METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR
`DISPLAYING THE MULTIMEDIA
`INFORMATION FROM WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`Although mobile terminals have been developed to include
`enhanced signal processing and related capabilities, user
`enjoyment is diminished by the limitations of the display
`provided with such mobile terminals. What is needed is a
`solution to the problem of diminished user enjoyment of
`mobile terminals because of display limitations.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This application claims the benefit of provisional applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 60/588,358 filed on Jul. 16, 2004 and entitled "A 10
`Method and System for Displaying the Multimedia Informa(cid:173)
`tion from Wireless Communications or Portable IT Devices,"
`the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by ref-
`erence.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, the multimedia
`signal destined for the mobile terminal is converted and pro(cid:173)
`vided to an alternative (e.g., external) display system, so that
`the corresponding video and/or audio signals from wireless
`communication networks may be received and reproduced
`15 using the alternative system.
`It is believed that this feature will be useful in various
`environments, including but not limited to transportation
`environments such as planes, trains and automobiles; hotels;
`waiting areas; and any location where high data rate services
`20 can be more fully supported by external display terminals.
`According to one aspect, processing signals for reproduc(cid:173)
`tion by an external display terminal includes receiving a video
`signal that accommodates a video display on a first screen
`provided by the mobile terminal. The video signal is then
`25 processed to provide a converted video signal appropriate for
`an external display terminal that is separate from the mobile
`terminal. This converted video signal is then provided for the
`external display terminal to accommodate the corresponding
`video display on a screen provided by the external display
`30 terminal.
`The present invention can be embodied in various forms,
`including business processes, computer implemented meth(cid:173)
`ods, computer program products, computer systems and net(cid:173)
`works, user interfaces, application programming interfaces,
`35 and the like.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates generally to mobile terminals and
`related technology and more particularly to mobile terminal
`signal conversion for external display.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Handheld mobile terminals (e. g., cellular phones, personal
`digital assistants (PDA)) continue to evolve both in terms of
`execution platform and functionality. It is believed that the
`much of the functionality provided by a personal computer
`(e.g., desktop or laptop) will ultimately become virtually
`available in handheld mobile terminals, which will allow
`users to work with and access multimedia information any
`time and anywhere.
`For example, one particularly appealing advantage of the
`next generation wireless communication system and beyond
`(i.e., 3G, 4G, etc.) is the capacity to support high rate multi(cid:173)
`media data services as well as conventional voice services. In
`a conventional cellular system a mobile terminal communi(cid:173)
`cates with a base station wirelessly. Multimedia information
`including but not limited to television, 3D images, network
`games, and video phone calls is transmitted from various
`service providers and received for display on the screen of a
`mobile terminal. The net result of such a system is rich mul- 40
`timedia information being destined for display on the small
`screens typical of cellular phones (or the like).
`In these and similar systems, the mobile, terminal func(cid:173)
`tions as a multimedia terminal to display multimedia infor(cid:173)
`mation (including high-resolution graphics and high-quality 45
`real-time audio/video) sent from high data rate wireless com(cid:173)
`munications network. The limited size (e.g., 2x3") and capa(cid:173)
`bility of the mobile terminal screen may render enjoyment of
`the high rate data flow applications inconvenient, and in some
`instances useless. One consequence of this inadequacy is 50
`likely shrinkage of the potential market size for handheld
`mobile terminals. Indeed, some have suggested that develop(cid:173)
`ment of high data rate systems such as 3G systems may be
`pointless given the limitations imposed by the small screen.
`Some mobile units appear to provide a remote control 55
`function to an external display system. However, these do not
`appear to solve the small screen problem outlined above. That
`is, they do not accommodate display on a larger, external
`display of video and other multimedia information originally
`destined for the mobile terminal display screen.
`For example, one such interface accommodates usage of
`the mobile terminal as a remote control for a television, by
`feeding programming guide information to the mobile termi(cid:173)
`nal. This is useful for allowing the programming guide to be
`viewed locally while the larger screen displays a current 65
`program, but does not address to the above-described small
`screen problem.
`
`These and other more detailed and specific features of the
`present invention are more fully disclosed in the following
`specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a
`system in which mobile terminal signal conversion may
`reside in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
`mobile terminal signal conversion module in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a
`mobile terminal signal conversion module in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
`process including mobile terminal signal conversion in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example
`of a system in which mobile terminal signal conversion may
`reside in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating still another
`example of a system in which mobile terminal signal conver(cid:173)
`sion may reside in accordance with the present invention.
`6° FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of
`mobile terminal signal conversion applications in accordance
`with the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the following description, for purposes of explanation,
`numerous details are set forth, such as flowcharts and system
`
`Page 10 of 14
`
`

`

`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`3
`configurations, in order to provide an understanding of one or
`more embodiments of the present invention. However, it is
`and will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific
`details are not required in order to practice the present inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a
`system 100 in which mobile terminal signal conversion may
`reside in accordance with the present invention.
`Mobile terminal signal conversion accommodates display(cid:173)
`ing the high rate data flow multimedia information available
`in a wireless communication environment in an external
`device. This accommodates true realization and enjoyment of
`the benefits of the multimedia content.
`In one example, the multimedia information is provided to
`a wireless mobile terminal using so-called next generation
`cellular technology (i.e., 3G and 4G), which can be employed
`in transmitting multimedia information (e.g., rich graphics,
`real-time audio/video). Because of the relatively small screen
`size and low quality ear phones, for many applications the
`mobile terminal cannot adequately reproduce the high quality
`multimedia information that can be communicated using next
`generation technology with adequate clarity and satisfaction.
`Mobile terminal signal conversion in accordance with this
`embodiment of the present invention makes usage of a sepa(cid:173)
`rate multimedia display terminal including but not limited to
`a monitor, television set, projector, or LCD display. These
`displays typically have video and audio reproduction capa(cid:173)
`bilities that are superior to those found on mobile terminals.
`They also use a power supply that is separate from the mobile
`terminal.
`Still referring to the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, mul(cid:173)
`timedia information may be provided by any number of ser(cid:173)
`vice providers 1 02a-b and delivered through a network 104 to
`a base station 106 to ultimately accommodate transmission of
`the multimedia information, among other things, to a cellular
`phone 108. This system 100 is provided by way of example,
`and it should be understood that any conventional or to-be(cid:173)
`developed technology for delivering voice and/or data to
`mobile terminals may be provided. These wireless commu(cid:173)
`nication networks include but are not limited to a cellular
`communications network or a wireless local area network.
`Also illustrated is a typical external display system 114.
`This may also be variously provided and may be digital or
`analog. Examples of digital systems include HDTV, LCD and
`plasma. Examples of analog systems include television sets
`that implement standards such as NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and
`analog computer monitors (SVGA, VGA). The external dis(cid:173)
`play system 114 does not have the size constraints of the
`display screen on the cellular phone 108 and is preferably
`powered independently.
`In the illustrated embodiment, a mobile terminal signal
`conversion module (MTSCM) 112 resides within a separate
`housing 110, outside the cellular phone 108.
`The functionality of the MTSCM 112 is now further
`described with concurrent reference to FIG. 1 and the flow
`diagram of FIG. 4.
`The MTSCM 112 processes signals to accommodate
`reproduction by an external device. Specifically, a multime(cid:173)
`dia signal is transmitted to the cellular phone 108 through the 60
`wireless communications network as previously described
`(step 402). The multimedia signal may include a video signal
`intended for reproduction by the cellular phone 108, using the
`cellular phone display screen. For ease of description, pro(cid:173)
`cessing of a video signal is described, although it should be 65
`understood that any multimedia signal or component thereof
`may be converted in accordance with the present invention.
`
`4
`The cellular phone 108 is connected to the MTSCM 110.
`This may be accommodated by a cable connection that inter(cid:173)
`faces the cellular phone 108 to the MTSCM 112 housing 110.
`Through this connection, the MTSCM 112 receives the video
`signal from the cellular phone 108 (step 404). The video
`signal as received may be configured to accommodate a video
`display on the screen provided by the cellular phone 108. The
`cable connection is an example of a wired connection inter(cid:173)
`facing the cellular phone 108 to the MTSCM 112. An alter-
`10 native wired connection is a seat that directly interfaces the
`two without a cable. A wireless connection may also be
`provided, although it may currently be less practical to pro(cid:173)
`vide than the wired connection because of the potential for
`high throughput rate requirements. The wireless connection
`15 may also implement any conventional known technology
`including but not limited to a Bluetooth connection.
`The MTSCM 112 processes the video signal to provide a
`converted video signal that has a display format and/or signal
`power level appropriate for an external display terminal114
`20 that is separate from the cellular phone 108 (step 406). The
`display format and/or signal power level of the external dis(cid:173)
`play terminal 114 may be different from that of the cellular
`phone 108 but there may also be embodiments where the
`format is the same. Even if the formats are the same, conver-
`25 sian of the signals to accommodate display on the external
`display terminal114 would still be implemented to adjust the
`power level for driving the external display, and possibly to
`minimize throughput requirements. This signal conversion is
`described further with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, below.
`Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, following signal conver-
`sion, the MTSCM 112 provides the converted video signal to
`the external display terminal114 to accommodate the corre(cid:173)
`sponding video display on a screen provided by the external
`display terminal114 (step 408). This may be accommodated
`35 through a connection between the MTSCM 112 housing 110
`and the external display terminal114 as shown.
`As used herein, mobile terminal refers to typically hand(cid:173)
`held mobile devices such as cellular phones and personal
`digital assistants. Although these devices include an execu-
`40 tion platform as well as input and display capabilities, such
`devices are distinguished from personal computers, such as
`desktop or laptop computers, which are not designed for
`convenient handheld usage.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an
`45 MTSCM 200 in accordance with the present invention. The
`MTSCM 200 may be provided as software, firmware, hard(cid:173)
`ware, or any combination thereof.
`Where the MTSCM 200 is provided as software, it operates
`in the context of an execution platform. That is, the MTSCM
`50 200 includes instructions that are stored in memory for execu(cid:173)
`tion by a processor. Any conventional or to-be-developed
`execution platform may be used. The processor, memory, and
`related elements such as a power supply are well known and
`need not be described herein to convey an understanding of
`55 the invention. Additionally, FIG. 2 illustrates one modular
`breakdown for the components of the MTSCM 200. It should
`be understood that the described functionality may alterna(cid:173)
`tively be provided by an MTSCM having fewer, greater, or
`differently named modules from those illustrated in the fig(cid:173)
`ure.
`Additionally, although modules as shown to reside in a
`common location, it is noted that the functionality may reside
`in separate components of a system that includes a mobile
`terminal, an external monitor, and (optionally) an intermedi(cid:173)
`ate device housing the MTSCM and interfacing the mobile
`terminal and external monitor. In other words, the overall
`functionality of the MTSCM may be separated such that
`
`30
`
`Page 11 of 14
`
`

`

`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`5
`
`5
`portions of the overall functionality are respectively provided
`by the mobile terminal, separate intermediate housing, and/or
`the external display device.
`The MTSCM 200 may also be provided in the form of a
`chipset, configured for inclusion in a mobile terminal, dedi-
`cated separate signal conversion device, or external display
`terminal, and to provide the described mobile terminal signal
`conversion functionality.
`The MTSCM 200 includes a mobile terminal interface
`module 202, a signal conversion module 204, and an external 10
`device interface module 206.
`The mobile terminal interface module 202 accommodates
`receiving the multimedia signal from the mobile terminal. A
`conventional physical
`interface provides a connection
`between the MTSCM 200 and the mobile terminal through
`which the signals flow to the MTSCM 200. The mobile ter(cid:173)
`minal interface module 202 recognizes the multimedia signal
`and stores the signal for processing by the remaining mod(cid:173)
`ules. Buffering and the like may be implemented to accom(cid:173)
`modate storage and signal processing, as described further
`below.
`The signal conversion module 204 is in communication
`with the mobile terminal interface module 202 and thus
`accesses the received multimedia signal. The signal conver(cid:173)
`sion module 204 recognizes the multimedia signal format,
`and processes the multimedia signal to provide a converted
`signal. The converted signal may have a format and a signal
`power level that differs from the one used by the mobile
`terminal, as appropriate for one or more types of external
`devices to which the MTSCM 200 is connected. Various 30
`examples of the type of devices to which the MTSCM 200
`may be connected are illustrated and described in connection
`with FIG. 3, below.
`The external device interface 206 is in communication with
`the signal conversion module 204 and thus accesses the con- 35
`verted signal. The external device interface 206 also allows
`connection to the external (e.g., display) device. The external
`device interface 206 may provide both the feeding of the
`converted signal to the external device, and driving the exter(cid:173)
`nal device. Alternatively, the external device interface 206 40
`may merely feed the converted signal to the external device,
`with the external device including internal elements for driv(cid:173)
`ing its signal reproduction (e.g., display) facilities.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another example of
`the MTSCM 300. The MTSCM 300 includes additional detail 45
`regarding the signal conversion aspect, and illustrates
`examples of differing types of external devices to which the
`MTSCM 300 may provide converted signals. The illustration
`and corresponding description are provided by way of
`example. Although numerous connections are illustrated, it
`should be understood that the present invention may be prac(cid:173)
`ticed in the context of providing as few as one, and as many as
`all of the listed connections. It should also be understood that
`there may be additional examples that are not listed herein,
`but which are encompassed by the teachings described
`herein.
`The MTSCM 300 includes an interface/buffer module 302
`that is analogous to the previously described mobile terminal
`interface module. The buffer and interfacing are configured to
`accommodate signal processing by the remaining elements in
`support of the requirements and expectations of users of the
`multimedia signal output (e.g., adequate buffering and pro(cid:173)
`cessing rate to provide real time audio/video). The mobile
`terminal video compression format may of course vary, but
`currently the most likely format is MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.
`Buffering and throughput rate may also be provided as
`desired by the designer. Currently, it is believed that 200 Mb
`
`6
`is an adequate buffer size, although buffers of 500Mb or more
`may of course be provided. Additionally, a throughput rate of
`approximately 10 Gb/s will be adequate for many current
`systems, but may be increased as demands and technology
`evolve.
`The Video Compress Decoder 304a receives the multime(cid:173)
`dia signal. The multimedia signal is typically provided in a
`compressed format to accommodate increased signal transfer
`rates. An example of a compression scheme is that provided
`by one of the MPEG standards (e.g., MPEG-1, MPEG-2,
`MPEG-4). The Video Compress Decoder 304a is configured
`to include the appropriate compression/decompression (CO(cid:173)
`DEC) module to accommodate decompression of the
`received multimedia signal. For example, where the compres-
`15 sian scheme is MPEG, the Video Compress Decoder 304a
`includes an MPEG CODEC to accommodate processing of
`such multimedia signals.
`As an alternative to provision of the Video Compress
`Decoder 304a in the MTSCM 300, the functionality may be
`20 provided within the cellular phone or other mobile terminal.
`However, this may be less practical because of the high band(cid:173)
`width that would be required between the cellular phone and
`the MTSCM 300 to deliver the decompressed signal, and the
`corresponding likelihood of a larger buffer requirement for
`25 the MTSCM 300.
`The Video Compress Decoder 304a outputs a decom(cid:173)
`pressed digital multimedia signal that is passed to the Digital/
`Analog Video Encoder (DAVE) 304b and/or the Digital/Digi(cid:173)
`tal Video Encoder (DDVE) 304c. The DAVE 304b is
`configured to prepare signals for analog external display ter(cid:173)
`minals 320, and the DDVE 304c is configured to prepare
`signals for digital external display terminals 322. The DAVE
`304b and DDVE 304c respectively receive the decompressed
`multimedia signal and convert the signals to the format( s) and
`signal power level( s) required for the terminals to which they
`interface.
`Examples offormats used by analog display terminals 320
`include S-video, RGBHV, RGBS, and EIA770.3 as illus(cid:173)
`trated. Similarly, the DDVE 304c provides output using stan(cid:173)
`dards such as DVI, DVI-D, HDMI, and IEEE1394. The sig(cid:173)
`nals respectively provided by the DAVE 304b and DDVE
`304c are provided to the terminals through conventional inter(cid:173)
`faces 306a-b. The DAVE 304b functionality may be embod(cid:173)
`ied as a video card that is configured accordingly. Examples
`of video cards that may be configured to provide the described
`functionality include but are not limited to the Diamond
`Stealth S60, ASUS V9400-X, or RADEON 7000.
`Ultimately, the signals are used to provide a display on the
`external display, as required according to the particular type
`50 of display. For example, thevideodatastreammaybeadigital
`RGB signal which represents the intensity of the red, green
`and blue light respectively at different position. This signal is
`converted to analog by aD/A converter. This converted ana(cid:173)
`log signal is quantified to the voltage and format required by
`55 the standard, such as the input of cathode-ray-tube (CRT)
`monitor. This standard video signal will drive a set of electron
`guns, which produce a controlled stream of electrons to dis(cid:173)
`play of red, green and blue light respectively on a CRT screen.
`This is but one example and the present invention is not
`60 limited to a particular technology (e.g., CRT) for the external
`display.
`As described, in one embodiment the MTSCM may be
`independently housed separately from both the mobile termi(cid:173)
`nal and external display terminal, with respective connections
`65 to the other devices to provide a system configuration that
`includes the three pieces of hardware (mobile terminal, con(cid:173)
`version box, external display terminal). This configuration
`
`Page 12 of 14
`
`

`

`US 7,899,492 B2
`
`7
`provides the flexibility of allowing any standard mobile ter(cid:173)
`minal and/or display to be potentially interface with the
`MTSCM without imposing constraints on the mobile termi(cid:173)
`nal or external display terminal manufacturers. A possible
`drawback to this configuration is that additional hardware is
`introduced into the system.
`In lieu of the three component system, the MTSCM may be
`located in either the mobile terminal or the external display.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrates an example of a
`system 500 in which the MTSCM mobile terminal signal 10
`conversion may reside within the mobile terminal 508. The
`components and functionality of the service providers 502a, b
`network 504 and base station 506 for delivering multimedia
`signals to the mobile terminal 508 is the same as for the
`analogous elements of FIG. 1 and need not be re-described. 15
`Similarly, the external display terminal514 may be any of the
`various types named above.
`the same functionality
`The MTSCM 512 provides
`described above. However, in contrast to residence in a sepa(cid:173)
`rate housing, the MTSCM 512 is a component of the mobile 20
`terminal508. A potential advantage of this system 500 is that,
`again, any standard equipment can serve as an external dis(cid:173)
`play terminal 514, without a constraint on the display manu(cid:173)
`facturer. Additionally, only a simple wired or wireless inter(cid:173)
`face is required to connect the external display with the 25
`mobile terminal 508. This means, for example, that the user
`will not be required to carry a bulky conversion module in
`addition to their cellular phone.
`A potential drawback to this system 500 is that the execu(cid:173)
`tion platform of the mobile terminal508 may be designed to 30
`accommodate only traditional functionality, so for some sys(cid:173)
`tems it may be challenging to add the MTSCM functionality
`to the existing platform. Additionally, the MTSCM will con(cid:173)
`sume power that may unduly exhaust the limited power sup(cid:173)
`ply offered by the mobile terminal508 battery. It is useful for 35
`this embodiment to provide power to the mobile terminal508
`through the cable connection to the external display terminal
`514, but again this may require modification to the mobile
`terminal 508 as the existing charger interface may be insuf-
`ficient.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example
`of a system 600, in which the MTSCM 612 resides within the
`external display terminal 614. As with FIG. 5, the compo(cid:173)
`nents and functionality of the service providers 602a,b net(cid:173)
`work 604 and base station 606 for delivering multimedia 45
`signals to the mobile terminal 608 is the same as for the
`analogous elements of FIG. 1 and need not be re-described.
`Here, the mobile terminal 608 need only be connected
`directly to the external display terminal614. However, in lieu
`of having the MTSCM 612 functionality reside within the 50
`mobile terminal608, it is part of the external display terminal
`614. The power supply and execution platform issues associ(cid:173)
`ated with placing the MTSCM 614 in the mobile terminal are
`resolved with this system 600, and any mobile terminal 608
`can potentially be connected to any MTSCM-ready external 55
`display without requiring modification, other than provision
`of an output interface. A potential drawback of this configu(cid:173)
`ration is that it adds a component to the standard external
`display terminal, and corresponding costs.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of 60
`mobile terminal signal conversion applications 700 in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the present invention. These applications 700 are
`provided by way of example, to give the reader an understand(cid:173)
`ing of the potential contexts in which embodiments