(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0301737 A1
`Hjelmeland Almas et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 4, 2008
`
`US 20080301737A1
`
`(54) SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR
`PERSONALIZED TELEVISION VIEWING
`TRIGGERED BY A PORTABLE
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`(75) Inventors:
`
`Randi-Lise Hjelmeland Almas,
`Leikanger (NO); Funabashi
`Yoshimitsu, Malmo (SE):
`Yamagami Rui, Limhamn (SE)
`Correspondence Address:
`WARRENA. SKLAR (SOER)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE, 19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`SONY ERCSSON MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONSAB, Lund
`(SE)
`11/755,871
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 31, 2007
`
`
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04M I/00
`G06F 3/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 725/61; 455/550.1
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A portable communication device is equipped with a content
`and/or channel recommendation function that is configured to
`provide a user with content recommendations for watching a
`television program. The portable communication device is
`used as a remote control to control various aspects of the
`television. In one embodiment, channel recommendations are
`made based upon the user's mobile activities. Such activities
`include: web browsing, web searching, multimedia content
`rendered and/or downloaded on the portable communications
`device, contact information, and calendar information stored
`on the portable communication device. In another embodi
`ment, the user may view television programs previously and/
`or currently being watched by a contact.
`
`Page 1 of 13
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`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1011
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 4, 2008 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Electronic Equipment/Mobile Telephone 10
`Sound Signal
`Processing Circuit
`2
`
`Speaker 34
`
`Microphone 36
`
`Memory 18
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`I/O Interface 42
`
`Control Circuit 24
`Processing
`Device 26
`
`Content
`Recommendation
`Function 22
`
`Buffer 40
`
`Decoder 38
`
`Display 14
`
`Keypad 16
`
`Local Wireless Interface 52
`
`Position Data Receiver 50
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 2 of 13
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 4, 2008 Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`Communications Network 102
`
`Server 108
`
`Content ReCommendation
`Support Function 110
`
`
`
`Television
`104
`
`Coupler Device
`
`10B
`
`1OA
`
`
`
`Customer
`identifier
`2O2
`
`Unique
`dentifier
`204
`
`Customer
`Information
`2O6
`
`History
`2O8
`
`Contact
`Information
`210
`31 OXXX-XXXX
`
`Television
`Information
`212
`Server (IP
`
`81so | x33x
`E Ser'sss) sy
`
`XXXXXXX
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 3 of 13
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 4, 2008 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`Build database of mobile
`telephone user activity
`
`Track user acitivity to determine
`Content of interest to user
`
`300
`
`302
`
`Monitor television activities of
`Other users
`
`1304
`-
`
`Compare user's patterns to -306
`patterns of other users
`
`Recommend one or more
`channels to the user
`
`308
`
`
`
`
`
`User activates television using
`mobile telephone
`
`A personalized Welcome message
`may be displayed to the user
`
`One or more television channels
`are recommended to the user
`based on the user's mobile
`telephone activity
`
`User selects a channel using
`mobile telephone
`
`User requests additional
`recommendations based on
`channels viewed by a contact
`
`One or more television channels
`are recommended to the user
`based on the channels viewed by
`the Contact
`
`User Selects One of the television
`channels recommended using
`mobile telephone
`F.G. 6
`
`350
`
`352
`
`354
`
`356
`
`358
`
`360
`
`362
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`Page 4 of 13
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`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`Dec. 4, 2008
`
`SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR
`PERSONALIZED TELEVISION VIEWING
`TRIGGERED BY A PORTABLE
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`0001. The present invention relates generally to portable
`communication devices, and, more particularly, to a system
`and method for viewing multimedia content on a television or
`other Suitable viewing device based at least in part on content
`stored in a portable communication device.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
`
`0002 Portable communication devices, such as mobile
`phones, personal digital assistants, mobile terminals, etc.,
`continue to grow in popularity. As the popularity of portable
`communication devices continues to grow, today's wireless
`landscape is rapidly changing as mobile phones and networks
`are being enhanced to provide features and services beyond
`Voice communications. The wireless industry is experiencing
`a rapid expansion of mobile data services. In addition, the
`features associated with certain types of portable communi
`cation devices have become increasingly diverse. To name a
`few examples, many portable communication devices have
`cameras, text and multimedia messaging capability, Internet
`browsing functionality, electronic mail capability, video
`playback capability, audio playback capability, image display
`capability, position sensing capability and hands-free headset
`interfaces.
`0003. With the rapid expansion of portable communica
`tion device functionality, users continue to make use of their
`portable communication devices for more and more activi
`ties, e.g., electronic mail communication, Internet browsing,
`music and video downloading and playback and the like. With
`many of these activities, the portable communication device
`may be configured to accept and store the user's preferences
`and/or profiles associated with each activity.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`0004. In view of the foregoing, a need exists for additional
`mobile data services, and application programs for providing
`additional mobile data services, such as a personalized tele
`vision viewing profile application program that facilitates
`selecting multimedia content displayed on a television or
`other suitable viewing device based information stored on a
`user's portable communication device and/or a portable com
`munication device of a contact or other desired member.
`0005 One aspect of the technology relates to a portable
`communication device comprising: a memory; and a control
`ler coupled to the memory, wherein when the controller
`executes a content recommendation application program
`stored on a machine-readable medium, wherein when the
`content recommendation program is loaded in memory and
`executed causes the portable communication device to: gen
`erate one or more channel recommendations based on user
`activities and/or userpreferences involving the portable com
`munication device; and transmit a request to an electronic
`device through a local interface associated with the portable
`communication device for displaying the one or more channel
`recommendations based at least in part on the user activities
`and/or user preferences to an associated user.
`
`0006. According to another aspect, the memory stores
`activity information for use by the content recommendation
`program.
`0007 According to another aspect, the activity informa
`tion includes at least one selected from the group of Internet
`browsing history, Internet searching history and/or geo
`graphical location of the portable communication device.
`0008 According to another aspect, the activity informa
`tion includes at least one selected from the group of calendar
`information and/or contact information.
`0009. According to another aspect, the local interface is
`suitable for facilitating infrared communications with the
`electronic device and/or a coupler device coupled to the elec
`tronic device.
`0010. According to another aspect, the local interface is
`Suitable for facilitating radio frequency communications with
`the electronic device.
`0011. According to another aspect, the radio frequency
`communications are compatible with Bluetooth communica
`tion signals.
`0012. According to another aspect, a keypad is coupled to
`the controller, wherein the keypad is adapted for receiving
`user input to select a recommended channel.
`0013. According to another aspect, the portable commu
`nication device is a mobile telephone.
`0014. One aspect of the technology relates to a method of
`recommending a channel on a television using a portable
`communication device based on information stored in the
`portable communication device, the method comprising:
`logically associating a portable communication device and a
`television by initiating the logical association by the portable
`communication device; activating a television by transmit
`ting a signal from a local wireless interface of the portable
`communication device to the television; generating one or
`more channel recommendations to television for display on
`the television, wherein the one or more channel recommen
`dations are based upon activity information stored in the
`portable communication device; transmitting the one or more
`channel recommendations to the television for display on the
`television; and selecting at least one of the one or more
`channel recommendations.
`0015. According to another aspect, the step of logically
`associating the portable communication device and the tele
`vision includes storing a unique identifier associated with the
`television in a memory of the portable communication
`device.
`0016. According to another aspect, the step of logically
`associating the portable communication device and the tele
`vision includes storing a unique identifier associated with the
`television and the mobile telephone in a remote server.
`0017. According to another aspect, the step of activating
`the television includes generating an electrical signal to turn
`on the television in response to a user action.
`0018. According to another aspect, the step of generating
`one or more channel recommendations is based on activity
`information that includes at least one selected from the group
`of Internet browsing history, Internet searching history and/
`or geographical location of the portable communication
`device.
`0019. According to another aspect, the step of generating
`one or more channel recommendations is based on activity
`information that includes at least one selected from the group
`of calendar information and/or contact information.
`
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`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`Dec. 4, 2008
`
`0020. According to another aspect, including displaying
`contacts associated with the portable communication device
`on the television.
`0021 One aspect of the technology relates to a method of
`recommending a channel on a television using a portable
`communication device based on information stored in the
`portable communication device, the method comprising:
`requesting content viewed by a contact stored in memory of
`the portable communication device from a remote server;
`generating one or more channel recommendations to televi
`sion for display on the television, wherein the one or more
`channel recommendations are based upon content viewed by
`the contact; transmitting the one or more channel recommen
`dations to the television for display on the television by the
`remote server; and selecting at least one of the one or more
`channel recommendations.
`0022. According to another aspect, the remote server
`includes a memory for storing content recommendations.
`0023. According to another aspect, including logically
`associating the portable communication device and the tele
`vision and storing the logical association at the remote server
`prior to requesting content.
`0024. According to another aspect, the step of selecting is
`performed by transmitting a Suitable selection response from
`the portable communication device to the television.
`0025. These and further features of the present invention
`will be apparent with reference to the following description
`and attached drawings. In the description and drawings, par
`ticular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in
`detail as being indicative of some of the ways in which the
`principles of the invention may be employed, but it is under
`stood that the invention is not limited correspondingly in
`Scope. Rather, the invention includes all changes, modifica
`tions and equivalents coming within the spirit and terms of the
`claims appended thereto.
`0026 Features that are described and/or illustrated with
`respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in
`a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in
`combination with or instead of the features of the other
`embodiments.
`0027. It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/
`comprising when used in this specification is taken to
`specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or
`components but does not preclude the presence or addition of
`one or more other features, integers, steps, components or
`groups thereof.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`0028 Many aspects of the invention can be better under
`stood with reference to the following drawings. The compo
`nents in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis
`instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
`the present invention. Likewise, elements and features
`depicted in one drawing may be combined with elements and
`features depicted in additional drawings. Moreover, in the
`drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding
`parts throughout the several views.
`0029 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portable
`communication device in accordance with aspects of the tech
`nology.
`0030 FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portable
`communication device in accordance with aspects of the tech
`nology.
`
`FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a communi
`0031
`cations system includingaportable communication device on
`which aspects of the technology may be carried out;
`0032 FIG. 4 is an exemplary database in accordance with
`aspects of the technology.
`0033 FIG. 5 is a flow chart or functional diagram repre
`senting a method for generating channel recommendations in
`accordance with aspects of the technology.
`0034 FIG. 6 is a flow chart or functional diagram repre
`senting a method of use in accordance with aspects of the
`technology.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`0035. In the detailed description that follows, like compo
`nents have been given the same reference numerals regardless
`of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the
`present invention. To illustrate the present invention in a clear
`and concise manner, the drawings may not necessarily be to
`scale and certain features may be shown in somewhat sche
`matic form. The present invention will now be described with
`reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
`are used to refer to like elements throughout.
`0036. The term “electronic equipment includes portable
`radio communication equipment. The term "portable radio
`communication equipment,” which herein after is referred to
`as a “mobile radio terminal includes all equipment Such as
`mobile telephones, pagers, communicators, electronic orga
`nizers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Smartphones, por
`table communication apparatus or the like. Other exemplary
`electronic equipment and mobile radio terminals may
`include, but are not limited to, portable media players, media
`jukeboxes and similar devices having a radio transceiver.
`0037. In the present application, the invention is described
`primarily in the context of a mobile telephone. However, it
`will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be
`limited to a mobile telephone and can be any type of elec
`tronic equipment.
`0038. The term “channel” will be used to broadly mean
`any one of multiple broadcast services that may be received
`by the electronic equipment. Accordingly, each channel may
`correspond to a television station or a radio station. Channels
`may also correspond to a set of programs offered by a televi
`Sion, video, radio, music and/or other content service (e.g.,
`there may be one service provider that offers a number of
`programs, such as in the form of a play list). As will be
`appreciated, each channel delivers corresponding audiovisual
`content. The content may change over the course of time (e.g.,
`a news program may be followed by a sporting event, which
`is followed by movie).
`0039 Audiovisual content may be received in other man
`ners, such as by podcasts, Internet downloads, etc. Accord
`ingly, media content and media content recommendations
`may relate to any mobile media format or content type includ
`ing, but not limited to, mobile television, mobile radio, inter
`net radio channels, podcasts, RSS feeds, Internet webpages,
`Video clips, audio clips, audio books, animations, ring tones,
`commercials and so forth.
`0040. Referring initially to FIG. 1, an electronic equip
`ment 10 is shown in accordance with the present invention.
`The electronic equipment includes a content and/or channel
`recommendation function 22 (FIG. 2) that is configured to
`provide a user with content recommendations. In environ
`ments where channels may be delivered through mechanisms
`other than or in addition to a channel based mechanism, the
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`channel recommendation function may be referred to as a
`media, multimedia, contact and/or other Such recommenda
`tion function. It will be appreciated that the channel recom
`mendation function may be embodied as executable code that
`may be resident in and executed by the electronic equipment
`10.
`0041. The electronic equipment in the exemplary embodi
`ment is a mobile telephone and will be referred to as the
`mobile telephone 10. The mobile telephone 10 is shown as
`having a “brick’ or “block' form factor housing 12, but it will
`be appreciated that other type housings, such as a clamshell
`housing or a slide-type housing, may be utilized without
`departing from the scope of the invention.
`0042. The mobile telephone 10 includes a display 14 and
`keypad 16. AS is conventional, the display 14 displays infor
`mation to a user Such as operating state, time, telephone
`numbers, contact information, various navigational menus,
`etc., which enable the user to utilize the various feature of the
`mobile telephone 10. The display 14 may also be used to
`visually display content received by the mobile telephone 10
`and/or retrieved from a memory 18 (FIG. 2) of the mobile
`telephone 10.
`0043. Similarly, the keypad 16 may be conventional in that
`it provides for a variety of user input operations. For example,
`the keypad 16 typically includes alphanumeric keys 20 for
`allowing entry of alphanumeric information Such as tele
`phone numbers, phone lists, contact information, notes, etc.
`In addition, the keypad 16 may include special function keys
`such as a “call send' key for initiating or answering a call, and
`a “call end key for ending or “hanging up' a call, a channel
`recommendation key, etc.
`0044 Special function keys may also include menu navi
`gation keys, for example, for navigating through a menu
`displayed on the display 14 to select different telephone func
`tions, profiles, settings, etc., as is conventional. Likewise, a
`special function key and/or any other mechanism may be used
`to initiate the channel recommendation function 22. Other
`keys associated with the mobile telephone may include a
`Volume key, an audio mute key, an on/off power key, a web
`browser launch key, a camera key, etc. Keys or key-like func
`tionality may also be embodied as a touch screen associated
`with the display 14.
`0045. The mobile telephone 10 may include dedicated
`keys that comprise a portion of the keypad 16 to generate
`remote control commands for reception by a device to be
`controlled (e.g., a television, Stereo, Video player, audio
`player, etc.). Additionally, conventional mobile telephone
`keys may be used to generate remote control commands for
`reception by the device to be controlled. For example, the key
`or keys on the mobile telephone 10 that control volume on the
`mobile telephone 10 may also be used to control volume on
`the device to be controlled. One or more other keys may be
`used to perform other remote control functions (e.g., chang
`ing a channel, selecting an input, selecting a device, etc.).
`0046. The mobile telephone 10 includes conventional call
`circuitry that enables the mobile telephone 10 to establish a
`call and/or exchange signals with a called/calling device,
`typically another mobile telephone or landline telephone.
`However, the called/calling device need not be another tele
`phone, but may be some other device Such as an Internet web
`server, content providing server, etc.
`0047 FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of the
`mobile telephone 10. With the exception of a channel recom
`mendation function 22, which is preferably implemented as
`
`executable logic in the form of application software or code
`within the mobile telephone 10, the construction of the
`mobile telephone 10 is otherwise generally conventional.
`0048. The mobile telephone 10 includes a primary control
`circuit 24 that is configured to carry out overall control of the
`functions and operations of the mobile telephone 10. The
`control circuit 24 may include a processing device 26, Such as
`a CPU, microcontroller or microprocessor. The processing
`device 26 executes code stored in a memory (not shown)
`within the control circuit 24 and/or in a separate memory,
`Such as memory 18, in order to carry out operation of the
`mobile telephone 10. The memory 18 may be, for example,
`one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a
`removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory
`or other suitable device. In addition, the processing device 26
`executes code in order to perform the channel recommenda
`tion function 22.
`0049. It will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill
`in the art of computer programming, and specifically in appli
`cations programming for mobile telephones or other items of
`electronic equipment, how to program a mobile telephone 10
`to operate and carry out the functions described herein.
`Accordingly, details as to the specific programming code
`have been left out for sake of brevity. Also, while the channel
`recommendation function 22 is executed by the processing
`device 26 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
`invention, Such functionality could also be carried out via
`dedicated hardware, firmware, Software, or combinations
`thereof, without departing from the scope of the invention.
`0050 Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile
`telephone 10 includes an antenna 28 coupled to a radio circuit
`30. The radio circuit 30 includes a radio frequency transmitter
`and receiver for transmitting and receiving signals via the
`antenna 28 as is conventional. The radio circuit 30 may be
`configured to operate in a mobile communications system, as
`well as to receive audiovisual content. For example, the
`receiver may be an IP datacast compatible receiver compat
`ible with a hybrid network structure providing mobile com
`munications and DVB-H based or similar services. Other
`receivers for interaction with a mobile radio network or
`broadcasting network are possible and include, for example,
`GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, MBMS, WiFi, WiMax, DVB-H,
`ISDB-T, etc.
`0051. The mobile telephone 10 further includes a sound
`signal processing circuit 32 for processing audio signals
`transmitted by/received from the radio circuit 30. Coupled to
`the sound processing circuit 32 are a speaker 34 and a micro
`phone 36 that enable a user to listen and speak via the mobile
`telephone 10 as is conventional. The radio circuit 30 and
`Sound processing circuit 32 are each coupled to the control
`circuit 24 So as to carry out overall operation.
`0.052 The mobile telephone 10 also includes the afore
`mentioned display 14 and keypad 16 coupled to the control
`circuit 24. Optionally, the display 14 may be coupled to the
`control circuit 24 by a video decoder 38 that converts video
`data to a video signal used to drive the display 14. The video
`data may be generated by the control circuit 24, retrieved
`from a video file that is stored in the memory 18 or derived
`from an incoming video data stream received by the radio
`circuit 30. Prior to being fed to the decoder 38, the video data
`may be buffered in a buffer 40 or other suitable buffering
`device.
`0053. The mobile telephone 10 further includes one or
`more I/O interface(s) 42. The I/O interface(s) 42 may be in the
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`
`form of typical mobile telephone I/O interfaces and may
`include one or more electrical connectors. AS is typical, the
`I/O interface(s) 42 may be used to couple the mobile tele
`phone 10 to a battery charger to charge a battery of a power
`supply unit (PSU) 44 within the mobile telephone 10. In
`addition, or in the alternative, the I/O interface(s) 42 may
`serve to connect the mobile telephone 10 to a wired personal
`hands-free adaptor (not shown). Further, the I/O interface(s)
`42 may serve to connect the mobile telephone 10 to a personal
`computer or other device via a data cable. The mobile tele
`phone 10 may receive operating power via the I/O interface(s)
`42 when connected to a vehicle power adapter or an electric
`ity outlet power adapter.
`0054 The mobile telephone 10 also may include a timer
`46 for carrying out timing functions. Such functions may
`include timing the durations of calls, generating the content of
`time and date stamps, etc. The mobile telephone 10 may
`include a camera 48 for taking digital pictures and/or movies.
`Image and/or video files corresponding to the pictures and/or
`movies may be stored in the memory 18.
`0055. The mobile telephone 10 also may include one or
`more local wireless interfaces (indicated generally as wire
`less interface 52), such as an infrared transceiver and/oran RF
`adapter, e.g., a Bluetooth adapter, WLAN adapter, Ultra
`Wideband (UWB) adapter and the like, for establishing com
`munication with an accessory, a hands free adapter, e.g., a
`headset that may audibly output sound corresponding to
`audio data transferred from the portable communication
`device 10 to the adapter, another mobile radio terminal, a
`computer, a television, a coupler device or any other elec
`tronic device. Also, wireless interface 52 may be representa
`tive of an interface suitable for communication within a cel
`lular network or other wireless wide-area network (WWAN).
`0056. The mobile telephone 10 may be configured to
`transmit, receive and process data, Such as text messages
`(e.g., a short message service (SMS) formatted message),
`electronic mail messages, multimedia messages (e.g., a mul
`timedia messaging service (MMS) formatted message),
`image files, video files, audio files, ring tones, streaming
`audio, streaming video and so forth. Processing such data
`may include storing the data in the memory 18, executing
`applications to allow user interaction with data, displaying
`Video and/or image content associated with the data, broad
`casting audio Sounds associated with the data and so forth.
`0057 With additional reference to FIG.3, the mobile tele
`phone 10 may be configured to operate as part of a commu
`nications system 100. The system 100 may include one or
`more of the following components: one or more additional
`mobile telephones 10 (e.g., mobile telephones 10A and 10B),
`a communication network 102 and a television 104 and/oran
`optional coupler device 106. In general, the system 100
`allows the various components that have the proper authori
`Zation to communicate with each other, as described below.
`For example, assuming mobile telephone 10B is associated
`with television 104 or vice versa, the mobile telephone 10B
`and the television 104 may communicate with each other
`through the server 108, directly through an infrared interface
`or other suitable interface (e.g., Bluetooth), and/or through
`the coupler device 106.
`0.058. The communications network 102 includes a server
`108 (or servers) for managing information. Such information
`may include calls placed by and destined to the mobile tele
`phones 10A and 10B, transmitting to and receiving data from
`the mobile telephones 10A and 10B, transmitting to and
`
`receiving data from the television 104 and/or optional cou
`pling device 106, exchanging information between the
`mobile telephones 10A and 10B and television 104, and car
`rying out any other Support functions.
`0059. The server 108 may communicate with the mobile
`telephones 10A and/or 10B via one or more transmission
`medium. The transmission medium may be any appropriate
`device or assembly, including, for example, a communica
`tions tower, another mobile telephone, a wireless access
`point, a satellite, etc. Portions of the network may include
`wireless transmission pathways, as well as wired transmis
`sion pathways. The network 102 may support the communi
`cations activity of multiple mobile telephones 10A and 10B,
`as shown in the illustration of FIG. 3.
`0060. In one embodiment, the server 108 may operate in
`stand alone configuration relative to other servers of the net
`work 102 or may be configured to carry out multiple commu
`nications network 102 functions. As will be appreciated, the
`server 108 may be configured as a typical computer system
`used carry out server functions and may include a processor
`configured to execute Software containing logical instruc
`tions that embody the functions of the server 108. Those
`functions may include functions that are complimentary to
`the operation of the content recommendation function 22 of
`the mobile telephone 10, and will be collectively referred to as
`a content recommendation Support function 110.
`0061 The server 108 may store information transmitted
`from one or more of the various components of the systems
`100 (e.g., mobile telephones 10A and 10B, television 104,
`coupler device 106, etc.). In addition, upon request or at
`predetermined times, the server 108 may download the stored
`information to one ore more of the various system compo
`nentS.
`0062. As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile telephone 10B and
`the television 104 are communicatively coupled through the
`shared server 108 and/or through the coupler device 106. As
`shown, the mobile telephone 10A is not coupled to the server
`108 because it has not been associated and/or authorized to
`receive and/or transmit information through the server 108
`and/or the coupling device 106. The mobile telephone 10B
`may communicate directly with the television 104 using an
`infrared interface 52 or any other suitable communication
`interface (e.g., radio frequency, near field communication,
`etc.). The mobile telephone 10B may also communicate with
`the coupler device 106 directly through one or more other
`Suitable communication interfaces. Exemplary communica
`tion mediums include infrared (IR), Bluetooth, radio fre
`quency (RF), NFC, etc.
`0063. The coupler device 106 may be a cable box, a device
`(e.g., a MW200) that connects portable audio sources (e.g.,
`mobile telephones 10, MP3 players, satellite radios, televi
`sions, etc.) to stereo equipment located in the home, office
`and/or vehicle. Generally, the coupler device 106 links the
`television 104 to at least a portion of the network 102.
`0064. In order to carry out one or more aspects of the
`present invention, the mobile telephone 10B may be regis
`tered (also referred to above as authorized and/or associated)
`in the television, by sending an authorization from the tele
`vision to the mobile telephone, or by sending a request from
`the mobile telephone to the to television (e.g., through a
`server 108).
`0065. In addition, the television 104 may include an appli
`cation program that can automatically register mobile tele
`phones within a certain area to initialize television account
`
`Page 8 of 13
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`US 2008/0301737 A1
`
`Dec. 4, 2008
`
`access to the television from the mobile telephone. For
`example, the television 104 may utilize a Bluetooth commu
`nication protocol to identify authorized devices within com
`munication distance to the television. For the initial connec
`tion, a user account may be set up manually on the television,
`where the user is provided the opportunity to identify favorite
`channels, favorite television programs, etc., using the mobile
`telephone 10 as a remote control. This information may be
`stored on the television 104, at the server 108 and/or on the
`mobile telephone 10, thereby making the information avail
`able to the user each time the user logs into his or her televi
`sion. Also, the television 104 may register the user's viewing
`history in the user's telephone 10 and/or the server 108.
`0.066. As stated above, the television 104