US 7,440,559 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
`Muhonenetal.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`
`US007440559B2
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND ASSOCLATED TERMINAL,
`METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
`PRODUCT FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW
`OF CONTENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Ahti Muhonen,Hirvihaara (Fl);
`Antti-Pentti Vainio, Espoo (FI); Ari
`Hannikainen,Turku (FT)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (FI)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`part 154)by820dqn under 350
`
`ry
`
`ays.
`
`S.C.
`
`5/2002 Toedosiu etal.
`2002/0062336 Al
`6/2002 Aaltonen et al.
`2002/0069406 Al
`7/2002 Dahlstrom
`2002/0087997 Al
`5/2003 Mulligan
`2003/0084177 Al
`6/2003 Koulakiotis
`2003/0104801 Al
`7/2003 Sarkkinenetal.
`2003/0134653 Al
`9/2003 Paratainenet al.
`2003/0174645 Al
`2004/0213207 AL* 10/2004 Silver et al.
`...scccccssseeee: 370/352
`2005/0086318 AL*
`4/2005 Aubault ......cccceeee 709/213
`
`EP
`wo
`Wo
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1130459 A2
`9/2001
`WO01/45319 Al
`6/2001
`WO 03/001755 Al
`1/2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/690,692
`
`(22)
`(65)
`
`"14.
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 22, 2003
`:
`gs
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/0089022. Al
`Apr. 28, 2005
`
`(51)
`
`3"! Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group
`Services and System Aspects; Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Ser-
`vice; Stage I (Release 6); 3 GPP TS 22.146; Mar. 2003; 17 pages;
`V6.2.0; 3° G
`tion
`Partnership Project
`(3GPP™).
`eneration
`Partnership
`Project
`(
`)
`os
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Quynh H Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Alston & Bird LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO4M 3/42
`(52) US. Ch cece 379/201.01; 379/265.09;
`379/221.08; 379/221.09; 379/221.11; 379/221.12;
`A system for controlling a flow of content includes a terminal
`370/352
`(58) Field of Classification Seareh ................. 370/352,|and a network entity. The terminal is capable of sending a
`379/265.09, 221.08, 221.09, 221.11, 221.12,
`content status including terminalstatus information having a
`379/201.01
`listing of one or more pieces of content stored in a memory of
`See applicationfile for complete search history.
`the terminal. The networkentity includes a content flow man-
`ager that is capable of receiving the terminal status informa-
`tion. Then, based upon the terminal status information, the
`content flow manager can control the flow of content to the
`terminal. More particuarly, for example, the content flow
`manager can be capable ofcontrolling the terminal to delete
`at least one piece of content from a memory ofthe terminal,
`and/or downloadatleast one piece ofcontent from a source of
`content.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1995 Chen et al. oe 379/230
`5,450,482 A *
`
`3/1999 Bateman et al.
`............. 709/204
`5,884,032 A *
`10/1999 Apfelet al.
`5,974,454 A
`5,978,806 A * 11/1999 Lund woe eeeeee 707/10
`6,029,175 A
`2/2000 Chow etal.
`2002/0021809 Al
`2/2002 Salo etal.
`2002/0023264 Al
`2/2002 Aaltonen etal.
`
`24 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`100 “\\ RECEIVE AND STORE PIECE(S}‘OF CONTENT AT TERMINAL
`
`
` ¥
`
`FLOW MANAGERINCLUDING
`RECEIVE STATUS AT CONTENT
`102 T\)
`
`
`‘TERMINAL STATUS INFORMATION
`104|pROVIDE SERVER STATUS
`INFORMATION
`
`BASED UPON TERMINAL STATUS AND
`
`
`106 T\) DETERMINE IF CONTENT TO DELETE
`SERVER STATUS.
`
`i
`DOWNLOAD BASED UPON TERMINAL
`DETERMINEIF CONTENT TO
`STATUS AND SERVER STATUS
`
`y
`110 “\\ SEND RESPONSEINCLUDING
`ANY ACTION(S) TO TERMINAL
`
`
`114
`PIECE(S) OF
`DELETE EXPIRED
`
`CONTENTTO
`)-YES»|
`
`
`DELETE?
`No«—_________|
`118 NEW
`
`DOWNLOAD NEW
`PIECE(S} OF
`YES>|
`CONTENT TO
`CONTENT
`DOWNLOAD?
`+
`“conan a
`
`108 y\
`
`116
`
`Wo
`
`Roku Exhibit 1001
`Roku Exhibit 1001
`Roke v. Videolabs
`Rokev. Videolabs
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`12
`
`12A
`
`10
`
`428
`
`
`
`
`TERMINAL
`
`30
`
`1
`
`10
`
`———e
`
`TERMINAL
`
`ORIGIN
`SERVER
`
`2
`
`14
`
`24
`
`25
`
`CONTENT
`FLOW
`SERVER
`
` 12
`
`10
`
`AP
`
`|<q—p
`
`TERMINAL
`
`14
`
`FIG. 1.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`INTERFACE
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`MEMORY
`
`
`MEMORY
`
`FIG. 2.
`
`VOLATILE
`MEMORY
`
`NON-
`VOLATILE
`
`FIG. 4.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
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`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`YOMLIN
`
`JOVAYSINI
`
`A
`
`SILVIOA-NON
`
`AYOWAW
`
`9SOP
`
`LN3LNOO
`
`MO714
`
` YSAOVNVAN
`
`
`
`JULVIOA
`
`AYOWAW
`
`W901
`
`SOVINSLNIYOSSID0UdJOVAMSLNIAVNOISIASTAL
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`
`
`
`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
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`US 7,440,559 B2
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`86
`
`88
`
`90
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`rom|
`44B
`
`84
`
`aceon)> CONTROLLER
`rwncen]
`
`78
`
`82
`
`DISPLAY
`
`KEYPAD
`
`SPEAKER
`76
`a
`%°
`
`MICROPHONE( VOLATILE|)|VOLATILE
`30 MEMORY|||\acrory
`
`<a
`
`NON-
`
`FIG. 5.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
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`US 7,440,559 B2
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`100
`
`102
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE AND STORE PIECE(S)
`
`OF CONTENT AT TERMINAL
`
`
`
`RECEIVE STATUS AT CONTENT
`FLOW MANAGER INCLUDING
`TERMINAL STATUS INFORMATION
`
`104
`
`PROVIDE SERVER STATUS
`
`INFORMATION
`
`106
`
`108
`
`110
`
`DETERMINE IF CONTENT TO DELETE
`BASED UPON TERMINAL STATUS AND
`SERVER STATUS
`
`DETERMINE IF CONTENT TO
`DOWNLOAD BASED UPON TERMINAL
`
`
`STATUS AND SERVER STATUS
`ANY ACTION(S) TO TERMINAL
`
`SEND RESPONSE INCLUDING
`
`114
`
`
`PIECE(S) OF
`
`
`
`DELETE EXPIRED
`CONTENT TO
`
`
`
`CONTENT
`
`DELETE?
`
`112
`
`116
`
`FIG. 6.
`
` NEW
`118
`
`
`
`
`
`PIECE(S) OF
`DOWNLOAD NEW
`YES
`
`
`CONTENT TO
`CONTENT
`
`
`
`DOWNLOAD?
`
`
`STORE NEW
`CONTENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`120
`
`y
`
`

`

`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED TERMINAL,
`METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
`PRODUCT FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW
`OF CONTENT
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention generally relates to systems and
`methods for controlling the flow of content and, more par-
`ticularly, to systems and associated terminals, methods and
`computer program products for controlling the flow of con-
`tent in terminals operable with mobile telecommunication
`and digital broadcast networks.
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
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`The deployment ofadvancedhighbit-rate mobile networks
`has opened up new opportunities for delivering a host of
`services in a way that was not possible with earlier second
`generation wireless networks. Recent systemsincludingthird
`generation (3G) systems, such asthose specified for use with
`the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)wire-
`less standard, enable the delivery of new digital services such
`as video calls and the playback of multimedia applications
`that are comprised of audio and video clips. Although the
`increased bit rates of 3G systems widenthe possibilities for
`providing digital services.
`The increased bit rates of 3G systems provide adequate
`performance for delivering high quality digital audio and
`acceptable quality moving image clips. However, at these
`transfer rates it may be difficult to handle exceedingly high
`data intensive tasks such as delivering high quality full-mo-
`tion video and transferring very large data files to mobile
`terminals. In this regard, attempts at downloading large data
`files may lead to inconveniently long downloadingtimesthat
`can be undesirably costly for users. For this and other reasons,
`alternative broadbanddelivery techniques have been investi-
`gated that could provide a practical solution for high data
`intensive tasks in terms of lower cost and convenienceforthe
`users involved.
`
`
`
`One such delivery technique that has shown promise is
`Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB). In this regard, DVB-T,
`whichis related to DVB-H (handheld), DVB-C (cable) and
`DVB-S(satellite), is the terrestrial variant of the DVB stan-
`dard. As is well known, DVB-Tis a wireless point-to-multi-
`point data delivery mechanism developed for digital TV
`broadcasting, and is based on the MPEG-2 transport stream
`for the transmission ofvideo and synchronized audio. DVB-T
`has the capability of efficiently transmitting large amounts of
`data over a broadcast channel to a high numberofusers at a
`lower cost, when compared to data transmission through
`mobile telecommunication networksusing, e.g., 3G systems.
`Advantageously, DVB-T hasalso proven to be exceptionally
`robust in thatit provides increased performancein geographic
`conditions that would normally affect other types of trans-
`missions, such as the rapid changes of reception conditions,
`and hilly and mountainousterrain.
`Digital broadband data broadcast networks are known. As
`mentioned, an example of such a network enjoying popularity
`in Europe and elsewhere world-wide is DVB which,in addi-
`tion to the delivery of television content, is capable of deliv-
`ering data, such as Internet Protocol (IP) data. Other examples
`of broadbanddata broadcast networks include Japanese Ter-
`restrial Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting (SDB-T),
`Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), and MBMS, andthose
`networks provided by the Advanced Television Systems
`Committee (ATSC). In many such networks, a containeriza-
`
`2
`tion techniqueis utilized in which content for transmissionis
`placed into MPEG-2 packets which act as data containers.
`Thus, the containers can be utilized to transport any suitably
`digitized data including, but not limited to High Definition
`TV, multiple channel Standard definition TV (PAUNTSCor
`SECAM)and, of course, broadband multimedia data and
`interactive services.
`The combined use of mobile telecommunications with a
`broadband delivery technique such as DVB-T has been pro-
`posed in the past in order to achieve efficient delivery of
`digital services to users on the move. This would take advan-
`tage of existing infrastructures in the effort to provide per-
`sonal communications (already prevalent) and the growing
`demandfor Internet access, together with the expected rise of
`digital broadcasting, so that users can receive these services
`with a single device. Furthermore, DVB-Tis a cross platform
`standard that is shared by many countries thereby making
`frequency compatibility and roaming less of an issue. The
`combination of mobile telecommunication and relatively
`very low cost digital broadband delivery techniques provides
`the possibility of interactive services such as uni-directional
`and bi-directional services such as audio and video streaming
`(e.g., TV, radio, etc.), file downloads and advanced gaming
`applications, etc.
`In mobile terminals for combined use of mobile telecom-
`munications and digital broadband data broadcast
`tech-
`niques, mobile terminals typically download content
`in
`accordance with a “pull” technique. In this regard, mobile
`terminals typically pull content from a server, such as by
`dispatching a uniform resource indicator (URI) from a mobile
`terminal to a server, which respondsby providing information
`associated with the URI. Although mobile terminals typically
`download content in accordance with a pull technique, the
`server or content provider must typically have control over
`the content flow policy to the mobile terminal. or example,
`the server or content provider must typically have control
`over when pieces of content expire and are removed from the
`mobile terminal, when to deliver new pieces of content to the
`mobile terminal, what new pieces of content to deliver, etc.
`As will be appreciated, in various instances, user prefer-
`ences, capabilities of the mobile terminal and/or previous
`contents stored or otherwise received by the mobile terminal
`can have an affect on the flow of new content to the mobile
`
`terminal. Current techniques for downloading content from
`mobile terminals, however, do not provide for such userpref-
`erences, capabilities, previous contents and/or use ofprevious
`contents. Thus, current techniques for downloading content
`can suffer from inefficient content flow control between the
`mobile terminal and the server or content provider. More
`particularly, current techniques for downloading content can
`suffer from inefficient control of content received and there-
`after stored by mobile terminals,as well as inefficient control
`of content stored by mobile terminals.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`In light of the foregoing background, embodiments of the
`present invention provide an improved system and associated
`terminal, method and computer program product for control-
`ling the flow of content,particularly to mobile terminalsthat
`are operable with mobile telecommunication and digital
`broadcast networks. To facilitate control of the flow of con-
`tent in accordance with embodiments of the present inven-
`tion, a terminal is capable of sending a content request that
`includes terminal status information. A networkentity, such
`as a digital broadcast receiver, can then control the flow of
`content to the terminal based upon the terminalstatus infor-
`
`

`

`3
`mation. Advantageously, the terminal status information can
`include information regarding the terminal that accounts for
`user preferences, capabilities of the terminal and/or previous
`contents stored by the terminal. Thus, in contrast to conven-
`tional techniques for downloading content to a terminal, the
`network entity can control the flow of content to the terminal
`based upon information that accounts for user preferences,
`capabilities ofthe terminal and/or previous contents stored by
`the terminal.
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`Having thus described the invention in general terms,ref-
`erence will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
`whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless commu-
`According to one aspectof the present invention, a system
`nications system according to one embodimentofthe present
`is provided for controlling a flow of content. The system
`invention including a cellular network and a data network to
`includes a terminal and a network entity. The terminal is
`which a terminalis bi-directionally coupled through wireless
`capable of sending a content status including terminalstatus
`RFlinks;
`information having a listing of one or more pieces of content
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an entity capable of
`stored in a memory of the terminal. The networkentity (e.g.,
`operating as a terminal, origin server, digital broadcast
`content flow server, origin server, digital broadcast receiver,
`receiver and/or a digital broadcaster,
`in accordance with
`etc.) includes a content flow managerthat is capable ofreceiv-
`embodiments of the present invention;
`ing the terminal status information. Then, based upon the
`FIG.3 is a functional block diagram ofa digital broadcast
`terminal status information, the content flow manager can
`receiver, in accordance with one embodimentofthe present
`control the flow of content to the terminal. More particuarly,
`invention;
`for example, the content flow manager can be capable of
`FIG.4 is a functional block diagram ofthe digital broad-
`controlling the terminalto delete at least one piece of content
`caster, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
`from a memory ofthe terminal, and/or downloadat least one
`invention;
`piece of content from a source of content (e.g., an origin
`25
`FIG.5is a schematic block diagram ofa mobile station that
`server, digital broadcast receiver, etc.).
`mayoperate as a terminal, according to embodiments of the
`With the listing of one or more pieces of content stored in
`present invention; and
`the memory ofthe terminalin the terminalstatus information,
`FIG.6 is a flowchart of a methodof controlling the flow of
`the control flow manager can be capable of instructing the
`content in accordance with one embodimentof the present
`terminal to delete one or more pieces of content from the
`invention.
`memory of the terminal based uponthelisting of the piece(s)
`of content stored in the memory ofthe terminal. Similarly, the
`control flow manager can be capable of controlling the ter-
`minal to download one or more pieces of content from the
`source of content based upon server status information
`including a listing of available piece(s) of content from the
`source.
`
`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`4
`present invention solve the problemsidentified by prior tech-
`niques and provide additional advantages.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Moreparticularly, the control flow managercan be capable
`of determining ifthe memory ofthe terminal includesat least
`one piece of content to delete. Then, when the control flow
`manager determinesthat the memory ofthe terminalincludes
`piece(s) of contentto delete, the control flow manager can be
`capable of sending a responseto the terminalinstructing the
`terminalto delete at least one piece of content. Additionally,
`or alternatively, the control flow manager can be capable of
`determining if the source of content includes at least one
`available piece of content for the terminal to download. In
`such instances, the control flow manager can be capable of
`sending a responseto the terminalinstructing the terminal to
`download at least one available piece of content when the
`control flow manager determines that the source includes
`available piece(s) of content for the terminal to download.
`According to other aspects of the present invention, a ter-
`minal, method and computer program product are provided
`for controlling the flow of content. Therefore, embodiments
`of the present invention provide a system and associated
`terminal, method and computer program-productfor control-
`ling the flow of content. The system and associated terminal,
`method and computer program product of embodiments of
`the present invention are capable of controlling the flow of
`content based upon terminal status information from theter-
`minal, where the terminal status information includes infor-
`mation regarding the terminal. Advantageously, the terminal
`status information can include information reflecting user
`preferences, capabilities of the terminal, previous contents
`stored by the terminal, and/or the use of such previous con-
`tents. Therefore, the system, and associated terminal, method
`and computer program product of embodiments of the
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention now will be described more fully
`hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
`which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.
`This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent
`forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodi-
`ments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are pro-
`vided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,
`and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those
`skilled in the art. Like numbersreferto like elements through-
`out.
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, an illustration of one type of terminal
`and system that would benefit from the present invention is
`provided. The system, method and computer program prod-
`uct of embodiments ofthe present invention will be primarily
`described in conjunction with mobile communicationsappli-
`cations. It should be understood, however, that the system,
`method and computer program product of embodiments of
`the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with a
`variety of other applications, both in the mobile communica-
`tions industries and outside of the mobile communications
`industries. For example, the system, method and computer
`program product ofembodiments ofthe present invention can
`be utilized in conjunction with wireline and/or wireless net-
`work(e.g., Internet) applications.
`As shown, a terminal 10 may include an antenna 12 for
`transmitting signals to and for receiving signals from a base
`site or base station (BS) 14. The basestation is a part of a
`cellular network that includes elements required to operate
`the network, such as a mobile switching center (MSC) 16. As
`well known to those skilled in the art, the cellular network
`mayalso bereferred to as a Base Station/MSC/Interworking
`function (BMI). In operation, the MSCis capable of routing
`calls and messagesto and from the terminal whenthe terminal
`is making and receiving calls. The MSC also provides a
`
`

`

`US 7,440,559 B2
`
`5
`connectionto landline trunks whenthe terminal1s involved in
`a call. Further, the MSC can be coupled to a server gateway
`(GTW)20.
`The MSC 16 can be coupled to a data network, such as a
`local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network
`(MAN), and/or a wide area network (WAN). The MSCcan be
`directly coupled to the data network. In one typical embodi-
`ment, however, the MSC is coupled to a GTW 20, and the
`GTWis coupled to a WAN,such as the Internet 22. In turn,
`devices such as processing elements(e.g., personal comput-
`ers, server computers or the like) can be coupledto the ter-
`minal 10 via the Internet. For example, the processing ele-
`ments can include one or more processing elements
`associated with anorigin server 24, one ofwhichis illustrated
`in FIG. 1. As explained below, the processing elements can
`additionally or alternatively include a contentflow server 25
`capable of operating a content flow managerto control the
`flow of content to the terminal.
`In addition to the MSC 16, the BS 14 can be coupled to a
`signaling GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) support
`node (SGSN) 27. As known to those skilled in the art, the
`SGSNis typically capable of performing functions similar to
`the MSC 16 for packet switched services. The SGSN,like the
`MSC,can be coupled to a data network, such as the Internet
`22. The SGSN canbedirectly coupled to the data network. In
`amoretypical embodiment, however, the SGSNis coupled to
`a packet-switched core network, such as a GPRScore net-
`work 33. The packet-switched core networkis then coupled to
`another GTW, such as a GTW GPRSsupport node (GGSN)
`29, and the GGSNis coupledto the Internet.In additionto the
`GGSN,the packet-switched core network can also be coupled
`to aGTW 20.
`
`By coupling the SGSN 27 to the GPRScore network 33
`and the GGSN 29, devices such as origin servers 24 and/orthe
`content flow server 25 can be coupledto the terminal 10 via
`the Internet 22, SGSN and GGSN.In this regard, devices such
`as origin servers can communicate with the terminal across
`the SGSN, GPRS and GGSN.For example, origin servers can
`provide content to the terminal, such as in accordance with
`the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS). For
`more information on the MBMS, see Third Generation Part-
`nership Project (3GPP) technical specification 3GPP TS
`22.146, entitled: Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service
`(MBMS), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
`reference in its entirety.
`In addition to being coupled to the BS 14, the terminal 10
`one or more wireless access points (APs) 26. The APs can
`comprise access points configured to communicate in accor-
`dance techniques suchas, for example, radio frequency (RF),
`Bluetooth (BT), infrared (IrDA)or any of a numberofdiffer-
`ent wireless networking techniques, including WLANtech-
`niques. The APs may be coupledto the Internet 22. Like with
`the MSC 16, the APs can be directly coupled to the Internet.
`In one advantageous embodiment, however, the APsare indi-
`rectly coupled to the Internet via a GTW 20. As will be
`appreciated, by directly or indirectly connecting the terminals
`and the origin server 24, as well as any of a numberofother
`devices, to the Internet, the terminals can communicate with
`one another, the origin server, etc., to thereby carry out vari-
`ousfunctionsofthe terminal, such as to transmit data, content
`or the like to, and/or receive content, data or the like from, the
`origin server. As used herein, the terms “data,” “content,”
`“information” and similar terms may be usedto interchange-
`ably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, received
`and/or stored in accordance with embodimentsofthe present
`invention. Thus, use of any such terms should notbe taken to
`limit the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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`Further, the terminal 10 can additionally, or alternatively,
`be coupledto a digital broadcaster 30 via a digital broadcast
`network, such as a terrestrial digital video broadcasting(e.g.,
`DVB-T, DVB-H, ISDB-T, ATSC, etc.) network. As will be
`appreciated, by directly or indirectly connecting the terminals
`and the digital broadcaster, the terminals can receive content,
`such as content for one or more television, radio and/or data
`channels, from the digital broadcaster. In this regard, the
`digital broadcaster can include, or be coupled to, a transmitter
`(TX) 31, such as a DVB-T TX. Similarly, the terminal can
`include a receiver, such as a DVB-Treceiver (not shown). The
`terminal can be capable of receiving content from any of a
`numberof different entities in any one or more ofa different
`number of manners. In one embodiment, for example, the
`terminal can comprise a terminal 10' capable of transmitting
`and/or receiving data, contentorthe like in accordance witha
`DVB (e.g., DVB-T, DVB-H, etc.) technique as well as a
`cellular (e.g., 1G, 2G, 2.5G, 3G, etc.) communication tech-
`nique. In such an embodiment, the terminal 10' may include
`an antenna 12A for receiving content from the DVB-T TX,
`and another antenna 12B for transmitting signals to and for
`receiving signals from a BS 14. For more information on such
`a terminal, see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/894,532,
`entitled: Receiver, filed Jun. 29, 2001, the contents ofwhich is
`incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.
`In addition to, or in lieu of, directly coupling the terminal
`10 to the digital broadcaster 34 via the TX 31, the terminal can
`be coupledto a digital broadcast (DB) receiving terminal 28
`which, in turn, can be coupled to the digital broadcaster 30,
`such as directly and/or via the TX. In such instances, the
`digital broadcast receiver can comprise a DVB-T receiver,
`such as a DVB-T receiver in the form of a set top box. The
`terminal can be locally coupled to the digital broadcast
`receiver, such as via a personal area network. In one advan-
`tageous embodiment, however, the terminal can additionally
`or alternatively be indirectly coupled to the digital broadcast
`receiver via the Internet 22.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an entity
`capable of operating as a terminal 10, origin server 24, con-
`tent flow server 25, digital broadcast receiver 28, and/or a
`digital broadcaster 30 is shown in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention. Although shown as
`separate entities, in some embodiments, one or more entities
`maysupport one or moreof a terminal, origin server, digital
`broadcast receiver, and/or a digital broadcaster,
`logically
`separated but co-located within the entit(ies). For example, a
`single entity may support a logically separate, but co-located,
`terminal and digital broadcast receiver. Also, for example, a
`single entity may support a logically separate, but co-located
`digital broadcast receiver and digital broadcaster.
`As shown, the entity capable of operating as a terminal 10,
`origin server 24, content flow server 25, digital broadcast
`receiver 28, and/or a digital broadcaster 30 can generally
`include a processor 32 connected to a memory 34. The pro-
`cessor can also be connected to at least one interface 36 or
`other meansfor transmitting and/or receiving data, content or
`the like. The memory can comprise volatile and/or non-vola-
`tile memory, and typically stores content,data or the like. For
`example, the memory typically stores software applications,
`instructions or the like for the processor to perform steps
`associated with operation of the entity in accordance with
`embodimentsofthe present invention. Also, for example, the
`memory typically stores content
`transmitted from, or
`received by, the terminal, digital broadcast receiver, and/or
`digital broadcaster.
`Reference is now madeto FIG. 3, which illustrates a func-
`tional block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver 28, in
`
`

`

`US 7,440,559 B2
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`20
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`35
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`8
`7
`memories can store content, such as content for a television
`accordance with one embodimentofthe present invention. As
`channel and other content for a number of other television,
`shown,the digital broadcast receiver includes an antenna 40
`radio and/or data channels.
`for receiving signals fromadigital broadcaster 30 and feeding
`the signals into a receiver (RX) 42. In turn, the receiver is
`The digital broadcaster 30 can also include a multiplexer
`capable of decrypting, demodulating and/or demultiplexing
`64, which can be capable of multiplexing content for a num-
`the signals, such as to extract content data. The receiver can
`berof television, radio and/or data channels. The multiplexer
`feed the content data to a processor 44, which can thereafter
`can then feed the resulting signal into a TX 31, which can be
`decode the content data. The processor can then feed the
`separate from the digital broadcaster, as shown in FIG.1, or
`decodedsignal into an audio/video (A/V)interface 46, which
`incorporated within the digital broadcaster, as shown in FIG.
`can convert signals to a form suitable for display by a monitor,
`4. Irrespective ofwhere the TX is located relative to the digital
`such asa television set 48.
`broadcaster, the TX can receive the signal from the multi-
`The digital broadcast receiver 28 can include volatile
`plexer for encryption, modulation, amplification and/or trans-
`memory 50, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM)
`mission, such as via an antenna 68. In this regard, for
`including a cache area for the temporary storage of data. The
`example, the digital broadcaster can be capableofdirectly or
`digital broadcast receiver can also include non-volatile
`indirectly transmitting content to a digital broadcast receiver
`memory 52, which can be embedded and/or may be remov-
`28 and/or a terminal 10, such as in accordance with a digital
`able. The non-volatile memory can additionally or alterna-
`broadcasting technique, such as DVB-T. For information on
`tively comprise an EEPROM,flash memory, hard disk or the
`DVB-T, see European Telecommunications Standards Insti-
`like. The memories can store any of a numberofpieces of
`tute (ETSI) Standard EN 300 744, entitled: Digital Video
`information, content and data, used by the digital broadcast
`Broadcasting (DVB): Framing structure, channel coding and
`receiver to implementthe functions of the digital broadcast
`modulation for digital terrestrial television, v.1.1.2 (1997)
`receiver. For example, as indicated above, the memories can
`and related specifications, the contents of which are hereby
`store content, such as that received from a digital broadcaster
`incorporated by reference in their entirety.
`30. As explained below,the memories can also store a content
`In accordance with a numberofdigital broadcasting tech-
`flow manager 53 capable of controlling storage of content by
`niques, such as DVB-T, Internet Protocol
`(IP) Datacast
`the digital broadcast receiver and/or a terminal 10.
`(PDC) can be utilized to provide audio, video and/or other
`The digital broadcast receiver 28 can also include one or
`content to terminals 10. In this regard, the digital broadcaster
`more interface meansfor sharing and/or obtaining data from
`30 can be capable of providing IP datacasting content to the
`electronic devices, such as terminals 10 and/or digital broad-
`terminalutilizing a digital broadcasting technique. As will be
`casters 30. Moreparticularly, the digital broadcast receiver
`appreciated by those skilled in the art, digital broadcasting
`can include a network interface means 54, for sharing and/or
`techniques such as DVB-Tare essentially cellular in nature
`obtaining data from a network, such as the Internet 22 and/or
`with a transmission site associated with each of a number of
`the DVB-T 31. For example, the digital broadcast receiver
`different cells. DVB-T, for example, uses MPEG-2 transport
`can include an Ethernet Personal Computer Memory Card
`streams, and as such, IP data can be encapsulated into DVB
`International Association (PCMCIA) card configured to
`transmission signals sent from the digital broadcaster, or
`transmit and/or receive data to and from a network, such as
`moreparticularly the TX 31. Data streamsincluding IP data-
`the Internet.
`grams can be supplied from several sources, and can be
`The digital broadcast receiver 28 can also include one or
`encapsulated by an IP encapsulator (not shown). The IP
`more local interface means 56 for locally sharing and/or
`encapsulator,
`in tum, can feed the encapsulated IP data
`obtaining data from electronic devices, such as a terminal. For
`streams into the data broadcasting (e.g., DVB-T) network.
`example, the digital broadcast receiver can include a radio
`The encapsulated IP data streams can then be transported
`frequency transceiver and/or an infrared (IR) transceiver so
`that data can be shared with and/or obtained in accordance
`to one or more transmission sites, where the transmission
`sites form cells of the data broadcasting network. For
`example, the encapsulated IP data streams can be transported
`to one or more transmission sites on an MPEG-2 transport
`stream for subsequenttransmission overtheair directly to the
`terminals, or to a receiver station serving one or more termi-
`nals. As will be appreciated, the MPEG-2 transport stream,
`from production by the IP encapsulator, to reception by the
`terminals or the receiverstation, is typically uni-directional in
`natu