Patent Publication Number: US-2015082347-A1

Title: Delivering Video Program by Digital Television System and Mobile Communication Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to media asset delivery. More specifically, the invention relates to system and method for delivering a video program through the use of a digital television system and a mobile computing and communication device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Mobile communication devices have gained significant popularity in recent years. Users are using the mobile device such as, for example, iPhone, iPod and iPad from Apple Inc, Cupertino, Calif., to enjoy media assets and to access the Internet services. Methods for delivering video programs to users by employing mobile communication devices have been developed. 
     Because of significantly larger display size and comfortable environment in a living room, many of video programs have still been delivered to users through a digital television system. However, a user is often disrupted for different engagements when viewing a video program. A video program being rendered has to be paused or be stopped sometimes. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have a flexible video program delivery system which can be employed to deliver an unfinished video program either through one of the mobile communication devices or through the digital television system in a later time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to disclose a system and method providing flexibility for delivering an unfinished video program using different personal devices. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple graphical user interface for a user to select one of the devices to resume the unfinished video program. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the digital television (TV) system is used to deliver a program to a user. The program comprises a series of frames or images. The unfinished program is associated with one of the frames, which may be the first frame for the unfinished program. The user actuates the mobile communication device to send a control signal to the digital TV system. Upon receiving the control signal, the digital TV system selects the frame and transmits the frame to the mobile device. A processor in the mobile device creates an icon to represent received frame. In one implementation, the icon includes the frame in a reduced size. The icon may be placed in a first display screen of the mobile device. The icon may also be placed in a folder such as, for example, a folder pertaining to storing photographs. 
     In one implementation, digital TV system receives a user&#39;s instruction through the mobile device to store remaining portion of the unfinished video program in a storage unit of the digital TV system. 
     When the user wants to resume the video program, one can simply select the icon. The video program can be resumed through mobile device. Contents of the video program can be transmitted to the mobile device through a communication network. 
     In another embodiment, the unfinished video program may be resumed through the digital television system. The user can use the mobile device to send a control signal to the digital television system through a reestablished ad hoc communication link. The control signal is generated by the mobile device after the user selects the icon. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the user needs to view an advertising message or pay for resuming the video program. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its various embodiments, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary video delivery system based on a digital TV system and a mobile communication device; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an exemplary digital TV system; 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an exemplary mobile communication device; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating that an icon representing the frame is placed in a folder for photographs. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that a video program is resumed by employing the exemplary video delivery system. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that remaining portion of an unfinished video program is stored in a storage unit of the digital TV system. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that a device for resuming the video program is selected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the present invention. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefits of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary video delivery system according to one embodiment. System  100  comprises digital TV system  102  with a remote control device  104 . Digital TV system  102  is connected to a communication network and is controlled by a computing device such as, for example, a set top box. Mobile communication device  106  can take various forms that include but are not limited to a smart phone, a tablet computer, a media player, a laptop computer, a wearable communication device and a game console. Digital TV system  102  and mobile device  106  can be connected through an ad hoc communication link  114 . In one implementation, user  112  employs remote control  104  to control digital TV system  102 . In another implementation, user  112  employs mobile device  106  to control digital TV system  102  through ad hoc communication link  114 . In still another implementation, digital TV system  102 , remote control  104  and mobile device  106  form an ad hoc communication network (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The ad hoc communication link  114  may be conformed to various IEEE and ISO standards and their extensions such as, for example, IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee), IEEE 802.11x (WiFi) and ISO 18092, ISO 21481 and Transfer Jet Protocol for Near Field Communication (NFC). 
     Mobile device  106  is connectable to a media manager  110  through communication network  108 . In a preferred implementation, communication network  108  is the Internet. Digital TV system  102  may be connected to the same media manager  110  through the same communication network  108 . Digital TV system  102  may be connected to a different media manager through a different communication network. Media manager  110  provides media assets to user  112 . An exemplary media manager is iTunes from Apple Inc, Cupertino, Calif. 
     A video program can be rendered by digital TV system  102 . The video program can be rendered on a user&#39;s demand. The video program can also be broadcasted according to a predetermined schedule. The video program includes a plurality of frames delivered in a sequential manner. 
     If user  112  needs to move away from digital TV system  102 , he or she actuates an input device of mobile device  106  to send a control signal to digital TV system  102  according to one embodiment. User  112  may touch a related application icon displayed on a touch-sensitive display of mobile device  106  to send the control signal. User  112  may also actuate a button, a keyboard or a touchpad as known in the art to send the control signal. 
     Upon receiving the control signal, digital TV system  102  selects frame  101  being displayed as a bookmark that defines pausing point of the video program. The video program is therefore divided into a first portion that has been rendered and a second portion or remaining portion that has not been rendered. A data file including frame  101  is transmitted to mobile device  106  through ad hoc link  114 . After receiving the data file, a processor in mobile device  106  creates an icon  103  that represents received frame  101 . In one implementation, icon  103  is placed in a folder such as, for example, in a folder dedicated for storing photographs. In another implementation, icon  103  is placed in a dedicated folder for storing icons representing pausing points of video or TV programs. In still another implementation, icon  103  is displayed in a first display screen of mobile device  106 . 
     Icon  103  may include a reduced size image of frame  101  in a manner similar to storing a photograph. Icon  103  may include a text comprising metadata of the video program. Icon  103  may be associated with animations. 
     After receiving the control signal by digital TV system  102 , a processor in digital TV system  102  stores frame  101  in a data storage unit. In one implementation, the remaining portion of the video program may be transferred from the media manager to digital TV system  102  through the communication network. The received remaining portion of the video program can be stored in the data storage unit of digital TV system  102 . In a somehow different implementation, only a part of remaining portion of the video program is transferred and be stored in the storage unit. 
     If the video program is broadcasted according to a predetermined schedule, the remaining portion of the program may be recorded and be stored in the data storage unit. 
     At the moment that the control signal is received, digital TV system  102  may request user  112  to send a selection through mobile device  106  if the remaining portion will be transferred from the network or be recorded by digital TV system  102 . This is an optional feature and should not limit scope of the present inventive concept. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, user  112  may want to resume the paused video program by employing mobile device  106 . User  112  selects the icon by actuating an input device such as, for example, by touching icon  103  displayed on the touch-sensitive display. Upon receiving the user&#39;s selection, mobile device  106  starts an operation to render the remaining portion of the video program. Frame  101  is used as the starting point of the resumed program. The remaining portion of the video program is transferred from media manager  110  to mobile device  106  through communication network  108 . In a somehow different implementation, a part of the remaining portion of the video program can be downloaded and be stored in a data storage unit of mobile device  106 . The pre-stored part will help to improve media delivery experience when data transfer from media manager  110  to mobile device  106  is not fast enough to support a high quality delivering of the video program. 
     In another aspect, user  112  may want to resume the paused video program in a later time after mobile device  106  and digital TV  102  is reconnected through reestablishing of ad hoc communication link  114 . User  112  selects icon  103 . Mobile device  106  transmits a control signal to digital TV system  102 . In one implementation, frame  101  is transmitted to digital TV system  102 . After receiving frame  101 , the processor of digital TV system  102  identifies the video program that was paused previously and resumes rendering the remaining portion of the video program starting from frame  101 . In another implementation, an identification code associated with frame  101  rather than frame  101  is transmitted from mobile device  106  to digital TV system  102 . 
     When user  112  selects icon  103  for resuming the video program, mobile device  106  may display a user interface requesting the user to select either mobile device  106  or digital TV system  102  to render the video program. 
     In another embodiment, remote control  104  is employed to send a control signal and put the video program being rendered or being broadcasted into a status of pause. Frame  101  may optionally be frozen on display of digital TV system. In response to the control signal from the remote control  104 , digital TV system  102  transmits a data file including frame  101  to mobile device  106 . 
     In yet another embodiment, video delivery system comprises digital TV system  102  and remote control  104 . Mobile device  106  is absent. Upon receiving the control signal from remote control  104 , video program being rendered or being broadcasted is put into a pause status. Subsequently, an icon is created by the processor of digital TV system  102 . The icon may include an image of frame  101  in a reduced size. In one implementation, the icon may be displayed in a predetermined position of the display of digital TV system  102 . The predetermined positions include but are not limited to one of four corners of the display. The icon may also be stored in a folder of digital TV system  102 . User  112  can select the icon by employing remote control  104 . Upon the user&#39;s selection, video program will be resumed. Similarly, the remaining portion of the video program may be transferred from a media manager in the network. The remaining portion of the video program may also be recorded and be stored in the data storage unit of digital TV  102 . 
     In some embodiments, advertising message will need to be viewed by user  112  before the video program is resumed. The advertising messages may be related to the user&#39;s identity. The user&#39;s identity may be sent from mobile device  106  to digital TV system  102 . 
     In some other embodiments, the remaining portion of the video program may need to be purchased from the media manager. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of functional blocks of an exemplary digital TV system  102 . Digital TV system  102  comprises a display  202 . Display  202  may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Display  202  may also be any other type of display as known in the art. Processor  204  is used to control the operation of digital TV system  102 . Processor  204  may include more than one type of processors including a general purpose processor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a special purpose processor such as a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). Digital TV system  102  also includes data storage unit  206  such as, for example, a magnetic storage unit and/or semiconductor memory devices. 
     Digital TV system  102  is connected to a communication network through a first communication unit  208 . The network may be a private broadband network for delivering TV programs. The network may also be a public network such as, for example, the Internet. Second communication unit  210  is used to connect digital system  102  to mobile device  106  through ad hoc communication link  114 . Ad hoc communication link  114  may be conformed to various IEEE and ISO standards and their extensions such as, for example, IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee), IEEE 802.11x (WiFi) and ISO 18092, ISO 21481 and Transfer Jet Protocol for Near Field Communication (NFC). Digital TV system  102  may also include a third communication unit (not shown in the figure) for connecting the system and the remote control device  104 . Most remote control devices today use Infrared communication interfaces. Media delivery manager  212  is pertaining to managing rendering, pausing, storing, transferring the video program and related frames. Media delivery manager  212  may be implemented as a software program to be executed by the processor  204 . Media delivery manager  212  may also be implemented as a combination of the software and the hardware. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of functional blocks of an exemplary mobile communication device  106 . Device  106  comprises processor  302 , display  304 , a data storage unit  306  and a first communication unit  308 . The first communication unit  308  may be a standard network interface for a smart phone including a capability to connect to the Internet. Mobile device  106  further comprises a second communication unit  310  for connecting to digital TV system  102  through the previously mentioned ad hoc communication link  114 . Media delivery manager  312  is pertaining to managing rendering, receiving, storing and transferring the video program and related frames. Media delivery manager  312  may be implemented as a software program to be executed by the processor  302 . Media delivery manager  312  may also be implemented as a combination of the software and the hardware. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating received frame is stored in an exemplary manner in a folder for photographs by a mobile communication device  106 . The folder as displayed on a display screen  116  of mobile device  106  includes multiple icons for photographs illustrated exemplarily as P1, P2 and P3. An icon for a photograph includes typically an image of the photograph with a reduced size. Icon  103  may be displayed in a similar manner as an icon for a photograph. Icon  103  may include an image for frame  101  with a reduced size. 
     According to one embodiment, user  112  selects icon  103  through an input device such as, for example, through touching the icon displayed on a touch-sensitive display. In response to the user&#39;s selection, frame  101  is displayed on the display screen  116 . In one implementation, the processor of mobile device  106  displays a user interface: device selector  120 , requesting the user to select a device to resume the video program. If the user selects mobile device  106 , the remaining portion of the video program will be rendered by employing of the mobile device. If the user selects digital TV system  102 , the remaining portion of the video program will be rendered by employing of the digital TV system. In the later case, mobile device  106  and digital TV system  102  have to be reconnected through ad hoc communication link  114 . 
     In another implementation, the video program will be resumed starting from frame  101  through mobile communication device  106  if mobile device  106  is not connected to digital TV  102 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that a video program is paused and a bookmark in a form of an icon is created in mobile device  106 . Process  500  starts with step  502  that an ad hoc communication link  114  is established between digital TV system  102  and mobile communication device  106 . Communication link  114  may be a Bluetooth type of connection in an exemplary implementation. The communication link may also be a Wi-Fi type of connection. A video program is rendered through digital TV system  102  in step  504 . The video program may be rendered based upon the user&#39;s demand. The video program may be a TV program that is broadcasted according to a predetermined schedule. A control signal is transmitted from mobile device  106  to digital TV system  102  through ad hoc communication link  114  in step  506  after the user actuates an input device of mobile device  106 . Upon receiving the control signal, a processor of digital TV system records the frame being displayed as a point of pausing for the video program. The frame may be associated with an identification code. A video program in a digital form may include an address for each of the frames. The frame identification code maybe related to the address. A data file including the frame is transmitted from digital TV system  102  to mobile device  106  in step  508  through ad hoc communication link  114 . The data file may also include the identification code. Upon receiving the frame, a processor in mobile device  106  creates an icon representing the frame in step  510 . In one implementation, the icon is an image of the frame in a reduced size. In step  512 , the icon is placed in a predetermined location of mobile device  106 . In one implementation, the icon is placed in a folder dedicated for photographs. In another implementation, the icon is placed in a dedicated folder for frames. In still another implementation, the icon is placed at the first display screen of the mobile device  106 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that remaining portion of an unfinished video program is stored in a storage unit of the digital TV system  102 . Exemplary process  600  starts with step  602  that a first control signal transmitted from mobile device  106  is received by digital TV system  102 . The control signal is triggered by the user&#39;s actuation of an input device of mobile device  106 . Upon receiving the control signal, a processor in digital TV system  102  records a frame being displayed in step  604 . Digital TV system  102  receives a second control signal from mobile device  106  in step  606 . The second control signal may be triggered by the user&#39;s selection of one of two means for receiving the remaining portion of the video program. A first means includes receiving the remaining portion of the video program from a media manager in the network. A second means includes recording of the program being broadcasted. In one implementation, the user selectable means may be displayed on mobile device  106 . In another implementation, the user selectable means may be displayed on digital TV system. The user makes selection through actuating an input device of mobile device  106 . Received remaining portion of the video program is stored in the data storage unit of digital TV system  102  in step  608 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that a device for resuming the video program is selected. Exemplary process  700  starts with step  702  that an icon representing the frame at the pausing point of the video program is selected by the user through an input device of mobile device  106 . A user interface including user selectable devices for resuming the video program is displayed on mobile device  106  or on digital TV system  102  in step  704 . The user selectable devices include digital TV system  102  and mobile device  106 . In step  706 , the remaining portion of the video program is rendered through the selected device.