Abstract:
A method of operating a communication system to provide content to a communication device operated by a user is described herein. The method comprises setting in the communication device a content preference, wherein the content preference is set by the user, sending the content preference from the communication device to the communication system, receiving in the communication system a content request from the communication device, receiving in the communication system the content in a first format from a content provider, modifying in the communication system the content from the first format to a second format, wherein the second format is based on the content preference set by the user, and transmitting from the communication system the content in the second format to the communication device.

Description:
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     Customers typically use mobile devices, such as mobile phones, media devices, and personal computers, to gain mobile access to mobile content such as video, internet, and mobile TV. Providing mobile access to content requires the coordination of many various networks, links, and equipment. Typically, communication carriers provide this access between mobile devices operated by their customers and content providers that provide the desired content. The delivery of mobile content to mobile devices requires the use of network resources. When a large number of mobile devices desire mobile content simultaneously the demand on the network resources may cause a decrease in the overall service delivered to those mobile devices. 
     OVERVIEW 
     Generally, a method of operating a communication system to provide content to a communication device operated by a user is described herein. The method comprises setting in the communication device a content preference, wherein the content preference is set by the user, sending the content preference from the communication device to the communication system, receiving in the communication system a content request from the communication device, receiving in the communication system the content in a first format from a content provider, modifying in the communication system the content from the first format to a second format, wherein the second format is based on the content preference set by the user, and transmitting from the communication system the content in the second format to the communication device. A communication system for providing content to a communication device operated by a user is also described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a communication system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a process for the operation of a communication system. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram that describes modifying content. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a communication system. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram that describes modifying content. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram that describes modifying content. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a communication system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates communication system  100 . Communication system  100  includes communication devices  101  and  102 , access system  104 , communication system  106 , communication network  107 , and content provider  108 . Communication device  101  communicates with access system  104  over communication link  111 . Communication device  102  communicates with access system  104  over communication link  112 . Access system  104  communicates with communication system  106  over communication link  113 . Communication system  106  communicates with communication network  107  over communication link  114 . Communication network  107  communicates with content provider  108  over communication link  115 . Thus, communication devices  101  and  102  receive content from content provider  108  over the links and paths described above. 
     Communication devices  101  and  102  comprise mobile phones, personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants, pagers, or other communication devices. Communication devices  101  and  102  communicate with access system  104  over communication links  111  and  112 , respectively. 
     Access system  104  comprises a base station, base transceiver station, a modem, or other access system. Access system  104  may include a number of elements known to those skilled in the art comprising various combinations and variations of transceivers, power amplifiers, combiners, duplexers, antennas, and control functions. Access system  104  communicates with communication devices  101  and  102  over communication link  111  and  112 , respectively. Additionally, access system  104  communicates with communication system  106  over communication link  113 . 
     Communication system  106  comprises a mobile switching center, base station controller, access service node, or any other type, combination, or variation of communication system. Communication system  106  may include a number of elements known to those skilled in the art comprising various combinations and variations of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment usually capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole. Communication system  106  communicates with access system  104  over communication link  113 . Also, communication system  106  communicates with communication network  107  over communication link  114 . 
     Communication network  107  comprises an internet, an Ethernet, a wide area network, a local area network, a public switched telephone network, or any combination or variation of communication networks. Communication network  107  communicates with communication system  106  over communication link  114 . Additionally, communication network  107  communicates with content provider  108  over communication link  115 . 
     Content provider  108  comprises video providers, audio providers, image providers, multimedia providers, or other content providers. Content provider  108  communicates with communication network  107  over communication link  115 . 
     Communication links  111 - 115  comprise wired links, wireless links, or any combination or variation thereof. Communication link  111  carries communication signals between communication device  101  and access system  104 . Communication link  112  carries communication signals between communication device  102  and access system  104 . Communication link  113  carries communication signals between access system  104  and communication system  106 . Communication link  114  carries communication signals between communication system  106  and communication network  107 . Communication link  115  carries communication signals between communication network  107  and content provider  108 . 
     In operation, users operate communication devices  101  and  102  to communicate with content provider  108 . For example, users may operate communication device  101  to obtain content from content provider  108  through communication system  106 . The content could comprise video, audio, image, or data, as well as other types of data. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a process for the operation of a communication system such as communication system  100 . In step  201  a user using communication device  101  sets a content preference on communication device  101 . For example, a user may wish to browse the Internet using his/her mobile phone. However, the user may be hearing impaired and as such does not need the audio associated with the web page. The user can enter the browser menu and set the user preference for a hearing impaired user. Additionally, the user may have the choice of choosing between having the audio removed or having captions included with the web page. In another example, the user may be color blind and as such does not need the color images associated with the web page. Accordingly, the color blind user can set the user preference for a color blind user. 
     In step  202  the previously selected content preference is sent from communication device  101  to communication system  106 . Alternatively, the content preference may be sent from communication device  101  to communication system  106  when communication device  101  requests content from communication system  106 . In step  203  at some later time communication system  106  receives a content request from communication device  101 . Subsequently, communication system  106  forwards the content request to content provider  108 . In step  204  communication system  106  receives the content from content provider  108 . Alternatively, communication system  106  may pre-cache content from content provider  108  and, thus, would not need to forward the content request from communication device  101 . 
     In step  205  communication system  106  modifies the content received from content provider  108 . For example, if the content preference indicates that the user wishes to receive a web page without audio, then communication system  106  modifies the content to remove the audio. Likewise, if the content preference indicates that the user wishes to receive a web page without audio but with captions, then communication system  106  modifies the content to remove the audio and insert captions. In another example, if content preference indicates that the user wishes to receive a web page without color, then communication system  106  modifies the content to remove the color. Additionally, the user preference could indicate that the user wishes to receive a higher resolution black-and-white web page instead of the color web page, or the user preference could indicate that the user wishes to receive a black-and-white web page of comparable quality to the color web page. In step  206  communication system  106  transmits the modified content to communication device  101 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram that describes an example whereby the process as shown in  FIG. 2  is employed by communication system  106 . In operation, communication device  101  receives content from content provider  108 . In this example a user operating communication device  101  is hearing impaired and has changed a setting within his/her mobile phone to indicate that all incoming content to the mobile phone is to be without audio. Additionally, the user may have the ability to specify different content preferences for different types of content. For example, the user may indicate that all web pages viewed on the user&#39;s mobile phone are to be sent without audio while also indicating that all mobile TV broadcasts sent to the user&#39;s mobile phone are to be sent without audio but with captions. Whatever content preferences the user selects on his/her mobile phone are then sent to communication system  106 . 
     At some later time, the user sends a request to view a web page on his/her mobile phone to communication system  106 . This request is then forwarded on to content provider  108 , which in response transmits the requested web page to communication system  106 . Upon receiving the web page, communication system  106  modifies the web page to remove any audio portions. Communication system  106  then subsequently transmits the modified web page to communication device  101  for the user to view. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating communication system  400 . Communication system  400  includes communication devices  401  and  402 , access system  404 , communication system  406 , communication network  407 , and content provider  408 . Additionally, communication system  406  includes base station controller  420 , proxy  421 , and user account profile server  422 . 
     Communication device  401  communicates with access system  404  over communication link  411 . Communication device  402  communicates with access system  404  over communication link  412 . Access system  404  communicates with communication system  406  over communication link  413 . Communication system  406  communicates with communication network  407  over communication link  414 . Communication network  407  communicates with content provider  408  over communication link  415 . Thus, communication devices  401  and  402  receive content from content provider  408  over the links and paths described above. 
     Communication devices  401  and  402  comprise mobile phones, personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants, pagers, or other communication devices. Communication devices  401  and  402  communicate with access system  404  over communication links  111  and  412 , respectively. 
     Access system  404  comprises a base station, base transceiver station, a modem, or other access system. Access system  404  may include a number of elements known to those skilled in the art comprising various combinations and variations of transceivers, power amplifiers, combiners, duplexers, antennas, and control functions. Access system  404  communicates with communication devices  401  and  402  over communication link  411  and  412 , respectively. Additionally, access system  404  communicates with communication system  406  over communication link  413 . 
     Communication system  406  comprises a mobile switching center, base station controller, access service node, or any other type, combination, or variation of communication system. Communication system  406  may include a number of elements known to those skilled in the art comprising various combinations and variations of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment usually capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole. Communication system  406  communicates with access system  404  over communication link  413 . Also, communication system  406  communicates with communication network  407  over communication link  414 . 
     Base station controller  420  comprises processing circuitry and computer elements that supervise the functioning and control of multiple access systems. Furthermore, base station controller  420  handles allocation of radio channels, receives measurements from communication devices  401  and  402 , controls handovers, and performs various other functions. Base station controller  420  communicates with proxy  421  over communication link  430 . 
     Proxy  421  comprises a gateway, a router, a switch, or any other type, combination, or variation of communication system. Proxy  421  also performs any modification to content sent from content provider  408  to communication device  401  or  402 . Proxy  421  communicates with base station controller  420  over communication link  430  and with user account profile server  422  over communication link  431 . 
     User account profile server  422  contains users&#39; profiles. For example, a user profile is associated with communication device  401  and another user profile is associated with communication device  402 . A user profile may indicate that the user wishes the content received by his/her communication device to have a particular format modification. User account profile server  422  communicates with proxy  421  over communication link  431 . 
     Communication network  407  comprises an internet, an Ethernet, a wide area network, a local area network, a public switched telephone network, or any combination or variation of communication networks. Communication network  407  communicates with communication system  406  over communication link  414 . Additionally, communication network  407  communicates with content provider  408  over communication link  415 . 
     Content provider  408  comprises video providers, audio providers, image providers, multimedia providers, or other content providers. Content provider  408  communicates with communication network  407  over communication link  415 . 
     Communication links  411 - 415 ,  430 , and  431  comprise wired links, wireless links, or any combination or variation thereof. Communication link  411  carries communication signals between communication device  401  and access system  404 . Communication link  412  carries communication signals between communication device  402  and access system  404 . Communication link  413  carries communication signals between access system  404  and communication system  406 . Communication link  414  carries communication signals between communication system  406  and communication network  407 . Communication link  415  carries communication signals between communication network  407  and content provider  408 . Communication link  430  carries communication signals between base station controller  420  and proxy  421 . Communication link  431  carries communication signals between user account profile server  422  and proxy  421 . 
     In operation, users operate communication devices  401  and  402  to communicate with content provider  408 . For example, users may operate communication device  401  to obtain content from content provider  408  through communication system  406 . The content could comprise video, audio, image, or data, as well as other types of data. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flow diagram that describes an example whereby the process as shown in  FIG. 2  is employed by communication system  406 . In operation, communication device  401  receives content from content provider  408 . In this example a user operating communication device  401  is hearing impaired and has changed a setting within his/her mobile phone to indicate that all incoming mobile TV content to the mobile phone is to be captioned. Communication device  401  sends the user&#39;s content preference to proxy  421 . 
     At some later time, the user sends a request to view mobile TV on his/her mobile phone to proxy  421 . This request is then forwarded on to content provider  408 , which in response transmits the requested mobile TV to proxy  421 . Upon receiving the mobile TV, proxy  421  modifies the mobile TV to include captioning. Proxy  421  then subsequently transmits the modified mobile TV to communication device  401  for the user to view. 
     In another example, the mobile TV provided by content provider  408  could be pre-cached on proxy  421 . In that case, only communication device  401  and proxy  421  would communicate to provide communication device  401  with mobile TV. Communication device  401  and proxy  421  could communicate using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). 
     Communication device  401  would send a RTSP DESCRIBE request to proxy  421 . Proxy  421  would respond with a RTSP 200 OK response. Communication device  401  would transmit a RTSP SET_PARAMETER STREAM_PREFERENCE: CAPTION_REQUIRED message. Alternatively, communication device  401  could transmit a NO_AUDIO or a B&amp;W_STREAM message to proxy  421 . In response, proxy  421  would again send a RTSP 200 OK response. Communication device  401  would then send a RTSP SETUP message to proxy  421 . Alternatively, communication device  401  could send multiple RTSP SETUP messages if more than one parameter had been set. For example, the user could indicate that he/she wanted no audio and captioning. Next, proxy  421  would send a RTSP 200 OK response. Proxy  421  would then check the user&#39;s preference information based on the supplied parameter set and then prepares the stream accordingly. Proxy  421  then streams the mobile TV using RTSP. Communication device  401  sends proxy  421  a RTSP TEARDOWN message and proxy  421  responds with a RTSP OK message. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flow diagram that describes another example whereby the process as shown in  FIG. 2  is employed by communication system  406 . In operation, communication device  402  receives content from content provider  408 . In this example a user operating communication device  402  is color blind and has changed a setting within his/her mobile phone to indicate that all incoming content to the mobile phone is to be in black and white. Communication device  402  sends the user&#39;s content preference to user account profile server  422 . 
     At some later time, the user sends a request to view a web page on his/her mobile phone to proxy  421 . This request is then forwarded on to content provider  408 , which in response transmits the requested web page to proxy  421 . Upon receiving the web page, proxy  421  queries user account profile server  422  to see if the web page from content provider  408  is to be modified. User account profile server  422  sends a response to proxy  421  identifying that the web page is to be modified to replace all color images with black and white images. In response, proxy  421  modifies the web page to replace any color images with black and white images. Proxy  421  then subsequently transmits the modified web page to communication device  402  for the user to view. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating communication system  700 . Communication system  700  could be a communication system similar to communication system  106 , communication system  606 , or some other similar communication system. Communication system  700  includes communication interface  704  and processing system  701 . Processing system  701  includes storage system  702 . Storage system  702  stores software  703 . Processing system  701  is linked to communication interface  704 . Communication system  700  could be comprised of a programmed general-purpose computer, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that programmable or special purpose circuitry and equipment may be used. Communication system  700  may be distributed among multiple devices that together comprise elements  701 - 704 . 
     Communication interface  704  could comprise a network interface, modem, port, transceiver, or some other communication device. Communication interface  704  may be distributed among multiple communication devices. Processing system  701  could comprise a computer microprocessor, logic circuit, or some other processing device. Processing system  701  may be distributed among multiple processing devices. Storage system  702  comprises a computer-readable medium. For example, storage system  702  could comprise a disk, tape, integrated circuit, server, or some other memory device. Storage system  702  may be distributed among multiple memory devices. 
     Processing system  701  retrieves and executes software  703  from storage system  702 . Software  703  may comprise an operating system, utilities, drivers, networking software, and other software typically loaded onto a computer system. Software  703  could comprise an application program, firmware, or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions. When executed by processing system  701 , software  703  directs processing system  701  to operate as described herein. 
     Note, communication systems  100  and  400  allow for a way to detect for a user&#39;s disability and to subsequently enhance the user&#39;s experience by modifying any content that is received on the user&#39;s communication device. Such modification allows for the saving of network resources by not sending extraneous information to users who may have a disability that would preclude them from experiencing that information. For example, a hearing impaired user would not need the audio associated with a web page and network resources that would have been allocated to sending the audio can be used elsewhere within the network. Additionally, such modification would enhance the user&#39;s experience. For example, a hearing impaired user would have their user experience enhanced by the addition of caption to a mobile TV broadcast. 
     The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of the invention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Note that some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of the invention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.