With Subscriber Selection Or Switching Patents (Class 455/3.04)
  • Patent number: 6963725
    Abstract: An information communication terminal apparatus which is capable of performing search processing or preset processing for received services within a short period of time. There is provided an identifier which specifies an attribute of a service to be included for the search processing or the preset processing. A table in which the attributes of the received services are registered is searched through based on the identifier. The search processing or the preset processing is performed only for those services that match with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Sei Kato
  • Patent number: 6961549
    Abstract: A method for recording an audio broadcast by user preference has been developed. The method includes recording an audio broadcast and then converting the broadcast to text. The text is then scanned for content that has been designated as preferred by the user. If such content if found in the text, the recording of the audio broadcast is saved for future use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Mori
  • Patent number: 6937870
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling automatic or semi-automatic interactive responses to electronic queries using audio-band coded data as the query medium and wireless data communications as the response medium. Typical applications include interactive broadcast advertising in which a coded data query is embedded in a broadcast audio channel and reproduced as an acoustic audio signal in a broadcast receiver. This acoustic signal is then detected by the microphone of a wireless telephone and decoded and processed by the electronic circuitry of said wireless telephone. Upon a pre-determined further action by the user, the decoded and processed query data causes the wireless telephone to transmit a pre-determined message. The pre-determined message includes information which instructs the serving wireless network to properly route the message so that it effectively provides a response to the original query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventors: Elliott H. Drucker, Douglas C. Fleming, Martin Zivin
  • Patent number: 6934508
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method and computer program product to obtain comprehensive vehicle radio listener statistics based on parameters such as radio status (e.g., on/off status and CD/Tape/AM/FM setting), radio volume, station preset information, current frequency setting (i.e., station identification), and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system coordinates is disclosed. A vehicle-mounted field unit for collecting and transmitting such parameters to a base station is also disclosed. The system monitors and stores all events related to the occupants' interaction with the vehicle's radio, including automatic detection of the selected radio station through a speaker port. The stored data is then transmitted to a base station's central collection computer for immediate compilation and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Navigaug Inc.
    Inventors: Carl D. Ceresoli, Bruce E. Layman, Alexander Birger, Mikhail Kvetny, Boris Smychkovich
  • Patent number: 6904264
    Abstract: The user receives a digital radio transmission through a digital receiver and transmits a request to download selected content from this transmission to a content agent, an entity responsible for authorizing the authorized downloading of the digital content. If the content is not free of charge, the user also transmits sufficient information to allow for payment for the digital. The user then receives a transmission authorizing the downloading of the digital content from the content agent upon acceptance of the payment by the content agent. The user then downloads the content to a storage device which is coupled to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gene A. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20040266336
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone
  • Publication number: 20040259495
    Abstract: There is provided a transmitting section for receiving program information representative of an outline and receiving condition of a receivable program and further receiving a program on the basis of the program information, and a zone-change determining section for detecting a change of the program information. The program selecting section causes the transmitting section to suspend program reception and to switch a communication port, on the basis of a determination of a change of program distribution area by the zone-change determining section. Due to this, the transmitting section is allowed to continuously receive the program so far received. This, in the case a program is provided at a communication port different based on each region, makes it possible to correctly receive a program even if moving traversing a region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Tomoaki Itoh, Takao Yamaguchi, Ichiro Takei
  • Publication number: 20040235416
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating personalization of a weather band radio that receives SAME messages broadcast by the NWR system. Alphanumeric indicators of locations are displayed upon a user display element. And, a listener of the radio enters, by way of a user input actuator, selection of selected geographical areas, identified by the alphanumeric indicators. The selected alphanumeric location is used to form a six-digit location code defined by the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). And, the code so-formed is used by the weather band radio, selectably to alert weather anomalies broadcast by the NWR system within the selected geographical area of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Edmond Chan, Sze Ming Patrick Kwong, Man Lung Lam, Man Tai Vincent Lam
  • Patent number: 6816703
    Abstract: An interactive communications appliance for broadcasting personalized information is disclosed. The interactive communications appliance comprises a transceiver for receiving personalized information transmitted via a wireless link. A memory stores the personalized information and an audio device broadcasts the personalized information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Matthew Brown, Jen Sward
  • Publication number: 20040203338
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for tuning a broadcast processing system by using channel data from an interactive information source. The broadcast processing system interfaces with a broadcast medium and may include an interfacing apparatus that interfaces to the broadcast medium for extracting an appropriate broadcast signal and for tuning the broadcast processing system. The viewer uses a mobile terminal that communicates with the interactive information source over a first wireless communications path. The viewer may interact with the web site by navigating through the associated web pages in order to obtain broadcast information about the selected program, in which the broadcast information may be sent to the mobile terminal over the first wireless communications path. The broadcast information is processed by the wireless terminal in order to obtain the channel data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Zilliacus
  • Publication number: 20040176024
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for detection and selection of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service. A cellular network may provide an advertisement for a WLAN, such as in an overhead signaling message. The advertisement may identify the Access Point(s) by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID). The remote station may then scan for the WLAN service automatically or manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Raymond T. Hsu, Ragulan Sinnarajah
  • Publication number: 20040152414
    Abstract: A remote control device for an audio/video system is disclosed. The remote control device is capable of receiving a video signal from a television tuner, the video signal suitable for display on a remote control display, and further capable of displaying the video signal on the remote control display. The remote control device is further capable of receiving an audio signal from the television tuner, and capable of broadcasting the audio signal to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: David S. Wang
  • Publication number: 20040142681
    Abstract: A method of use provides an extremely efficient manner of ordering a radio program occurring at approximately the time presented, minimizing the need to remember any details: The method is embodied in a range of tactile and voice controls which people in motion need to have. Security options include voice signatures, button sequences and fingerprint identification. User feedback is embodied in both audio and visual display formats. A method of controlling a radio is claimed which provides for placing an order, querying the ordering system for additional information, initializing a user's identifying signature, initializing a session by identifying a user, if the user is not properly identified, blocking access to ordering, and in certain embodiments, calling the police. A radio device is claimed supporting an IF signal source containing essential information on the radio program, an embedded controller, user interface as well as a radio transceiver by which the ordering transaction is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Judson C. Valeski
  • Patent number: 6766527
    Abstract: In a processing terminal, operational request information inputted from an operational request unit is transmitted as additional information to a communication unit of a CATV distributor. In the CATV distributor, the additional information is received in the communication unit, and when the additional information is the operational request information, an operational command generator generates operational command information corresponding to the operational request information. The operational command information is transmitted to a communication unit of a receiver through the communication unit. In the receiver, as the communication unit receives the operational command information for the receiver, an operating unit operates the receiver to perform the desired operation in response to the operational command information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Seiji Tsutsui, Shigeru Oizumi, Tomoyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6765474
    Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Eaton, Salvador Sibecas, James A. Lamb
  • Publication number: 20040127199
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method and a system for communicating with a user including wirelessly broadcasting content which is accessible to a multiplicity of users and which includes at least some non-audio enabling a user to select a portion of the content responsive to a selection by the user, capturing at least part of the non-audio content, corresponding to the portion of the content selected by the user and employing at least part of the captured content to access a contact using a mobile communicator by initially establishing contact with a non product-specific communication facility and employing product-specific information contained in the non-audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael L. Kagan, David Kamien, Ian Elkan Gamse, Charles Anthony Rose
  • Publication number: 20040121724
    Abstract: In a content distribution system, when distributing content to a plurality of user equipment, a multicasting channel is assigned between the user equipment and the distribution system, content being multicasted using this multicasting channel. If a user equipment fails to receive distributed content, the radio network controller allocates an individual channel between the user equipment and the distribution system to perform re-distribution of the content in response to the user's request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiko Yahagi
  • Publication number: 20040110464
    Abstract: A video repository unit includes a plurality of disk drives arranged in a redundant array and circuitry to control writing/reading of video programs to/from the redundant array. A wireless transceiver receives video programs and transmits a selected video program to a remote viewer responsive to a request received by the wireless transceiver. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen G. Perlman
  • Patent number: 6741856
    Abstract: The communiqué system for private virtual narrowcasts operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide private virtual narrowcast communication services, that are initiated by a narrowcast host, to subscribers. The Communiqué can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bi-directional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the Communiqué is narrowcast, where cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to a private group of subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The grouping of cells to form the communiqué coverage area for the narrowcast transmissions need not be contiguous and can comprise dynamic combinations of contiguous and non-contiguous cells as well as combinations of in-building wireless coverage areas, standard terrestrial cells, non-terrestrial cells, orchestrated in a hierarchical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Vesuvius Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
  • Patent number: 6736726
    Abstract: To provide an information distribution device and program that make it possible to reduce a user's waiting time, the system is provided with general data (122) that contains access frequencies of a plurality of portable telephones (200) and an image generation section (113) that generates an image specifying a distribution request time for each portable telephone (200), and distribution request time specifying information that specifies a vacant time period as a distribution request time is transmitted to the portable telephone (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Namco Limited
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Miura
  • Publication number: 20040077308
    Abstract: An apparatus for communication with a wireless network is provided. A video display unit is mounted on a seat back. The video display unit includes a processor, a video display electrically coupled to the processor, a component configured for wireless communication with the processor, and a receiver electrically coupled to the processor. A user interface is mounted on an armrest. The user interface includes a user input interface and a transmitter electrically coupled to the user input interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: William C. Sanford, Daniel J. Diessner
  • Patent number: 6725022
    Abstract: An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables the selection of content on a wireless communication device comprising the steps of providing a format for displaying content on said wireless communication device; detecting the loss of a signal for a channel providing a predetermined genre; and providing a new format for displaying content having a new channel providing the predetermined genre to replace the lost channel. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Clayton, Richard L. Blanco, William S. Hede, David T. Knappenberger, Merlin Smith
  • Publication number: 20040058641
    Abstract: A radio receiver and method of controlling the same are provided for use in a digital digital audio radio services system. An improved user interface takes advantage of ancillary data transmitted with a digital broadcast signal to contemporaneously display song titles, artist names, channels categories, and other information on said radio receiver, and to allow a user to select channels based on the ancillary data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Robert Acker
  • Patent number: 6704580
    Abstract: A docking station includes connectors and a circuit. Each connector receives a different cellular telephone, and the circuit establishes communication between at least one of cellular telephones and a wired telephone device of a wired telephone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: James Steven Fintel
  • Patent number: 6694132
    Abstract: A method is described for telephone broadcasting warnings, information or the like into defined geographical areas. The method provides for: dividing the interested area into geographic zones; associating with the directory number of each fixed telephone set an information indicating the geographic zone inside which said fixed telephone set is installed; providing each public telephone exchange with geographic zone information related to the directory number controlled by it; where requested, providing the text of a message and the list of the geographic zones to which such message is to be sent; and having all the directory numbers associated with the interested geographic zones automatically called by the telephone exchanges. In particular, the message could concern the announcement of impending natural calamities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Carmine Lausi
  • Patent number: 6687498
    Abstract: The communique system for cellular communication networks that operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide communique communication services to subscribers. The Communique can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bidirectional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the Communique can be network-wide broadcast or narrowcast, where cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The grouping of cells to form the communique coverage area for the narrowcast transmissions need not be contiguous and can comprise dynamic combinations of contiguous and non-contiguous cells as well as combinations of in-building wireless coverage areas, standard terrestrial cells, non-terrestrial cells, orchestrated in a hierarchical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Vesuvius Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
  • Patent number: 6678501
    Abstract: A method of use provides an extremely efficient manner of ordering a radio program occurring at approximately the time presented, minimizing the need to remember any details. The method is embodied in a range of tactile and voice controls which people in motion need to have. Security options include voice signatures, button sequences and fingerprint identification. User feedback is embodied in both audio and visual display formats. A method of controlling a radio is claimed which provides for placing an order, querying the ordering system for additional information, initializing a user's identifying signature, initializing a session by identifying a user, if the user is not properly identified, blocking access to ordering, and in certain embodiments, calling the police. A radio device is claimed supporting an IF signal source containing essential information on the radio program, an embedded controller, user interface as well as a radio transceiver by which the ordering transaction is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: America Online Incorporated
    Inventor: Judson C. Valeski
  • Publication number: 20030232594
    Abstract: A method is provided for delivery of Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) over wireless systems. The method optimizes the number of paging messages sent over the air interface in order to enhance the overall system capacity. MBMS active Mobile Station User Equipments (UEs) track their locations to the granularity of a cell based on information sent by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kamel M. Shaheen
  • Publication number: 20030203715
    Abstract: The broadcasting tower selecting method for selecting one broadcasting tower out of a plurality of broadcasting towers each being able to transmit together broadcast waves on a plurality of channels that can be received in an area, including: a first step of judging an existence or not of the channels that can be received in the area; a second step of extracting, based on a result from the judgment in the first step, one or more broadcasting towers that can provide all channels being receivable in the area out of the plurality of the broadcasting towers; and a third step of selecting one arbitrary broadcasting tower out of the extracted one or more broadcasting towers. Thus, it is possible to select automatically, with an easy operation, a broadcasting tower that can provide best video and audio quality, out of a plurality of broadcasting towers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Onodera
  • Publication number: 20030203714
    Abstract: A system and method is directed to scheduling user preference satellite radio station selections in a mobile vehicle. The method provides creating at least one vehicle preference selection schedule utilizing a user interface, transferring the vehicle preference selection schedule into a mobile communication unit, monitoring a satellite radio system broadcast, requesting the vehicle preference selection schedule from the mobile communication unit, and extracting a radio station selection from the broadcast based on the vehicle preference selection schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Matt C. Videtich, Thomas P. Grau, Richard M. Lee
  • Patent number: 6640086
    Abstract: Using an apparatus like a cellular telephone, an operator is able to create a message by singing into the apparatus or by pressing buttons on the apparatus as he listens to background music presented by the apparatus. By pressing buttons, the operator is able to generate sounds as if he was playing a musical instrument. A remote server stores a representation of the operator vocal or tactile input, and sends a message to one or more recipients that renders the operator input and background music in a manner that substantially preserves the temporal relationship originally observed by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Corbett Wall
  • Publication number: 20030176163
    Abstract: In a switch comprising N call application nodes (CANs), a method of upgrading call process server applications having a primary call process and a backup call process executed on different CANs. The method comprises: 1) receiving an upgrade command to upgrade a first call process server application comprising a first primary call process on a first CAN and a first backup call process; 2) disabling the first primary call process such that no future call traffic is directed to the first primary call process; 3) re-designating the first backup call process as the new primary call process such that future call traffic handled by the first call process server application is directed to the new primary call process; 4) moving a second backup call process resident on the first CAN to a different CAN; and 5) installing an upgraded first call process server application on the first CAN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Roy C. Gosewehr
  • Publication number: 20030171095
    Abstract: The present invention is associated with a transmitting apparatus adapted to effectively use the band for transferring programs of television broadcasting for example. A program of channel A transmitted from the transmitting side can be viewed in real time on the receiving side. A program of channel B is transmitted to the receiving side in advance in a time zone of lower audience rate than other time zones and stored in a storage device of the receiving side. Each program to be stored is encrypted. Program X is provided to viewers from 19:00 and, when a provision time comes, the data such as a key are transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side along with the program data of channel A. The receiving side extracts the data such as a key and, by use of the extracted data, provides the program stored in the storage device to viewers. The present invention is applicable to apparatuses which transmit or receive programs of television broadcasting for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Yasushi Fujinami
  • Publication number: 20030144017
    Abstract: A method for providing interactive audience participation at live spectator events enhances enjoyment for a plurality of spectators. Participating spectators employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Spectators are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The answers are transmitted to a central processor, stored as spectator data, and processed into results. A visual display or the user output interface announces the results to the spectators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Eric Inselberg
  • Patent number: 6600900
    Abstract: A telecommunications system for bi-directional communication services between a service provider and a plurality of subscribers wherein return signals associated with the bi-directional communication services utilize a first frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond W. Palinkas
  • Patent number: 6600898
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a number audio element for playing a desired number in an audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Clix Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy S. De Bonet, Paul Viola
  • Publication number: 20030139135
    Abstract: It is proposed, for better efficacity of the ATN aeronautical telecommunication network, that the requests for logons through the ATN network originating from non-ATC applications be subjected to a validation of the addresses requested by means of two availability tables kept up-to-date and placed in the terminal hosting the applications asking for logons. One of the tables relates to the availability of the local applications and serves to advise the remote terminals. The other table relates to the availability of the remote applications and serves for the validation of the logon requests emanating from the local applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Nicolas Rossi
  • Patent number: 6597890
    Abstract: A technique is used in a selective call communication system (100) and in a broadcast communication system (106) to provide additional information about a broadcast to a selective call device (111). A broadcast receiver (109) receives a broadcast that includes a prompt (220), such as a FLEX™ logo, and an information address signal (305), such as an inaudible portion of the sound portion of the broadcast. The prompt indicates that additional information is available in a message to be transmitted by the selective call communication system. The selective call device receives the information address signal when activated to do so in response to the prompt. The selective call device receives and decodes an information address from the information address signal and uses it to recover the message at a protocol position indicated by the information address. The additional information is then recovered from the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvador Sibecas, Eric Thomas Eaton
  • Patent number: 6594498
    Abstract: The communique system for cellular communication networks operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide communique communication services to subscribers. The communique can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bidirectional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the communique can be network-wide broadcast or narrowcast, where one or more cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The content of these transmissions can be multi-media in nature and comprising a combination of various forms of media: audio, video, graphics, text, data and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Vesuvius, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
  • Publication number: 20030124974
    Abstract: Information 1 transmitted through wireless communications formed by the information transmission line from the artificial satellites and the radio towers or through wired communications established by cables is categorized into four categories; the individual information is transmitted in a broadcasting mode in synchronization with the information transmission timing defined for the individual information category; and the information receiver captures and edits the received information and provides output for the service client in the manner associated with the individual category corresponding to the received information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Kazuo Asami
  • Publication number: 20030092375
    Abstract: A mobile phone 1 according to the present invention stores first broadcast information received from a base station B1, in correspondence with first cell information in a storage unit 5. When the mobile phone 1 receives second cell information from a base station B2, it determines whether there is previously stored cell information identical with the second cell information, in a cell information storage table 51. When the result of the determination is that it is stored, the mobile phone 1 reads out the first broadcast information and transfers to a cell according to the first broadcast information. When it is not stored, the mobile phone receives second broadcast information and transfers to a cell according to the second broadcast information. Namely, the mobile phone 1 makes the cell transfer according to minimum data within a range in which a cell as a potential transfer target can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Iwanaga, Takehiro Ida, Kazufumi Yunoki
  • Publication number: 20030060157
    Abstract: A system that facilitates the purchase and delivery of audio and video content (e.g., entertainment media) over the Internet is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed system allows a user who hears or sees an audio or video broadcast to use a cell phone or other wireless device to order the broadcast material, and have it remotely delivered to an independent device (e.g., the user's personal computer) without further user intervention. Thus, the system allows the user to order the desired content using a wireless device that the user will often have in his or her possession when he or she hears or sees the desired content, but to have the content delivered to a second remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Robert F. Henrick
  • Publication number: 20030054758
    Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver (mobile's receiver terminal) 1 for receiving a digital broadcast signal DS carrying many contents and also outputting the content based on thus received digital broadcast signal DS, including a content accumulation portion (database) 1c for accumulating received contents, a reception state detection portion for detecting whether the digital broadcast signal DS can be received normally, and a switch-over portion (reproduction/switch-over portion) 1b for switching from output of the content received to reproduction of the content accumulated in the content accumulation portion 1c if the reception state detection portion detects that the digital broadcast signal cannot be received normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kawamata, Kimiya Yamaashi, Takaharu Ishida, Osamu Tomobe
  • Publication number: 20030050062
    Abstract: A method for providing multimedia data from at least one controllable multimedia source to a mobile device includes providing a request path from the mobile device to a mobile service platform, receiving a request from the mobile device, obtaining a device profile from the mobile device, authenticating the identity of a user of the mobile device, and determining a user profile in response to the user identity. The method further includes authorizing control and access to the at least one multimedia source, providing a control channel from the mobile service platform to at least one multimedia server, providing multimedia data delivery information to the at least one multimedia server, and providing multimedia data to the mobile device in response to the request via the at least one multimedia server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Yih-Farn Robin Chen, Huale Huang, Rittwik Jana, Sam John, Serban Jora, Bin Wei
  • Publication number: 20030027520
    Abstract: A broadcast schedule of a broadcast station is stored in a third storage unit and music data is stored in a second storage unit according to the broadcast schedule. A control unit extracts, when a first communication unit receives a request for transmission of the music data, the music data stored in the second storage unit according to information about broadcast date and time that is included in the request for transmission and, transmitting the extracted music data by the first communication unit. In this way, broadcast data desired by a user is surely distributed and accordingly the user readily acquires the broadcast data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20030022620
    Abstract: A transmitting device for transmitting a broadcast to a receiving device transmits service reception control information, the service reception control information including: service management information including a service content to be provided to a viewer, which is determined based on viewer information including at least personal information regarding attributes of the viewer input by the viewer to the receiving device; and information for specifying the receiving device to receive the service management information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishi, Hidekazu Tanigawa, Ryuhei Akiyama, Hiroki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20030017800
    Abstract: A content distribution system may distribute content to a plurality of receivers on demand. When it is determined that two different receivers are receiving the same program but one receiver requested the information prior to the other, bandwidth may be conserved by increasing the rate of data flow to one user and decreasing the rate of data flow to another user, in one embodiment, until such time as both users are receiving the same portion of the program at the same time. In such case, the program may be simultaneously distributed to two users on the same channel, conserving bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Paul McAlinden
  • Patent number: 6505050
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for suppressing route request messages for wireless gateway applications by establishing a relationship between a serving mobile switching center identifier and a facility identifier at a wireless gateway switch. The wireless gateway switch determines a corresponding facility to the serving mobile switch in order to establish an incoming call to a wireless subscriber unit. An exemplary embodiment exploits the present invention in a wireless system utilizing ANSI-41 messaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Gerald Brudos, Harold Robert Smith, Jr., Timothy Daniel Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6490432
    Abstract: Audio and/or video content is remotely stored. A portion of the remotely stored content is transferred to and stored in a mobile on-demand audio and/or video content output device. In addition, a link is transferred to and stored in the mobile output device. The link is associated with the content portion stored in the output device and points to another portion of the remotely stored content that is related to the content portion locally stored on the mobile device. In response to a user command entered on the mobile device, the related portion of the remotely stored content is accessed using a two-way wireless communications system and is transferred from the database to the mobile device for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Command Audio Corporation
    Inventors: Albert W. Wegener, Thomas M. Linden, John Schoellerman, William J. Loewenthal, Donald F. Bogue
  • Patent number: 6441797
    Abstract: An Out Door Unit (ODU) provides the capability to aggregate signals received from more than one satellite before providing the signals to a multi-switch for selection 0by an integrated decoder-receiver (IRD). The signals from a first satellite are relocated by means of a local oscillator and multiplier to frequencies of unused channels in the signals from a second satellite. The relocated signals from the first satellite are then summed with the unused channels in the signals from the second satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Dipak M. Shah