Internet Radio Broadcast Using Cellular
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsAhmad Jalali, Leonard N. Schiff, William G. Ames
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects describe utilizing the Internet capability in mobile devices/networks to deliver broadcast multimedia to a device. The broadcast can be video, audio, and so forth. Initially the broadcast multimedia is transmitted at high data rates (and in unicast mode) in order for a buffer associated with mobile device to be built to a very long buffer length. When the long buffer length is reached, the multimedia can be delivered at real-time rates. The multimedia delivered at real times rates can be unicast mode or in multicast mode. If the buffer is depleted, a mobile device that is part of a multicast group can autonomously disassociated from the group until the buffer length is restored.
Claims50
A method for receiving a broadcast multimedia, comprising:
- employing a processor to implement the method:
- receiving a first set of packets of the broadcast multimedia at a mobile device at a first data rate, wherein a transmission is in a unicast mode;
- monitoring a buffer length;
- sending a first notification when the buffer length is at or above a first threshold length;
- and
- receiving at the mobile device a second set of packets at a second data rate.
A communications apparatus, comprising:
- a memory that retains instructions related to requesting a broadcast multimedia, wherein the broadcast multimedia comprises a plurality of packets, receiving a first subset of the plurality of packets at a first data rate, monitoring a buffer length, sending a first notification when the buffer length is at or above a first threshold length, and receiving a second subset of the plurality of packets at a second data rate;
- and
- a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.
A communications apparatus that receives a broadcast multimedia in a communications network, comprising:
- means for requesting the broadcast multimedia, wherein the broadcast multimedia comprises a plurality of packets;
- means for receiving a first subset of the plurality of packets in a unicast mode at a first data rate;
- means for monitoring a buffer length;
- and
- means for sending a first notification when the buffer length is at or above a first threshold length;
- the means for receiving obtains a second subset of the plurality of packets at a second data rate.
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer-readable medium comprising:
- a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a first subset of a plurality of broadcast multimedia packets at a first data rate;
- a second set of codes for causing the computer to transmit a message that indicates a buffer length has reached or exceeded a first threshold length;
- a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive a second subset of the plurality of broadcast multimedia packets at a second data rate;
- and
- a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to receive a third subset of the plurality of broadcast multimedia packets at the first data rate if the buffer length is below the first threshold length.
At least one processor configured to receive Internet radio broadcast over a cellular link, comprising:
- a first module for receiving a first subset of packets for the Internet radio broadcast over a unicast transmission at a data rate that is higher than a real-time rate;
- a second module for sending a notification when a buffer length is at or above a threshold length;
- and
- a third module for receiving a second subset of packets for the Internet radio broadcast at the real-time rate, wherein the second subset of packets are sent over a unicast mode or a multicast mode.
A method for delivering a broadcast multimedia, comprising:
- employing a processor to implement the method:
- receiving from a mobile device a request for the broadcast multimedia;
- transmitting a first set of broadcast multimedia packets in a unicast mode at a first data rate;
- receiving from the mobile device a first notification that a first buffer threshold length has been reached;
- and
- transmitting a second set of broadcast multimedia packets at a second data rate.
A communications apparatus, comprising:
- a memory that retains instructions related to sending multimedia to a mobile device at a first data rate if a buffer length of the mobile device is below a first threshold length, changing the first data rate to a second data rate based on a first indication that the buffer length is at or above the first threshold length, wherein the first data rate is sent in unicast mode;
- and
- a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.
A communications apparatus that conveys a broadcast multimedia in a communications environment, comprising:
- means for receiving from a mobile device a request for the broadcast multimedia;
- means for transmitting packets of the broadcast multimedia at a first data rate in unicast mode;
- and
- means for receiving a notification when a buffer length of the mobile device is at or above a first threshold length, means for transmitting sends a plurality of additional packets of the broadcast multimedia at a second data rate.
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer-readable medium comprising:
- a first set of codes for causing a computer to convey a first subset of packets of a broadcast multimedia to a mobile device at rates that are higher than real-time rates;
- a second set of codes for causing the computer to begin to convey a second subset of packets of the broadcast multimedia to the mobile device at the real-time rates if a buffer of the mobile device has reached a threshold length;
- and
- a third set of codes for causing the computer to automatically convey a third subset of packets of the broadcast multimedia to the mobile device at higher than the real-time rates if the buffer of the mobile device has dropped below the threshold length.
At least one processor configured to transmit a broadcast multimedia at variable rates, comprising:
- a first module for sending the broadcast multimedia to a device at a high data rate if a buffer length of the device is below a threshold length;
- a second module for switching the high data rate to an average real-time data rate if the buffer length of the device is at or above the threshold length;
- and
- a third module for selectively allowing the device to join a multicast group, wherein the broadcast multimedia is sent at the high data rate in unicast mode and at the average real-time data rate in multicast mode if the device joins the multicast group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.