System and method for multi-channel wifi video streaming

A system for the broadcast of television channels to a plurality of devices, comprising:

• a tuner array configured to receive a plurality of television channels and to generate a data stream corresponding to each respective one of the plurality of television channels;
• a server configured to receive the plurality of data streams and to convert the plurality of data streams to a single stream of data packets with each of the plurality of data packets for respective ones of the data streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective data stream;
• and
• a network routing infrastructure coupled to the server to relay communications between the server and the plurality of devices, the routing infrastructure being configured to route the single stream of data packets to the plurality of devices whereby each of the plurality of devices can receive any of the plurality of data streams by processing the data packets having the port number or numbers corresponding to user-selected one or more of the plurality of data streams.

A mobile communication device configured for communication with one or more of a plurality of wireless access points (APs) in a venue to receive selected data packets from a data stream transmitted by the plurality of APs, comprising:

• a short-range transceiver configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of APs and receive the transmitted data stream therefrom, the received data stream comprising a plurality of data packets each having a designated port number corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of video streams;
• a processor configured to select a port number corresponding to a desired one of the plurality of video streams wherein the short-range transceiver processes the data packets having the selected port number;
• a memory device configured to store the received data packets having the selected port number;
• a display;
• and
• a video player configured to play the received data packets to thereby play the desired one of the plurality of video streams on the display.

A system for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• a video server configured to receive the plurality of video streams from different video sources and to combine the plurality of video streams into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream;
• a plurality of wireless access points (APs) communicatively coupled to the video server to receive the video packets therefrom, the APs being configured to broadcast the stream of video packets;
• and
• a routing infrastructure coupled to the video server and the plurality of APs to relay communications between the server and the plurality of APs, the routing infrastructure being configured to route the stream of video data packets to selected ones of the plurality of APs.

A system for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• a server configured to receive a plurality of video streams from different video sources and to combine the plurality of video streams into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream;
• a plurality of wireless access points (APs) communicatively coupled to the video server to receive the video packets therefrom, the APs being configured to broadcast the stream of video packets;
• a routing infrastructure coupled to the video server and the plurality of APs to relay communications between the server and the plurality of APs, the routing infrastructure being configured to route the stream of video data packets to selected ones of the plurality of APs;
• an additional data source intended for secure communication between authorized ones of the plurality of mobile communication devices, the server being further configured to process data packets from the additional data source to ensure secure communication of the data packets from the additional data source.

A method for the broadcast of television channels to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of television channels using a corresponding plurality of tuners, each of the plurality of tuners generating a data stream corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of television channels;
• assigning a different port number to each of the data streams generated by the plurality of tuners;
• converting each of the data streams generated by the plurality of tuners to a single stream of data packets with each of the data packets using the port number assigned to the respective data stream generated by the plurality of tuners;
• sending the single stream of data packets to a plurality of wireless access points (APs) for broadcast as a single stream of data packets;
• and
• each of the plurality of mobile communication devices selecting any of the plurality of data streams generated by the plurality of tuners by processing the data packets having the port number corresponding to user-selected data stream.

A method of operating a mobile communication device configured for communication with one or more of a plurality of wireless access points (APs) in a venue to receive selected data packets from a data stream transmitted by the plurality of APs, comprising:

• communicating with at least one of the plurality of APs using a short-range transceiver to thereby receive the transmitted data stream, the received data stream comprising a plurality of data packets each having a designated port number corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of video streams;
• selecting a port number corresponding to a desired one of the plurality of video streams wherein the short-range transceiver processes the data packets having the selected port number;
• and
• processing the received data packets to thereby display the desired one of the plurality of video streams on the display.

A method for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• receiving the plurality of video streams from different video sources;
• assigning a different port number to each of the video streams;
• combining the plurality of video streams into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams using the assigned port number;
• and
• sending the single stream of data packets to a plurality of wireless access points (APs) associated with a venue for broadcast as a single stream of data packets to thereby permit each of the plurality of mobile communication devices to select any of the plurality of data streams for viewing by processing the data packets having the port number corresponding to user-selected data stream.

A method for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• receiving the plurality of video streams from different video sources;
• receiving an additional data stream intended for secure communication between authorized ones of the plurality of mobile communication devices;
• assigning a different port number to each of the video streams and the additional data stream;
• processing data packets from the additional data source to ensure secure communication of the data packets from the additional data source;
• combining the plurality of video streams and the additional data stream into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams and the additional data stream using the assigned port number;
• and
• sending the single stream of data packets to a plurality of wireless access points (APs) associated with a venue for broadcast as a single stream of data packets to thereby permit each of the plurality of mobile communication devices to select any of the plurality of data streams for viewing by processing the data packets having the port number corresponding to user-selected data stream and only the authorized ones of the plurality of mobile communication devices can receive the additional data stream.

A wireless access point (AP) for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• an input connector configured to receive a radio frequency signal containing a plurality of television channels;
• a tuner array configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of television channels and to generate a data stream corresponding to each respective one of the plurality of television channels;
• a processor configured to receive the plurality of video streams from different video sources and to combine the plurality of video streams into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream;
• and
• a transmitter configured to broadcast the stream of video packets to the plurality of mobile communication devices.

A system for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:

• a content provider server storing a plurality of data files, the serving being coupled to a network and configured to provide a plurality of video data streams using a unicast data protocol;
• a local video processor coupled to the network and configured to receive the unicast data streams
• an input connector configured to receive a radio frequency signal containing a plurality of television channels;
• a tuner array configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of television channels and to generate a data stream corresponding to each respective one of the plurality of television channels;
• a processor configured to receive the plurality of video streams from different video sources and to combine the plurality of video streams into a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream;
• and
• a transmitter configured to broadcast the stream of video packets to the plurality of mobile communication devices.

A method of operating a mobile communication device configured for communication with one or more of a plurality of wireless access points (APs), comprising:

• determining a signal strength value for each of the plurality of APs within range of a mobile communication device;
• selecting the AP having the greatest signal strength;
• attempting to establish a multicast communication link with the selected AP;
• if the selected AP has established communication links with a plurality of other mobile communication devices and cannot establish the multicast communication link with the mobile communication device,
• selecting the AP having the next greatest signal strength;
• and
• establishing a multicast communication link with the AP having the next greatest signal strength.