System and method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming via mobile telecommunications

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00011. Field of Invention

0002The present invention relates generally to the field of broadcasting. More specifically, the present invention is related to transcoding audio and video content for optimized streaming via mobile telecommunications.

00032. Discussion of Prior Art

0004<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> discloses a prior art setup wherein mobile users use their cellular telephones <b>102</b>, <b>104</b>, and <b>106</b> to request and receive content from various content providers <b>108</b>, <b>110</b>, and <b>112</b> over a wireless network <b>114</b>. Content providers <b>108</b>, <b>110</b>, and <b>112</b> serve a myriad of data content such as news, email, etc. Formatting servers <b>116</b>, <b>118</b>, and <b>120</b>, associated with content providers <b>108</b>, <b>110</b>, and <b>112</b>, convert requested data into an appropriate format (i.e., format appropriate for being transferred over a wireless network and appropriate for being rendered in a cellular telephone) prior to being pushed to cellular telephones <b>102</b>, <b>104</b>, and <b>106</b>. Formatting servers <b>116</b>, <b>118</b>, and <b>120</b> communicate with appropriate content provider server <b>108</b>, <b>110</b>, <b>112</b> over networks <b>120</b>, <b>122</b>, <b>124</b>, wherein networks <b>120</b>, <b>122</b>, or <b>124</b> are any of the following: local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or the Internet.

0005In a specific example illustrating data transfer in the setup of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, cellular telephone users with Internet connectivity send a request to read their email over wireless network <b>114</b> to the appropriate service provider offering wireless access to email. Then, the service provider (<b>108</b>, <b>110</b>, or <b>112</b>) establishes a communication link with the requesting cellular telephone and converts data (in this case, email data) in the content server in a format appropriate for being transferred over a wireless network and appropriate for being rendered in the requesting cellular telephone.

0006The patent publication to Patsiokas et al. (2004/0266336) appears to teach a satellite radio receiver device <b>100</b> used in receiving and manipulating satellite broadcast content. In the '336 publication, Patsiokas et al. teach that receiver device <b>100</b> is able to connect to a cellular phone through a cable, a Bluetooth wireless connection, or otherwise. Additionally, Patsiokas et al. also appear to disclose that the receiver device can be integrated in a cellular telephone. According to the method/system of Patsiokas et al., it appears that a user would have to purchase either a cellular telephone that has such a satellite receiver integrated within or purchase a satellite receiver with a Bluetooth wireless interface or cable interface. However, the Patsiokas et al. reference fails to teach formatting broadcast content or a telecommunication hub streaming such formatted broadcast content to mobile telephones. Furthermore, the Patsiokas et al. reference also fails to teach the transmission of a media player along with the streamed content.

0007Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of the above cited references, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0008The present invention provides for a method of utilizing existing hardware with novel software to provide the end-user with optimized media. A transcoding server transcodes and optimizes the media (by reducing the bit rate and translating the stream into different codecs) to be streamed for various mobile telecommunications networks' bandwidth requirements. In one embodiment, the transcoding server is installed into a telecommunications hub where it processes end-user access requests and deliver appropriate media.

0009The present invention provides for a method for simultaneously transcoding audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving multimedia content; (b) transcoding the received multimedia content; and (c) forwarding the transcoded multimedia content to a hub, wherein the hub streams the forwarded multimedia content along with a media player to at least one mobile device over a mobile telecommunications network. In this embodiment, the media player is used to render the streamed multimedia content in at least one mobile device.

0010The present invention also provides for a method for simultaneously transcoding audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving multimedia content; (b) transcoding the received multimedia content; (c) encrypting the trancoded multimedia content; and (c) forwarding the encrypted multimedia content to a hub, wherein the hub streams the forwarded multimedia content along with a media player to at least one mobile device over a mobile telecommunications network. In this embodiment, the media player is used to decrypt and render the encrypted multimedia content in at least one mobile device.

0011In one embodiment, the present invention's method and system transcodes and streams multimedia data along with a Java-based application, which enables ubiquitous compatibility and live streaming over mobile networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a prior art communications setup.

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an overview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention system to stream live audio and video to at least one mobile device over a telecommunications network.

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates one embodiment of the present invention's method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks.

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates the encryption embodiment of the present invention's method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0016While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the invention may be produced in many different configurations. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an overview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention system to stream live audio and video to at least one mobile device over a telecommunications network. The system of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> comprises content sources <b>202</b>, transcoder <b>204</b>, streamer <b>206</b>, telecommunications hub <b>208</b>, one or more mobile devices <b>210</b>, <b>212</b>, <b>214</b>, and <b>216</b> accessible over at least one mobile telecommunications network <b>218</b>, and support application systems.

0018Content Source <b>202</b> comprises multimedia data (e.g., audio or video data) from a content provider. The multimedia data (e.g., music, news, talk, traffic, video data) is either real-time data or pre-stored multimedia audio/video files. Such data channels (from content providers) are in raw format and are aggregated from a variety of internal and 3^rdparty content.

0019Transcoder <b>204</b> processes raw audio/video from content source <b>202</b> and reduces the bit rate streams for streaming over carrier networks. Transcoding is content-specific and end result bit rates will vary between 56 kps to 16 kps. In one embodiment, spectral band replication (SBR) and perceptual audio coders are used. For example, by using both SBR and perceptual encoding techniques developed by Coding Technologies™ aacPlus (e.g., MPEG4 aacPlus that is a combination of three MPEG technologies comprising Advanced Audio Coding, SBR, and parametric stereo(PS) technologies), the quality of the recording is enhanced, thereby providing the end-user with a rewarding experience. Presently, such perceptual audio coders are used in Internet streaming. The present invention's streaming system used along with such perceptual audio coders enable optimization of multimedia data for mobile telecommunications streaming.

0020Each transcoded stream is published over IP by using standard streaming servers <b>206</b>. In the preferred embodiment, streaming servers <b>206</b> are located in close proximity to the carrier network to reduce system latency.

0021Content to be routed to mobile carrier networks use telecommunications hub <b>208</b>. Hub <b>208</b> is a combination of internal resources, partners and 3^rdparty systems. This arrangement provides access to 90% of the world's mobile carriers, enabling the broad adoption of a multimedia experience.

0022In the preferred embodiment, the media player application is built using the latest a cross-platform technology such as java based technologies to support cross platform compatibility. The custom experience gives the consumer a whole media experience, including interactive content.

0023Additional applications are built and hosted (such as Web and support applications <b>218</b> and Anomaly applications and host server <b>220</b>) to support both the consumer experience and operational business processes such as billing and consumer account management. The consumer experience applications include supplemental content aggregation and publishing such as streaming video, pictures and related textual descriptions, subscriber authentication and content rights management, personalization and management of subscription service. Such additional consumer experience components can be accessed either through a web interface or via an interface on a mobile device, be it a native application, java application or mobile web application.

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates one embodiment of the present invention's method <b>300</b> to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks. In step <b>302</b>, multimedia content (e.g., music, video, news, talk, traffic, etc.) is received by a transcoding server and, in step <b>304</b>, the transcoding server transcodes the received multimedia content. Next, in step <b>306</b>, the transcoding server forwards the transcoded multimedia content to a telecommunications hub, wherein the telecommunications hub, in step <b>308</b>, streams the forwarded multimedia content along with a media player to at least one mobile device over a mobile telecommunications network. In this embodiment, the media player that is sent along with the multimedia data is used to render the streamed multimedia content in at least one mobile device.

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates another embodiment of the present invention's method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks. In step <b>402</b>, multimedia content (e.g., music, video, news, talk, traffic, etc.) is received by a transcoding server and, in step <b>404</b>, the transcoding server transcodes the received multimedia content. Next, in step <b>406</b>, the transcoding server encrypts the transcoded multimedia content and, in step <b>408</b>, the encrypted data is forwarded to a telecommunications hub. In step <b>410</b>, the telecommunications hub streams the forwarded multimedia content along with a media player to at least one mobile device over a mobile telecommunications network. In this embodiment, the media player is used to decrypt and render the encrypted multimedia content in at least one mobile device.

0026Additionally, the present invention provides for an article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code contained within implementing one or more modules to implement a method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming over one or more mobile telecommunications networks. Furthermore, the present invention includes a computer program code-based product, which is a storage medium having program code stored therein which can be used to instruct a computer to perform any of the methods associated with the present invention. The computer storage medium includes any of, but is not limited to, the following: CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic tape, optical disc, hard drive, floppy disk, ferroelectric memory, flash memory, ferromagnetic memory, optical storage, charge coupled devices, magnetic or optical cards, smart cards, EEPROM, EPROM, RAM, ROM, DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, or any other appropriate static or dynamic memory or data storage devices.

CONCLUSION

0027A system and method has been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of a system and method to simultaneously transcode audio and video content for optimized streaming via mobile telecommunications. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. For example, the present invention should not be limited by software/program, computing environment, or specific computing hardware.

0028The above enhancements are implemented in various computing environments. For example, the present invention may be implemented on a conventional IBM PC or equivalent, multi-nodal system (e.g., LAN) or networking system (e.g., Internet, WWW, wireless web). All programming and data related thereto are stored in computer memory, static or dynamic, and may be retrieved by the user in any of: conventional computer storage, display (i.e., CRT) and/or hardcopy (i.e., printed) formats. The programming of the present invention may be implemented by one of skill in the art of broadcasting.