Internet protocol television network and method of operating thereof
View Patent ↗Example embodiments provide an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network and a method for operating thereof. Example embodiment methods may include receiving signals containing content and/or instructions from a mobile station and providing IPTV content based on that data. Example embodiment networks may include an interface connected to an IPTV network configured to receive data containing IPTV instructions and/or content and configured to transmit IPTV data based on received data from a mobile station.
1. A method of operating an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network comprising:
receiving at an IPTV network, data from a mobile station;
determining whether to transmit IPTV content to a multimedia output device separate from the mobile station or to the mobile station, the determining based on whether the data from the mobile station identifies the multimedia output device; and
transmitting from the IPTV network an IPTV content based on the data from the mobile station to the determined multimedia output device or the mobile station.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the IPTV content includes transmitting the IPTV content to the mobile station.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the IPTV content is formatted to be displayed, executed, or played on the mobile station.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IPTV content includes at least one of a television program, film, internet access and browsing application, telephone, voice-over-internet-protocol communication, video communication, email, voicemail, music, digital file transfer, and scheduling information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes a user ID, and wherein the IPTV network includes a database storing a plurality of user characteristics.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the user ID is associated with at least one user characteristic in the plurality of user characteristics, and wherein the IPTV content is based on the associated at least one user characteristic.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of user characteristics include at least one of a user preference, user schedule, user subscription, and user history.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving at the IPTV network, a selection within the transmitted IPTV content; and
transmitting from the IPTV network an IPTV content based on the selection.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is received directly at the IPTV network from the mobile station using one of code division multiple access, global system for mobile communication, WiFi, Bluetooth, 802.11, and infrared wireless communications.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is received indirectly from the mobile station through at least one of a wireless network, the internet, and a public telephone switching network.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes a user location, and wherein the IPTV content is transmitted to the location.