IP Library Granted Patent US 8,750,838
Granted Patent B1
US 8,750,838 · App. 12/171,469 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Reverse buffering media content at a mobile communications device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,750,838
App. No.
12/171,469
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for reverse buffering a media content stream on a mobile device. The mobile device requests the media content from a host of the media content. The host streams the media content to the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device buffers the streaming media content and presents the streaming media content. The buffered media content is reverse buffered in a reverse buffer associated with the mobile communications device. The reverse buffered media content is accessible by other mobile communications devices that request the media content. The mobile communications device receives a request for the reverse buffered media content and streams the reverse buffered media content to the requesting device.

Claims (32)

1. One or more non-transitory computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of reverse buffering a media content stream on a first mobile communications device (“first mobile device”) communicating over a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

requesting the media content stream to be communicated to the first mobile device;

receiving the media content stream at the first mobile device;

while the media content stream is being received at the first mobile device, temporarily buffering the media content stream on the first mobile device during a presentation of the media content stream on the first mobile device, wherein temporarily buffering the media content stream during the presentation compensates for abnormalities associated with communication of streaming media content over the telecommunications network;

storing the media content stream in a reverse buffer on the first mobile device, wherein the reverse buffer maintains the media content stream for a period of time after the presentation of the buffered media content stream on the first mobile device, wherein the stored media content stream is accessible during the period of time to be communicated from the first mobile device to a second mobile communications device; and

communicating at least a portion of the stored media content stream to the second mobile communications device.

2. The media of claim 1 , wherein the media content stream is not presentable on the first mobile communications device after it has been presented on the first mobile communications device.

3. The media of claim 1 , wherein the storing of the media content stream coincides in time with the buffering of the media content stream.

4. The media of claim 1 , wherein storing the media content stream is the maintaining of the buffered media content for a predefined period of time following the presenting at least a portion of the buffered media content.

5. The media of claim 1 , wherein the media content stream is buffered on a first memory component and the stored media content is stored on a second memory component.

6. The media of claim 1 , wherein the media content is buffered on the same memory component as the stored media content stream is stored.

7. The media of claim 1 , wherein the buffered media content stream is stored as the stored media content stream at one of, prior to presenting the buffered media content stream, coinciding in time to presenting the buffered media content stream, and after presenting the buffered media content stream.

8. A mobile communications device (“mobile device”) having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of reverse buffering a media content stream, the method comprising:

receiving the media content stream at the mobile device, wherein the mobile device communicates on a wireless telecommunications network;

buffering the media content stream at the mobile device as the media content stream is streaming to the mobile device;

preventing a presentation of the media content stream on the mobile device after an initial presentation of the media content stream on the mobile device, wherein presentation of the media content stream on the mobile device includes providing the streaming media content to a user of the mobile device;

storing the buffered media content stream for a period of time after the initial presentation; and

during the period of time after the initial presentation, streaming the stored buffered media content stream from the mobile device to a media content requester.

9. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , wherein the buffered media content stream and the stored buffered content stream are located on a same memory component of the mobile communications device.

10. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , wherein the buffered media content stream is buffered on a first memory component and the stored buffered content stream is stored on a second memory component.

11. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , wherein the stored buffered media content stream is limited to a predetermined size limit.

12. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , wherein the stored buffered media content stream is identifiable as a stored version of the buffered media content stream.

13. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile communications device communicates using at least one of the following wireless telecommunications technologies:

(A) Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),

(B) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),

(C) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),

(D) Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),

(E) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),

(F) Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and

(G) Personal Communication Services (PCS).

14. The mobile communications device of claim 8 , further comprising a subsequent presenting of the media content by the mobile communications device, wherein the mobile communications device receives authorization to present the media content a subsequent time.

15. The mobile communications device of claim 14 , wherein the subsequent presentation of the media content stream presents the associated stored buffered media content stream.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2008
From: BREAU, JEREMY R.; SANKARANARAYNAN, PALLAVUR
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 021225/0222 →