US-12627388-B2 - Methods, devices, and systems for distributing content in community of over-the-air broadcast content receivers

US12627388B2US 12627388 B2US12627388 B2US 12627388B2US-12627388-B2

Abstract

A method of providing channel content in a broadcast content reception and distribution system includes: receiving, by a broadcast content reception device, information that identifies a channel that provides channel content, from a content player device; receiving, by the broadcast content reception device, a signal that transmits the channel content, from an antenna; receiving, by the broadcast content reception device, information that indicates a signal strength corresponding to the channel based on the signal that transmits the channel content received from the antenna; determining, by the broadcast content reception device, that the signal strength is less than or equal to a threshold value based on the information that indicates the signal strength; and transmitting, by the broadcast content reception device, a message to the content player device in response to the determining that the signal strength is less than or equal to the threshold value.

Inventors

Amit Kumar
Gopikumar Ranganathan
RAKESH ELUVAN

Assignees

DISH NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250303

Claims (20)

1 . A community server device that communicates with a plurality of broadcast content reception devices, the device comprising: a transceiver; a processor coupled to the transceiver; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: store community information including information that identifies each of the plurality of broadcast content reception devices and information that identifies a community of broadcast content reception devices; receive, via the transceiver, a first request for channel information from a first one of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices, the first request for channel information including information that identifies a channel; transmit, via the transceiver, a second request for channel information to one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices using the community information in response to receiving the first request for channel information, the second request for channel information including the information that identifies the channel included in the first request for channel information; receive, via the transceiver, information that indicates a signal strength corresponding to the channel from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices; select a selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices based on the information that indicates the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices; and transmit to the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, via the transceiver, information that identifies the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein: the memory stores information that indicates a number of content items currently being provided to a network by each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices or information that indicates a data rate associated with each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, and the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to select the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices based on (i) the information that indicates the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, and (ii) the information that indicates the number of content items currently being provided to the network by each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices or the information that indicates the data rate associated with each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the information that identifies the channel included in the first request for channel information with the information that identifies the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices to the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein: the request for channel information includes the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices, and the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: obtain the community information using the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices; obtain information that identifies the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices from the community information, and transmit the second request for channel information to the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices using the information that identifies the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive, via the transceiver, a third request for channel information from a second one of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices; transmit, via the transceiver, one or more fourth requests for channel information to one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices in response to receiving the third request for channel information; receive, via the transceiver, information that indicates one or more signal strengths corresponding to one or more channels from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices; generate a content list including information that identifies a plurality of content items based on the information that indicates the one or more signal strengths corresponding to the one or more channels received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices; and transmit, via the transceiver, the content list to the second one of the broadcast content reception devices.
6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: obtain information that identifies a plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items, and arrange the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list based on the information that identifies the plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items, wherein the content items that respectively corresponding to each of the genres are grouped together in the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list.
7 . A method of operating a community server device, the method comprising: storing community information including information that identifies each of the plurality of broadcast content reception devices and information that identifies a community of broadcast content reception devices; receiving, via a transceiver, a first request for channel information from a first one of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices, the first request for channel information including information that identifies a channel; transmitting, via the transceiver, a second request for channel information to one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices using the community information in response to receiving the first request for channel information, the second request for channel information including the information that identifies the channel included in the first request for channel information; receiving, via the transceiver, information that indicates a signal strength corresponding to the channel from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices; selecting a selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices based on the information that indicates the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices; and transmitting to the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, via the transceiver, information that identifies the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: selecting the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices based on: information indicating the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, and information indicating the number of content items currently being provided to a network by each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: selecting the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices based on: information indicating the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, and information indicating the data rate associated with each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the information that identifies the channel included in the first request for channel information with the information that identifies the selected one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices to the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the request for channel information includes the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices, the method further comprising: obtaining the community information using the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices; obtaining information that identifies the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices from the community information; and transmitting the second request for channel information to the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices using the information that identifies the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.
12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: receiving, via the transceiver, a third request for channel information from a second one of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices; transmitting, via the transceiver, one or more fourth requests for channel information to one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices in response to receiving the third request for channel information; receiving, via the transceiver, information that indicates one or more signal strengths corresponding to one or more channels from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices; generating a content list including information that identifies a plurality of content items based on the information that indicates the one or more signal strengths corresponding to the one or more channels received from each of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second one of the broadcast content reception devices; and transmitting, via the transceiver, the content list to the second one of the broadcast content reception devices.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: obtaining information that identifies a plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items; and arranging the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list based on the information that identifies the plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items, wherein the content items that respectively corresponding to each of the genres are grouped together in the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list.
14 . A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of instructions or data, the instructions or data, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: storing community information including information that identifies each of the plurality of broadcast content reception devices and information that identifies a community of broadcast content reception devices; receiving, via a transceiver, a first request for channel information from a first broadcast content reception device included in the community of broadcast content reception devices, the first request for channel information including information that identifies a channel; in response to receiving the first request for channel information, transmitting, via the transceiver, a second request for channel information to one or more of the broadcast content reception devices other than the first broadcast content reception device based on the community information, the second request for channel information including the information that identifies the channel; receiving, via the transceiver, information that indicates a signal strength corresponding to the channel from at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices to which the second request for channel information was transmitted; selecting a second broadcast content reception device of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices based on the information that indicates the signal strength corresponding to the channel; and transmitting to the first broadcast content reception device, via the transceiver, information that identifies the second broadcast content reception device.
15 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises: selecting the second broadcast content reception device based on: information indicating the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from the at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first broadcast content reception device, and information indicating the number of content items currently being provided to a network by the at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first broadcast content reception device.
16 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting the information that identifies the channel included in the first request for channel information with the information that identifies the second broadcast content reception device to the first broadcast content reception device.
17 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the request for channel information includes the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices, and wherein the method further comprises: obtaining the community information using the information that identifies the community of broadcast content reception devices; obtaining information that identifies the second broadcast content reception device based on the community information; and transmitting the second request for channel information to the second broadcast content reception device based on the information that identifies the second broadcast content reception device.
18 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises: receiving, via the transceiver, a third request for channel information from a third broadcast content reception device included in the community of broadcast content reception devices; in response to receiving the third request for channel information, transmitting, via the transceiver, one or more fourth requests for channel information to at least one of the one or more broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second broadcast content reception device; receiving, via the transceiver, information that indicates one or more signal strengths corresponding to one or more channels from at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second broadcast content reception device; generating a content list including information that identifies a plurality of content items based on the information that indicates the one or more signal strengths corresponding to the one or more channels received from at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the second broadcast content reception device; and transmitting, via the transceiver, the content list to the third broadcast content reception device.
19 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises: obtaining information that identifies a plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items; and arranging the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list based on the information that identifies the plurality of genres respectively corresponding to the plurality of content items, wherein the content items that respectively corresponding to each of the genres are grouped together in the information that identifies the plurality of content items included in the content list.
20 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises: selecting the second broadcast content reception device based on: information indicating the signal strength corresponding to the channel received from the at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices, and information indicating the data rate associated with at least one of the one or more of the broadcast content reception devices included in the community of broadcast content reception devices other than the first one of the broadcast content reception devices.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates in general to audiovisual content distribution, and, in particular to methods, devices, and systems for distributing content in a community of over-the-air broadcast content receivers. Description of the Related Art High-definition television (HDTV) digital broadcasting provides superior picture and audio quality compared to traditional standard-definition television (SDTV) broadcasting. A device that receives HDTV content via HDTV digital broadcasting can stream the received HDTV content to various client devices (e.g., cellular telephones, computers, and smart televisions) that have an appropriate application installed for receiving the streamed content. For example, Dish Network and Sling TV currently provide AirTV devices (e.g., AirTV 2 devices) that can stream HDTV content received on local HDTV channels to client devices that support the Sling app. Such devices may stream HDTV content in real time to one or more client devices while the HDTV content is being received via an HDTV antenna. Additionally, such devices may provide digital video recorder (DVR) functionality that enables HDTV content received via an HDTV antenna to be recorded and subsequently streamed to a client device in response to a request from the client device. HDTV digital broadcasting has several limitations due to the nature of terrestrial systems that broadcast HDTV signals. For example, terrestrial broadcasting systems typically transmit radio frequency (RF) signals from antenna towers that are located in different geographical regions. An HDTV receiver is able to receive HDTV content that is broadcast using HDTV signals transmitted by a local antenna used by a television station only if the HDTV signals transmitted by the local antenna are received by the HDTV receiver with a signal strength that is sufficiently high for the HDTV receiver to decode the HDTV signals. Thus, users of HDTV digital broadcasting can watch HDTV content only if the HDTV content is broadcast in the user's local region. For example, an HDTV receiver that is coupled to an antenna located in New York City is not able to receive an HDTV signal that is broadcast from an antenna located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Even if an HDTV antenna is able to receive an HDTV signal that is broadcast from a local antenna, the received HDTV signal may not have a sufficient signal strength to enable an HDTV receiver that is connected to the HDTV antenna to obtain HDTV content from the received HDTV signal. The signal strength of HDTV broadcast signals at an HDTV receiver may be unacceptable for a number of reasons. For example, electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by nearby power lines and electronic devices may cause the signal strength of an HDTV signal at an HDTV receiver to be unacceptably low. Also, multipath interference caused by RF signals being reflected off of objects (e.g., buildings) may cause the signal strength of an HDTV signal at an HDTV receiver to be unacceptably low. In addition, large amounts of moisture in the air may (e.g., from heavy fog, high humidity, or intense rain or snow) may cause the signal strength of an HDTV signal at an HDTV receiver to be unacceptably low. Additionally, a user of HDTV digital broadcasting may have trouble getting all local channels that are available in the user's local region with good signal quality because of the location of the user's home relative to the various locations of each antenna that is used to broadcast HDTV signals. It may be difficult to place an antenna that receives HDTV signals at an optimum location relative to the location of a particular antenna used to broadcast HDTV signals due to the layout or setup of the user's home or the area surrounding the user's home. Also, an optimum location to place an HDTV antenna in order to receive HDTV signals that are broadcast from a first antenna used by a first television station with a maximum signal strength may not be the same location at which HDTV signals that are broadcast from a second antenna used by a second television station are received with a maximum signal strength. Accordingly, users who infrequently watch local HDTV channels may not want to invest the time, money, and effort required to set up an HDTV antenna and associated equipment. BRIEF SUMMARY The present disclosure improves conventional content distribution technologies by providing methods, devices, and systems that enable content received via over-the-air (OTA) broadcast signals to be shared among devices located in broadcast regions that are geographically dispersed. For example, the present disclosure improves conventional HDTV digital broadcasting technology by providing methods, devices, and systems that enable a first broadcast content reception device that receives HDTV signals via a first HDTV antenna located in a first region of a country (e.g., New York City) to share locally received broadcast HDTV content with a