Method and apparatus to broadcast content to handheld wireless devices via digital set-top-box receivers

Abstract

An exemplary method and apparatus to deliver rich media to wireless hand-held devices.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A set-top box (STB) operable to receive a transport stream containing regular programming and co-cast programming and to deliver the co-cast programming to a hand-held device, the STB comprising:
 a receiver for receiving the transport stream;   a demultiplexer for de-multiplexing the received transport stream into a first portion containing regular programming and a second portion containing co-cast programming;   a channel for delivery of the de-multiplexed first portion to a television set; and   a wireless transmitter for transmitting the de-multiplexed second portion to a hand-held device.   
     
     
         3 . The STB of  claim 2 , wherein the set top box is operable to deliver co-cast index information to the hand held device, the transmitted second portion being a function of a selection from the co-cast index information that is made at the hand-held device. 
     
     
         4 . The STB of  claim 2 , wherein the wirelessly-transmitted second portion includes multiple co-cast programs. 
     
     
         5 . The STB of  claim 2 , wherein the wirelessly-transmitted second portion includes regular programming co-cast programs. 
     
     
         6 . A system for delivery of co-cast programming from a content provider to a hand-held device, comprising:
 a multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of programs, including at least one co-cast program, into a transport stream;   a set-top box (STB) operable to receive the transport stream, the STB including:   a receiver for receiving the transport stream;   a demultiplexer for de-multiplexing the received transport stream into a first portion containing regular programming and a second portion containing co-cast programming;   a channel for delivery of the de-multiplexed first portion to a television set; and   a wireless transmitter for transmitting the de-multiplexed second portion.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the set top box is operable to deliver co-cast index information, the transmitted second portion being a function of a selection from the co-cast index information that is made at the hand-held device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the wirelessly-transmitted second portion includes multiple co-cast programs. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the wirelessly-transmitted second portion includes regular programs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , further including a hand-held device to which the second portion is wireless delivered. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , further including a hand-held device to which the second portion is wireless delivered, the hand-held device including a de-multiplexer to de-multiple the multiple co-cast programs. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , further including a hand-held device to which the second portion is wireless delivered, the hand-held device including a de-multiplexer to de-multiple the co-cast program.