Method and apparatus for tracking user location within video or audio content streamed to a mobile handset

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing audio or video content to a mobile handset is provided.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for resuming playback of streamed digital content at a location where the playing of said content previously was stopped, comprising:
 providing content for playback on a mobile handset;   receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;   stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;   maintaining location information identifying a location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;   receiving a second request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and   resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing content for playback on a mobile handset comprises streaming said content to said mobile handset. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 starting a timer upon providing content for playback on said mobile handset; and   stopping said timer upon receiving said first request;   wherein said location information is based on time elapsed between starting said timer and stopping said timer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 partitioning said content into multiple data blocks based on a maximum block size; and   streaming said multiple data blocks to said mobile handset one block at a time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset comprises receiving a user command to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each portion represented by each data block has a unique starting location within said content.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following: said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and   the method further comprises:
 determining which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location; 
 wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said precise location to said mobile handset. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generating a new data block upon determining that none of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location, wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming said new data block to said mobile handset.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each data block represents one of the following: a chapter of said content or a track of said content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said content comprises one or more of: audio content and video content. 
     
     
         11 . A system for resuming playback of streamed digital content at a location where the playing of said content previously was stopped, comprising:
 a service unit configured to:
 stream content to a mobile handset; 
 receive a first request from said mobile handset to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset; 
 stop streaming of said content to said mobile handset in response to said first request; 
 maintain location information identifying a location within said content where streaming of said content to said mobile handset was stopped; 
 receive a second request from said mobile handset to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset; and 
 resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the service unit is further configured to:
 start a timer upon initiating said streaming of said content to said mobile handset; and   stop said timer upon receiving said first request;   wherein said location information is based on time elapsed between the start and stop of said timer.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the service unit is further configured to:
 partition said content into multiple data blocks based on a maximum block size; and   stream said multiple data blocks to said mobile handset one block at a time.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the service unit is further configured to:
 generate multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each portion represented by each data block has a unique starting location within said content.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following: said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and   the service unit is further configured to:
 determine which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said particular location; 
 wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset is resumed at said particular location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said particular location to said mobile handset. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the service unit is further configured to:
 generate a new data block upon determining that none of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said particular location, wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset is resumed at said particular location by streaming said new data block to said mobile handset.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each data block represents one of the following: a chapter of said content, a track of said content. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said content comprises one or more of: audio content and video content. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions which when executed on
 a computer performs a method comprising:
 providing content for playback on a mobile handset; 
 receiving a first request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset; 
 stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request; 
 maintaining location information identifying a location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; 
 receiving a second request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and 
 resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said location information in response to said second request. 
   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said second request comprises a request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at a precise location within said content, wherein said precise location is one of the following: said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped, and a user-specified location that differs from said location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; and
 the method further comprises:
 generating multiple data blocks, wherein each data block represents a portion of said content, and wherein each data block has a unique starting location within said content; and 
 determining which one of said multiple data blocks has a starting location that aligns with said precise location; 
 wherein playback of said content on said mobile handset is resumed at said precise location by streaming a data block having a starting location that aligns with said precise location to said mobile handset. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . A method for playing digital content on a mobile handset, comprising:
 receiving a first request to play content on said mobile handset;   initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request;   receiving a second request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset;   stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request;   gathering information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped;   receiving a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and   resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request comprises:
 requesting said content from a service unit;   receiving a stream of said content from said service unit; and   playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 initiating playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request further comprises initiating a timer upon playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset;   stopping playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request comprises stopping said timer; and   gathering information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped comprises:
 gathering information representing time elapsed between initiating said timer and stopping said timer; and 
 transmitting said gathered information to said service unit, wherein said service unit determines said first location based on said gathered information. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein:
 resuming playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said second request receiving a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset comprises:
 transmitting a command to said service unit to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset; 
 receiving said first location from said service unit; and 
 displaying said first location on said mobile handset; 
 wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset resumes from said first location upon receiving a user command to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at said first location. 
   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said content comprises one or more of: audio content and video content. 
     
     
         26 . A system for playing digital content, comprising:
 a mobile handset configured to:
 receive a first request to play content on said mobile handset; 
 initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said first request; 
 receive a second request to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset; 
 stop playback of said content on said mobile handset in response to said second request; 
 gather information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped; 
 receive a third request to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset; and 
 resume playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said mobile handset is further configured to initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset by:
 requesting said content from a service unit;   receiving a stream of said content from said service unit; and   playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein:
 said mobile handset is further configured to initiate playback of said content on said mobile handset by initiating a timer upon playing said stream of said content on said mobile handset;   said mobile handset is further configured to stop playback of said content on said mobile handset by stopping said timer; and   said mobile handset is further configured to gather information used for determining a first location within said content where playback of said content on said mobile handset was stopped by:
 gathering information representing time elapsed between initiating said timer and stopping said timer; and 
 transmitting said gathered information to said service unit, wherein said service unit determines said first location based on said gathered information. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein said mobile handset is further configured to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset based on said gathered information in response to said third request by:
 transmitting a command to said service unit to resume streaming of said content to said mobile handset;   receiving said first location from said service unit; and   displaying said first location on said mobile handset;   wherein streaming of said content to said mobile handset resumes from said first location upon receiving a user command to resume playback of said content on said mobile handset at said first location.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said content comprises one or more of: audio content and video content.