Seamlessly switching among unicast, multicast, and broadcast mobile media content

Abstract

In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for switching between broadcast and unicast content on a mobile device. The method and system involves making unicast content available to the mobile device, making broadcast content available to the mobile device; and providing an application on the mobile device which allows for switching between the unicast and broadcast content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of switching between broadcast and unicast content on a mobile device, comprising:
 determining a location of the mobile device;   determining a black out rule based on an aspect of the determined location;   receiving unicast content over a network that complies with the black out rule;   presenting the unicast content in a user interface of the mobile device; and   switching presentation of content in the user interface from the received unicast content to broadcast content wherein the receiving and the switching are dependent on the determined black out rule.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device to provide recommendations. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device to administer the black out rule. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device with information regarding the broadcast content to deliver advertisements. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device with information regarding the unicast content to deliver advertisements. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the location of the mobile device includes at least one of current location information, historical location information, and future predicted location information. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein switching in response to the determined location of the mobile device is facilitated by metadata corresponding to the broadcast content and stored in a file with the discovered unicast content. 
     
     
         8 . A system for switching between broadcast and unicast content on a mobile device, comprising:
 data indicating a location of the mobile device;   a content access blackout rule based on an aspect of the location data;   unicast content that complies with the blackout rule and is available to the mobile device; and   a user interface of the mobile device for switching presentation of content from the available unicast content to broadcast content based on the blackout rule.   
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a facility through which broadcast content can be discovered based on the unicast content. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising making the discovered broadcast content available over the network. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein switching in response to the determined location of the mobile device is facilitated by metadata corresponding to the discovered broadcast content and stored in a file with the discovered broadcast content. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the location of the mobile device includes at least one of current location information, historical location information, and future predicted location information. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the location of the mobile device includes current location information, historical location information, and future predicted location information. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein switching in response to the determined black out rule is facilitated by metadata corresponding to the broadcast content and stored in a file with the broadcast content. 
     
     
         15 . A method of switching between broadcast and unicast content on a mobile device, comprising:
 determining a location of the mobile device;   determining a black out rule based on an aspect of the determined location;   receiving unicast content that complies with the black out rule;   presenting the unicast content in a user interface of the mobile device;   receiving broadcast content that is discoverable based on the unicast content; and   switching presentation of content in the user interface from the received unicast content to the discovered broadcast content wherein the receiving and the switching are dependent on the determined black out rule.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device to administer the black out rule. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device with information regarding the broadcast content to deliver advertisements. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising using the location of the mobile device with information regarding the unicast content to deliver advertisements. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein switching in response to the determined black out rule is facilitated by metadata corresponding to the broadcast content and stored in a file with the discovered broadcast content.