System and method for video streaming in a dynamic network using wireless communication devices

Abstract

A short-range wireless network is established by direct communication between wireless devices and wireless access points. A wireless communication device provides initial registration information to a network and becomes a registered device. An API is downloaded to the wireless device to permit automatic authentication of the device for future communications. When a registered device enters a venue, at least one access point will automatically detect the wireless device and extract the necessary identification data to permit authentication of the device. Authenticated devices receive video data from video data sources remote from the venue, local to the venue, vide from other authenticated wireless communication devices.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a video content source having video data;   a plurality of wireless access points (APs) arranged throughout a venue;   an initial wireless network AP within the venue configured to receive an authentication request from a user equipment (UE); and   a registration server communicatively coupled to the plurality of APs and configured to receive the authentication request and, in response to the authentication request, to verify an identity of the UE, and, if the identity is verified such that the UE is authenticated, permit the authenticated UE to receive the video data from the video source.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the authentication request is automatically sent from the UE without any user action and received by the initial wireless network AP, the initial wireless network AP automatically providing the authentication request to the registration server. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the registration server is further configured to initiate an initial registration for the UE if the identity is not verified, the initial registration comprising a device identification code that uniquely identified the UE. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the registration server is further configured to store the device identification code in association with the UE upon completion of processing the initial registration request. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the authentication request received by the initial network access point from the UE comprises the device identification code. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein authentication request from the UE is part of the initial registration request. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source comprises multimedia data with video and audio data. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source is a live streaming video source. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source is located remote from the venue. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source is located within the venue. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source is recorded video content located within the venue. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the video content source is a second UE located within the venue. 
     
     
         13 . A method for video data distribution in a wireless communication network comprising:
 distributing a plurality of wireless access points (APs) arranged throughout a venue;   receiving an authentication request from a user equipment (UE) at a first of the plurality of APs;   in response to the authentication request, a registration server verifying an identity of the UE; and   if the UE identity is verified, permitting the authenticated UE to receive the video data from any of the plurality of APs.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the authentication request is automatically sent from the UE without any user action and received by the first of the plurality of APs, the first of the plurality of APs automatically providing the authentication request to the registration server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the registration server initiating an initial registration for the UE if the identity is not verified, the initial registration comprising a device identification code that uniquely identifies the UE. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein authentication request from the UE is performed following completion of the initial registration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the video is provided by a video content source and comprises multimedia data with video and audio data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the video is provided by a video content source and comprises a live streaming video source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the video data is provided by a video content source remote from the venue, the method further comprising delivering the video data to the venue via a wide-area network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the video data is provided by a video content source located within the venue, the method further comprising delivering the video data to the UE via the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the video content source is recorded video content located within the venue. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the video data is provided by a second UE located within the venue. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13  for use with a plurality of UEs, comprising:
 receiving an authentication request from each of the plurality of UEs at ones of the plurality of APs with which the respective ones plurality of UEs forms a communication link therewith; 
 in response to the authentication requests, a registration server verifying an identity of each of the plurality of UEs; and 
 if the identity of each of the plurality of UEs is verified, permitting the plurality of authenticated UEs to receive the video data from any of the plurality of APs.