System and method for WiFi video streaming

Abstract

A video or multimedia distribution system receives multiple video streams and transcodes them into a single stream of UDP packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream. The UDP packets are routed to a plurality of Access Points (APs) for transmission. A User Equipment (UE) communicates with the APs and selects one of the video streams for viewing on the UE by selecting the port number corresponding to the desired video stream. A first processor in the UE identifies and stores UDP packet data having the selected port number and a second processor retrieves and plays the video stream on a display. The UE can “change channels” to view other video streams by changing the port number to the port number of the desired video stream.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams from different video sources to a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:
 a server configured to receive the plurality of video streams and to convert the plurality of video streams to a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream; 
 a plurality of wireless access points (APs) communicatively coupled to the server to receive the video packets therefrom, the APs being configured to broadcast the stream of video packets; and 
 a routing infrastructure coupled to the server and the plurality of APs to relay communications between the server and the plurality of APs, the routing infrastructure being configured to route the stream of video data packets to selected ones of the plurality of APs. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the server is further configured to send command data to a selected one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to instruct the selected mobile communication device to receive the plurality of video data packets having a port number designated by the command data. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein the server is further configured to send guide data to the plurality of mobile communication devices to thereby provide information describing the content of selected ones of the plurality of video streams. 
     
     
       4. A system for the broadcast of a plurality of video streams from different video sources to a plurality of user equipment (UE) mobile communication devices, comprising:
 a server configured to receive the plurality of video streams and to convert the plurality of video streams to a single stream of video data packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream; 
 a wireless access point (AP) communicatively coupled to the server to receive the video packets therefrom, the AP being configured to multicast the stream of video packets to an unlimited number of UEs wherein a bandwidth capacity for the AP determines a maximum number of the plurality of video streams but wherein the maximum number of the plurality of video streams is unrelated to the number of UEs receiving any of the plurality of video streams; and 
 a routing infrastructure coupled to the server and the AP to route the video packets from the server to the AP. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of UEs can receive any of the plurality of video streams by selecting a port number corresponding to the selected video stream. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4  wherein the server is further configured to send guide data to the plurality of UEs to thereby provide information describing the content of selected ones of the plurality of video streams. 
     
     
       7. A method for the broadcast of video data to a plurality of mobile communication devices in a venue, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of video streams at a video server; 
 within the video server, converting the plurality of video streams to a single stream of video data packets with each of a plurality of video data packets for a respective one of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream; 
 routing the stream of video data packets from the server to the plurality of APs via a routing infrastructure; and 
 broadcasting the stream of video data packets from each of a plurality of wireless access points (APs) distributed around the venue. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 in each of the plurality of mobile communication devices communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of APs, receiving ones of the stream of video data packets having a selected port number; and 
 displaying the selected received stream of video data packets on a display of the respective ones of the plurality of mobile communication devices. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the stream of video data packets are generated using a User Datagram Protocol. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sensing user operation of an input element on a first of the plurality of mobile communication devices to alter the selected port number to thereby cause the first mobile communication device to receive different ones of the stream of video data packets having the altered port number to thereby receive and display a different video stream corresponding to the altered port number. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  wherein a first of the plurality of mobile communication devices is configured to receive ones of the stream of video data packets having an initial port number, the method further comprising sensing reception of command data from one of the plurality of APs at the first mobile communication device to thereby alter the initial port number and cause the first mobile communication device to receive different ones of the stream of video data packets having the altered port number to thereby receive and display a different video stream corresponding to the altered port number. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising changing back from the altered port number to the initial port number to cause the first mobile communication device to receive ones of the stream of video data packets having the initial port number to thereby receive and display the video stream corresponding to the initial port number. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein changing back from the altered port number to the initial port number is in response to sensing reception of command data from one of the plurality of APs at the first mobile communication device to thereby change the altered port number to the initial port number. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the plurality of mobile communication devices receiving guide data from at least one of the plurality of APs, the guide data providing information about the content of each of the plurality of video streams; 
 displaying the received guide data on the display of the respective ones of the plurality of mobile communication devices; 
 sensing user operation of an input element on a first of the plurality of mobile communication devices to select a desired video stream based on the displayed guide data; and 
 receiving ones of the stream of video data packets having a port number corresponding to the user-selected video stream. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7  wherein the stream of video data packets are generated using a User Datagram Protocol. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising temporarily installing at least a portion of the plurality of APs at a plurality of locations throughout the venue prior to an event. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing the plurality of APs temporarily installed at the plurality of locations throughout the venue following the event. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 7  wherein the venue is a concert venue. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 7  wherein the venue is a sporting venue. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating at least a portion of the plurality of video streams within the venue. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating at least a portion of the plurality of video streams at a location remote from the venue. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of the plurality of video streams are generated by a television network and delivered to the control facility. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 7  wherein receiving the plurality of video streams comprises:
 receiving a plurality of television channels as individual respective multimedia data streams. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein the stream of multimedia data packets are generated using a User Datagram Protocol. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising generating a video stream within the venue wherein receiving further comprises receiving the video stream generated within the venue as an additional one of the individual respective multimedia data streams. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23  wherein receiving further comprises receiving a video stream generated at a location remote from the venue as an additional one of the individual respective multimedia data streams. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising initially selecting the port number corresponding to each of the respective multimedia data stream to permit each of the plurality of mobile communication devices to receive one of the stream of multimedia data packets having the initially selected port number. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising altering the initially selected port number corresponding to one of the multimedia data streams wherein the one multimedia data stream has a port number different from the initially selected port number. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising transmitting guide data from at least one of the plurality of APs, the guide data providing information about the content of each of the plurality of multimedia data streams and data corresponding to the port number for each of the plurality of multimedia data streams.