WO2007000455A1

WO2007000455A1 - Channel change on mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2007000455A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/063594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy Mayo Boswell; Jonathan Mark Kendrick; Timothy John Revell
Original assignee: Rok Productions Limited
Priority date: 2005-06-27
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2007-01-04

Abstract

A system comprising a mobile terminal 12, such as a PDA or smartphone, and a set- top box (STB) 14. The mobile STB 14 comprises a receiver for receiving a content signal from a content source such as a digital TV STB, or a cable or satellite TV receiver. The mobile STB 14 is operable to code the content signal into digital content stream it via the Internet and a mobile telephone network to the mobile terminal 12 over a communications link. The mobile terminal consumes the content. The mobile terminal includes a sender for sending a channel change request to the fixed device; the mobile STB 14 is responsive to it to send a channel change signal to the content source. This causes content from a different channel to be received at the mobile STB 14 and thereby allows content from the different channel to be streamed to the mobile terminal.

Description

CHANNEL CHANGE ON MOBILE DEVICE

Field Of The Invention

This invention relates to handling content. Various aspects relate to a method of consuming content at a mobile terminal, and to a system comprising a mobile terminal and a fixed device, to a fixed device and to a mobile terminal.

Background To The Invention

It is known to stream coded video and audio data to mobile devices, for decoding and playback thereon. One such service is operated by Sprint PCS Vision

Multimedia Services. However, such content is dependent on a streaming server, and thus tends to be subject to a subscription or other payment.

Summary Of The Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided method comprising: at a fixed device, receiving a content signal from a content source; at the fixed device, deriving digital content from the content signal; streaming the digital content from the fixed device to a mobile terminal over a communications link; consuming the digital content at the mobile terminal; sending a channel change request from the mobile terminal; and sending a channel change signal from the fixed device to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be streamed to the mobile terminal for consumption thereby.

This allows a user of the mobile device to view television content that is received at a remote content source, for instance their home satellite or cable TV receiver, using the mobile terminal. This can be achieved also without the involvement of an external server or service provider, although this is not precluded. Moreover, the user can change the channel that the fixed device is tuned to, and thus result in different content being reproduced at the mobile terminal. This can all be achieved without any modification of the content source, nor any special design being required. The step of sending a channel change request from the mobile terminal may for instance comprise sending a message explicitly requesting a channel change, or the channel change request may be implicit in signals sent from the mobile terminal.

The step of sending the digital content from the fixed device to the mobile terminal may comprise streaming the digital content. This allows continuous content delivery in a user- friendly way.

The step of sending the digital content from the fixed device to the mobile terminal may comprise delivering the data over a radio data link. This allows true portability of the mobile terminal.

The step of sending a channel change request from the mobile terminal to the fixed device may comprise sending a signal on a back channel of a communication link used to carry the digital content to the mobile device. This is convenient since it allows rapid communication of commands etc. from the mobile terminal to the fixed device. It also allows all communication to be achieved through a single communication link.

The method may comprise sending from the mobile terminal occasional requests for data over a communication link used to carry the digital content to the mobile device, and continuing sending digital content from the fixed device only in response to such requests for data. This allows the fixed device to infer when communication link is not particularly good. It also provides a convenient mechanism by which channel changes can be communicated to the fixed device from the mobile terminal.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system comprising a mobile terminal and a fixed device, the fixed device comprising: a receiver for receiving a content signal from a content source; a coder for coding the content signal or a signal derived therefrom into digital content; and a content sender for streaming the digital content from the fixed device to the mobile terminal over a communications link the mobile terminal comprising a sender for sending a channel change request to the fixed device; and the fixed device being responsive to receiving the channel change request to send a channel change signal to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be provided to the mobile terminal.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a fixed device comprising: a receiver for receiving a content signal from a content source; a coder for coding the content signal or a signal derived therefrom into digital content; and a content sender for sending streaming the digital content from the fixed device to a mobile terminal, a computing device or a local content output device, the fixed device being responsive to receiving a channel change request from the mobile terminal , computing device or a wireless controller to send a channel change signal to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be provided to the fixed device and thus streamed to the mobile terminal, computing device or local content output device.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile terminal comprising: a receiver for receiving digital content streamed from a remote fixed device over a communications link, a decoder for decoding the digital content; and a sender for sending a channel change request to the fixed device, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be streamed to the mobile terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a device comprising: a receiver for receiving content signals from one or more content sources; and means responsive to receiving a request from a mobile terminal to - A -

record content from one of the one or more content sources to local memory a different channel to be provided to the fixed device and thus the mobile terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising: at a device, receiving content signals from two or more content sources; at the device, deriving content from content signals; streaming the content from the device to a mobile terminal over a communications link; consuming the content at the mobile terminal; sending a request from the mobile terminal to the device; and in response to receiving the request, switching to receive content from a different content source and deriving content from the different content source, thereby to allow content from a different content source to be streamed to the mobile terminal for consumption thereby.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a device comprising: a receiver for receiving content signals from two or more content sources; and a content sender for streaming content derived from the content signals from the fixed device to a mobile terminal, the device being responsive to receiving a request from the mobile terminal to switch to receive content from a different content source, thereby to allow content from a different content source to be provided to the mobile terminal.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a system constructed and operating according to the invention and including components according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of components of a device forming part of the Figure 1 system and forming part of the invention.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1, a system 10 is shown including a television set- top box (TV STB) 11 connected to an antenna, satellite dish or cable television source 12. The TV STB 11 provides television signals to a mobile TV STB 14, and optionally also to a television 13. The TV STB 11 includes an infra-red receiver 15, by which signals from a handheld remote control 16 can be detected and used to effect control over the functions of the TV STB. These controls include program guide controls and channel changing controls. The mobile TV STB 11 is a fixed device. It also provides television signals to the television 13. The mobile TV STB 11 includes an infra-red (IR) sender 17.

The mobile TV STB 14 includes a two-way connection to the Internet 18, which includes a two-way connection to a mobile phone network 19. Forming part of the mobile phone network 19 is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) base station (BS) 20, although this is shown as being in two-way communication with the mobile phone network 19 for simplicity. GPRS is an add-on to GSM or PCN, and allows bi-directional data radio communication at rates of up to 128 kbps. The GPRS BS 20 is in two-way radio communication with a mobile terminal (MT) 21. The MT 21 may be a mobile phone or PDA or similar. It may instead be a laptop or notebook computer provided for example with a mobile telephone data card.

The TV STB 11 is a conventional off-the-shelf STB, such as for example a satellite TV receiver, or a digital video broadcasting (DVB) receiver, many of which are readily available, particularly in the UK. The TV STB 11 provides television signals (i.e. audio and video) in a form suitable for use by the television 13 to render the content carried in the output signals. Thus, the signals may be composite, component, RGB SCART, DVI, HDMI etc. The TV signals may be analogue or digital. They may be provided directly to the television 13, or passed- through the mobile TV STB 18.

The mobile TV STB 14 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. Referring to Figure 2, the mobile TV STB 14 includes a stream encoder 30, which receives video signals from the TV STB 10. The stream encoder 30 is configurable by a configuration module 31, and provides streamed digital content data to a stream server 32, to a communications interruption buffering module 33 and to a Multimedia chip (MMC) record manager 34. The communications interruption buffering module 33 is in two-way communication with a buffer 35, in which content data can be temporarily stored, and with the stream server 32, so as to provide a continuous stream of digital content. The stream server 32 provides streamed digital content to the Internet 18 via a connection manager 36. The connection manager 36 is connected to a WAP server 37, which is also connected to the configuration module 31, thereby allowing communication between the Internet 18 and the configuration module 31. The configuration module 31 is connected to configure the stream encoder 30, the stream server 32, the connection manager 36, the MMC record manager 34 and a MMC playback manager 38.

The MMC record manager 34 is connected to an obfuscation and DRM management module 39, which in turn is connected to an MMC or SD removable memory device 40. This provides storage. Playback of content data stored on the MMC/SD is effected through the MMC playback manager 38, which provides digital content data to the stream server 32 for delivery over the Internet 18.

A channel controller 41 is connected between the configuration module 31 and the IR sender 17, shown in Figure 1.

Before the MT can be used with the mobile TV STB 14, a media player software application is loaded onto the MT. This can occur in any suitable way, for instance through a WAP site, or through download from the internet via an internet- connected PC. When the media player application is first executed, it requires the serial number of the mobile TV STB to be entered, and also the IP address of the STB or else the internet router through which the connection between the Internet 18 and the mobile TV STB 14 is made. Then, the media player and the WAP server 37 of the mobile TV STB 14 conduct mutual authentication and ensure that they are able to communicate with each other. To allow for the case where a fixed IP address is not available for the mobile TV STB 14, the mobile TV STB 14 may report occasionally to an external server (not shown), which the maintains a log of its identity and its current IP address. In this case, the MT 21 contacts the external server to determine the IP address of the mobile TV STB 14. This is particularly useful since some Internet service providers (ISPs) do not provide fixed IP addresses, or alternatively charge an additional fee for a fixed IP address.

The mobile TV STB 14 is operable to receive television signals from the TV STB 11, to process them into a digital form suitable for sending to and for decoding and playback by the MT 21. The resulting signals may be termed digital content. The data rate of the digital content may be optimised for the transmission link between the mobile TV STB 14 and the MT 21. With GPRS, the inventors have found that a data rate of 30 kbps provides good quality reproduction yet is achievable over the link. The inventors have found that 40 kbps is often achievable, and this provides very good quality reproduction. The digital content then is streamed to the MT 21 via the Internet 18, the mobile phone network 19 and the GPRS base station 20. On receiving the stream, a media player incorporated in the MT 21 is operable to decode the stream and thus render the content. Because of limitations of the GPRS network and the MT 21, the content reproduced at the MT 21 is of a lower quality than that shown on the television 13, but the MT is wholly portable whereas the television 13 is not. Using the system thusfar described, a user can view on their MT 21 the television service that is provided by the TV STB 11. Thus, the user can make use of their existing equipment, and also any existing subscription, e.g. to a satellite or cable TV package of channels.

To view television, the user of the MT 21 selects their home TV system from a menu in the media player application. This results in a suitable control message being sent from the MT 21 addressed to the mobile TV STB 14, which is received by the WAP server 37. On receiving this message through the Internet 18 from the MT 21, the mobile TV STB 14 wakes and begins coding content provided by the TV STB 11. Shortly after sending the control message, the MT 21 sends a content pull signal on a back link.

After a short delay, the mobile TV STB begins streaming content to the MT 21. Streaming begins by sending content headers, then by sending content blocks.

Changing of the channel that is provided to the television 13 and the MT 21 can be effected using the remote control 16. This can also be achieved using keys on the MT 21. For instance, forward seek and reverse seek buttons can be used to select channel up and channel down respectively. Also, depression of a pause key causes the media player application to provide a data entry window in which a channel number can be manually entered. Alternatively, a channel number can be entered manually without pausing content playback merely by the entering of a three digit channel number.

Before the mobile TV STB 14 can control the TV STB 11 to change channels, configuration is performed. Using the media player on the MT 21, the user is able to access a WAP site operated for instance by the manufacturer of the mobile TV STB 14. The WAP site includes a list of different STB models, which are individually selectable. When a user identifies the model of their STB 11 on the list, they select it. This causes configuration data to be sent to the mobile TV STB 14. In particular, the configuration data identifies the signals that need to be sent to the TV STB 11 to effect channel changes. This configuration data is stored in the programmable chipset, for use as required. Alternatively, the WAP server 37 may store a list of the different TV STB types, and the relevant configuration data. In this case, the WAP server 37 is accessed directly from the MT 21, and effects configuration of the mobile TV STB without involvement of an external server.

Each content pull signal identifies the television channel that is required, and requests an amount of data, for instance 20 or 30 seconds playback time of data. On receiving the first content pull signal at the WAP server 37, the mobile TV STB 14 sends a channel change signal to the TV STB 11. In particular, the channel control module 41 is controlled to send an appropriate signal via the IR sender 17, for reception by the IR receiver 15 and subsequent processing by the TV STB 11. The TV STB 11 is unable to distinguish between control signals received from the remote control 16 and signals received from the channel control module 41 of the mobile TV STB 14. If the channel number is the same, then no channel changing at the TV STB 11 is required. Otherwise, the TV STB 11 changes the channel that it is tuned to so that it provides to the television 13 and/or the mobile TV STB 14 whatever content is currently being received on the new channel.

Each content pull signal includes an identity of the channel number that is required to be delivered to the MT 21. If there has been no user-instigated channel change, then the channel number is the same as that which was transmitted on the preceding content pull signal. If the user indicates that a channel change is required, by selecting a different channel through the user interface of the media player application, then a content pull message requesting the new channel number is sent straight away, i.e. the MT 21 does not wait until the time when the next content pull signal was scheduled to be sent. This helps to minimise delays between channel changes. If the user does not select a channel initially, then a default channel is selected by the MT 21.

There is a delay between a user changing the channel and the rendering of the content from the new channel on the MT 21. This occurs since there is a delay of about 1 second between the mobile TV STB 14 sending a channel change signal to the TV STB 11 and the TV STB tuning to the new channel, although the length of this delay depends on the particular STB used. There is a short buffering delay of signal in the mobile TV STB 14, which is necessary in view of the nature of most forms of digitally encoded television signals. The greatest delay though is provided by the MT 21, since it buffers signals by between 4 and 10 seconds so as to allow retransmission of lost packets and thus ensure a reliable content reproduction. Thus, there typically is a delay of 5 seconds or more between a user selecting a new channel and the MT 21 reproducing content from that new channel. The same applies when the mobile TV STB 14 is controlled to begin streaming digital content data from standby.

The MT 21 subsequently sends a pull content signal to the mobile TV STB 14 before the period specified in the previous content pull signal was sent. This assures that the content stream is continuous. If the mobile TV STB 14 does not receive a further content pull signal before expiry of the period specified in the previous content pull signal, then it assumes that contact has been lost and it stops streaming content to the MT 21. Each content pull signal is sent on the back channel forming part of the GPRS connection between the MT and the GPRS BS 20. This ensures that no separate communication links need to be established in order to allow the MT 21 to send control signals to the mobile TV STB 14. This also ensures that the delay between signals being sent from the MT 21 and being received at the mobile TV STB 14 is minimal. The back signal is received at the WAP server 37.

When a channel increment or decrement option is selected at the MT 21 by a user, the MT 21 displays the new channel number and does not allow any further channel change requests until the new channel is being rendered on the MT 21. Depending on the content and the amount of buffering effected, the time between selecting a new channel and the content being rendered at the MT 21 can be between 2 and 10 seconds.

As well as allowing channel increments and decrements, the mobile TV STB 14 is operable to control the TV STB 11 to change between channel 'favourites' programmed into the TV STB 11. For instance, STB's sold by Sky in the UK allow 10 channels to be stored as favourites. The MT 21 is operable to allow a user to select a channel favourite, and a pull content signal identifying the selected favourite as the required channel then is sent to the mobile TV STB 14 on the back channel, the channel change request identifying the favourite by its number, not the channel number that it relates to. An appropriate signal then is sent to the TV STB 11, causing it to tune to the channel corresponding to that favourite. The MT 21 is operable to allow a user to move up and down through channel favourites, similarly to the way in which channels can be incremented and decremented although adjacent favourites do not normally relate to adjacent channels.

The mobile TV STB 14 includes plural codecs (not shown), each with a different configuration. This allows differently coded signals to be transmitted at different times.

The mobile TV STB 14 is operable to allow a user to set coding preferences for different channels. For instance, a user is able to set a low frame rate, high resolution coding preference for a news channel. This could allow the user more easily to read subtitles and other text forming part of the content, but without the high frame rate that is desirable with fast-moving content. The user also is able to set a 12 frames per second frame rate coding preference for a cartoon channel. High resolution is not needed for cartoons, so this setting allows cartoon content to be delivered at the native frame rate whilst allowing acceptable picture resolution. Audio coding preferences may also be selectable according to channel.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiment, the invention is not limited to such. For instance, an external server (not shown) could be used to link the media player, and thus the MT 21, to the mobile TV STB 14. This can allow operation to be restricted, for instance to be made dependent on the existence of a valid subscription. Connection between the server, the MT 21 and the mobile TV STB 14 can be made in any suitable way.

Instead of the back channel method of channel change described above, channel change may be effected by direct connection to the STB channel change interface 41 via TCP or UDP. Preferably, the mobile TV STB 14 includes back channel, TCP and UDP channel change capabilities.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the mobile TV STB 14 supports multiple video/audio inputs. One input is connected to the STB 11, and other inputs are connected to an FM/AM radio tuner, which may be a digital or analogue tuner, to an external media player, such as a DVD or VCR player, a video camera and/or a further STB, for instance a cable, digital terrestrial broadcast or satellite receiver

STB. The channel change mechanism in this embodiment works in the same way as that described above but it additionally has virtual channels. For instance, a virtual channel corresponds to a video/audio input port and device channel number. In this way, a user changes channels using the controls on the MT 21, and the corresponding external content source unit and channel on that source are selected.

The mobile TV STB 14 supports configuration, diagnostics and monitoring via video output to the TV 13. Configuration, diagnostics and monitoring via the MT 21 (either through WAP or the media player residing on the MT 21) and/or through a PC (using a browser or a media player equipped with suitable controls) connected to the mobile TV STB 14 through the Internet 18.

The mobile TV STB 14 also supports the use of an infra red remote control, to effect control of the functions of the mobile TV STB 14 by a user in a direct line- of-sight with the IR sender/receiver 19. Another suitable local control interface may be used instead of infrared. This same interface supports playback of content recorded in the mobile TV STB 14 on the TV 13.

The mobile TV STB 14 allows the recording of received video/audio content onto media. The media may be DVD, HDD, flash or any other fixed or removable storage device associated with the mobile TV STB 14. This recording process can be controlled by the MT 21 or an Internet- or locally-connected PC using a media player application running thereon. This is the preferred means for effecting recording since the controls can be associated closely with the controls used to effect channel changing. It may instead be effected using a wap/web browser or any other application arranged to effect the setting up and controlling of the recording process. As a further alternative, the recording process can be configured and controlled using a remote control and the IR sender/receiver 17. The mobile TV STB 14 is controllable to effect playback of video/audio content such a storage device to the MT 21, to the TV 13 or to an Internet- or locally-connected PC. The recording process may be instant, i.e. be effected by a command to start recording straight away. Recording programming may instead be by way of start and end times and channel number. As a further alternative, recording may be by way of selection of a program listed in an electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG preferably is provided by the mobile TV STB 14 using program information obtained from a remote server (not shown). Control of the mobile TV STB 14 by the MT 21 to record is effected through a WAP portal hosted by the mobile TV STB 14.

The recording process can be monitored using the MT 21, an internet- or locally- connected PC and/or the TV 13. The recording process can be monitored using the TV/ remote control interface.

The mobile TV STB 14 allows video/audio to be streamed from the MT 21 or an internet-connected PC to the mobile TV STB 14 and for the received content to be displayed on the TV 13, or on a different MT 21 or PC. The content may also or alternatively be recorded locally to the mobile TV STB 14.

The mobile TV STB 14 has wi-fi and Bluetooth interfaces. These interfaces allow connection of devices such as wireless still or video cameras, wireless mp3 players and PDAs/mobile phones. Content can then be streamed to and/or from such devices. The mobile TV STB 14 is arranged to allow control of such devices through the modified channel change interface by the MT 21, by a local remote control or a PC. Such control is effected via the wi-fi or Bluetooth interface.

The mobile TV STB 14 can also be used for streaming/ recording/playback of video/audio content from external server connected to the Internet 18 to the TV 13, or to a locally-connected PDA/mobile via the wi-fi interface or the Bluetooth interface.

Also, although the TV STB 11 and the mobile TV STB 14 have been described as separate devices, their functionality may instead be combined within a single device. In this case, the sole STB includes all the above-described features of the TV STB 11 and the mobile TV STB 14, except that the extra television output and the IR sender 17 can be omitted. Even if the devices are consolidated, the functions of the devices typically will be divided between a number of chipsets which communicate with each other as required.

The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising: at a fixed device, receiving a content signal from a content source; at the fixed device, deriving digital content from the content signal; streaming the digital content from the fixed device to a mobile terminal over a communications link; consuming the digital content at the mobile terminal; sending a channel change request from the mobile terminal; and sending a channel change signal from the fixed device to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be streamed to the mobile terminal for consumption thereby.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the communications link is a data radio link.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the communications link includes a mobile telephone network.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of sending a channel change request from the mobile terminal comprises sending a signal on a back channel of the communication link.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising sending from the mobile terminal occasional requests for data over the communications link, and continuing streaming digital content from the fixed device only in response to such requests for data.

6. A system comprising a mobile terminal and a fixed device, the fixed device comprising: a receiver for receiving a content signal from a content source; a coder for coding the content signal or a signal derived therefrom into digital content; and a content sender for streaming the digital content from the fixed device to the mobile terminal over a communications link the mobile terminal comprising a sender for sending a channel change request to the fixed device; and the fixed device being responsive to receiving the channel change request to send a channel change signal to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be provided to the mobile terminal.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, in which the fixed device and the content source are provided in a common housing.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the communication link includes a radio data link.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, in which the communication link includes a mobile telephone network.

10. A system as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, in which the mobile terminal is arranged to send the channel change request on a back channel of the communication link.

11. A system as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, in which the mobile terminal is arranged to send occasional requests for data over the communication link, and the fixed device is arranged to continue sending digital content only in response to such requests for data.

12. A fixed device comprising: a receiver for receiving a content signal from a content source; a coder for coding the content signal or a signal derived therefrom into digital content; and a content sender for streaming the digital content from the fixed device to a mobile terminal, the fixed device being responsive to receiving a channel change request from the mobile terminal to send a channel change signal to the content source, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be provided to the fixed device and thus streamed to the mobile terminal.

13. A mobile terminal comprising: a receiver for receiving digital content streamed from a remote fixed device over a communications link, a decoder for decoding the digital content; and a sender for sending a channel change request to the fixed device, thereby to allow content from a different channel to be streamed to the mobile terminal.

14. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 13, in which the mobile terminal is arranged to send the channel change request on a back channel of the communication link.

15. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, in which the mobile terminal is arranged to send occasional requests for data over the communication link.

16. A method, system, fixed device or mobile terminal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the different channel includes content from a removable media player device, for instance a DVD player.

17. A method, system, fixed device or mobile terminal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the different channel includes content from an external device, for instance a camera.

17. A method, system, fixed device or mobile terminal as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the device providing content to the different channel is controllable through the mobile device.

18. A device comprising: a receiver for receiving content signals from one or more content sources; and means responsive to receiving a request from a mobile terminal to record content from one of the one or more content sources to local memory a different channel to be provided to the fixed device and thus the mobile terminal.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18, comprising means responsive to a suitable request to stream the recorded content to a mobile device.

20. A device as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, comprising means responsive to a suitable request to playback the recorded content locally.

21. A method comprising streaming content from a mobile device to a fixed device.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, comprising recording the content at the fixed device.

23. A method comprising: at a device, receiving content signals from two or more content sources; at the device, deriving content from content signals; streaming the content from the device to a mobile terminal over a communications link; consuming the content at the mobile terminal; sending a request from the mobile terminal to the device; and in response to receiving the request, switching to receive content from a different content source and deriving content from the different content source, thereby to allow content from a different content source to be streamed to the mobile terminal for consumption thereby.

24. A device comprising: a receiver for receiving content signals from two or more content sources; and a content sender for streaming content derived from the content signals from the fixed device to a mobile terminal, the device being responsive to receiving a request from the mobile terminal to switch to receive content from a different content source, thereby to allow content from a different content source to be provided to the mobile terminal.