The present application generally relates to a mobile use of a media service, such as television- or video-service.

IPTV is an internet-protocol based technology for distributing television- and video- transmissions. In different IPTV-services a subscriber can for example watch TV- programs, store or record desired TV-programs into a network storage space and watch them at any desired time, as well as rent and watch movies made available through a rental movie service.

The present application provides a novel solution for mobile use of a media service, such as an IPTV-service. According to a first example aspect of the invention there is provided a method for providing a media service to mobile devices comprising

forming an IP-connection between a mobile device and the media service, receiving over said IP-connection at least one identifier used in a mobile network,

automatically recognizing a user of the mobile device based on said at least one identifier used in a mobile network,

automatically choosing based on user information of the recognized user at least one media recording for anticipated download, and

sending to the mobile device download information for anticipatory download on the media recording chosen for anticipatory download before receiving a viewing request concerning said media recording that is possibly received later from said mobile device.

In an example embodiment the sending is carried out in response to a request received from the mobile device.

In an example embodiment the method further comprises starting the transfer of the media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device before receiving a viewing request concerning said media recording that is possibly received later from said mobile device.

In an example embodiment the method further comprises ascertaining from systems of the mobile network that the recognized user is a valid user.

According to a second example aspect of the invention there is provided a method in a subscriber application, using a media service, of a mobile device, comprising forming an IP-connection between the subscriber application and the media service,

automatically sending over said IP-connection at least one identifier relating to the mobile device and used in a mobile network for recognizing the user of the mobile device in the media service, and

receiving download information for anticipatory download on the media recording chosen for anticipatory download.

In an example embodiment the method further comprises starting the transfer of the media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device before receiving a viewing request concerning said media recording that is possibly received later from the user of said mobile device.

In an example embodiment the identifier is sent and received in an encrypted or compressed form. In an example embodiment the method further comprises sending an enquiry on the media recordings suitable for anticipatory download and receiving said download information on at least one media recording chosen for anticipatory download in response to said enquiry.

In an example embodiment the transfer of the chosen media recording to said mobile device is carried out in such a way as to minimize the disturbance to other use of the mobile device. In an example embodiment the transfer of the chosen media recording is carried out at a time at which said mobile device has free processing capacity, the properties of a mobile network used by the mobile device are well suited for download and/or the mobile device has a sufficient battery level.

The aforementioned identifier may comprise an international mobile subscription identifier, IMSI, -number or an international mobile equipment identifier, IMEI, - number. According to a third example aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one computer program stored in a memory, said computer program being configured together with said at least one processor to cause said apparatus to carry out the method of the first or the second aspect or of an embodiment related to the first or the second aspect.

According to a fourth example aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program comprising program code that can be run on a computer, and when run causes an apparatus to carry out the method of the first or the second aspect or of an embodiment related to the first or the second aspect.

The computer program of the third aspect may comprise program code that can for example be run on any of the following: general processor, microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and digital signal processor. The computer program of the third aspect may be stored on computer readable medium. This medium may be for example a disc, a CDROM, a DVD, BD (Bluray Disc), a memory stick or other magnetic or optical memory device

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a messaging chart according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 5 shows a method according to a further embodiment of the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, the media service has been realized in such a way that mobile users are recognized without the users having to provide specific sign in-information (e.g. user id and password). User recognition utilizes identifiers of a mobile network which identifiers are available for example on the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) -card of the mobile device. In an embodiment of the invention content that is likely to interest the user is downloaded into the mobile device in an anticipatory manner. Since the user is automatically recognized, anticipatory download does not require any actions from the user but can be carried out fully automatically even without the user being aware that the anticipatory download is being carried out.

Herein a mobile device refers to an electronic device suitable for wireless communications and especially to an electronic device utilizing a mobile communications network. The mobile device may be for example a mobile communications device, a smart phone, a tablet computer or other portable communications device.

Fig. 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that the figure comprises both separate physical devices and different logical components, the functions of which might be carried out in one or several physical devices.

The system comprises a portal 101 offering IPTV-services or the like. In practice the portal 101 is for example a web page situated at a server. In addition to the IPTV-services the portal may be another media portal offering media content.

The portal 101 is connected to an IP-network 105 and therethrough to a wireless network 103 and to a mobile device 102. The wireless network 103 may be for example a GSM/GPRS-network or UMTS-network or other wireless communications network or a WLAN-network. The mobile device may be for example a mobile communications device, a smart phone, a tablet computer or other electronic device utilizing a mobile communications network or wireless network, or other wireless device suitable for viewing moving image/video. The IP- network may comprise several different networks, such as Internet and different broadband networks, such as ADSL, VDSL and Ethernet-networks, and wireless networks, like WLAN-networks.

The portal 101 is connected to a user database (user DB) 111 with which the users of the portal 101 are recognized. The portal 101 is also connected to a recommendation engine element 112, which produces user- or usergroup-specific program or content recommendations. The recommendation engine element 112 is connected to a statistics database 113, into which usage information on the realized usage of the portal 101 has been collected from different user devices 102. The recommendation engine element 112 is configured to use the information contained in the statistics database 113 to form program and/or content recommendations.

In addition, the portal 101 is connected to a media storage 114. The media storage 114 may comprise media recordings offered by a third party and/or content governed by the provider of the portal 101. There may be one or several media storages 114.

The portal 101 is configured for distributing a media transmission, such as a TV or video transmission, to the mobile device 102 through the IP-network 105 and the wireless network 103 for example based on IPTV technology. The distribution may be carried out using for example Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The distribution may be carried out through the portal 101 or the portal 101 may control a distribution directly from the media storage 114 to the IP-network 105 and therethrough to the mobile device 102. In an embodiment, the media storage 1 4 is connected to a media server 115 and therethrough to the IP-network 105. In addition or alternatively recordings can be fetched directly from the media storage 1 4 through the media server 115.

In an embodiment, each of the portal 101 , the user database 111 , the statistics database 113, the recommendation engine 112 and the media storage 114 of Fig. 1 is a separate physical device. In another embodiment the functionality of the portal 101 , the user database 111 , the statistics database 113 and the recommendation engine 112 of Fig. 1 may be combined into a single logical entity provided by a single physical device (or several similar parallel devices). In other words, all intelligence of the service is situated in a single device and the service utilizes content and program information available from external sources (media storage 114). Alternatively, it is possible that the media storage 114 and the possible media server 115 are situated in the same physical device or at least are in control of the party offering the IPTV service of the portal 101. In such a case, the content of the media storage 114 may be retrieved, downloaded or stored from an external source.

Accordingly, the functionality of the components 101 , 11 -115 of the system of Fig. 1 may be carried out in one or several devices. If need be, there may be several parallel devices providing the same functionality for example for evening the load.

Fig. 2 shows a messaging chart according to an embodiment of the invention that can be realized for example in the system of Fig. 1.

201 : The subscriber application of a mobile device sends a sign-in request to a media service portal. The sign-in request comprises at least one identifier relating to the mobile device, and intended primarily for use in a mobile network. This identifier may be for example an IMSI (international mobile subscription identifier) or an IMEI (international mobile equipment identifier) identifier and the subscriber application may fetch this information for example from a SIM (Subscriber identity Module) card residing in the mobile device. In an embodiment the identifier is sent and received in an encrypted form in order to guarantee data security. For example a hash can be calculated from the identifier, which hash is sent to the media service portal.

This phase can be carried out automatically, without the user of the mobile device having to perform any operation, for example when the mobile device is switched on or the subscriber application is started.

202: The portal authenticates the user based on the identifier received with the sign-in request and based on user information stored in a user database. This phase may comprise a separate confirmation that the identifiers in question are not on a blacklist of any mobile communications network. This way it is possible to ascertain for example that the mobile device in question has not been reported stolen. Respectively, it can be checked that the user has a valid subscription to the media service.

203: The portal acknowledges the successful sign-in to the subscriber application.

204: The subscriber application may enquire from the portal, whether any material for anticipatory download is available at the portal. The subscriber application may be configured to send such an enquiry for example in response the subscriber application detecting that the mobile device is not being actively used for any other purpose and/or that the mobile device would have free processing capacity. Alternatively or in addition, the subscriber application may be configured to send such an enquiry recurrently. However, sending an enquiry 204 is not essential to different embodiments of the invention and the embodiments of the invention can be realized fine without this enquiry.

205: The portal requests a user specific recommendation for anticipatory download from a recommendation engine.

206: The recommendation engine forms a recommendation based on user information retrievable from a statistics database. The recommendation engine may form recommendations in real-time as they are needed or the recommendations may be pre-stored in the recommendation engine. In the latter case the recommendation engine doesn't need to be in contact with the statistics database each time it is being requested for a recommendation for a user. 207: The recommendation engine returns a user specific recommendation to the portal.

208: The portal sends to the subscriber application download information that tells from where the subscriber application may download anticipatorily the content recommended for the user in question. Said content may comprise on or more media recordings.

209: The subscriber application sends to the portal a download request for anticipatory download of a media recording. The subscriber application may be configured to send the request for example in response to the subscriber application detecting that the mobile device is not being actively used for any other purpose and/or that the mobile device would have free processing capacity and/or that the properties of a mobile network used by the mobile device are well suited for download (for example a fast enough network, sufficient transmit power) and/or that the mobile device has a sufficient battery level.

210: The portal authorizes the usage right of the user on the media recording requested for download. 211 : The portal sends a request to a media storage to start sending the requested media recording to the mobile device.

212: In the depicted example, the media recording is sent directly from the media storage to a memory device of the mobile device. Alternatively, the media recording may be dispatched to the mobile device through the portal and in the mobile device the media recording may be dispatched into the subscriber application that further stores it into the memory device of the mobile device. 213: The user of the mobile device wants to watch a media recording downloaded anticipatorily. The recording is retrieved from the memory device instead of having to download it from the portal. In an embodiment, a part of the recording may be retrieved from the portal. This may be done for example when there has been time to download anticipatorily only a part of the recording at the time the user starts viewing the recording.

Here it should be noted that only one example implementation has been shown in Fig. 2 and all the phases are not obligatory. In addition, the details of the implementation may vary in different embodiments. For example, the download request 209 may be sent directly to the media storage or to a front end device (for example media server 115 of Fig. 1 ). The connections, through which recordings can be downloaded directly from the media storage 114, have been shown with a dash line in Fig. 1. In this case, the media server 115 may be configured to authorize with the help of user database 11 the usage right of the user to the content that is requested for download.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an apparatus 30 that is suitable for carrying out some embodiments of the invention. The apparatus may be for example a general use computer or a server and it can be configured for providing the functionality of one or more components 101 , 111 -115, 102 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus 30 comprises a processor 31 for controlling the functioning of the apparatus and a memory 32 that comprises a computer program/software. Software 33 may comprise instructions to the processor for controlling the apparatus 30 in such a way that the functionality according to an embodiment of the invention is produced.

The processor 31 may be for example a computer processor (central processing unit, CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), graphics processor, or the like. The figure shows one processor, but the apparatus may have several processors. The memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, an optical or magnetic memory or the like. The apparatus may have several memories. The memory may be a part of the apparatus 30 or it may be a separate module attachable to the apparatus 30. The memory may be only provided for storing of information or it can also be used for processing information. In addition the apparatus 30 comprises a communications unit 35. The communications unit provides an interface for communicating with other devices, the interface may be for example a fixed cable connection, such as Ethernet- connection or ADSL/VDSL-connection, or a wireless connection, such as WLAN, Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA or LTE -connection. The communications interface module may be integrated into the apparatus 30 or it may be a part of an adapter, a card or the like that can be connected to the apparatus 30. The communications unit may support one or more communications technologies or the apparatus may have several communications units. For receiving input from a user and for providing output to the user, apparatus 30 may comprise a user interface unit (not show in figure) that may comprise for example a display a and a keyboard (not shown in figure) that may be an integrated part of the apparatus or separate parts connectable to the apparatus 30. A user interface is not necessarily required or the user interface may be realized as a remote connection through the communications unit 35.

In addition to the elements shown in Fig. 3 the apparatus may comprise further elements. Fig. 4 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention that can be applied for example in the portal 101 of the system of Fig. 1 and in the apparatus 30 of Fig. 3. At phase 41 an IP-connection is formed between a mobile device and a media service.

At phase 42 at least one identifier used in a mobile network is received over the IP connection and a user of the mobile device is automatically recognized based on this identifier. The identifier can be sent as a hash of the identifier or in an otherwise encrypted form.

At phase 43 at least one media recording is chosen for anticipatory download based on user information of the automatically recognized user.

At phase 44 the transfer of said media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device is started or at least information on said media recording chosen for anticipatory download is sent to said mobile device (for example information on from where said media recording can be downloaded). In an embodiment, the transfer of media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device is started before receiving a viewing request concerning said media recording that is possibly received later from the user of said mobile device. In an embodiment the user is informed about a new media recording after the media recording has been downloaded into the mobile device. Respectively, the user can be informed already at the time when the download of the media recording is in progress. Fig. 5 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention that can be applied for example in the mobile device 102 of the system of Fig. 1 and in the apparatus 30 of Fig. 3.

At phase 51 an IP-connection is formed between a subscriber application of the mobile device and a media service.

At phase 52 at least one identifier relating to the mobile device and used in a mobile network for recognizing the user of the mobile device in the media service, is sent automatically to the media service over the formed IP-connection. The identifier(s) may be sent for example every time the subscriber application is started or the mobile device is switched on or as a response to an identifying request by the user of the mobile device.

At phase 53 information on at least one media recording chosen for anticipatory download is received.

At phase 54 the transfer of said media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device is started. In an embodiment, the transfer of media recording chosen for anticipatory download to said mobile device is started before receiving a viewing request concerning said media recording that is possibly received later from the user of said mobile device. The automatic user recognition according to the embodiments of the invention makes it possible to download anticipatorily into a mobile device such content that a user of the device wants to view with at least a reasonable likelihood. The anticipatory download of content then again makes it possible to view recordings on a network shadow zone or at those times when the data transfer capacity of a mobile network is for one reason or another too small for real-time streaming or even when moving completely away from the area covered by the mobile network. In this way, the recordings most likely to be favored by the user based on profile of the user are available for the user at a time of his/her choosing. The description hereinbefore provides non-limiting examples of some embodiments of the invention. It is clear for a skilled person that the invention is not limited to the details shown, but can be realized in other equivalent ways. It should be understood, for example, that in the methods shown the order of method phases can be changed and that some phases may be repeated several times or be left out entirely. It should further be understood that in this document the terms comprise and include have been used as open-ended expression and have not been meant to be limiting. In addition, the features of some embodiments of the invention can be utilized without the use of other features. The description hereinbefore should be considered merely as a description showing the principles of the invention and not as limiting to the invention. The scope of protection of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.