Systems and methods for the temporal shifting of data downloads or streaming

• US 10,104,514 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Drake, Aaron Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Nam
• Application Number:
  US14/972,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing time-shifted data downloads over cellular networks are disclosed. The downloads can be selected using an application or other data consuming application with a “download later” feature, or similar. The application can register with a data shifting service (DSS) to receive a low-priority, or “0-rated,” download of the data. The DSS can place the application in queue waiting for predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization to fall below a predetermined level). Upon occurrence of the predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization falling below a predetermined rate), the DSS can inform the application that a low-priority download window is available. The application can then download the data from a content provider. The DSS can enable cellular networks to increase average network utilization, while reducing peak demand. The system may offer low-priority downloads at reduced cost, or free, to incentivize use of the DSS.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a data shifting service (DSS), an indication of a selection from an application of a 0-rated download, the 0-rated download being a download of a data file from a content provider server and having a lowest download priority on a cellular network;

registering the 0-rated download at the DSS in response to the indication, the 0-rated download to contain at least a portion of the data file;

sending a first notification from the DSS to the application indicating that the 0-rated download has been registered with the DSS;

monitoring a cellular network parameter with the DSS;

determining, based on the monitoring, that the cellular network parameter has reached a predetermined value; and

sending a second notification from the DSS to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the second notification causing the application to begin the 0-rated download,

wherein the 0-rated download is 0-rated both at the time of receiving the indication and when the application begins the 0-rated download.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing the data file into two or more parts;

wherein the 0-rated download comprises a first part of the two or more parts.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

registering a second download containing a second part of the data file with the DSS;

sending a third notification from the DSS to the application that the second download has been registered with the DSS; and

sending a fourth notification from the DSS to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the fourth notification causing the application to begin the second download.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular network parameter comprises a cellular network utilization rate and the predetermined value is a predetermined percentage of total network capacity, such that the second notification is sent to the application in response to determining that the cellular network utilization rate has dropped below the predetermined percentage of total network capacity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined percentage is 80 percent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSS receives the indication from the application, and the indication is a request from the application to register the 0-rated download at the DSS.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSS receives the indication from the content provider server, and the indication is a request from the content provider server to register the 0-rated download at the DSS.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSS causes termination of the 0-rated download in response to total cellular utilization rising above 95 percent.

9. A system comprising:

a data shifting service (DSS) in communication with a cellular network and configured to perform operations including;

receiving an indication of a selection from an application of a 0-rated download, the 0-rated download being a download of a data file from a content provider server and having a lowest download priority on the cellular network;

registering the 0-rated download in response to the indication, the 0-rated download to contain at least a portion of the data file;

sending a first notification to the application indicating that the 0-rated download has been registered with the DSS;

monitoring a cellular network parameter;

determining, based on the monitoring, that the cellular network parameter has reached a predetermined value; and

sending a second notification to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the second notification causing the application to begin the 0-rated download,

wherein the 0-rated download is 0-rated both at the time of receiving the indication and when the application begins the 0-rated download.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further include:

dividing the data file into two or more parts;

wherein the 0-rated download comprises a first part of the two or more parts.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

registering a second download containing a second part of the data file with the DSS,

sending a third notification to the application that the second download has been registered with the DSS; and

sending a fourth notification to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the fourth notification causing the application to begin the second download.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the cellular network parameter comprises a cellular network utilization rate and the predetermined value is a predetermined percentage of total network capacity, such that the second notification is sent to the application in response to determining that the cellular network utilization rate has dropped below the predetermined percentage of total network capacity.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined percentage is 80 percent.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the indication is received from the application, and the indication is a request from the application to register the 0-rated download at the DSS.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the indication is received from the content provider server, and the indication is a request from the content provider server to register the 0-rated download at the DSS.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further include causing termination of the 0-rated download in response to total cellular utilization rising above 95 percent.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon programming instructions that, when executed by a computing device of a data shifting service (DSS), cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection from an application of a 0-rated download, the 0-rated download being a download of a data file from a content provider server and having a lowest download priority on a cellular network;

registering the 0-rated download in response to the indication, the 0-rated download to contain at least a portion of the data file;

sending a first notification to the application indicating that the 0-rated download has been registered with the DSS;

monitoring a cellular network parameter;

determining, based on the monitoring, that the cellular network parameter has reached a predetermined value; and

sending a second notification to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the second notification causing the application to begin the 0-rated download,

wherein the 0-rated download is 0-rated both at the time of receiving the indication and when the application begins the 0-rated download.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further include:

dividing the data file into two or more parts, wherein the 0-rated download comprises a first part of the two or more parts;

registering a second download containing a second part of the data file with the DSS;

sending a third notification to the application that the second download has been registered with the DSS; and

sending a fourth notification to the application in response to determining that the cellular network parameter has reached the predetermined value, the fourth notification causing the application to begin the second download.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the cellular network parameter comprises a cellular network utilization rate and the predetermined value is a predetermined percentage of total network capacity, such that the second notification is sent to the application in response to determining that the cellular network utilization rate has dropped below the predetermined percentage of total network capacity.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication is received from the application or the content provider server, and the indication is a request to register the 0-rated download at the DSS.