Systems and methods for distributing content in a vehicle-based wireless network
First Claim
1. A system for distributing content in a vehicle-based wireless network, the system comprising:
- a first vehicle-based communication device in a first vehicle;
a second vehicle-based communication device in a second vehicle;
wherein the first vehicle-based communication device is configured to;
receive, via a cellular network, a content item from a content distributor;
transmit, via a Wi-Fi network, a first portion of the content item to the second vehicle-based communication device, wherein the first portion is randomly selected by the first vehicle-based communication device;
receive, via the Wi-Fi network, a request for a second portion of the content item from the second vehicle-based communication device; and
in response to the received request, transmit, via the Wi-Fi network, the second portion of the content item to the second vehicle-based communication device;
wherein the second vehicle-based communication device is configured to;
in response to receipt of the first portion of the content item via the Wi-Fi network from the first vehicle-based communication device, transmit via the Wi-Fi network a request for the announcement to the first vehicle-based communication device;
receive the announcement from the first vehicle-based communication device via the Wi-Fi network;
request, via the cellular network, a third portion from the content distributor;
receive, via the cellular network, the third portion; and
wherein the content distributor is configured to;
transmit, via the cellular network, an announcement to the first vehicle-based communication device, the announcement identifying the content item;
in response to the announcement, receive from the first vehicle-based communication device a request for the identified content item;
transmit, via the cellular network, proofs to the first vehicle-based communication device, the proofs configured to authenticate the content item; and
transmit, via the cellular network, the content item to the first vehicle-based communication device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for distributing content to mobile computing devices, such as in the context of a vehicle-based wireless network, are described. In some examples, a content provider uses a cellular network to initially transmit a content item to a multi-network communication device in a first vehicle. The first vehicle device then uses a local Wi-Fi network to further transmit randomly selected portions of the content item to devices on nearby vehicles, which may also further propagate the content item portions to other vehicles. Vehicle devices may also specifically request content portions by broadcasting requests to neighboring vehicle devices via local Wi-Fi communication and/or communicating with the content provider via the cellular network. Upon the occurrence of a condition, such as a passage of time, the content provider may also initiate communication with devices in the network in order to assure complete distribution of the content item.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for distributing content in a vehicle-based wireless network, the system comprising:
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a first vehicle-based communication device in a first vehicle; a second vehicle-based communication device in a second vehicle; wherein the first vehicle-based communication device is configured to; receive, via a cellular network, a content item from a content distributor; transmit, via a Wi-Fi network, a first portion of the content item to the second vehicle-based communication device, wherein the first portion is randomly selected by the first vehicle-based communication device; receive, via the Wi-Fi network, a request for a second portion of the content item from the second vehicle-based communication device; and in response to the received request, transmit, via the Wi-Fi network, the second portion of the content item to the second vehicle-based communication device; wherein the second vehicle-based communication device is configured to; in response to receipt of the first portion of the content item via the Wi-Fi network from the first vehicle-based communication device, transmit via the Wi-Fi network a request for the announcement to the first vehicle-based communication device; receive the announcement from the first vehicle-based communication device via the Wi-Fi network; request, via the cellular network, a third portion from the content distributor; receive, via the cellular network, the third portion; and wherein the content distributor is configured to; transmit, via the cellular network, an announcement to the first vehicle-based communication device, the announcement identifying the content item; in response to the announcement, receive from the first vehicle-based communication device a request for the identified content item; transmit, via the cellular network, proofs to the first vehicle-based communication device, the proofs configured to authenticate the content item; and transmit, via the cellular network, the content item to the first vehicle-based communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method in a first vehicle-based communication device in a first vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving from the content distributor an announcement that identifies a content item, the announcement received via a cellular network; in response to the announcement, transmitting a request via the cellular network to the content distributor for the identified item; receiving from the content distributor proofs configured to authenticate the content item, the proofs received via the cellular network; receiving, via the cellular network, the content item from the content distributor; transmitting, via a Wi-Fi network, a first portion of the content item to a second vehicle-based communication device in a second vehicle, wherein the first portion is randomly selected by the first vehicle-based communication device; receiving from the second vehicle-based communication device a request for the announcement, the request transmitted via the Wi-Fi network by the second vehicle-based communication device in response to receipt of the first portion of the content item; and transmitting via the Wi-Fi network the announcement to the second vehicle-based communication device; receiving, via the Wi-Fi network, a request for a second portion of the content item from the second vehicle-based communication device; and in response to the received request, transmit, via the Wi-Fi network, the second portion of the content item to the second vehicle-based communication device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification