System, method and processor readable medium for downloading information within a predetemined period of time to a device in a network responsive to price selection

• US 20040068570A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haller, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 : On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 : QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method, system, and processor readable medium allows a user to download information to a device within a predetermined period of time at a predetermined price. In an embodiment of the present invention, a processing device is coupled to a wide area network, including a cellular network, and transfers information to the device. A user selects a representation of the information to be downloaded. A user also selects a displayed associated predetermined price, in a plurality of prices, and respective predetermined download periods of time. A processing device transfers the information to the device within the selected predetermined period of time. The respective download periods of time are determined in response to a measured download rate and size of the information. In embodiments of the present invention, the information includes processor executable software such as a ring tone or a software game. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device is a cellular device, having a WAP browser, in a short-range radio network.

Claims

1. ) A system, comprising:

a first processing device, coupled to a wide area network, to transfer information; and

,

a device, coupled to the wide area network, to receive the information within a first selected period of time and a selected first price.

2. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a cellular device.

3. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the first processing device stores the information.

4. ) The system of claim 1, wherein a representation of the information and the first price in a plurality of prices and respective periods of time is displayed on the device to a user and the user selects the representation of the information and the first price.

5. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the first price is based on a content of the information

6. ) The system of claim 1, wherein a representation of the information and the first price is provided to a user from a web site.

7. ) The system of claim 1, wherein a representation of the information and the first price is provided to a user at a second processing device.

8. ) The system of claim 1, wherein a representation of the information and the first price is provided to a user by a human operator over a telephone.

9. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the first period of time is determined in response to a predetermined data rate at a particular time and a size of the information.

10. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes processor executable software.

11. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes a ring tone.

12. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes a software game.

13. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device includes a WAP browser.

14. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the wide area network includes a cellular network.

15. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device, coupled to a short distance wireless network, generates a short-range radio signal responsive to the information.

16. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device, coupled to a short distance wireless network, generates a short-range radio signal including the information.

17. ) The system of claim 15, wherein the short distance wireless network is a Bluetooth™

network.

18. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the first processing device stores a rate schedule having a first price and a first period of time and a second price and a second period of time, wherein the first price is greater than the second price and the first period of time is less than the second period of time.

19. ) The system of claim 1, wherein a user is not charged if the information is not transferred within the period of time.

20. ) The system of claim 18, wherein the second price is free and the second period of time is approximately 24 hours.

21. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device is a cellular telephone.

22. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device is a cellular modem.

23. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device uses a protocol selected from the group consisting of a Global System for Mobile Communications (“

GSM”

), a Code Division Multiple Access (“

CDMA”

), a CDMA 2000 protocol, a Time Division Multiple Access (“

TDMA”

), General Packet Radio Services (“

GPRS”

) and an equivalent thereof.

24. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device includes a short-distance radio processor and a 2.4 GHZ transceiver.

25. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the cellular device includes a short-distance radio processor and a 5.7 GHZ transceiver.

26. ) A method, comprising the steps of:

selecting a representation of the information to be downloaded to a first device;

selecting a price and a download period of time; and

,

transferring the information to the first device within the download period of time.

27. ) The method of claim 26, wherein selecting the representation of the information step is performed by a user of the device at the device.

28. ) The method of claim 26, wherein selecting the representation of the information step is performed at a second device.

29. ) The method of claim 26, wherein selecting the price and the download period of time step is performed by a user of the first device at the device.

30. ) The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

charging the price responsive to the downloading step.

31. ) The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

crediting the price responsive to the information not being downloaded within the period of time.

32. ) The method of claim 26, wherein the first device is a cellular device.

33. ) The method of claim 28, wherein the second device is a computer.

34. ) The method of claim 26, wherein the information is processor executable software.

35. ) A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a information selection to be downloaded to a device;

receiving a price and a download period of time selection; and

,

transferring the information to the device within a period of time indicated by the download period of time selection.

36. ) The method of claim 35, further comprising:

providing the price and period of time selection to a user of the device.

37. ) The method of claim 35, further comprising:

providing an invoice including the price to a user of the device.

38. ) The method of claim 37, further comprising:

crediting a user the price if the information was not downloaded within the period of time.

39. ) The method of claim 35, further comprising:

obtaining the download period of time for the information responsive to a size of the information and a measured transfer rate at a location in the network.

40. ) An article of manufacture, including a processor readable medium, comprising:

a display software component to provide a price and a respective download period of time menu; and

,

a download agent software component to transfer a price and period of time selection and receive information responsive to the selection.

41. ) An article of manufacture, including a processor readable medium, comprising:

a display software component to provide a price and a respective period of time menu, including a download period of time selection;

a cellular software component to receive a cellular signal, containing information during a period of time indicated by the download period of time selection, from a cellular network; and

,

a short-range radio software component to generate a short-range radio signal in the short distance wireless network responsive to the information.

42. ) An article of manufacture, including a processor readable medium, comprising:

a transfer software component to transfer information to a cellular device within a download period of time responsive to a selection of the download period of time and price;

a database software component to store the information; and

,

a billing software component to generate an invoice including the price.

43. ) The article of manufacture, including a processor readable medium, comprising:

a transfer rate database software component to store a first transfer rate in a plurality of rates; and

,

a charge software component to obtain the download period of time and price responsive to a size of the information and the first transfer rate.