Media data transfer

• US 20070155307A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Robbin, Jeffrey L., Ng, Stanley C., Hodge, Andrew Bert, Borchers, Robert Edward, Cue, Eddy, Bell, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/95 for local area
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices are disclosed. One aspect pertains to data delivery to mobile devices. In one embodiment, a local server is provided at a particular location, such as at an establishment, venue, etc. The local server can operate to locally wirelessly transmit data to mobile devices within its vicinity. Typically, the mobile devices are associated with persons (users) at the particular location. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered. The local server can also provide customized data to the mobile devices, individually or as a group. The customization can be based on location, characteristics, interests, preferences and/or requests of the users of the mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of data from a local server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a local wireless network while in the vicinity of an establishment, the method comprising:

discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;

informing the at least one portable electronic device of at least one available broadcast at the establishment;

receiving a selection of the at least one available broadcast available from the local server at the establishment; and

transmitting the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting operates to transmit the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the transmitting comprises streaming the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

4. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the discovering uses the local wireless network,

wherein the informing transmits information pertaining to the at least one available broadcasts from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network, and

wherein the receiving receives the selection of the at least one available broadcasts via the local wireless network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the informing causes the at least one portable electronic device to display a list of the at least one available broadcast.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting the selected at least one available broadcast that has been transmitted to the at least one portable electronic device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presenting operates to produce audio output from the at least one portable electronic device, the audio output being associated with the selected at least one available broadcast that has been transmitted to the at least one portable electronic device.

8. A method for delivering data from a local server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a local wireless network while in the vicinity of an establishment, the method comprising:

discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;

retrieving stored data from the at least one portable electronic device;

determining data to be provided from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; and

transmitting the determined data from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the determined data is a selected available broadcast, and wherein the transmitting operates to broadcast or multicast the selected broadcast to at least the at least one portable electronic device.

10. A method as recited in claim 8,

wherein the discovering uses the local wireless network, and

wherein the transmitting operates to transmit the determined data from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

11. A method as recited in claim 8,

wherein the retrieving of the stored data from the at least one portable electronic device is performed via the local wireless network, and

wherein the method further comprises:

presenting the determined data at the at least one portable electronic device.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the presenting operates to produce audio output from the at least one portable electronic device, the audio output being associated with the determined data.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the determined data is one of a plurality of available broadcasts from the local server.

14. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein retrieved stored data pertains to a preference setting on the at least one portable electronic device.

15. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein retrieved stored data pertains to prior usage of the at least one portable electronic device.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the prior usage is associated with at least one previously received available broadcasts.

17. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the determined data includes at least one electronic file.

18. A method for transmitting media data at an establishment via a local wireless network, the method comprising:

retrieving data from at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network;

determining media data to be provided at the establishment based on at least the retrieved data; and

transmitting the determined media data over the local wireless network.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieved data pertains to a characteristic, interest, preference or request of a user of the at least one portable electronic device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18,

wherein the retrieved data pertains to a characteristic, interest or preference of a user of the at least one portable electronic device, and

wherein the method is automatically performed without any need for user input.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting includes broadcasting is over the local wireless network.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting operates to transmit the determined media data over the local wireless network to the portable electronic device and at least one other portable electronic device at the establishment.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting comprises streaming the determined media data over the local wireless network to at least the portable electronic device.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieving comprises:

discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment; and

subsequently retrieving the data from the at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the discovering is performed using the local wireless network.

26. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieving comprises:

discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;

receiving a data request from the portable electronic device, the request being initiated by the user of the portable electronic device; and

subsequently, in response to the data request, retrieving the data from the at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network.

27. A method for delivering data to a portable electronic device via a local wireless network provided at a location, the method comprising:

determining whether the portable electronic device is proximate to the location;

identifying data to be delivered to the portable electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the data pertains to the location; and

delivering the identified data to the portable electronic device over the local wireless network.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the method can operate automatically or on request from a user of the portable electronic device.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the location is an airport, and wherein at least a portion of the data content pertains to flight information.

30. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the location is an entertainment venue providing at least a particular entertainment, and wherein at least a portion of the data content pertains to the particular entertainment at the entertainment venue.

31. A method for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the method comprising:

discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;

retrieving device data from the portable electronic device;

determining server data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the device data; and

delivering the server data to the portable electronic device over the wireless network.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server is a local server, and the wireless network is a local wireless network.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the retrieved stored data includes at least an identifier.

34. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the location is associated with an establishment.

35. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the determined data is an electronic file.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic file is an electronic media file.

37. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device comprises:

determining whether a user of the portable electronic device is a participant to an electronic subscription service; and

determining whether there is any subscription related data to be delivered to the portable electronic device for the user.

38. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein prior to the delivering, the method further comprises determining whether the user of the portable electronic device approves the delivery of the server data.

39. A method as recited in claim 31,

wherein the device data pertains to a characteristic, interest or preference of a user of the portable electronic device, and

wherein the server data is determined based on the device data.

40. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server data is media data stored electronically in an electronic file.

41. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server data is delivered without charge to the user of the portable electronic device.

42. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a local wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;

computer program code for informing the at least one portable electronic device of a plurality of available channels at the location;

computer program code for receiving a selection of one of the available channels available at the location; and

computer program code for transmitting the selected one of the available channels from the server to the at least one portable electronic device using the local wireless network.

43. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a local wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;

computer program code for retrieving stored data from the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network;

computer program code for determining data to be provided from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; and

computer program code for transmitting the determined data from the server to the at least one portable electronic device using the local wireless network.

44. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for presenting media content at a location via a local wireless network provided at the establishment, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for retrieving data from at least one portable electronic device at the location via the local wireless network;

computer program code for determining media content to be presented at the location based on at least the retrieved data; and

computer program code for causing the determined media content to be presented at the location.

45. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivering data content to a portable electronic device while at a location via a local wireless network provided at the location, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining whether the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the location;

computer program code for determining data content to be delivered to the portable electronic device, at least a portion of the data content pertaining to the location; and

computer program code for delivering the determined data content to the portable electronic device over the local wireless network while at the location.

46. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of a particular location;

computer program code for retrieving stored data from the portable electronic device via the wireless network;

computer program code for determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; and

computer program code for delivering the determined data from the server to the portable electronic device over the wireless network.

47. A portable electronic device capable of interacting with a wireless network at an establishment, comprising:

wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication over a wireless link;

a user input device; and

a processor operatively connected to the wireless communication circuitry and the user input device, the processor being configured to receive at least one available channel that is available from the wireless network at the establishment, to receive a selection of the at least one available channels available via the wireless network at the establishment, and to receive a wireless transmission of the selected available channel over the wireless network at the establishment via the wireless communication circuitry.

48. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 47, wherein the selection of the at least one available channels available via the wireless network is provided via the user input device.

49. A computing device for transmitting data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the computing device comprising:

a data storage device that stores computer program code, the computer program code includes computer program code for discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of a particular location;

computer program code for retrieving stored data from the portable electronic device via the wireless network;

computer program code for determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; and

computer program code for delivering the determined data from the server to the portable electronic device over the wireless network; and

a processor, operatively connected to the data storage device, for processing the computer program stored in the data storage device.