Intelligent Power-Aware Downloading for Mobile Communication Devices

• US 20090017860A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cole, Gary R.
• Application Number:
  US11/774,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017860A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes intelligent, power-aware download capability for downloading or streaming content. Music, video and other media content is made available by the content provider with multiple content qualities. The mobile communication device monitors its own power availability status, determines a desired content quality, and downloads the media content with the desired content quality.

Claims

1. A method of downloading media content available in a plurality of content qualities to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

determining a power availability status of said mobile communication device;

selecting a content quality depending on the power availability status; and

downloading the media content with the selected content quality.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a power availability status of said mobile communication device comprises determining the availability of an external power source.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein selecting a content quality depending on the power availability status comprises selecting a higher content quality when an external power source is available and a lower quality when an external power source is unavailable.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a power availability status of said mobile communication device comprises determining the power level of a battery.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting a content quality depending on the power availability status comprises selecting a content quality that reduces bandwidth requirements when the power level of the battery is low.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting a content quality depending on the power availability status comprises selecting a content quality that reduces bandwidth requirements proportionally with the power level of the battery.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a content quality depending on the power availability status is performed by the mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting power availability status information from the mobile communication device to a content provider, and selecting the content quality by the content provider.

9. A mobile communication device comprising:

a power monitoring circuit to monitor the power availability status of the mobile communication device and to generate a power availability signal;

control logic configured to select a content quality responsive to the power availability signal; and

a receiver to download a media content with the desired content quality.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein the power monitoring circuit monitors the availability of an external power source.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein the control logic is configured to select a higher content quality when an external power source is available and a lower quality of said when an external power source is unavailable.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein the power monitoring circuit monitors the power level of a battery.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12 wherein the control logic is configured to select a content quality that reduces bandwidth requirements when the power level of the battery is low.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13 wherein the control logic is configured to select a content quality that reduces bandwidth requirements proportionally with the power level of the battery.

15. A mobile communication device comprising:

a power monitoring circuit to monitor the power availability status of the mobile communication device;

control logic configured to transmit the power availability status with a download request to a content provider; and

a receiver to download a media content selected by the content provider responsive to said download request and based on said power availability status.

16. A content provider comprising:

memory to store a media content database; and

a control unit to;

receive a download request including a power availability status from a mobile communication device;

select media content from said media content database responsive to the download request and based on the power availability status; and

transmit the selected media content to the mobile communication device.

17. The content provider of claim 16 wherein the control unit comprises selection logic configured to:

determine a content quality based on the power availability status; and

select the media content based on the content quality.

18. The content provider of claim 16 wherein the control unit comprises a transcoder to transcode the media content based on the power availability status, and wherein the control unit transmits the selected media content by transmitting the transcoded media content to the mobile communication device.