Method and Apparatus for Wirelessly Transmitting High Volume Content to an Electronic Device

• US 20110060669A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Laves
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Laves
• Inventors: Laves, Edward W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0891 Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying

Abstract

Digital content, particularly high volume digital content, such as newspapers or e-books are transmitted to an electronic device such as a handheld book reader over available bandwidth in a commercial FM radio station, private radio station, television station, or other one-way transmission system. A particular content item may be periodically rebroadcast along with other content on a rotating basis. GPS receivers and location-oriented databases may be used to allow the electronic device to find local broadcast outlets for the digital content when relocated to a new area. When no one-way transmission system is available or when packets of the high volume content are missing, a two-way communication system such as cellular (e.g. 3G or 4G systems), WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth, etc. may be used to download all or part of the high volume content. Encryption schemes may be used to selectively authorize use of both electronic devices and content.

Claims

1. A method of receiving digital content in an electronic device with optimized cost and battery life, comprising:

determining if a last used broadcast radio frequency is stored in a memory;

when stored in the memory, monitoring the last used broadcast radio frequency on a broadcast receiver to determine if a broadcast indicator is present signifying operation of the last used broadcast radio frequency for distribution of a digital content;

receiving the digital content via the broadcast receiver over the last used broadcast radio frequency if the broadcast indicator was detected;

determining a geographic location of the electronic device if the memory did not have stored within it the last used broadcast radio frequency or if the broadcast indicator was not detected;

accessing a database stored within the electronic device to determine if the geographic location is stored within the database;

if the geographic location was stored within the database;

retrieving from the database a new broadcast radio frequency corresponding to the geographic location;

tuning the broadcast receiver to the new broadcast radio frequency;

monitoring the new broadcast radio frequency on the broadcast receiver to determine if the broadcast indicator is present signifying operation of the new broadcast radio frequency for distribution of the digital content; and

receiving the digital content via the broadcast receiver over the new broadcast radio frequency if the broadcast indicator was detected; and

if the geographic location was not stored within the database;

sequentially scanning all broadcast radio frequencies on the broadcast receiver to determine if the broadcast indicator is present on one of the sequentially scanned broadcast radio frequencies; and

receiving the digital content via the broadcast receiver over the one of the sequentially scanned broadcast radio frequencies where the broadcast indicator was detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the last used broadcast radio frequency is one of an FM radio broadcast radio frequency or a digital television broadcast radio frequency and wherein the new broadcast radio frequency is one of another FM radio broadcast radio frequency or another digital television broadcast radio frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the digital content via the broadcast receiver includes receiving the digital content along with other broadcast content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of:

a personal computer, a tablet computer, a netbook, a cell-phone, a smart-phone, and an e-reader that utilizes bi-stable display technology.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising decrypting the digital content at the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing a first secret key in a secure memory of the electronic device at a time of manufacture.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein decrypting the digital content further comprises decrypting the digital content with an operating secret key constructed by combining with a secret algorithm, the first secret key that is stored in the secure memory of the electronic device at the time of manufacture with a second secret key which is periodically downloaded to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining when an update to a local cryptographic key is indicated;

waiting for a communication session to be active to avoid a standalone communication session for downloading key material;

downloading the key material for use in creating the local cryptographic key using the communication session that is active;

creating the local cryptographic key using the key material and existing cryptographic matter in the electronic device;

using the local cryptographic key for use in decrypting digital content, when encrypted.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the digital content comprises:

receiving an initial version of the digital content via the broadcast receiver; and

subsequently receiving at least one content update to the initial version of the digital content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the digital content has been completely received without unfixable errors;

when the digital content is not completely received without unfixable errors, identifying a missing packet from the digital content;

waiting for rebroadcast of the missing packet; and

downloading the missing packet when rebroadcast.

11. A method for selectively utilizing a two-way communications path to augment a primary one-way broadcast communications path for downloading digital content to an electronic device, the method comprising:

locating a broadcast radio frequency for use by a broadcast receiver in the electronic device to download digital content;

downloading the digital content over the broadcast radio frequency when the local broadcast frequency is located and usable for downloading;

determining that some or all of the digital content was not correctly received over the broadcast radio frequency;

powering on a two-way transceiver in the electronic device after determining that some or all of the digital content was not correctly received;

downloading the some or all of the of the digital content using the two-way transceiver; and

powering off the two-way transceiver in the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that some or all of the digital content was not correctly received comprises one of determining that the digital content was not received in an expected time frame or determining that received digital content has missing or damaged elements.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that some or all of the digital content was not correctly received comprises utilizing a time of day to determine that the digital content was not received in a designated time period.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a request via the two-way transceiver to a provider of the digital content requesting re-transmission of the digital content.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a supplementary communications link via the two-way transceiver that allows two-way data communications from the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising using the supplementary communication link for one of a data transfer or web browsing.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein powering on the two-way transceiver occurs immediately before downloading the some or all of the digital content and wherein powering off the two-way transceiver occurs immediately after downloading the some or all of the digital content.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising delaying the downloading of the some or all of the digital content via the two-way transceiver until the two-way transceiver is in use for another purpose.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the two-way transceiver is one of:

a Wi-Fi (standard # 802.11) transceiver, a Bluetooth (standard #802.15.1) transceiver, a WiMax (standard # 802.16) transceiver, a Zigbee (standard #802.15) transceiver, or a cellular telephone data transceiver.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the digital content via the broadcast receiver comprises monitoring transmissions of sequential and repeated broadcast of the digital content to detect and download the digital content when in range of a broadcaster.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating non-digital content related information via the two-way transceiver, the non-digital content related information including electronic device status, electronic device errors, key updates, and usage data.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

uploading via the two-way transceiver at least one of advertising viewership data, a text message, an electronic mail;

coupon usage data;

a web browsing request, and an order for a product or services.

23. A method for identifying and selectively receiving relevant data at an electronic device in a one-way broadcast communications system comprising:

reading at the electronic device an identifier code associated with the digital content, the identifier code used by the electronic device to determine the nature of the digital content being broadcast; and

receiving or storing the digital content only when the identifier code meets a criteria stored in a memory of the electronic device.

24. A content delivery and communications system, comprising:

(i) a data center that formats and manages delivery of data content to portable electronic devices and which sends digital data content to one or more communications backbone systems over the internet or via direct data links to the one or more communications backbone systems;

(ii) a first communication backbone system including a broadcast transmitter that performs one-way broadcasting of the digital data content for receipt by the portable electronic devices, the first communication backbone system further including first equipment for communicating with the data center;

(iii) a second communication backbone system including second equipment for two-way communication with the portable electronic devices for transmission of the digital data content to and receiving other data from the portable electronic devices, the second communication backbone system also including third equipment for communicating with the data center; and

(iv) a portable electronic device including;

(a) a first receiver that receives the digital data content from the first communication backbone system;

(b) one or more two-way wireless transceivers that receive the digital data content from and transmit the other data to the second communication backbone system;

(c) a cpu that manages the actions of said portable electronic device by execution of computer executable instructions;

(d) a memory coupled to the cpu that stores software instructions that when executed on the cpu manage the portable electronic device and the digital data content;

(e) an electronic display coupled to the cpu that the displays the digital data content and other content and messages;

(f) a location device coupled to the cpu that allows the portable electronic device to locate itself geographically and to update its internal clock;

(g) user input devices including one or more of a keyboard, a pointing device, a biometric sensor, and a touch screen; and

(h) a battery that powers the portable electronic device.

25. The content delivery and communications system of claim 24, wherein the data center comprises:

a communication manager that manages selection and utilization of the first and second communication backbone systems to deliver the digital data content to the portable electronic device;

a communication port coupled the communication manager and to a network connection, the communication port used to receive the digital data content from one or more third parties;

a cryptographic module coupled to the communication manager that selectively encrypts the digital data content prior to delivery to the portable electronic device;

an authorization unit coupled to the communication manager that selectively authorizes participation of the portable electronic device in the content delivery and communication system and that selectively authorizes the digital data content for use by the portable electronic device; and

a billing manager coupled to the authorization unit that determines contractual status of the portable electronic device and associated digital data content for use by the portable electronic device.

26. The content delivery and communications system of claim 24, wherein said data center further comprises a multiplexer that merges the digital data content with other broadcast content for transmission via the first communication backbone system.

27. The content delivery and communications system of claim 24, wherein the first communication backbone system is a commercial broadcast FM transmitter operating on designated frequencies in a particular location.

28. The content delivery and communications system of claim 27, wherein the commercial broadcast FM transmitter is equipped to support SCA, FM subcarrier or HD digital radio for digital data content transmission.

29. The content delivery and communications system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device is one of a portable personal computer (PC);

a tablet computer;

an electronic book reader and a cellular telephone.

30. The content delivery and communications system of claim 24, wherein the portable electronic device includes a plurality of multi-band micro strip antennas.

31. A portable electronic device for use in content delivery and communications system, the portable electronic device comprising:

(a) a first receiver that receives the digital data content from the first communication backbone system;

(b) one or more two-way wireless transceivers that receive the digital data content from and transmit the other data to the second communication backbone system;

(c) a cpu coupled to the first receiver and the one or more two-way wireless transceivers, wherein the cpu manages the actions of said portable electronic device by execution of computer executable instructions;

(d) a memory coupled to the cpu that stores software instructions that when executed on the cpu manage the portable electronic device and the digital data content;

(e) an electronic display coupled to the cpu that the displays the digital data content and other content and messages;

(f) a GPS receiver coupled to the cpu that allows the portable electronic device to locate itself geographically and to update its internal clock;

(g) user input devices including one or more of a keyboard, a pointing device, a biometric sensor, and a touch screen; and

(h) a battery that powers the portable electronic device.