Method and Apparatus for Wirelessly Transmitting High Volume Content to an Electronic Device
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of receiving digital content in an electronic device with optimized cost and battery life, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for identifying and selectively receiving relevant data at an electronic device in a one-way broadcast communications system comprising:
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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.
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24. A content delivery and communications system, comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A portable electronic device for use in content delivery and communications system, the portable electronic device comprising:
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(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.
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Specification