Methods and Apparatus for Downloading Digital Content

• US 20130054752A1
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Herwig, Nathaniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,715,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

Approaches to both pulling and pushing digital media content, such as movies, electronic books, music, games and the like, are addressed. Hybrid systems are also addressed. A mechanism for selecting particular digital media content by a user, such as a particular movie, for example, is utilized in pull approaches. A mechanism for identifying users who have opted in is employed in push approaches. Digital media content is provided by a media server to one or more high speed wireless radios which transmit that content to users'"'"' mobile devices.

Claims

1. A system for high speed wireless downloading of pulled digital media content comprising:

a media server storing a library of digital media content for selection;

a mechanism for selecting particular digital media content by a user from the library of digital media content;

a high speed local communication mechanism; and

one or more high speed wireless radios connected to the media server by the high speed local communication mechanism to receive the particular digital media content selected by the user from the media server, and transmit the particular digital media content to a mobile device of the user in a defined transmission zone.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the high speed local communication mechanism is a high speed local area network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the high speed local communication mechanism is a high speed universal serial bus (USB) connection.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said high speed wireless radios transmit to the mobile device of the user at a rate of at least 3 Gb/s.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the mechanism for selecting particular digital media content by a user comprises a kiosk.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the kiosk also vends digital media content optically recorded on a disk and comprises a touch panel display for making user selections.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one high speed radio comprises a 60 GHz radio having a transmission range of up to ten meters.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the high speed local area network transmits digital media content from the media server to the one or more high speed wireless radios.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein plural high speed wireless radios are networked to provide extended transmission coverage throughout areas where users move within a particular premise, and are controlled to provide automated handoff from one 60 GHz radio to an adjacent 60 GHz radio.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the mechanism for selecting particular digital media content comprises a user mobile device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein if the mobile device of the user is detected as leaving the transmission zone, transmission is stopped, and upon detection of the mobile device of the user reentering the transmission zone, transmission is recommenced whereby multiple session transmission is supported by the system.

12. A method for high speed wireless downloads of digital media content comprising:

storing a library of digital media content on a media server;

selecting particular digital media content from the library of digital media content;

detecting a mobile user device within a transmission zone and identifying the mobile user device is to receive the particular digital media content;

providing the selected particular digital media content by the media server to a high speed wireless radio over a high speed local communication mechanism; and

transmitting the selected particular digital media content from the high speed wireless radio to a mobile user device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting digital content is performed utilizing a kiosk.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting digital content is performed utilizing a touch screen of a kiosk by a user.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein plural high speed wireless radios are networked to provide an extended transmission coverage zone throughout areas where customers move within a premise.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the plural high speed wireless radios are 60 MHz radios.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the digital media content comprises movies.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the high speed local communication mechanism comprises a high speed local area network or a high speed universal serial bus (USB) connection.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing automated handoff from one 60 MHz radio to an adjacent 60 MHz radio as the user moves from one coverage zone to another.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

detecting the mobile device of the user has left the extended coverage zone and stopping transmission; and

recommencing transmission upon detection of the mobile device of the user reentering the extended coverage zone.