Systems and Methods for Cost Effective Distribution of Files to User Devices Using Combination of Broadcast and Two-Way Communication Paths
First Claim
1. A method of delivering files to user devices using plural transmission phases and hybrid distribution modes comprising:
- designating a plurality of user devices targeted to receive a file;
preparing the file to be transmitted to targeted user devices by processing the file to obtain a plurality of file parts that can be used to reassemble the file;
transmitting the file parts corresponding to the file in a first transmission phase using a first transmission mode that employs at least one of a broadcast and a multicast;
storing information comprising an identifier corresponding to the file or its delivery instance;
receiving communications from at least a subset of the targeted user devices comprising at least one of a request for missing file parts and an indication of how much of the file has not been received by the corresponding targeted user device;
updating the stored information by storing information relating to at least each of the targeted user devices for which communications were received, the updated information indicating how much of the file parts have been received at each of the targeted user devices based on the received communications; and
transmitting one or more of the file parts in a second transmission phase using a second transmission mode that employs one-to-one communication with at least a designated one of the plurality of user devices to send it the file parts that it is missing based on the updated stored information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hybrid file delivery systems and methods divide one or more files into parts for transmission to plural user devices during a first transmission phase employing one or more one-to-many communication paths (e.g., broadcast or multicast), and then transmit missing file parts to designated user devices during a second transmission phase employing respective one-to-one communication paths. User devices are configured with specified criteria for when and how to report file delivery status to a file delivery center that maintains a database of target user devices, file delivery campaigns, and statuses of file delivery completion at the user devices. The file delivery center can employ the database information to determine cost benefit for delivery of a file using two different transmission modalities and control when to switchover to or commence the second transmission phase after the first transmission phase.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of delivering files to user devices using plural transmission phases and hybrid distribution modes comprising:
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designating a plurality of user devices targeted to receive a file; preparing the file to be transmitted to targeted user devices by processing the file to obtain a plurality of file parts that can be used to reassemble the file; transmitting the file parts corresponding to the file in a first transmission phase using a first transmission mode that employs at least one of a broadcast and a multicast; storing information comprising an identifier corresponding to the file or its delivery instance; receiving communications from at least a subset of the targeted user devices comprising at least one of a request for missing file parts and an indication of how much of the file has not been received by the corresponding targeted user device; updating the stored information by storing information relating to at least each of the targeted user devices for which communications were received, the updated information indicating how much of the file parts have been received at each of the targeted user devices based on the received communications; and transmitting one or more of the file parts in a second transmission phase using a second transmission mode that employs one-to-one communication with at least a designated one of the plurality of user devices to send it the file parts that it is missing based on the updated stored information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system of delivering files to user devices using plural transmission phases and hybrid distribution modes comprising:
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at least one communication interface configured to interface with a first transmission system that employs at least one of a broadcast and a multicast to send a file to a plurality of user devices, and a second transmission system that can perform one-to-one communications with respective ones of the plurality of user devices; a human machine interface configured to receive user inputs specifying a file to be delivered to targeted ones of the plurality of users, the file having been divided into file parts that can be used to reassemble the file; a memory device for storing information comprising an identifier corresponding to the file or its delivery instance; and a processing device configured to control transmission of the file parts during a first transmission phase that uses the first transmission system, to receive communications from at least some of the target user devices via the second interface that comprise at least one of a request for missing file parts and an indication of how much of the file has not been received by the corresponding targeted user device, to control updating the stored information in the memory device with information relating to at least each of the target user devices for which communications were received and that indicates how much of the file parts have been received at each of the targeted user devices based on the received communications, and to transmit one or more of the file parts in a second transmission phase using the second transmission system that employs one-to-one communication with at least a designated one of the plurality of user devices to send it the file parts that it is missing based on the updated information in the memory device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification