Systems and Methods For The Temporal Shifting of Data Downloads or Streaming

• US 20170180960A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Drake, Aaron Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,104,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing time-shifted data downloads over cellular networks are disclosed. The downloads can be selected using an application or other data consuming application with a “download later” feature, or similar. The application can register with a data shifting service (DSS) to receive a low-priority, or “0-rated,” download of the data. The DSS can place the application in queue waiting for predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization to fall below a predetermined level). Upon occurrence of the predetermined network conditions (e.g., network utilization falling below a predetermined rate), the DSS can inform the application that a low-priority download window is available. The application can then download the data from a content provider. The DSS can enable cellular networks to increase average network utilization, while reducing peak demand. The system may offer low-priority downloads at reduced cost, or free, to incentivize use of the DSS.

Claims

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing the data file into two or more parts;

wherein the first download comprises a first part of the two or more parts.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

registering a second download containing a second part of the data file with the DSS;

sending a third notification from the DSS to the application that the second download has been registered with the DSS;

monitoring the cellular network parameter with the DSS; and

sending a fourth notification from the DSS to the application causing the application to begin the second download in response the cellular network parameter reaching the predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular network parameter comprises a cellular network utilization rate;

and

the DSS sends the second notification to the application to begin the first download in response to total cellular network dropping below a predetermined percentage of total network capacity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined percentage is 80 percent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein registering the first download with the DSS comprises receiving a request at the DSS from the application to register the first download.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein registering the first download with the DSS comprises receiving a request at the DSS from the content provider server to register the first download.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSS terminates the first download in response to total cellular utilization rising above 95 percent.

9. A system comprising:

a cellular network to provide cellular data to a plurality of mobile users;

a data shifting service (DSS) in communication with the cellular network and configured to;

receive a request for a time-shifted download of content from an application, the application enabling a selection of the content to be downloaded by a first user of the plurality of mobile users;

monitor a cellular network parameter; and

notify the application to begin downloading the content in response to the cellular network parameter reaching a predetermined value;

wherein the cellular network parameter is not a time of day.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a helper library, disposed in the application, and containing an application programming interface (API) to enable the application to utilize the DSS.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the cellular network parameter comprises a network utilization failing below a predetermined threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises the network utilization failing below 85%.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an agent service comprising an authentication service and an application programming interface (API) to enable the application to access the DSS; and

a helper library, contained in the application, to access the API.

14. The system of claim 13, the agent service further comprising a data information and marketing messaging service module to provide marketing messages to the application.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at an application, a selection from a user to download a data file from a content provider server;

sending a first request from the application to a data shifting service (DSS) to register for a first, 0-rated download, the first download containing at least a portion of the data file; and

receiving a first notification from the DSS at the application that the first download has been registered for a 0-rated download window with the DSS;

wherein the 0-rated download window opens in response to a cellular network parameter reaching a predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second notification at the application from the DSS to begin the first download.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

locating, with the application, the data file on the content provider server.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending a second request from the application to the content provider server to begin the first download.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second notification at the application from a user equipment (UE) that the UE has connected to a non-cellular network; and

sending a third notification from the application to the DSS to deregister the first download.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a fourth notification at the application from the UE that the UE has disconnected from the non-cellular network prior to completion of the first download; and

sending a fifth notification from the application to the DSS to re-register the first download.