Mobile services

• US 7,286,836 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Emmerson, Francis, Hannay, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour; Naghmeh
• Application Number:
  US10/726,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.2, 455/406, 455/405, 455/407, 455/408, 455/558, 455/556.2, 707/3, 709/205, 709/224, 705/400, 705/26
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A plurality of clients for different users use on-line services via a mobile communications network in a system comprising: an application database for holding a group of different applications for providing associated services to a client, the applications being configured to provide clients with unlimited off-line use and limited on-line use, an account database for keeping record of the amount of available on-line use of different services provided to the client and an on-line service controller for running on-line services with different clients and for causing the account database to reduce in a predetermined manner the amount of available on-line use when the client uses the on-line service, if the on-line use is allowed. The clients are capable of obtaining a desired application from the application database via the mobile communications network, running the desired application off-line unrestrictedly when desired by the user, and running the application in communication with the on-line service controller using the mobile communications network to use the on-line service associated with the desired application when desired by the user of the client. Corresponding methods, apparatus and computer programs have also been disclosed.

Claims

1. A mobile service system comprising a wireless client for a user and a remote service provider unit, wherein the service provider unit comprises:

a memory for storing an application usable at the client in both an off-line mode and an on-line mode, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

a port for receiving a request for the application from the client and for sending the application to the client in the form of a downloaded application from the service provider unit to the client;

a processor for providing support for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

a monitor for monitoring the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit;

a controller configured to control the processor to provide support for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client, dependent on the monitoring; and

the client comprising;

a port for communicating with the service provider unit, configured to send the request to the service provider unit and to receive the downloaded application from the service provider unit;

a processor for running the downloaded application in an off-line mode whenever desired by a user of the client and for running the downloaded application in an on-line mode when desired by a user of the client if allowed and supported by the controller, dependent upon the monitoring.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the downloaded application is a game application.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor has been configured to keep account of available use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode and to decrement the use available in an on-line mode according to predetermined reduction criterion.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a charging unit configured to collect a monetary charge for the sending of the downloaded application and for providing a certain amount of use in an on-line mode at the client.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a plurality of applications amongst which the client may select an application to be downloaded.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for informing the user when the amount of available use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode is falling below a certain threshold.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the service provider unit further comprises means for determining a payment of a supplementary charge and increasing by a corresponding amount the available use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless client further comprises a separate control application adapted to provide a connection between the client and the service provider unit and adapted to control the download of the downloaded application from the service provider unit to the client.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the memory comprises a plurality of applications amongst which the client may select an application to be downloaded, and wherein the control application is further adapted to permit the client to obtain a desired application from amongst the plurality of applications in the memory.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor for providing support for the use of a downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client is further adapted to provide use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client with another client, thereby providing inter-client communications and use of the downloaded application, and wherein the monitor is further adapted to monitor the inter-client use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the downloaded application is a game, wherein the memory is further adapted to store additional levels for the game apart from those included with the downloaded application, wherein the port is further adapted to send one or more of the additional levels for the game to the client, and wherein the monitor is further adapted to monitor the downloading of the additional levels for the game as use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit.

8. A method comprising:

storing at a remote service provider unit an application usable at a wireless client in both an off-line mode and an on-line mode, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

communicating with the service provider unit to send the request to the service provider unit and to receive the downloaded application from the service provider unit

transferring a request for the application from the client to the service provider unit;

sending the application from the service provider unit to the client in the form of a downloaded application from the service provider unit to the client;

providing support by the service provider unit for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

monitoring the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit;

controlling use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client, dependent on the monitoring;

running the downloaded application in an off-line mode at the client whenever desired by a user of the client; and

running the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit when desired by the user if allowed and supported by the service provider unit, dependent on the monitoring.

9. A remote service provider unit for providing content to a wireless client, wherein the service provider unit comprises:

a memory for storing an application usable at the client in both an off-line and an on-line mode, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

a port for receiving a request for the application from the client and for sending the application to the client in the form of a downloaded application to the client;

a processor for providing support for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

a monitor for monitoring the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit;

a controller configured to control the processor to provide support for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client, dependent on the monitoring.

10. A method, comprising:

storing an application usable at a wireless client in both an off-line and an on-line mode wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

receiving a request for the application from the client and for sending the application to the client in the form of a downloaded application to the client;

providing support by the service provider unit for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

monitoring use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit; and

controlling the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode, dependent on the monitoring of the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit.

11. A wireless client for a mobile service system comprising the client and a remote service provider unit, the client comprising:

a wireless communication port adapted to communicate with the service provider unit to request a download of an application from the service provider unit and to receive the downloaded application from the service provider unit, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the remote service provider unit; and

a processor adapted to run the downloaded application in an off-line mode at the client whenever desired by the user and for running the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit when desired by a user of the client if allowed and supported by the remote service provider unit.

12. A method comprising:

communicating with a service provider unit of a mobile service system to request a download of an application from the service provider unit to a wireless client and to receive the downloaded application at the client from the service provider unit, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

running the downloaded application in an off-line mode at the client whenever desired by a user of the client; and

running the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit when desired by a user of the client if allowed and supported by the remote service provider unit.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer executable program code stored therein, the computer program product comprising:

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to store an application usable at a wireless client in both an off-line mode and an on-line mode, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to receive a request for download of the application from the client and for sending the application to the client in the form of a downloaded application from the network entity to the client;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to provide support by the service provider unit for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to monitor use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit; and

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to control the providing of the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode, dependent on the monitoring of the use of the application in an on-line mode and supported by the service provider unit.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer executable program code stored therein, the computer program product comprising:

computer executable program code configured to enable the wireless client to communicate with a service provider unit of a mobile service system to request a download of an application from the service provider unit to a wireless client and to receive the application at the client from the service provider unit in the form of a downloaded application from the service provider unit to the client wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit; and

computer executable program code configured to enable the wireless client to run the downloaded application in an off-line mode at the client whenever desired by the user and in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service unit provider when desired by a user of the client if allowed and supported by the remote service provider unit.

15. A memory media comprising a computer program product , the memory media comprising:

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to store an application usable at the a wireless client in both an off-line mode and an on-line mode, wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to receive a request for the download of the application from the client and for sending the application to the client in the form of a downloaded application from the network entity to the client;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to provide support by the service provider unit for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode at the client;

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to monitor use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode and supported by the service provider unit; and

computer executable program code configured to enable the network entity to control the providing support for the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode, dependent on the monitoring of the use of the downloaded application in an on-line mode and supported by the service provider unit.

16. A memory media comprising a computer program product , the memory media comprising:

computer executable program code configured to enable the wireless client to communicate with a service provider unit of a mobile service system to request the a download of an application from the service provider unit to a wireless client and to receive the application at the client from the service provider unit in the form of a downloaded application from the service provider unit to the client wherein the application is adapted to be usable at the client in an on-line mode only when supported by the service provider unit; and

computer executable program code configured to enable the wireless client to run the downloaded application in an off-line mode at the client whenever desired by the user and in an on-line mode at the client and supported by the service provider unit when desired by a user of the client if allowed and supported by the remote service provider unit.