Distributed multimedia transfer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multimedia distribution kiosk comprising:
- a first communication interface configured to receive, from a remote wireless user, a multimedia request at a first speed;
a second communication interface configured to communicate with a multimedia content server at a second speed that is faster than the first speed;
a presence detection module configured to determine whether the remote wireless user is a subscriber or a non-subscriber;
a usage statistics module configured to store usage statistics for both subscribers and non-subscribers;
a cache memory; and
a processor coupled to the first and second communication interfaces, the presence detection module, the usage statistics module, and the cache memory and configured to detect the presence of the wireless user, to classify the remote wireless user as a subscriber or a non-subscriber, to receive an indication of the multimedia request from the first communication interface, the processor being configured such that if the multimedia request is a request to download multimedia content, then the processor will communicate information relating to the indicator of the multimedia request to the multimedia content server through the second communication interface in response to receiving the request, obtain the requested multimedia content through the second communication interface, store the requested multimedia content in the cache memory, provide the requested multimedia content to the wireless user as desired, the processor further configured such that if the multimedia request is a request to upload multimedia content, then the processor will receive a multimedia upload information from the wireless user through the first communication interface, connect to a multimedia content receiver, and transfer the multimedia upload information to the multimedia content receiver through the second communication interface.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multimedia distribution kiosk can communicate with a remote user to receive multimedia requests and can communicate with a multimedia content provider to obtain requested multimedia content. The kiosk can cache received multimedia content and provide the content as desired. The kiosk can also be used to upload multimedia content to a server. For example, an occupant of an automobile may access a system of kiosks to determine the nearest kiosk and request download of content prior to arrival at that kiosk.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A multimedia distribution kiosk comprising:
-
a first communication interface configured to receive, from a remote wireless user, a multimedia request at a first speed; a second communication interface configured to communicate with a multimedia content server at a second speed that is faster than the first speed; a presence detection module configured to determine whether the remote wireless user is a subscriber or a non-subscriber; a usage statistics module configured to store usage statistics for both subscribers and non-subscribers; a cache memory; and a processor coupled to the first and second communication interfaces, the presence detection module, the usage statistics module, and the cache memory and configured to detect the presence of the wireless user, to classify the remote wireless user as a subscriber or a non-subscriber, to receive an indication of the multimedia request from the first communication interface, the processor being configured such that if the multimedia request is a request to download multimedia content, then the processor will communicate information relating to the indicator of the multimedia request to the multimedia content server through the second communication interface in response to receiving the request, obtain the requested multimedia content through the second communication interface, store the requested multimedia content in the cache memory, provide the requested multimedia content to the wireless user as desired, the processor further configured such that if the multimedia request is a request to upload multimedia content, then the processor will receive a multimedia upload information from the wireless user through the first communication interface, connect to a multimedia content receiver, and transfer the multimedia upload information to the multimedia content receiver through the second communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of processing multimedia data, the method comprising:
-
detecting the presence of at least one wireless device; determining whether a user associated with the wireless device is a subscriber or a non-subscriber; providing remote access, by the at least one wireless device associated with the user, to a first multimedia distribution unit;
receiving a multimedia option from the user;storing the multimedia option and a subscriber status in a usage statistics module; if the multimedia option is a request to download multimedia content, then; communicating with the at least one wireless device remotely at a first rate to provide to the user a list indicative of multimedia content, and to receive a selection by the user of desired multimedia content; communicating inlbrmation related to the selection to the multimedia server in response to receiving the selection; communicating with the multimedia server to download the desired multimedia content at a second rate to a second multimedia distribution unit, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate; caching the downloaded desired multimedia content in the second multimedia distribution unit; providing the downloaded desired multimedia content from the second multimedia distribution unit; if the multimedia option is a request to upload multimedia content, then; receiving a multimedia upload information from the wireless device; connecting to a multimedia content receiver; and transferring the multimedia upload information to the multimedia content receiver from the user device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification