Method and system for tracking media access information on a portable device

• US 7,600,690 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gailloux, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/153,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.46, 235/382, 235/472.02, 235/486, 235/487, 235/386, 235/462.45, 705/14, 455/456.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A method and system provides for tracking access to media content in a portable device and correlating the access with a location of the portable device. In one embodiment, a portable device can wirelessly receive media content during a media access session. The portable device can collect media access information, such as information on the media access session, information on the media content received, and a location of the portable device during the media access session. The portable device can then transmit the media access information through a wireless cellular telecommunications system to a network server.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a location of a portable device when accessing media, comprising:

during a media access session, wirelessly receiving media content into a portable device;

collecting media access information, including information on the media access session, information on the media content received, and a location of the portable device in a wireless cellular telecommunications network during the media access session; and

transmitting the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to a network server;

wherein the media content received during the media access session includes at least a portion of full content; and

wherein the portable device receives media content during a first media access session at a first location and during a second media access session at a second location, further comprising;

collecting media access information at the first location and transmitting the media access information for the first location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server; and

thereafter collecting media access information at the second location and transmitting the media access information for the second location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises broadcast media.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcast media is sent via radio frequency signals.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcast media is sent via satellite signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises streaming media.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein information on the media access session includes information selected from a group consisting of a date of the media access session, a time of the media access session, and a duration of the media access session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein information on the media content received includes information selected from a group consisting of a channel or a station transmitting the media content;

a name of a program, a show, or a game received; and

an identification of a provider of the media content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server comprises transmitting the media access information via a wireless packet data connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of portable devices engage in one or more media access sessions and wherein the network server collects media access information, including information on the one or more media access sessions, information on the media content received, and the location of each of the portable devices during the one or more media access sessions, from the plurality of portable devices.

10. A portable device comprising:

a processor;

data storage;

a cellular wireless communication interface; and

program logic for tracking a location of the portable device when accessing media, the program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive media content into the portable device during a media access session;

(ii) to collect media access information, including information on the media access session, information on the media content received, and a location of the portable device in a wireless cellular telecommunications network during the media access session; and

(iii) to transmit the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to a network server, via the cellular wireless communication interface; and

wherein the media content received during the media access session includes at least a portion of full content; and

further comprising program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive media content during a first media access session at a first location, to collect media access information at the first location, and to transmit the media access information for the first location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server, and thereafter (ii) to receive media content during a second media access session at a second location, to collect media access information at the second location, and to transmit the media access information for the second location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server.

11. The portable device of claim 10, wherein the media content comprises broadcast media.

12. The portable device of claim 10, wherein the media content comprises streaming media.

13. The portable device of claim 10, wherein wirelessly transmitting the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server comprises transmitting said information via a wireless packet data connection.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of portable devices engage in one or more media access sessions and wherein the network server collects media access information, including information on the one or more media access sessions, the media content received, and the location of each of the portable devices during the one or more media access sessions, from each one of the plurality of portable devices.

15. A system comprising:

a portable device; and

a network server coupled to the portable device;

wherein the portable device comprises a processor, data storage, a cellular wireless communication interface, and program logic for tracking a location of the portable device when accessing media, the program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive media content into the portable device during a media access session;

(ii) to collect media access information, including information on the media access session, information on the media content received, and a location of the portable device in a wireless cellular telecommunications network during the media session; and

(iii) to transmit the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server, via the cellular wireless communication interface; and

wherein the network server comprises program logic executable to store the media access information;

wherein the media content received during the media access session includes at least a portion of full content; and

wherein the portable device further comprises program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to receive media content during a first media access session at a first location, to collect media access information at the first location, and to transmit the media access information for the first location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server; and

thereafter (ii) to receive media content during a second media access session at a second location, to collect media access information at the second location, and to transmit the media access information for the second location through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of portable devices, wherein each of the portable devices:

engages a media access sessions;

collects media access information, including information on the media access session, the media content received, and a location of the portable device during the media session; and

transmits the media access information through a wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server, via the cellular wireless communication interface; and

wherein the network server comprises program logic executable to store the media access information received from each of the portable devices.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein wirelessly transmitting the media access information through the wireless cellular telecommunications network to the network server comprises transmitting said information via a wireless packet data connection.