Dynamic selection and scheduling of radio frequency communications

• US 7,647,038 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Steelberg, Ryan, Steelberg, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tu X
• Application Number:
  US10/898,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 713/163, 455/3.04, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/418, 455/419, 455/454, 455/443, 455/440, 455/150.1, 455/179.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/53 Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/33 via the broadcast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 : characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 : Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 : characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 : Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 : for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 : of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 : for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 : using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 : being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method of delivering data from a source to a remote device is disclosed. The method of delivering data from a source to a remote device includes a network node, different from the source, developing a schedule for delivery of the data to the remote device based on scheduling parameters including an available RF spectrum of, a plurality of regional broadcast stations, the network node selecting a frequency and a particular one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations from among a set of available frequencies of the plurality of regional broadcast stations, communicating the data and the selected frequency to the particular one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations in accordance with the schedule, and the regional broadcast station broadcasting the data, in accordance with the schedule, via radio waves.

Claims

1. A method of patching a software program on a remote device, the method comprising:

a subscriber providing program code to a network node;

the network node developing a schedule for the delivery of the program code to the remote device based on scheduling parameters including an available radio frequency (RF) spectrum of a plurality of regional broadcast stations, geographic locations of the plurality of regional broadcast stations, and a geographic location of the remote device, wherein developing the schedule comprises;

selecting a portion the available RF spectrum of the plurality of regional broadcast stations to overlap an RF tuning range of the remote device, and

selecting one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations to transmit the selected portion of the available RF spectrum from the geographic location of the selected regional broadcast station to the geographic location of the remote device;

the network node communicating the program code to the selected regional broadcast station in accordance with the schedule;

the selected regional broadcast station broadcasting the program code, in accordance with the schedule, via radio waves associated with at least one of an FM sub-carrier frequency, an AM sub-carrier frequency, a Television sub-carrier frequency, a satellite frequency, and a cellular frequency; and

the remote device recognizing the program code and patching the software program.

2. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a toy.

3. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a home appliance.

4. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a consumer entertainment electronic.

5. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a gambling device.

6. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a telematics system within an automobile.

7. The remote device in claim 1 comprising an advertisement display.

8. The remote device in claim 1 comprising a smart card.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling parameters further comprise at least one of file size of the program code, network traffic, priority, compensation, available resources, and terms of a contract.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a user of the remote device submitting a request to set an access parameter; and

the remote device receiving the program code as a function of the access parameter.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a bridge chip, the program code from the selected regional broadcast station; and

forwarding the program code from the bridge chip to the remote device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

encoding the program code in accordance with a bluetooth specification, before the forwarding.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

encoding the program code in accordance with at least one of an 802.11a and an 802.11b specification, before the forwarding.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting feedback associated with delivery of the program code.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

at a confirmation server, monitoring a broadcast of the program code and collecting the feedback.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said reporting feedback further comprises:

the remote device communicating the feedback directly to the network node.

17. A hub coupled to a public packet switched network and configured to perform operations comprising:

receive program code from a subscriber for updating a remote device;

develop a schedule for delivery of the program code to the remote device, wherein the schedule is based at least in part on delivery parameters including an available radio frequency (RF) spectrum of a plurality of regional broadcast stations, geographic locations of the plurality of regional broadcast stations, and a geographic location of the remote device;

select an RF frequency from the available RF spectrum of the plurality of regional broadcast stations, the selected RF frequency included in an RF tuning range of the remote device, and

select one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations to transmit RF signals at the selected RF frequency from a geographic location of the selected regional broadcast station to the geographic location of the remote device; and

communicate the program code and the selected RF frequency to the selected regional broadcast station in accordance with the schedule.