Web content power consumption notification for wireless devices

• US 7,967,212 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Euler, Timothy D., Pearce, Jim F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US12/039,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 358/406, 455/574
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5083 wherein the managed service relates to web hosting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70

Abstract

A network node in a communication path between a client station and a web content server determines or estimates a power consumption level associated with particular web content requested by the client station. The client station is preferably a wireless communications device operating on battery power. Based on the current battery level in the device, the battery type or total capacity, user preferences and determined or estimated power consumption level, the node sends a power consumption notification to the client station, either prior to or simultaneously with the transmission of the web content. The notification message alerts the user to the possibility of their battery being drawn down to a low level if they download the content, and thus allows the user to abort the download to preserve battery capacity.

Claims

1. In a communication system wherein a request for web content is transmitted over a communication path from a client station operating on battery power to a content server, a method for providing power consumption notification associated with the web content to the client station, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a message from a client station at a network entity in the communication path remote from the client station, the message including at least a current battery level of the client station;

(b) the network entity either directly or indirectly identifying a power consumption level for the requested web content;

(c) caching the web content at the network entity; and

(d) the network entity providing a power level consumption notification to the client station together with the requested web content or a link to the requested web content, the power level consumption notification based at least in part on at least one of the current battery level and the identified power consumption level of the web content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power level consumption notification is sent together with a link to the web content, the link and power level consumption notification presentable on a display of the client station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the power level consumption notification is embedded as a markup language code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified power consumption level associated with the web content is based on at least one of:

file size of the web content;

type of web content; and

whether the web content comprises an executable application file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises an intermediation platform and wherein steps (a)-(d) are performed by the intermediation platform, the platform comprising a computing platform incorporated in node in a wireless service provider network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the intermediation platform receives a request for web content from the client station and returns the power consumption notification with the web content to the client station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the client station comprises a mobile, wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the client station comprises a cellular telephone, and wherein the message in part (a) includes information identifying, either directly or indirectly, the battery embedded in the cellular telephone.

9. An intermediation platform disposed within a web communication path between a client station operating on battery power and a content server, the intermediation platform comprising:

a network interface for receiving and sending communications on the web communication path, wherein the network interface receives from the client station (i) a request for web content and (ii) information identifying a current battery level of the client station;

power consumption logic for identifying a power consumption level associated with the web content;

a cache for caching the web content;

instructions for generating a power level consumption notification message when at least one of the following conditions is present;

(1) the identified power consumption level for the web content is greater than a threshold level, and

(2) the battery level of the client station is less than a threshold level; and

instructions for transmitting to the client station the power level consumption notification message together with at least one of (i) the requested web content and (ii) a link to the requested web content.

10. The intermediation platform of claim 9, wherein the intermediation platform is disposed within an access channel between the client station and a packet-switched network.

11. The intermediation platform of claim 9, wherein the intermediation platform is disposed within a wireless service provider network connected to a packet-switched network.

12. The intermediation platform of claim 9, wherein the power level consumption notification is embedded in the web content.

13. The intermediation platform of claim 9, wherein the platform transmits the web content to the client station with the power level consumption notification.

14. The intermediation platform of claim 9, wherein the platform is configured to process web page content requests and provides power consumption level notifications to a plurality of wireless communications devices simultaneously.