Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting frequency of background-downloads

• US 8,095,642 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Martin, Geoff S., Kindred, Jonathan R., Hunter, Kevin E., Landers, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Emdadi, Keyvan
• Application Number:
  US11/280,031
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the frequency of content background-downloading. An apparatus such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or computer, will be set to perform background-downloads of content at a particular frequency. The apparatus will then determine the frequency with which a user accesses background-downloaded content on the device, and the apparatus will use the determined frequency as a basis to automatically adjust the background-download frequency. For instance, if the user-access frequency is greater than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may increase the background-download frequency, whereas, if the user-access frequency is less than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may decrease the background-download frequency.

Claims

1. In a communication device, a method comprising:

determining a difference between a frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content on the device and a frequency at which the device background-downloads content; and

based at least on the determined difference, automatically adjusting the frequency at which the device background-downloads content;

wherein automatically adjusting a frequency at which the device background-downloads content comprises;

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is greater than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then increasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content;

and if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is less than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then decreasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication device comprises a cell phone.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the background-downloaded content comprises one or more channel-definitions for a channel-presentation program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the background-downloaded content comprises a content-catalog.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content on the device comprises:

a running average of time passage between instances of user-access of background-downloaded content on the device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing the determining and adjusting functions in response to user-access of background-downloaded content on the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting the frequency at which the device background-downloads content comprises:

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is greater than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then increasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content; and

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is less than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then decreasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising background-downloading content at the adjusted frequency via a wireless communication interface.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

including in a background-download request an indication of storage space available on the device for storing requested content, to facilitate a determination of how much content should be provided to the device in response to the request.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

a user interface;

a processor;

data storage;

program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to (i) determine a difference between a frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content on the apparatus and a frequency at which the device background-downloads content, and (ii) based at least on the determined difference, automatically adjust the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content via the communication interface;

wherein automatically adjusting a frequency at which the device background-downloads content comprises;

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is greater than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then increasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content;

and if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is less than the frequency at which the device background-downloads content, then decreasing the frequency at which the device background-downloads content.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface supporting communication over an air interface with a radio access network (RAN), and wherein the apparatus background-downloads content from one or more content servers on a packet-switched network via the RAN.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises any of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a wirelessly-equipped personal computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the background-downloaded content comprises one or more channel-definitions for a channel presentation program.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the background-downloaded content comprises a content-catalog.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content on the apparatus comprises:

a running average of time passage between instances of user-access of background-downloaded content on the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the program logic is executable by the processor to perform the determining and adjusting functions in response to user-access of background-downloaded content on the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the program logic is executable by the processor to adjust the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content by a process comprising:

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is greater than the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content, then increasing the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content; and

if the frequency of user-access of background-downloaded content is less than the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content, then decreasing the frequency at which the apparatus background-downloads content.