Systems and methods for discontinuous multi-media content transfer and handling

• US 8,205,006 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vanover, Michael T., Gaucher, Peter G., Hunt, James A., Locker, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US12/571,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20110078325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 709232-245, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention broadly provide systems, methods and devices for discontinuous multi-media content transfer and handling. Various embodiments of the invention also provide for multi-media content management such that various policies (for example, DRM policies of multi-media content providers) are efficiently adhered to.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer readable storage devices having computer program code embodied therewith, the computer program code comprising;

computer program code configured to enable the apparatus to utilize a first network connection for downloading selection data for selecting multi-media content for download; and

computer program code configured to delay download of the multi-media content selected for download until a second network connection is available to the apparatus, the second network connection being more suitable for downloading the multi-media content selected for download than the first network connection.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first network connection is a cellular WAN Internet connection.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second network connection is a WiFi Internet connection.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second network connection is a wired Internet connection.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein selecting multi-media content for download further comprises purchasing the multi-media content selected for download.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

computer program code configured to determine if purchased multi-media content comprises digital rights managed (DRM) content.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

computer program code configured to determine if the DRM content has expired.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the computer readable program code further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to delete DRM content determined to have expired.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more storage devices;

wherein the one or more storage devices comprise a dedicated multi-media content storage device.

10. A method comprising:

utilizing one or more processors to execute a program of instructions stored on one or more computer readable storage devices and configured to;

utilize a first network connection for downloading selection data for selecting multi-media content for download; and

delay download of the multi-media content selected for download until a second network connection is available, the second network connection being more suitable for downloading the multi-media content selected for download than the first network connection.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first network connection is a cellular WAN Internet connection.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second network connection is a WiFi Internet connection.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second network connection is a wired Internet connection.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein selecting multi-media content for download further comprises purchasing the multi-media content selected for download.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more processors to execute a program of instructions configured to determine if purchased multi-media content comprises digital rights managed (DRM) content.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more processors to execute a program of instructions configured to determine if the DRM content has expired.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more processors to execute a program of instructions configured to delete DRM content determined to have expired.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing the one or more processors to execute a program of instructions configured to store multi-media content on a dedicated multi-media content storage device.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein to delay download of the multi-media content selected for download until a second network connection is available further comprises:

in response to the second connection being terminated prior to completion of downloading the multi-media content selected for download, reestablishing the second network connection; and

resuming downloading the multi-media content selected for download in response to reestablishing the second network connection;

wherein one or more portions of the multi-media content selected for download that were downloaded prior to the second connection being terminated are stored such that the downloading resumes from a point approximating the second connection termination.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code being configured to:

utilize a first network connection for downloading selection data for selecting multi-media content for download; and

delay download of the multi-media content selected for download until a second network connection is available to the apparatus, the second network connection being more suitable for downloading the multi-media content selected for download than the first network connection.