Method for retrieving content, wireless communication device and communication system
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving content by a wireless communication device having a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network and a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network, the method in the wireless communication device comprising:
- receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server;
retrieving data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface;
determining an amount of retrieved data stored in a playback buffer of the wireless communication device;
determining if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device, wherein determining if the data retrieved meets the content playback threshold includes comparing the determined amount of retrieved data with a pre-defined amount of data, the pre-defined amount of data being based on the amount of data which is required by the wireless communication device to provide continuous playback of the content by the wireless communication device for a first period of time, and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when the determined amount of retrieved data stored in the playback buffer is less than the pre-defined amount of data for a second period of time;
activating the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold;
using the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content;
for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, dividing the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieving simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communication device retrieves a continuous stream of data by receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server, retrieving data of the requested content over a first radio access technology (RAT) interface and connection, and determining if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold. When the retrieved data does not to meet the content playback threshold, the device activates a second RAT interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second RAT connection. The first and second RAT interfaces simultaneously retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, which part is divided into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first RAT connection and a second portion for retrieval over the second RAT connection and which first and second portions are selected such that their retrieval is estimated to meet the content playback threshold.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving content by a wireless communication device having a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network and a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network, the method in the wireless communication device comprising:
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receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server; retrieving data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determining an amount of retrieved data stored in a playback buffer of the wireless communication device; determining if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device, wherein determining if the data retrieved meets the content playback threshold includes comparing the determined amount of retrieved data with a pre-defined amount of data, the pre-defined amount of data being based on the amount of data which is required by the wireless communication device to provide continuous playback of the content by the wireless communication device for a first period of time, and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when the determined amount of retrieved data stored in the playback buffer is less than the pre-defined amount of data for a second period of time; activating the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; using the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, dividing the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieving simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless communication device including:
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a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network; a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network; and a processing unit configured to; in response to receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server, retrieve data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determine a rate of playback of the content by the wireless communication device and includes estimating the rate of playback of content by determining a first mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection after a start of data retrieval and over a first time period; determine if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device and includes; estimating the rate of retrieval of data by determining a second mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection over a second time period; comparing the first mean rate with the second mean rate; and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when he second mean rate is less than the first mean rate for a defined period of time; activate the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; use the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, divide the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieve simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication system including:
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a first radio access network; a second radio access network; a remote server for providing content as a continuous stream of data, the remote server being communicably coupled to the first and second radio access networks; and at least one wireless communication device, the at least one wireless communication device including; a first radio access interface for communication with the first access network; a second radio access interface for communication with the second access network; and a processing unit configured to; in response to receiving a request for retrieval of content from the remote server, retrieve data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determine a rate of playback of the content by the wireless communication device and includes estimating the rate of playback of content by determining a first mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection after a start of data retrieval and over a first time period; determine if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device and includes; estimating the rate of retrieval of data by determining a second mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection over a second time period; comparing the first mean rate with the second mean rate; and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when he second mean rate is less than the first mean rate for a defined period of time determine if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device; activate the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; use the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, divide the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieve simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection.
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15. A method for retrieving content by a wireless communication device having a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network and a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network, the method in the wireless communication device comprising:
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receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server; retrieving data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determining a rate of playback of the content by the wireless communication device and includes estimating the rate of playback of content by determining a first mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection after a start of data retrieval and over a first time period; determining if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device, wherein determining if the data retrieved meets the content playback threshold includes; estimating the rate of retrieval of data by determining a second mean rate of retrieval of data by the wireless communication device over the first radio access technology connection over a second time period; comparing the first mean rate with the second mean rate; and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when he second mean rate is less than the first mean rate for a defined period of time; activating the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; using the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, dividing the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieving simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection.
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16. A method for retrieving content by a wireless communication device having a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network and a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network, the method in the wireless communication device comprising:
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receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server; retrieving data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determining if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device; activating the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; using the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, dividing the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieving simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection; when the first and second radio access interfaces are used to retrieve at least one part of requested content, determining a rate of retrieval of data over the first radio access technology connection based on the rate of retrieval of a first portion of the at least one part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection;
deactivating the second radio access interface in response to determining that the determined rate of retrieval of data over the first radio access technology connection meets the content playback threshold and retrieving data of the requested content over only the first radio access technology connection until the requested content has been retrieved and wherein deactivating the second radio access interface includes at least one of;releasing the second radio access technology connection; powering down the second radio access interface; and not using the second radio access interface for retrieving content.
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17. A wireless communication device including:
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a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network; a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network; and a processing unit configured to; in response to receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server, retrieve data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determine an amount of retrieved data stored in a playback buffer of the wireless communication device determine if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device wherein determining if the data retrieved meets the content playback threshold includes comparing the determined amount of retrieved data with a pre-defined amount of data, the pre-defined amount of data being based on the amount of data which is required by the wireless communication device to provide continuous playback of the content by the wireless communication device for a first period of time, and determining the data retrieved does not meet the content playback threshold when the determined amount of retrieved data stored in the playback buffer is less than the pre-defined amount of data for a second period of time; activate the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; use the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, divide the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieve simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection.
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18. A wireless communication device including:
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a first radio access interface for communication with a first access network; a second radio access interface for communication with a second access network; and a processing unit configured to; in response to receiving a request for retrieval of content from a remote server, retrieve data of the requested content as a continuous stream of data over a first radio access technology connection and via the first radio access interface; determine if the data retrieved meets a content playback threshold, the content playback threshold being defined by a data rate required to provide continuous playback of the requested content by the wireless communication device; activate the second radio access interface for retrieval of data of the requested content over a second radio access technology connection when the data retrieved over the first radio access technology connection is determined not to meet the content playback threshold; use the first and second radio access interfaces to retrieve part of the requested content during a multipath time period, the first and second radio access interfaces being used during at least one multipath time period to retrieve at least one part of the requested content; for each part of the requested content to be retrieved during a multipath time period, divide the part of the requested content into at least a first portion for retrieval over the first radio access technology connection and at least a second portion for retrieval over the second radio access technology connection, wherein the first and second portions are selected such that retrieval of the first and second portions during the multipath time period is estimated to meet the content playback threshold, and retrieve simultaneously during the multipath time period the first portion of the part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection and the second portion of a part of the requested content over the second radio access technology connection; and when the first and second radio access interfaces are used to retrieve at least one part of requested content, determine a rate of retrieval of data over the first radio access technology connection based on the rate of retrieval of a first portion of the at least one part of the requested content over the first radio access technology connection;
deactivate the second radio access interface in response to determining that the determined rate of retrieval of data over the first radio access technology connection meets the content playback threshold and retrieve data of the requested content over only the first radio access technology connection until the requested content has been retrieved and wherein deactivating the second radio access interface includes at least one of;releasing the second radio access technology connection; powering down the second radio access interface; and not using the second radio access interface for retrieving content.
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Specification