Information filling station facilitating wireless transfer of data content to a portable device or other pre-defined locations

• US 8,666,538 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Deas, David A., Suryanarayana, Lalitha, Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Wolter, David Randall, Muhamed, Rias, White, Russell William, Grannan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Scott C
• Application Number:
  US10/180,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,268 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/27, 705/14.1, 705/14.51, 455/3.01
• US Class Current: 700/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video

Abstract

Data content providers transfer data content (including DRM protected content) over a broadband network onto one or more information filling stations (IFSs) situated at one or more physical locations. Users are able to wirelessly communicate with the IFSs via one or more of portable devices that are operable in close proximity to the IFS. Data content requested by the portable devices include, but are not limited to: multimedia files, WWW data, real-time and interactive games, e-mail (with or without attachments), electronic newspapers, news and sports information, traffic and weather information, e-books, interactive messaging, and/or data files. Additionally, the portable devices are also capable of facilitating point-of-sale purchases and electronic funds transfers. Optionally, the IFS also forwards advertisements promoting products and services to the portable devices. The portable device is also able to instruct the IFS to selectively send each content of interest or product of interest to one or more identified locations (e.g., users can send large multimedia to their home PCs).

Claims

1. A method, comprising;

receiving, by a first information filling station of a plurality of information filling stations, media content,

wherein the plurality of information filling stations are physically located at a plurality of geographically dispersed locations,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations stores the media content purchasable by a plurality of portable devices,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations provides the plurality of portable devices wireless access to the media content by way of a short-range wireless interface having a first communications bandwidth and a first communication range,

wherein the first bandwidth exceeds a second communications bandwidth of a communication network providing long-range wireless services to the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the first communication range is substantially lower than a second communication range of the communication network;

detecting, by the first information filling station, a portable device of the plurality of portable devices in a communication range of the information filling station;

verifying, by the first information filling station, that the portable device is authorized to request data content responsive to detecting the portable device, wherein the data content is protected according to digital rights management rules;

receiving, by the first information filling station, from the portable device a request for content;

extracting, by the first information filling station, from a database, information regarding availability of the content requested and information identifying that the content requested is protected by the digital rights management rules;

identifying, by the first information filling station, a price associated with the content requested;

transmitting, by the first information filling station, to the portable device the information regarding the availability and the price associated with the content requested;

receiving, by the first information filling station, from the portable device first instructions to transmit content of interest identified by the portable device according to the information transmitted to the portable device;

performing, by the first information filling station, a financial transaction between the portable device and the first information filling station based upon the price associated with the content of interest, and;

upon successful completion of the financial transaction, initiating, by the first information filling station, transmission of the content of interest to portable device; and

detecting, by the first information filling station, that the portable device is no longer in the communication range of the first information filling station before completing transmission of the content of interest, thereby resulting in a portion of undelivered content,

wherein the portable device receives transmission of the portion of the undelivered content from a second information filling station having the portion of the undelivered content, and

wherein the first information filling station and the second information filling station are in disparate geographic locations, each having copies of the content requested by the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing a financial transaction further comprises the step of receiving payment information from the portable device that is directed to a content providers for delivery of the content of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein short-range wireless interface is based upon an 802.11 wireless protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content request comprises one of data files, rental of multimedia content, purchase of multimedia content, internet data content, rental of digital movie content, purchase of digital movie content, real-time games, interactive games, e-mail with attachments, electronic newspapers, news information, sports information, traffic information, electronic books, interactive messaging, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital movie content is in a format defined by a moving pictures experts group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second request for telematic services from the portable device;

identifying, if available, a second price associated with the requested telematic services;

performing a second financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with the requested telematic services; and

performing or scheduling the requested telematic services.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the requested telematic services comprises one of a request for a point of sale transaction, a purchase of a lottery ticket, an electronic transfer of funds, electronic directory services, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is integrated in an automobile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the database interacts with the first information filling station over a network, wherein the network is one of a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or any combination thereof.

10. A non-transitory article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, which when executed by a processor of a first information filling station of a plurality of information filling stations, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

verifying, by the first information filling station, that a portable device of a plurality of portable devices is authorized to request data content, wherein the data content is protected according to digital rights management rules,

wherein the plurality of information filling stations are physically located at a plurality of geographically dispersed locations,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations stores media content purchasable by the plurality of portable devices,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations provides the plurality of portable devices wireless access to the media content by way of a short-range wireless interface having a first communications bandwidth and a first communication range,

wherein the first bandwidth exceeds a second communications bandwidth of a communication network providing long-range wireless services to the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the first communication range is substantially lower than a second communication range of the communication network;

receiving a content request from the portable device;

obtaining, by the first information filling station, from a database, information regarding availability of the content requested and information identifying that the content requested is protected by the digital rights management rules;

identifying, by the first information filling station, a price associated with the content requested;

transmitting, by the first information filling station, to the portable device the information regarding the availability and price associated with the content requested;

performing, by the first information filling station, a financial transaction with the portable device based on the price associated with the content requested; and

upon successful completion of the financial transaction, initiating transmission of content requested to the portable device.

11. The non-transitory article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the medium further comprises paying a content provider for a distribution of the content requested by the portable device.

12. The non-transitory article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an additional request for telematic services from the portable device;

identifying, if available, a second price associated with the requested telematic services;

performing a second financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with the requested telematic services; and

performing or scheduling the requested telematic services.

13. A method, comprising:

routing, by a portable device comprising a processor, data content to a location based upon a wireless interaction between the portable device and a first information filling station of a plurality of information filling stations,

wherein the plurality of information filling stations are physically located at a plurality of geographically dispersed locations,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations stores the data content,

wherein the portable device is one of a plurality of portable devices of a communication network,

wherein each of the plurality of information filling stations provides the plurality of portable devices wireless access to media content by way of a short-range wireless interface having a first communications bandwidth and a first communication range,

wherein the first bandwidth exceeds a second communications bandwidth of a communication network providing long-range wireless services to the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the first communication range is substantially lower than a second communication range of the communication network;

providing, by the portable device, authentication information to the first information filling station;

receiving, by the portable device, an indication from the first information filling station upon successful authentication that the portable device is authorized to request data content;

transmitting, by the portable device, to the first information filling station, a content request;

receiving, by the portable device, from the first information filling station information regarding availability of the content requested, and a price associated with the content requested;

transmitting, by the portable device, to the first information filling station, instructions identifying a content of interest;

performing, by the portable device, a financial transaction between the portable device and the first information filling station based upon the price associated with the content of interest; and

upon successful completion of the financial transaction, receiving, by the portable device, from the first information station, a confirmation indicating a transfer of the content of interest.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving authorization for use of the content requested upon submitting payment to a content provider according to the price.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the short-range wireless interface is based upon an 802.11 wireless protocol.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the content requested comprises one of a data file, a rental of multimedia content, purchase of multimedia content, internet data content, a rental of digital movie content, a purchase of digital movie content, a game, e-mail, an electronic newspaper, news information, sports information, traffic information, electronic books, interactive messaging, or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting a request for telematic services to the first information station;

receiving, if available, pricing information associated with the requested telematic services;

performing a second financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with the requested telematic services; and

upon successful completion of the second financial transaction, receiving confirmation indicating completion or scheduling of the requested telematics services.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the requested telematic services comprises one of a request for a point of sale transaction, a purchase of a lottery ticket, an electronic transfer of funds, an electronic directory services, or any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein processing and delivery of the content is based upon digital rights management rules.