System and apparatus for power efficient delivery of social network updates to a receiver device in a broadcast network

• US 8,874,781 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Khorashadi, Behrooz, Das, Saumitra M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/274,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/212, 709/217, 709/220, 709/221, 709/232, 709/248, 717/168, 717/170, 717/171, 717/173
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/05 Energy-efficient information retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5641 Unicast/point-to-point
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/00 Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering social network updates from popular entities to receiver devices via broadcast or multicast networks obtain updates from highly popular entities. Updates may be assembled by a server crawling social network sites. To enable selective reception, the obtained updates may be broadcast/multicast according to a schedule that is communicated to receiver devices in advance, such as a catalog file. Receiver devices receive the catalog file and use the included information to selectively receive updates that are relevant to a user of the receiver device. Updates received from broadcasts or multicasts are cached in memory of the receiver device. When a user requests to access a particular social network entity on the receiver device, that request may be satisfied by accessing social network updates cached on the receiver device. Broadcasting and/or multicasting highly popular social network updates may relieve burdens on unicast networks.

Claims

1. A method for delivering social network updates to a plurality of receiver devices, comprising:

identifying highly popular entities among one or more social networks by identifying first entities having a number of followers subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the respective first entities exceeding a predetermined threshold;

obtaining one or more of the social network updates;

determining whether the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities;

transmitting the obtained social network updates via a unicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is not from one of the identified highly popular entities; and

transmitting the obtained social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises broadcasting the obtained social network updates, comprising:

generating an overhead message communicating broadcast scheduling information identifying each of the obtained social network updates and when each of the obtained social network updates will be broadcast;

broadcasting the overhead message; and

broadcasting the obtained social network updates at times identified in the overhead message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying highly popular entities among the one or more social networks comprises:

accessing records of a first social network for each of a plurality of entities to determine the number of followers;

accessing a second social network;

accessing records of a second social network for each of the plurality of entities to determine the number of followers; and

identifying from the determined number of followers for each of the accessed records a subset which has more followers than average.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in a receiver device the transmitted social network updates via the one of the broadcast network and the multicast network;

storing the received social network updates in memory of the receiver device; and

responding to requests for a social network update of a highly popular entity by recalling the requested social network update from the memory of the receiver device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities in a proxy server positioned near an edge of a wireless communication network; and

responding to requests for social network updates for highly popular entities from the proxy server without routing the requests to the respective social networks.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the overhead message in a receiver device;

obtaining information identifying each of the obtained social network updates from the received overhead message;

comparing the information identifying each of the obtained social network updates scheduled for broadcast with social network entities relevant to a user of the receiver device to identify social network updates for reception;

receiving a broadcast of the identified social network updates based upon scheduling information obtained from the received overhead message;

storing the received social network updates in memory of the receiver device; and

responding to requests for a social network update of a highly popular entity by recalling the requested social network update from the memory of the receiver device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stored in the memory of the receiver device; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stored in the memory of the receiver device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stale; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stale.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining social network entities relevant to the user of the receiver device by monitoring the user'"'"'s usage of social networks on the receiver device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising registering social network applications implemented on the receiver device with an agent implemented on the receiver device, wherein registration of the social network applications identifies to the agent the social network entities relevant to the user of the receiver device.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining social network entities relevant to the user of the receiver device by receiving messages from the one or more social networks identifying the social network entities relevant to the user.

12. A server, comprising:

memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable-instructions to perform operations comprising;

identifying highly popular entities among one or more social networks by identifying first entities having a number of followers subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the respective first entities exceeding a predetermined threshold;

obtaining one or more social network updates;

determining whether the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities;

transmitting the obtained social network updates via a unicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is not from one of the identified highly popular entities; and

transmitting the obtained social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises:

broadcasting the obtained social network updates;

generating an overhead message communicating broadcast scheduling information identifying each of the obtained social network updates and when each of the obtained social network updates will be broadcast;

broadcasting the overhead message; and

broadcasting the obtained social network updates at times identified in the overhead message.

14. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that identifying highly popular entities among the one or more social networks comprises:

accessing a first social network;

accessing records of the first social network for each of a plurality of entities to determine the number of followers;

accessing a second social network;

accessing records of the second social network for each of the plurality of entities to determine the number of followers; and

identifying from the determined number of followers for each of the accessed records a subset which has more followers than average.

15. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

storing the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities in a proxy server positioned near an edge of a wireless communication network, wherein the proxy server is configured to respond to requests for social network updates for highly popular entities from the proxy server without routing the requests to the respective social networks.

16. A system for delivering social network updates to a plurality of computing devices, comprising:

means for identifying highly popular entities among one or more social networks comprises means for identifying first entities having a number of followers subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the respective first entities exceeding a predetermined threshold;

means for obtaining one or more of the social network updates;

means for determining whether the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities;

means for transmitting the obtained social network updates via a unicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is not from one of the identified highly popular entities; and

means for transmitting the obtained social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises broadcasting the obtained social network updates, comprising:

means for generating an overhead message communicating broadcast scheduling information identifying each of the obtained social network updates and when each of the obtained social network updates will be broadcast;

means for broadcasting the overhead message; and

means for broadcasting the obtained social network updates at times identified in the overhead message.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for identifying highly popular entities among the one or more social networks comprises:

means for accessing a first social network;

means for accessing records of the first social network for each of a plurality of entities to determine the number of followers;

means for accessing a second social network;

means for accessing records of the second social network for each of the plurality of entities to determine the number of followers; and

means for identifying from the determined number of followers for each of the accessed records a subset which has more followers than average.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for storing the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities in a proxy server positioned near an edge of a wireless communication network; and

means for responding to requests for social network updates for highly popular entities from the proxy server without routing the requests to the respective social networks.

20. A non-transitory processor readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying highly popular entities among one or more social networks by identifying first entities having a number of followers subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the respective first entities exceeding a predetermined threshold;

obtaining one or more social network updates;

determining whether the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities;

transmitting the obtained social network updates via a unicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is not from one of the identified highly popular entities; and

transmitting the obtained social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities.

21. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the server processor to perform operations and transmitting the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network comprises broadcasting the obtained social network updates, comprising:

generating an overhead message communicating broadcast scheduling information identifying each of the obtained social network updates and when each of the obtained social network updates will be broadcast;

broadcasting the overhead message; and

broadcasting the obtained social network updates at times identified in the overhead message.

22. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the server processor to perform operations and wherein identifying highly popular entities among the one or more social networks comprises:

accessing a first social network;

accessing records of the first social network for each of a plurality of entities to determine the number of followers;

accessing a second social network;

accessing records of the second social network for each of the plurality of entities to determine the number of followers; and

identifying from the determined number of followers for each of the accessed records a subset which has more followers than average.

23. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the server processor to perform operations further comprising:

storing the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities in a proxy server positioned near an edge of a wireless communication network, wherein the proxy server is configured to respond to requests for social network updates for highly popular entities from the proxy server without routing the requests to the respective social networks.

24. A computing device, comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the display and to the memory and configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving one or more social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to the one or more social network updates being from at least one highly popular entity among one or more social networks having a number of second entities subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the at least one highly popular entity;

receiving one or more social network updates via a unicast network in response to the one or more social network updates not being from the at least one highly popular entity;

storing the received social network updates from the at least one highly popular entity in the memory; and

responding to requests for an identified social network update of the at least one highly popular entity by recalling one of the received social network updates from the memory.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving an overhead message;

obtaining information identifying each of the received social network updates from the received overhead message; and

comparing the obtained information identifying each of the received social network updates scheduled for broadcast with social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device to identify the received social network updates for reception;

wherein receiving social network updates via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises receiving a broadcast of the received social network updates based upon scheduling information obtained from the received overhead message.

26. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stored in the memory; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stored in the memory.

27. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stale; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stale.

28. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by monitoring the user'"'"'s usage of social networks.

29. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

registering social network applications implemented on the processor with an agent implemented on the processor, wherein registration of the social network applications identifies to the agent the social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device.

30. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by receiving messages from the one or more social networks identifying the social network entities relevant to the user.

31. A computing device, comprising:

means for receiving one or more social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to the one or more social network updates being from at least one highly popular entity among one or more social networks having a number of second entities subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the at least one highly popular entity;

means for receiving one or more social network updates via a unicast network in response to the one or more social network updates not being from the at least one highly popular entity;

means for storing the received social network updates from the at least one highly popular entity in a memory; and

means for responding to requests for an identified social network update of the at least one highly popular entity by recalling one of the received social network updates from the memory.

32. The computing device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving an overhead message;

means for obtaining information identifying each of the received social network updates from the received overhead message; and

means for comparing the obtained information identifying each of the obtained received social network updates scheduled for broadcast with social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device to identify the received social network updates for reception;

wherein means for receiving social network updates via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises means for receiving a broadcast of the received social network updates based upon scheduling information obtained from the received overhead message.

33. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stored in the memory; and

means for forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stored in the memory.

34. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stale; and

means for forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stale.

35. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by monitoring the user'"'"'s usage of social networks.

36. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for registering social network applications implemented on the computing device with an agent implemented on the computing device, wherein registration of the social network applications identifies to the agent the social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device.

37. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising means for determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by receiving messages from the one or more social networks identifying the social network entities relevant to the user.

38. A non-transitory processor readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving one or more social network updates via one of a broadcast network and a multicast network in response to the one or more social network updates being from at least one highly popular entity among one or more social networks having a number of second entities subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the at least one highly popular entity;

receiving one or more social network updates via a unicast network in response to the one or more social network updates not being from the at least one highly popular entity;

storing the received social network updates from the at least one highly popular entity in memory; and

responding to requests for an identified social network update of the at least one highly popular entity by recalling one of the received social network updates from the memory.

39. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 38, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving an overhead message;

obtaining information identifying each of the received social network updates from the received overhead message; and

comparing the obtained information identifying each of the received social network updates scheduled for broadcast with social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device to identify the received social network updates for reception; and

wherein receiving social network updates via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises receiving a broadcast of the received social network updates based upon scheduling information obtained from the received overhead message.

40. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stored in the memory; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stored in the memory.

41. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stale; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stale.

42. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by monitoring the user'"'"'s usage of social networks on the computing device.

43. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations further comprising:

registering social network applications implemented on the computing device with an agent implemented on the computing device, wherein registration of the social network applications identifies to the agent the social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device.

44. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the computing device processor to perform operations, further comprising:

determining social network entities relevant to the user of the computing device by receiving messages from the one or more social networks identifying the social network entities relevant to the user.

45. A system comprising:

a server coupled to one of a broadcast network and a multicast network; and

a computing device configured to received communications from the server via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network,

wherein the server is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

identifying highly popular entities among one or more social networks by identifying first entities having a number of followers subscribed to receive social network updates posted by the respective first entities exceeding a predetermined threshold;

obtaining one or more of the social network updates;

determining whether the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities;

transmitting the obtained social network updates via a unicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is not from one of the identified highly popular entities; and

transmitting the obtained social network updates via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network in response to determining the one or more of the social network updates is from one of the identified highly popular entities.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the server is configured to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities via one of the broadcast network and the multicast network comprises broadcasting the obtained social network updates, comprising;

the server generating an overhead message communicating broadcast scheduling information identifying each of the obtained social network updates and when each of the obtained social network updates will be broadcast;

broadcasting the overhead message; and

broadcasting the obtained social network updates at times identified in the overhead message.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the server is configured to perform operations such that identifying highly popular entities among the one or more social networks comprises:

accessing a first social network;

accessing records of the first social network for each of a plurality of entities to determine the number of followers;

accessing a second social network;

accessing records of the second social network for each of the plurality of entities to determine the number of followers; and

identifying from the determined number of followers for each of the accessed records a subset which has more followers than average.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the computing device comprises memory and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving the transmitted social network updates via the one of the broadcast network and the multicast network;

storing the received social network updates in the memory; and

responding to requests for a social network update of at least one highly popular entity by recalling the requested social network update from the memory.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the processor of the computing device is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving an overhead message via the one of the broadcast network and the multicast network;

obtaining information identifying each of the obtained social network updates from the received overhead message;

comparing the information identifying each of the obtained social network updates scheduled for broadcast with social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device to identify social network updates for reception;

receiving a broadcast of the identified social network updates based upon scheduling information obtained from the received overhead message;

storing the received social network updates in the memory; and

responding to the requests for the social network update of the at least one highly popular entity by recalling the requested social network update from the memory.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stored in the memory of the computing device; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stored in the memory of the computing device.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured to perform operations further comprising:

determining from the obtained information from the received overhead message whether an identified social network update scheduled for broadcast is stale; and

forgoing receiving a broadcast of the identified social network update when it is determined that the identified social network update is stale.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured to perform operations further comprising:

determining social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device by monitoring the user'"'"'s usage of social networks on the computing device.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured to perform operations further comprising:

registering social network applications implemented on the computing device with an agent implemented on the computing device, wherein registration of the social network applications identifies to the agent social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured to perform operations further comprising:

determining social network entities relevant to a user of the computing device by receiving messages from the one or more social networks identifying social network entities relevant to the user.

55. The system of claim 45, further comprising a proxy server positioned near an edge of a wireless communication network,

wherein the server is configured to perform operations further comprising storing the obtained social network updates from the identified highly popular entities in the proxy server, and

wherein the proxy server is configured to perform operation comprising responding to requests for social network updates for highly popular entities from the proxy server without routing the requests to the respective social networks.