Method and apparatus for distributing services and data

• US 9,008,696 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kandasamy, Veeramani, Beattie, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc H
• Application Number:
  US14/058,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20150111602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/552.1, 340/572.1, 380/258
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0231 based on communication conditions dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a need to provide a service to a first communication device of a plurality of communication devices, detecting a movement of a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices in a direction that will place the second communication device in a communication range of the first communication device, and transmitting a message to the second communication device to provide the service to the first communication device when the second communication device comes into the communication range of the first communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory to store executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving location information from a plurality of communication devices;

determining trajectories of the plurality of communication devices from the location information;

determining a need to distribute first content to a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

detecting a trajectory of a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices that will be in a peer-to-peer communication range of the first communication device at an expected time; and

transmitting the first content to the second communication device for distribution to the first communication device when the second communication device comes into the peer-to-peer communication range of the first communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first content further comprises:

determining a traffic level of a network node in a communication range of the first communication device; and

transmitting the first content to the second communication device responsive to determining that the traffic level exceeds a threshold.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network node comprises a cellular base station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first content further comprises:

determining a communication efficiency of a network node in a communication range of the first communication device; and

transmitting the first content to the second communication device responsive to determining that the communication efficiency of the network node has fallen below a threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises audio content.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises video content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises a combination of video content and audio content.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises a software update.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a second need to provide services to a third communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

detecting a second trajectory of a fourth communication device of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the second trajectory projects the fourth communication device being in a second peer-to-peer communication range of the third communication device at a second expected time; and

instructing the fourth communication device to provide the services to the third communication device when the fourth communication device comes into the second peer-to-peer communication range of the third communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a geographic coordinate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein determining the trajectory comprises monitoring changes in the geographic coordinate to determine the trajectory.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the trajectory comprises movement and direction of travel.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, a system comprising a processor, location information from a plurality of communication devices;

determining, by the system, a collective trajectory of the plurality of communication devices from the location information;

determining, by the system, a need to provide a service to a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

detecting, by the system, a trajectory of a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices that places the second communication device in a communication range of the first communication device at an expected time; and

transmitting, by the system, a message to the second communication device to provide the service to the first communication device when the second communication device comes into the communication range of the first communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the service comprises delivery of media content.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the service comprises providing voice communication services, data communication services or both to the first communication device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the message comprises data to be delivered to the first communication device, or instructions directing the second communication device to provide communication services to the first communication device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second communication device initiates communications with the first communication device when the second communication device is in the communication range of the first communication device via a peer-to-peer communication session or local area network accessible to the first communication device and the second communication device.

18. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a need to provide a service to a first communication device of a plurality of communication devices;

detecting a movement of a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices in a direction that will place the second communication device in a communication range of the first communication device; and

transmitting a message to the second communication device to provide the service to the first communication device when the second communication device comes into the communication range of the first communication device.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the service comprises providing the first communication device one of media content, voice communication services, data communication services, or combinations thereof.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the message comprises data to be delivered to the first communication device, or instructions directing the second communication device to provide communication services to the first communication device.