Management of downloads from a network-based digital data repository based on network performance

• US 9,201,895 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Newman, Lucas C., Forstall, Scott J., Lemay, Stephen O., Gedikian, Steve Saro, Muller, Max, Alsina, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ibrahim, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US13/492,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

Improved techniques and systems for storage, delivery and acquisition of digital assets stored in cloud data storage. Cloud data storage can be provided by a cloud data repository that is capable of storing digital data for various users. A given user can access cloud data storage from any of his/her authorized client devices via a network. A given client device can access not only locally stored digital assets but also remotely stored digital assets from cloud data storage. In one embodiment, downloads of digital assets resident in cloud data storage to client devices can be managed in view of available network performance. As one example, digital assets of differing quality levels can be downloaded in a manner dependent on network performance. As another example, locally stored digital assets of reduced quality can be upgraded (e.g., replaced) by higher quality versions in a manner dependent on network performance.

Claims

1. A method for accessing data to present a digital asset at an electronic device having a memory for data storage, the method comprising:

identifying a digital asset that is to be presented by the electronic device;

determining network performance available to the electronic device;

determining that a first quality version of the digital asset is stored locally on the electronic device;

determining, based on the network performance, to request an upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage;

requesting the upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage;

receiving the upgraded quality version of the digital asset that was requested; and

re-downloading and replacing in local storage on the electronic file, the first quality version of the digital asset with the upgraded quality version of the digital asset.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

presenting the digital asset.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network performance is based at least in part on available network bandwidth or bit rate for data transfer.

5. A method for upgrading a digital asset at an electronic device having a local memory for data storage, the electronic device able to couple to a network, the method comprising:

identifying a first quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory that was downloaded based on a first network performance;

determining whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory;

determining an improved network performance available to the electronic device;

requesting an upgraded quality version of the digital asset from a cloud server, based on the network performance;

receiving, at the electronic device via the network, the upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the cloud server; and

replacing the first quality version with the upgraded quality version of the digital asset to the local memory.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the determining of whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory determines such based on at least a received user input.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the determining of whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory determines such based on at least a playback request to play the digital asset.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the determining of whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory determines such based on at least an idle condition of the electronic device.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the determining of whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory determines such based on at least a locked and AC powered condition of the electronic device.

10. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.

11. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the network comprises a wireless network, and wherein the network performance is based at least in part on available network bandwidth or bit rate for data transfer.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored thereon for accessing data to present a digital asset at an electronic device having a memory for data storage, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for identifying a digital asset that is to be presented by the electronic device;

computer program code for determining network performance available to the electronic device;

computer program code for determining that a first quality version of the digital asset to request from the remote cloud storage based on the network performance;

computer program code for requesting the upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage;

computer program code for receiving first quality version of the digital asset that was requested; and

computer program code for storing the first quality version of the digital asset in a cache storage at the electronic device while providing substantially real-time access to the electronic file on the electronic device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored thereon for upgrading a digital asset at an electronic device having a local memory for data storage, the electronic device able to couple to a network, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer code for identifying a first quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory that was downloaded based on a first network performance;

computer program code for determining whether an upgrade is to be performed for a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory;

computer program code for determining an improved network performance available to the electronic device;

computer program code for requesting an upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the cloud server, based on the network performance;

computer program code for receiving, at the electronic device via the network, the upgraded quality version of the digital asset from the cloud server; and

computer program code for replacing the first quality version with the upgraded quality version of the digital asset to the local memory.