Methods and systems for managing content delivery

• US 9,310,217 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Forutanpour, Babak, Bednar, David L., Yamakawa, Devender Akira, Hunter, Kevin Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Civan, Ethan D
• Application Number:
  US13/494,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for delivering content may include receiving a direction of travel for a wireless device and selecting a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the given direction to maximize an amount of contact with one or more access terminals capable of providing data connectivity. In addition, the methods and apparatus may include providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the one or more access terminals along the selected route of travel.

Claims

1. A method for delivering content from a server to a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, by the server, a destination and a request for content from the wireless device;

determining, by the server, a location of one or more access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination;

selecting, by the server, one or more routes of travel for the wireless device to the destination based upon the determined location of the one or more access terminals;

predicting, by the server, a time period the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals along the selected one or more routes of travel; and

sending, by the server, to each of the one or more access terminals;

at least a portion of the requested content based upon the predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals; and

a notification message to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the destination comprises receiving the destination from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the navigation system is one of a vehicle navigation system or a navigation system application on the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one or more routes of travel is further based upon the request for content received from the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one or more routes of travel further comprises:

determining a route of travel that maximizes an amount of contact with the one or more access terminals.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more access terminals are associated with a particular content provider.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the selected one or more routes of travel based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein updating the selected one or more route of travel further comprises:

predicting updates to the selected one or more route of travel based upon an input received from a sensor indicating a change of direction for the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input comprises one of a speed of travel or a degree of a turn.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the time period the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals is based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

sending at least a portion of the requested content to each of the one or more access terminals comprises sending a first amount of content to a first access terminal and a second amount of content to a second access terminal based upon the predicted time periods; and

sending the notification message to each of the one or more access terminals comprises;

notifying the first access terminal of a first amount of time that the wireless device will be near the first access terminal; and

notifying the second access terminal of a second amount of time that the wireless device will be near the second access terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first amount of content and the second amount of content have a portion of content that overlaps.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

deactivating the first access terminal when the second access terminal starts to provide the second amount of content to the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or more of video, text, music, audio, or voice.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a direction of travel for the wireless device via a Controller Area Network Bus (CANBUS) system on a vehicle associated with the wireless device.

16. A server for delivering content to a wireless device, comprising:

at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a destination and a request for content from the wireless device;

determining a location of one or more access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination;

selecting one or more routes of travel for the wireless device to the destination based upon the determined location of the one or more access terminals;

predicting a time period the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals on the selected one or more routes of travel; and

sending to each of the one or more access terminals along the one or more selected routes of travel;

at least a portion of the requested content based upon the predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals; and

a notification message to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals.

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

receiving a destination and a request for content from a wireless device;

determining a location of one or more access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination;

selecting one or more routes of travel for the wireless device to the destination based upon the determined location of the one or more access terminals;

predicting a time period that the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals on the selected one or more routes of travel; and

sending to each of the one or more access terminals along the one or more selected routes of travel;

at least a portion of the requested content based upon the predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals; and

a notification message to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a destination and a request for content from a wireless device;

means for determining a location of one or more access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination;

means for selecting one or more routes of travel for the wireless device to the destination based upon the determined location of the one or more access terminals;

means for predicting a time period that the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals on the selected one or more routes of travel; and

means for sending to each of the one or more access terminals along the one or more selected routes of travel;

at least a portion of the requested content based upon the predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals; and

a notification message to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals.

19. An apparatus for delivering content to a wireless device, comprising:

a receiving component operable to receive a destination and a request for content from the wireless device;

a route manger component operable to determine a location of one or more access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination and select one or more routes of travel for the wireless device to the destination based upon the determined location of the one or more access terminals;

a predicting component a operable to predict a time period that the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals on the selected one or more routes of travel; and

a content delivery manager component operable to send to each of the one or more access terminals;

at least a portion of the requested content based upon the predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals; and

a notification message to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the receiving component receives the destination from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the navigation system is one of a vehicle navigation system or a navigation system application on the wireless device.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the route manger component is further operable to select the one or more routes of travel based upon the request for content received from the wireless device.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the route manger component is further operable to select the one or more routes of travel by determining a route of travel that maximizes an amount of contact with the one or more access terminals.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the one or more access terminals are associated with a particular content provider.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the route manger component is further operable to update the selected one or more routes of travel based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the route manger component is further operable to update the selected one or more routes of travel by predicting updates to the selected one or more routes of travel based upon an input received from a sensor indicating a change of direction for the wireless device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the input comprises one of a speed of travel or a degree of a turn.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the predicting component is further operable to predict the time period the wireless device will be near each of the one or more access terminals based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the content delivery manager component is further operable to:

send at least a portion of the requested content to each of the one or more access terminals by sending a first amount of content to a first access terminal and a second amount of content to a second access terminal based upon the predicted time periods; and

send a notification message to each of the one or more access terminals by;

notifying the first access terminal of a first amount of time that the wireless device will be near the first access terminal; and

notifying the second access terminal of a second amount of time that the wireless device will be near the second access terminal.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first amount of content and the second amount of content have a portion of content that overlaps.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, the content delivery manager component is further operable to deactivate the first access terminal when the second access terminal starts to provide the second amount of content to the wireless device.

32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the content comprises one or more of video, text, music, audio, or voice.

33. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the route manager component is further operable to determine a direction of travel for the wireless device via a Controller Area Network Bus (CANBUS) system on a vehicle associated with the wireless device.

34. A method for delivering content from a server to a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, by the server, a direction of travel and a request for content from the wireless device;

selecting, by the server, a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the received direction to maximize an amount of contact with access terminals capable of providing data connectivity;

predicting, by the server, a time period the wireless device will be near each of the access terminals on the selected route of travel; and

providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the access terminals, wherein providing the content to the wireless device comprises sending, by the server;

at least a portion of the requested content to each of the access terminals based upon a corresponding predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminals; and

a notification message to each of the access terminals to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminals.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the direction of travel is determined via a Controller Area Network Bus (CANBUS) system on a vehicle associated with the wireless device.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, a destination for the wireless device; and

determining, by the server, locations of the access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination,

wherein selecting the route of travel is further based upon the determined locations of the access terminals.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the determined locations for one or more of the access terminals are capable of changing.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the determined locations for one or more of the access terminals are static.

39. A server, comprising:

at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a direction of travel and a request for content from a wireless device;

selecting a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the received direction to maximize an amount of contact with access terminals capable of providing data connectivity;

predicting a time period the wireless device will be near each of the access terminals on the selected route of travel; and

providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the access terminals, wherein providing the content to the wireless device comprises sending;

at least a portion of the requested content to each of the access terminals based upon a corresponding predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminals; and

a notification message to each of the access terminals to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminals.

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

receiving a direction of travel and a request for content from a wireless device;

selecting a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the received direction to maximize an amount of contact with access terminals capable of providing data connectivity;

predicting a time period the wireless device will be near each of the access terminals on the selected route of travel; and

providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the access terminals, wherein providing the content to the wireless device comprises sending;

at least a portion of the requested content to each of the access terminals based upon a corresponding predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminals; and

a notification message to each of the access terminals to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminals.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a direction of travel and a request for content from a wireless device;

means for selecting a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the received direction to maximize an amount of contact with access terminals capable of providing data connectivity;

means for predicting a time period that the wireless device will be near each of the access terminals on the selected route of travel; and

means for providing content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the access terminals, wherein means for providing the content to the wireless device comprises means for sending;

at least a portion of the requested content to each of the access terminals based upon a corresponding predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminals; and

a notification message to each of the access terminals to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminals.

42. An apparatus for delivering content to a wireless device, comprising:

a receiving component operable to receive a direction of travel and a request for content from the wireless device;

a route manager component operable to select a route of travel for the wireless device that proceeds in the received direction to maximize an amount of contact with access terminals capable of providing data connectivity;

a prediction component operable to predict a time period that the wireless device will be near each of the access terminals on the selected route of travel; and

a content delivery manager component operable to provide content to the wireless device via the data connectivity provided by the access terminals, wherein the content delivery manager component is operable to provide content by;

sending at least a portion of the requested content to each of the access terminals based upon a corresponding predicted time period, wherein the at least portion of the requested content is received in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the respective access terminals; and

sending a notification message to each of the access terminals to provide the respective at least portion of the requested content to the wireless device via the data connectivity when the wireless device is near the respective access terminals.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the direction of travel is determined via a Controller Area Network Bus (CANBUS) system on a vehicle associated with the wireless device.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein:

the receiving component is further operable to receive a destination for the wireless device; and

the route manager component is further operable to determine a location of each of the access terminals for providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the received destination,

wherein the selected route of travel is further based on the determined location of each of the access terminals.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the determined locations of access terminals are capable of changing.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the determined locations of the access terminals are static.

47. A method for delivering content to a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, at an access terminal, a request from a server to transmit a portion of content to the wireless device;

receiving, at the access terminal, a notification message from the server, wherein the notification message includes a predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal;

receiving, at the access terminal, the portion of content from the server in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the access terminal, wherein the portion of content is based on the predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal; and

transmitting, by the access terminal, the portion of content to the wireless device via a data connectivity provided by the access terminal.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the predicted time period is based on an estimated arrival time of the wireless device within a communication coverage area of the access terminal.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

determining a parameter for sharing the content; and

applying the parameter for sharing the content to the transmitting of the content.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the parameter for sharing includes requiring a payment in exchange for the content.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the parameter for sharing includes specifying a degree of a relationship of a contact in relation to a user of the access terminal.

52. An access terminal, comprising:

at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

a request from a server to transmit a portion of content to the wireless device;

receiving a notification message from the server, wherein the notification message includes a predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal;

receiving the portion of content from the server in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the access terminal, wherein the portion of content is based on the predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal; and

transmitting the portion of content to the wireless device via a data connectivity provided by the access terminal.

53. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause at least one processor of an access terminal to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a server to transmit a portion of content to a wireless device;

receiving a notification message from the server, wherein the notification message includes a predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal;

receiving the portion of content from the server in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the access terminal, wherein the portion of content is based on the predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal; and

transmitting the portion of content to the wireless device via a data connectivity provided by the access terminal.

54. An access terminal, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a server to transmit a portion of content to a wireless device;

means for receiving a notification message from the server, wherein the notification message includes a predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal;

means for receiving the portion of content from the server in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the access terminal, wherein the portion of content is based on the predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal; and

means for transmitting the portion of content to the wireless device via a data connectivity provided by the access terminal.

55. An access terminal for delivering content, comprising:

a content delivery component operable to;

receive a request, from a server, to transmit a portion of content to a wireless device;

receive a notification message from the server, wherein the notification message includes a predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal;

receive the portion of content from the server in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to be near the access terminal, wherein the portion of content is based on the predicted time period that the wireless device will be near the access terminal; and

transmit the portion of content to the wireless device via a data connectivity provided by the access terminal.

56. The access terminal of claim 55, wherein the predicted time period is based on an estimated arrival time of the wireless device within a communication coverage area of the access terminal.

57. The access terminal of claim 55, further comprising:

a sharing component operable to determine a parameter for sharing the content,

wherein the content delivery component is further operable to apply the parameter for sharing the content to the transmitting of the content.

58. The access terminal of claim 57, wherein the parameter for sharing includes requiring a payment in exchange for the content.

59. The access terminal of claim 57, wherein the parameter for sharing includes specifying a degree of a relationship of a contact in relation to a user of the access terminal.

60. A method for receiving content on a wireless device, comprising:

sending a selected travel destination and a request for content to a server;

receiving, from the server, a determined route of travel to the selected travel destination, wherein the determined route of travel is based upon locations of a plurality of access terminals providing data connectivity between a current location of the wireless device and the selected travel destination;

navigating the determined route of travel to the selected travel destination; and

receiving content via the data connectivity provided by the plurality of access terminals while navigating the determined route of travel, wherein receiving content comprises;

navigating within a vicinity of each of the plurality of access terminals for a period of time; and

receiving, from each access terminal, a corresponding portion of the requested content, wherein the corresponding portion of the requested content is based on the period of time navigated within the vicinity of that access terminal, wherein at least the portion of requested content is provided by the server to that access point in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to start navigating within the vicinity.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein sending the request for content to the server is based on a received content selection.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the selected travel destination is from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

updating the determined route of travel based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

64. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

receiving a notification that the determined route has changed.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the notification comprises one or more of an alarm or a voice message.

66. A wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

sending a selected travel destination and a request for content to a server;

receiving a determined route of travel to the selected destination, wherein the determined route of travel is based upon locations of a plurality of access terminals providing data connectivity between a current location and the selected travel destination;

navigating the determined route of travel to the selected travel destination; and

receiving content via the data connectivity provided by the plurality of access terminals while navigating the determined route of travel, wherein receiving content comprises;

navigating within a vicinity of each of the plurality of access terminals for a period of time; and

receiving, from each access terminal, a corresponding portion of the requested content, wherein the corresponding portion of the requested content is based on the period of time navigated within the vicinity of that access terminal, wherein at least the portion of requested content is provided by the server to that access point in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to start navigating within the vicinity.

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

sending a selected travel destination and a request for content to a server;

receiving a determined route of travel to the selected travel destination, wherein the determined route of travel is based upon locations of a plurality of access terminals providing data connectivity between a current location and the selected travel destination;

navigating the determined route of travel to the selected travel destination; and

receiving content via the data connectivity provided by the plurality of access terminals while navigating the determined route of travel, wherein receiving content comprises;

navigating within a vicinity of each of the plurality of access terminals for a period of time; and

receiving, from each access terminal, a corresponding portion of the requested content, wherein the corresponding portion of the requested content is based on the period of time navigated within the vicinity of that access terminal, wherein at least the portion of requested content is provided by the server to that access point in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to start navigating within the vicinity.

68. A wireless device, comprising:

means for sending a selected travel destination and a request for content to a server;

means for receiving a determined route of travel to the selected travel destination, wherein the determined route of travel is based upon locations of a plurality of access terminals providing data connectivity between a current location and the selected travel destination;

means for navigating the determined route of travel to the selected travel destination; and

means for receiving content via the data connectivity provided by the plurality of access terminals while navigating the determined route of travel, wherein means for receiving content comprises;

means for navigating within a vicinity of each of the plurality of access terminals for a period of time; and

means for receiving, from each access terminal, a corresponding portion of the requested content, wherein the corresponding portion of the requested content is based on the period of time navigated within the vicinity of that access terminal, wherein at least the portion of requested content is provided by the server to that access point in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to start navigating within the vicinity.

69. An apparatus for receiving content, comprising:

a navigation component operable to send a selected travel destination to a server, receive a determined route of travel to the selected travel destination, wherein the determined route of travel is based upon locations a plurality of access terminals providing data connectivity between a current location and the selected travel destination, and navigate the determined route of travel to the selected travel destination; and

a presenting component operable to receive content via the data connectivity provided by the plurality of access terminals while navigating the determined route of travel, wherein receiving content comprises;

navigating within a vicinity of each of the plurality of access terminals for a period of time; and

receiving, from each access terminal, a corresponding portion of the content, wherein the corresponding portion of the content is based on the period of time navigated within the vicinity of that access terminal, wherein at least the portion of requested content is provided by the server to that access point in advance of when the wireless device is predicted to start navigating within the vicinity.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

a selection component operable to select content to receive; and

a request component operable to send a request for the content.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the selected travel destination is from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the navigation component is further operable to update the determined route of travel based upon one or more of traffic information, a current speed of the wireless device, weather information, or navigation information from a navigation system associated with the wireless device.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the navigation component is further operable to receive a notification that the determined route of travel has changed.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the notification comprises one or more of an alarm or a voice message.