Apparatus and method for delivery control of application data to a mobile device in a communication network

• US 9,380,125 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Soliman, Samir Salib, Song, Bongyong
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSA, ABDELNABI O
• Application Number:
  US13/550,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/201, 709/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for buffering application data from one or more application servers to be transmitted to a mobile device at a suitable opportunity. The application data may be buffered at the application servers, or at a delivery control server. An opportunity to transmit the application data may arise in accordance with detected user activity at the mobile device, or predicted imminent user activity at the mobile device, indicating that the user may wish to receive the application data.

Claims

1. A method of buffering application data operable at a delivery control server, comprising:

receiving information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the delivery control server from the mobile device;

transmitting, by the delivery control server, a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

receiving a request to buffer application data for the identified applications at the delivery control server, wherein the request is received from the mobile device, the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

receiving, from the one or more application servers at the delivery control server, an application data transmission for at least one of the identified applications used by the mobile device;

storing the received application data in a buffer as a result of receiving the request by the delivery control server;

receiving an activity notification from the mobile device by the delivery control server indicating an opportunity to transmit the buffered data to the mobile device; and

transmitting the buffered application data to the mobile device by the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

2. A method of buffering application data operable at a mobile device, comprising:

transmitting information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to a delivery control server;

transmitting a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

determining that user activity is not detected at the mobile device;

in response to the determination that the user activity is not detected, transmitting a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the delivery control server, wherein the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

detecting the user activity at the mobile device;

transmitting an activity notification to the delivery control server, upon detecting the user activity at the mobile device, to indicate an opportunity for the delivery control server to transmit buffered application data; and

receiving buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications from the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting of the user activity comprises receiving an output signal from at least one sensor at the mobile device indicating the user activity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a touch sensor, a sound sensor, or a proximity sensor.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the user activity comprises at least one of touching the mobile device, moving the mobile device, emitting an audible sound in the proximity of the mobile device, or approaching the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting of the user activity comprises predicting imminent user activity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predicting of the imminent user activity comprises detecting application activity at the mobile device indicating the imminent user activity.

8. A method of moderating buffered application data operable at an opportunity notification server, comprising:

receiving information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the opportunity notification server;

transmitting configuration information to one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the one or more application servers;

transmitting a request to buffer application data at the one or more application servers for the identified applications to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, wherein the request is adapted to request the one or more application servers to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

receiving an activity notification from the mobile device by the opportunity notification server indicating an opportunity to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

transmitting an opportunity notification to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, responsive to the activity notification, to indicate an opportunity for the one or more application servers to transmit the buffered application data to the mobile device.

9. A method of moderating buffered application data operable at a mobile device, comprising:

transmitting information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to an opportunity notification server by the mobile device;

transmitting configuration information to at least one application server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the at least one application server by the mobile device;

transmitting a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the at least one application server by the mobile device, wherein the request is adapted to request the at least one application server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

detecting user activity at the mobile device by the mobile device;

transmitting an opportunity notification to the opportunity notification server by the mobile device, responsive to the detected activity, to indicate an opportunity for the at least one application server to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

receiving the transmitted application data from the at least one application server by the mobile device.

10. A delivery control server for buffering application data, comprising:

first means for receiving, configured to receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the delivery control server, and further configured to receive a request to buffer application data for the identified applications, wherein the request is received from the mobile device, the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

means for transmitting a notification from the delivery control server to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

second means for receiving, from the one or more application servers by the delivery control server, an application data transmission for at least one of the identified applications used by the mobile device;

means for storing the received application data in a buffer as a result of receiving the request by the delivery control server;

wherein the first means for receiving is further configured to receive an activity notification from the mobile device by the delivery control server indicating an opportunity to transmit the buffered data to the mobile device; and

means for transmitting the buffered application data to the mobile device by the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

the at least one processor configured to detect user activity and to determine that the user activity is not detected;

means for transmitting, configured to transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to a delivery control server, and further configured to transmit a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device, and further configured to transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the delivery control server in response to the determination that the user activity is not detected, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit an activity notification to the delivery control server, upon detecting the user activity, to indicate an opportunity for the delivery control server to transmit buffered application data; and

means for receiving buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications from the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect at least one of touching the mobile device, moving the mobile device, emitting an audible sound in the proximity of the mobile device, or approaching the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to predict imminent user activity.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the predicting of the imminent user activity comprises detecting application activity at the mobile device indicating the imminent user activity.

15. An opportunity notification server for moderating buffered application data, comprising:

means for receiving, configured to receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the opportunity notification server from the mobile device; and

means for transmitting, configured to transmit configuration information to one or more application servers from the opportunity notification server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the one or more application servers, and further configured to transmit a request to buffer application data at the one or more application servers for the identified applications to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, wherein the request is adapted to request the one or more application servers to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive an activity notification from the mobile device by the opportunity notification server indicating an opportunity to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit an opportunity notification to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, responsive to the activity notification, to indicate an opportunity for the one or more application servers to transmit the buffered application data to the mobile device.

16. A mobile device for moderating buffered application data, comprising:

a processor configured to detect user activity;

means for transmitting, configured to transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to an opportunity notification server by the mobile device, wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit configuration information to at least one application server by the mobile device to disable push operations for the identified applications at the at least one application server, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the at least one application server by the mobile device, the request adapted to request the at least one application server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit an opportunity notification to the opportunity notification server by the mobile device, responsive to the detected activity, to indicate an opportunity for the at least one application server to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

means for receiving the transmitted application data from the at least one application server by the mobile device.

17. A delivery control server for buffering application data, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

a communication interface coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the delivery control server from the mobile device;

transmit, by the delivery control server, a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

receive a request to buffer application data for the identified applications at the delivery control server, wherein the request is received from the mobile device, the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

receive, from the one or more application servers at the delivery control server, an application data transmission for at least one of the identified applications used by the mobile device;

store the received application data in the memory as a result of receiving the request by the delivery control server;

receive an activity notification from the mobile device by the delivery control server indicating an opportunity to transmit the stored data to the mobile device; and

transmit the stored application data to the mobile device by the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

a communication interface coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to a delivery control server;

determine that user activity is not detected at the mobile device;

in response to the determination that the user activity is not detected, transmit a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the delivery control server, wherein the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

detect the user activity;

transmit an activity notification to the delivery control server, upon detecting the user activity, to indicate an opportunity for the delivery control server to transmit buffered application data; and

receive buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications from the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor, being configured to detect the user activity, is further configured to receive an output signal from the at least one sensor indicating the user activity.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a touch sensor, a sound sensor, or a proximity sensor.

21. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the user activity comprises at least one of touching the mobile device, moving the mobile device, emitting an audible sound in the proximity of the mobile device, or approaching the mobile device.

22. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor, being configured to detect the user activity, is further configured to predict imminent user activity.

23. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor, being configured to predict the imminent user activity, is further configured to detect application activity at the mobile device indicating the imminent user activity.

24. An opportunity notification server for moderating buffered application data, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

a communication interface coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device at the opportunity notification server from the mobile device;

transmit configuration information to one or more application servers from the opportunity notification server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the one or more application servers;

transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications at the one or more application servers to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the one or more application servers to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

receive an activity notification from the mobile device by the opportunity notification server indicating an opportunity to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

transmit an opportunity notification to the one or more application servers by the opportunity notification server, responsive to the activity notification, to indicate an opportunity for the one or more application servers to transmit the buffered application data to the mobile device.

25. A mobile device for moderating buffered application data, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

a communication interface coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to an opportunity notification server by the mobile device;

transmit configuration information to at least one application server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the at least one application server by the mobile device;

transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the at least one application server by the mobile device, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the at least one application server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

detect user activity by the mobile device;

transmit an opportunity notification to the opportunity notification server by the mobile device, responsive to the detected activity, to indicate an opportunity for the at least one application server to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

receive the transmitted application data from the at least one application server by the mobile device.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable at a delivery control server, comprising:

instructions for causing the delivery control server to receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device;

instructions for causing the delivery control server to transmit a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

instructions for causing the delivery control server to receive a request to buffer application data for the identified applications, wherein the request is received from the mobile device, the request is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, and the selection criteria comprises delay tolerance of the application data;

instructions for causing the delivery control server to receive, from the one or more application servers, an application data transmission for at least one of the identified applications used by the mobile device;

instructions for causing the delivery control server to store the received application data in a buffer as a result of receiving the request;

instructions for causing the delivery control server to receive an activity notification from the mobile device indicating an opportunity to transmit the buffered data to the mobile device; and

instructions for causing the delivery control server to transmit the buffered application data to the mobile device in response to the activity notification.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable at a mobile device, comprising:

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to a delivery control server;

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit a notification to one or more application servers associated with the identified applications to push application data to the delivery control server instead of the mobile device;

instructions for causing the mobile device to determine that user activity is not detected at the mobile device;

instructions for causing, in response to the determination that the user activity is not detected, the mobile device to transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the delivery control server, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the delivery control server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

instructions for causing the mobile device to detect the user activity at the mobile device;

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit an activity notification to the delivery control server, upon detecting the user activity at the mobile device, to indicate an opportunity for the delivery control server to transmit buffered application data; and

instructions for causing the mobile device to receive buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications from the delivery control server in response to the activity notification.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions for causing the mobile device to detect the user activity are further configured to cause a computer to receive an output signal from at least one sensor at the mobile device indicating the user activity.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a touch sensor, a sound sensor, or a proximity sensor.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the user activity comprises at least one of touching the mobile device, moving the mobile device, emitting an audible sound in the proximity of the mobile device, or approaching the mobile device.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions for causing the mobile device to detect the user activity are further configured to cause the mobile device to predict imminent user activity.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions for causing the mobile device to predict the imminent user activity are further configured to cause the mobile device to detect application activity at the mobile device indicating the imminent user activity.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable at an opportunity notification server, comprising:

instructions for causing the opportunity notification server to receive information that identifies applications used by a mobile device;

instructions for causing the opportunity notification server to transmit configuration information to one or more application servers to disable push operations for the identified applications at the one or more application servers;

instructions for causing the opportunity notification server to transmit a request to buffer application data at the one or more application servers for the identified applications to the one or more application servers, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the one or more application servers to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

instructions for causing the opportunity notification server to receive an activity notification from the mobile device indicating an opportunity to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

instructions for causing the opportunity notification server to transmit an opportunity notification to the one or more application servers, responsive to the activity notification, to indicate an opportunity for the one or more application servers to transmit the buffered application data to the mobile device.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable at a mobile device, comprising:

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit information that identifies applications used by the mobile device to an opportunity notification server;

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit configuration information to at least one application server to disable push operations for the identified applications at the at least one application server;

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit a request to buffer application data for the identified applications to the at least one application server, wherein the request to buffer the application data is adapted to request the at least one application server to buffer a portion of the application data in accordance with a selection criteria, the selection criteria comprising delay tolerance of the application data;

instructions for causing the mobile device to detect user activity at the mobile device;

instructions for causing the mobile device to transmit an opportunity notification to the opportunity notification server, responsive to the detected activity, to indicate an opportunity for the at least one application server to transmit buffered application data for at least one of the identified applications to the mobile device; and

instructions for causing the mobile device to receive the transmitted application data from the at least one application server.