Download booths
First Claim
1. A download booth comprising a local file server operatively connected to a removable disk drive containing, in use, multimedia content, the local file server further comprising (1) a network interface operatively connected to a plurality of wireless access points and (2) a wireless connection manager, wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to authenticate incoming connection requests from a plurality of wireless devices and upon authentication, to temporarily connect each authenticated wireless device to its own access point connection for the duration of a connection session,whereinthe wireless connection manager is configured to queue connection requests when the number of concurrent connection requests exceeds the number of available access points, andthe wireless connection manager is further configured to queue further connection requests dynamically whereby the wireless connection manager populates a connection table with the further connection requests,the connection requests contain data indicating a size of a file to be downloaded from the download booth,the wireless connection manager is further configured to prioritize the connection requests according to an estimated aggregated end time for completing download requests, andthe wireless connection manager is further configured tocalculate an end time for completing all pending downloads,calculate another end time for completing all of the further downloads,tabulate an aggregate end time for completing all of the pending and further downloads for downloads allocated to different access points in different orders,determine a shortest aggregate time in which all of the pending and further downloads can be completed, andorder and allocate the further download requests to different access points so as to minimize an aggregate download time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A download booth comprising a local file server operatively connected to a removable disk drive containing, in use, multimedia content, the local file server further comprising a network interface operatively connected to a plurality of wireless access points and a wireless connection manager, wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to authenticate incoming connection requests from a plurality of wireless devices and upon authentication, to temporarily connect each authenticated wireless device to its own access point for the duration of a connection session. The end of the connection session may be determined by an estimated download time for a particular multimedia file, or upon detection of completion of a download from the download booth to the wireless device. Suitably, the connection manager is configured to dynamically queue connection requests when the number of concurrent connection requests exceeds the number of available access points and to prioritize the connection requests according to an estimated aggregated end time for completing the download requests.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A download booth comprising a local file server operatively connected to a removable disk drive containing, in use, multimedia content, the local file server further comprising (1) a network interface operatively connected to a plurality of wireless access points and (2) a wireless connection manager, wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to authenticate incoming connection requests from a plurality of wireless devices and upon authentication, to temporarily connect each authenticated wireless device to its own access point connection for the duration of a connection session,
wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to queue connection requests when the number of concurrent connection requests exceeds the number of available access points, and the wireless connection manager is further configured to queue further connection requests dynamically whereby the wireless connection manager populates a connection table with the further connection requests, the connection requests contain data indicating a size of a file to be downloaded from the download booth, the wireless connection manager is further configured to prioritize the connection requests according to an estimated aggregated end time for completing download requests, and the wireless connection manager is further configured to calculate an end time for completing all pending downloads, calculate another end time for completing all of the further downloads, tabulate an aggregate end time for completing all of the pending and further downloads for downloads allocated to different access points in different orders, determine a shortest aggregate time in which all of the pending and further downloads can be completed, and order and allocate the further download requests to different access points so as to minimize an aggregate download time.
Specification