Systems, devices, methods and computer program products for downloading content to mobile devices in a roaming environment

• US 20060135179A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne La.
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are presented for downloading content to a mobile terminal, during periods when the mobile terminal is outside of the home network; i.e. when the terminal is roaming. The invention provides for downloading of the content without utilizing the cellular network, thereby, circumventing the additional surcharges that may be associated with providing for downloading outside of the home network environment. In addition, the invention provides for methods and systems that may be implemented automatically, without the user having to interface with the device or system to implement the change in download techniques. Also, the content can be downloaded during normal download schedules so that the user is not adversely affected by their travel schedule and can be assured scheduled program downloads throughout the travel period.

Claims

1. A method for downloading content to a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a travel schedule for a user of a mobile terminal that defines a travel period;

determining one or more hotspots associated with the travel period;

communicating content to at least one of the one or more hotspots; and

downloading the content to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal comes in contact with one of the one or more hotspots.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a travel schedule for a user of a mobile terminal that defines a travel period further comprises the step of executing a client application on the mobile terminal to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of executing a client application on the mobile terminal to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal further comprises the step of inputting a travel schedule in to the client application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of executing a client application on the mobile terminal to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal further comprises the step of accessing a user travel schedule application to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of executing a client application on the mobile terminal to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal further comprises the step of accessing an external database to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one or more hotspots associated with the travel period further comprises determining one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the scheduled travel period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the scheduled travel period further comprises the step of executing a client application to determine the one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the scheduled travel further comprises the step of comparing the travel schedule to a database of roaming network hotspots to determine the hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period further comprises the step of providing the user with a selection of recommended roaming network hotspots based upon determining the one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period further comprises the step of executing a server application to determine the one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating content to at least one of the one or more hotspots further comprises communicating, during the travel period, content to at least one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating content to at least one of the one or more hotspots further comprises communicating, prior to the travel period, content to at least one or more roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of communicating content to at least one of the one or more hotspots further comprises communicating, prior to the travel period, content to at least one or more home network hotspots that the user will likely encounter prior to the travel period.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating content to at least one of the one or more hotspots further comprises the steps of:

communicating the determined travel schedule to a server having access to user content;

accessing the content at the server; and

communicating the content from the server to access points at each of the one or more hotspots.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of communicating the content from the server to access points at each of the one or more hotspots further comprises the steps of communicating the content from the server to access points having associated storage capabilities prior to the scheduled travel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of communicating the content from the server to access points at each of the one or more hotspots further comprises the steps of communicating the content from the server to an access point that requests the data based on the user encountering the hotspot.

6. (canceled)

12-14. -14. (canceled)

21-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for downloading and accessing content to a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a travel schedule for a user of a mobile terminal that defines a travel period;

determining content that is scheduled to be delivered to the mobile terminal during the travel period

communicating to the mobile terminal, prior to the travel period, the content; and

storing the content in mobile terminal memory.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of determining a travel schedule for a user of a mobile terminal that defines a travel period further comprises the step of executing a client application on the mobile terminal to determine a travel schedule for the user of the mobile terminal.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing the user access to the stored content at regularly scheduled delivery periods during the travel period.

30-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A system for downloading content to a mobile terminal, the system comprising:

a mobile terminal that executes a client application that determines a user travel schedule and defines travel period; and

a content server in network communication with the client application that receives a user travel schedule and responds by communicating content, which is scheduled for delivery during the travel period, to the mobile terminal prior to the travel period.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein that mobile terminal further comprises memory that stores the content communicated from the content server, wherein the content that is stored in the memory is accessible to the user of the mobile terminal only at regularly scheduled delivery periods, which occur during the travel period.

44. A mobile terminal device, the device comprising:

a processor that executes a client application that determines a device user'"'"'s travel schedule, which defines a travel period and determines one or more hotspots associated with the travel schedule ; and

a short-range wireless communication module that provides for downloading content when the device encounters one of the determined hotspots.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the processor that executes a client application that determines a device user'"'"'s travel schedule, which defines a travel period and determines one or more hotspots associated with the travel schedule further defines the one or more hotspots as roaming network hotspots that the user will likely encounter during the travel period.

46. The device of claim 44, wherein the processor that executes a client application that determines a device user'"'"'s travel schedule, which defines a travel period and determines one or more hotspots associated with the travel schedule further defines the one or more hotspots as home network hotspots that the user will likely encounter prior to the travel period.

47. The device of claim 44, further comprising a cellular communication module in communication with the processor that provides for cellular communication of the user'"'"'s travel schedule and one or more hotspots to a network server that provides content access.

48. A computer program product for assessing a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule and preparing for content downloading during periods of travel, comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule and defining a travel period; and

a second executable portion capable of determining one or more hotspots associated with the travel period.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the first executable portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule and defining a travel period further includes a portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule based on user inputs to the computer program.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the first executable portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule and defining a travel period further includes a portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule based on accessing one or more user planner applications.

51. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the first executable portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule and defining a travel period further includes a portion capable of determining a mobile terminal user'"'"'s travel schedule based on accessing one or more external databases.

52. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the second executable portion capable of determining one or more hotspots associated with the travel period further defines the one or more hotspots as roaming network hotspots that user will likely encounter during the travel period.

53. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the second executable portion capable of determining one or more hotspots associated with the travel period further defines the one or more hotspots as home network hotspots that user will likely encounter prior to the travel period.

54. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further includes a third portion capable of activating a short-range communication module when the mobile terminal encounters one of the hotspots during the scheduled travel period.

55-60. -60. (canceled)