Local peer-to-peer digital content distribution
First Claim
1. A system for distributing digital content, the system comprising:
- a device discovery engine configured to determine if a source communication device operable by a source entity is proximate a sink communication device operable by a sink entity, independent of whether the source entity and the sink entity have a common predetermined affiliation;
a network communication interface responsive to the device discovery engine, the network communication interface configured to use a predetermined communication protocol to establish a peer-to-peer connection between the source communication device and the sink communication device if the source communication device is proximate the sink communication device; and
a digital content distribution engine responsive to the device discovery engine and the network communication interface, the digital content distribution engine configured to identify a digital content item stored on a computer-readable memory, and to manage asynchronous distribution of the digital content item via the peer-to-peer connection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices such as media players are configured for participation in activities relating to local, peer-to-peer distribution of digital content. In an exemplary distribution transaction, digital content items such as audio files, video files, text files, multimedia files, data files, playlists, and metadata are distributable between a source device and a sink device based on the acts of: identifying digital content item(s); determining the proximity of the source device to the sink device; and if the potential source and sink communication devices are deemed to be in proximity, establishing a peer-to-peer communication session (using a predetermined communication protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (“WiFi”), Bluetooth, or HiperLAN) between the source and sink devices. The digital content item(s) can be asynchronously distributed, via the peer-to-peer communication session, from a computer-readable medium accessible by the source communication device to a computer-readable medium associated with the sink communication device.
273 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for distributing digital content, the system comprising:
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a device discovery engine configured to determine if a source communication device operable by a source entity is proximate a sink communication device operable by a sink entity, independent of whether the source entity and the sink entity have a common predetermined affiliation; a network communication interface responsive to the device discovery engine, the network communication interface configured to use a predetermined communication protocol to establish a peer-to-peer connection between the source communication device and the sink communication device if the source communication device is proximate the sink communication device; and a digital content distribution engine responsive to the device discovery engine and the network communication interface, the digital content distribution engine configured to identify a digital content item stored on a computer-readable memory, and to manage asynchronous distribution of the digital content item via the peer-to-peer connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device, comprising:
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a device discovery engine configured to detect a proximate electronic device; a network communication interface responsive to the device discovery engine and configured to use a predetermined communication protocol to establish a peer-to-peer connection with a detected proximate electronic device; a computer-readable medium having a digital content item stored thereon; and a processor responsive to the computer-readable storage medium and to computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions executable by the processor to; ascertain whether a proximate electronic device has been detected by the device discovery engine; if a proximate electronic device has been detected, cause the network communication interface to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the detected proximate electronic device, independent of whether the proximate electronic device has a predetermined affiliation; indicate to the detected proximate electronic device that the digital content item is available for distribution; receive a request for transfer of the digital content item from the proximate electronic device; and based on the received request, arrange for asynchronous transfer of the digital content item from the computer-readable medium to the proximate electronic device via the peer-to-peer connection. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic device, comprising:
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a device discovery engine configured to detect a proximate electronic device; a network communication interface configured to use a predetermined communication protocol to establish a peer-to-peer connection with a detected proximate electronic device; a computer-readable medium; and a processor responsive to the computer-readable medium and to computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions executable by the processor to; ascertain whether a proximate electronic device has been detected by the device discovery engine; if a proximate electronic device has been detected, cause the network communication interface to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the detected proximate electronic device, independent of whether the proximate electronic device has a predetermined affiliation; determine whether a digital content item is available for transfer from the proximate electronic device; based on the determination, request transfer of the digital content item from the proximate communication device; asynchronously receive the digital content item from the proximate communication device via the established peer-to-peer connection; and store the digital content item on the computer-readable medium. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification