ADAPTIVE STREAMING FOR ON DEMAND WIRELESS SERVICES

• US 20090164653A1
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: HUNTER, Kevin E., MANDYAM, Giridhar D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

An adaptive media distribution system provides an on demand user experience across a limited throughput wireless network by selectively utilizing available storage on a handheld communication device, taking advantage of increased availability of extended memory solutions. Creation of an adaptable user interface (UI) widget (e.g., Trig) serves as a near real-time mechanism for delivery of media content, overcoming the over-the-air latency and difficulties with streaming interoperability. Yet, for handheld communication devices with limited storage, the adaptive media distribution system further allows legacy devices to receive on demand services via streaming, albeit with the requisite relatively long latency associated with cellular multimedia services.

Claims

1. A method for receiving media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

detecting an amount of available local data storage;

determining a user preference for a media content selection;

accessing and playing a streaming version of the media content selection on a portable communication device in response to the amount of available local data storage being below a threshold; and

storing a discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage in response to the amount of available local data storage exceeding the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing the stored discretely formatted version of the media content selection on the portable communication device in response to a user request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection further comprises receiving a data structure container comprising an update channel, executable user interface code, and media content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection comprises receiving a Trig user interface application.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a Triglet updating a stored Trig.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the amount of available local data storage further comprises detecting the presence of a removable expandable memory device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the discretely formatted version of the media content selection further comprises receiving the discretely formatted version over a wireless network having a throughput characterized by an over-the-air latency exceeding one fourth of a duration of the media content selection.

8. A method for distributing media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

determining a selection of media content;

obtaining a discrete media content version of the selection comprised of a data structure containing an update channel and user interface code; and

transmitting the discrete media content version across a limited throughput network in response to determining a capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a streaming media content version of the selection in response to determining a lack of capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising obtaining a Triglet to update a user interface on the communication device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising scheduling distribution of the discrete media content version in accordance with a constraint to the communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the constraint based upon network availability.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the constraint based upon usage patterns of the communication device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising commanding deletion of stored content on the communication device prior to transmitting the discrete media content version.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the selection of media content further comprises determining a user preference for the media content selection.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising incorporating advertising content into the discretely formatted media content selections.

17. At least one processor configured to receive media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

a first module for detecting an amount of available local data storage;

a second module for determining a user preference for a media content selection;

a third module for accessing and playing a streaming version of the media content selection on a portable communication device in response to the amount of available local data storage being below a threshold; and

a fourth module for storing a discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage in response to the amount of available local data storage exceeding the threshold.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to detect an amount of available local data storage;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine a user preference for a media content selection;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to access and play a streaming version of the media content selection on a portable communication device in response to the amount of available local data storage being below a threshold; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage in response to the amount of available local data storage exceeding the threshold.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting an amount of available local data storage;

means for determining a user preference for a media content selection;

means for accessing and playing a streaming version of the media content selection on a portable communication device in response to the amount of available local data storage being below a threshold; and

means for storing a discretely formatted version of the media content selection in the available local data storage in response to the amount of available local data storage exceeding the threshold

20. An apparatus for receiving media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

local data storage;

an interface for receiving a user preference for a media content selection;

a media player; and

a controller responsive to an amount of available storage of the local data storage being under a threshold to access and play a streaming version of the media content selection on the media player and responsive to the amount of available storage of the local data storage being above the threshold to store a discretely formatted version of the media content selection.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein local data storage comprises a removable memory device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the media player comprises a Trig player, the discrete media content comprising a Triglet.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the discretely formatted version of the media content selection further comprises a data structure container comprising an update channel, executable user interface code, and media content.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a communications interface operable to receive the discretely formatted version over a wireless network having a throughput characterized by an over-the-air latency exceeding one fourth of a duration of the media content selection.

25. At least one processor configured to distribute media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

a first module for determining a selection of media content;

a second module for obtaining a discrete media content version of the selection comprised of a data structure containing an update channel and user interface code; and

a third module for transmitting the discrete media content version across a limited throughput network in response to determining a capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

26. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine a selection of media content;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to obtain a discrete media content version of the selection comprised of a data structure containing an update channel and user interface code; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit the discrete media content version across a limited throughput network in response to determining a capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining a selection of media content;

means for obtaining a discrete media content version of the selection comprised of a data structure containing an update channel and user interface code; and

means for transmitting the discrete media content version across a limited throughput network in response to determining a capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

28. An apparatus for distributing media content across a limited throughput network, comprising:

a processor for selecting media content;

network storage for containing a discrete media content version of the selected media content comprising a data structure containing an update channel and user interface code; and

a transmitter for distributing the discrete media content version across a limited throughput network in response to a determination of a capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further operable to transmit a streaming media content version of the selection in response to determining a lack of capacity of a communication device to store the discrete media content version.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the media distributor is further operable to obtain a Triglet to update a user interface on the communication device.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further operable to schedule distribution of the discrete media content version in accordance with a constraint to the communication device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further operable to determine the constraint based upon network availability.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further operable to determine the constraint based upon usage patterns of the communication device.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the scheduling dispatcher is further operable to determine command deletion of stored content on the communication device prior to transmitting the discrete media content version.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the media distributor is further operable to determine the selection of media content based on a user preference for the media content selection.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the media distributor is further operable to incorporate advertising content into the discretely formatted media content selections.