Method and apparatus for caching multimedia content from the internet on occasionally-connected devices

• US 20110010429A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven E. Barile
• Original Assignee: Steven E. Barile
• Inventors: Barile, Steven E.
• Application Number:
  US12/655,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An arrangement is provided for caching multimedia content on occasionally connected devices. A play list is created and submitted to a multimedia content provider that provides and processes the desired multimedia content in the play list before the desired content is downloaded to a device. The device need only connect to the multimedia content provider for a period required to download the desired multimedia content. Once the desired multimedia content is in the device, the device can be carried with a user so that the user can access the multimedia content anywhere.

Claims

1. A method for caching multimedia content to an occasionally-connected device, comprising:

creating a play list based at least in part on a user'"'"'s preferences;

submitting the play list to a multimedia content provider through a network;

downloading multimedia content in the play list to a device when the device is connected to the multimedia content provider and caching the multimedia content on the device; and

playing the cached multimedia content while the device is not connected to the multimedia content provider.