Internet radio communication system

• US 6,418,138 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Cerf, Vinton, Huddle, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/517,250
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 370/464, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/389, 370/390, 370/391, 370/392, 370/401, 370/432, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/901, 370/913, 455/422, 455/424, 455/428, 455/425, 455/426, 455/414
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A novel communication system including mobile units distributed within a wireless communication network which are connected to a packet switched network (e.g., the Internet) via a proxy server is disclosed. The proxy server converts unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets being transmitted to the mobile units, and is also responsible for the overall management and control of the communication system.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and

a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit,

wherein the proxy server is configured to determine whether a requested service is currently offered, and

the proxy server is configured to provide a user using the mobile unit a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the proxy server is configured to cache a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the proxy server is configured to continuously receive a plurality of currently offered services.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit comprises at least one of an Internet radio, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes:

an input mechanism configured to input a requested service; and

a display region configured to display an advertisement and the requested service.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the input mechanism is foldably connected to the display so that the input mechanism covers the display.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of 1) a keypad configured to input the requested service, 2) a dial configured to scroll through a list of predetermined services, 3) UP and DOWN arrow keys configured to scroll through the list of predetermined services, 4) a selecting mechanism configured to select one of the predetermined services and 5) a voice activated mechanism.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol based network.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the Internet Protocol based network is the Internet.

20. The system according to claim 1, further comprising additional mobile units.

2. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and

a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit,

wherein the proxy server is configured to determine a current system capacity of the communication system and to notify the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

3. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and

a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit,

wherein the mobile unit is configured to store a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server, and

the mobile unit receives the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur;

     1) the mobile unit is powered ON,

     2) at predetermined time intervals, and

     3) when requested by a user.

4. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit;

determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and

informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

21. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

22. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

caching, via the proxy server, a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

23. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

continuously receiving, via the proxy server, a plurality of currently offered services.

24. The method according to claim 4, wherein the mobile unit comprises at least one of an Internet radio, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

25. The method according to claim 4, wherein the mobile unit includes:

an input mechanism configured to input a requested service; and

a display configured to display an advertisement and the requested service.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the input mechanism is foldably connected to the display so that the input mechanism covers the display.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of 1) a keypad configured to input the requested service, 2) a dial configured to scroll through a list of predetermined services, 3) UP and DOWN arrow keys configured to scroll through the list of predetermined services, 4) a selecting mechanism configured to select one of the predetermined services, and 5) a voice activated mechanism.

28. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

storing, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server.

29. The method according to claim 4, wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.

30. The method according to claim 4, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol based network.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the Internet Protocol based network is the Internet.

32. The method according to claim 4, wherein the establishing step is performed with additional mobile units.

5. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit;

determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and

notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

6. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit;

storing, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server; and

receiving, via the mobile unit, the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur;

     1) the mobile unit is powered ON,

     2) at predetermined time intervals, and

     3) when requested by a user.

7. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit;

determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and

informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent offered multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of:

caching, via the proxy server, a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of:

continuously receiving, via the proxy server, a plurality of currently offered services.

36. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.

8. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit;

determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and

notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

9. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of:

establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network;

requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network;

converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; and

receiving, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services from the proxy server when at least one of the following conditions occur;

     1) the mobile unit is powered ON,

     2) at predetermined time intervals, and

     3) when requested by a user.