Cellular telephone download locker

• US 7,113,981 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bandsintown Media LLC
• Original Assignee: MIXXER Incorporated
• Inventors: Slate, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOROBOV, VITALI A
• Application Number:
  US10/747,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/206, 705/26, 455/414, 455/412.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 463/41, 725/112
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability

Abstract

A system and method for providing data files, such as ringtones, screensavers, games, and other types of application software, to a mobile telephone, such as a cellular telephone, is disclosed. An illustrative system is internet-based and provides subscribers with access via a general purpose computer to a large number of data files that are selectable by subscribers for storing in respective user-specific data lockers that are established by the system. Users may access their user-specific data lockers via a URL link that is sent to their mobile phones by the system as a text message.

Claims

1. A method of providing user-selected data files to mobile phones of users, the method comprising:

establishing a website that is accessible to each user via a general purpose computer,

associating with the website a database having a main library of data files stored therein,

establishing for each user, a user-specific data locker into which one or more user-selected data files selected by the associated user are copied from the main library of data files,

copying the one or more user-selected data files from the main library of data files into the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to receiving commands from an associated user via the user'"'"'s general purpose computer regarding which of the data files from the main library of data files are to be listed in the user'"'"'s user-specific data locker as the one or more user-selected data files,

sending a text message to the mobile phone of the associated user, the text message having a URL link to the user-specific data locker of the associated user, and

transmitting to the mobile phone of the associated user for storage in memory of the mobile phone at least one of the user-selected data files listed in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s mobile phone after the associated user accesses their user-specific data locker via the URL link sent to their mobile phone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from each user via their general purpose computer information about the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising formatting the one or more user-selected data files based on the information about the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone, so that the one or more user-selected data files are compatible with the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein formatting the one or more user-selected data files comprises modifying each data file by adding to a core data portion of the respective data file a header portion having information regarding at least one of a file name, a file size, a file type, and a file URL.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein formatting the one or more user-selected data files occurs in response to the associated user selecting the user-selected data file from the main library of data files for listing in the associated user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein formatting the one or more user-selected data files occurs prior to the associated user selecting the user-selected data file from the main library of data files for listing in the associated user'"'"'s user-specific data locker and occurs in response to a prior user selecting the same user-selected data file for listing in the prior user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing each formatted data file for use by the system in response to subsequent users having the same type of mobile phone for which the associated formatted data file was formatted in response to a prior user selecting the associated user-selected data file from the main library of data files.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising dividing the main library of data files into a set of main categories that are selectable by each user browsing the website.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of main categories comprises at least one of screensavers, ringtones, games, utilities, and applications.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising further dividing the data files into sets of subcategories that are selectable by each user browsing the website, each set of subcategories being associated with an associated one of the main categories.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data files comprise ringtone files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of ringtone files that are characterized by being from a similar genre of music.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data files comprise image files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of image files that are characterized by being related to a similar topic.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data files comprise game software files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of game software files that are characterized by being similar types of games.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the data files comprise image files and further comprising giving the users the option of designating each user-selected image file as a proportional image file or an exact fit image file prior to copying the user-selected image file to the user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit users to delete from their user-specific data locker selected ones of the user-selected data files in response to delete commands received from the users via their general purpose computers.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit users to delete from their user-specific data locker selected ones of the user-selected data files in response to delete commands received from the associated user via their mobile phone.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more locker web pages that are configured to permit users to view information about the user-selected data files that are stored in their user-specific data lockers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more locker web pages have at least one of icons and hyperlinks that are usable by each user to view only a portion of the user-selected data files stored in their user-specific data locker.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing for each user a user-specific personal file that is separate from each associated user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving from at least one user an uploaded data file that the at least one user uploads from their general purpose computer for storage in their user-specific personal file.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising listing automatically the uploaded data file from the user-specific personal file of the at least one user in the user-specific data locker of the at least one user in response to the at least one user uploading the uploaded data file to the user-specific personal file of the at least one user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit the at least one user to list the uploaded data file from the user-specific personal file of the at least one user in the user-specific data locker of the at least one user.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit the at least one user to delete the uploaded data file from the user-specific personal file of the at least one user in response to delete commands received from the at least one user via the general purpose computer of the at least one user.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising listing the uploaded data file from the user-specific personal file of the at least one user in the user-specific data locker of the at least one user and transmitting to the mobile phone of the at least one user the uploaded data file listed in the user-specific data locker of the at least one user in response to commands received from the at least one user via the mobile phone of the at least one user after the at least one user accesses their user-specific data locker via their mobile phone.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising evaluating the uploaded data file and automatically deleting the uploaded data file if an error condition is detected.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the user-selected data files and automatically deleting the uploaded data file if an error condition is detected.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages having at least one of icons and hyperlinks that are usable by each user to download user-provided data files from the general purpose computers of the users to the database for inclusion in the main library of data files which is accessible to all users.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising screening each user-provided data file for system compatibility prior to including each user-provided data file in the main library of data files.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising modifying at least one of the user-provided data files into a format that is system compatible in response to a determination during the screening that the at least one user-provided data file is not system compatible.

30. A system for providing user-selected data files to mobile phones of users, the system comprising

a server configured to establish a website that is accessible to the users via general purpose computers of the users,

a database that is associated with the website and that has a main library of data files stored therein, and

a plurality of user-specific data lockers, each user-specific data locker being designated to an associated one of the users for listing one or more user-selected data files selected by the associated user from the main library of data files, the server being configured to list the one or more user-selected data files from the main library of data files in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s general purpose computer regarding which of the data files from the main library of data files are to be designated as the one or more user-selected data files, the server being configured to send a text message to the mobile phone of the associated user, the text message having a URL link to the user-specific data locker of the associated user, the server being configured to initiate transmission to the mobile phone of the associated user for storage in memory of the mobile phone at least one of the user-selected data files listed in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s mobile phone after the associated user accesses their user-specific data locker via the URL link sent to their mobile phone.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is configured to receive from each user via their general purpose computer information about the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the server is configured to format the one or more user-selected data files based on the information about the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone, so that the one or more user-selected data files are compatible with the associated user'"'"'s type of mobile phone.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the server is configured to format the one or more user-selected data files by modifying the one or more user-selected data files by adding to a core data portion of the respective data file a header portion having information regarding at least one of a file name, a file size, a file type, and a file URL.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the server is configured to format the one or more user-selected data files in response to the associated user selecting the one or more user-selected data files from the main library of data files for listing in the associated user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the server is configured to store each formatted data file for use by the system in response to subsequent users having the same type of mobile phone for which the associated formatted data file was formatted in response to a prior user selecting the associated user-selected data file from the main library of data files.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the main library of data files is divided into a set of main categories that are selectable by each user browsing the website.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the set of main categories comprises at least one of screensavers, ringtones, games, utilities, and applications.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the data files are further divided into sets of subcategories that are selectable by each user browsing the website, each set of subcategories being associated with an associated one of the main categories.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the data files comprise ringtone files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of ringtone files that are characterized by being from a similar genre of music.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the data files comprise image files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of image files that are characterized by being related to a similar topic.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the data files comprise game software files and at least some of the subcategories have associated therewith groups of game software files that are characterized by being similar types of games.

42. The system of claim 30, wherein the data files comprise image files and the server is configured to give the users the option of designating each user-selected image file as a proportional image file or an exact fit image file prior to listing the user-selected image file in the user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit users to communicate delete commands from their general purpose computers to the server and the delete commands result in selected ones of the user-selected data files being delisted from the user-specific data lockers.

44. The system of claim 30, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit users to communicate delete commands from their mobile phones to the server and the delete commands result in selected ones of the user-selected data files being delisted from the user-specific data lockers.

45. The system of claim 30, wherein the website comprises one or more locker web pages that are configured to permit users to view information about the user-selected data files that are listed in their user-specific data lockers.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the one or more locker web pages have at least one of icons and hyperlinks that are usable by each user to view only a portion of the user-selected data files listed in their user-specific data locker.

47. The system of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of user-specific personal files, each user-specific personal file being designated to an associated one of the users for storage of one or more uploaded data files that are uploaded from the general purpose computer of the associated user, and each user-specific personal file being separate from each associated user'"'"'s user-specific data locker.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the server is configured to list automatically the uploaded data files from the user-specific personal files of the associated users in the user-specific data lockers of the associated users in response to the uploading the uploaded data files to the user-specific personal files of the associated users.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to list the uploaded data files from the user-specific personal files of the associated users in the user-specific data lockers of the associated users.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to delist the uploaded data files from their user-specific personal files in response to delete commands received from the users via their general purpose computers.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the server is configured to list automatically the uploaded data files from the user-specific personal files of the users in the user-specific data lockers of the associated users and to initiate transmission to the mobile phone of the uploaded data files from the user-specific data lockers of the associated users in response to commands received from the associated users via their mobile phones after the associated users access their user-specific data lockers via their mobile phones.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the server is configured to evaluate the uploaded data file and automatically delete any uploaded data files for which an error condition is detected.

53. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is configured to evaluate the user-selected data files and automatically delete any uploaded data files for which an error condition is detected.

54. The system of claim 30, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages having at least one of icons and hyperlinks that are usable by each user to download user-provided data files from the general purpose computers of the users to the database for inclusion in the main library of data files which is accessible to all users.

55. A method of providing data files to mobile phones of users, the method comprising

establishing a website that is accessible to each user via a general purpose computer,

associating with the website a database having a main library of data files stored therein,

establishing, for each user, a user-specific data locker in which are listed one or more user-selected data files selected by the associated user from the main library of data files,

establishing, for each user, a user-specific personal file into which are stored one or more uploaded data files that are uploaded from the general purpose computer of the associated user,

listing the one or more uploaded data files from the user-specific personal file of the associated user in the user-specific data locker of the associated user,

listing the one or more user-selected data files from the main library of data files in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s general purpose computer regarding which of the data files from the main library of data files are to be designated as the one or more user-selected data files, and

transmitting to the mobile phone of the associated user for storage in memory of the mobile phone at least one user-selected data file or at least one uploaded data file listed in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s mobile phone after the associated user accesses their user-specific data locker via their mobile phone.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising sending a text message to the mobile phone of the associated user and the text message having a URL link that is used by the associated user to access their user-specific data locker via their mobile phone.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising receiving from at least one user an uploaded data file that the at least one user uploads from their general purpose computer for storage in their user-specific personal file.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein listing the one or more uploaded data files in the user-specific data locker of the associated user occurs automatically in response to the associated user uploading the one or more uploaded data files to the user-specific personal file of the associated user.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to list the uploaded data files from their user-specific personal files in their user-specific data lockers.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein establishing the website comprises establishing one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to delist the uploaded data files from their user-specific personal files in response to delete commands received from the users via their general purpose computers.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising evaluating the uploaded data files and automatically deleting any uploaded data file for which an error condition is detected.

62. A system for providing user-selected data files to mobile phones of users, the system comprising

a server configured to establish a website that is accessible to the users via general purpose computers of the users,

a database that is associated with the website and that has a main library of data files stored therein,

a plurality of user-specific data lockers, each user-specific data locker being designated to an associated user for listing one or more user-selected data files selected by the associated user from the main library of data files, the server being configured to list the one or more user-selected data files from the main library of data files in the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s general purpose computer regarding which of the data files from the main library of data files are to be designated as the one or more user-selected data files, and

a plurality of user-specific personal files, each user-specific personal file being designated to an associated user for storage of one or more uploaded data files that are uploaded from the general purpose computer of the associated user, the server being configured to list the one or more uploaded data files from the user-specific personal file of the associated user in the user-specific data locker of the associated user, the server being configured to initiate transmission to the mobile phone of the associated user for storage in memory of the mobile phone at least one user-selected data file or at least one uploaded data file from the user-specific data locker of the associated user in response to commands received from the associated user via the user'"'"'s mobile phone after the associated user accesses their user-specific data locker via their mobile phone.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the server is configured to send a text message to the mobile phone of the associated user and the text message has a URL link that is used by the associated user to access their user-specific data locker via their mobile phone.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein the server is configured to list the one or more uploaded data files from the user-specific personal file of the associated user in the user-specific data locker of the associated user automatically in response to the associated user uploading the one or more uploaded data files to the user-specific personal file of the associated user.

65. The system of claim 62, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to list the uploaded data files from their user-specific personal files in their user-specific data lockers.

66. The system of claim 62, wherein the website comprises one or more web pages that are configured to permit the users to delist the uploaded data files from their user-specific personal files in response to delete commands received from the users via their general purpose computers.

67. The system of claim 62, wherein the sever is configured to evaluate the uploaded data files and automatically delete any uploaded data file for which an error condition is detected.