Wireless communication system having mobility-based content delivery

• US 7,542,771 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorsuch, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong; Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US11/415,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/433, 455/450, 455/406, 455/418, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/436, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/414.1, 370/331, 370/342
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/16 according to connection obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/206 CDMA, i.e. Code Division Multiple Access
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 : comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 : based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 : of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes

Abstract

The delivery of content across a wireless communication link is based on a mobility state associated with a wireless transceiver. The system employs pricing tiers, which represent each subscriber'"'"'s mobility-based privileges to specific content. That is, a mobile user can be charged a premium to maintain the same quality of service as a stationary user. The impact of mobility is thus felt by the mobile subscriber, either by experiencing reduced bandwidth or through higher subscription fees. By limited content delivery, the impact of motion and similar phenomenon on the wireless resources as a whole can be reduced.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to content by a subscriber access unit over a wireless link, the method comprising:

determining a mobility state associated with the subscriber access unit;

saving the mobility state;

fetching the saved mobility state;

fetching access rights associated with the subscriber access unit; and

limiting the subscriber access unit'"'"'s access to content based on the fetched mobility state and access rights.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

measuring mobility metrics of the subscriber access unit; and

determining the mobility state from the mobility metrics.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising associating an allowed service with the subscriber access unit.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising:

assigning a content type to the content;

determining if the content type is consistent with the allowed service; and

allowing access to the content by the subscriber access unit if the content type is consistent with the allowed service.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

disallowing access to the content by the subscriber access unit, if the content type is not consistent with the allowed service.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising:

queuing the disallowed content for later allowed access by the subscriber access unit.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a control message to halt further access to the content by the subscriber access unit.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the control message is an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) message.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

assigning a service level to the subscriber access unit;

receiving a request from the subscriber access unit for access to the content;

determining if the request is consistent with the service level; and

allowing the request if the request is consistent with the service level.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forwarding a message to the subscriber access unit that indicates the determined mobility state.

11. An apparatus for controlling access to content over a wireless link, the apparatus comprising:

a content database configured to store content;

a processor configured to;

determine a mobility state;

limit access to the stored content based on the mobility state;

save the mobility state;

fetch the saved mobility state;

fetch access rights; and

limit access to the stored content based on the mobility state and the access rights; and

a mobility database configured to store the saved mobility state.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to:

measure mobility metrics; and

determine the mobility state from the mobility metrics.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising:

a stored table containing a field, the field containing the saved mobility state.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising a service rights database configured to store an allowed service.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if a content type associated with the content is consistent with the allowed service; and

allow access to the content if the content type is consistent with the allowed service.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured to:

disallow access to the content if the content type associated is not consistent with the allowed service.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a database configured to queue the disallowed content for later allowed access.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising:

a gateway to receive a control message notifying the apparatus to halt further access to the content.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 configured to process the control message when the message is an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) message.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, configured to:

receive a request for access to the content;

determine a service level associated with the request; and

allow the request if the request is consistent with the service level.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising:

a communications link configured to forward a message that indicates the determined mobility state.

22. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer-usable medium; and

a set of computer operating instructions embodied on the medium, including instructions for a method for controlling access to content by a subscriber access unit, comprising instructions for;

determining a mobility state associated with the subscriber access unit;

saving the mobility state;

fetching the saved mobility state;

fetching access rights associated with the subscriber access unit; and

limiting the subscriber access unit'"'"'s access to the content based on the fetched mobility state and access rights.