Distributing content to mobile devices

• US 7,957,691 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lee, Wing K.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/945,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 306, 455/466, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/445, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/452.3, 4554141-4144, 455/500, 455/517, 455418-420, 709/203, 709/202, 709/218, 709/219, 725/62
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70

Abstract

Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for distributing content. Information is collected on usage of a mobile device. The information is analyzed to identify a content type preference of the mobile device. A portion of a unit of content is pushed to the mobile device, wherein the unit of content is associated with the content type preference. The remainder of the unit of content is provided to the mobile device in response to a selection of the unit of content.

Claims

1. A method for distributing content, comprising:

collecting an information on usage of a mobile device;

analyzing the information to identify a content type preference of the mobile device;

prior to a selection of a unit of content, pushing a portion of the unit of content to the mobile device, wherein the unit of content is associated with the content type preference, and wherein a size of the portion of the unit of content is less than about 25% of a size of the unit of content; and

providing a remainder of the unit of content to the mobile device in response to the selection of the unit of content.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises at least one of a plurality of past content requests, a plurality of on-line purchase records, and a plurality of websites accessed.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content type preference indicates a previous type of content downloaded to the mobile device.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the unit of content associated with the content type preference, and pushing a portion of an updated unit of content to the mobile device, wherein the updated unit of content is associated with the content type preference.

5. A system for distributing content, comprising:

a server configured to collect an information on usage of a mobile device, to analyze the information to identify a content type preference of the mobile device, to push a portion of a unit of content to the mobile device prior to a selection of the unit of content, wherein the unit of content is associated with the content type preference, and to provide a remainder of the unit of content to the mobile device in response to the selection of the unit of content, wherein the server is further configured to push a portion of an updated unit of content to the mobile device at a frequency that does not exceed a maximum frequency, and wherein the updated unit of content is associated with the content type preference.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the content is a multimedia content.

7. A system for distributing content, comprising:

a server configured to collect an information associated with a mobile device, to analyze the information to identify a content type preference of the mobile device, to push a portion of a unit of content to the mobile device, wherein the unit of content is associated with the content type preference, and to provide a remainder of the unit of content to the mobile device in response to a selection of the unit of content, wherein the server is further configured to push the at least the portion of the unit of content to the mobile device when a communication load for local traffic conditions is below a threshold.

8. A computer implemented method for distributing content to mobile devices, comprising:

providing a unit of content to a server, wherein the unit of content is associated with a content type preference;

storing the unit of content on the server;

determining whether a load on the server is greater than a threshold;

pushing a portion of the unit of content to a mobile device in response to determining that the load on the server is not greater than the threshold; and

providing a remainder of the unit of content to the mobile device in response to a selection of the unit of content.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein providing the unit of content to the server comprises providing the unit of content to the server via wired communication.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein a time for providing the unit of content to the server is based on a communication load.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the unit of content is a new release.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the unit of content is a frequently requested content.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the server is in communication with a cell tower.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the server communicates with the cell tower via wireless communication.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying another device that has the at least the portion of the unit of content in response to determining that the load on the server is greater than the threshold; and

requesting the at least the portion of the unit of content from the other device.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein requesting the at least the portion of the unit of content from the other device comprises providing an internet protocol address of the mobile device to the other device.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the other device is a local mobile device.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein pushing the at least the portion of the unit of content to the mobile device comprises the other device communicating with the mobile device via a cell tower.