Automatic entertainment caching for impending travel

• US 8,655,970 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): SERRAO, RANODHI N
• Application Number:
  US13/752,815
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 705/14.5, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A method may include, in a computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory, detecting a future travel event associated with a user. The future travel event may be scheduled to take place within a determined time interval. A notification may be provided to the user device of the detected future travel event. The notification may include at least one user query displayed at the user device for downloading suggested content for consumption by the user during the future travel event. Upon receiving an indication from the user device indicating user consent to the at least one query, the suggested content may be downloaded to the user device. The detecting may be based on travel-related information contained within an email received by the user and/or travel-related search previously performed by the user. The future travel event may include air travel from a present location to a destination location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a processor, a future travel event associated with a user, wherein the future travel event is scheduled to take place within a determined time interval;

providing a notification of the determined future travel event to a device associated with the user, wherein the notification comprises at least one user query for display at the device associated with the user, the at least one user query for downloading suggested media content for playback during the future travel event, and wherein a playback duration of the suggested media content is equal to or greater than a duration associated with the future travel event; and

responsive to receiving an indication from the device associated with the user indicating user consent to the at least one query, causing the suggested media content to be downloaded to the device associated with the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining is based on travel-related information contained within at least one of an email directed to the user and travel-related search previously performed by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the future travel event comprises air travel from a present location of the user to a destination location, and the notification comprises one or more of a flight number, flight date and time, and flight duration for the air travel.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

timing the providing of the notification to the device associated with the user such that when the notification is displayed at the user device associated with the user, there remains sufficient time for the downloading the suggested media content before the future travel event.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the suggested media content comprises at least one of previously purchased media content, free media content, and promotional media content.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing of the notification and the causing the downloading of the suggested multimedia content is responsive to receiving an indication that the device associated with the user is connected to a wireless network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the duration associated with the future travel event is a duration associated with a plane flight.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the duration associated with the future travel event is a duration associated with a train ride or bus ride.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

determining, by a processor, a future travel event associated with a user, wherein the future travel event is scheduled to take place within a determined time interval;

providing a notification of the determined future travel event to a device associated with the user, wherein the notification comprises at least one user query for display at the device associated with the user, the at least one query for downloading suggested media content for playback during the future travel event, and wherein the providing of the notification to the device associated with the user is timed such that when the notification is displayed at the device associated with the user, there remains sufficient time for the downloading the suggested media content before the future travel event; and

responsive to receiving an indication from the device associated with the user indicating user consent to the at least one query, causing the suggested media content to be downloaded to the device associated with the user.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the determining is based on travel-related information contained within at least one of an email directed to the user and travel-related search previously performed by the user.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the future travel event comprises air travel from a present location of the user to a destination location, and the notification comprises one or more of flight number, flight date and time, and flight duration for the air travel.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein a continuous playback duration of the suggested media content is equal to or greater than a duration associated with the future travel event.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the suggested media content comprises one or more of previously purchased media content, free media content, and free promotional media content.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the providing of the notification is responsive to receiving an indication that the device associated with the user is connected to a wireless network.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a computing device, an indication of a future travel event associated with a user of the computing device, wherein the future travel event is scheduled to take place within a determined time interval;

determining, by the processor and prior to expiration of the determined time interval, that the computing device is located in an area with Wi-Fi access;

responsive to the determining the computing device is located in an area with Wi-Fi access, downloading media content to the computing device, wherein the downloading is based on at least one media profile associated with the user, and wherein the downloading is timed to begin such that there remains sufficient time for the downloading to complete before the future travel event; and

storing the downloaded media content at the computing device, for subsequent playback during the future travel event.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the indication of the future travel event is based on travel-related information associated with at least one of a notification received by the user and travel-related search previously performed by the user.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the future travel event comprises air travel from a present location of the user to a destination location, and the notification comprises one or more of a flight number, flight date and time, and flight duration for the air travel.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein a continuous playback duration of the downloaded media content is equal to or greater than a duration associated with the future travel event.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the downloaded media content comprises one or more of previously purchased media content, free media content, and free promotional content.