Content broker assisting distribution of content

• US 8,868,639 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Partners II LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners II LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G., Tellado, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Woolcock, Madhu
• Application Number:
  US13/791,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/207, 709/217, 709/228, 709/229, 709/238, 709/239, 709/241, 709/244, 705/14.53
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services

Abstract

Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for a content broker assisting distribution of content, are disclosed. One method includes obtaining, by one or more content distribution servers, at least one of user device parameter information or storage element parameter information of a user device and one or more storage elements associated with the user device, and assisting, by the one or more content distribution servers, at least one content provider in preloading at least a portion of a content onto at least one of the one or more storage elements associated with the user device based on the at least one of the user device parameter information or the storage element parameter information.

Claims

1. A method of a content broker assisting distribution of content, comprising:

obtaining, by one or more content distribution servers of the content broker, user device parameter information associated with a user device, wherein the one or more content distribution servers are connectable to the user device through at least a first communication network and a second communication network, wherein a plurality of storage elements are associated with the user device, wherein the plurality of storage elements comprise an internal storage element that is internal to the user device and an external storage element that is external to the user device, wherein the external storage element is connected to a home network, and wherein the external storage element is larger and has a lower cost per unit of storage than the internal storage element;

assisting, by the one or more content distribution servers, at least one content provider in preloading at least a portion of a content onto the external storage element associated with the user device through the first communication network based on the user device parameter information, wherein the preloading is additionally based at least upon a value metric, wherein the value metric is at least partially dependent on a cost of usage of the first communication network and a cost of usage of the second communication network, and wherein the cost of usage of the second communication network is greater than the cost of usage of the first communication network;

assisting, by the one or more content distribution servers, in providing an additional portion of the content onto at least one of the plurality of storage elements associated with the user device through the second communication network, wherein the at least the portion of the content is larger than the additional portion of the content, wherein the at least the portion of the content is moved from the external storage element to the internal storage element of the user device based on the user device being connected to the home network, whereby the additional portion of the content in conjunction with the at least the portion of the content allows a user to consume the content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assisting in preloading is further based on information associated with a communication network type that couples the one or more content distribution servers to the plurality of storage elements associated with the user device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the one or more content distribution servers or a processor associated with the plurality of storage elements assisting in deleting of at least a portion of a second content available on the plurality of storage elements.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the one or more content distribution servers or a processor associated with the plurality of storage elements assisting in presentation of information related to the content to a user of the user device.

5. A content broker system, comprising:

at least one content distribution server comprising a processor and a memory, said at least one content distribution server connectable through a plurality of communication networks to a user device and one or more content providers, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes at least a first communication network and a second communication network, the at least one content distribution server configured to;

obtain user device parameter information of the user device wherein the user device is associated with a plurality of storage elements, wherein the plurality of storage elements comprise an internal storage element that is internal to the user device and an external storage element that is external to the user device, wherein the external storage element is connected to a home network, and wherein the external storage element is larger and has a lower cost per unit of storage than the internal storage element;

assist at least one of the one or more content providers in preloading at least a portion of a content onto the external storage element through the first communication network based on the user device parameter information, wherein the preloading is additionally based at least upon a value metric, wherein the value metric is at least partially dependent on a cost of usage of the first communication network and a cost of usage of the second communication network, and wherein the cost of usage of the second communication network is greater than the cost of usage of the first communication network;

assist in providing an additional portion of the content onto at least one of the plurality of storage elements associated with the user device through the second communication network, wherein the at least the portion of the content is larger than the additional portion of the content, wherein the at least the portion of the content is moved from the external storage element to the internal storage element of the user device based on the user device being connected to the home network, whereby the additional portion of the content in conjunction with the at least the portion of the content allows a user to consume the content.

6. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein the user device parameter information comprises storage element parameter information, and wherein the storage element parameter information includes communication network parameter information associated with the plurality of storage elements.

7. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein the at least one content distribution server or a processor associated with the plurality of storage elements is further configured to:

obtain user parameter information of the user device;

wherein

assisting the one or more content providers in preloading the at least the portion of the content onto the external storage element is further based on the user parameter information.

8. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein the value metric further includes at least one of the user device parameter information or storage element parameter information, and wherein the at least one content distribution server or a processor associated with the user device is further configured to:

select the at least the portion of the content of a plurality of available content based upon the value metric.

9. The content broker system of claim 8, wherein the value metric comprises information associated with other content available on the plurality of storage elements.

10. The content broker system of claim 8, wherein the value metric is based on at least information associated with at least one of the plurality of communication networks that couples the at least one content distribution server to the user device.

11. The content broker system of claim 8, wherein the value metric is based on at least a parameter associated with the plurality of storage elements.

12. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein the at least one content distribution server or a processor associated with the plurality of storage elements is further configured to:

assist in deleting of at least a portion of a second content available on the plurality of storage elements.

13. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein the content comprises an advertisement, and further comprising the at least one content distribution server or the user device, configured to:

select the advertisement;

assist in presentation of the advertisement at the user device.

14. The content broker system of claim 5, wherein a cost for consuming the content is based on a value metric cost parameter associated with the plurality of storage elements or at least one of the plurality of communication networks.

15. A content broker, comprising:

at least one content distribution hardware processor connectable through a plurality of communication networks to a user device and one or more content providers, wherein the plurality of communication networks includes at least a first communication network and a second communication network, the at least one content distribution hardware processor configured to;

obtain user device parameter information of the user device, wherein the user device is associated with a plurality of storage elements, wherein the plurality of storage elements comprise an internal storage element that is internal to the user device and an external storage element that is external to the user device, wherein the external storage element is connected to a home network, and wherein the external storage element is larger and has a lower cost per unit of storage than the internal storage element;

assist at least one of the one or more content providers in preloading at least a portion of a content onto the external storage element associated with the user device through the first communication network based on the user device parameter information, wherein the preloading is additionally based at least upon a value metric, wherein the value metric is at least partially dependent on a cost of usage of the first communication network and a cost of usage of the second communication network, and wherein the cost of usage of the second communication network is greater than the cost of usage of the first communication network;

assist in providing an additional portion of the content onto at least one of the plurality of storage elements associated with the user device through the second communication network, wherein the at least the portion of the content is larger than the additional portion of the content, wherein the at least the portion of the content is moved from the external storage element to the internal storage element of the user device based on the user device being connected to the home network, and whereby the additional portion of the content in conjunction with the at least the portion of the content allows a user to consume the content.

16. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the additional portion of the content comprises a security element, wherein the security element allows the user to consume the content.

17. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the at least one content distribution hardware processor is further configured to:

assist in deleting of at least a portion of a second content available on the plurality of storage elements.

18. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the preloading of the at least the portion of the content onto the external storage element associated with the user device is further based on user information, wherein the user information further comprise user account information.

19. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the user device parameter information includes information of whether the user device is connected to AC power or battery powered.

20. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the preloading is prevented or allowed based on a user device type or a user device operating system.

21. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the preloading is prevented or allowed based on a network type of the plurality of communication networks between the at least one content distribution hardware processor and the user device.

22. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the value metric further includes at least one of the user device parameter information or storage element parameter information, and wherein the at least one content distribution hardware processor or a processor associated with the user device is further configured to:

select the at least the portion of the content of a plurality of available content based upon the value metric.

23. The content broker of claim 22, wherein the value metric further comprises information associated with other content available on the plurality of storage elements.

24. The content broker of claim 22, wherein the value metric further includes at least information associated with at least one of the plurality of communication networks that couples the at least one content distribution hardware processor to the user device.

25. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the at least one content distribution hardware processor or a processor associated with the plurality of storage elements is further configured to:

assist in presentation of information related to the content to a user of the user device.

26. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the at least one content distribution hardware processor or the user device is further configured to:

obtain information associated with the content based on a prior preloading of the at least the portion of the content, and evaluating interaction with the prior preloaded at least the portion of the content.

27. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the content comprises an advertisement, and further comprising the at least one content distribution hardware processor or the user device, configured to:

select the advertisement;

assist in presentation of the advertisement at the user device.

28. The content broker of claim 15, wherein the first communication network comprises a WiFi network and the second communication network comprises a cellular network.

29. The content broker of claim 15, further comprising receiving a request for consumption through the second communication network before providing the additional portion of the content.