Broadband extension for content delivery

• US 8,914,531 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Chiang, Mung
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheema, Umar
• Application Number:
  US12/416,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

Methods are generally described for distributing and storing contents over a wireless network in a home or another similar environment. A storage device may be configured to automatically download content using broadband communications. A wireless device may establish communication with the storage device when within range for wireless communications. The established communications with the storage device may be a direct wireless communication link or an indirect communication link through other networking devices. The wireless device may download contents from the storage device during an idle time when the wireless device has sufficient power available. Downloaded content may be manually or automatically selected. Downloading may be handed off from one storage device to another storage device that has greater wireless signal strength. Downloading may be multicast from a network device to both the wireless device and the storage device.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless device to download at least one content from a storage device, comprising:

determining that the wireless device is within a range for wireless communications;

in response to determination that the wireless device is within the range for wireless communications, establishing a communication link to the storage device through at least a wireless communication link;

determining that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content based on;

the wireless device is idle;

the wireless device has sufficient power to download the at least one content; and

the communication link is established; and

initiating a download of the at least one content from the storage device in response to determination that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content,

wherein the download is able to be terminated by the wireless device prior to completion of the download, in response to either or both;

determination by the wireless device that the download has exceeded a specific download size limit; and

failure of the download to complete within a specific time limit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a list of contents from the storage device over the communication link prior to initiating the download;

receiving a selection of the at least one content from the list of contents; and

sending the selection of the at least one content to the storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sequential order to download multiple contents including the at least one content, wherein initiating the download comprises initiating the download of the multiple contents from the storage device in the sequential order.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the download and displaying a list of downloaded contents.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is idle if the wireless device has resources to download the at least one content without producing noticeable lag, or during a time period in a day.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the communication link to the storage device comprises one of establishing a direct wireless communication link to the storage device, or establishing an indirect communication link with the storage device via a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point is arranged in communication with the storage device via either a wired communication link or another wireless communication link.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a handshake with the storage device to transmit a first list of contents to be periodically downloaded by the storage device and to receive a second list of contents that the storage device can download for the wireless device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a wireless device to download at least one content from a storage device, the instructions comprising:

determining that the wireless device is within a range for wireless communications;

in response to determination that the wireless device is within the range for wireless communications, establishing a communication link to the storage device through at least a wireless communication link;

terminating attempts to establish the communication link in response to failure to establish the communication link within a specific time interval or after a specific number of attempts;

determining that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content based on;

the wireless device is idle;

the wireless device has sufficient power to download the at least one content; and

the communication link is established; and

initiating a download of the at least one content from the storage device in response to determination that the wireless device is available to download the at least one content.

8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further comprise:

determining that a list of contents from the storage device has been received over the communication link prior to initiating the download;

determining that a selection of the at least one content from the list of contents has been received; and

sending the selection of the at least one content to the storage device.

9. The medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further comprise:

determining that a sequential order to download multiple contents including the at least one content has been received, wherein initiating the download comprises initiating the download of the multiple contents from the storage device in the sequential order.

10. The medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further comprise:

terminating the download and displaying a list of downloaded contents.

11. The medium of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is idle if the wireless device has resources to download the at least one content without producing noticeable lag, or during a time period in a day.

12. The medium of claim 7, wherein establishing the communication link to the storage device comprises one of establishing a direct wireless communication link to the storage device, or establishing an indirect communication link with the storage device via a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point is arranged in communication with the storage device via either a wired communication link or another wireless communication link.

31. The medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further comprise performing a handshake with the storage device to transmit a first list of contents to be periodically downloaded by the storage device and to receive a second list of contents that the storage device can download for the wireless device.

13. A method for a first storage device to upload at least one content to a wireless device, the first storage device being in a local area network that has a broadband communication link to a wide area network, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first storage device, a selection of the at least one content to periodically initiate a download of the at least one content;

periodically initiating, by the first storage device, the download of the at least one content from the wide area network, via the broadband communication link, to the storage device in the local area network;

determining, by the first storage device, if the wireless device has come within range for wireless communications;

in response to determination that the wireless device is within range for wireless communications, establishing by the first storage device a communication link to the wireless device through at least a first wireless communication link;

determining, by the first storage device, whether an idle time is occurring;

in response to determination that the idle time is occurring, initiating by the first storage device an upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the first wireless communication link;

sending, by the first storage device, a first signal strength of the first wireless communication link between the first storage device and the wireless device to a second storage device;

receiving, by the first storage device, a second signal strength of a second wireless communication link between the second storage device and the wireless device;

determining, by the first storage device, whether the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength; and

in response to determination that the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength;

sending, by the first storage device, the content being uploaded to the second storage device; and

handing off, by the first storage device, the upload to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device initiates the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the second wireless communication link.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing, by the first storage device, a list of contents to the wireless device over the communication link prior to uploading; and

receiving, by the first storage device, a selection of the at least one content from the list of contents.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, by the first storage device, a sequential order to download multiple contents including the at least one content, wherein initiating the download comprises initiating the download of the multiple contents from the storage device in the sequential order.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising converting, by the first storage device, the at least one content to a suitable format for the wireless device prior to initiating the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, by the first storage device, a list of uploaded contents after completion of the upload.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the idle time comprises either a time that at least one of the first storage device and the wireless device has sufficient resources to communicate the at least one content without producing noticeable lag, or a time period in a day.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein establishing the communication link to the wireless device comprises either establishing, by the first storage device, an indirect communication link through a wireless access point that is communicatively coupled to the wireless device, or establishing, by the first storage device a direct wireless communication link to the wireless device.

32. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing a handshake with the wireless device to receive a first list of contents to be periodically downloaded by the storage device and to transmit a second list of contents that the storage device can download for the wireless device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a storage device to upload at least one content to a wireless device, the storage device being in a local area network with a broadband communication link to a wide area network, the instructions comprising:

determining, by the storage device, that a selection, of the at least one content to periodically initiate a download of the at least one content, has been received;

initiating, by the storage device, the download of the at least one content from the wide area network, via the broadband communication link, to the storage device in the local area network;

determining, by the storage device, if the wireless device has come within range for wireless communications;

in response to determination that the wireless device is within range for wireless communications, establishing by the storage device a communication link to the wireless device through at least a first wireless communication link;

determining, by the storage device, whether an idle time is occurring;

in response to determination that the idle time is occurring, initiating by the storage device an upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the first wireless communication link;

determining, by the storage device, a first signal strength of the first wireless communication link between the storage device and the wireless device;

determining, by the storage device, whether a second signal strength, of a second wireless communication link between some other device and the wireless device, is greater than the first signal strength;

in response to determination the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength;

sending, by the storage device, the content being uploaded to the other device; and

handing off, by the storage device, the upload to the other device, wherein the other device initiates the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device through the second wireless communication link.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise:

providing, by the storage device, a list of contents to the wireless device over the communication link prior to uploading; and

determining, by the storage device, that a selection of the at least one content from the list of contents has been received.

22. The medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise determining, by the storage device, that a sequential order to download multiple contents including the at least one content has been received, wherein initiating the download comprises initiating the download of the multiple contents from the storage device in the sequential order.

23. The medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise converting, by the storage device, the at least one content to a suitable format for the wireless device prior to initiating the upload of the at least one content to the wireless device.

24. The medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise displaying, by the storage device, a list of uploaded contents after completion of the upload.

25. The medium of claim 20, wherein the idle time comprises either a time that at least one of the storage device and the wireless device has sufficient resources to communicate the at least one content without producing noticeable lag, or a time period in a day.

26. The medium of claim 20, wherein establishing the communication link to the wireless device comprises either establishing, by the storage device, an indirect communication link through a wireless access point that is communicatively coupled to the wireless device, or establishing, by the storage device, a direct wireless communication link to the wireless device.

33. The medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise performing a handshake with the wireless device to receive a first list of contents to be periodically downloaded by the storage device and to transmit a second list of contents that the storage device can download for the wireless device.

27. A method for a network device to upload a streaming content to a storage device and a wireless device using a broadband communication link, comprising:

downloading the streaming content through the broadband communication link;

determining whether the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently reachable, the storage device being reachable by either a wired communication link or a first wireless communication link, the wireless device being reachable by a second wireless communication link;

in response to determination that the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently reachable, concurrently establishing the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link to the storage device and the second wireless communication link to the wireless device; and

multicasting the streaming content to the storage device over the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link and to the wireless device over the second wireless communication link.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for a network device to upload a streaming content to a storage device and a wireless device using a broadband communication link, the instructions comprising:

downloading the streaming content through the broadband communication link;

determining if the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently within communication range, the storage device being reachable within the communication range by either a wired communication link or a first wireless communication link, the wireless device being reachable within the communication range by a second wireless communication link;

in response to determination that the storage device and the wireless device are concurrently within the communication range, concurrently establishing the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link to the storage device and the second wireless communication link to the wireless device; and

multicasting the streaming content to the storage device over the wired communication link or the first wireless communication link and to the wireless device over the second wireless communication link.

29. A computing device configured to download at least one content from a storage device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine that the computing device is within a range for wireless communications,

when the computing device is determined to be within the range for wireless communications, establish a communication link to the storage device through at least a wireless communication link,

determine that the computing device is available to download the at least one content based on;

both the computing device and the storage device are idle;

the computing device has sufficient power to download the at least one content; and

the communication link is established; and

initiate a download of the at least one content from the storage device in response to determination that the computing device is available to download the at least one content.

34. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a handshake with the storage device to transmit a first list of contents to be periodically downloaded by the storage device and to receive a second list of contents that the storage device can download for the computing device.