Deployment and distribution model for improved content delivery system

• US 8,966,001 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rauber, Peter H., Grob, Matthew S., Achour, Baaziz, Butler, Brian K., Carson, Peter, Jha, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain, Farrukh
• Application Number:
  US12/203,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,366 Days
• Field of Search: 709/212, 709/213, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/229, 709/250, 715/700, 705/14.53
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A deployment and distribution model improves content delivery with a business incentive for placement of kiosks with one or more wireless access points in public locations so that portable media players (PMPs) can receive media content (e.g., audio, video, text, haptic content, etc.). In addition, coordination between subscribing users of PMPs, vendors who provide kiosks, and a network central controller of a content distribution system allow for prepositioning of video content at the kiosks through economically desirable low data rate communication links from the network (e.g., dial-up modem, DSL, etc.); coordinated queuing of downloads (e.g., partial downloads) between kiosk to PMP, peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading between PMPs, and uploads from PMP to kiosk; billing/crediting to correspond with such participation in the distribution; and changing priority/selection of prepositioning of content at kiosks to reflect a clientele profile.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly acquiring media content comprising:

wirelessly initiating a purchase of media content;

receiving, at a mobile device, media content selection from a user via a user interface;

receiving, at the mobile device, authorization to receive selected media in connection with initiating the purchase of media content;

requesting and receiving from a wireless access point, at the mobile device, a first portion of the selected media content;

requesting and receiving, through peer-to-peer communications, at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless communication channel, said requesting and receiving of the second portion of the selected media being accomplished by the user via the user interface in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point;

entering a sleep cycle, to effect power savings, for radio communications in response to a determination of being outside of communication range with the access point and the wireless communication channel;

adjusting a period of the sleep cycle in response to sensing motion of the subscriber portable device or to sensing a geographic location of the subscriber portable device relative to a known location of the access point; and

reporting receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a beacon signal during a waking period of the sleep cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing media content between the subscriber portable device and a home kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving media content selection from a user via user interface integral to the subscriber portable device; and

playing the media content after being received and locally stored on the integral user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a media content catalog comprising a plurality of available selections.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection comprising a category of media content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection comprising a media content query.

8. A mobile apparatus for wirelessly acquiring media content comprising:

a content distribution and control apparatus;

a user interface apparatus for receiving media content selection from a user;

a wireless communication apparatus for receiving, at the mobile device, authorization to receive selected media content in connection with initiating purchase of media content;

apparatus for requesting and receiving from a wireless access point at least a first portion of the selected media content;

apparatus for requesting and receiving, through peer-to-peer communications at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless communication channel, said requesting and receiving of the second portion of the selected media being accomplished by the user via the user interface in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point;

a location module, the content distribution control apparatus responding to the location module to adjust a sleep cycle of the wireless communication apparatus and to report location to the network controller;

a motion sensor, the content distribution control apparatus responding to the motion sensor to adjust a sleep cycle of the wireless communication apparatus;

and

apparatus for reporting receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, provided as a subscriber portable device, wherein the user interface apparatus comprises a graphical user interface integral to the subscriber portable device for selection of media content and play of received media content.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a home kiosk for synchronizing media content with the subscriber portable device; and

a display monitor in communication with the home kiosk for playing the media content.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface apparatus is configured for receiving a media content catalog comprising a plurality of available selections.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface apparatus is configured for receiving a selection comprising a category of media content.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface apparatus is configured for receiving a selection comprising a media content query.