Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
  • G06F16/40—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data
  • G06F16/48—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
  • G06F16/487—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
  • H04L67/30—Profiles
  • H04L67/306—User profiles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/10—Services
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
  • G06F16/40—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1859—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1895—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/55—Push-based network services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
  • H04N21/2668—Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles

Definitions

• Portable media players and other devices capable of playing media are becoming increasingly popular and are typically designed to play the personal media of users.
• Users tend to use multiple media devices, such as an MP3 player, cellular phone, personal digital assistant, personal computer, and a car audio system, and many of these devices are capable of playing the personal media of the users.
• MP3 player such as an MP3 player
• cellular phone such as a cellular phone
• personal digital assistant such as a personal digital assistant
• personal computer such as cellular phone
• a car audio system many of these devices are capable of playing the personal media of the users.
• These devices tend to have different user interfaces, so it typically is inconvenient for a user to learn and operate each device to play music or other media.
• many people use these devices to download and play content which may be updated by the user at various times. However, it may be inconvenient for the user to manually update the content on the devices.
• the user may listen to a local radio station to determine traffic and weather for a commute to work. However, the user is required to listen to traffic and weather for other areas that may not be relevant to the user's commute. Thus, much of the content downloaded or otherwise received by the user is not personalized for the user.
• channel configuration information is sent to a content service, and the content service determines content to be provided in each channel of a set of channels using the channel configuration information.
• the channel configuration information also includes user preferences for determining hot content for a user.
• a device receives the content for the channels including the hot content. The device also receives updates for the hot content based on the user preferences.
• Figure 1 illustrates a system, according to an embodiment
• Figure 2 illustrates an example of the system of figure 1, according to an embodiment
• Figure 3 A illustrates embodiments of a common user interface
• Figure 3B illustrates examples of content for channels in a channel set
• Figure 4 illustrates a method for storing content in a target device, according to an embodiment
• Figure 5 illustrates a method for automatically updating content in a target device, according to an embodiment
• Figure 6 illustrates a method for automatically updating content in a target device including steps performed by the target device, according to an embodiment
• Figure 7 illustrates a method for processing user commands at a target device, according to an embodiment
• Figure 8 illustrates a method for receiving updates for hot content, according to an embodiment
• Figure 9 illustrates a method for transmitting updates for hot content, according to an embodiment
• Figure 10 illustrates a computer system that may be used for components of a system, according to an embodiment.
• Figure 1 illustrates a system 100 for content distribution according to an embodiment.
• the system 100 includes content providers 110, content service 120, network 130 and target devices 140.
• the content providers 110 include entities configured to provide content that may be played or otherwise consumed by users.
• Content may include: media, such as, audio, video, text; multimedia that includes two or more of audio, video and text; or other types of data.
• Examples of content include, but are not limited to, media files, such as MP3 files, other types of audio files, video files, textual music play lists, and other types of files.
• Examples of content providers 110 may include, but are not limited to, news providers (such as local and cable news television stations), television studios, movie studios, music labels, online music (or other media) providers, and others.
• the content providers 110 provide content to the content service 120, such that the content service 120 may provide several functions.
• One of the functions includes receiving new content from the content providers 110 on a substantially regular basis.
• Another of the functions includes making the content received from the content providers 110 available to users.
• the content service 120 may receive content from multiple content providers 110 to provide users with a relatively large content selection. Users may obtain the content made available by the content service 120 through, for instance, one or both of subscription services and on-demand services.
• the content service 120 may also automatically organize content for users and continually provide new content to users.
• the content service 120 may perform other functions, such as billing, user information tracking, historical data tracking, etc.
• the content service 120 may include a server 121 and a database 122 for storing user information and content.
• the server 121 may facilitate the downloading of content to the target devices 140 used by the users. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the server 121 may include multiple servers and the database 122 may include multiple databases depending on the size and complexity of the content service 120. For example, to support a relatively large number of users, several servers 121 and databases 122 may be needed to harvest content from the content providers 110 and provide content to users with minimal delay.
• the network 130 may represent one or more networks.
• the network 130 may represent one or more networks.
• the content service 120 may provide content to the target devices 140 via the network 130.
• the target devices 140 may download the content from the content service 120, may receive content from one or more other target devices such as, in a peer-to-peer arrangement, or may be operable to both download content from the content service 120 and receive content from another target device.
• target devices 141 and 142 are operable to download content from the content service 120 and maybe operable to receive content from another target device.
• the target device 143 is operable to receive content from another target device, such as the target device 142.
• the target device 142 may download content from the content service 120 or receive content from the target device 141, and the target device 142 transmits content to the target device 143.
• the content service 120 and target devices 140 are described in further detail with respect to Figure 2. Examples of suitable target devices 140 include but are not limited to personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, car radio, home stereos, set-top boxes, MP3 players, portable video players, and other end-user devices.
• the system 100 provides a media experience for users without requiring a user to change conventional behavior to utilize the content service 120 providing the media experience.
• the system 100 allows a user to play his or her selected audio content, such as music stations, talk radio, personal content, etc., on one of several target devices 140 that the user may be using at any particular time, such as a car radio in the car, a cellular phone when the user is on the go, a personal computer or home stereo at home.
• a target device may carry content selected by the user in a set of channels which are seamlessly available throughout the day on any one of many target devices.
• the system 100 manages the content and ensures the content is automatically replenished as it is consumed.
• an interface that is the same as or similar to a conventional device interface may be provided on the target devices 140, so the user may play desired content on any target device in a relatively quick and easy manner.
• the content service 120 allows a user to configure one or more sets of channels for one or more of the target devices 140.
• Each channel is populated with content from a content provider or content provided by the user, referred to as the user's personal content.
• a channel is a data set of content, which may be of a particular type of content.
• the content service 120 may make available hundreds of stations of content or individual pieces of content. Webcast radio and webcast television are some examples of stations of content.
• the content service 120 may provide one or more of the stations of content to users as a subscription service, where one or more stations are subscribed to by a user and the content for the stations is sent to one or more target devices for the user.
• one or more stations provide large or continuous blocks of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) compliant streaming content.
• DMCA Digital Millennium Copyright Act
• Some examples of individual pieces of content include single songs or albums, movies, video clips, etc.
• the content service 120 may provide an on-demand service where a user can purchase and download individual pieces of content.
• Channels may include content of a particular type, such as a sports talk channel, a popular music channel, etc.
• a user may configure a set of channels, hereinafter referred to as a channel set, for example, by selecting content provided by the content service 120 and of interest to the user.
• the channels may include high- quality, digital content, which may be commercial-free in some instances.
• a channel in a channel set may also include content from a user's personal collection, such as audio files stored on the user's personal computer. This channel may be programmed by play list, genre, or artist, or any other desired category.
• a user may configure several channel sets, such that the user may use different channel sets at different times.
• a user may create a first channel set for everyday use, such as for commuting to work.
• This channel set may include a traffic and news channel, a sports talk radio channel, as well as other channels.
• the user may create a second channel set for long trips, which may include, for instance, a classic rock channel and a comedy channel.
• Content for the channels may be downloaded to one or more of the target devices 140 from the content service 120.
• the content service 120 may also refresh a target device with new content on a substantially continuous or periodic basis. For example, after content in a channel in a target device is consumed by a user, such as after the content is played, or after content becomes stale, such as after a predetermined period of time has lapsed, the content in the channel may be replenished or replaced with new content received from the content service 120 or new content that was cached in another one of the target devices 140.
• This update of content on a target device may be performed automatically, and may be beneficial for target devices 140 that have limited storage for storing content, such as a PDA, phone, or other device having a relatively small amount of storage space.
• the target devices 140 may each include an interface that is similar or the same as a conventional user interface widely used in at least one type of today's end user devices. Thus, a user may not be required to learn how to use the interface of a target device.
• a common interface may be provided on several target devices 140 that may be used by a single user to play content. For example, the common interface may be provided on a user's phone, personal computer, car radio, etc. Thus, the user may not need to learn how to use different interfaces for different target devices 140.
• the user interfaces of the target devices 140 may emulate or include the user interfaces of conventional radio or music players with channel presets.
• the interfaces on the target devices 140 may provide for "one-click" channel selection, similar to clicking a channel preset button on a radio, hi one example, each channel may include content populated with a type or genre of music pre-selected by the user, which allows a user to switch with one click between channels similar to switching between different radio stations on a radio.
• the interface may also allow a user to fast forward, rewind, or pause content.
• a software application installed on a user's personal computer allows the user to manage and configure channel sets and update content on multiple target devices. Also, the content that is stored on one target device, may also be available on at least one other target device. Furthermore, the same software application or another software application may be provided on a target device that allows a user to flag songs or other content and add them to a personal wish list for purchase.
• TBD Patent application serial number
• FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the system 100.
• the content service 120 is shown as including a management module 123, a content distribution module 124, and an aggregation module 125, in addition to the server 121 and the database 122 discussed with respect to Figure 1.
• a module includes one or more software programs, applications, or routines stored on a computer readable medium for execution by at least one processor.
• Embodiments of a computer readable medium may include, but are not limited to, an electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage or transmission device capable of providing a processor in the receiver with computer-readable instructions.
• a suitable computer readable medium include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic disk, memory chip, ROM, RAM, an ASIC, a configured processor, any optical medium, any magnetic tape or any other magnetic medium, or any other medium from which a processor can read instructions, hi addition, or alternatively, a module may refer to hardware configured to perform one or more functions described herein, hi addition, or alternatively, a module may refer to hardware configured to perform one or more functions described herein.
• the management module 123 may coordinate information between multiple users. For example, the management module 123 may receive channel configuration information from multiple users, which may include user selections of content for channels in one or more sets of channels for the multiple users. The user selections and channel sets configured by the users, maybe stored in the database 122 along with additional channel configuration information added by the content service 120, such as permissions and special attributes or rules for content consumption, that is related to the user selections and configurations. The database 122 is queried subsequently to determine the content to provide to the users, hi one embodiment, the management module 123 generates a web based user interface which allows a user to log into the content service 120, register with the content service 120 and set preferences, and configure channel sets. [0037] For example, a user connects to the content service 120 via the network
• the user provides user information to the content service 120, which is stored in the database 122.
• the management module 123 may prompt a user for channel configuration information, such as a selection of a content type for each channel. For example, the user may select news, traffic, and weather for channel 1, sports talk radio for channel 2, pop music for channel 3, alternative music for channel 4, classic rock music for channel 5, and classical music for channel 6.
• the management module 123 stores the user selections in the database 122, and channels 1-6 are populated with content corresponding to the associated user selections, and related channel configuration information added by the content service 120, using the content distribution module 124.
• the management module 123 may prompt the user for user information, and channels may be selected for the user based on the user information. For example, the user may provide demographic information or a selection of favorite artists. Several channels may be selected for a channel set for the user based on this information. The user may select some of the channels for a channel set. Default channels may also be provided. Also, several channel sets may be configured for each user.
• the content distribution module 124 sends content for channel sets to one or more target devices 140.
• the content distribution module 124 may determine the content to send to the target devices based on the related selected channel configuration information.
• the content distribution module 124 may determine the content to send to the target devices based on the selected channel configuration. For example, the content distribution module 124 retrieves channel configuration information for a selected set of channels from the database 122. hi addition, the content distribution module 124 may send content for the respective channels to one or more target devices 140.
• the aggregation module 125 receives, for example, content and play lists from the content providers 110 and stores the information in the database 122, such that the content maybe distributed to users as needed.
• target devices 140 are shown as comprising a personal computer 141, a cellular telephone 142, a car audio system 143, and home devices 144. These are examples of some target devices 140 that may be used by a user. It will be apparent that other target devices 140 may also be used, such as portable content device (for instance, an MP3 player), vehicle audio systems, home media servers, etc.
• portable content device for instance, an MP3 player
• vehicle audio systems for instance, home media servers, etc.
• Some of the target devices 140 shown in Figure 2 are connected to the content service 120 via a network.
• the personal computer 141 is depicted as being connected to the content service 120 via the Internet 131.
• the cellular telephone 142 is depicted as being connected to the content service 120 via a cellular network 132 and the Internet 131.
• a target device 145 is depicted as being connected to the content service 120 via a "hot spot" 133 and the Internet 131.
• additional target devices 140 may be connected to the content service 120 using one or more private networks, as opposed to a public network such as the Internet 131, and the content service 120 may provide a non- web- based content service, hi one embodiment, the content service 120 includes a web service, which the user may log into using the personal computer 141 or another target device, hi this embodiment, the content for the channels may be downloaded to one or more target devices 140 via the Internet 131.
• the personal computer 141 may include an application 170 having a management module 171, an update agent 161, and a user interface 151.
• the management module 171 generally allows the user to determine and send channel configuration information for configuring selected channel sets to the content service 120.
• the channel configuration information may include the selection of content to place in the selected channel sets.
• Examples of content that may be selected for a channel set may include genre-oriented music stations, talk content, the user's personal content, etc.
• Genre- oriented music content may be selected from a catalog listing a relatively large number of stations or individual content provided by the content providers 110.
• a single music channel may deliver a continuous set of music tracks on a target device.
• Talk content may also be selected from a catalog of talk content channels, which may be updated periodically, such as hourly, daily or weekly.
• content from more than one content provider may be placed in a single channel set.
• the user's personal content may be stored on the personal computer 141, which the management module 171 may discover. As such, a user may sort through various content in various manners and may move large blocks of content to a channel in a channel set.
• the update agent 161 generally receives content from the content service 120 and may refresh content 180 stored on the personal computer 141 on a periodic basis. For instance, the update agent 161 caches the content 180 at the personal computer 141.
• the content 180 may include content received from the content distribution module 124 of the content service 120.
• the update agent 161 also controls the transfer of content 180 to other target devices 140. For example, when the cellular telephone 142 is connected to or otherwise interfaces with the personal computer 141, content for one or more selected channel sets may be transferred to the cellular telephone 142. In one example, the transfer of content 180 maybe performed as a substantially automatic feature when the cellular telephone 142 is connected to the personal computer 141, whereby the user does not need to issue a transfer command.
• the update agent 161 may control the transfer of content 180 to the cellular telephone 142, such that new content may be experienced from one or more play lists.
• the update agent 161 may control the transfer of content
• the personal computer 141 may also include a user interface 151 that provides for "one-click" selection of channels and emulates a conventional interface.
• the user interface 151 includes a GUI interface that a user may click to control playback and to select a channel.
• the user interface 151 may include hardware, such as buttons, wheels, keys, etc. [0050] 5. Portable Content Device
• a portable content device such as the cellular telephone 142, may include an application 174 having a management module 172, an update agent 162, and a user interface 152.
• the management module 172 generally allows the user to determine and send channel configuration information for configuring selected channel sets to the content service 120, in manners similar to those described above with respect to the management module 171 of the personal computer 141. hi certain instances, the management module 172 maybe considered optional for the application 174, since management of the application 174 may be performed by the personal computer 141.
• the update agent 162 of the cellular telephone 142 generally controls updating of the content 181, which may include new content received from the content service 120 via the cellular network 132 and the Internet 131, a wireless proximity network such as Bluetooth or WiFi (802.11), or any combination thereof, as routed from the content service 120 or through the personal computer 141.
• the content 181 may comprise new cached content received from the content service 120 as routed through the internet 131 and cellular network 132, as shown in Figure 2.
• the content 181 may comprise new cached content received from the personal computer 141 via a wired connection or a wireless proximity network.
• the update agent 162 of the cellular telephone 142 may also manage the receipt of content from one or both of the content service 120 and the personal computer 141. More particularly, for instance, the update agent 162 may control the receipt of one type of content from the content service 120 and another type of content from the personal computer 141. For example, the update agent 162 may control the receipt of content, such that, content required to be updated relatively frequently (hot content), such as traffic information, is received from the cellular network 132. In another example, the update agent 162 may control the receipt of content such that hot content is received from the personal computer 141 before such content expires (without going through the cellular network 132 or any other wireless telecommunication network).
• hot content such as traffic information
• the update agent 162 may control the receipt of warm content and/or cold content, which are content that may be updated less frequently, to be received from the personal computer 141.
• the personal computer 141 may download the warm or cold content from the content service 120.
• the warm and/or cold content may be updated on the cellular telephone 142. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that warm content, such as news, or cold content, such as music, may also be downloaded to the cellular telephone 142 via the cellular network 132.
• the cellular telephone 142 is also depicted as including a wireless interface 148, which may be used to connect to the content service 120 via hot spots 133, the personal computer 141, other target devices 140, etc.
• the wireless network interface 148 may also be used to transfer content 181 to the car audio system 143, as shown in Figure 2.
• a separate wireless interface may be used to connect to the cellular network 132 or a combined interface may be used to connect to the cellular network 132 and other devices.
• Playback of the content 181 may be controlled via the user interface 152 of the cellular telephone 142.
• the user interface 152 may include controls to enable the selection of a preset channel, to rewind, fast forward, pause, play, etc.
• the cellular telephone 142 may comprise a device configured to provide the functionalities of multiple devices.
• the cellular telephone 142 may include an MP3 player, PDA, camera, video player, etc.
• a portable content device such as the cellular telephone 142 may send content to an audio device such as the car audio system 143 via the wireless interface 148 of the cellular phone 142.
• a wireless adaptor 173 may be used to enable communications between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143 for receiving content and for controlling playback of the content.
• a wired interface may be used to enable the communications between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143.
• the wireless adaptor 173 and the wireless interface 148 are further described in Serial Nos. TBD (Attorney Docket Nos BCS03803 and BCS03802), both entitled "Wireless Adaptor for Content Transfer" which were incorporated by reference above.
• the cellular telephone 142 may wirelessly stream content 181 to the car audio system 143 via the wireless adaptor 173.
• the content 181 stored on the cellular telephone 142 maybe played through the car audio system 143.
• the car audio system 143 may also include a video display (not shown) that may be employed to display content 181 containing video.
• a user interface 153 of the car audio system 143 may be used to control playback of the content 181.
• the user interface 152 may include controls to enable the selection of a preset channel, to rewind, fast forward, pause, play, etc.
• Figure 3 illustrates embodiments of a common user interface 300 that may be provided in one or more of the target devices 140, such as the user interfaces 151-153 depicted in Figure 2.
• the user interfaces 151-153 may each include a common user interface 300. More particularly, the user interfaces 151-153 are depicted as including a common user interface 300 that includes a plurality of the same or similar features.
• each of the user interfaces 151-153 is depicted as including a set of presets "1-6", each of which are mapped to a channel in a channel set.
• each of the user interfaces 151-153 includes the same preset mappings for each channel set. This is illustrated by the expanded view 301 of an example of presets for a channel set named "Commuting”.
• the presets 1-6 are shown as respectively being mapped to channels for "Southern Country”, “Women in Rock”, “Classic Rock”, “Tunes of the 80's", “My Music”, and “Talk”.
• the mappings are the same for each of the user interfaces 151-153.
• preset 3 is mapped to "Classic Rock” for all of the user interfaces 151-153.
• the same mappings for the user interfaces 151-153 applies for presets 1-2 and 4-6 also.
• mappings may be determined for a plurality of channel sets and the mappings for each channel set may be the same on multiple target devices 140.
• the presets generally provide "one-click-selection" of a channel to play content for the channel. Furthermore, because the mapping for the presets may be the same on each target device, the user is not required to relearn the mappings for each target device.
• the user interface 151 may include buttons for "Radio Stations", “My Music”, “My Wish List” and “My Channels”. Selection of the "Radio Stations" button may list radio stations provided by the content providers 110 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a display section 302 of the user interface 151.
• the management module 171 shown in Figure 2 may generate channel configuration information to include, for instance, user selections of radio stations provided by the content providers 110.
• the content from selected radio stations may further be provided in a channel selected by the user to include the selected content.
• Selection of the "My Music” button may display a list of the user' s personal content in the display section 302.
• Selection of the "My Wish List” button may display a list of the content selected for purchase.
• Selection of the "Channel Set” button may display the channels in a channel set, such as shown in the display section 302. For example, the title, description, and length of content may be displayed. Also, the updates and next updates may be displayed.
• the user interface 152 is shown as including the presets 1-6. Also shown are the artist, title, and album for a track currently playing on the cellular phone 142.
• the user interface 153 is also depicted as including the presets 1-6 and other conventional interface buttons and a display. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the user interfaces 151-153 may include additional features and that some of the features shown maybe removed without departing from a scope of the user interfaces 151-153.
• the user interfaces 151-153 may include a software interface, such as a GUI interface, a hardware interface, such as buttons on an audio system, portable end-user device or personal computer, or a combination of both hardware and software interfaces.
• information other than what is shown in Figure 3 may be displayed in response to the selection of different options. For example, album art or video clips may be displayed for artists.
• Figure 3A in addition to showing a common user interface among a plurality of target devices, provides one example of a channel set called "Commuting" for a user.
• a user may have multiple channel sets.
• Figure 3B illustrates an example of content for a second channel set, named "Commuting 2", for the user.
• Channels 350 in the Commuting 2 channel set include Rock, Hot Content, Sports, jazz, Beatles and Recently New.
• Figure 3B also shows content 351 for the channels 350.
• the content for channels 1 and 4 named Rock and Jazz, respectively, may include content that the user is required to listen to in a strict sequence.
• the content provider for the Rock channel sends a playlist to the content service 120 along with the content.
• the content for the playlist is transmitted to a target device for the user in a format that only allows the user to listen to the content as provided.
• the content provider may allow the user to pause, rewind or possibly fast forward through the content, and in other embodiments, the user may not be able to perform one or more of those functions.
• Content for a channel may be provided by more than one content provider.
• the Hot Content channel may include national news content and international news content provided by one content provider and traffic and weather content provided by a different, regional content provider.
• Channels 5 and 6, named Beatles and Recently New, respectively, may include the user's personal content. This content and possibly content for other channels may be listened to out of sequence or paused. The user may navigate through the content using a user interface of a target device.
• new content may be appended to a channel list as content is consumed from the beginning, such as through automatic updates performed when the target device is connected to another target device caching the content or when the target device with limited memory is connected to a network to receive the new content from the content service 120.
• Hot Content may be appended to a channel list as content is consumed from the beginning, such as through automatic updates performed when the target device is connected to another target device caching the content or when the target device with limited memory is connected to a network to receive the new content from the content service 120.
• Hot content comprises content that becomes dated if the content is not updated within a predetermined period of time or if an expiration date and/or time has passed.
• the predetermined period of time or a specific expiration date and/or time may be specified by a user or another entity.
• Hot content may become dated more quickly than other content and typically needs to be updated more frequently than other content.
• traffic and weather content such as shown in the Hot Content channel in figure 3B.
• the traffic and weather content may become dated in a short time period, and the user may desire to receive traffic and weather updates every 10-15 minutes, especially when commuting.
• Another example of hot content is stock quotes.
• Examples of updating the hot content on a target device are as follows.
• the hot content is preemptively updated based on a time period assuming the user could switch to the channel carrying the hot content at any time. This has the lowest latency, but the highest use of the cellular network 132 or another network, such as the Internet 131.
• the hot content is preemptively updated when there is user activity or a historical pattern that suggests the user will be interested in the hot content soon. This reduces use of the network but may increase the chance of a poor user experience or increased latency, hi a third example, rather than continually loading the hot content, the hot content is streamed from the content service 120 or the content provider 110 over the network at the instant the user selects that hot content.
• Hot content may be updated using other procedures as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• Warm content is content that a user may desire to be frequently or periodically updated, but warm content may be updated less frequently than hot content. Examples of warm content may include local, national or international news. The user may desire that the news be updated every four hours or twice daily. Also, daily talk shows may be updated daily. Top 40 songs may be updated daily or weekly.
• Cold content is content that may become dated infrequently or may never become dated. For example, classic rock songs or Beatle's songs may not become dated.
• the system 100 is operable to update hot content when a target device is connected to the content service 120 via a network.
• the cellular phone 142 may receive hot content, such as traffic reports, from the content service 120 via the cellular network 132 or another network every 10 minutes during morning and evening commute times.
• the cellular phone 142 may receive hot content from the personal computer 141, however, in certain situations, such as during commuting, the cellular phone 142 may not be able to connect to the personal computer 141, for example, located at the user's home.
• the cellular phone 142 may receive the hot content via the cellular network 132 or a hot spot.
• the size of the hot content may be small, e.g., 2-4 minutes of audio content provided in compressed, voice-quality format, so it still may be economical to receive the hot content when the network provider charges a fee, such as an air-time fee.
• one or more of hot content, warm content, or cold content may be received directly from the content service 120 via a network or from a target device storing the content.
• the target device receiving the content may determine the cheapest means for obtaining the content.
• the cellular phone 142 may determine whether content maybe received from the personal computer 141 or the content service 120 via a no-charge network connection first.
• hot content distribution may be personalized for a user.
• a user may indicate in channel configuration information sent to the content service 120, user preferences for determining the hot content to be provided to the user and for determining transmission preferences for the hot content.
• the content service 120 uses user preferences specifying parameters for determining hot content to filter the content provided by the content providers 110 to determine the hot content for the user.
• One example of personalizing hot content may include determining a location of a user and transmitting hot content to the user based on the location. Location may be geographic location. Location may be determined from GPS or other known techniques and transmitted to the content service 120. The content service 120, then transmits hot content, such as traffic and weather content, relevant to the user's location.
• the user preferences may specify that the location information is to be received from the user to determine the hot content.
• the location information may be predetermined, which may include routes traveled when commuting or city of residence and job location.
• the predetermined location may be specified in the user preferences, and the content service 120 sends hot content and updates for hot content for the predetermined location.
• the hot content may be transmitted to the target device at the periodicity specified in the user preferences.
• the user may initiate the transmission of hot content to the target device.
• the cellular phone 142 which is streaming content to the car audio system 143, receives a traffic update from the content service 120.
• the traffic information may be fed into a navigation system for determining routes and for displaying the information.
• a user may also specify that the triggering of the transmission and loading of hot content or updates for hot content is caused by the presence of new, hot, content or may be based on time of day or other events.
• the target device receives an update for the hot content and caches the update until the user plays the update.
• the cached hot content is played when the user hits a preset of a channel including the hot content.
• the target device may determine whether the update is expired. Expiration may be based on a date and time or lapse of a predetermined period of time or based on another event. If the hot content update is expired, the target device provides a new update for the user. This may include requesting a new update from the content service 120 or from another target device.
• Warm and/or cold content may similarly be personalized.
• the user may specify the content they want, which may include personal content or content from the content service 120, and the content is loaded into the target device through a wired or wireless connection.
• the personalizing of hot content makes it fast and easy for a user to obtain relevant, up-to-date information.
• the user sets preferences specifying that one or more target devices is to receive each morning, updated local and international news, stock quotes for securities in the user's portfolio, sports scores for the user's favorite teams, and traffic and weather information. All this content may be provided on a single channel, so the user can receive the content through a single-click of a channel preset.
• the content may be stored on multiple target devices and mapped to the same channel on each target device, so the user can quickly obtain desired information using any one of the multiple target devices.
• Figure 4-9 illustrate methods 400-900 for automatically updating content at a target device.
• the methods 400-900 are described with respect to Figures 1-3 by way of example and not of limitation. It will thus be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the methods 400-900 may be performed with systems other than those depicted in Figures 1-3. Furthermore, the steps of the methods 400- 900 are described as being performed by the personal computer 141 or the cellular phone 142 shown in Figure 2 by way of example. Many of the steps may be performed by a target device other than described as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• a target device such as the personal computer 141 shown in Figure 2 sends channel configuration information to the content service 120.
• the channel configuration information may include user selections of content for channels in one or more sets of channels.
• User selections may include selections of content provided by the content providers 110. Examples of content provided by the content providers 110 may include music, video and other media and data, hi one example, content providers 110 may provide relatively large or continuous blocks of music or talk radio content. Several different categories of music and talk radio also may be provided. In this example, a user may select different categories of music or talk radio for different channels in a channel set.
• the channel configuration information may include user demographic information and channels are selected for a user based on the user demographic information. Also, a channel or a channel set may include content from two or more categories, two or more content providers, or from a user's personal content.
• the personal computer 141 receives content for the channels in the one or more channel sets, and stores the content at step 403.
• the personal computer 141 may transmit at least some of the content stored at the personal computer 141 to another target device, such as the cellular telephone 142.
• the amount and type of content transmitted to the target device may be based, for instance, upon the storage capacity of the cellular phone 142 or other factors, such as, the amount of time elapsed from when a previous transmission of content occurred.
• the personal computer 141 may automatically update the content stored at the cellular telephone 142.
• the cellular telephone 142 may connect to the personal computer 141 at various times to receive content or the cellular telephone 142 may already be connected to the personal computer 141, such as during charging, and the personal computer 141 initiates the update.
• the personal computer 141 may receive a report from the cellular telephone 142 indicating the content that has been consumed and/or the content that is stale, hi response, the personal computer 141 may send content to the cellular telephone 142 to replace the consumed content and/or the stale content.
• the user may select the content in the cellular telephone 142 to replace with new content during the update, or the user may select to replace the entire content.
• the personal computer 141 may cache the content for updates or transmission to one or more other target devices 140.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the method 500 for automatically updating content on a target device.
• One or more steps of the method 500 may be substeps of step 405 of the method 400.
• the steps of the method 500 are performed when the cellular phone 142, shown in figure 2, is connected to the personal computer
• the storage on the cellular phone 142 is accessible by the personal computer 141 and the application 174 of the cellular phone
• the personal computer 141 shown in Figure 2 receives channel configuration information and administration files from the cellular phone 142.
• the administration files may include a report including one or more of the content stored in the phone, the content stored in the phone and already consumed by the user, and the content stored in the phone that has become stale or information for determining whether content has become stale.
• the administration files may also include a playpoint for some channels, which is the point where consumption ended for a channel.
• the administration files may be in the form of log files including a record of a user's consumption. The log files may be used to determine the content that has been consumed and for paying the content providers 110.
• the personal computer 141 sends the administration files to the content service 120.
• the content service 120 determines the content to send to the personal computer 141 and the cellular phone 142 based on the administration files and the channel configuration information for the user.
• the personal computer 141 receives and stores the content. It should be noted that a phone update generally does not require the personal computer 141 to be connected to the content service 120.
• the personal computer 141 caches content from the content service 120, so the cellular phone 142 maybe updated when the personal computer 141 is not connected to the content service 120. In certain situations, the personal computer 141 may need to be connected to the content service 120 to perform an update for the cellular phone 142.
• the personal computer 141 may need to be connected to the content service 120 to establish a security environment, hi another example, if large amounts of data on the cellular phone 142 become corrupted, a connection to the content service 120 may be needed to repair the data.
• the personal computer 141 writes new channel configuration information and/or administration files to the cellular phone 142 if the channel configuration information or the administration files changed.
• the personal computer 141 determines the content that is stored on the cellular phone 142, for example, based on the administration files received from the cellular phone 142.
• the personal computer 141 determines the memory space available on the cellular phone 142 for storing more content, for example, based on the administration files received from the cellular phone 142. [0096] At step 506, the personal computer 141 determines the content to be copied to the cellular phone 142, for example, based on the consumption indicated in the administration files received from the cellular phone 142. [0097] At step 507, the personal computer 141 deletes content no longer needed on the cellular phone 142, such as consumed content and/or stale content. [0098] At step 508, the personal computer 141 copies new content determined at step 506 to the cellular phone 142.
• Figure 6 illustrates the method 600 for updating content on a target device, such as the cellular phone 142.
• the application 174 for the cellular phone 142 reads administration files written to the cellular phone 142 by the personal computer 141, for example, at step 503 of the method 500.
• the application 174 merges previous channel playpoint information with new information from the content service 120.
• the playpoint information may include the point on a playlist to start playing content from the playlist based on past user consumption.
• the content for the playlist may be provided in a channel.
• the playpoint may be specified in the administration files.
• the application 174 shows the previously channel selected and playing paused at the playpoint on the user interface 152.
• Figure 7 illustrates the method 700 for controlling the consumption of content stored on a target device based on user input.
• the application 174 for the cellular phone 142 receives a user command based on user input via the user interface 152.
• the user interface includes a GUI fast forward button that is clicked by the user for generating a fast forward command.
• the application 174 determines whether the command is allowed for the channel.
• the fast forward command may not be allowed by the content provider for a particular channel but it is allowed for a channel including personal content.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for receiving hot content, according to an embodiment.
• a target device such as the cellular phone 142 or the personal computer 141 shown in figure 1 sends channel configuration information to a content service.
• the content service 120 determines content to be provided in each channel of a set of channels, i.e., channel set, using the channel configuration information.
• the channel configuration information includes user preferences for determining hot content.
• the content service 120 determines the hot content to be transmitted to a user based on the user preferences.
• the content service 120 may filter the content provided by the content providers 110 using the user preferences to determine the hot content for the user, such as identifying regional traffic and weather for the user.
• the content service 120 transmits the hot content to the user.
• the content service 120 transmits the hot content to one or more of the personal computer 141 and the cellular phone 142.
• the hot content may be included in one or more channels of the channel set.
• the channel configuration information may be generated by a target device based on user input received via a user interface.
• the management module 171 in the personal computer 141 shown in figure 1 receives user input provided via the user interface 151 and generates the channel configuration information from the user input.
• the user input may include user preferences specifying the content, including hot content, to be provided in a channel set or other information.
• the user receives content for the channel set, including hot content, at a target device, such as one or more of the personal computer 141 and the cellular phone 142.
• the user receives updates for the hot content at the target device based on the user preferences.
• the updates may include new hot content, which may be related to hot content previously transmitted. For example, updates may include traffic and weather information transmitted every 10 minutes, which may or may not have changed since the last update.
• the user preferences may specify the periodicity for transmitting new updates to a target device.
• the user preferences may specify an event that triggers transmission of updates.
• the user preferences may specify geographic information and/or other information for determining the hot content to send to a target device.
• Figure 9 illustrates a method 900 for determining hot content for a user, according to an embodiment.
• the content service 120 receives channel configuration.
• the content service 120 determines content to be provided in each channel of a set of channels using the channel configuration information.
• the channel configuration information includes user preferences for determining hot content.
• the content service 120 filters content from the content providers 110 to determine content to be provided in the set of channels based on the channel configuration information.
• the content to be provided includes hot content. Filtering may include using the user preferences to select hot content from the content provided by the content providers 110. At least one of the channels may include the hot content.
• the content service 120 transmits the content for the set of channels to at least one target device for the user, such as one or more of the personal computer 141 and the cellular phone 142.
• the content service 120 determines updates for the hot content based on the user preferences, and transmits the updates to the target device at step 605. [0113] 11. Hardware Platform
• Figure 10 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system 1000 which may be used as a hardware platform for one or more of the components of the system 100, such as the personal computer 141, server 121, cellular phone, and possibly other components.
• the computer system 1000 is a simplified block diagram, and the components of the system 100 may include many more elements not shown or some of the components may not include all the elements shown in figure 10.
• the computer system 1000 may include a processor 1002, which provides a platform for executing software.
• the computer system 1000 also includes a storage 1006, which may include Random Access Memory (RAM) where software is resident during runtime.
• RAM Random Access Memory
• the storage 1006 may also include one or more other types of memory such as ROM (read only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable, programmable ROM) and data storage, such as hard disks, etc., maybe used.
• ROM read only memory
• EPROM erasable, programmable ROM
• EEPROM electrically erasable, programmable ROM
• data storage such as hard disks, etc.
• the storage 1006 may include one or more hard disk drives and a removable storage drive, such as a floppy or flash memory.
• a user may interface with the computer system 1000 through an input device 1010, such as, a keyboard, buttons, a mouse, a stylus, and the like.
• a display 1012 and a network interface 1024 may also be included.
• data maybe transmitted between components via a bus 1004..
• One or more of the steps of the methods 400-900 and other steps described herein and software described herein may be implemented as software embedded or stored on a computer readable medium, such as the storage 1006, and executed by the processor 1002. The steps may be embodied by a computer program, which may exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive.
• ⁇ there may exist as software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, object code, executable code or other formats for performing some of the steps when executed. Any of the above may be stored on a computer readable medium, which include storage devices and signals, in compressed or uncompressed form.
• suitable computer readable storage devices include conventional computer system RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable, programmable ROM), and magnetic or optical disks or tapes.
• Examples of computer readable signals, whether modulated using a carrier or not, are signals that a computer system hosting or running the computer program may be configured to access, including signals downloaded through the Internet or other networks.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Primary Health Care (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Library & Information Science (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36793600

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2006
  • 2006-02-07 EP EP06720328A patent/EP1851650A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-02-07 KR KR1020077018448A patent/KR20070101325A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-02-07 CN CNA2006800047603A patent/CN101427230A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-02-07 WO PCT/US2006/004061 patent/WO2006086285A2/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events