Abstract:
A method and apparatus for downloading information content to a wireless terminal. The information content is obtained from a content provider that is accessible over a network, such as the World Wide Web. The information content, which is available on a subscription basis, is downloaded directly to the wireless terminal. Access to the network, access to the content provider, and downloading the information content is performed automatically according to a schedule, in accordance with the subscription.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to wireless terminals, and, more particularly, to receiving information content at wireless terminals.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Developments in information processing, telecommunications and computing have enabled business persons to literally take their office with them while traveling. With the advent of DVD-R discs and multi-gigabyte hard drives for information storage, a virtually limitless amount of information becomes portable. With mobile phones and an ability to remotely retrieve e-mail, business persons can be contacted when they are traveling as readily as when they are in the office. With a WiFi- or WiMax-enabled lap top computer, the information content of the Internet becomes available.  
         [0003]     Notwithstanding these developments, access to and retrieval of information can be problematic. For example, some mobile phones are capable of providing access to the Internet. But unless a user has a fairly high comfort level and degree of familiarity with portable computing and telecommunication devices, accessing and retrieving data in this fashion can be daunting and difficult. In particular, the access and authentication procedures required to (1) gain access a network; (2) gain access to a server on the network; and (3) download content from the server to a mobile phone are complicated. Rather than dealing with this challenge, many if not most mobile-phone users will simply not use this capability.  
         [0004]     Another barrier to use of the Internet-access capability of mobile phones relates to the hesitancy of users to provide credit card information during the purchase and download of content.  
         [0005]     As a consequence, there is a need for improvements in the way information can be accessed by a user via a wireless terminal, such as a mobile phone.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a way to receive information at a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone, personal digital assistant, etc), without some of the costs and disadvantages of the prior art.  
         [0007]     In a method in accordance with illustrative embodiment of the invention, content is downloaded from a node on a network (e.g., a web site, etc.) to a wireless terminal. The content is available on a subscription basis, whereby the type of content (e.g., stock prices, sports scores, etc.) is pre-selected by a subscriber.  
         [0008]     Access to the node is automatic. More particularly, at a pre-determined time of day or at a pre-determined time interval, the wireless terminal establishes a telecommunications session with the network through which the node is accessed. This takes place without user intervention. Automatic access is accomplished using appropriate access/authentication addresses and codes that are stored in the memory of the wireless terminal.  
         [0009]     Automatic access spares the user from the cumbersome and complicated access and authentication procedures that are typically required to obtain information from a web site, for example. And since the user does not need to enter information, a simpler keypad (i.e., one without numeric or QWERTY keys) can be used.  
         [0010]     Content is downloaded directly to the wireless terminal. In other words, the present method dispenses with the time consuming and somewhat complex task of first downloading information to a lap-top or desk-top computer and then transferring the information files to the target device (i.e., wireless terminal).  
         [0011]     After the user pre-selects the content he or she wishes to receive and the various addresses and access/authentication codes are stored in the memory of the wireless terminal, daily or more frequent downloads occur in a fashion that is effectively invisible to the user.  
         [0012]     In some embodiments, this capability to automatically access and directly download content is limited to a single network node, although the wireless terminal still possesses the capability of accessing any web site via normal procedures. In some other embodiments, access to the network (e.g., the Internet, etc.) via the wireless terminal is limited to the single node that is automatically accessed. To users that would not otherwise attempt to access content via a wireless terminal, this is actually not a “limitation” at all.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a system for accessing information content and downloading it to a wireless in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a wireless terminal for use in conjunction with the system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts a method in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts some of the contents of the memory of the wireless terminal of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of system  100  by which information content is accessed and downloaded to wireless terminal  108 . System  100  includes a wireless switching center  102 , base stations  104 , wireless terminal  106 , and data network  108 .  
         [0018]     Wireless switching center  102  is connected to a plurality of base stations (e.g., base stations  104 - 1  through  104 - 3 , etc.) that are dispersed throughout the geographic area serviced by the system. Wireless switching center  102  is also connected to data network  108  as well as to the local and long-distance telephone networks (not depicted). Wireless switching center  102  is responsible for, among other things, establishing and maintaining a telecommunications link with data network  108  as well as establishing and maintaining calls between wireless terminal  106  and other wireless or wireline terminals (not depicted), in known fashion.  
         [0019]     Network  108  (e.g., the Internet, WAN, LAN, etc) includes a plurality of nodes (e.g., nodes  110 - 1  through  110 - 3 , etc.). Each node represents a network element (e.g., a server, a switch, etc.). Some nodes, for example nodes  110 - 1  and  110 - 3 , provide content that can be accessed for downloading.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of wireless terminal  106 .  
         [0021]     Wireless terminal  106  includes any hand-held device that incorporates or can be made to incorporate wireless telecommunications capabilities. For example, in various embodiments, wireless terminal  106  is a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, a telephone, a game controller, a digital camera, etc.  
         [0022]     In the illustrative embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 2 , wireless terminal  106  comprises: processor  202 , memory  204 , speaker  206 , microphone  208 , transmitter  210 , receiver  212 , antenna  214 , visual display  216 , keypad  218 , battery  220 , and ports  222 - 1  and  222 - 2 .  
         [0023]     Speaker  206  is capable of outputting an acoustic signal (e.g., the speech of another person, an alerting or ringing signal, etc.) to a user of wireless terminal  106  in well-known fashion. Microphone  208  is capable of receiving an acoustic signal (e.g., the speech of the user of wireless terminal  106 , etc.) and of conveying it to processor  202  for conversion to a digital signal.  
         [0024]     Transmitter  210 , receiver  212 , and antenna  214  provide wireless telecommunications capability at radio frequencies for wireless terminal  106  in known fashion.  
         [0025]     Display  216  is a visual display that enables wireless terminal  106  to output information (e.g., text, images, video, etc.) to a user. Typically, display  216  can be illuminated to enhance viewing as desired. Keypad  218  is a tactile input device that enables wireless terminal  106  to receive information from a user.  
         [0026]     Battery  220  is an energy-storage device (e.g., an electrochemical energy-storage device, etc.) that provides energy to processor  202  and the other components of wireless terminal  106  in well-known fashion.  
         [0027]     Ports  222 - 1  and  222 - 2  enable a user to connect wireless terminal  106  to external devices. For example, port  222 - 1  enables the wireless terminal to connect to a battery charger. Optional port  222 - 2  is used to couple wireless terminal  106  to a computer. As described in more detail later in this specification, port  222 - 2  is used, in some embodiments, to download various addresses and codes into memory  204  of wireless terminal  106 .  
         [0028]     Processor  202 , which includes associated control circuitry, is capable of coordinating and controlling the other components of wireless terminal  106  to provide wireless telecommunications capability (e.g., to support a network session, etc.). Among other capabilities, processor  202  is capable of executing instructions stored in memory  204 , of reading data from and writing data into memory  204 , and of executing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIG. 3 . Processor  202  is a suitably programmed general-purpose processor or, alternatively, can comprise special-purpose hardware. In either case, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use processor  202 .  
         [0029]     As described in further detail later in this specification, memory  204  contains specific information and processor  202  is capable of performing certain functions that enable wireless terminal  106  to practice method  300 , as depicted in  FIG. 3  and described below.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts method  300  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with task  302  of method  300 , a user subscribes to an information service that is offered by a node on a telecommunications network. Subscribing to the service typically requires that the user provide certain personal identifying information, such as the subscriber&#39;s name, phone number, e-mail address, credit card information, etc.  
         [0031]     In accordance with task  304  of method  300 , the user pre-selects the content to be downloaded to the user&#39;s wireless terminal. In some embodiments, the subscription is based on a subscription plan. The subscription plan defines the amount of content that a user will have access to, specifies the frequency of downloads and, in some embodiments, the number of location(s) at which a user can access (i.e., download) the information. In some embodiments, the cost of the subscription is based on the content accessed (type and amount) and the frequency of access.  
         [0032]     Consider, as an example, a business that offers up-to-date information concerning weather forecasts, stock prices, general business news, politics, sports, world news, and the like via a web site.  
         [0033]     A user wishing to subscribe (i.e., task  302 ) to the information service would visit the web site, typically via a browser running on a lap-tap or home computer. The prospective subscriber will provide the required information to activate the subscription. The user will then (or as a part of the subscription process) select content of interest, in accordance with task  304 .  
         [0034]     Any of a variety of pricing plans can be established for the subscription. For example, in an “ala-carte” plan, content is individually priced and a user selects the content that he or she wishes to receive. See Table 1, below:  
                                                                                                 TABLE 1                           Ala-Carte Pricing Structure                Sports Scores                Local   Stock   Business   Politics       U.S.            Weather   Quotes   News   U.S.   World       Prof.   Coll.   Europe   Lottery               P1   P2 (3x)   P3   P4.1   P4.2   Football   P5.1   P5.2       P10                           Soccer   P6.1   P6.2   P6.3                           Basketball   P7.1   P7.2                           Baseball   P8.1   P8.2                           Hockey   P9.1   P9.2                  
 
         [0035]     As indicated in Table 1, in the “Ala-Carte” plan, the local weather is available at a cost of P 1 , based on a once-daily download. Stock quotes are available at a cost of P 2  for each quote, for a thrice-daily download. Business news is available at a cost of P3, for a once-daily download. U.S. political news is available at a cost of P4.1 and foreign political news is available at a cost of P4.2. A variety of sports scores, at both the professional level, for US and Europe, as well as at the collegiate level, are available at the indicated pricing. And lottery results, at a cost of P.10 per result, are available.  
         [0036]     As an example, the total subscription cost, C, under the ala-carte plan for a user wishing to receive 5 stock quotes, business news, and college football scores, is: 
 
 C= 5( P 2)+ P 3+ P 5.2. 
 
         [0037]     Another type of subscription plan enables a subscriber to select content from a certain number of categories. For example, for a first pricing structure, a subscriber is entitled to select content from two categories, such as “Business News” and “Professional Football Scores.” A second pricing structure permits a subscriber to select content from three categories, and so forth. In some embodiments, the pricing structure can reflect the number of times daily that the selected content is downloaded. For example, there might be a first pricing structure for a once-daily download, a second pricing structure for a twice-daily download, etc.  
         [0038]     It will be appreciated that a wide variety of pricing structures can be developed. Furthermore, it will be understood that the information categories that are listed in Table 1 above are provided by way of illustration, not limitation. Any of a virtually unlimited number of different types of content can be offered for download on a subscription basis, as described above.  
         [0039]     In accordance with task  306  of method  300 , the subscriber accesses the node (e.g., web site, etc.) of the content provider via wireless terminal  106 , wherein access is automatic. In the context of this application, the term “automatic(ally)” means that wireless terminal  106  establishes a telecommunications session with the node without real-time user intervention.  
         [0040]     Of course, before wireless terminal  106  can automatically download content from a content provider, a set-up protocol must be completed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the set-up protocol provides wireless terminal  106  with the addresses and authentication codes, etc., that are required to (i) gain access to network  108  and (ii) gain access to a node, such as node  110 - 1 . To the extent gaining access to node  110 - 1  does not, in and of itself, signify permission to download content, the set-up protocol provides wireless terminal  106  with an additional code to begin downloading content from node  110 - 1 . This information resides in memory  204 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0041]     In some embodiments, the addresses and codes are downloaded to wireless terminal  106  during the initial contact (e.g., via computer, etc.) with node  110 - 1  (e.g., during task  302 ). In such embodiments, wireless terminal  106  is connected to the computer via port  222 - 2 , which can be, for example, a USB port or other suitable type of port for interfacing with a computer. The addresses and authentication codes required for network and node access, etc., can then be downloaded to memory  204  within wireless terminal  106 .  
         [0042]     In some other embodiments, a call is placed by the new subscriber to a phone number that is associated with the content provider. The requisite addresses and authentication codes are then provided to the subscriber during the call.  
         [0043]     The protocol also dictates when during the day or night wireless terminal  106  establishes a session with node  110 - 1  to receive the pre-selected content. The timing of the session can be based on a time of day, an elapsed time, etc. Wireless terminal  106  obtains timing information from an internal clock or, more typically, from routine control messages that it receives from the wireless network. The timing protocol is also maintained in memory  204 .  
         [0044]     Processor  202  initiates the telecommunications session with node  110 - 1  based on the timing criteria and using the addresses and authentication codes stored in memory  204 .  
         [0045]     More particularly, wireless terminal  106  transmits the addresses and codes, which is received by a base station (e.g., base station  104 - 1 ,  104 - 2 , or  104 - 3 , etc.). The receiving base station relays the information to wireless switching center  102 . Upon receipt of the information, and with the knowledge that it is intended for node  110 - 1 , wireless switching center  102  launches the information (e.g., via modem, etc.) into network  108  for node  110 - 1 .  
         [0046]     At task  308 , the pre-selected content is downloaded directly to wireless terminal  106  from node  110 - 1 . In the context of this specification, the term “directly” means that the content is downloaded from node  110 - 1  to wireless terminal  106  without the intermediate task of receiving the content at a computer (e.g., desk-top or lap-top computer, etc.) and then transferring it from the computer to the wireless terminal. An example of this undesired intermediate task is the common exercise of downloading music from a content provider (e.g., I-Tunes® website, etc.) to a personal computer, and then transferring the music file from the computer to a portable player (e.g., IPOD®, etc.). This type of intermediate download is avoided with the illustrative method.  
         [0047]     In further detail, when node  110 - 1  receives the appropriate codes, it releases the pre-selected content for download to wireless terminal  106 . The content is received (e.g., via modem, etc.) at wireless switching center  102 , which routes it to the appropriate base station  104 . The base station relays the information, via radio, to wireless terminal  106 .  
         [0048]     In the illustrative embodiment, wireless terminal  106  initiates the telecommunications session with a node (e.g., node  110 - 1 ) as described above. In some alternative embodiments, the node initiates the telecommunications session with wireless terminal  106 .  
         [0049]     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in this Specification, numerous specific details are provided in order to provide a thorough description and understanding of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of those details, or with other methods, materials, components, etc.  
         [0050]     Furthermore, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the illustrative embodiments. It is understood that the various embodiments shown in the Figures are illustrative, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily all embodiments. Consequently, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout the Specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.