Abstract:
A system and method for providing digital data content to a wireless device. Although a fee is typically charged for access to the digital data content, e.g., electronic books, the system and the method provides controlled access to this content for free while the wireless device is accessing the content in a specified location, e.g., a retail location. A content control server receives a request from the wireless device requesting access to the digital data content. The request is received over a secure connection, preferably a virtual private network (VPN). The content control server monitors how much of the digital data content has been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. This content control server uses this monitored data to control, throttle, the provision of the digital data content to the wireless device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/907,951, filed Oct. 19, 2010, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/253,049 filed Oct. 19, 2009. The content of each prior application is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to digital content distribution and, in particular, to a consumer system for downloading and using digital content within the confines of an authorized location. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Systems that provide digital content in a wireless environment are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,653,574 to Harper et al. describes a method for in store purchase of digital content in which a number of kiosks (“LVS”) are set up around the store. The customer logs onto a kiosk and browses digital content. The customer can then purchase the digital content and download it to a mobile device or burn it to a CD. 
     U.S. Published Pat. Application No. 2008/0062940 discloses a method of pushing content to a mobile device when it is detected that the mobile device is within a proximity of a location covered by a wireless local area network (WLAN). 
     U.S. Published Pat. Application No. 2009/0055408 generally describes a method for sharing digital content from a localized server. The content is shared between a wireless storage device and a sharing device, over a wireless interface. 
     While these systems describe various methods of sharing digital content over a network, they do not provide a method for limiting the amount of free digital content that can be downloaded or streamed to a customer&#39;s portable device at a retail store or other location, so as to limit delivery of the content to the portable device to the case when the device is in the immediate vicinity of the retail store or other location, and in accordance with the amount and time duration of the customer&#39;s accessing of the digital content. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the system provides digital data content to a wireless device. The system includes a digital data content control server that receives, over a secure connection, a request from the wireless device requesting one or more portions of the digital data content. The content control server, in response to the request, provides the wireless device with limited access to the digital data content. The content control server includes a data store that stores the digital data content, a web server that maintains the secure connection between the wireless device and the control server, and digital data content provision software. The digital data content provision software monitors how much digital data content has been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. The digital data content provision software throttles the provision of the digital data content on the basis of throttling criteria including the monitored amount of provided digital data content and/or the monitored amount of time. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the method of the present invention provides digital data content to a wireless device. A content server receives, via a secure connection, a request from the wireless device for one or more portions of the digital data content. The server provides, on a portion by portion basis, the requested digital data content to the wireless device. The server further monitors how many portions of the digital data content have been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. On the basis of throttling criteria including the monitored number of portions and/or the amount of time, the server throttles the provision of the digital data content. 
     A third aspect of the present invention includes a system for providing digital data content. The system incorporates a wireless device, a digital data content control server storing the digital data content, a wireless access point and throttling software. The wireless access point provides a secure connection between the wireless device and the digital data content control server. The throttling software controls the provision of the digital data content from the control server to the wireless device on the basis of throttling criteria. The throttling criteria includes the amount of digital data content provided and/or an amount of time that the wireless device has accessed the digital data content on the digital data content control server. 
     In each aspect of the invention, the digital data content is provided to the customer without charge, although without the systems and method of the present invention, the digital data content is normally provided for a fee. The content server further includes a throttling database that stores throttling records specific to particular customers. The secure connection between the wireless device and the content server is preferably a virtual private network (VPN) connection. Preferably, the digital data content is an electronic book, but can also be other digital data content such as music or videos. In a preferred aspect the wireless device connects to the digital data content control server through the wireless access point that is provided in a retail location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of an in-store reading system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a functional block diagram of an exemplary device that can be used by a consumer to read in-store digital content; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  together comprise a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for an in-store reading system in which a customer uses a device to obtain free in-store digital content to read; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for throttling the digital content that is being streamed to a customer in an in-store reading system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention, in its preferred embodiments, relates generally to an in-store reading system for delivering digital content to a customer&#39;s WiFi-enabled electronic device solely in the immediate vicinity of an authorized store. In accordance with preferred embodiments, a customer may access free, in-store digital content over an authorized store&#39;s Wi-Fi network, but only when the customer is physically in or near the authorized store within range of the store&#39;s WiFi network. Preferably, for the customer to access the free digital content, the customer&#39;s electronic device must be associated with a customer&#39;s account with the store, and recognized by the in-store reading system. 
     As will be discussed in more detail below, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the digital content that would otherwise have to be purchased may be delivered to the customer&#39;s electronic device and freely used only for a limited time. Preferably, the free digital content is delivered a “page” or “portion” at a time as the customer reads. Once the limit for using the digital content expires, or the customer leaves the authorized store (leaves the range of the WiFi network), the in-store digital content is no longer accessible to the customer. 
     An exemplary in-store reading system  100  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of a wireless network in which the invention can be practiced. However, the illustrated arrangement is for purposes of example only and other arrangements and elements may be employed based on the teachings in the present application. Further, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, some of the elements shown in  FIG. 1A  are functional entities that may be implemented by various combinations of software, firmware and/or hardware. 
     A customer  101  is an authorized user of the in-store reading system  100  and has an account  102 , which authorizes the customer  101  to use the in-store reading system  100 . The customer  101  can access the in-store reading system  100  using a WiFi capable device  103 , which the customer  101  has previously associated with the account  102 , using account credentials of the customer  101 . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 1B , the device  103  preferably includes thereon a device user interface  104  and device content reading application  105 , which preferably comprise software applications stored in application memory  1000  that have been previously downloaded and/or installed and are running on a microprocessor  1007  in the device  103 . A device operating system (OS) is running on the microprocessor  1007  to control the various functions and interfaces of the device  103 . 
     The device  103  is equipped with wireless interface circuitry  1007  allowing it to access and communicate wirelessly with wireless networks, including wireless local area networks (Weans). 
     The device user interface  104  enables the customer  101  to interact with the device  103 , including logging into account  102  and engaging with the device content reading application  105 , for example by generating graphical user interfaces on a display  1003  of the device  103 . In addition, the device  103  preferably includes input mechanisms/controls  1005 , such as touchscreen or other buttons, that permit the customer to provide inputs to the device  103  e.g., for the entry of control commands. The customer  101  engages with device content reading application  105 , e.g., by entry of commands into the device and reading the display  1003 , in order to use digital content when participating in the in-store reading system  100 . Such a device will typically include user memory  1004 , audio I/O and other hardware subsystems  1006 , and a microprocessor  1007  to control the device and run the various applications. 
     The device content reading application  105  also includes a device in-store reading interface  106 , also software that has been previously downloaded and/or installed on the device  103  that allows the customer  101  to discover, request, and receive digital content  107  when the customer  101  is in an authorized store  108 . The device  103  can be, for example, an eBook reader, a cell phone, an MP3 player, a laptop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant, or other such electronic device that is capable of communicating wirelessly. 
     The digital content  107  that can be accessed by the customer  101  in accordance with the preferred embodiment preferably has in-store reading rights associated with it. In a preferred embodiment, the in-store reading system  100  is configured to provide the digital content  107  free, i.e., at no cost to the customer  101 , but only when the device  103  is in the vicinity of an authorized store  108 , and as long as time and/or data constraints, described further below, are being met. It should be noted that while digital content  107  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as part of the in-store reading server, it need not be limited to being in that location. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the digital content could be stored remotely and accessed by the in-store reading server on an as needed basis, or on any other appropriate basis. Further, the digital content  107  that is provided free through the system and method of the present invention is typically also available for purchase. 
     The authorized store  108  is a physical location, for example a retail establishment, having an in-store WiFi network  109  and an authorized WiFi Access Point (WAP)  110 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the customer  101  is only allowed to request and receive digital content  107  on the device  103  while he or she is physically located in the vicinity of the authorized store  108 , and while connected to WAP  110 . However, while the illustrated embodiment discusses the situation involving a retail establishment, the present invention is not limited to this situation. For example, the system can operate in a library, for example, supplying, in a limited manner, data content that might otherwise have to be purchased. 
     To begin operation, the customer  101  turns on the device  103  in the authorized store  108 , or enters with a device  103  that is already turned on, at which point the device  103  may detect in-store WiFi network  109 . The device can then access the network  109  through the authorized WAP  110 , for example by detecting a MAC address being broadcast by the WAP  110 , in a manner known to those skilled in the art, or in any other known manner. Once the device  103  is active on the in-store WiFi network  109  and the customer  101  interacts with the device in-store reading interface  106  in the device  103 , transmissions to and from the device  103  occur over a Virtual Private Network (VPN)  111  connection. Preferably, the connection to the VPN network is created and managed with specialized hardware and software that is hosted by the WAP  110 . Such software is known to those skilled in the art and available, for example from companies such as Cisco systems. 
     The VPN  111  secures and separates in-store reading traffic between device  103  and other electronic components of in-store reading system  100  from general traffic originating inside and outside authorized store  108 , for example, from traffic on the Internet. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the in-store reading system includes an in-store reading server  115  that manages the delivery of digital content  107 . The in-store reading server includes hardware and software to perform additional in-store reading functions of the in-store reading system  100 . The in-store reading server  115  handles front-end functions related to web server operations and user interactions with in-store reading interfaces. The in-store reading server  115  also handles all backend functions of in-store reading system  100 , e.g., related to managing accounts, tracking in-store content throttling, maintaining content metadata and in-store reading rights, and providing content streaming services. The server  115 , typically remote from stores, preferably services a plurality of stores simultaneously. 
     The device in-store reading interface  106  presents, e.g., graphical user interfaces to facilitate the perusal, selection and request of digital content  107  by the customer  101 . In a preferred embodiment, the device  103  transmits a request for digital content  107  over the VPN  111  to in-store web services  112 , which is preferably software or other control operating on or in relation to the store&#39;s computer system that handles the request for digital content  107  and the streaming of digital content  107  back to the device  103 . 
     For streaming back to the device  103 , digital content  107  is preferably decomposed into digital content portions  107   a,    107   b,    107   c,  . . .  107   n.  For example, digital content portion  107   a  is an initial data portion, such as a page of a book, of digital content  107  that is to be streamed to device  103 . As represented in  FIG. 1 , digital content portion  107   b  is the next data portion of digital content  107  that is streamed, after  107   a,  and so on. 
     The local wireless network used in a preferred embodiment may be, for example, an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IEEE 802.15 wireless personal network (WPAN). The local wireless connection is not limited to these examples and can include any network to which a wireless device  103  could connect with while in proximity of a wireless access point of the network. Other types of networks could also be used, such as a Bluetooth connection. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the streamed delivery of digital content portions  107   a,  . . .  107   n  to device  103  is “throttled,” i.e., controlled, metered, and/or timed, based on an in-store reading throttling algorithm  113 , to be discussed further below in relation to the flow chart of  FIG. 3 . The in-store reading throttling algorithm  113  gauges the time spent, and the speed by which, the customer  101  consumes each digital content portion of digital content  107  and adjusts the streaming of content  107  accordingly. A customer content throttling record  114 , associated with the customer  101  and digital content  107 , is maintained in a database in the in-store reading system  100 . 
     The in-store reading server  115  employs a web server  116  and Web Service Interface (WSI) software  117  to handle interactions between front-end components, such as device in-store reading interface  106  and in-store web services  112 , and back-end database components of the in-store reading system  100 . The web server  116  services include serving up in-store software services  112  to client users, such as the wireless devices  103 , operating in the store. Among other things, the web server  116  supplies HTML web pages to client users. WSI software  117  services include handling log in to the account  102  and processing content throttling records. Preferably, the WSI software is configured to industry standards and hosted over standard HTTP protocols for compatibility with all devices. 
     Back-end database components of the in-store reading system  100  preferably include a customer accounts database  118 , an in-store throttling database  114 , and a content, metadata and store rights database  120 . Records for each account  102 , discussed above, are stored and managed in the customer accounts database  118 . Records for the customer content throttling record  114 , a record of a customer usage of the free digital content  107  over a particular period of time, are stored and managed in the in-store throttling database  119 . 
     With regard to the digital content, a content, metadata in-store rights database  120  is provided in the in-store reading server. The content, metadata database serves as a source of metadata and in-store reading rights information for individual digital content items in the in-store reading system  100 . The in-store reading rights information in the content, metadata database  120  indicates that digital content  107  may be used for in-store reading. Such rights information would, for example, indicate whether and for how long each particular content item may be read. Other metadata includes, for example, standard information about the books being read, i.e., title, author, publisher, and the like. 
     As backend components of the in-store reading server  115 , the WSI software  117  interfaces with customer data services software  121  to access customer accounts database  118  and in-store throttling database  119 . Customer data services  121  is software or other control that processes database lookups, such as a lookup to verify customer data in the account  102  for the customer  101  logins. Customer data services  121  preferably also processes database updates, such as creating and updating the customer content throttling record  114 . 
     The WSI software  117  interfaces with in-store content streaming services  122  software to manage content streaming functions. Such functions include throttling and tracking valid accounts and IP addresses for in-store reading, and caching and rendering digital content portions  107   a,  . . .  107   n,  for example by tracking the IP address of the device  103  to verify and prevent a customer from attempting to read multiple books simultaneously from the same device. The tracking of valid accounts ensures that a user has registered with the content provider and has, for example, provided a valid credit card number on their account. The software preferably checks that multiple accounts do not use the same credit card, which prevents a particular user from reading multiple books simultaneously on multiple devices. 
     The non-authorized location  123  shown in  FIG. 1A  is presented for illustration purposes only, i.e., to show general traffic that might occur in or near a physical authorized store  108 . Any requests coming into the in-store reading system  100  over the general Internet would be denied access to the in-store services. The system  100  preferably only accepts and provides the digital content for in-store reading to requests that come in over the VPN  111 . The non-authorized location  123  is not a component of the in-store reading system  100 , and forms no part of the invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the in-store reading system  100  is an in-store electronic book (eBook) reading system, however, the invention is not limited to an in-store eBook reading system. As would be appreciated, the in-store reading system  100  may be used for the in-store consumption of other digital content, such as digital movies, digital music, digital audio books, digital pictures, or other streamable digital content. 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the device  103  is a mobile, WiFi-capable electronic reader (eReader) device. However, the device  103  in accordance with the present invention is not limited to an eReader device. The device  103  may be any other type of mobile consumer electronic device, such as a multi-purpose cell phone. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an exemplary method  200  for requesting free in-store reading content, in which a customer  101  accesses and reads digital content  107  using device  103  using the in-store reading system  100 . 
     Initially, as a precondition for the customer  101  utilizing the system, he or she must be physically in or near an authorized store location  108  and have a WiFi capable device  103 . At step S 001 , the customer  101  turns on device  103 . At step S 002 , the device  103  connects with the authorized store&#39;s wireless access point (WAP)  110 . The device  103  detects that in-store WiFi network  109  is in range and connects to it through authorized WAP  110 . For some general purpose devices, it may be necessary for the customer  101  to make sure that the device  103  is connected to the store&#39;s WiFi network rather than any other available network in range of the device. 
     At step S 003 , the customer uses the user interface element to access content in a reading application on the device. The user must be logged onto a valid account to access content. The device  103  may already be running device content reading application  105 . Otherwise, the customer  101  may use device user interface  104  to invoke device content reading application  105 . If the customer  101  is not automatically logged into account  102 , customer  101  uses device user interface  104  to log in. 
     Customer  101  or device content reading application  105  invokes device in-store reading interface  106  to discover the availability of in-store reading system  100  and digital content  107  in authorized store  108 . The device  103  transmits, at step S 004 , a request for digital content  107  over VPN  111  to the URL address of in-store web services  112 . This request goes over the VPN  111  to the in-store web services  112 , which passes in the request for digital content  107  to in-store reading server  115 . 
     At step S 005 , the in-store reading server  115  responds back to in-store web services  112  that digital content  107  is available. A response that the digital content  107  is available is then sent by in-store web services  112  over VPN  111  to the device  103 . The device in-store reading interface  106  indicates to the customer  101 , for example by presentation of a particular GUI or by other means, that digital content  107  is available, and preferably which content may be freely accessed while in the store. 
     At step S 006 , the customer  101  uses the device in-store reading interface  106  to select digital content  107 . The customer  101  uses an appropriate control on the device user interface  104 , in conjunction with, e.g., data entry controls, such as buttons, on the device  103  to begin reading digital content  107 , using device content reading application  105 . 
     At step S 007 , to initiate free in-store reading of digital content  107 , the device  103  sends a reading request to get, e.g., the first page of digital content  107 . As the device is connected to the authorized store&#39;s WAP  110 , the request is sent over VPN  111  to the URL address of in-store web services  112 . 
     The in-store web services  112  interfaces with WSI software  117  to access customer content throttling record  114  and to initiate an in-store streaming throttling algorithm  113 , for example, software running on the server  115 . The throttling algorithm  113  is described in more detail below with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 3 . 
     If a customer content throttling record  114  does not yet exist for customer  101  and the digital content  107 , then at step S 008  customer data services  121 , software that is used by the WSI software  117  to maintain and validate customer data, are invoked to create a customer content throttling record  114  in the in-store throttling database  119  to track, e.g., the number of pages accessed per unit time, or other appropriate measure. 
     The in-store web services  112  interfaces with the WSI software  117  to invoke in-store content streaming services  122 . The in-store content streaming services  122  is software running on the server that creates and caches, if necessary, and then streams digital content portions  107   a,  . . .  107   n  to the device  103  based on how the customer  101  consumes digital content  107 . The streaming of digital content portions  107   a,  . . .  107   n,  to the device  103  is throttled faster or slower, as determined by in-store streaming throttling algorithm  113 . 
     If customer  101  requests a digital content portion and the throttling algorithm  113  determines at step S 009  that the request came in too quickly based on the current throttling limits, then in-store web services  112 , at step S 010 , returns a message to the device  103  indicating that the customer  101  must wait before gaining access to the requested content portion and the process proceeds to step S 018 . 
     Another factor evaluated by in-store content streaming services  122  is the time limit that customer  101  is allowed to consume digital content  107  in an already established time period. For example, customer  101  may be limited to consuming digital content  107  to two cumulative hours within a business day. If a request for a digital content portion is determined to have exceeded the time limit that customer  101  is allowed to consume digital content  107 , or some other predetermined daily limit for this content, then in-store web services  112 , at step S 012 , returns a message to device  103  indicating that customer  101  must wait before gaining access to digital content  107  again. Device  103  presents a user message to that effect to the customer  101 , through the device in-store reading interface  106 . 
     In addition, if the customer  101  exceeds an already established maximum time period for consuming an individual digital content portion, then a timer for the time limit of digital content  107  stops. This allows the customer  101  to pause from active usage of digital content  107  without negatively affecting the customer  101 &#39;s time limit for using digital content  107 . For example, this allows customer  101  to pause, engage in a conversation, and then resume consuming the digital content  107 . Because the timer stops during customer  101 &#39;s pause in consuming the digital content  107 , the time expended beyond the established maximum time period during the pause is not counted towards the time limit of digital content  107 . 
     If it is determined at step S 011  that the customer  101  has not exceeded the time limit for consuming digital content  107 , then in-store web services  112 , at step S 013  determines the availability of digital content portion  107   a,  e.g., page, rendered in an in-store reading cache on in-store reading server  115 . If it is determined at step S 013  that a rendered digital content portion  107   a  does not exist in the cache, then at step S 014  the in-store content streaming services  122  renders it into the cache. 
     On the other hand, if it is determined at step S 013  that the rendered digital content portion  107   a  does exist in the cache, then at step S 015  the in-store web services  112  returns the requested digital content portion  107   a  to the device  103  for display. WSI software  117  invokes customer data services  121  to update customer content throttling record  114  in in-store throttling database  119  to indicate that another portion, e.g., another page, has been requested. 
     After the customer  101  finishes consuming digital content portion  107   a,  at step S 016  the customer  101  selects a control, e.g., on the device user interface  104 , or on a control on the device  103  itself, such as a button, to invoke the next desired action in the device content reading application  105 . For example, the customer  101  may select a navigation control to go to a previous page, next page, access a table of contents, or jump to a chapter or section of digital content  107 . Once the customer  101  makes the desired selection, at step S 017  the device  103  transmits this next request over VPN  111  to in-store web services  112 , which receives the page (i.e., portion) request. 
     At step S 018 , processing returns to step S 009  for processing the subsequent portions, e.g., pages, of content. Processing proceeds as before from step S 009  and, upon success, in-store web services  112  returns the requested digital content portion  107   b  to device  103  for display. 
     Processing continues as before for digital content portion  107   c  and so on until the customer  101  finishes the permitted in-store free content, or exceeds the time limit for digital content  107 . As discussed previously, if the customer  101  exceeds the time limit for digital content  107 , a message is returned to the device  103  at step S 010  and a user message is displayed in the device&#39;s in-store reading interface  106 , indicating that customer  101  must wait before gaining access to digital content  107  again. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flow chart representative of an exemplary embodiment of a method  300  of performing the in-store streaming throttling algorithm  113 . At step S 200 , streaming starts for digital content  107 , and, at step S 201 , the throttle rate is set to zero and, at step S 202 , the current threshold rate is set to a base value. The throttle rate may be, for example, one digital content portion (e.g., page) per 10 seconds. The current threshold rate may be, for example, two digital content portions per 10 seconds. Any recalculation of the rates may be set to occur in less than one minute timeframes. 
     When the customer  101 , using the device  103 , requests the next digital content portion (e.g., page) at step S 203 , for example, digital content portion  107   b,  portion  107   b  is delivered and customer content throttling record  114  is updated in in-store throttling database  119 . Upon the device  103  requesting digital content portion  107   c,  it is determined, at step S 204 , if the time since the previous request is less than the throttle rate time. If so, an “error” signal is returned at step S 205  and the flow proceeds to step S 207 , at which the tracking information is saved. If not, then the requested page is returned to the customer at step S 206 . 
     The in-store streaming throttling algorithm  113  then checks, at step S 208 , if it has been 1 minute since the last check. If no, then the flow proceeds to step S 216  and is done. If yes, the throttling algorithm calculates, at step S 209 , the average rate of portion requests for the last minute. If it is determined, at step S 210 , that the calculated rate exceeds the current threshold rate, then the throttle rate is set, at step S 212 , to the current threshold rate and, at step S 213 , the current threshold rate is set to a slower rate. 
     On the other hand, if the calculated rate does not exceed the current threshold rate and also determined, at step S 211 , that the rate is below the previous threshold rate, then the throttle rate is set, at step S 214 , to the previous threshold rate and, at step S 215 , the current threshold rate is set to a faster rate. If the result of step S 211  is no, then processing loops back to step S 209  where the average is calculated again. Throttling calculations stop when customer  101  becomes inactive for the maximum time set for a customer to reasonably consume a digital content portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, rather than throttling the digital content, the system and method of the present invention can limit the user&#39;s access to the free digital content for some fixed total amount of time per day, e.g., two hours. 
     While the above description has been set forth in the context of a system and method for providing digital content to a customer&#39;s wireless eBook reader, the present invention is not limited to being used for this purpose. The system and method may be used to deliver other digital content to other types of wireless devices to deliver, for example, video, text, audio, any combinations thereof, and any other digital downloadable and/or streamable content. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.