Patent Publication Number: US-11653185-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for delivery of application services

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/142,858 filed Jan. 6, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/417,199 filed May 20, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,924,899), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/398,403 filed Jan. 4, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,341,827), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/571,464 filed Aug. 10, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,571,868). The contents of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference into this application as if set forth herein in full. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject disclosure relates generally to a method and apparatus for delivery of application services. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cellular radio communication services have evolved in a relatively brief period from early implementations offering voice only services, to voice with limited data services, such as short messaging service, to ever more robust data networks capable of delivering rich data services (e.g., 3G and long term evolution or LTE). Data services routinely expected by cellular subscribers may now include email, web browsing, and even streaming media services, such as streaming audio and streaming video. Unfortunately, demand for data rich applications seems to outpace technological advances. 
     At least one reason for such demand in a mobile cellular service is that subscribers have become accustomed to data rich services. Subscribers are familiar with Web browsing and their ever-expanding online experiences through their home and office networks. Home wireless networks and Wireless Fidelity (also known as Wi-Fi) hotspots provide subscribers with a sense that such data rich features are easily deliverable to any mobile device. Additionally, as mobile phones tend to become more like mobile computers, the line between phone and computer is blurred. 
     For the time being, mobile cellular radio networks have bandwidth constraints imposed by their very nature as radio networks. Namely, there are a limited number of frequencies available within a given geographic region to be shared by multiple cellular service providers and other wireless applications. Cellular services can be subject to more stringent regulatory constraints (e.g., wireless operational requirements imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)) than Wi-Fi services, which operate at much lower power levels. Accordingly, despite advances in processing power, storage capacity, and network availability, the constraints of limited over-the-air capacity of mobile cellular radio communications remain as a gating factor in delivery of rich data services. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIGS.  1 - 2    depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide media services; 
         FIG.  3    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal for interacting with the communication systems of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ; 
         FIG.  4    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ; 
         FIG.  5    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system that performs location-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services; 
         FIG.  6    depicts an illustrative embodiment of another system that performs location-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services; 
         FIG.  7    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process operating in portions of the systems described in  FIGS.  1 - 6   ; 
         FIG.  8    depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a process operating in portions of the systems described in  FIGS.  1 - 6   ; and 
         FIG.  9    is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments of devices, systems and processes that may include, for example, receiving from a mobile device, by way of a cellular network, a request for delivery of high-bandwidth application service. A location of the mobile device can be obtained and used to determine availability of any nearby wireless packet-network services. If it is determined that a wireless packet-network service is available, the mobile device can be directed to initiate a network connection between the mobile device and the wireless packet-network service. The request for delivery of high-bandwidth services can then be forwarded to an application server that delivers the requested services by way of the wireless packet-network service. Other embodiments are disclosed. 
     One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a device having a memory storing computer instructions and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to execute the computer instructions, to perform operations including receiving from a mobile device, by way of a cellular network, a first request for delivery of a streaming video application service. The processor is also operable to determine a location of the mobile device and to determine availability of a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile device. The processor is operable to direct the mobile device to initiate a network connection between the mobile device and the wireless packet-network service in response to a determination that the wireless packet-network service is available at the location of the mobile device. The processor is also operable to forward, to an application server, a second request for delivery of the streaming video application service to the mobile device by way of the wireless packet-network service. 
     Another embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a computer-readable storage medium that includes computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving from a mobile device, by way of a cellular network, a first request for delivery of a high-bandwidth application service. The processor can determine a location of the mobile device and can determine availability of a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile device. The processor can further provide instructions to the mobile device to cause the mobile device to initiate a network connection between the mobile device and the wireless packet-network service. The processor can also forward to an application server a second request for delivery of the high-bandwidth application service to the mobile device by way of the wireless packet-network service. 
     Yet another embodiment of the subject disclosure is a process which includes receiving, by a system having a processor, from a mobile device a first request for delivery of high-bandwidth application service. A location of the mobile device is determined by the system. Availability of a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile device is also determined by the system. A network connection of the mobile device to the wireless packet-network service can be based on information provided by the system to the mobile device. A request can be forwarded to an application server for delivery of the high-bandwidth application service to the mobile device by way of the wireless packet-network service. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first system  100  for delivering media content. The system  100  allows for receiving requests from mobile devices over a cellular network for delivery of data services, such as a streaming video application service including Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or Video-on-Demand (VoD). As will be described in more detail below, the system  100  further allows for a determination of a physical location of mobile devices making requests, as well as the availability of wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile devices. In response to these requests, the system  100  allows or otherwise instructs the mobile devices to initiate or engage in a network connection with the wireless packet-network service. The system  100  further allows for modification of the requests for delivery of the requested data services, such that delivery of the requested services to the mobile devices can be made by way of the wireless packet-network service, rather than the cellular network. 
     The system  100  can represent an IPTV media system. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)  110  with at least one super head-end office server (SHS)  111  which receives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media content can represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server  111  can forward packets associated with the media content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS)  114  via a network of video head-end offices (VHO)  112  according to a multicast communication protocol. 
     The VHS  114  can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an access network  118  to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The access network  118  can represent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links or copper twisted pairs  119  to buildings  102 . The gateway  104  can use communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels to media devices  108  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (such as an infrared or RF remote controller). 
     The gateway  104 , the media processors  106 , and media devices  108  can utilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, power line or phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other local or personal area wireless network technologies. By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invoked between the media processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as VoD, browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), and/or other infrastructure services. 
     A satellite broadcast television system  129  can be used in the media system of  FIG.  1   . The satellite broadcast television system can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as another representative embodiment of the system  100 . In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  that include media content can be received by a satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to the building  102 . Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver  131  can be transferred to the media processors  106  for demodulating, decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices  108 . The media processors  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to enable interactive services such as VoD and EPG as described above. 
     In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system  133  can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satellite TV system as another representative embodiment of the system  100 . In this embodiment, the cable TV system  133  can also provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services. 
     The exemplary embodiments can utilize or otherwise include other over-the-air and/or landline media content service systems. 
     Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130 , a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing web portal services over the ISP network  132  to wireline media devices  108  and/or wireless communication devices  116 . 
     The system  100  can also provide for all or a portion of the computing devices  130  to function as a controller (herein referred to as controller  130 ). The controller  130  can use computing and communication technology to perform a function of controlling offloading of delivery of data services over a cellular network, for example through the wireless base station  117 . As an example, wireless base station  117  can be utilized for delivery of high-traffic or high-bandwidth services to remote devices  116 . One or more of the wireless base station  117  and wireless communication devices  116  can be provisioned with software functions  164  and  166 , respectively, to utilize the services of the controller  130 , which in turn can be modified by software functions  162  to enable selectively offloading delivery of high-traffic services via one or more wireless access points providing wireless packet-network services. 
     In at least some embodiments, the software functions  164  and  166  allow for delivery of data services originally requested over a cellular network, through a wireless packet-network service. By way of example, one of the remote devices  116  requests delivery of streaming video services through the cellular network, by way of the base station  117 . The base station  117  can include or is otherwise in communication with a controller  180 . The controller  180 , for example, can include a radio access terminal controller provided by the cellular service provider. The controller  180  can be configured to recognize requests for particular services, such as VoD, and implement special processing of such requests. In the illustrative example, the controller  180 , receives a request from a remote device  116  through a cellular network for delivery of streaming video application services to the remote device  116 . In at least some embodiments, the request need not provide any indication to suggest that delivery of the requested services would be other than by the cellular network through which the request was made. In response to receiving or otherwise identifying the request, the controller  180  first determines a location of the remote device  116  and then whether the remote device  116  is within range of a wireless packet-network service. Having located a wireless packet-network service within range of the remote device  116 , the controller  180  can selectively attempt to re-direct delivery of the requested data service through the wireless packet-network service. Such redirection serves to alleviate the excess burden of delivering streaming video from the cellular network. 
     By way of example, the controller  180  compares the location of the remote device  116  with a predetermined list of wireless access points at predetermined locations (such wireless access points can be registered, certified, or otherwise identified or under the control of the cellular service provider). The controller  180  can compare the location of the remote device  116  with locations of one or more wireless access points. The controller can conclude an availability of service, for example, when a distance between the remote device  116  and the particular wireless access point  181  is within a wireless range of the wireless access point  181 . Upon such a determination, the controller  180  can direct one or more of the remote device  116  and the wireless access point  181  to initiate a communication connection. Thus, the remote device  116  can establish wireless access to the packet-network service, without having to undertake one or more of the usual discovery processes to locate wireless access points within range and to establish authorization. The controller  180  can then forward a new or otherwise modified request, for example, to an application server, such as the video server  130 , for delivery of the requested streaming video service to the remote device  116  by way of the wireless packet-network service. The second or otherwise modified request can provide the video server  130  with a determinable address of the remote device  116 , then connected to the wireless access point  181 , such as an Internet address. In at least some embodiments, this can be accomplished at the time of initiation of the services, or at a later time, during delivery initially occurring over the wide area network. The controller can be configured to ensure that state information is maintained during the transfer so as to avoid any disruption to services already being delivered during transfer from one network to the other. 
     Thus, a remote device  116  is allowed to request services through a wide area network, such as a cellular radio network, while receiving delivery of those services through a wireless local area network, such as an 802.11 compliant wireless network. Beneficially, the wide area network can offload data services to conserver bandwidth while imposing little or no restriction or limitation on the remote device  116  for implementing this capability. 
     In response to receiving the request for services, elements of, or in coordination with, the wide area network (e.g., a cellular base station controller) can identify a suitable wireless access point to the local area network based on a location of the remote device. The controller can then proceed to initiate or otherwise coordinate establishment of wireless connectivity between the remote device  116  and the wireless access point to the local area network. This would otherwise be accomplished through a wireless access point discovery and authorization process initiated by the remote device. Delivery of the requested services ultimately occurs through the established connection to the wireless local area network, freeing relatively scarce bandwidth of the wide area network, while delivering potentially bandwidth intensive services, such as streaming media. 
     In some embodiments, delivery of requested streaming video service can be accomplished by computing devices  130 , acting as a video server that communicates with the remote device  116  through another network, such as the Internet  182 . In the illustrative example, the wireless access point  181  is in networked communication with the Internet  182  through a dedicated networked connection, or backhaul link  183 . Examples of such backhaul links include one or more of a cable carrier, an ISP network, a dial-up network, a satellite network, and the like. The controller  180  can, in some embodiments, be in networked communication with the wireless access point  181 , for example, through one or more of the Internet  182 , or other available network, such as a private cellular carrier. In at least some embodiments, the wireless packet-network service can be provided to the remote device  116  through the gateway  104  (e.g., if a location of the mobile device  116  is within wireless range of the gateway  104 ). 
     Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices over landline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, media services can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless access base station  117  operating according to common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other types of wide area wireless access network technologies can be utilized with the exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG.  2    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  200  employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switched systems. The system  200  allows for receiving requests from a mobile device over a cellular network for delivery of a data service, such as a streaming video application service, such as IPTV or VOD. As will be described in more detail below, the system  200  further allows for a determination that the mobile device is within range of a wireless packet-network service, and the system can modify the request to allow for delivery of the requested service over the wireless packet-network service, rather than over the cellular network. Modification can include among other features, changing a delivery address from a cellular network address (e.g., mobile phone number) to a wireless packet-network service address (e.g., a packet network or Internet address). Thus, an original request can be intercepted and modified, or otherwise replaced by another request that is sent or passed along to the appropriate application server. The application server, in turn, delivers the requested service according to the new or modified delivery address. The communication system  200  can be overlaid or operably coupled with the system  100  as another representative embodiment of the system  100 . 
     Communication system  200  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  240 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  230 , and other network elements of an IMS network  250 . The IMS network  250  can establish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs)  201 ,  202 , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs  203 ,  205 , and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  220  coupled to a PSTN network  260 . The MGCF  220  need not be used when a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. A communication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize the MGCF  220 . 
     IMS CDs  201 ,  202  can register with the IMS network  250  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS  240 . To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  201  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  204  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  206 . The originating S-CSCF  206  can submit the SIP INVITE message to one or more application servers (ASs)  217  that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. 
     For example, the application servers  217  can be used to perform originating call feature treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF  206  in the SIP INVITE message. Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, call ID blocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initial filter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call originating feature services. 
     Additionally, the originating S-CSCF  206  can submit queries to the ENUM system  230  to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITE message to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminating communication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  207  to submit a query to the HSS  240  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  214  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  202 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  207  can submit the SIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF  214 . The terminating S-CSCF  214  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  216  associated with the terminating CD  202 . The P-CSCF  216  may then signal the CD  202  to establish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services, thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call terminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb, music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc. 
     In some instances the aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG.  2    may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system  200  can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition, communication system  200  can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs  201 ,  202  with the multimedia and Internet services of the system  100  of  FIG.  1   . 
     If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD  203  or CD  205  (in instances where the cellular phone only supports circuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system  230  can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF  206  to forward the call to the MGCF  220  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  219 . The MGCF  220  can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network  260  to enable the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. 
     It is further appreciated that the CDs of  FIG.  2    can operate as wireline and/or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of  FIG.  2    can be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station  221 , a femtocell, a WiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) base unit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMS network  250  of  FIG.  2   . The cellular access base station  221  can operate according to common wireless access protocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can be applied to the subject disclosure. Accordingly, multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used by the CDs of  FIG.  2   . 
     Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communications and thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular base station  221  may communicate directly with the IMS network  250  as shown by the arrow connecting the cellular base station  221  and the P-CSCF  216 . 
     It is further understood that alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, other functions, servers and computers described herein, including but not limited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can be embodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective function, server, or computer. 
     The controller  130  of  FIG.  1    can be operably coupled to the second communication system  200  for purposes similar to those described above. The server/controller  130  can perform function  162  and thereby facilitate enhanced bandwidth management of the wireless network  117 , by selectively offloading delivery of high-traffic services to the CDs  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  205  of  FIG.  2   . CDs  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  205 , can be adapted with software to perform function  176  to utilize the services of the controller  130 . It is further contemplated that the controller  130  can be an integral part of the application server(s)  217  performing function  172  or the cellular base station performing function  174 , each of which can be substantially similar to function  162  and adapted to the operations of the IMS network  250 . 
     By way of example, the cellular base station function  174  can be configured to receive a request for high-traffic data services, such as streaming video application services, and to undertake actions to offload delivery of such services from the cellular network to another network, such as a wireless packet-network service. In the illustrative example, a mobile device, such as a cell phone  205 , requests delivery of streaming video services through the cellular network. For example, the cellular base station function  174  detects the request and determines a location of the mobile device  205 , described in more detail below. The cellular base station function  174  then determines availability of a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile device  205 , for example, from a lookup table or other suitable database of available wireless access points. Once the availability of wireless packet-network services has been established, the cellular base station function  174  can direct the mobile device  205  to initiate a network connection with a corresponding wireless access point  281 . The cellular base station function  174  can then forward a request for the controller  130  to direct delivery of the requested streaming video application services through the established wireless packet-network service. In some embodiments, the wireless access point  281  can be in networked communication with the Internet  282  through a dedicated networked connection, or backhaul link  283  and/or through a private cellular carrier. Thus, the cellular network can redirect delivery of requested data services to another network, to offload or otherwise maintain available bandwidth for other wireless users. Additionally, implementation of such transfers from one network to another can be accomplished by a network controller, with little or no special modification required by the mobile device  205 . Further, energy savings can be realized on the mobile device by alleviating the mobile device from the burden of having to undertake discovery of wireless local area networks, and the need to identify preferred wireless local area networks from others. Such a process might otherwise be cumbersome by repeated attempts to identify or otherwise connect to a suitable wireless access point from among a number of wireless access points that might happen to be within a range. 
       FIG.  3    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal  302  which can be hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices  130  of the system  100  illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The portal system  300  allows for interaction with communication systems, such as those systems  100 .  200  illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . Such controlled interaction can include receiving requests from a mobile device over a cellular network for delivery of a data service (e.g., a streaming video application service, such as IPTV or VOD). As described herein, the systems  100 ,  200  allow for a determination that the mobile device is within range of a wireless packet-network service, and allow for modifying the request to enable delivery of the requested service over the wireless packet-network service, rather than the cellular network. The portal  302  can be used, for example, to control parameters related to implementation of such features. Such parameters can include user preferences, such as restrictions on offloading, registration of wireless access points, preferences for determining a location of the mobile device, and the like. 
     The web portal  302  can be used for managing services of the systems  100 - 200 . A web page of the web portal  302  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft&#39;s Internet Explorer™, Mozilla&#39;s Firefox™, Apple&#39;s Safari™, or Google&#39;s Chrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as those described in  FIGS.  1 - 2   . The web portal  302  can be configured, for example, to access a media processor  106  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the media processor  106 . The web portal  302  can also be used for provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on. 
     The web portal  302  can further be utilized to manage and provision software applications  162 - 166 , and  172 - 176  to adapt these applications as may be desired by subscribers and service providers of the systems  100 - 200 . For example, the web portal  302  can be used to enter preferences for data service offloading, identification of predetermined locations, predetermined Wi-Fi hotspots, and the like. 
       FIG.  4    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device  400 . Communication device  400  can serve in whole or in part as an illustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in  FIGS.  1 - 2   . The communication device  400  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  402  (herein transceiver  402 ), a user interface (UI)  404 , a power supply  414 , a location receiver  416 , a motion sensor  418 , an orientation sensor  420 , and a controller  406  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  402  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other wireless communication technologies. The transceiver  402  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. In at least some embodiments the transceiver  402  alone or in combination with another transceiver (not shown) provides communication services over more than one different network. For example, the transceiver  402  can be configured to communicate over a cellular network, for example, through a cellular antenna  485 . Alternatively or in addition, the transceiver  402  can be configured to communication with a wireless packet network service, for example, through a Wi-Fi antenna  486 . Although separate antennas  485 ,  486  are illustrated in the example embodiment, it is understood that other antenna configurations are possible, such as a single antenna configured to support communication over both the cellular and Wi-Fi network services. 
     The UI  404  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  408  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  400 . The keypad  408  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  400  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad  408  can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  404  can further include a display  410  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  400 . In an embodiment where the display  410  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  408  can be presented by way of the display  410  with navigation features. 
     The display  410  can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input (e.g., touch of a user&#39;s finger). As a touch screen display, the communication device  400  can be adapted to present a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display  410  can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user&#39;s finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used control the manipulation of the GUI elements. 
     The UI  404  can also include an audio system  412  that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  412  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  412  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  404  can further include an image sensor  413  such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  414  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  400  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port. The location receiver  416  can utilize common location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device  400  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, thereby facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor  418  can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing to detect motion of the communication device  400  in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor  420  can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device  400  (North, South, West, East, combined orientations thereof in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics). 
     The communication device  400  can use the transceiver  402  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF). The controller  406  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. 
     Other components not shown in  FIG.  4    can be used. For instance, the communication device  400  can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button can be used to reset the controller  406  of the communication device  400 . In yet another embodiment, the communication device  400  can also include a factory default setting button positioned below a small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device  400  to force the communication device  400  to re-establish factory settings. In this embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button. 
     The communication device  400  as described herein can operate with more or less components described in  FIG.  4   . 
     The communication device  400  can be adapted to perform the functions of the media processor  106 , the media devices  108 , or the portable communication devices  116  of  FIG.  1   , as well as the IMS CDs  201 - 202  and PSTN CDs  203 - 205  of  FIG.  2   . It will be appreciated that the communication device  400  can also represent other devices that can operate in the systems  100 - 200  of  FIGS.  1 - 2    such as a gaming console and a media player. 
     The communication device  400  shown in  FIG.  4    or portions thereof can serve as a representation of one or more of the devices of the systems  100 - 200 . The controller  406  can also be adapted in various embodiments to perform one or more of the functions  162 - 166  and  172 - 176 , respectively. 
       FIG.  5    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system  500  that performs location-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services. The system  500  includes a cellular network  502  that includes one or more cells  504   a,    504   b,    504   c  (generally  504 ). Each cell includes a respective antenna  506   a,    506   b,    506   c  (generally  506 ) providing radio coverage in a respective territorial area  504 . Each antenna  506  of the cellular network  502  is coupled to at least one controller  508 . In the illustrative example, a single controller  508  is coupled to multiple antennas  506  through a mobile carrier backhaul network  518 . The mobile carrier backhaul network  518  can include one or more suitable communication technologies, such as broadband cable, optical fiber (e.g., synchronous optical network (SONET)), wireless (e.g., satellite, terrestrial radio, microwave, free-space optical), digital subscriber line (DSL), integrated services digital network (ISDN), and the like. It is understood that in some embodiments, at least some of the antennas include a local controller  508  (not shown). 
     The cellular network  502  is in communication with a video application server  510 , for example, through a packet network  512 , as shown. The packet network  512  can include one or more of a local area network, a metropolitan network, and a wide area network. The packet network  512  can also support transmission control protocol/Internet protocol network, as in the Internet. The video application server provides high-bandwidth services, such as streaming video. In the illustrative example, the video application server  510  is in communication with at least one video content repository  514 . The video content repository  514  can include mass storage capable of storing a catalog of video program content. 
     In at least some embodiments, the video application server  510  is configured to deliver one or more selected video programs in a streaming video format in response to a request from a requesting device. For example, a mobile device  516 , such as a smart phone, submits a request for streaming video services to the video application server  510  through the cellular network  501 . In more detail, the mobile device  516  communicates wirelessly with an antenna  506   b  of a cell  504   b . Such wireless cellular communications can include any suitable wireless technology, such as: universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN); evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRA), otherwise known as long term evolution (LTE); global system for mobile communications (GSM); general packet radio service (GPRS); code division multiple access (CDMA); evolution-data optimized (EV-DO); enhanced data rates for global system for mobile communications evolution (EDGE); universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS); digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT); digital advanced mobile phone system (D-AMPS); integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN), and combinations thereof. 
     The mobile device  516  submits a request for streaming video service, for example from a mobile application or “App,” resident on the mobile device  516 . In some embodiments, the request is received wirelessly at the antenna  506   b  and forwarded to the controller  508  over the mobile carrier backhaul network  518 . The request for streaming video service can include a video program. The controller  508 , in turn, forwards the request to the video application server  510 . In the illustrative embodiment and without limitation, the request is forwarded over a different network, such as the packet network  512 , which can operate as part of the Internet, or a private network. The video application server  510  interprets the request, obtains the requested video program from the video content repository  514  and establishes streaming video service with the mobile device  516 , providing the requested video program through the cellular network  502 , such as 3G and 4G LTE enabled networks. 
     Such streaming video services represent high-bandwidth services, which can place a substantial demand on generally limited bandwidth resources of the cellular network  502 . The present disclosure includes techniques for offloading at least some high-bandwidth services to mobile devices  516  of subscribers by redirecting such services initially requested through the cellular network  502  to a separate network. An example of one such network suitable for offloading is wireless packet-network service. Without limitation, one such class of wireless network service is described by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/g/n) from the cellular network  502 . The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as any wireless local area network product that is based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG.  5    are Wi-Fi “hot spots”  520   a,    520   b,    520   c  (generally  520 ). Each Wi-Fi hotspot has a respective coverage area shown as the dashed circle drawn about a respective wireless access point (WAP)  522   a,    522   b,    522   c  (generally  522 ). Each wireless access point  522  is in communication with a computer network, such as the Internet  512  through a respective Wi-Fi backhaul network  524   a . The Wi-Fi backhaul network  524   a  can include any suitable communications technology, such as the technologies and services disclosed above in relation to the mobile carrier backhaul network  518 . Whereas a cell  504  might include several city blocks, servicing a potentially larger number of subscribers, Wi-Fi hotspots  520  can be substantially smaller, perhaps 100-200 feet, servicing far fewer clients. As such, requests for high-bandwidth services through Wi-Fi hotspots  520  can be used to service requests for high-bandwidth services, such as streaming video, including VoD. 
     As shown in the illustrative example, one or more of the hotspots  520  reside within one or more cells  504  of the cellular network  502 . Thus, there will be situations in which a cellular network subscriber, represented here by the mobile device  516 , happens to be within one or more Wi-Fi hotspots  520 . In the illustrative example, the mobile device  516  is served by a cell  504   b,  while also residing within coverage of a hotspot  520   a.  By identifying such situations and according to the techniques disclosed herein, a cellular network provider can receive a request for high-bandwidth service over the cellular network  502 , and facilitate service of the request through the Internet by way of the Wi-Fi hotspot  520   a.    
     In at least one implementation, the controller  508  receiving a request from the mobile device  516 , can identify the mobile device  516  from its association with the cellular network  502 . The controller  508  can be configured to obtain a location of the mobile device  516 , for example by requesting a self-identified location as may be available by a global positioning system (GPS) service of the mobile device  516 . Other self-identified locations might include an address, or other feature identifying location, such as a particular retail store in a given city, state, and/or zip code. Such identifying features might be provided by a user of the mobile device  516  along with a request for streaming video service, or in response to a network query for such location information prompted by such a request. Alternatively or in addition, the location of the mobile device  516  can be determined by external means. At least one example of such external means includes localization by multilateration (e.g., triangulation) of radio signals received from the mobile device  516  by several radio antennas  506  of the cellular network  502 . 
     Once an approximate location of the mobile device  516  has been established and identified at the controller  508 , the controller can consult a predetermined listing of hotspots  520  to determine whether the location of the mobile device  516  is within a coverage area of one or more of the hotspots. By way of example, such a predetermined listing of hotspots  530  can be stored on a storage device  532 . The listing can be in the form of a database, a table, or any suitable format to facilitate search and retrieval of hotspot information. The listing of hotspots  530  might include a geographic location of a hotspot  520 , such as a GPS position (e.g., latitude, longitude) and/or an address. Alternatively or in addition, the listing of hotspots  530  also includes an indication of the associated coverage area or range of each of the listed hotspots  520 . Such an indication of coverage might include a radius in feet or meters, which can be used in combination with the listed location of the wireless access point  522  of the hotspot  520  to determine an approximate circumference defining a respective coverage area  520 . The controller  508  can be configured through mathematical calculations generally used in geo-location and navigation to determine whether the mobile device  516  requesting service falls within coverage area (e.g., a circumference) of one or more of the listed hotspots  520 . 
     In some embodiments, movement of the mobile device  516  can be taken into consideration. For example, a trajectory of a moving mobile device  516  can be calculated by the controller  508 . Such a trajectory can be calculated based on successive positional updates and a measure of time between such updates. A velocity can be determined from such positional updates so as to provide a direction and a velocity. Such a trajectory can be used, for example, by the controller  508  to determine whether a mobile device  516  not yet within coverage of a hotspot is heading towards a hotspot, or whether a mobile device  516  already within a hotspot may be moving out of a coverage of the hotspot. Such advanced indications of a future position of the mobile device  516  as can be determined according to a trajectory, can be used by the system to pre-coordinate transitions between a cellular network and one or more WiFi hotspots  520 . 
     Once at least one candidate hotspot  520  within range of the mobile device  516  has been identified, the controller  508  can initiate or otherwise facilitate establishment of a network connection between the mobile device  516  and the wireless access point  522  of the hotspot  520 , such as providing information to the mobile device to cause the mobile device to initiate the network connection. For example, the mobile device  516  can be preconfigured with one or more applications that allow such remote manipulation of Wi-Fi network connections by the cellular service provider. Once the mobile device  516  has connected to the Internet through the Wi-Fi network of the hotspot  520 , the controller  508  can direct or otherwise request that the original request of the mobile device  516  be serviced through the packet-network services available through the Wi-Fi hotspot  520 , and not through the cellular network  502 . The video application server  510  can then proceed to deliver the requested high-bandwidth service, such as streaming video, through the packet-network. 
     In at least some embodiments, the controller  508  can facilitate such packet-network delivery by modifying the original request to provide the video application server  510  with an internet address of the requesting mobile device  516  obtained through the packet network. Once again, an application provided on the mobile device  516  can be configured to obtain the Wi-Fi internet address, once established, providing it to the controller  508  of the cellular network service provider, such that the controller  508  can forward it to the video application server  510  by way of the modified request. 
     In at least some embodiments, the controller  508  can be notified of a loss of Wi-Fi service to the mobile device  516  engaging in the delivery of such high-bandwidth services. For example, the mobile device  516  can provide an indication through the cellular network  502  that the Wi-Fi connection has been lost or compromised. Alternatively or in addition, the video application server  510 , can be configured to detect or otherwise conclude a loss or compromise of the delivery of the high-bandwidth services, providing a suitable notification to the controller  508 . For example, the video application server  510  can maintain an IP address of the controller  508  associated with the request being serviced, such that a notification of loss of service can be provided to the same controller  508 . The controller  508 , in turn, can attempt to re-establish deliver of the originally requested high-bandwidth services by re-establishing a Wi-Fi connection, repeating one or more of the actions disclosed above. Alternatively, or after unsuccessfully making one or more such attempts to reconnect through Wi-Fi, the controller  508  can be configured to establish delivery of the originally requested high-bandwidth services through the cellular network  502 . 
     In at least some embodiments, the controller  508  can be configured to selectively deliver such high-bandwidth services through the cellular network  502  or the packet network  512 , according to one or more of business rules and various conditions. Examples of some conditions that could be relevant include actual usage (e.g., number of active subscribers, bandwidth usage), time of day (e.g., busy hour), geographic locations (e.g., urban, rural), class of service (e.g., a premium service might be more likely to deliver services through cellular network  502 ). Business rules can be established to manage offloading of high-bandwidth services according to one or more of such conditions. 
       FIG.  6    depicts another embodiment of a system  600  that performs location-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services. At least one feature of the illustrative system  600  that can differ from the previous embodiment of  FIG.  5   , is connection of a video server  610  directly to the cellular network  602 , for example, through the radio access network backhaul network  618  of the cellular network  602 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, a mobile device  616  is in radio communication with a cell tower or antenna  606  of the cellular network  602 . The antenna  606  is coupled to a base station transceiver that terminates one side of the wireless, or air-interface with the mobile device  616 . The air-interface can be established or otherwise defined according to a suitable wireless protocol, such as any of the wireless services referred to herein. The base station transceiver is coupled to a controller  608 , shown here collocated with the base station transceiver in the base station  609 , although it is understood that the controller  608  can be located remotely from the base station  609 , for example, accessible through the radio access backhaul network  618 . Accordingly, one such controller can be configured to serve one or more base stations  609 . 
     As in the previous example, the mobile device  616  initiates a request for a high-bandwidth service, such as a streaming video service as might be available through a mobile device application (e.g., a Netflix® application for Android® phones). The request is wirelessly transmitted from the mobile device  616  to the cell tower  606  and received at the base station transceiver  607 . The request for service is then forwarded to the controller  608 , which may interpret that the request is for streaming video service. Accordingly, the controller  608  can forward the request to the video server  610  through the radio access network backhaul network  618 . The video server  610 , in turn, services the request by obtaining a requested video program from a video catalog of programs as might be available on a video content repository  614 , as shown. In at least some instances, the requested program is streamed from the video server  610  to the mobile device  616 , through the cellular network  602 . 
     For reasons similar to those discussed above, it may be advantageous in at least some situations to offload delivery of such high-bandwidth services to a network separate from the cellular network. As described above, one such class of networks is referred to generally as packet network  612 , which can include any suitable computer network able to deliver streaming video services. Once again, the mobile device  616  can access the packet network  612  through a wireless access point  622 , as shown, when the mobile device is within a coverage area of a Wi-Fi hotspot of the wireless access point. A distance, d, is illustrated indicating a separation distance between the mobile device and an identifiable wireless access network  622 . In this instance, the location of the mobile device can be obtained by at least one of the controller and the video server  610 . A predetermined list  630  of Wi-Fi hotspots can be consulted by at least one of the controller  608  and the video server  610  to identify one or more candidate Wi-Fi hotspots available to the requesting mobile device  616 . Once a suitable Wi-Fi hotspot has been determined, for example according to techniques similar to those disclosed in the previous example, at least one of the controller  608  and the video server  610  can initiate connection of the mobile device to the identified wireless access point  622 . Such coordination of this connection can be initiated by way of the cellular network  602  using, for example, techniques disclosed herein or otherwise generally known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG.  7    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process operating in portions of the systems and devices described in  FIGS.  1 - 6   . The process  700  can begin with step  705 , in which a request for high-bandwidth application service is received from a mobile device, as used herein, a mobile device, such as the mobile device  516  ( FIG.  5   ) and the mobile device  616  ( FIG.  6   ), includes any device capable of undertaking at least wireless data communications. Such devices include, without limitation, mobile phones, tablets computers, personal data assistants, laptop computers, net book computers, multi-media displays, game controllers, and more generally any wireless network accessible device. High-bandwidth application service can be any application providing data and/or voice services, such as streaming media, including streaming video, streaming audio, data transfers (e.g., file transfer protocol), and the like. 
     The process  700  can continue with step  710 , in which a location of the mobile device  516 ,  616  associated with the aforementioned request for high-bandwidth application service, is determined. As discussed herein, the location can be determined from the mobile device itself, as in a GPS location determined by a GPS feature of the mobile device  516 ,  616 , or by a user entered location, such as an address, or retail outlet, or any suitable indication of location. Such determination of location can also be determined from presence information that might be maintained on the mobile device  516 ,  616  and/or on a local and/or remote application tracking such presence status. Alternatively or in addition, the location can be determined externally, for example, by radio-location techniques using signals received from the mobile device  516 ,  616 . Such signals when received at more than one cell tower  506 ,  606  can be used in combination with a measured signal strength to estimate a location of the mobile device  516 ,  616 , for example by triangulation techniques. 
     Having determined or otherwise estimated a location of the mobile device  516 ,  616 , the process  700  can continue with step  715 , in which it is determined whether a wireless access point is available. Such wireless access points can include the Wi-Fi hotspot access points  522 ,  622  disclosed herein. As described above, a listing of available wireless access points  522 ,  622  can be pre-established, for example, as a result of a registration process, a discovery process, or a lookup on a suitable database listing of wireless access points. A location of each listed wireless access point is obtained, in at least some instances, with a measure of coverage, such as a range. When no such range is available, a range can be estimated or otherwise established, for example, from prior experience with the same wireless access point. In this sense, the predetermined listing of wireless access points  530 ,  630  can be periodically updated to account for observed or otherwise stated changes or modifications to coverage of the listed wireless access points  520 ,  630 . 
     In at least some embodiments, additional measures, such as reliability, availability, and/or quality of service are also included in the predetermined listing  530 ,  630 . Such measures can be helpful in instances when a mobile device  516 ,  616  is within coverage area of more than one Wi-Fi hotspot. An algorithm can be implemented in one or more of the controller  508 ,  608  and the video server  510 ,  610  to choose from among the more than one available wireless access points. For example, a wireless access point having a greater reliability, availability and/or quality of services can be selected over one or more others. 
     If no such wireless access point is available, the process  700  can continue to monitor or otherwise determine a location of the mobile device at step  710 , subsequently determining whether a wireless access point is available at step  715 . For example, a location of a mobile device that is moving will change and potentially enter and exit coverage areas of wireless hotspots. 
     Once a wireless access point has been identified at step  715 , the process can continue with step  720 , in which a network connection between the mobile device  516 ,  616  and the identified or otherwise selected wireless access point  522 ,  622  is initiated. Such initiation can be directed by one or more of the controller  508 ,  608  and the video server  510 ,  610 . Such connectivity can be confirmed, for example, by a message from the mobile device  516 ,  616 , received by one or more of the controller  508 ,  608  and the video server  510 ,  610  over the packet network  512 ,  612 . Alternatively or in addition, such connectivity can be established according to a “ping” of the mobile device  516 ,  616  by one or more of the controller  508 ,  608  and the video server  510 ,  610  , over the packet network. In one embodiment, instructions or other information can be provided to the mobile device  516 ,  616 , such as from the controller  508 ,  608 , which requests, instructs or otherwise causes and/or enables the mobile device to connect with one or more wireless access points  516 ,  616 . 
     After having initiated network connection at step  720 , the process  700  can continue with step  725 , in which a request to deliver high-bandwidth service, such as streaming video, is forwarded to the video server  510 ,  610 . The video server  510 ,  610 , in turn, proceeds to deliver the requested service using the packet network  512 ,  612 . 
       FIG.  8    depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a process operating in portions of the systems described in  FIGS.  1 - 6   . The vertical dashed lines represent certain components of the system  500 ,  600 . Namely the “UE” refers to user equipment and can refer to the mobile device  516 ,  616 . The “eNB” can refer to equipment at the cell site  504  terminating the wireless, or “air interface,” such as the E-UTRAN Node B, also known as Evolved Node B, of the E-UTRA or LTE wireless systems. The “RAT Controller” refers to a radio access terminal controller, such as the controllers  508 ,  608  disclosed above, and the WiFi hotspot can refer to the Wi-Fi hotspots  522 ,  622  also disclosed above. 
     The uppermost horizontal arrow from UE to eNB represents an initial step (i.e., Step 1), in which the mobile device  516 ,  616  initiates a service request for traffic-intensive services to the eNB. In a second step (i.e., Step 2), represented by the uppermost arrow between the eNB and the RAT Controller, the eNB forwards the request to the “core network,” referring to the mobile service providers network, through the RAT Controller. In a third step (i.e., Step 3), the RAT Controller performs a separate location query process, which may or may not involve the UE, to determine a physical location of the UE and to determine whether the determined physical location is covered by a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, for example, by the same service provider. If this is not true, the RAT Controller passes the service request to the Mobility Management Entity (e.g., the key control-node for an LTE access network) to perform traditional call processing. 
     In another embodiment, if a determination that the determined physical location of the UE is covered by a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, the RAT Controller (controller  508 ,  608 ) passes the radio access information to the nearby WiFi hotspot ( 520 ,  620 ) to the UE (mobile device  516 ,  616 ) through the eNB (base station  609 ) in a fourth step (i.e., step 4). In a fifth step (i.e., Step 5), the UE uses received radio access information from the RAT Controller to connect itself to the Wi-Fi hotspot. The transmission of radio access information can be helpful in facilitating or otherwise reducing setup time associated with wireless packet-network connectivity between the UE and the Wi-Fi. In a sixth step (i.e., Step 6), the Wi-Fi hotspot uses its own backhaul (e.g., backhaul  524   a ) to provide the UE&#39;s requested traffic intensive services. 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, the various processes disclosed herein can be implemented by a single entity, such as a controller  508 ,  608 , or an application and/or video server  510 ,  610 , or apportioned among more than one of such entities, or additional entities as may be network accessible, such as other servers and/or controllers. 
     In some embodiments the hotspots are provided by the cellular network service provider. In other embodiments, at least some of the available hotspots are provided by others, such as retailers, businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and personal home hotspots. Although not necessary, information relating to at least some of the hotspots provided by others can be pre-announced to or otherwise discoverable by the cellular network service provider. For example, such announcement can be included under a certification process whereby certain information related to the hotspot is provided to the service provider. Such information can include one or more of a location, a range or coverage area, a name, a network address, such as an Internet protocol address, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the network service provider coordinates a network test to determine whether network connectivity, once established, between the mobile device and the hotspot will be sufficient to support the requested service. Such network tests can include one or more of received signal strength, bit error rate, Eb/No, or any suitable measure of a quality of service (QOS) and the like. Automatic transfer of a requested service between a cellular network and a hotspot can be made contingent upon results obtained from such network tests. 
     In at least some instances, a hotspot host, such as a retail store, wirelessly provides an identification message, for example, through one or more of Bluetooth, WiFi, or radio frequency identification (RFID) to mobile devices as the user walks in or otherwise comes within wireless range of the hotspot. In at least some embodiments, information provided by the hotpot host also identifies the availability of Internet access via WiFi and whether this service is available to the public (e.g., Starbucks®). Other embodiments are contemplated by the subject disclosure. 
       FIG.  9    depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  900  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine can operate, for example, as the controller  130 ,  508 ,  608 , the video application server  510 , and the video server  610  and other devices of  FIGS.  1 - 6    and  FIG.  8   . In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a communication device of the subject disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. 
     The computer system  900  may include a processor  902  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  904  and a static memory  906 , which communicate with each other via a bus  908 . The computer system  900  may further include a video display unit  910  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display. The computer system  900  may include an input device  912  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  914  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  916 , a signal generation device  918  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  920 . 
     The disk drive unit  916  may include a tangible computer-readable storage medium  922  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  924 ) embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  924  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  904 , the static memory  906 , and/or within the processor  902  during execution thereof by the computer system  900 . The main memory  904  and the processor  902  also may constitute tangible computer-readable storage media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     While the tangible computer-readable storage medium  922  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the subject disclosure. 
     The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-time superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g., RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), and long-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) are contemplated for use by computer system  900 . 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, are contemplated by the subject disclosure. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.