Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for the simple, managed delivery of content to communication devices over a wireless network. The interoperation of a client component and a server, either a gateway server or a hosted server, allows for the delivery of content to wireless communication devices in a “push” fashion, i.e., independent of the actions of the end user, in contrast to traditional “pull” media, where an end user is required to request desired content, such as a webpage. Delivery criteria allow for the conditional delivery of content to end users, and access criteria control which content providers communicate with which groups of end users.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/906,737, filed on Mar. 13, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for provider-managed content delivery, and more specifically to systems and methods allowing content providers to deliver content to various groups of users. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Early attempts to provide communication devices, like cell phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), with the ability to wirelessly access content utilized variants of popular Internet standards that were specifically designed for the limited processing capabilities, memories, and displays of these devices. Two examples of these attempts include Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and i-mode, both of which are wireless data protocols that attempt to provide wireless communication devices with functionality similar to a web browser. 
         [0004]    While i-mode has enjoyed success in Japan, WAP has been for the most part a commercial failure, slowing the development of wireless access to the Internet. However, intervening improvements in processing capabilities, memories, and displays have made wireless communication devices more suited to Internet access and, generally speaking, the wireless delivery of content to communication devices. 
         [0005]    Given these improvements in wireless communication devices, and despite the limitations of current wireless networks with respect to data transmission, mobile network operators (MNOs), advertisers, and content providers are showing increased interest in delivering content wirelessly to communication devices like cellphones and PDAs. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for methods and apparatus that allow for the simple, managed delivery of content to communication devices over a wireless network. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for the simple, managed delivery of content to communication devices over a wireless network. The interoperation of a client component and a server, either a gateway server or a hosted server, allows for the delivery of content to wireless communication devices in a “push” fashion, i.e., independent of the actions of the end user, in contrast to traditional “pull” media, where an end user is required to request desired content, such as a webpage. 
         [0008]    A first embodiment includes a component installed on a client device and a server hosted by a content provider. The component on the client device, such as a mobile communication device, typically includes functionality for the delivery of graphics, a processor for application commands, and a database. The hosted server allows for a content provider to specify content for delivery to a user of the client device, as well as criteria to control the delivery of that content. 
         [0009]    A second embodiment includes a component installed on a client device and a gateway server. The component on the client device, such as a mobile communication device, typically includes functionality for the delivery of graphics, a processor for application commands, and a database. The gateway server exposes an interface that may be accessed by a content provider to specify content for delivery to a user of the client device, as well as criteria to control the delivery of the content. The utilization of a gateway server allows multiple content providers to reach the same audience of end users interacting with the gateway server. Such a gateway server may be hosted by, for example, the MNO for the end users. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for provider-controlled content delivery. The method includes providing a gateway server; receiving from a first content provider. delivery criteria at the gateway server to control the delivery of content to an end user; receiving from the first content provider, content at the gateway server for conditional delivery to an end user based on the received delivery criteria; and receiving access criteria specifying which of a plurality of content providers is able to communicate with a subset of a plurality of end users associated with the first content provider. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the access criteria are received from the first content provider. In another embodiment, the subset of the plurality of end users consists of a single end user. In this embodiment, the access criteria may be received from the single end user. In still another embodiment, the method further includes receiving access criteria specifying which of a plurality of content providers is able to communicate with a metagroup consisting of a plurality of end users associated with a plurality of content providers. These access criteria may be received, for example, from a gateway server operator or a content provider. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a gateway server for provider-controlled content delivery. The server includes a first receiver for receiving delivery criteria at the gateway server to control the delivery of content to an end user, a database for storing content at the gateway server for conditional delivery to an end user based on the received delivery criteria, and a second receiver for receiving access criteria specifying which of a plurality of content providers is able to communicate with the end user. In one embodiment, the first receiver and the second receiver are the same receiver. 
         [0013]    In still another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable memory having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions for provider-controlled content delivery. The memory includes computer-executable instructions for providing a gateway server, computer-executable instructions for receiving delivery criteria at the gateway server to control the delivery of content to an end user, computer-executable instructions for receiving content at the gateway server for conditional delivery to an end user based on the received delivery criteria, and computer-executable instructions for receiving access criteria specifying which of a plurality of content providers is able to communicate with a subset of a plurality of end users. In one embodiment, the memory further includes computer-executable instructions for receiving access criteria specifying which of a plurality of content providers is able to communicate with a metagroup consisting of a plurality of end users associated with a plurality of content providers. 
         [0014]    Further embodiments also provide programmers with tools to develop applications for execution on embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0015]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent from the description, drawings, and claims that follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following drawings taken in conjunction with the accompanying description in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a gateway server managed by a content provider and interacting with a plurality of client devices; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a gateway server interacting with a plurality of content providers and a plurality of client devices. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on the principles and concepts of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Embodiments of the present invention allow providers to deliver their content to users of mobile communication devices. Certain embodiments allow the content providers to manage this delivery directly, for example, by hosting a server for the delivery of content. Other embodiments allow the delivery to be managed by a third party, such as an MNO or a services provider. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a content provider  100  utilizes a server  104  to interact with at least one end user  108 . The content provider  100  loads content, e.g., videos, banner advertisements, text, music, etc., onto the server  104  and then specifies metadata associated with the content. Such metadata includes, but is not limited to, information describing the content or conditions that specify the time, place, and manner of the content&#39;s provision to an end user  108 . For example, the metadata may specify that it is suited to be played for end users  108  in a particular location, or at a particular time of day. The specification of metadata coupled with the ability to deliver content based on data explicitly provided by an end user  108  or implicitly provided data, as discussed below, allows for the grouping and characterization of users based on demographic data. In one embodiment, the interface exposed by the server  104  to the content provider  100  is implemented using hypertext markup language, making it suitable for operation using a standard web browser. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the server  104  includes rights management mechanisms, such as an access control list (ACL). Rights management allows control over which users view or execute each application, tracking of which users do what and when, the identification of the IP network hosting the client device, the identification of the client device itself, and other user-specific privileges. This enables fine-grained control and analysis of user behavior and actions, allowing for more flexible partnering and business models. Any or all of these privileges may be revoked on a privilege-by-privilege and a user-by-user basis. 
         [0023]    In still another embodiment, the server  104  includes mechanisms for traffic management and shaping. Utilizing these mechanisms, the entity operating the server  104  can, for example, provide free service to its own users or a third party&#39;s users, provided that the service in the aggregate consumes no more than a certain pre-negotiated level of bandwidth. Service in excess would either be throttled or charged to the third party. 
         [0024]    The end user  108  operates a mobile communication device, such as a laptop, personal digital assistant, or a cell phone, to access networked information generally and the server  104  specifically. In one embodiment, the mobile communication device is equipped with client software that provides functionality to facilitate the delivery of content to the device from the server  104 . Such functionality may include, but is not limited to, functionality for the delivery of graphics, a processor for application commands, and a database for storing information. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the client software maintains a communications session with the server  104 , allowing for time-based and contextual measures of application use. Session-based communications allow the monitoring of the user&#39;s activities and use patterns, which in turn allows for further targeting of advertising. 
         [0026]    As the end user  108  operates the mobile communication device, the user  108  will explicitly pass information over a network connection to server  104 . This explicitly-passed information may include, for example, uniform resource locators, keywords, IP addresses, or key presses generally. The end user  108  or the mobile communication device itself may also implicitly provide the server  104  with information, such as the location of the user  108  or device, or the time of day. The information is implicitly provided in that the end user  108  takes no action that explicitly prompts the transmission of the information to the server  104 . 
         [0027]    Upon receiving the explicitly-provided or implicitly-provided information, the server  104  compares the received information against the conditions controlling the provision of one or more pieces of content to an end user  108 . If any or all of the received information matches one of the conditions, then the server  104  provides the associated piece of content to the end user  108  by way of the end user&#39;s  108  wireless communication device. In other embodiments, the delivery of content to the end user&#39;s  108  wireless communication device is either requested by the device, i.e., a “pull”-type delivery model, or initiated upon receipt of a response to a polling query sent to the wireless communication device by, e.g., the server  104  or the content provider  100 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, this described interaction between the server  104  and the wireless communication device allows for the delivery of sponsored content in juxtaposition with content explicitly requested by the end user  108 . This allows the migration and implementation of business models utilizing sponsored advertising to the wireless context. Previous attempts to transition these business models have met with frustration, as the end user  108  in the wireless context typically pays for the delivery of content, sponsored or otherwise, to a wireless communication device, and end users  108  are not typically interested in paying for content that they have not specifically requested. 
         [0029]    Accordingly, by utilizing the server  104  a content provider  100 , such as an advertiser or an MNO, can define particular feeds of interest, e.g., sports scores, advertisements, for users  108  of a mobile communication device. Coupling appropriately-defined feeds with data concerning the mobile communication device or the user  108  allows for targeted advertisements, such as geolocated or contextual advertisements. Placing advertisements and content in separate feeds allows for the system to deliver advertisements in a true “push” fashion, i.e., independent of the actions of the user  108  of the mobile communication device. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in another embodiment the present invention utilizes a gateway server  200  hosted by a third party such as an MNO or a network service provider. The gateway server  200  supports connections from multiple content providers  100  for reaching end users  108  interacting with the gateway server  200 . 
         [0031]    In operation, each content provider  100  utilizes the gateway server  200  to interact with at least one end user  108 . Each content provider  100  loads the server  200  with content, e.g., videos, banner advertisements, text, music, etc., and then specifies metadata associated with their provided content. Such metadata includes, but is not limited to, information describing the content or conditions that specify the time, place, and manner of the content&#39;s provision to an end user  108 . For example, the metadata may specify that it is suited to be played for end users  108  in a particular location, or at a particular time of day. In one embodiment, the interface exposed by the server  200  to each content provider  100  is implemented using hypertext markup language, making it suitable for operation using a standard web browser. 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments utilizing a gateway server, the content provider  100  utilizes the gateway server  200  in such a way as to exercise exclusive control over the content that it provides to end users  100 . For example, the content provider  100  may enable or disable the provision of certain content or certain aggregations of content at various levels of user granuality: per user, per group of users, per mobile communication device, etc. The specification of metadata coupled with the ability to deliver content based on data explicitly provided by an end user  108  or implicitly provided data allows for the grouping and characterization of users based on demographic data. 
         [0033]    In other embodiments, the gateway server  200  also includes functionality that allows a content provider  100  to maintain some degree of exclusivity with respect to that content provider&#39;s  100  end users  108 . For example, it may allow a content provider  100  to configure the gateway server  200  such that the particular content provider  100  is the exclusive provider of, e.g., sports scores, to those end users  108  that interact with the gateway server  200  at the content provider&#39;s  100  behest or those end users  108  that register with the gateway server  200  due to a preexisting relationship with the content provider  100 . The gateway server  200  may itself include override functionality that lets certain content providers  100  or the operator of the gateway server  200  to provide content to certain end users despite the exclusivity provisions set by a particular content provider  100 . This latter functionality allows for the appropriate implementation of, e.g., contractual restrictions specifying restrictions on content delivery and user interaction. 
         [0034]    The end user  108  interacts with the gateway server  200  by operating a mobile communication device to access networked information generally, and the gateway server  200  specifically. In a typical embodiment the mobile communication device is equipped with client software that provides functionality that facilitates the delivery of content to the device from the gateway server  200 . Such functionality may include, but is not limited to, functionality for the delivery of graphics, a processor for application commands, and a database for storing information. 
         [0035]    As the end user  108  operates the mobile communication device, the user  108  explicitly passes information to gateway server  200 . This explicitly-passed information may include, for example, uniform resource locators, keywords, IP addresses, or key presses generally. The end user  108  or the mobile communication device itself may also implicitly provide the gateway server  200  with information, such as the location of the user  108  or device, or the time of day. The information is implicitly provided in that the end user  108  takes no action that explicitly prompts the transmission of the information to the gateway server  200 . 
         [0036]    Upon receiving the explicitly-provided or implicitly-provided information, the gateway server  200  compares the received information against the conditions controlling the provision of one or more pieces of content to an end user  108 . If any or all of the received information matches in whole or in part one of the conditions, then the gateway server  200  provides the associated piece of content to the end user  108  by way of the end user&#39;s  108  wireless communication device. In other embodiments, the delivery of content to the end user&#39;s  108  wireless communication device is either requested by the device, i.e., a “pull”-type delivery model, or initiated upon receipt of a response to a polling query sent to the wireless communication device by, e.g., the gateway server  200  or a content provider  100 . 
         [0037]    This manner of operation between the gateway server  200  and the end user  108  through a wireless communication device also enables business models involving sponsored advertising in a wireless context. The utilization of a gateway server  200  allows for an intermediary to provide sponsored advertising business models to multiple content providers and relieves each content provider of the burden of developing and maintaining its own server  200  for communication with end users. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, by utilizing the gateway server  200 , a content provider  100 , such as an advertiser or an MNO, can define particular feeds of interest, e.g., sports scores, advertisements, for users  108  of a mobile communication device. Coupling appropriately-defined feeds with data concerning the mobile communication device or the user  108  allows for targeted advertisements, such as geolocated or contextual advertisements. Placing advertisements and content in separate feeds allows for the system to deliver advertisements in a true “push” fashion, i.e., independent of the actions of the user  108  of the mobile communication device. 
         [0039]    Those embodiments of the present invention that provider content providers  100  with some measure of exclusivity with respect to particular end users  108  (or groups of end users  108 ) also enable business models that treat the operator of the gateway server  200  as a “gatekeeper,” permitting the operator to charge a fee for facilitating communications between content providers  100  and their affiliated end users  108  while allaying potential concerns from content providers  100  that a gateway server  200  servicing multiple content providers  100  could be utilized to fracture or convert a particular content provider&#39;s  100  user base. These technological measures supplement and complement contractual and financial arrangements that would ensure exclusive access to particular users or groups of users. A content provider  100  may, for example, be allowed to veto provision of certain feeds to an end user  108  who cancels his subscription with the content provider, although the gateway-server operator may retain the prerogative to continue to provide other feeds over which the content provider has no control, reflecting a balance between the content provider&#39;s control over subscribers and the server operator&#39;s interest in maintaining established end-user relationships. 
         [0040]    It will therefore be seen that the foregoing represents a highly advantageous approach to provider-managed content delivery. The terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0041]    Therefore, it must be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments have been shown only for the purposes of example and should not be taken as limiting the invention, which is defined by the following claims. The following claims are thus to be read as not only literally including what is set forth by the claims but also to include all equivalents that are insubstantially different, even though not identical in other respects to what is shown and described in the above illustrations.