Distribution of Multimedia Files Using a Roving File Server
AssigneeSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
InventorsToby John Bowen, Anthony J. Sammarco, Walter M. Marcinkiewicz, Charles Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for distributing multimedia files to wireless-equipped subscriber units are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a multimedia title is associated with a subscriber unit and a multimedia file corresponding to that multimedia title is downloaded to a roving file server using a broadband communications link. After the roving file server detects that it is within range of a wireless transceiver associated with the subscriber unit, the multimedia file is transferred to the subscriber unit using the detected wireless transceiver.
Claims25
A method for distributing multimedia files, comprising:
- associating a multimedia title with a subscriber unit;
- downloading to a roving file server a multimedia file corresponding to the multimedia title using a broadband communications link;
- detecting that the roving file server is within range of a wireless transceiver associated with the subscriber unit;
- and
- transferring the downloaded multimedia file to the subscriber unit using the wireless transceiver.
A roving file server for distributing multimedia files, comprising:
- a subscriber database comprising subscriber identities and associated multimedia titles;
- a broadband communications interface configured to download one or multimedia files corresponding to the multimedia titles using a broadband communications link;
- and
- a subscriber link interface configured to:
- determine that the roving file server is within range of a wireless transceiver associated with a subscriber unit;
- and
- transfer one or more of the downloaded multimedia files to the subscriber unit using the wireless transceiver.
A subscriber unit for use in a multimedia delivery system, comprising:
- a subscription management module configured to retrieve a catalog of multimedia files available from the multimedia delivery system;
- a user interface configured to display all or a portion of the catalog and to accept user selection of a multimedia title from the catalog;
- and
- a communications interface configured to
- determine that the subscriber unit is within range of a wireless transceiver associated with a roving file server;
- and
- selectively either download the multimedia file from the roving file server using the wireless transceiver or request the multimedia title, based on whether a multimedia file associated with the selected multimedia title is available on the roving file server.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.