U.S. patent application number 12/882438 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-12 for mobile rich media information system.
This patent application is currently assigned to ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is Dmitri B. Abramov, David Bliss, Saurav Chatterjee, Brian P. Connolly, Basil C. Hosmer, Samuel J. MacDonnell, Norman K. Meyrowitz, James T. Morris, Jacquie Moss, Christopher O. Peterson, Laurent E. Sellier, Guno Sutiono. Invention is credited to Dmitri B. Abramov, David Bliss, Saurav Chatterjee, Brian P. Connolly, Basil C. Hosmer, Samuel J. MacDonnell, Norman K. Meyrowitz, James T. Morris, Jacquie Moss, Christopher O. Peterson, Laurent E. Sellier, Guno Sutiono.
Application Number | 20130237185 12/882438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42987590 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130237185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morris; James T. ; et
al. |
September 12, 2013 |
MOBILE RICH MEDIA INFORMATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A system and method is described for providing an interactive
rich media information service to users of mobile devices. The rich
media information is presented to users in a plurality of
interactive rich media channels. A subscriber-specific data stream
is received at the mobile device containing channel data for each
of the rich media channel that the user has subscribed to. The
channel data is separated and stored corresponding to each such
subscribed-to channel. An interactive multimedia runtime container
(iMRC). is executed on the mobile device for each subscribed-to
channel. The rich media channels are played on the iMRC and
displayed on the display of the mobile device. Using the user
interface elements of the mobile device, the user may navigate
through the information on the channels, navigate between different
channels, subscribe or un-subscribe to channels, and enter user
preferences for further tailoring the information presented in the
subscribed-to channels.
Inventors: |
Morris; James T.; (San
Francisco, CA) ; MacDonnell; Samuel J.; (Montara,
CA) ; Abramov; Dmitri B.; (San Mateo, CA) ;
Sellier; Laurent E.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Bliss;
David; (San Francisco, CA) ; Moss; Jacquie;
(San Francisco, CA) ; Meyrowitz; Norman K.; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Connolly; Brian P.; (San Francisco,
CA) ; Hosmer; Basil C.; (Winchester, MA) ;
Chatterjee; Saurav; (Foster City, CA) ; Peterson;
Christopher O.; (Berkeley, CA) ; Sutiono; Guno;
(Burlingame, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Morris; James T.
MacDonnell; Samuel J.
Abramov; Dmitri B.
Sellier; Laurent E.
Bliss; David
Moss; Jacquie
Meyrowitz; Norman K.
Connolly; Brian P.
Hosmer; Basil C.
Chatterjee; Saurav
Peterson; Christopher O.
Sutiono; Guno |
San Francisco
Montara
San Mateo
San Francisco
San Francisco
San Francisco
San Francisco
San Francisco
Winchester
Foster City
Berkeley
Burlingame |
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
MA
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
42987590 |
Appl. No.: |
12/882438 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10791298 |
Mar 1, 2004 |
7822428 |
|
|
12882438 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/410 ;
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4667 20130101;
H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101; H04N 21/25891
20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; G06Q
30/0633 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101; G06Q 30/0225 20130101;
H04N 21/4668 20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/410 ;
455/566 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/16 20060101
H04M003/16; H04B 1/38 20060101 H04B001/38 |
Claims
1.-77. (canceled)
78. A mobile device comprising: an operating system; a memory
comprising applications for visually presenting interactive
multimedia content on the mobile device, wherein the applications
present said content using data stored in the memory; and a user
interface comprising a touch screen displaying the interactive
multimedia content of the applications and receiving input to
navigate to different ones of the applications and to navigate
within the interactive multimedia content; and wherein the
applications comprise one or more system applications and one or
more other applications that are not system applications, wherein
the applications comprise an application listing application
providing information on available applications that are available
to be added via download through a wireless network to the mobile
device, wherein adding an available application of the available
applications to the mobile device comprises adding the available
application via download through the wireless network to the mobile
device, wherein the mobile device restricts access to at least some
system application data stored on the mobile device to be used only
by said one or more system applications.
79. The mobile device of claim 78 further comprising a phone.
80. The mobile device of claim 78 wherein the applications present
said interactive multimedia content using data stored in
application-specific memory addresses of the memory.
81. The mobile device of claim 78 wherein the one or more other
applications comprise a first application for which the mobile
device receives updates without providing a complete data change
for the first application.
82. The mobile device of claim 78 wherein the one or more other
applications comprise a first application that only has access
rights to data in a storage block of the memory that directly
corresponds to the first application.
83. A method comprising: displaying on a display of the mobile unit
one or more channels providing interactive multimedia content,
wherein said displaying of each of the one or more channels
comprises retrieving a channel application and channel data from a
memory of the mobile unit, wherein channel applications provide
information for visually presenting each channel and channel data
provides information displayed as part of each channel, wherein
channel data is replaced when updated channel data is received at
the mobile unit, wherein access to at least some channel data is
restricted to access only by ones of said one or more channels
associated therewith; receiving input to navigate through said
interactive multimedia content of the displayed one or more
channels and to navigate to different ones of said one or more
channels; and receiving input to navigate to a channel listing
channel, the channel listing channel providing information on a
plurality of available channels that are available to be added to
the mobile unit, wherein adding an available channel of the
available channels to the mobile unit results in downloading the
available channel's channel application and downloading the
available channel's actual channel data through a wireless network
to the mobile unit.
84. The method of claim 83 further comprising receiving an
interaction with a user interface of the mobile unit to subscribe
to one or more newly-subscribed-to channels, wherein subscribing to
said one or more channels results in the mobile unit receiving one
or more new channel applications for the newly-subscribed-to
channels.
85. The method of claim 84 wherein subscribing to said one or more
channels further results in the mobile unit receiving new channel
data for the newly-subscribed-to channels.
86. The method of claim 85 further comprising automatically
receiving updates for said new channel data at the mobile unit.
87. The method of claim 85 further comprising receiving updates for
said new channel data responsive to a request from said mobile
unit, wherein said request is issued according to one of: an update
available signal received; and passing of a predetermined period of
time.
88. The method of claim 83 wherein the one or more channels
comprise one or more system channels and one or more other
channels, wherein the mobile unit restricts access to at least some
system channel data stored on the mobile unit to said one or more
system channels.
89. The method of claim 88 wherein said one or more system channels
comprises a channel for displaying a summary of subscribed to
channels, said summary displayed in a single channel.
90. The method of claim 88 further comprising: receiving at least
one stream of channel data at said mobile unit; and displaying at
least one channel using said system channel data.
91. The method of claim 83 wherein the input is received through a
navigational mechanism on said mobile unit.
92. The method of claim 83 wherein the input is received through a
touch screen on said mobile unit.
93. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is encoded
program code, the program code comprising: program code for
displaying on a display of a mobile unit one or more channels
providing interactive multimedia content, wherein said displaying
of each of the one or more channels comprises retrieving a channel
application and channel data from a memory of the mobile unit,
wherein channel applications provide information for visually
presenting each channel and channel data provides information
displayed as part of each channel, wherein channel data is replaced
when updated channel data is received at the mobile unit, wherein
access to at least some channel data is restricted to access only
by ones of said one or more channels associated therewith; program
code for receiving input to navigate through said interactive
multimedia content of the displayed one or more channels and to
navigate to different ones of said one or more channels; and
program code for receiving input to navigate to a channel listing
channel, the channel listing channel providing information on a
plurality of available channels that are available to be added to
the mobile unit, wherein adding an available channel of the
available channels to the mobile unit results in downloading the
available channel's channel application and downloading the
available channel's actual channel data through a wireless network
to the mobile unit.
94. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 93 further
comprising: program code for receiving an interaction with a user
interface of the mobile unit to subscribe to one or more
newly-subscribed-to channels, wherein subscribing to said one or
more channels results in the mobile unit receiving one or more new
channel applications for the newly-subscribed-to channels.
95. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 93 wherein
subscribing to said one or more channels further results in the
mobile unit receiving new channel data for the newly-subscribed-to
channels.
96. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 95 further
comprising program code for automatically receiving updates for
said new channel data at the mobile unit.
97. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 95 further
comprising program code for receiving updates for said new channel
data responsive to a request from said mobile unit, wherein said
request is issued according to one of: an update available signal
received; and passing of a predetermined period of time.
98. The method of claim 1 wherein the applications for visually
presenting interactive multimedia content on the mobile device
comprise operating visual elements.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to concurrently filed,
co-pending, and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
______, Attorney Docket No. 47583-PO46U.S.-10316464, entitled
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEVELOPING INFORMATION FOR A WIRELESS
INFORMATION SYSTEM"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,
Attorney Docket No. 47583-PO47U.S.-10316465, entitled "BANDWIDTH
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to electronic
information systems, and, more specifically, to a mobile rich media
information system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With the increase in wireless technologies, the computer
world of a decade ago is quickly evolving into a wireless world.
Beginning with the explosion of the wireless phone, people have
become more mobile, but, at the same time, becoming less isolated
when in motion. Short-range wireless business networks and public
Hotspots allow users to access the Internet from a
wireless-equipped personal data assistant (PDA) or laptop. Even
before the prevalence of these short-range wireless networks,
information exchange had been implemented using wireless telephone
technology. Because of the near ubiquity of cellular phones, the
mobile phone network would seem to be the perfect medium for
providing information wirelessly. However, because of the limited
nature of wireless phones and the data handling capabilities of
wireless telecommunication networks, the resulting information
systems have not achieved much popularity with consumers.
[0004] One of the major reasons that the wireless phone-based
information systems have not enjoyed the same success as the
short-range wireless networks is likely due to the overall user
experience. Of course, the user experience is largely driven by the
available bandwidth in the network, but the users, who actually
subscribe to and pay for these services generally do not care what
the bandwidth availability is, just as long as the user experience
is satisfying.
[0005] One of the first technologies that was used to pass
information to a wireless phone user was Small Message Service
(SMS). SMS is a text service that enables short messages of
generally no more than 140-160 characters in length to be sent and
transmitted from a mobile phone. In such a system, a user would
typically log onto a particular Web site or sign up through some
interactive telecommunications service to receive periodic small
messages of interest. For example, a user could call into a service
provider and sign up to receive the sports scores for their
favorite basketball team or teams. Thereafter, when the service
provider compiles the scores for the basketball games, a short text
message would be forwarded to the user's mobile phone, or whatever
other mobile device that was designated. The only interaction by
the user is typically on the initial set-up of the service, whether
that set-up occurred using an Internet-connected computer, via
telephone, or the like. SMS allowed for the user to receive
information; however, because the system was so limited in
message-length and restricted to text, the user experience was
typically dull.
[0006] The next step in wireless information technology was largely
driven by the explosion of the World Wide Web. Web browsers, which
are so prevalent in everyday life, were scaled down for use in
mobile phones. The microbrowser provides browser-like functionality
to the mobile phone, albeit at a much reduced level. Due to the
limited memory and processing power of mobile phones, early
microbrowsers used Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) and Wireless
Mark-up Language (WML), which attempted to mimic the full-scale
standards of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext
mark-up language (HTML). More recently, as the ability of the
mobile phones has increased, some microbrowsers actually use HTML
browsers.
[0007] The paradigm of the microbrowser operates in much the same
manner as a full-scaled Web browser. A Web page, which may be a WAP
page or an HTML page, is downloaded from a Web server, again, which
could be a WAP server or HTTP server, to a user's phone. Either by
activating standard navigation elements or hypertext links,
subsequent Web pages are downloaded to the microbrowser for the
user to view. The user's interaction is similar to that in a Web
browser except without the graphical richness. The user can hit
forward or back or, through some substantial key-strokes, enter a
Web site address. Because of the device and bandwidth restrictions
in the mobile telecommunication area, the main noticeable
difference between the microbrowser paradigm and the Web browser is
that the majority of information on the "micro" pages is
textual.
[0008] In application, the microbrowser offered a greater variety
and reach of information than the SMS systems. Moreover, the user
is afforded a greater interactivity by being allowed to "surf" to
any desired and compatible Web site or Web page. However, in
operation, the user experience could be described as
click-and-wait, rather than click-and-view. Because of both the
slowness of the roundtrip transmission of a user interaction on the
phone to a central server and the subsequent return of the data to
that phone in combination with a relatively large amount of data is
transmitted over the wireless network to the phone for each Web
page, a large latency existed between the page request and the
final download and display of the page. Latency is also affected by
data disconnects that occur due to things such as the hand-offs of
the mobile device between mobile towers and other such network
disconnects, such as when a user drives through tunnels, and the
like. This large latency period experienced by most wireless phone
Internet users limited the appeal of the microbrowser system.
Furthermore, because many service providers placed a per minute
usage charge on accessing the Internet over a mobile phone, the
long latency generally meant higher costs for a service where the
waiting time could exceed the actual information interaction
time.
[0009] Several ideas followed the microbrowser attempting to
address the problems it exhibited. One solution that addressed the
long latency periods and lack of graphical experience was the
stored-page approach. Instead of receiving information over the
wireless telephone network, the user connects a device to a
computer with an Internet connection. Based on site preferences
that a user may have set up, the Web pages for any particular Web
site are downloaded into the memory of the mobile phone or device.
Once disconnected from the computer, the user may browse and
navigate through the downloaded pages without any latency.
Furthermore, because there are no wireless bandwidth
considerations, the content presented may be more graphically
oriented.
[0010] An example of this type of service is iAnywhere Solutions,
Inc.'s AVANTGO.TM.. However, the trade-off made for the low latency
is the fact that the data being viewed is no longer dynamic Web
content. The AVANTGO.TM. methodology simply stores the pages on a
device. Those pages remain the same until the user can again
connect to the Internet to retrieve updates.
[0011] One improvement, which was applied to the microbrowser
paradigm, is generally referred to as a push browser service.
Instead of waiting for a user to request a particular Web page, the
push browser is proactively sent an HTML or WML page from the
server. Therefore, when a user accesses the microbrowser, at least
some content is already resident on the device, which initially
reduces the latency. The user's interaction remains the same as the
regular microbrowser, which basically mimics the user interaction
of Web browsers without the rich graphics. The limitation to the
push browser is that only a limited number of HTML/WML pages are
stored. Once the user navigates or browses through all of the
stored pages, the advantages achieved by the push system are gone.
Without the stored pages, new pages are generally downloaded from
the Web server on request of the user, which results in the long
latency periods experienced in the normal microbrowsers.
[0012] An addition to the push technology was attempted in
POINTCAST INC.'s POINTCAST system. The POINTCAST system was an
information system on a desktop computer which compiled and
broadcast a wide variety of information items. Subscribers to this
system would receive the broadcasts and store the information items
locally. By entering preferences to the user's local system, the
client-side application of POINTCAST would filter the presentation
of the information to the user based on those user preferences. The
POINTCAST server would periodically update the information items,
which the user could then view if those updates corresponded to the
items the user preferred to view. However, the bandwidth
requirements for transmitting and receiving all of the information
typically clogged networks and caused long periods of network
latency. Users would typically experience slow network access and
much-decreased available bandwidth for other interactions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Representative embodiments of the present invention are
directed to a system and method for providing a mobile information
system. The mobile information system offers a number of different
information channels for subscriptions to mobile device users. The
users may view the different channels available for subscription
and select desired ones for subscription. An enhanced subscription
server maintains subscription information for each subscribing user
and, using this information, generates a subscriber-specific stream
of data to be transmitted to the user/subscriber. The subscriber's
mobile device receives this stream of data that includes the data
available to populate the different channels to which the user has
subscribed.
[0014] The user's mobile device activates an interactive multimedia
runtime container that may run a channel application corresponding
to the visual experience of the particular channel. The channel
data received in the data stream is then used to populate the
information for the channel application. As a result, the user is
able to view an interactive, rich media presentation of the
information on the subscribed-to channel. By using available
navigation instruments on the user's mobile device, the user is
allowed to navigate through the contents of the displayed channel,
or navigate to different channels.
[0015] In the typical operation, incoming channel data provides
updates or changes to the channel, as opposed to providing a
complete data change for every channel. Transmitting only the
updates or changes conserves bandwidth, while still maintaining the
rich information on each channel. There may be instances in which
all of the data for a particular channel is changed or, at least,
substantial portions. However, in most normal operations, only the
channel data representing the changes or updates to the channel
information will be sent.
[0016] Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed
to a method for experiencing interactive multimedia information on
a mobile unit comprising interacting with a user interface of the
mobile unit to subscribe to one or more channels having interactive
multimedia content, manipulating a navigational mechanism on the
mobile unit to explore the interactive multimedia content on one of
the one or more channels, interacting with the user interface of
the mobile unit to enter preferences applicable to the one or more
channels subscribed to, and automatically receiving content updates
for the one or more channels subscribed to.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
present invention. Wireless network 100 includes a number of
subscribing mobile units or devices, such as mobile devices
101-103. Communication with any of mobile devices 101-103 is
generally implemented through mobile network 100 and system
provider server 104. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the
system provider operating mobile network 100 or some third-party
operating in conjunction with the system provider may offer a rich
media information service having multiple information channels to
each of it subscribers. Subscribers to the information service may
subscribe individually to select certain channels that present
information of interest. For purposes of FIG. 1, mobile devices
101-103 each subscribe to several different channels of this rich
multi-media information service.
[0018] In order to implement the rich media information service,
enhanced subscription server 105 operates in conjunction with
system provider server 104. Enhanced subscription server 105
compiles a subscriber-specific stream of information that contains
the information for each individual channel to which the subscriber
has subscribed. Therefore, each of mobile devices 101-103 will
receive an individual data stream from enhanced subscription server
105 that will facilitate the presentation of the information
service on each device. The data stream from enhanced subscription
server 105 may be transmitted to each of mobile devices 101-103 in
any number of data protocols, such as HTTP, SMS, User Datagram
Protocol (UDP), or the like.
[0019] Enhanced subscription server 105 compiles the stream of
information from feed storage 106, which stores the information and
data associated with each channel offered in the rich media
information service. This information is typically obtained from
third party information providers over Internet 107 through various
means, such as Web service 108, Extensible Markup Language (XML)
109 communicated over HTTP, and the like. By accessing system
provider server 104, enhanced subscription server 105 authenticates
user access to the rich media information service and may also
obtain the subscriber information for mobile devices 101-103 to
determine which channels may be included in the data streams. Once
that information is obtained, enhanced subscription server 105 may
compile a data stream for mobile device 101 that includes channel
data from feed storage 106 for each channel that the user of mobile
device 101 subscribes to. Similarly, enhanced subscription server
105 may compile subscriber specific individual data streams for
mobile devices 102 and 103 that includes channel data for updating
each rich media channel that the users of mobile devices 102 and
103 subscribe to. As the feed data streams are compiled, enhanced
subscription server 105 sends those streams to the destination
mobile device over wireless network 100.
[0020] It should be noted that various methods for controlling the
transmission of information streams to and from a client of the
rich media information system may be employed. One example system,
is described in commonly-owned, concurrently-filed Patent
Application, entitled, BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, Ser. No.
______, Attorney Docket No.: 47583/PO47U.S./10316465, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
[0021] In further operation of the rich media information service,
the users at mobile devices 101-103 may send preferences, settings,
or even subscribe to new channels by interacting with the rich
media presentation of the information through user interface
application running on mobile devices 101-103. For example, if a
channel subscribed to by the user of mobile device 101 provides
stock quotes, the user may indicate the specific stocks that he or
she wants to receive quotes on. This information is then
transmitted back to enhanced subscription server 105 through
wireless network 100 and noted in the subscription information for
the user of mobile device 101.
[0022] Additionally, each mobile device, such as mobile devices
101-103, may include an application that displays all of the
available channels that are being offered by the rich media
information service to that device, as determined by the rich media
information service, based on the constraints of the user's device
hardware and software. By interacting with this channel listing,
the user may subscribe to additional available channels. The user's
selections are then transmitted from the subscribing mobile device
to enhanced subscription server 105 through wireless network 100
and noted in the subscription information for that subscribing user
device. The subscribers may, therefore, manage their subscriptions,
as well as, interact with the rich media channel presentations
directly from the mobile device.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a conceptualized
portion of mobile unit 20. Because most mobile devices include
computers to operate their functionality, an operating system is
included to act as the master control program controlling the basic
functionalities of the device. Examples of existing mobile
operating systems are SYMBIAN LTD.'S SYMBIAN OS.TM., MICROSOFT
CORPORATION'S WINDOWS CE.TM., QUALCOMM CORPORATION's BREW.TM., and
the like. Mobile unit 20 includes Mobile Unit Operating System 200
(MUOS). Operating on top of MUOS 200 is rich media client
application 201. Client application 201 includes various parts,
such as push engine 202, feed store 21, which is the storage
location for the information making up each channel, and the like.
Storage blocks 203-210 within feed store 21 each correspond to a
channel that the user of mobile unit 20 subscribes to. Channel
application memory 221 is the memory location for the operating
visual elements used in presenting the channel to the user.
[0024] Interactive multimedia application environment (iMAE) 211 is
a resident application for running the channel applications and
integrating the channel data stored in which every one of storage
blocks 203-210 that is associated with the channel being presented.
An iMAE may be a multimedia presentation application that includes
capabilities for displaying graphics, video, animation, audio, and
the like. A preferred embodiment may utilize vector graphics in
order to take advantage of the size benefits that accompany such
applications. One example of such an iMAE are the different
versions of MACROMEDIA, INC.'S MACROMEDIA FLASH.TM.. When the rich
media information system is operating on mobile unit 20, iMAE 211
starts an interactive multimedia runtime container (iMRC) for each
channel that is to be displayed to the user on display 220. An iMRC
is the actual runtime container for running or displaying the
visual presentation. One example of such an iMRC are the different
versions of MACROMEDIA, INC.'S MACROMEDIA FLASH PLAYER.TM.. In the
example shown in FIG. 2, the user of mobile unit 20 subscribes to
seven channels, Channel 1-7. On operation of the information
service, iMAE 211 opens iMRC 213-218, in which the channel
applications for each of Channels 1-6 are run using the feed data
stored in storage blocks 203-210 that are associated with each
individual channel. Moreover, iMAE 211 opens iMRC 212 and 219 to
display system channels, such as Channel Listing. Other system
channels may comprise information, such as a headlines channel, a
channel listing promotional channels offered for subscription,
interactive game channels, or any various other information
channels.
[0025] The feed or channel data associated with any one or a number
of channels typically remains stored in feed store 21 until newer
or updated data arrives to replace some or, eventually, all of it.
The channel application running in an iMRC draws its data
exclusively from the associated storage block of feed store 21,
such that the channel being presented on the iMRC typically does
not have to wait for data to be received from enhanced subscription
server 105 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, a particular channel application
will typically only have access rights to access the specific
storage block assigned for that channel.
[0026] In addition to presenting information in each of the rich or
multi-media channels presented in the iMRCs, because many
embodiments of the present invention will be implemented on mobile
devices that include telephone functionality, the rich media
channels may include user-accessible features that are integrated
with the telephone functionality of the mobile device. In such
embodiments, the user may select an item shown on the rich media
channel, which would then activate the telephone features to call a
certain number. Such a selection on the rich media channel may even
send an SMS message or open a microbrowser on the mobile
device.
[0027] As mobile unit 20 receives a data stream from enhanced
subscription server 105 (FIG. 1), push engine 202 analyzes or
parses the stream separating the data chunks for Channel 1 from the
data chunks for Channel 2, and so forth, and then stores the data
chunks in the appropriate storage block of feed store 21. All of
the data that makes up the complete display of the channels, such
as Channel 1 or Channel 2 are stored in feed store 21. The data
chunks on the data stream represent only portions of the total data
making up the channels. In some operations, these portions
represent only the updates for the particular channels, while in
other operations, the entire channel or a large part thereof may be
replaced. Because of the operation of iMAE 211 and the iMRCs, when
new data is provided, the channel being displayed on the iMRC is
automatically updated without need to refresh the display, as would
be required in an HTML document or the like. Therefore, the
information being displayed in the channels may update as they are
being displayed to the user on display 220.
[0028] FIG. 3A is an illustration of one embodiment of the present
invention operating on mobile phone 300. Subscription lineup 30
comprise the channels subscribed to by the user of mobile phone
300, Channel 1-7, Channel Listing, and Now Playing. Subscription
lineup 30 is displayed, typically one page at a time, on display 31
of mobile phone 300. A user would manipulate 5-way button 301 in
order to navigate through the different channels and pages of
subscription lineup 30. Using such a 5-way button, the user may
navigate subscription lineup 30 easily and, perhaps, by using
one-hand.
[0029] It should be noted that while subscription lineup 30 shown
in FIG. 3A includes both Channel Listing channel, which presents
available channels for subscription to the user, and Now Playing
channel, which gives a one-page view of each of the channels
subscribed to by the user, various embodiments of the present
invention may include only Channel Listing or neither.
[0030] In order to facilitate navigation, subscription lineup 30
may be oriented to accommodate the limited navigation means of
mobile devices. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, each channel is
associated at its first page, i.e., page 1. Thus, the user may
navigate from channel-to-channel using a side-to-side or
left-to-right/right-to-left motion on 5-way button 301. For
example, when a user navigates to Channel 7 p.1, he or she views
the contents of Channel 7. If the user were to press right on 5-way
button 301, Now Playing channel would be shown on display 31.
Similarly, if the user were to press left, Channel 6, p. 1 would be
shown on display 31. When the user navigates to the desired
channel, the page-contents of that channel may be navigated in an
up-down motion on 5-way button 301. For example, when a user
navigates to Channel 1, p.1, he or she may view the contents of
Channel 1 by pressing 5-way button 301 up or down. If the user were
to press up, p. 4 would be shown on display 31. Similarly, if the
user were to press down, p. 2 would be shown on display 31.
[0031] The channels of subscription lineup 30 shown in FIG. 3A are
associated only at p. 1 of the channel. Therefore, if a user were
viewing a page within the desired chapter, the user may not
navigate to other channels merely by using a side-to-side or
left-to-right/right-to-left motion on 5-way button 301. The user
would either have to return to the first page of the channel, or
jump, in someway, to another first page of a channel. Additional
and alternative embodiments of the present invention may be
configured such that a user may be capable of navigating to
different channels from within the pages of a channel being viewed
simply by executing a side-to-side navigation motion.
[0032] It should be noted that while the example embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 3A incorporates a channel structure in which
each channel is associated on a side-to-side basis, where channel
content is associated on an up-down basis, other structures may be
used in additional or alternative embodiments of the present
invention. For example, channels may be associated on an up-down
basis, while the channel content is associated on a side-to-side
basis. Moreover, in additional and alternative embodiments may
provide a default view that cycles through the first page of each
subscribed-to channel in a carousel-like manner. Thus, by glancing
down at his or her mobile device, the user would view the cycle of
the first pages of each channel. By activating a button-click on
any one of the cycling channels, including a system channel such as
the channel listing channel, the user would stop the cycling and
have full access to the selected channel.
[0033] FIGS. 3B-3E are illustrations showing examples of different
navigation elements available on mobile devices. FIG. 3B is a
close-up view of 5-way button 301 from FIG. 3A. 5-way button 301
operates on a 5-way rocker switch to allow a user directional
control by depressing button 301 in either north 302-south 304 or
east 303-west 305 directions. The fifth direction is accomplished
by depressing 5-way button 301 directly down in button-click
direction 306. Button-click direction 306 may be used to augment
the directional navigation functionality of various embodiments of
the present invention by activating some kind of event or making a
selection. FIG. 3C is an illustration showing joystick 307. As
shown, joystick 307 also allows directional movement in 5 different
ways, north 302-south 304 or east 303-west 305 or button-click
306.
[0034] In alternative embodiments, a single, 5-way button or
joystick may be unnecessary or unavailable. FIG. 3D is an
illustration showing mobile phone 309. Instead of having a 5-way
button or joystick, soft keys are made available for navigation on
mobile phone 309. Soft keys are existing keys or buttons that may
be assigned different functions or features depending on the
current state of the mobile phone. For example, in order to make
directional navigation available to a user of mobile phone 309
(FIGS. 3B and 3C), for north 302-south 304 or east 303-west 305 or
button-click 306, 4-key 310 may be assigned a soft key function for
effecting west 305, similarly, 6-key 311 may be assigned east 303,
2-key 312 may be assigned north 302, 8-key 313 may be assigned
south 304, and 5-key 314 may be assigned button-click 306. By
assigning such directional functions to existing keys, a user
having a phone without a 5-way button or joystick may still take
advantage of the multimedia information system. Another key on
mobile phone 309 may also be assigned a Shift function, such that
if a user were required to enter information at a subscription page
or a properties page, the navigational functions of the soft keys
310-314 may be temporarily deactivated.
[0035] FIG. 3E is an illustration showing mobile phone 317. Instead
of having a 5-way button or joystick or even standard telephone
buttons, mobile phone 317 is configured with touch screen 318 for
facilitating interaction with a user. The visual presentation of
each channel in the rich media information service is displayed on
touch screen 318 in addition to touch sensitive areas assigned for
user interaction. For example, soft 5-way button 319 operates in
the same manner as a physical element, except that a user may use a
stylus, a finger, or other object to touch around soft 5-way button
319 to exercise navigation. Similarly, soft buttons 320 and 321 may
be assigned certain functions, such as a Back, Forward, Home, or
similar feature, that is also operable through a stylus or other
object.
[0036] It should be noted that the touch-elements described above,
soft 5-way button 319 and soft buttons 320 and 321 are located in
specific touch-area 324 that exists in certain styles of touch
screen-enabled devices. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3E
may also facilitate touch elements directly on the display-portion
of touch screen 318. A trial channel is shown playing on
touch-screen 318. In various embodiments of the present invention,
the rich media information system may offer channels to users on a
try-before-you-buy basis. In such channels, the content of a
channel is provided to mobile device 317 in a manner similar to the
user subscribing to the actual channel. As shown in FIG. 3E, soft
Try button 323 is located on the display-portion of touch-screen
318. If the user desires to try out the displayed channel prior to
actually paying for a full-time subscription, the user would select
soft Try button 323 to communicate to the enhanced subscription
server to send the channel to mobile device 317. Similarly, some
embodiments may then present the user soft Subscribe button 322 to
the user for the user to select if he or she desires to pay for the
subscription to the channel. The user would select either soft Try
button 323 or soft Subscribe button 322 using a finger, stylus, or
other object.
[0037] It should be noted that the examples of navigational
elements, as shown in FIGS. 3B-3E, are merely examples of the types
of buttons or switches that may be present on a user's mobile
device and used for navigational purposes. The descriptions are not
meant to limit such navigational tools to only the elements shown
in FIGS. 3B-3E.
[0038] Additional embodiments of the present invention may also
provide for soft keys to provide basic "browser-like" functions,
such as Back, Home, or the like. Referring again to FIG. 3D, soft
keys 315 and 316 may be assigned such various functions. Assigning
a Back function to soft key 315, for example, would allow a user to
go back either to the immediately preceding page, or it could allow
the user to go back to the immediately preceding channel, at its
first page. Similarly, if a Home function were assigned to soft key
316, for example, the user could jump to the Home page, which could
be set either at a specific information channel, or, alternatively,
to a Now Playing channel or Channel Listing channel.
[0039] It should be noted that although the "browser-like"
functions are shown in FIG. 3D, in which mobile phone 309 does not
have a 5-way button or joystick, other embodiments of the present
invention may also include such soft keys on mobile devices that do
include a 5-way button or joystick.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating rich media
information service 40 configured according to one embodiment of
the present invention. Enhanced subscription server 105 maintains
the current channel data in feed storage 106. At different times,
enhanced subscription server 105 will transmit subscriber-specific
information streams to the mobile device of the subscriber, such as
mobile unit 400, in order to update the channel or feed data
present on the mobile device. In this manner, enhanced subscription
server 105 pushes the subscriber-specific information to the user's
device.
[0041] It should be noted that the updating process, in which
channel data is pushed to the user's mobile device may be scheduled
for any number of different times. For example, update chunks may
be transmitted to the mobile device whenever the channel
information changes. This direct push may occur at anytime,
depending on when channel information changes. A periodic time may
also be established such as updating every certain number of
seconds, minutes, hours, or other time frame. Additionally, times
may be relative, meaning that updates are scheduled a certain
amount of time since the last update, or using a time clock, such
as every day at noon or whatever time is desired. Furthermore, any
combination of any such updating times may be implemented.
[0042] When it is time to push new channel data to a subscriber,
stream generator 401 accesses subscription database 402 to obtain
the specific subscription and preference information for each of
the subscribers. Using this detailed information, stream generator
401 compiles a stream of channel data from feed storage 106 and
assembles the streams on a per subscriber basis. The
subscriber-specific stream is then transmitted over wireless
network 100 to the appropriate subscriber. FIG. 4 illustrates the
stream for Client 3 being transmitted to mobile unit 400, which
would be Client 3's mobile device
[0043] Stream 403 represents each chunk of channel data and other
information used in the implementation of the updates of the
channels in rich media information service 40. Stream 403
illustrates data chunks for Channel 1, Channel 3, Channel 4, and
Channel M, (i.e., each of the channels that the subscriber has
subscribed to). It also includes chunks labeled App 1-4. App 1-4
represent data chunks for certain channel applications. Each
channel that is displayed to a user on an iMRC comprises two parts:
(1) a channel application, that provides the multimedia, visual
presentation of the channel; and (2) the channel data, which is
used by the channel application to display, not only the visual
aspects of the channel, but the information that the channel
presents.
[0044] Channel applications reside on the mobile device. In some
embodiments, the channel applications may come already installed on
the mobile device, while in other embodiments, the channel
applications are downloaded through data streams, such as stream
403, along with the actual channel data. Periodically, the service
provider may desire to update or change some graphical aspect or
presentation of the channel application. Additionally, as a user
subscribes to new channels, the new channel applications that
facilitate the rich media presentation of the new channel may be
downloaded to the subscriber's mobile device. These changes or
additions may be effected through the transmission of application
data chunks, such as App 1-4 of stream 403. However, because the
visual formatting of each existing channel may not change as much
as the information that the channels present, application data may
be transmitted less frequently.
[0045] It should be noted that information updates of the channel
data may continue to the user's mobile device whether or not the
client-side application of the rich media information service is
activated. Therefore, when a user calls up the client-side
application, all of the information for the various, subscribed-to
channels will be updated with any channel data that was transmitted
during the period in which the client-side application was
deactivated.
[0046] The downloaded channel data also resides on the mobile
device, but is typically stored in a separate location. In general,
the channel data received by the enhanced subscription server from
its data source provider comprises of some kind of data-descriptive
metalanguage, such as extensible markup language (XML) or the like.
This data is then converted into a form compatible with both the
enhanced subscription server and the client-side application. Such
a format could be in a binary form or could be some descriptor
information that is compressed into a smaller space than the
original XML document.
[0047] Turning again to FIG. 4, as stream 403 is received at mobile
unit 400, push engine 202 parses through stream 403 separating the
channel and application data from the stream and placing it in
storage associated with its specific channel or application. Push
engine 202 is shown separating the channel data chunks into the
specific storage blocs of feed store 21 associated with Channel 1,
Channel 3, Channel 4, and Channel M.
[0048] It should be noted that various implementations of version
control may be employed to ensure that the channel updates in
stream 403 are appropriate for the target client. In one
embodiment, a monotonically increasing stamp may be assigned to
various different chronological updates to the channels. As the
user's mobile devices sends its polling signal, authentication
signal, or identification signal, it also sends its version number
of the channel data that it maintains. If the updates at the
enhanced subscription server are later than this version number,
the enhanced subscription server will send each of the updates that
represent versions from the client's version number to the most
recent version on the server. Additional or alternative embodiments
of the present invention may include clocks within each of the
clients and enhanced subscription servers that may be synchronized.
In this application, an actual timestamp may be used to define a
"fresh until" or "delete after" system in which the client drops
the data after a certain time, or an actual chronological time
comparison between the timestamp on the client and the synchronized
clock on the enhanced subscription server. Other various and
additional version control systems may also be used to control the
updating process.
[0049] One of the features of various embodiments of the present
invention is the ability for the rich media service provider to
provide system information to the user. Such system information may
comprise information on available channels for subscription,
promotional channels, information on the various subscriptions that
the user has subscribed to, or other such information. In the
example illustrated in FIG. 4, system feeds 406-1-406-X are shown
being transmitted by enhanced subscription server 105 to mobile
unit 400 over wireless network 100. When system feeds 406-1-406-X
are received at mobile device 400, push engine 202 directs the
system information directly to the system memory locations in feed
store 21, system-1, system-2, and system-X. Channel listing 404 may
tap directly into the line between push engine 202 and feed store
21 to retrieve the information and channel data used in Channel
listing 404.
[0050] In operation with Channel Listing 404, the user may interact
with Channel Listing 404 to select additional channels to subscribe
to. Additionally, each channel may additionally have a properties
interface that would allow the user to set particular preferences
for each individual channel. The information that the user enters
related either to the preferences or new subscriptions may then be
packaged into a data stream, Preferences/Subscription stream 405,
by push engine 202, or other such communication engine that handles
client transmissions, and transmitted to enhanced subscription
server 105. Enhanced subscription server 105 may then note the new
user preference information and subscription information in
subscription database 402 for future compilation of data
streams.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an additional aspect
of rich media information service 40 configured according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The nature of wireless
networks is such that mobile devices are generally not always
connected to a wireless network, such as wireless network 100.
Because the channel data resides within mobile device 400, a user
may access the different, subscribed-to channels even without
having a connection to wireless network 100. However, when a user
desires to enter a preference or add or subtract subscriptions, the
user enters these requests immediately using user interface (UI)
500. Each request entered by the user is stored in transaction
manager 501. If a connection with wireless network 100 exists, the
request is immediately transmitted to client manager 503 on
enhanced subscription server 105. The updated information is then
recorded in active user database 504 and associated with that
particular user.
[0052] If the user enters a transaction request when a connection
to wireless network 100 does not exist, transaction manager 501
stores the requests until such time as the connection is
established. Once established, transaction manager 501
transparently transmits the user request to enhanced subscription
server 105 for update.
[0053] Signaling engine 501 within mobile unit 400 acts much like a
transponder waiting for a signal from enhanced subscription server
105. Periodically, enhanced subscription server 105 may send a
signal to mobile unit 400. A signal may be sent if there is
pertinent information that the service provider desires to provide
to the subscribers or other such information. When the signal from
enhanced subscription server 105 is received by signaling engine
501, mobile unit 400 transmits a signal package to enhanced
subscription server 105. The signal package may include
information, such as the identity of the subscriber or of the
mobile unit that corresponds to the subscriber, the last time that
the client was updated (or other versioning information), and other
similar information. Enhanced subscription server 105 may then use
the signal package to find the subscriber-specific details in
active user database 504. Using those details, updated channel data
and channel application data may be compiled into the
subscriber-specific data streams for transmission to the specific
subscribers.
[0054] In addition to obtaining information based on an initial
signal sent from enhanced subscription server 105, rich media
information system 40 may also transmit the channel data to the
subscribing clients after a polling signal is initiated from the
mobile device, such as mobile unit 400. A polling signal, which may
be generated by transaction manager 501, signals enhanced
subscription server 105 with an identifying signal package. Using
the information in the transmitted signal package, enhanced
subscription server 105 generates the subscriber-specific data
stream for transmission back to mobile unit 400. Thus, enhanced
subscription server 105 may push data for delivering rich media
information to mobile unit 400 either through a signal initiated by
enhanced subscription server 105 or a signal initiated by mobile
unit 400. The user does not control the request or delivery of the
information beyond merely setting preferences or subscribing to
particular rich media channels.
[0055] It should be noted that while the user does not control the
actual delivery of updated information, additional or alternative
embodiments of the present invention may allow the user to set the
polling period for polling signals originating from mobile unit
400. Therefore, the user may have some control over the amount of
airtime used with wireless network 100. However, the user still
does not control the delivery of the channel data. In still further
embodiments, the user may be given a choice of completely turning
off the system, in order to completely conserve airtime in desired
areas. Completely turning off the system would go beyond merely
deactivating the client-side application of the rich media
information service. Merely deactivating the client-side
application would not generally stop enhanced subscription server
105 from transmitting channel data updates.
[0056] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of mobile unit 400 configured
according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. As
described in the example depicted in FIG. 4, mobile unit 400
receives a data stream containing channel data for presentation of
the rich media channels that the user has subscribed to. Push
engine 202 separates the data chunks for the appropriate channels
and stores that channel data in corresponding storage blocks of
feed store 21. As the channels are displayed on display 220, iMAE
211 begins iMRC 215 using the appropriate channel applications
stored in channel application memory 221. IMRC 215 draws the
appropriate channel data from the corresponding storage block for
completing the rich media appearance of the viewed channel.
[0057] In operation, the channel application may only have access
rights to the storage block that corresponds directly to that
channel. This access restriction maintains the security of the
channel data specifically for the particular channel. Similarly,
system feeds and the system channel data within such system feeds
are protected against access by other non-system channels. However,
because system feeds and the system channel applications that use
the system feeds originate with the rich media information service,
system channel applications, such headlines 600, promotions 601,
and channel listings 402, may access any system feed or any system
channel data for purposes of displaying a system channel For
example, while channel listing 402 may directly access channel data
for system-2, which is specifically generated for channel listing
402, and promotions channel 601 may directly access channel data
for system-X, headlines channel 600 may access channel data for
system-1, system-2, and system-X, of which system-1 may contain
channel data concerning the subscriptions to which the user
subscribes to, in order to generate headlines channel 600.
* * * * *