Media data exchange, transfer or delivery for portable electronic devices

Abstract

Methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices are disclosed. One aspect pertains to data delivery to electronic devices that are portable, such as, mobile devices. In one embodiment, one mobile device discovers another mobile device within its vicinity. The mobile devices can then wirelessly transmit data from one mobile device to the other. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data exchange system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a data exchange environment according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a media exchange system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a peer-to-peer media sharing arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate wireless media sharing in a peer-to-peer environment according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a wireless media sharing system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a block diagram of a distributed wireless data sharing system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a dynamic media selection process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a patron discovery process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a broadcast selection process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary local broadcast screen according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are flow diagrams of a media channel selection process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a subscription data delivery process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13A is an exemplary subscription data availability screen according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13B is an exemplary subscription data availability screen according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a localized data delivery process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15A is a flow diagram of a mobile media update process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15B illustrates an exemplary representation of an existing set of media items stored in a mobile media device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15C illustrates an exemplary representation of an updated set of media items stored in a mobile media device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of data to a portable electronic device from another electronic device, the method comprising: discovering the another electronic device via a wireless network;requesting data from the another electronic device over the wireless network; andreceiving from the another electronic device a wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested via the wireless network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, when said discovering operates to discover the another electronic device, the another electronic device is in the vicinity of the portable electronic device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises: establishing a wireless connection between the portable electronic device and the another electronic device through the wireless network; andreceiving a transmission of data from the another electronic device to the portable electronic device via the wireless connection established through the wireless network.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the wireless network is a peer-to-peer network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in the data is media data.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the media data pertains to a song.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a local area wireless network.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the data requested that is received at the portable electronic device is dependent on at least one data exchange restriction at the another electronic device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one data exchange restriction is user configurable.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said requesting further provides preference information or profile information associated with the portable electronic device.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least a portion of the data requested that is received at the portable electronic device from the another electronic device is dependent on data exchange restrictions at the another electronic device.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested is automatically performed on the another electronic device.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data request causes a user interface to be presented on the another electronic device, and wherein the wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested is dependent on user interaction with the user interface.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested is automatically performed on the another electronic device.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: presenting a user interface at the portable electronic device, andwherein said requesting of the data is performed in response to user interaction with the user interface at the portable electronic device.

16. A method for delivery of data to a portable electronic device from another electronic device, the method comprising: discovering the another electronic device via a wireless network;receiving information associated with the another electronic device over the wireless network;determining data to be shared with the another electronic device based on the received information; andtransmitting the data to be shared to the another electronic device.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the received information is profile information pertaining to a user of the another electronic device.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the received information is preference information.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the received information associated with the another electronic device is automatically transmitted over the wireless network after the another electronic device is discovered.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the data to be shared is stored on the portable electronic device, and wherein said determining of the data to be shared is dependent on sharing restrictions associated with the portable electronic device.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the sharing restrictions are associated with the received information.

22. A method for sharing data from a portable electronic device from at least one other electronic device, the method comprising: connecting to a wireless network; andtransmitting profile information from the portable electronic device to the at least one other electronic device over the wireless network.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises: subsequently transmitting data from the portable electronic device to the another electronic device over the wireless network.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the profile information includes a user profile.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the profile information includes at least one media preference.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the data is a media item selected in accordance with the at least one media preference.

27. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data to a portable electronic device from another electronic device, said computer readable medium including at least: computer program code for identifying that the another electronic device is within the vicinity of the portable electronic device;computer program code for requesting data from the another electronic device over a wireless link; andcomputer program code for receiving from the another electronic device a wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested via the wireless link.

28. A portable electronic device capable of interacting with another portable electronic device in a wireless manner, comprising: wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication over a wireless link;a user input device; anda processor operatively connected to the wireless communication circuitry and the user input device, the processor being configured to discover the another electronic device via a wireless link; request data from the another electronic device over the wireless link; and receive from the another electronic device a wireless transmission of at least a portion of the data requested via the wireless link.

29. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 28, when said processor operates to discover the another portable electronic device, the another portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the portable electronic device.

30. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 28, wherein said processor is further configured to receive a data request from the another portable electronic device via the wireless link, and transmit at least a portion of data requested to the another portable electronic device via the wireless link.

31. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the at least a portion of the data requested that is transmitted to the another portable electronic device is dependent on at least one data exchange restriction at said portable electronic device.

32. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 31, wherein the at least one data exchange restriction is user configurable.

33. A method for acquiring media items for storage on a portable electronic device, the method comprising: accessing a remote media depository via a data network;requesting a set of media items from the remote media depository; andreceiving and storing the set of media items at the portable electronic device over the data network.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the set of media items are selected by taking into consideration one or more of the following factors: user ratings, play counts, genre, play history, time and location, andwherein the set of media items being received are those media items that have been determined to be authorized for use by the portable electronic device or its user.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein authorization for use is determined dependent upon an account associated with the portable media device or its user.

36. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein said method further comprises: receiving at least one instruction at the portable electronic device over the data network.

37. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein the at least one instruction directs deletion of at least one of the media items previously stored on the portable media device prior to storage of the set of media items.