Media data transfer

Abstract

Methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices are disclosed. One aspect pertains to data delivery to mobile devices. In one embodiment, a local server is provided at a particular location, such as at an establishment, venue, etc. The local server can operate to locally wirelessly transmit data to mobile devices within its vicinity. Typically, the mobile devices are associated with persons (users) at the particular location. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered. The local server can also provide customized data to the mobile devices, individually or as a group. The customization can be based on location, characteristics, interests, preferences and/or requests of the users of the mobile devices.

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 from a local server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a local wireless network while in the vicinity of an establishment, the method comprising: discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;informing the at least one portable electronic device of at least one available broadcast at the establishment;receiving a selection of the at least one available broadcast available from the local server at the establishment; andtransmitting the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting operates to transmit the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the transmitting comprises streaming the selected at least one available broadcast from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the discovering uses the local wireless network,wherein the informing transmits information pertaining to the at least one available broadcasts from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network, andwherein the receiving receives the selection of the at least one available broadcasts via the local wireless network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the informing causes the at least one portable electronic device to display a list of the at least one available broadcast.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: presenting the selected at least one available broadcast that has been transmitted to the at least one portable electronic device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presenting operates to produce audio output from the at least one portable electronic device, the audio output being associated with the selected at least one available broadcast that has been transmitted to the at least one portable electronic device.

8. A method for delivering data from a local server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a local wireless network while in the vicinity of an establishment, the method comprising: discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;retrieving stored data from the at least one portable electronic device;determining data to be provided from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; andtransmitting the determined data from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the determined data is a selected available broadcast, and wherein the transmitting operates to broadcast or multicast the selected broadcast to at least the at least one portable electronic device.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the discovering uses the local wireless network, andwherein the transmitting operates to transmit the determined data from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the retrieving of the stored data from the at least one portable electronic device is performed via the local wireless network, andwherein the method further comprises: presenting the determined data at the at least one portable electronic device.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the presenting operates to produce audio output from the at least one portable electronic device, the audio output being associated with the determined data.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the determined data is one of a plurality of available broadcasts from the local server.

14. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein retrieved stored data pertains to a preference setting on the at least one portable electronic device.

15. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein retrieved stored data pertains to prior usage of the at least one portable electronic device.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the prior usage is associated with at least one previously received available broadcasts.

17. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the determined data includes at least one electronic file.

18. A method for transmitting media data at an establishment via a local wireless network, the method comprising: retrieving data from at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network;determining media data to be provided at the establishment based on at least the retrieved data; andtransmitting the determined media data over the local wireless network.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieved data pertains to a characteristic, interest, preference or request of a user of the at least one portable electronic device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieved data pertains to a characteristic, interest or preference of a user of the at least one portable electronic device, andwherein the method is automatically performed without any need for user input.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting includes broadcasting is over the local wireless network.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting operates to transmit the determined media data over the local wireless network to the portable electronic device and at least one other portable electronic device at the establishment.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitting comprises streaming the determined media data over the local wireless network to at least the portable electronic device.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieving comprises: discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment; andsubsequently retrieving the data from the at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the discovering is performed using the local wireless network.

26. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the retrieving comprises: discovering the at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the establishment;receiving a data request from the portable electronic device, the request being initiated by the user of the portable electronic device; andsubsequently, in response to the data request, retrieving the data from the at least one portable electronic device at the establishment via the local wireless network.

27. A method for delivering data to a portable electronic device via a local wireless network provided at a location, the method comprising: determining whether the portable electronic device is proximate to the location;identifying data to be delivered to the portable electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the data pertains to the location; anddelivering the identified data to the portable electronic device over the local wireless network.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the method can operate automatically or on request from a user of the portable electronic device.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the location is an airport, and wherein at least a portion of the data content pertains to flight information.

30. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the location is an entertainment venue providing at least a particular entertainment, and wherein at least a portion of the data content pertains to the particular entertainment at the entertainment venue.

31. A method for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the method comprising: discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;retrieving device data from the portable electronic device;determining server data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the device data; anddelivering the server data to the portable electronic device over the wireless network.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server is a local server, and the wireless network is a local wireless network.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the retrieved stored data includes at least an identifier.

34. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the location is associated with an establishment.

35. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the determined data is an electronic file.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic file is an electronic media file.

37. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device comprises: determining whether a user of the portable electronic device is a participant to an electronic subscription service; anddetermining whether there is any subscription related data to be delivered to the portable electronic device for the user.

38. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein prior to the delivering, the method further comprises determining whether the user of the portable electronic device approves the delivery of the server data.

39. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the device data pertains to a characteristic, interest or preference of a user of the portable electronic device, andwherein the server data is determined based on the device data.

40. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server data is media data stored electronically in an electronic file.

41. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the server data is delivered without charge to the user of the portable electronic device.

42. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a local wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;computer program code for informing the at least one portable electronic device of a plurality of available channels at the location;computer program code for receiving a selection of one of the available channels available at the location; andcomputer program code for transmitting the selected one of the available channels from the server to the at least one portable electronic device using the local wireless network.

43. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a local wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for discovering at least one portable electronic device in the vicinity of the location;computer program code for retrieving stored data from the at least one portable electronic device via the local wireless network;computer program code for determining data to be provided from the local server to the at least one portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; andcomputer program code for transmitting the determined data from the server to the at least one portable electronic device using the local wireless network.

44. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for presenting media content at a location via a local wireless network provided at the establishment, the computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for retrieving data from at least one portable electronic device at the location via the local wireless network;computer program code for determining media content to be presented at the location based on at least the retrieved data; andcomputer program code for causing the determined media content to be presented at the location.

45. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivering data content to a portable electronic device while at a location via a local wireless network provided at the location, the computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for determining whether the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the location;computer program code for determining data content to be delivered to the portable electronic device, at least a portion of the data content pertaining to the location; andcomputer program code for delivering the determined data content to the portable electronic device over the local wireless network while at the location.

46. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for delivery of data from a server to at least one portable electronic device that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of a particular location;computer program code for retrieving stored data from the portable electronic device via the wireless network;computer program code for determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; andcomputer program code for delivering the determined data from the server to the portable electronic device over the wireless network.

47. A portable electronic device capable of interacting with a wireless network at an establishment, 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 receive at least one available channel that is available from the wireless network at the establishment, to receive a selection of the at least one available channels available via the wireless network at the establishment, and to receive a wireless transmission of the selected available channel over the wireless network at the establishment via the wireless communication circuitry.

48. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 47, wherein the selection of the at least one available channels available via the wireless network is provided via the user input device.

49. A computing device for transmitting data from a server to at least one portable electronic devices that can couple to a wireless network while at a location, the computing device comprising: a data storage device that stores computer program code, the computer program code includes computer program code for discovering a portable electronic device in the vicinity of a particular location; computer program code for retrieving stored data from the portable electronic device via the wireless network; computer program code for determining data to be provided from the server to the portable electronic device based on the retrieved stored data; and computer program code for delivering the determined data from the server to the portable electronic device over the wireless network; anda processor, operatively connected to the data storage device, for processing the computer program stored in the data storage device.