This invention relates to mobile devices and, more particularly but not exclusively, to delivering content to mobile devices.
User interest in exchanging information and entertainment related data over the mobile devices is high in emerging markets. Mobile applications that deliver rich multimedia content over the cellular networks are widely available. However, such mobile applications have not yet taken off in the markets due to several problems. Present mechanisms face insufficient network capacity for delivering rich media content due to lack of pervasive 3G infrastructure. Even in case of 3G systems, there are problems associated with handling large number of users when transmitting rich media content. In addition, operators prefer to add more customers for a particular service rather than adding new and improved innovative services, since addition of innovative services adds to the cost on the operator side (especially if the services have to be priced low to attach large number of users). Cost to end customers for such innovative services is also high and not desirable.
Several mechanisms are employed for real time delivery of data and media content to mobile devices. Some systems deliver internet content such as multimedia and so on over the air. User experience is poor in such systems. Coupled with higher costs, usage of such systems is very low.
Mobile TV services broadcast a few channels to users over the air. Services like Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) or MediaFlo deliver few channels as chosen by the operator. F-L-O in MediaFlo stands for forward link only. Data transmission in such systems is only one way i.e., downloads only. Personalized content delivery or sharing and uploading content is not possible in broadcast networks.
Content can also be delivered over the internet in uplink and downlink directions. With 2G, 2.5G and even 3G networks, only a small number of users in dense urban areas can be served with such a bandwidth-hungry service. Over-the-air centralized radio access network (single base station serving a large number of users) remains the limiting bottleneck.
Further, users can download and upload content through the internet and share it with other users through a Personal Computer (PC). The link to the PC can be either wireless over Bluetooth or wired over a cable. However, this requires the user to own a PC and an internet connection. PC and broadband penetration remains very low in emerging markets like India.
Users can also upload or download content through a WiFi hotspot. Transferring large amounts of media from a mobile device over WiFi is not battery friendly. With such hotspots, storage conservation and backhaul costs are important problems that need to be addressed. In order to address such problems, appropriate caching strategies need to be developed.
There exist a few ventures based on serving a small quantity of local content from Bluetooth kiosks. The content includes shopping coupons, promotional clips and so on. Such limited content services can rely on a limited backhaul network, or even content being loaded locally at the kiosk from other media like DVDs. In such services, large amount of diverse content personalized to each user is to be downloaded, uploaded and shared among users. Hence, such services require several optimizations in the content delivery infrastructure to make the service scalable and cost effective.
Another point to note is that the design of cellular networks is progressing towards a “small-cell” architecture. Having cells covering a much smaller area than current day macro-cells allows much greater spatial reuse of radio resources, and allows the network to support many more users.
However, one issue with the existing approach is that given the short-range between a mobile and the access point the throughput of the radio interface can be higher or comparable to the backhaul link of the access point. In fact considering that the number of serving-cells anticipated in such an architecture will be much larger that standard cellular networks, and each such cell requires its own backhaul link, keeping the overall costs of network backhaul will be essential. Thus implying that the backhaul capacity of each of these points will be a bottleneck in the design of such networks.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings.
A content server in a communication network provided with at least one means configured for identifying contents preferred by user of mobile device fetching contents from interne, identifying access points in the vicinity of mobile device and transmitting the contents to the identified access points. The content server identifies user preferred contents based on any one of preferences of user, history of contents sent to the user, contents downloaded by friends of the user and communities of interest to the user. The content refers to one or more of audio, video, movies, data and images. The mobile device is a wireless communication device like a cell phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The content server identifies an access point based on location of user of mobile device.
An access point in a communication network configured with at least one means for receiving contents transmitted from content server based on user preference patterns through backhaul network link prior to user making any request, storing contents in a memory storage device and transmitting contents to mobile device. The content is sent to an access point by identifying mobility patterns of a user of the mobile device. The content is transmitted from access point to user of mobile device, when user of mobile device is in the vicinity of access point. The content is transmitted from access point to user of the mobile device, when user of mobile device makes a request for content to access point. The access points provide content to the mobile devices using one of Bluetooth, infrared and femtocell.
A method for fetching and delivering content in a communication network comprising steps of a content server identifying content preferred by a user of a mobile device based on user preference details maintained by the content server. The content server fetches user preferred contents from internet, content server identifying an access point closest to the user, content server sending contents to access point prior to the user making any request for the content and the access point delivering content to mobile device of user. The method identifies the content preferred by the user of mobile device from at least one of requests made by user, social networks created by user device, history of downloads of user, contents downloaded by friends of user. The method wherein content is sent to an access point by identifying mobility patterns of a user of mobile device. The content is fetched to an appropriate access point when user of mobile makes a request for content.
A system for fetching and caching content in a communication network comprising a content server configured for identifying contents preferred by user based on user preference details maintained by the content server. Further, the content server fetching user preferred contents from internet, content server identifying appropriate access point in the vicinity of the user. Access point configured for storing contents preferred by user earlier to user making a request for contents and access point transmitting the contents to the user.
Some embodiments of apparatus and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The embodiments herein achieve a method for adaptively pre-fetching and caching content to mobile device by providing a system and method thereof. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
A system and method for pre-fetching and caching content to users of a mobile device is disclosed. Content is delivered to a user via serving cells. To achieve scalability in delivering rich content to mobile devices, the size of the serving cells is reduced. Since the size of serving cells is reduced, it is possible to have a large number of serving cells of small radius spread over a wide area. Each serving cell may have a dedicated network backhaul and may act as an access point. Access point is a device that allows other devices to communicate with it and enables other devices to access contents stored at the access point. Communication can take place either through wired means or wireless means. The access points have a small service area for which the access points can provide their service. The small service area of access points allows users of mobile device to use short range communication means to access the content from the access points. Short range communication means can include Bluetooth, Infrared, femtocells and so on.
Content can be delivered to mobile devices in two steps. At first, predicting where to pre-fetch the content i.e., to determine the access point to which content is to be fetched. An access point that is in close vicinity to the mobile device is chosen to pre-fetch the content. Further, the content to be fetched to the access point is determined. The content to be fetched may be determined based on the user preferences. Content can refer to audio, video, data, text and combination of the same. To pre-fetch the content to appropriate access point, mobility patterns of the users of mobile device may be identified. Mining of mobility points of user may help the network to identify the likeliest access point to be visited by the user, and pre-fetch the content to that particular access point. User preferred contents can be determined by observing sharing patterns of the user, social networks that the user is registered and the like.
Once the preferences of user are determined, the data regarding user preferences is stored on the content server. The content server then sends the contents to appropriate access points through a wired backhaul network. The content is cached at the access point. On occurrence of an event, the content is transferred to the user. Event may be defined as a request from the user to upload or download content or the access point pushing the content preferred by the user. When the user of a mobile device comes in the vicinity of the access point the content is delivered to the user. The content may be delivered to user via a wireless link.
The content fetched from the content server 101 is sent to access point 103 via wired backhaul network 102. Wired backhaul network 102 is a part of the transmission network that acts as a medium for transmission of content. Backhaul network 103 comprises the intermediate links between the core components of the network and small sub components at the edge of the network. The content is sent through the wired backhaul link 102 to the chosen access point 103.
The access points 103 on receiving content from the backhaul link 102 stores or caches the content. The access point 103 is provided with a content delivery system. The content delivery system delivers the content to user's mobile device 104. Access points 103 are equipped with logic to track the user and keep a record of the content the user accesses. Over a period of time, based on content delivered, logic on the access point 103 determines how frequent and for how much period of time the user is available in its vicinity. When the user is near the access point 103, mobile device 104 of the user uploads usage statistics for various contents delivered to the user's mobile device 104. Based on the statistics, the content delivery system learns the content preferred by the user. The content delivery system also learns about the friends of a particular user based on the persons with whom the user shares his content frequently. Further, the access points 103 co-operate with each other i.e., one access point 103 can continue with uploads or downloads where the previous access point 103 left off.
When a user is in the vicinity of a particular access point 103, the access point 103 delivers content to the user's mobile device 104. The content may be delivered via short range wireless means such as Bluetooth, Infrared and the like.
The database 201 on the content server 101 stores the fetched contents. Database 201 is an integration of logically related records or files, which consolidates records previously stored in separate files into a common pool of data records that provides data for many applications. A database 201 is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. In one view, databases may be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric, and images. The structure is achieved by organizing the data according to a database model. The contents fetched from the internet may be organized and stored in the database 201. When the content is to be transmitted to the access points 103, content is fetched from the database 201 and delivered to the access point 103.
The file system 202 may be a method for storing and organizing computer files and the data they contain to make it easy to find and access them. File systems 202 may use a data storage device such as a hard disk or CD-ROM and involve maintaining the physical location of the files, they might provide access to data on a file server by acting as clients for a network protocol (e.g., NFS, SMB, or 9P clients), or they may be virtual and exist only as an access method for virtual data distinguished from a directory service and registry. A file system 202 may be a special-purpose database 201 for the storage, organization, manipulation, and retrieval of data. Some of the contents fetched by the content server 101 from the internet are organized as a file system 202 and stored. A file system 202 can be used to organize content and represent access to any content, whether the content be stored or dynamically generated.
The cache 203 may be used for temporary storage of fetched content. A cache 203 may be used for storing content in cases where storage on some other storage means may be expensive due to longer time taken in accessing the stored content. Cache 203 may be defined as a temporary storage area where frequently accessed data can be stored for rapid access. Once the content is stored in the cache 203, the content can be used in the future by accessing the cached copy rather than re-fetching or re-computing the original data. Fetching content form cache 203 is easier then the memory storage devices or components.
The routing table 304 comprises lists of details of the location where the mobile device 104 is located. The routing table 304 is constructed by using information supplied when the access point 103 is configured at the time of installation. The processor 302 forwards fetched contents to the switch 301. The switch 301 then forwards the contents to the user device 104 using an air interface. The switch 301 also receives the content sent by the user device 101 and forwards the content to the processor 302 for further processing. The list of authorized access points 103 for a user device 104 is received by the processor 302. The processor 302 determines the address and location of the user device 104, before forwarding the content to the user device 104 using the switch 301. When a user's mobile device 104 is in the vicinity of an access point 103, the processor 302 verifies if the user device 104 is accessible to the access point 103 for transmitting content to the user's mobile device 104. If the user's mobile device 104 is accessible to the access point 103, the access point 103 will send content to the user's mobile device 104.
Access points 103 over a period of time may obtain the statistics of content uploaded or downloaded by the college student. The logic on the access point 103 may determine type of content a particular college student may be interested in by examining the statistics on history of content accessed by the college student. In addition, the student can also specify some content of preference such as regional films, movie releases, shopping sales, classical music, news updates and the like. The logic on access points 103 also determines friends of college student, based on whom she shares content with frequently. Based on the student's content preferences and usage, as well as her mobility patterns, the access points 103 frequented by her can pre-fetch and cache content of her liking, or content shared by her friends. All the contents fetched by the content server 101 may be sent to the access point 103. The access point 103 caches the content for delivering the content to the college student.
When the college student is in the vicinity of the access point 103, the mobile device 104 of the student uploads usage statistics of different contents delivered to her mobile device 104. The content is transferred from the access point 103 to the mobile device 104 of the college student. In an embodiment, access points 103 work co-operatively meaning that access points 103 can continue with the uploads or downloads from where the previous access point 103 left off. In an example, if the student is downloading a movie from one access point and moves away from that particular access point 103 when the download is 60% complete. Further, the student can download the remaining 40% of the movie from the next access point 103, when she comes in the vicinity of the access point 103. The student can also link her social networking with the content delivery system. In such a case, when the student creates new content such as photos, video and the like on her social network the same content can preemptively be fetched at the access points 103 frequented by her friends. The fetched content can be shared among her network of friends.
The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The functions of the various elements shown in the
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2714CHE2009 | Nov 2009 | IN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP10/66846 | 11/4/2010 | WO | 00 | 11/16/2012 |