Unlimited Access to Media and Applications Over Wireless Infrastructure

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for providing unlimited access to either or both of media content, such as music, and applications. A media server environment can be provided, which maintains an instance of each subscriber account, a central archive of media content, and an application catalog. Selected media content can be downloaded to, and stored locally at, a subscriber device, such as on a secure storage device. Also, selected applications can be locally installed on the subscriber device. Access to the local media content and locally installed applications can be controlled through the media server environment based on the status of the subscriber's account. If the subscriber's account becomes inactive, access to the downloaded media content and installed applications can be disabled. Once the subscriber's account is reactivated, access to the downloaded media content and applications can be restored.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 maintaining, at a server comprising a processor, an instance of a subscriber account associated with a mobile communications device, wherein the instance of the subscriber account reflects a state of the mobile communications device;   determining, by the processor, a change in the instance of the subscriber account, wherein the change in the instance of the subscriber account is associated with an item of media content accessible via the server; and   in response to determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account, updating, by the processor via a push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account comprises determining that a play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises delivering, via the push service to the mobile communications device, the item of the media content added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises deleting, from the mobile communications device, the item of the media content removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the push service is performed over-the-air between the server and the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         8 . A server comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
 maintaining an instance of a subscriber account associated with a mobile communications device, wherein the instance of the subscriber account reflects a state of the mobile communications device, 
 determining a change in the instance of the subscriber account, wherein the change in the instance of the subscriber account is associated with an item of media content accessible via the server, and 
 in response to determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account, updating, via a push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account. 
   
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account comprises determining that a play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed. 
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises delivering, via the push service to the mobile communications device, the item of the media content added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises deleting, from the mobile communications device, the item of the media content removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the push service is performed over-the-air between the server and the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible computer readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by a processor of a server, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 maintaining an instance of a subscriber account associated with a mobile communications device, wherein the instance of the subscriber account reflects a state of the mobile communications device;   determining a change in the instance of the subscriber account, wherein the change in the instance of the subscriber account is associated with an item of media content accessible via the server; and   in response to determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account, updating, via a push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining the change in the instance of the subscriber account comprises determining that a play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed. 
     
     
         17 . The tangible computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises delivering, via the push service to the mobile communications device, the item of the media content added to the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device has changed comprises determining that the item of the media content has been removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         20 . The tangible computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein updating, via the push service, the mobile communications device such that the state of the mobile communications device matches the instance of the subscriber account comprises deleting, from the mobile communications device, the item of the media content removed from the play list maintained by the server and subscribed to by the mobile communications device.