Deployment and Distribution Model for Improved Content Delivery System

Abstract

A deployment and distribution model improves content delivery with a business incentive for placement of kiosks with one or more wireless access points in public locations so that portable media players (PMPs) can receive media content (e.g., audio, video, text, haptic content, etc.). In addition, coordination between subscribing users of PMPs, vendors who provide kiosks, and a network central controller of a content distribution system allow for prepositioning of video content at the kiosks through economically desirable low data rate communication links from the network (e.g., dial-up modem, DSL, etc.); coordinated queuing of downloads (e.g., partial downloads) between kiosk to PMP, peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading between PMPs, and uploads from PMP to kiosk; billing/crediting to correspond with such participation in the distribution; and changing priority/selection of prepositioning of content at kiosks to reflect a clientele profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wirelessly acquiring media content comprising:
 wirelessly initiating a purchase of media content;   receiving, at a mobile device, media content selection from a user via a user interface;   receiving, at the mobile device, authorization to receive selected media in connection with initiating the purchase of media content;   requesting and receiving from a wireless access point, at the mobile device, a first portion of the selected media content;   requesting and receiving, through peer-to-peer communications, at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless communication channel; and   reporting receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller, wherein requesting and receiving said second portion of the selected media content, is accomplished by the user via the user interface in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a provider of the wireless communication channel is another subscribing portable device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying download progress to the user via the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the stored media content for play by a display monitor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the vendor provided access point for media content stored on the subscribing portable device; and   wirelessly uploading the requested media content for receiving a subscriber credit.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a beacon signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising displaying a coverage area indication based on the beacon signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a beacon signal. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for wirelessly acquiring media comprising:
 a memory apparatus; and   at least one processor coupled to said memory apparatus and cooperable therewith to implement:   a first module for receiving media content selection from a user via a user interface;   a second module for wirelessly receiving, at a mobile device, via a wireless access point, a first portion of the selected media content;   a third module for requesting and receiving, in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point, through peer-to-peer communications, at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless communication channel; and   a fourth module for reporting receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer program product for wirelessly acquiring media content, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to,   wirelessly initiate a purchase media content;   receive media content selection from a user via a user interface;   request and receive from a wireless access point, at least a first portion of the selected media content;   request and receive, in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point, through peer-to-peer communications at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless channel; and   report receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for wirelessly acquiring media content comprising:
 means for receiving, at a mobile device, media content selection from a user via a user interface;   means for wirelessly receiving, at the mobile device, authorization to receive, selected media content selected media content in connection with initiating a purchase of media content;   means for requesting and receiving, from a wireless access point, at least a first portion of the selected media content;   means for requesting and receiving, in connection with the mobile device being outside of communication coverage with the wireless access point, through peer-to-peer communications at the mobile device, a second portion of the selected media content from a wireless communication channel; and   means for reporting receipt of at least a portion of the selected media content to a network controller.