Exchanging data associated with a communication session within a communications system

Abstract

In an embodiment, objects are downloaded to an access terminal (AT) based on which window(s) are prominently displayed on the AT. In another embodiment, objects are downloaded to the AT based on a set of user-specified object download priorities. In another embodiment, a portion of a streaming data session to the AT is de-prioritized in response to a transition of a display of the AT from a first set of windows associated with the streaming data session to a second set of windows associated with a different session. For example, the de-prioritization can result in the portion (e.g., a video-portion of a audio and video conference) being omitted or reduced. In another embodiment, in response to the AT entering a limited environment, objects being downloaded to the AT can be dynamically altered to conform with the AT's limited environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of exchanging data between a first access terminal and a second access terminal in a communications system, comprising:
 receiving, at the first access terminal from the second access terminal, data in conjunction with a streaming communication session, wherein the data is received while a first set of windows of a display of the first access terminal is active and/or prominently displayed on the display;   detecting a transition of the display of the first access terminal from the first set of windows to a second set of windows; and   transmitting, based upon the detected transition, a request to de-prioritize a portion of the streaming communication session associated with the first set of windows.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of windows is associated with a video-portion of the streaming communication session,
 wherein the detected transition corresponds to a detection that the first access terminal is no longer displaying the video-portion of the streaming communication session, and   wherein the transmitted request to de-prioritize corresponds to a request to reduce a rate at which the video-portion of the streaming communication session is received or to stop receipt of the video-portion of the streaming communication session.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 continuing to receive an audio-portion of the streaming communication session after the vide-portion of the streaming communication session is reduced and/or stopped in response to the request to de-prioritize.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a transition of the display of the first access terminal back to the first set of windows; and   transmitting, based upon the detected transition back to the first set of windows, a request to re-prioritize the portion of the streaming communication session associated with the first set of windows.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of windows is associated with a video-portion of the streaming communication session,
 wherein the detected transition back to the first set of windows corresponds to a detection that the first access terminal has resumed an attempt to display the video-portion of the streaming communication session, and   wherein the transmitted request to re-prioritize corresponds to a request to increase a rate at which the video-portion of the streaming communication session is received or to resume receipt of the video-portion of the streaming communication session.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first access terminal from the second access terminal after the transmission of the request to de-prioritize, data in conjunction with a file-transfer session that is separate from the streaming communication session,   wherein the request to de-prioritize is transmitted to increase a rate at which the first terminal receives the data in conjunction with the file-transfer session.   
     
     
         7 . A method of exchanging data between a first access terminal and a second access terminal in a communications system, comprising:
 transmitting data to the first access terminal from an application server arbitrating a streaming communication session between the first and second access terminals;   receiving, from the first access terminal, a request to de-prioritize a portion of the streaming communication session; and   modifying the data being transmitted to the first access terminal in accordance with the de-prioritization request.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the streaming communication session corresponds to a video-portion,
 and wherein the modifying step continues to transmit at least an audio-portion of the streaming communication session.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the modifying step reduces a rate at which the portion of the data is transmitted to the first access terminal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the portion corresponds to a video-portion of the streaming communication session. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the modifying step stops transmitting the portion of the data to the first access terminal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the portion corresponds to a video portion of the streaming communication session. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first access terminal, a request to re-prioritize the portion of the streaming communication session; and   resuming transmission of the portion of the streaming communication session in accordance with a manner in which the portion was transmitted to the first access terminal prior to the modification.   
     
     
         14 . A method of downloading objects to an access terminal, comprising:
 determining to download a plurality of objects to the access terminal;   determining that the access terminal is operating in a limited environment relative to the plurality of objects to be downloaded to the access terminal;   configuring one or more requests for the plurality of objects with an indication that the access terminal is operating in the limited environment;   transmitting the one or more configured requests for the plurality of objects; and   receiving, in response to the one or more transmitted requests, an altered version of the plurality of objects, wherein the altered version of the plurality of objects are altered to conform with the limited environment of the access terminal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the determination that the access terminal is operating in the limited environment relative to the plurality of objects to be downloaded to the access terminal is based on a connection quality indicator received from an application server providing the plurality of objects to the access terminal, or   wherein the determination that the access terminal is operating in the limited environment relative to the plurality of objects to be downloaded to the access terminal corresponds to a first determination that a current operating environment of the access terminal is bandwidth-limited, or   wherein the determination that the access terminal is operating in the limited environment relative to the plurality of objects to be downloaded to the access terminal corresponds to a second determination that a download of the plurality of objects is expected to take longer than a threshold period of time in the current operating environment of the access terminal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of objects are associated with a website or a file-transfer session between the access terminal and another access terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the altered version of the plurality of objects is associated with lower-quality as compared to an un-altered version of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the altered version of the plurality of objects has a lower resolution as compared to the un-altered version of the plurality of objects. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, after the altered version of the plurality of objects are received, an un-altered version of one or more of the plurality of objects.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reception of the un-altered version of the plurality of objects is triggered by (i) the altered version of the plurality of objects completing reception at the access terminal, (ii) entry of the access terminal into a non-limited environment, (iii) and/or after a threshold period of time elapsed following the reception of the altered version of the plurality of objects at the access terminal.