(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0245243 A1
`Zuniga
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`US 2005.0245243A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS
`DELIVERY OF AUDIO CONTENT OVER
`WIRELESS HIGH SPEED DATA NETWORKS
`
`(76)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Michael A. Zuniga, Fairfax, VA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`JONES DAY
`222 EAST 41ST ST
`NEW YORK, NY 10017 (US)
`Appl. No.:
`
`Filed:
`
`10/835,391
`Apr. 28, 2004
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. Cl. .............................................. H04M 11/10
`U.S. Cl. ..................................... 455/414.3; 455/414.1
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A system and method that facilitate efficient use of 3G
`high-speed data networks while providing for personalized
`audio content Selection and coordinated distribution of
`Selected content are disclosed. The invention categorizes
`audio content to be delivered over wireless networks Such
`that the categories correspond to a different delivery priority.
`In an illustrative three-category implementation, category 1
`content has the highest delivery priority for delivery as Soon
`as possible, category 2 content has the next highest delivery
`priority for delivery, and category 3 content, Such as music,
`audio books and So on, has the least urgent delivery priority.
`The categories are used to coordinate audio content delivery
`to efficiently use available bandwidth and network resources
`by delivering content at off-peak times. The invention also
`allows the downloading process to be interruptible Such that
`it can be resumed at about the point of an interruption to
`COSCWC (CSOUCCS.
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`100
`Ya
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`Audio Content Provider
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`104
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`121
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`103
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`117
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`GGSNISGSN
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`102
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`116
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`
`
`-1-
`
`Amazon v. Audio Pod
`US Patent 10,805,111
`Amazon EX-1071
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 3, 2005 Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 3, 2005 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 3, 2005 Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
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`WEBSITE
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`S. WEB site and (i)
`elect Content and/or (ii)
`Create optional playback
`profile
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`Submit Content
`Request
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`310
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`Create an URP Data File for
`each Request
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`Deliver URP Data File to
`Regional Servers
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`3G Network lodentifies/
`Authenticates User
`equipment and establishes
`data link to regional wireless
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Nov. 3, 2005 Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 3, 2005 Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
`
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR WIRELESS
`DELIVERY OF AUDIO CONTENT OVER
`WIRELESS HIGH SPEED DATA NETWORKS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0001. The invention relates to the field of delivering
`digital entertainment media to mobile users.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002 Third generation (3G) cellular systems offer high
`Speed data Services to mobile customers that are expected to
`enable Subscribers to acceSS web sites of interest, and to Send
`and receive e-mail, text, audio content, and other multimedia
`content. The provision of audio content is a Service that
`attracts discerning Subscribers who are relatively intolerant
`of poor quality reception. Moreover, individual preferences
`tend to vary Significantly for Specific audio content. Thus
`customization of audio content coupled with the delivery of
`high quality audio content is an attractive inducement to
`potential Subscribers of wireleSS Services.
`0003. The existing audio distribution models either can
`not be Sufficiently customized, as in the case of radio, or
`require Significant investment of time, Such as in copying
`tapes and CDS for replaying in an automobile. Additional
`audio distribution methods being considered, Such as audio
`streaming and the downloading of audio files, such as MP3
`files, on demand consume significant network resources and
`wireleSS bandwidth at times of peak usage resulting in a
`requirement for providing exceSS capacity to meet Sudden
`increases in demand for Satisfactory Service.
`0004 Quality audio streaming requires about 100 kilobits
`per second (Kbps) per audio stream. Thus, audio (as well as
`Video streaming) during daytime and early evening hours
`will likely require Significant wireleSS bandwidth and net
`work resources, which would be underused at other times.
`Thus, providing quality audio via Streaming audio will
`necessarily be expensive if each consumer were allowed to
`individually customize the content.
`0005. As an example, consider a metropolitan area with
`potentially hundreds of thousand mobile users who might
`download MP3 audio files over the 3G network while
`commuting. If, on average, each user attempts to download
`about fifteen minutes of high quality MP3 audio content
`corresponding to about 115 Mbits of data, then 100,000
`users would require the delivery of 11.5 Trillion bits of data
`during a Small time period. This is a challenge during peak
`network usage hours. Thus, cell Sites Serving the primary
`commuter routes used by the mobile users or Serving certain
`lunchtime locations and the like would be Severely stressed,
`resulting in un-acceptably long audio file downloads or even
`the inability to meet the demand for the downloads.
`0006. In addition to streaming audio, audio files, such as
`MP3 files, are often distributed from web sites over the
`Internet using the file transfer protocol (FTP). Again, in the
`wireleSS context, the transfer of Such files is likely to
`contribute to quality of Service problems during times of
`peak use of cellular voice Services (Such times generally
`being daytime and early evening hours). The resulting
`network congestion caused by Such peak demands may
`disrupt cellular voice Services, the audio file transferS or
`both. Providing Sufficient capacity to meet Such peak
`
`demand will again result in underuse of a significant fraction
`of the network resources during off-peak times.
`0007. The investment risks associated with building and
`deploying the infrastructure underlying 3G specification and
`other high data rate content delivery technologies increase
`with underused capacity. In addition, the actual Success and
`widespread adoption of the 3G wireleSS Specification may be
`of limited appeal to more cost-Sensitive consumers. Wide
`variations in demand under content delivery models being
`considered presently result from the use of the 3G high
`Speed data networks essentially as passive pipes. Thus, a
`different more intelligent content distribution mechanism is
`needed for efficient use of 3G and other high-speed data
`networks.
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`0008. The present invention provides methods and sys
`tems that efficiently use 3G high-Speed data networks to
`provide and coordinate personalized audio content Selection
`and distribution.
`0009. An exemplary system for providing audio content
`comprises means for presenting a plurality of audio Seg
`ments, means for authenticating user equipment prior to
`downloading audio content to the user equipment, a Server
`for Storing Selected audio Segments, and means for Sending
`a particular Stored audio Segment in accordance with a
`category associated with the particular Stored audio Seg
`ment. One or more of these means may be implemented in
`Software, hardware, or a combination thereof. The means for
`presenting a plurality of audio Segments includes, for
`example, a web-page, a menu accessible by Voice com
`mands, print media and the like. The System may further
`comprise a Software agent for waking a sleeping client
`device So that it can accept audio content.
`0010. In one aspect of the present invention, regional
`wireleSS Servers are positioned in the 3G high-Speed data
`network to allow an audio Service provider to Store and
`regularly update a large and diverse collection of audio
`content. An exemplary client device comprises data receiv
`ing/transmitting means, Such as a 3G high Speed medium,
`data Storage means, Such as a large capacity micro-hardrive,
`and computing means, Such as a central processing unit
`(CPU). The computing means may advantageously control
`the content download process as well as the Storage and
`playback of content. An exemplary client device for receiv
`ing and playing audio content comprises means for receiving
`audio content from an authorized network node, Storage
`means for Storing the received audio content, user interface
`means for presenting Stored audio content for playback
`Selection and playback means for Outputting audio content.
`0011. An exemplary method for providing audio content
`by a wireleSS Service provider compriseS receiving a Selec
`tion of an audio Segment, Storing the Selected audio Segment
`at an intermediate node, and downloading the audio Segment
`in accordance with a delivery priority to a client device.
`0012. The audio content may comprise one or more audio
`Segments, each being, for example, a complete audio pro
`gram or track. The audio Segment may be categorized by
`asSociating it with one of three categories, each of which
`corresponds to a different delivery priority. The three cat
`egories are discussed only to illustrate the invention and do
`
`-8-
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`

`

`US 2005/0245243 A1
`
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`not limit the invention in any way Since more than three
`categories could also be employed. Less may pose a prob
`lem Since there is prior art that allows breaking news to be
`delivered by interrupting an ongoing program.
`0013 Category 1 applies to content that should be deliv
`ered as Soon as possible, for example, within the hour if not
`minutes. Such content could include dangerous weather
`conditions, emergency or breaking newS alerts.
`0.014 Category 2 applies to content that should be deliv
`ered relatively quickly (but not as quickly as category 1
`content) within hours. Such content could include daily
`news headlines, Sports news, weather and So on. In Some
`cases, category 2 content, Such as the morning news, news
`in general, weather and traffic, may be required to be
`delivered by no later than a specified time. Category 2
`content may also be recurring in nature in that the Similar
`updated Selections of content are likely to be delivered
`periodically, for example, each day, twice a day, every hour
`and So on.
`0.015
`Finally, category 3 applies to content that is not
`urgent and does not change frequently. Such content may
`include music, audio books and So on. Category 3 content
`may accordingly have a relatively low delivery priority.
`Category 3 content may also require Significant bandwidth
`and may be less amenable to reduction in audio quality.
`0016. In another aspect of the invention, audio content
`may be stored on a server for different lengths of time
`depending on its category. Such Stored audio content may
`comprise an audio Segment Sent to the Server in response to
`a request for the audio Segment. Such a request may be made
`either at a user interface (or a gateway) provided by the
`wireleSS Service provider or at an audio content provider's
`site directly with delivery being via the wireless network,
`which network Stores the content on the Server in the course
`of making the delivery.
`0.017. In another aspect of the invention, the wireless
`Service provider may provide an interface or gateway for
`Selecting audio content from one or more audio content
`providers. Audio content may be presented, without limita
`tion, on a web-page, a printed page, over a Voice telephone
`link, and via a cellular voice Service connection. A customer
`may Subscribe to a Service for periodic delivery of audio
`content, or custom order individual audio Selections, or
`receive a particular audio Segment as part of a bundle with
`non-audio Services, or receive audio content as part of a
`package of media content. Upon receiving a request for an
`audio Segment, a user request-playback data file may be
`created or updated by the Server.
`0.018 Audio content is delivered in accordance with the
`invention via a dynamic pipeline. In particular, in accor
`dance with the present invention, wireleSS Service provider
`does not merely pass audio content from a content provider
`to a user. Instead it takes into account a delivery priority, and
`optionally other considerations, to efficiently use bandwidth
`and other network resources for delivering content.
`0019. A method of using a dynamic pipeline may com
`prise receiving an audio Segment for delivery to a user
`equipment and executing a user request-playback file related
`to the received audio Segment. Executing the user request
`playback file may require determining a category for the
`audio Segment and delivering the audio Segment to the client
`
`device in accordance with the determined category. Such a
`client device may be a receiver in an automobile or a mobile
`device carried by a user.
`0020. In another aspect of the invention, the delivery of
`audio content can be resumed at about the point of a prior
`interruption in delivery. This capability leads to better band
`width use and reduces or eliminates the need to transmit
`large audio Segments to a client device. To this end, an
`identifier is assigned to the audio Segment and the audio
`Segment is broken into Several audio files. If the download
`process is disrupted, then only the disrupted audio files
`needs to be resent. This reduces the overhead of having to
`resend the entire audio Segment and makes the downloading
`process interruptible with a Small increase in the Overhead.
`The interruptible downloads may result in downloading a
`given audio Segment during two or more Spaced apart time
`intervals.
`0021. The customer, the wireless service provider or
`another entity may thus attach a category designation to an
`audio Segment to Specify, for example, a time prior to which
`the audio Segment must be delivered, a category for the
`delivery of the audio Segment, a time period during which
`the audio Segment can be delivered, and/or an order in which
`the audio Segment must be delivered. The order may specify
`an audio Segment or file to be delivered first, an audio
`Segment or file to be delivered last, a preceding audio
`Segment, and an audio Segment that follows another audio
`Segment or file. Default queuing strategies Such as first in
`first out (FIFO) or last in first out (LIFO) may be deployed
`as well. Further, a Schedule for downloading may include
`immediate or periodic downloading, delivery during a speci
`fied time interval, Specified So that a client device is Sched
`uled to be ready to receive downloads, delivery during low
`usage of a wireleSS network, or delivery in response to
`detecting availability of low cost bandwidth. In addition,
`ordering of audio Segments, for instance for playback, may
`also be undertaken, by a user after delivery or when Select
`ing the audio content.
`0022. Some wireless service providers may elect to price
`downloads based on the time of the day to encourage use of
`resources that otherwise may be underutilized in off-peak
`hours. Thus, the ability to detect a period of low cost
`bandwidth availability may advantageously trigger down
`loading of audio content. In addition, automated authenti
`cation allows downloading to commence or resume in
`response to Successfully authenticating a client device.
`0023 The invention is further described in detail below
`with the help of the following illustrative figures.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`0024 FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of a 3G high
`Speed data transfer network in which the present invention
`can be deployed.
`0025 FIG. 2 is an illustrative flow chart of a process
`performed by an audio content provider.
`0026 FIG. 3 is an illustrative flow chart of subscriber
`browsing and related activities.
`0027 FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating processes per
`formed by a regional network node in accordance with the
`present invention.
`
`-9-
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`US 2005/0245243 A1
`
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`0028 FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process per
`formed by at a user equipment in accordance with the
`present invention.
`0029 FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the playback of
`downloaded audio content by a user equipment.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0030 The present invention takes advantage of periods of
`low network traffic or cheap access rates to coordinate
`delivery of audio content Such that available resources are
`used efficiently. It enables wireleSS Service providers, poS
`sibly in conjunction with the audio content provider, to
`create reasonably priced audio content Selection and deliv
`ery Services for greater consumer appeal. For example, in a
`three-category model, in return for paying a reasonable
`monthly fee, a user may be able to Select and receive Several
`hours of personalized category 3 audio content per week and
`a limited amount (e.g. 1 hour) of category 2 content each
`day, in addition to rapidly delivered category 1 audio con
`tent.
`0.031) Each audio segment may be, for example, a com
`plete audio program or track and may be delivered as a
`collection of Several audio files. Each audio Segment or
`collection of audio Segments may be categorized to indicate
`an associated delivery priority.
`0032.
`In an illustrative three-category embodiment of the
`invention, category 1 audio content has the highest priority
`and may be delivered within the hour or within minutes.
`Such content may include dangerous weather conditions,
`emergency or breaking news alerts and the like. The user
`equipment may advantageously produce a Visual and/or
`audio prompt (blinking light or emitted Sound) to indicate
`the arrival of category 1 content.
`0.033 Category 2 audio content has the next highest
`delivery priority and may be delivered within hours or no
`later than a specified time. Each of three categories corre
`sponds to a different delivery priority. Category 2 audio
`content may include daily news headlines, Sports news,
`weather and So on.
`0034 Category 3 audio-content has the lowest delivery
`priority and its delivery is not as time critical as the first two
`categories. Category 3 audio content may include music,
`audio books and So on.
`0.035 Category 3 may require the highest audio quality
`and is the most data intensive and may require compression,
`such as full MP3 compression to a rate of about 128 Kbps
`or in accordance with improved or alternative methods. In
`the context of MP3, an hour (measured by playback time) of
`category 3 audio corresponds to about 460 Mbits of data.
`Audio content in categories 2 and 1 may be acceptable at
`lower quality, not unlike FM radio transmissions, and may
`be compressed to a rate of about 64 Kbps. Thus, half-hour
`of category 2 content corresponds to about 115 Mbits of
`data. Most 3G high-Speed data networks anticipate offering
`Subscribers average data rates in the range of hundreds of
`kilobits per second (Kbps). For example, the UMTS 3G
`network Specifies an average data transfer rate of about 384
`Kbps and even higher if the user equipment is Stationary. A
`data transfer rate of 384. Kbps means that 1 hour of category
`
`3 content can be delivered to a user in about 20 minutes and
`half-hour of category 2 content can be delivered in about 5
`minutes.
`0036) The automatic and coordinated delivery of selected
`category 2 and 3 content to users wireleSS terminals may
`further be based on the detection of low traffic or low access
`charges in a cell Site. Such periods are typically overnight
`(between about 11:00 PM and about 6:00 AM), most of the
`Selected audio content is advantageously delivered during
`that time. This is also a period when the user equipment is
`likely to be stationary thus allowing higher data transfer
`rateS.
`0037 Audio content may, of course, be delivered during
`daytime hours as well, especially when it is determined that
`the Serving cell Site is experiencing Sufficiently low traffic
`Volume that a meaningful download of content can be
`completed.
`0038. Delivery of category 1 and 2 content has the
`highest delivery priority. After Substantially all users con
`nected to a base Station or transmitting node have received
`their respective category 1 and 2 content, delivery of cat
`egory 3 content commences. Thus, delivery of Selected
`category 3 content takes place as network traffic/usage
`permit, but, in general, it is expected that 1 hour of category
`3 content will be delivered over a period not exceeding a few
`days.
`0039 FIG. 1 illustrates a 3G network having voice and
`high-speed data capabilities. Voice calls are handled by
`mobile switching center (MSC) 107, which provides an
`interface between regional radio access network 108, and
`public Switched telephone network (PSTN) 102. Data trans
`fers between the radio access network 108, and Internet 103,
`are typically handled by nodes 106, which may comprise
`either the GGSN (Gateway General-packet-radio-service
`Support Node) and SGSN (Serving General-packet-radio
`service Support Node) for the UMTS 3G standard or PDSN
`(Packet Data Serving Node) in accordance with the CDMA
`2000 3G standard. Regional core network 105 containing
`nodes 106, also contains other equipment (not shown) used
`to provide other Support functions Such as user authentica
`tion, Security, billing, user profiles, Visiting user registration
`and So on.
`0040) Regional wireless servers (WS) 118 are located
`within regional core network 105 and/or within regional
`base station 110 as illustrated by WS 111. At least one
`wireless server (e.g. WS 101) is located within regional core
`network 105 and is assigned to provide overall coordination
`between servers WS 118 or WS 111. Regional wireless
`servers 118 and/or 111 are able to communicate with audio
`content provider 104, user equipment 112 and with other
`equipment within regional core network 105.
`0041. A typical regional wireless server 118 consists of a
`processor and related memory (both not shown) and access
`to one or more large capacity hard drives. The memory
`contains instructions in the form of Software that the pro
`ceSSor interprets and executes. One or more large capacity
`hard drives are used to Store compressed audio content that
`content provider 104 makes available to users. The low cost
`of large capacity hard drives (e.g. 150 Gbytes for under
`S100) makes it practical for the wireless servers to store the
`entire available content of the audio content provider (a 150
`Gbyte hard drive can store about 2600 hours of high quality
`MP3 audio).
`
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`

`US 2005/0245243 A1
`
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`0042. According to one aspect of the invention, an audio
`track or program that is available for Selection by a user has
`an identification number or code that is also stored and
`downloaded with it. Also, Such an audio track or program is
`Stored in a format that enables interruption of content
`delivery when a target mobile user equipment can no longer
`be Serviced, for example if it exits a cell or loses power. At
`a later time, content downloading may be resumed at about
`the point of the interruption. This feature enables content
`downloads to resume without requiring extensive retrans
`mission of already delivered content. Further, an audio
`content provider may update the audio content Stored on the
`wireleSS Servers as new content becomes available for
`distribution.
`0.043 User equipment 112 comprises a 3G wireless high
`speed data modem, a processor (e.g., TI C55xDSP), random
`access memory, a large capacity micro-hard drive and Stereo
`analog output ports that can be connected either to loud
`Speakers or to headphones. User equipment 112 may advan
`tageously include MP3 file management Software that cre
`ates directories under which downloaded content can be
`Stored and accessed for playback. These directories may by
`default mirror the organization of the available content on
`the audio content provider's Web Site. The file management
`Software may take advantage of the aforementioned track
`identification numbers to enable the efficient organization
`and navigation of downloaded audio content.
`0044 Representative user equipment 112-1 may commu
`nicate with representative wireless server 111. Wireless
`server 111 may be associated with regional base station 110.
`Alternatively, wireless server 111 may be located at the radio
`network controller 109 itself. Generally, regional core net
`work 105 may monitor the level of voice and data traffic
`flowing through base Station 110. AS a consequence, the
`available data capacity (e.g., in Kbps or Mbps) at any given
`time for base station 110 serving user equipment 112-1 may
`be determined and provided to wireless server 118.
`0.045
`Available audio tracks or programs may be stored
`on wireleSS Servers as a Sequence of Small files. The first file
`in a Sequence of Such files may be a text file containing an
`identification number and title of the audio track or program.
`A Second file may audibly render the name of the audio track
`or program. The collection of the Subsequent Small audio
`files, when concatenated represents the audio file of the
`audio track or program. Further, the size of each of the audio
`files may advantageously be chosen to provide a high
`probability of each file being successfully downloaded by a
`user equipment during brief time slots of available capacity.
`0.046
`For example, even though a cell site may be very
`busy during peak hours, brief time slots, for example, on the
`order of tens of Seconds, will become available as voice calls
`are terminated. These time slots may be used, in one aspect
`of the invention, to download available files. A representa
`tive small, compressed audio file may be about 1.28 Mbits
`corresponding to about 10 Seconds of high quality real-time
`audio (for lesser quality audio, the size of the file would be
`less). The Small 1.28 Mbit audio file may be downloaded in
`about 9 Seconds at a user equipment assigned a download
`Speed of 144 Kbps (a reasonable estimate for a terminal in
`a mobile vehicle in a UMTS 3G network).
`0047. At the relatively slow download speed of 144
`Kbps, a Small audio file has a high probability of being
`
`Successfully delivered to the user equipment. In the event the
`small audio file cannot be successfully delivered within a
`cell Site, the probability becomes increasingly high that the
`small audio file will eventually be successfully downloaded
`as the mobile user equipment enterS Successive cell Sites.
`Selected audio programs are advantageously delivered
`throughout the day and night, to the extent permitted by the
`networkloading. Of course, the time at which content can be
`delivered may be further controlled. For example, the user
`equipment may be powered or available only during one or
`more time intervals.
`0048. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an
`audio Segment Stored on the Servers and available for
`Selection is assigned a unique identification number or code
`having four fields:
`
`0049. The first field identifies the audio segment, for
`example, a track, a collection of audio tracks or audio
`program, and may also enable alphabetical organization of
`the content by the user equipment file management and
`navigation System. For example, the first few positions in the
`first field may consist of alphanumeric data identifying the
`track and the key heading to which it belongs. (e.g. “Music'
`or “MorningSummary” etc.). The last few positions of the
`first field may consist of a group of 3 or more letters in the
`title of the audio track.
`0050. The second field identifies the number of audio
`files (of a known size in Mbits or Mbytes) that collectively
`may form the audio Segment. Advantageously, the Second
`field may be decremented as each Small audio file is Suc
`cessfully downloaded. For example, a number of 360, prior
`to downloading, would mean that there are 360 audio files
`constituting the entire audio track. AS downloading com
`mences, this number will decrease to indicate the number of
`Small audio files remaining to be downloaded.
`0051. The third field identifies the audio compression, if
`any. The fourth field identifies a category associated with the
`track or program, i.e., the audio Segment. The fourth field
`may also provide a Specified time of daily delivery, e.g.,
`20600 indicating content category 2 to be delivered at about
`6:00 am.
`0.052 Users may use home/office PC 121 to browse the
`audio content providers web site for available audio con
`tent. Alternatively, users may use telephone 119 or 120 with
`the optional aid of a printed audio content guide to browse
`and Select preferred content.
`0053. The available audio content need not be explicitly
`identified as being associated with a category, and instead
`the association may be implicit. For example, an audio
`provider's web site may organize the available content under
`headings such as: “Music”, “MorningSummary”, “After
`noonSummary”, “Books”, “Courses”, “TalkShows”, “Con
`certs', etc. Heading names Such as "MorningSummary' and
`“AfternoonSummary” (or any other such identifier) may be
`used to list the available category 2 content that is available
`for morning and afternoon delivery, individually or as user
`constructed “packages.” Subheadings under each key head
`
`-11-
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`

`

`US 2005/0245243 A1
`
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`ing may further delineate the content according to its type.
`For example, under Music, SubheadingS Such as R&B, JaZZ,
`Rock&Roll etc. may be used. Under MorningSummary,
`Subheadings such as “Morning News”, “Daily Weather',
`“Morning Sports Round-Up” and so on might be used.
`0.054 An illustrative flow chart of a process performed by
`an audio content provider is shown in FIG. 2. A number of
`Sources, such as CNN, CBS, FOX, New York Times, Wall
`Street Journal and the like provide breaking news and other
`daily audio content. Non-daily audio content may be pro
`Vided by record labels, audio book publishers, educational
`organizations, talk Show producers, concert promoters, and
`the like. During step 205, ID numbers are assigned to audio
`tracks or files, the tracks and files are decomposed, as
`required, into Smaller audio files and the text and/or audio
`header files are created for the audio tracks and files. In Step
`210 the audio content provider then organizes the audio
`content in a Web site having heading names and organiza
`tion that facilitates browsing and Searching. Alternatively, in
`Step 215 the audio content provider then Stores, updates the
`audio files on Servers at a wireleSS Service provider.
`0.055 When a user browses and selects content from the
`content providers web site (or does the same via the tele
`phone), a user request-playback data file is created contain
`ing the identification numbers of the Selected audio trackS.
`While browsing the web site of the content provider, users
`may also create customized audio programs by Selecting a
`desired playback profile. Such customized audio programs
`may specify the order in which some or all of the selected
`content is to be played back. For example, the identification
`numbers within the user request-playback data file may be
`Sequentially ordered to reflect the Selected playback order.
`The use equipment then plays the audio content in the
`Specified order. Typically, category 1 content may be audibly
`rendered first, followed by category 2 content and then the
`ordered category 3 audio content. In the event a user does
`not Select a