System and method for wirelessly broadcasting content from a core for receipt by a mobile client

Abstract

A system and method for providing content over a network. In particular, the system and method is capable of providing content, such as broadband streaming multimedia and Internet Protocol (IP) data, to network devices, including mobile devices, with interactive functionality. The network employs at least one core and a plurality of clients. The core and clients each comprise a plurality of modules that cooperatively communicate with each other to monitor and control the delivery of content and to allow for interactive functionality by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network core for delivering content, comprising:
 a request handler configured to receive a request for content wirelessly transmitted by a mobile client and establish a delivery schedule of the content;   a content preparation unit configured to format the requested content for transmission;   a carousel configured to receive the formatted requested content and schedule delivery of the formatted requested content in accordance with the delivery schedule; and   a delivery system configured to receive the formatted requested content from the carousel in accordance with the delivery schedule and wirelessly broadcast the formatted requested content for receipt by the mobile client in accordance with the delivery schedule.   
     
     
         2 . A network core as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carousel is configured to store the formatted requested content among a hierarchical collection of categories.   
     
     
         3 . A network core as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the categories have at least one of the following characteristics: a size different from that of the other categories, and a transmission interval different from that of the other categories.   
     
     
         4 . A network core as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the carousel is configured to mix those of the categories having a particular transmission frequency into an output stream provided to the delivery system.   
     
     
         5 . A network core as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the carousel is configured to output content belonging to at least one of the categories once every carousel cycle and to output content belonging to at least one other of the categories once every plurality of carousel cycles.   
     
     
         6 . A network core as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the delivery schedule includes information describing the whereabouts of the contents in the network, how to access such content and frequency of updates of the content.   
     
     
         7 . A network core as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a location at which the formatted requested content is present in the carousel is adjusted based on a popularity of the requested content as determined based on request statistics.   
     
     
         8 . A method for operating a network core to deliver content, the method comprising:
 operating the network core to receive a request for content wirelessly transmitted by a mobile client and establish a delivery schedule of the content;   operating the network core to format the requested content for transmission;   operating a carousel in the network core to receive the formatted requested content and schedule delivery of the formatted requested content in accordance with the delivery schedule; and   operating a delivery system in the network core to receive the formatted requested content from the carousel in accordance with the delivery schedule and wirelessly broadcast the formatted requested content for receipt by the mobile client in accordance with the delivery schedule.   
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the carousel operating includes operating the carousel to store the formatted requested content among a hierarchical collection of categories.   
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the categories have at least one of the following characteristics: a size different from that of the other categories, and a transmission interval different from that of the other categories.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the carousel operating includes mixing those of the categories having a particular transmission frequency into an output stream provided to the delivery system.   
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the carousel operating includes operating the carousel to output content belonging to at least one of the categories once every carousel cycle and to output content belonging to at least one other of the categories once every plurality of carousel cycles.   
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the delivery schedule includes information describing the whereabouts of the contents in the network, how to access such content and frequency of updates of the content.   
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 a location at which the formatted requested content is present in the carousel is adjusted based on a popularity of the requested content as determined based on request statistics.   
     
     
         15 . A network core for delivering content, comprising:
 a request handler configured to receive a request for content from at least one mobile client, establish a delivery schedule of said content based on statistics pertaining to a number of requests for the content, and provide a content access key to the mobile client in response to the request; and   delivery system configured to wirelessly broadcast the requested content in accordance with the delivery schedule established by the request handler, for access by the mobile client using the content access key.   
     
     
         16 . A network core as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the delivery schedule includes information describing the whereabouts of the contents in the network, how to access such content and frequency of updates of the content.   
     
     
         17 . A network core as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a carousel configured to receive the formatted requested content and schedule delivery of the formatted requested content in accordance with the delivery schedule.   
     
     
         18 . A network core as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 a location at which the formatted requested content is present in the carousel is adjusted based on a popularity of the requested content as determined based on request statistics.   
     
     
         19 . A network core as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the carousel is configured to store the formatted requested content among a hierarchical collection of categories.   
     
     
         20 . A network core as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the delivery system is configured to receive the requested content from the carousel in accordance with the delivery schedule.