Content Delivery System and Method

Abstract

A method and system for delivering content to a plurality of devices is provided. In one embodiment, the method may be for delivering content elements of one or more presentations to a device configured to communicate via a wireless data network, wherein the content elements include static content elements, dynamic content elements, and on-demand content elements. The method may comprise delivering to the device, data, such as compilation data, of the content elements included in the one or more presentations; delivering the static content elements to the device via the wireless data network during one or more time periods of increased available wireless data network capacity; delivering the dynamic content elements to the device via the wireless data network substantially according to a schedule; and delivering the on-demand content elements to the device via the wireless data network substantially immediately after a user request for an on-demand content element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automatically selecting content for multiple users, the method comprising:
 receiving identifiers of content automatically selected for delivery to a plurality of users via corresponding user devices, the content being automatically selected by a content delivery system for and specific to each of the plurality of users without an explicit request for the selected content by any user, the automatically selected content being configured for delivery to specific users via the corresponding user devices, the delivery of the automatically selected content to the specific users being performed by the content delivery system according to a content communication schedule for and specific to each of the plurality of users, the content communication schedule being generated and the delivery of the automatically selected content to the specific users being performed in advance of an anticipated consumption of the automatically selected content by each of the plurality of users;   determining two or more user devices serviced by one or more common components of communications infrastructure in a network;   generating the content communication schedule by use of an automated communication scheduler, the content communication schedule defining a content delivery schedule for each of the plurality of users based in part on the content automatically selected for delivery to at least one different user corresponding to a user device serviced by the one or more common components of communications infrastructure in the network; and   distributing content delivery to the plurality of users over time according to the content communication schedule, the content delivery being distributed by allocating bandwidth utilization for delivery of content on a device-by-device basis or on a geographic basis to minimize simultaneous transmission of the content to the two or more user devices serviced by the one or more common components of communications infrastructure in the network thereby reducing congestion on the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications infrastructure is a cell site. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is configured to stagger the content delivery to the plurality of users so that only a pre-determined percentage of users in a geographical area are being delivered content at the same time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part based on the geographical locations of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on the relative subscription levels of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on differences in functional capabilities of the user devices. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part based on relative urgency of content demand of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on the differences in presentation timing requirements of the content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part by differences in charging status of the user devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content selected is based in part on a degree of network congestion. 
     
     
         11 . A system for automatically selecting content for multiple users, the system comprising:
 a server computer communicatively coupled to a network; and   a program processor, executable by the server computer, to:
 receive identifiers of content automatically selected for delivery to a plurality of users via corresponding user devices, the content being automatically selected by a content delivery system for and specific to each of the plurality of users without an explicit request for the selected content by any user, the automatically selected content being configured for delivery to specific users via the corresponding user devices, the delivery of the automatically selected content to the specific users being performed by the content delivery system according to a content communication schedule for and specific to each of the plurality of users, the content communication schedule being generated and the delivery of the automatically selected content to the specific users being performed in advance of an anticipated consumption of the automatically selected content by each of the plurality of users; 
 determine two or more user devices serviced by one or more common components of communications infrastructure in the network; 
 generate the content communication schedule by use of an automated communication scheduler, the content communication schedule defining a content delivery schedule for each of the plurality of users based in part on the content automatically selected for delivery to at least one different user corresponding to a user device serviced by the one or more common components of communications infrastructure in the network; and 
 distribute content delivery to the plurality of users over time according to the content communication schedule, the content delivery being distributed by allocating bandwidth utilization for delivery of content on a device-by-device basis or on a geographic basis to minimize simultaneous transmission of the content to the two or more user devices serviced by the one or more common components of communications infrastructure in the network thereby reducing congestion on the network. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the communications infrastructure is a cell site. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is configured to stagger the content delivery to the plurality of users so that only a pre-determined percentage of users in a geographical area are being delivered content at the same time. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part based on the geographical locations of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on the relative subscription levels of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on differences in functional capabilities of the user devices. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part based on relative urgency of content demand of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is based in part on the differences in presentation timing requirements of the content. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content communication schedule is determined in part by differences in charging status of the user devices. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the content selected is based in part on a degree of network congestion.