Information filling station facilitating wireless transfer of data content to a portable device or other pre-defined locations

US8666538B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. · US

Inventors

• David A. Deas · Round Rock, US
• Lalitha Suryanarayana · San Diego, US
• Bruce Edward Stuckman · Algonquin, US
• David R. Wolter · Austin, US
• Rias Muhamed · Austin, US
• Russell W. White · Austin, US
• Michael Grannan · Parker, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 27, 2002
• Grant date: Mar 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 12, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L2463/102
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Data content providers transfer data content (including DRM protected content) over a broadband network onto one or more information filling stations (IFSs) situated at one or more physical locations. Users are able to wirelessly communicate with the IFSs via one or more of portable devices that are operable in close proximity to the IFS. Data content requested by the portable devices include, but are not limited to: multimedia files, WWW data, real-time and interactive games, e-mail (with or without attachments), electronic newspapers, news and sports information, traffic and weather information, e-books, interactive messaging, and/or data files. Additionally, the portable devices are also capable of facilitating point-of-sale purchases and electronic funds transfers. Optionally, the IFS also forwards advertisements promoting products and services to the portable devices. The portable device is also able to instruct the IFS to selectively send each content of interest or product of interest to one or more identified locations (e.g., users can send large multimedia to their home PCs).