Dynamic Content Download Volume Based on Foreground Context

Solution Overview

Problem

Users are more interested in foreground-downloaded content than background-downloaded content, leading to inefficient resource usage in wireless communications, where background downloads consume fewer resources but may not be presented to users, while foreground downloads consume more resources and are actively involved.

Innovation Solution

A method where a communication device indicates whether a content request is foreground-generated or background-generated, allowing a server to transmit a varying quantity of content based on the download type, with more content transmitted for foreground downloads to align with user interest and involvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If background downloading is used to update content channels, then network resources and device battery power are conserved, but the downloaded content may not be presented to users who are less likely to be interested in it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoiduser interest in downloaded content

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the quantity of content downloaded based on the download type. For background downloads, only a subset of content is downloaded to conserve resources, while for foreground downloads, the full content is downloaded since users are actively interested. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching resource consumption to user interest levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of content quantity downloaded based on the download context. The server receives a download request that indicates whether it is foreground or background, and accordingly transmits different quantities of content. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both energy consumption and user interest alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If foreground downloading is used to update content channels, then users are actively involved and more interested in the content, but more air interface resources and battery power are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interest in downloaded contentVSAvoidair interface resources and battery power

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the quantity of content downloaded based on the download type. For background downloads, only a subset of content is downloaded to conserve resources, while for foreground downloads, the full content is downloaded since users are actively interested. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching resource consumption to user interest levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of content quantity downloaded based on the download context. The server receives a download request that indicates whether it is foreground or background, and accordingly transmits different quantities of content. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both energy consumption and user interest alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed quantity of content is downloaded for all download types, then the system is simple to implement, but resource usage is inefficient given varying user interest levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem implementation complexityVSAvoidinefficient resource usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the quantity of content downloaded based on the download type. For background downloads, only a subset of content is downloaded to conserve resources, while for foreground downloads, the full content is downloaded since users are actively interested. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching resource consumption to user interest levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of content quantity downloaded based on the download context. The server receives a download request that indicates whether it is foreground or background, and accordingly transmits different quantities of content. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both energy consumption and user interest alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8041777B2Method and apparatus for dynamic variation of content-download depending on foreground or background nature of download

Publication Date: 2011.10.18 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method is disclosed for dynamically varying a content download depending on whether the download is a foreground-download or a background-download. When a server receives a content-request from a device, the server determines whether the content-request is foreground-generated or background-generated and accordingly selects a set of content to transmit in response to the device. If the content-request is background-generated, for instance, the server may select a smaller quantity of content, since the device user might not be actively involved with the download. On the other hand, if the content-request is foreground-generated, the server may select a larger quantity of content, since the user is involved at the time. Alternatively, the device itself may select a location from which to request content, based on whether the download is a foreground-download or a background-download.