DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to systems and methods for wireless communication of data to a plurality of user devices and, particularly, for the wireless communication of data to nearby on-board components and passenger devices located in commercial or private passenger transportation vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Today, the people on the move, always have their trusted mobile, tablet or laptop device with them. At the times that they are not sleeping off, they would like to swap boredom with entertainment whether they are in a bus, train or a flight. The more industrious ones may have before-hand downloaded some video content, which they are hoping to catch up in their journey, others have no options but to indulge in their mobile games or look again at their social media.
[0003] While stuck in traffic, most people don’t have any option in a cab but to make mobile calls. It would be nice, if they can utilize this time too in an entertaining way, and catch up with their favorite movie or TV show.
[0004] In fact, in an increasingly busy world, with longer working hours and commute times, there is very little time left at the homes for the traditional TV based entertainment. People would rather use their spare time at homes with family and friends without having to worry about missing out on their favorite shows on TV. This could be possible, if they can watch the same during their commutes. In fact, they can now plan out their longer outstation trips on buses and trains in a more leisurely way, and get the time to catch up with their favorite movies.
[0005] There is thus a vacuum for a “Wi-Fi Media”, which will be ubiquitous within all the vehicles. This has to be free, using Ad sponsorship, so that people will feel free to tap on to it and form regular viewing habits. They will not have to worry about the huge bills, if the same was accessed through 3G Internet. They can infact, like any other broadcast media, look forward to daily updates in the content.
[0006] So in the world of vehicles BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices), will become a standard, and every passenger will be automatically connected the WiFi Media, emanating from the WiFi Media Spot. The automatic connection, will be similar to the way that the present mobiles connect to WiFi Hotspots.
[0007] A new market will emerge for WiFi Devices, which will be primarily used with the WiFi Media Spots and would thus require no SIM card, and the monthly bill. Parents will be now delighted to give these “safe” devices to the kids.
[0008] The TV World had conditioned people for expecting bigger screens to be for watching HD Videos. It is therefore quite surprising that out of sheer necessity, people de-conditioned themselves and readily adapted for watching the same video on the small screen of their smart phones.
[0009] Watching videos immediately on the screen of the mobiles has the advantage of immediacy; users can do it anywhere and not wait till they can get to a big screen and somehow connect to it. The mobile screens in response have become larger, sporting higher resolution to make the watching as convenient as possible, while not sacrificing the handy nature of the device.
[0010] Infact, the mobile evolution has made the bigger screens of TV and Computer as peripheral to the mobile itself, where the same content can be transferred on the bigger screen using a “Screen Cast”.
[0011] Broadcast media such as the Radio and TV have traditionally been able to provide free content to unlimited number of users in a particular region. The region was limited to the coverage area of the transmission tower, and portable sets could be used in the areas where the signal was strong.
[0012] The advent of Direct-to-Home (DTH), allowed the scope of broadcast to extend to a region as big as a country. Although the reception was normally through fixed antenna and TV sets in the home, the same could be done from the roof-top of a vehicle, using a satellite tracking dish. The satellite tracking dish, could not though become popular for cost reasons, as well as reception problems due to adjoining tall buildings, flyovers etc.
[0013] More recently, with the advent of digital broadcast DVB-T standard in Europe, it has been possible to receive digital Radio and TV channels in portable receivers. The latest version of the standard, DVB-T2 Lite, allows broadcast TV channels to be received in a moving vehicle, till 100 kmph. The range of DVB-T2 transmitter is though limited to a city, and country wide coverage requires large number of transmitters to be deployed in a Synchronous mesh configuration.
[0014] While digital broadcasting has reached a stagnation point on a curve of diminishing return, there has been abundant zeal in making contents available “on-the-move” through 2G, 3G and now 4G networks of Telecom operators. This is strictly, not a broadcast network, and each user mobile has to be in touch with a nearby Cell tower, limiting the number of connections which can be sustained. Moreover, as a mobile user is moving, the connection has to be dynamically transferred from one Cell tower to another, with disruptions occurring many time because of lack of capacity.
[0015] There have been attempts by many Telecom operators to provide TV type of broadcast channels on the mobiles, but they have not really been able to dedicate bandwidth for these channels, in face of shortage of bandwidth for their prime channels for voice communication. As a result, most of the operators have been concentrating in utilizing the bandwidth remaining after voice-communication, for providing internet data to the mobiles.
[0016] As a result, most of the content service providers have restricted themselves for providing their content over Internet, through WiFi or 3G connection. Internet media, is more suited for bursty traffic such as what is required for Video-on-Demand rather that isochronous real-time traffic as what is required for TV Channels. This problem, though can be mitigated a bit, by using large buffering with the consequent delay in reception of the channel. The popularity of the broadcast content though still suffers, because of the high costs associated with continuous download of data through internet, especially through 3G.
[0017] The Smart Phone revolution, in the past decade displaced all other portable media devices, and saw a convergence of them into corresponding App for convenience reasons. Many of these Apps though, could not replicate the performance of the dedicated device they displaced, e.g. FM Radio and TV sets. The internet App, such as those from Hot Star and Eros Now, confined themselves to Video-on-Demand techniques over internet – entailing a higher usage cost for the end-user.
[0018] Another big problem with the internet based services, has been the lack of internet itself within vehicles on-the-move. This was because the ground based Cell towers were mostly designed for catering to the population density around. Although Cell towers were deployed to cover highways, the sparse nature of these, curtail usage of high-bandwidth as needed for video based services.
[0019] 3G-Dongle based WiFi Hotspot solutions are today available for providing internet in moving vehicles. The cost and the patchiness of the 3G internet availability has though not made this popular. Instead, people prefer to consume 3G data directly into their mobile unit, so that background update of their Social Media Apps is possible. These Apps don’t require availability of internet continuously. So a problem is still faced, when a user tries to make a VoIP phone call through the 3G.
[0020] So world over the mobile users have been preferring to use of the WiFi Hotspots, instead of 3G, for accessing internet. In fact, some townships in the world have made a “Mesh network” of interconnected WiFi Hotspots for providing roaming internet, and even free but limited internet to the WiFi Devices of the users. A Mesh network is good enough to distribute a few Mbits of internet coming from an ISP modem, but doesn’t have the bandwidth to provide each user with a VOD access to central content server, which may require caching of content in each node.
[0021] So although mobile smart phones are today with everyone who travels, there is no Broadcast Media or wireless network which they can tap on to – cost-effectively. In view of the above, there is a need in the art for providing systems and methods that address the shortcoming associated with prior art.

OBJECTS
[0022] Some of the objects of the present invention aim to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative are listed herein below.
[0023] To provide WiFi based infotainment services for portable WiFi devices within a pubic vehicle such as a bus or a cab.
[0024] To allow passengers to avail of these WiFi based services through their Browsers or a special Infotainment App.
[0025] To provide these WiFi services through a WiFi Access Point with built-in storage called a WiFi Media Spot.
[0026] To provide a 3G Dongle based bandwidth limited internet service for updating of the mobile apps such as “WhatsApp” and emails in the background.
[0027] To provide services at no cost to the consumers, through sponsored Ads.
[0028] To allow a WiFi Media Spot to be configured remotely through a central server and send the logs, using the 3G Dongle.
[0029] To allow each WiFi Media Spot to fetch a daily content list via 3G from a Central server.
[0030] To allow each WiFi Media Spot to keep a list of needed Content.
[0031] To allow two nearby parked vehicles to exchange new content on a peer-to-peer basis using their needed Content List.
[0032] To provide fixed WiFi Media Stations at Bus Depots and Taxi Stands for allowing the WiFi Media Spots within the vicinity to update themselves.
[0033] To allow a WiFi Media Spot, which has up-to-date content to itself function as a WiFi Media Station.
[0034] To allow a WiFi Media Spot, which is connected to another WiFi Media Station to itself function as a WiFi Media Station.
[0035] To allow a WiFi Media Spot to pick up needed content, if available, from a portable WiFi device connected to it.
[0036] To provide cashable credits to the WiFi devices, which have uploaded content to WiFi Media Spots. This would encourage entrepreneurs to help updating of the WiFi Media Spots in isolated vehicles.
[0037] To allow content to be updated in the WiFi Media Spot via 3G itself, if the same could not have been updated via WiFi by the time a passenger in a vehicle requires it.

SUMMARY
[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, a media station for a wireless content distribution system is provided. The media station comprises a storage device for storing a first digital media content, a wireless network access point configured to connect wirelessly to a mobile device having a second digital media content. Further, the media station comprises a mobile data network modem configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and updating the first digital media content through the wireless mobile data network. Furthermore, the media station comprises a processor that is configured to access the second digital media content stored in the mobile device wirelessly and thereupon determine whether the second digital media content is updated. Upon determination, it updates the second digital media content stored in the mobile device wirelessly using the mobile data network upon determining that the second digital media content is not updated.
[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing wireless content distribution among plurality of nearby mobile devices is provided. The method implemented in a computing environment to achieve the objectives of the present invention. The method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of digital media content in said plurality of nearby mobile devices and establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting said plurality of nearby mobile devices. Further, the method comprising the step of accessing said digital media content stored in said plurality of nearby mobile devices and evaluating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices. Upon evaluating step, the method comprising the step of updating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices based on evaluating step.
[0040] In another embodiment, the wireless content distribution within the communication system between nearby mobile device on-board the transportation vehicle is conducted in accordance with data transmission protocols such as, for example, IEEE-802.11 Wireless LAN Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specification, including IEEE-802.11a, IEEE-802.11b, and IEEE-802.11g standards and IEEE-802.15
[0041] In another embodiment, thewireless content distribution within the communication system between nearby mobile device on-board the transportation vehicle is bi-directional as well as unidirectional (e.g., from a wireless LAN access point to each of the mobile devices).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0042] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Further, the above set forth and other features of the invention are made more apparent in the ensuing detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached accompanying drawings. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and modules.
[0043] Figure 1 depicts a block diagram of the constituents of a Media station according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0044] Figure 2 depicts a block diagram of how a WiFi Media Station is used for updating Media stations within the vehicles in vicinity, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0045] Figure 3 depict show the Peer-to-Peer protocol works between two Media stations in adjacently parked vehicles, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0046] Figure 4a depict show a Media station connected to a WiFi Media Station, can itself become a WiFi Media Station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0047] Figure 4b depict show a Media station with updated content can itself function as a WiFi Media Station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0048] Figure 5a depict show a WiFi Portable Device can download some content from a Media station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0049] Figure 5b depict show a WiFi Portable Device can upload some content to a Media station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0050] Figure 6a depict show a WiFi Portable Device can download the daily content update from a WiFi Media Station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0051] Figure 6b depict show a WiFi Portable Device can upload the daily content update to a Media station, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0052] Figure 7 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method of providing wireless content distribution among plurality of nearby mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] In the following description, for purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems. However, the systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Further, structures and devices shown in the figures are illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are meant to avoid obscuring of the present invention.
[0054] Furthermore, connections between components and/or modules within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, these components and modules may be modified, re-formatted or otherwise changed by intermediary components and modules.
[0055] References in the present invention to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
[0056] Further, various embodiments of the invention provide a Media station, meant for installation in a vehicle, for providing WiFi based infotainment and communication services to the WiFi portable devices such as Mobiles, Tablets and Laptops.
[0057] In an embodiment, a media station for a wireless content distribution system is provided. The media station comprises a storage device for storing a first digital media content, a wireless network access point configured to connect wirelessly to a mobile device having a second digital media content. Further, the media station comprises a mobile data network modem configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and updating the first digital media content through the wireless mobile data network. Furthermore, the media station comprises a processor that is configured to access the second digital media content stored in the mobile device wirelessly and thereupon determine whether the second digital media content is updated. Upon determination, it updates the second digital media content stored in the mobile device wirelessly using the mobile data network upon determining that the second digital media content is not updated.
[0058] In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing wireless content distribution among plurality of nearby mobile devices is provided. The method implemented in a computing environment to achieve the objectives of the present invention. The method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of digital media content in said plurality of nearby mobile devices and establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting said plurality of nearby mobile devices. Further, the method comprising the step of accessing said digital media content stored in said plurality of nearby mobile devices and evaluating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices. Upon evaluating step, the method comprising the step of updating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices based on evaluating step.
[0059] In another embodiment, the Media station updates itself whenever the vehicle is in the vicinity of a WiFi Media Station and can access the content from a Central Server. The invention describes a protocol whereby a Media station which is connected to a WiFi Media Station, itself become a WiFi Media Station for allowing other Media stations to connect up with it. The same happens even when a Media station has updated its content and is not connected to a WiFi Media Station.
[0060] In another embodiment, the invention describes another Peer-to-Peer protocol whereby two vehicles parked adjacently can access any missing content from the other. The protocol also allows uploading of content needed by a Media station from a WiFi portable device, which would have earlier downloaded it from another Media station.
[0061] In this respect, in an exemplary implementation, the invention describes how a 3G Dongle, provided within each Media station, allows remote configuration, tracking and even access of content, if they had not been got earlier through a WiFi connection. Further, the invention also discloses how the various features and protocols minimize the cost of distributing content via internet to vehicles, enabling an Ad supported free content service for the passengers.
[0062] Further, in another exemplary implementation, the present invention is described in terms of a “WIFI MEDIA: The Fourth Broadcast Media”. In this exemplary implementation, it is provided that after Radio, TV and Cinema the Media stations may create a Fourth Media which can be referred as the “WiFi Media” for broadcasting infotainment content.
[0063] In this respect, being a high-tech modern media, the WiFi Media may have the best of both the worlds for example, the advantages of the broadcast media and that of Internet. The free WiFi Media may also be like the free-to-air channels and sustain itself through Ad sponsorship. Unlike the Channels though, now it can provide precise consumption statistics to the broadcasters. In fact, because of the intelligence built into every Media station, it would be possible for the same to prioritize amongst Ads to meet certain targets.
[0064] For a long time, people have preferred enhancing the traditional broadcast media with a DVR, so that they can watch the past shows on demand, with full VCR controls. The WiFi Media, will allow precisely that. It will provide the latest programs to be accessed on demand basis with full VCR controls. A person can thus get down from one vehicle, and have his video automatically resume from the same position in another vehicle because of common set of content being available to the nearby mobile devices.
[0065] Further, Internet or VOD contents are like a Library full of books – where the books can be subscribed at any time later, so there is no immediate watching urgency. WiFi Media though will be limited to the latest 500 hours of programming, so although it has more flexibility than the traditional broadcast media, it will still retain the watching urgency as that of a film at a cinema hall.
[0066] In another embodiment, a free ubiquitous media, such as the WiFi Media, has the additional advantage of cutting across the economical, geographical and cultural strata, to form a common infotainment base, which people would be exposed to. The foremost importance of a broadcast media for the viewers is that of “Shared Experiences”. Like the traditional broadcast media, the WiFi Media too will be updated with few hours of content on a daily basis. Everyone can thus easily check out the new updates and be aware of the content. Thereby providing a common base for social exchanges.
[0067] Moreover, the WiFi Media may also be able to retain the most popular updates over the previous days by automatically deleting the least used content. This would allow each Media station to fine-tune its content according to the taste of the subscriber or user who is using it. This would automatically take care of both language and cultural preference in the contents.
[0068] Further, in another exemplary implementation, the present invention is described in terms of fixed entertainment systems in a transport vehicle. The need for providing entertainment to passengers in a vehicle, especially during a long journey has been well recognized in past two decades, and there has been a flood of proprietary, incompatible solutions.
[0069] These “Seat-based” entertainment systems, typically have a small TV display attached to the back of a seat for viewing by the person seated behind it. The controls are either built into the seat handle, or our given through a touch screen. Earphone jacks are provided in the seat handles, while some seats provide foldable neck rest with built-in speakers.
[0070] Most of the cost-effective seat-based entertainment systems, just multicast some TV channels to all the TV displays, allowing the user to select amongst these channels. These channels are mostly replayed from the hard-disk of the Server, but in some cases they are received by a tracking-dish antenna provided on the roof of the vehicle.
[0071] More sophisticated systems provide a small computer board attached to a vehicle wide LAN network. This allows Video-on-Demand (VOD) facility, limited to the content stored in the main server on the LAN. The airlines typically have been providing the VOD services in the business class, while providing only the channels in the economy class.
[0072] In spite of the huge cost of the seat-based entertainment system, the users have been indifferent towards it. One of the primary reason for this has been lack of quality content and quality TV screens itself. As the entertainment service is free in all the vehicles, the service provider is generally not able to afford quality content for a very limited audience. Moreover, the user faces the vexing problem of leaving a movie incomplete, on completion of the journey – with a dim possibility of being able to see the remaining elsewhere.
[0073] The seat-based entertainment systems in smaller vehicles such as car, have been just refinement of individual media players, based on DVD or USB pen-drive. The content procurement problem was left to the user.
[0074] Further, in another exemplary implementation, the present invention is described in terms of an internet website. Here, the WiFi Media would indeed look like a ubiquitous Internet website. Unlike normal Internet Sites, which are accessed only by a small minority of Internet users, the WiFi Media has to be accessible by a growing population of users, which may one day surpass that of internet. Here, The WiFi Media won’t have any limitation of the internet, hence, it would be available in moving vehicles, where even the 3G internet connections would be spotty. Further, it would be available in any geographical location visited by the vehicles, where 3G access may not be available, and satellite access would be too costly or obstructed by mountains, high rises etc. It Allows content to be accessed using WiFi, without the internet access costs. Unlike existing internet unpredictability, the access from Media stations would be quick, glitch less and reliable. WiFi Media would be infinitely scalable. Billions of people all over the world could be simultaneously using the WiFi Media, without any slowing down. In-vehicle content server for WiFi devices.
[0075] In an example, there are commercial 3G Hotspot solutions available for vehicles, which allow the internet gained from the 3G to be provided to the WiFi-Devices within a vehicle. With the availability of the wireless building blocks, some service organizations have gravitated towards coupling a content server, with a WiFi access point within a vehicle for allowing content to be played through a specialized application on WiFi devices. The content server itself is updated through a 3G Dongle. The 3G update can become very for large number of video content.
[0076] Such in-vehicle content servers face the problem of scalability and sustainability. They need to charge the users, for the content viewed to offset the high operational costs – which the user is reluctant to pay. As a result, they are viable only in only certain elite buses and routes. As the viewer-ship is low, they don’t get the benefit of sustaining of Ads, such as that for the FTA (Free-to-Air) channels.
[0077] The biggest dampener in sustainability is the demand of the fleet operators to have the service provider bear the cost of the in-vehicle Content Servers. Without a ubiquitous user base, any in-vehicle entertainment service, will be perceived as optional and will not be habit forming. This further erodes the sustainability. In contrast, the WiFi Media has been designed to be ubiquitous in all the in-vehicle environment. This is possible because the Media station is quite affordable even for individual vehicles such as cars. Once installed the Media station provides access to Free Content, which are update every day. Media station provide Video/Audio channels which can allow easy immersion of the users, in contrast to the VOD content. Updating of the Media station can be done at no cost through another Media station which had been earlier updated, or at a very low cost through a WiFi Media Station. A Media station, can be even updated manually by transferring the new content, via a WiFi device.
[0078] In an embodiment, the Media station has an additional WiFi Client with MIMO antennas, for allowing background downloading on a peer-to-peer basis, while it is serving content from the access point antenna. The latter can allow hooking up by few other Media stations for updating purpose. This allows a tree to be formed, for pipelined wireless updating of content.
[0079] Further, in another exemplary implementation, the present invention is described in terms of broadcast content paradigm. Here, the WiFi Media will accrue the same benefit as that of another broadcast media: scalability. In fact, as the scale of deployment increases sustaining would become easier. WiFi Media, with free content, would habituate users such that it will become a standard fixture in each vehicle – much like the FM Radio.
[0080] With mass production, and increasing viewer base, the cost of Media station will come down, making further deployments easier.
[0081] In an example, the WiFi Media content can be sustained by global advertisement. The revenue from the Ads would increase in proportion to the users. This would allow affording of better and more recent content, which in turn would increase the number of users.
[0082] In another example, the WiFi Media Stations required for updating Media stations, will be commonly available in public places as they would also serve as fixed Media stations. As WiFi Media Stations require to access internet only for retrieving the cached content from the WiFi Media station, the same can be provided through the Caching Servers present in the last mile of an ISP. This would enable the ISP to provide a link for only updating WiFi Media at a much more cost-effective rate than the general internet access.
[0083] In yet another example, the operational costs for WiFi Media Stations, will become like providing public lighting, and will be absorbed by the housing societies or public places as part of their basic operational cost. The load on the WiFi Content Server, from the WiFi Media Stations will not be more than any popular website – ensuring sustainability.
[0084] Further, in another exemplary implementation, the present invention is described in terms of a new media for providing ubiquitous in-vehicle entertainment. The “Media station” described in this invention, elegantly addresses the problems of providing a ubiquitous broadcast “WiFi Media” in each vehicle. It first does away with the need for providing costly “Seat-based” Entertainment system, by the vehicle owner. Now each of the smart-phone, tablet of Laptop themselves become the user-habituated screens. All that the vehicle owner has to do is to provide one Media station for covering all the passengers of even a bus. Of course, a train compartment or an aircraft may require more than one Media station for adequate coverage. The Media stations, would take care of seamless roaming across the entire space covered by overlapping Media stations, for example in a vestibulated train.
[0085] Like most of the popular broadcast Media, WiFi Media also would be free, to allow a mass usage, and the would be able to sustain through the advertisement spots. Like any other broadcast media, the WiFi Media, would provide many hours or latest contents on a daily basis. These content are replenished on an overnight basis on all the Media stations. Unlike other broadcast media, however, most of the content over past many days will still be available to the users. Infact, each Media station will be able to retain 500 hours or more of the most popular content with the users. This will in turn automatically take care of language and cultural preferences in different parts of the country. WiFi Media will thus become the only broadcast media in the world, which is able to adapt itself automatically to the regional requirements using a common set of content in the master repository on the central servers.
[0086] The Media station, as such does away with the reliance on internet on-the-move through the costly 3G connection – the biggest hurdle coming in the way of providing free WiFi Media services to the users. The Media storage within each Media station, is designed to update itself through WiFi itself, in peer-to-peer manner through other Media stations it gets in touch with it. The daily content updates thus have to be received by only some Media stations from some fixed internet Access Points (designated as WiFi Media Stations) – these in turn will disseminate the same to other Media stations they come in touch with - starting off a chain reaction.
[0087] As the WiFi Media would be ubiquitous, it would be possible for a person to get down from one vehicle and resume the content from the same point in another vehicle. This cannot happen in the world, of proprietary and fixed entertainment systems as found in some aircrafts and trains.
[0088] The description below is given along with drawings, in order to clarify the methodology and the system behind the Media station in a vehicle and the protocols for updating of the content via WiFi itself. The description pertaining to the implementation, is central to the invention and given for the sake of completeness and better understanding of the concepts. It is to be understood that the same can be implemented in alternate ways which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art and should be construed to be within the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0089] A WiFi Media station is present on the Internet Cloud, and has the main repository of content, which are to be disseminated via all the WiFi Media Stations to all the Media stations and thus ultimately to all the users. At the end of each day a few hours of content are updated in each language category on the WiFi Media station. This would be disseminated overnight such that the same are available to the WiFi devices, the next morning. A WiFi Media station is normally used for updating only the WiFi Media Stations via a cost-effective land internet connection. WiFi Media Stations would in turn update other Media stations. WiFi Devices will not mean to connect to WiFi Media station. A Media station, will access the WiFi Media station, through a 3G connection, only if it has not got updated by the time the users require the content.
[0090] A Media station (Figure 1) is a wireless device for ushering in WiFi Media in any place where it is installed. This can be in fixed places as well as within vehicles. The Media station has a power-supply-with battery back-up (1.6) specially optimized for in-vehicle use and the voltage fluctuations during ignition or loading by other devices. The power supply can take from 8V to 28V DC, through an external connector (1.6a) when it is used within vehicles such as car and buses. (The models for trains and fixed places, allows voltage from 85V to 280V AC to be used).DC 5V (1.6b) is provided to the router board. The battery-back up would allow few hours of working without external power. An external power-failure signal (6c) is also provided to the Router board (1).The Router board supports Access Point directional MIMO antennas (1.3a, 1.3b) for catering to the WiFi devices, and minimizing the RF spillage outside the vehicle. The Router board also has a WiFi Client Dongle with its MIMO Antenna (1.4) for connecting to another Media station. The Router board also has a built-in 3G Dongle (1.2) for allowing the Media station to send its log periodically to the WiFi Media station, and receiving new Configuration and Content Update List information. The 3G Dongle (1.2) will also be used for content update when it has not been possible to get updates through any WiFi connections. Router board is connected to a Solid State Drive (SSD) device (5) of more than 100GB capacity. The WiFi Media Station, meant to be installed at stationary points, can have a much higher capacity Hard Disk, which will allow the super-set of all the language content to be cached.
[0091] Each User is required to register his WiFi device with any Media station, before he can use the services. A user has to separately register, for each device which he owns. Each Media station sends periodically a Usage Log via the 3G Dongle to the WiFi Media station. This includes information about the Ads and Contents used by a particular WiFi Device/User. It also records the content uploaded by a user, so that he can get some credits.
[0092] A WiFi Media Station (2.1) is a fixed Media station, with an internet link, which allows access to all the content of a central WiFi Media station. It announces its SSID as “WiFi Media Station”. A WiFi Media Station, can simultaneously be used as a Media station, through its “Media station” SSID. A WiFi Media Station has a larger storage as required for caching the content in all the languages. A Media station or a Station can be configured from the WiFi Media station for caching some specified languages. It will ignore the rest. This information is kept in a specific Metafile within the Media station/ Station. Each Media station requiring updating (2.3a), connects to a nearby WiFi Media Station (2.1) which has the language content it is looking out for. When a Media station is updating itself from a WiFi Media Station, it itself becomes a WiFi Media Station. Example in Figure 4a, Media station (2) as well as Media station (5) have become a WiFi Media Station, and have allowed the other Media stations to connect up. A Media station having updated itself for its Configured Languages, announces itself as a WiFi Media Station, with the corresponding SSID. For example, in Figure 4b, Media station (1) has become the WiFi Media Station, and has allowed (2), (3) and (4) to connect to it. By virtue of the fact that (4) is connected to a WiFi Media Station, it too has become a WiFi Media Station and has allowed (5) to connect up. Each Media station receives everyday a new Content List for all the languages via its 3G Dongle from the WiFi Media station, using which it decides which content it needs to update itself with.
[0093] Each Media station has a fixed storage capacity for keeping around 500 hours of video content. New content is overnight updated to each Media station, through WiFi Media Stations. Each Media station accommodates new content, by deleting the least recently used content. This way the content in each travel route will get fine-tuned to cater to the preferences of the audience. The WiFi Media station can push some older popular content along with the new content, as part of its daily update. This allows users to revisit some of the earlier popular content, which may have vanished for some time. It’s like a re-release of a popular old movie in the Cinema Halls.
[0094] A Media station can connect to another Media station which is in its vicinity (Figure 3).Each Media station can interrogate from other, as to whether it has any of the content needed by it. Each Media station can upload to the other the content needed by it. This can proceed simultaneously from both the sides. Example while content “A” is being transferred by Media station (3.3a) to Media station (3.4a), the latter is transferring “B” to the prior.
[0095] A “MediaSpot” App is used by WiFi Devices, for connecting to a Media station and using the content. The “MediaSpot” allows caching of content being viewed, so that the user can continue viewing it even when he is not in contact with a MediaSpot (Figure 5a).Later when the user is connected to another Media station, the latter can interrogate the cached content in the device, and upload a content which is required by itself (Figure 5b).The “MediaSpot” will be able to cache a number of content, depending on the storage space available to it in the device. If the storage space is sufficient a user can ask for the day’s content to be cached from a Media station. Note that this can be done from a WiFi Media Station too, as it also functions as a Media station (Figure 6a).The user can later connect the device to a Media station, which requires content update, and the MediaSpot App, will upload all the content (Figure 6b). Many WiFi MediaSpots can get “manually updated” in this manner. The Usage Log within the Media station records the content being uploaded by a user, so that he can get some “credits” for it. This would encourage entrepreneurial users to themselves update Media stations, which are not in touch with any WiFi Media Station.
[0096] A Media station will provide Multicast Video/Audio Channels too. The Media station would generate the Multicast channels from the constituent individual content and Ads, using an internal play-list which would be updated on a daily basis. The Multicast channels, will be like the TV/Radio channels and will allow continuous playing through the MediaSpot App. It though will provide user convenience features such as Pause/Play. The Multicast Channels, conserve the WiFi bandwidth. They can be viewed by any number of WiFi devices in the transmission range. The MediaSpot App would take care of the smooth transition from one Media station to the other, for a roaming user. Multicast Channels require to be sent using the highest priority and QoS (quality of service), such that they don’t get disturbed by the Unicast traffic. Media station would adhere to the QoS requirements.
[0097] MediaSpot App has some key innovations to allow it to be used effectively by a lay user. The MediaSpot App would immediately latch on to a Media station, if it is available in the vicinity, otherwise it will allow the user to browse through the content previously cached in the WiFi device itself. The MediaSpot App is able to manage switching between WiFi and 3G in an optimal way, such that the content access is not hampered, while the 3G is active when WiFi data is not being fetched. In this manner MediaSpot App can ensure that the background update through 3G, for any of the user’s internet based Apps can go on. The MediaSpot App is also optimized for buffering and playing of Multicast Channels. It can play the audio channels in the background even when the Mobile has been put on a stand-by mode. The MediaSpot App gives the ability to user to have some content downloaded (memory permitting), for later viewing. The MediaSpot App is also able to inform the Media station, about the downloaded content, and have anyone of them uploaded to the latter. The user can even use the MediaSpot App for downloading all the new content, such that he can later use the same to update an isolated Media station. MediaSpot App would allow a content which is interrupted when the user alighted from one vehicle, to be resumed after he enters another vehicle. Within a train a MediaSpot App, would provide a Directory service, of users in different compartments and allow VoIP or text based connection.
[0098] The description below is given along with drawings, in order to clarify the working of the preferred embodiment of the device.
[0099] Referring now to Figure 1,a block diagram of the constituents of a Media station are shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The Router Board (1) has MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) Antennas (3a and 3b) connected to it. It also is connected to a 3G Dongle (2) for connection to a 2G or 3G wireless network. The Router Board (1) is also connected to a WiFi Client Dongle (3) with its own antenna, for accessing other Access Points. The Router Board (1) is also connected to a Solid State Storage (5) of 100GB or more capacity. A Mini UPS (6) with built-in battery backup provides power (6b) to the Router Board (1) as well as Power Fail signal (6c) for indicating that the power coming from an External Power Socket (6a) is absent.
[00100] Referring now to Figure 2, a block diagram of how a WiFi Media Station (1) is used for updating a Media station (3a) within a vehicle (2) in vicinity is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Content get downloaded via WiFi Client Antenna (3b) into the Media station (3a). In parallel content are served to WiFi portable devices (4a, 4b, 4c) via the MIMO Antennas (3c, 3d).
[00101] Referring now to Figure 3, a peer-to-peer protocol between Media stations. Figure 3 shows how the Peer-to-Peer protocol works between two Media stations in adjacently parked vehicles. Vehicle (1) has Media station (3a) while vehicle (2) has Media station (4a) within it. Media station (3a) has an additional content “A” within it, which is not present in Media station (4a). The latter (4a) downloads the content via Client WiFi Antenna (4b), from the MIMO Antenna (3c) of the Media station (3a). Media station (4a) has an additional content “B” which is simultaneously uploads through its MIMO antenna (4c) to Media station (3a), via its Client WiFi Antenna (3b).
[00102] Referring now to Figure 4a, Figure 4a shows how a Media station (2) when connected to a WiFi Media Station (1), itself becomes a WiFi Media Station and can update other Media stations (8, 9, 10) in the vicinity. Media station (5) connected to the Media station (2), in turn becomes a WiFi Media Station, and allows updating of another Media station (6) in the vicinity.
[00103] Referring now to Figure 4b, Figure 4b shows how a Media station (1) when it has updated itself with the latest content acts like a WiFi Media Station (1) and can update other Media stations (6, 7, 8) in the vicinity. Media station (4) connected to the Media station (4), in turn becomes a WiFi Media Station, and allows updating of another Media station (5) in the vicinity.
[00104] Figure 5a: Content Downloading by a WiFi Portable Device
[00105] Figure 5a shows how a WiFi Portable Device (2) can download some content “A” from a Media station (1) via the MIMO Antenna (3)
[00106] Figure 5b: Content Uploading by a WiFi Portable Device
[00107] Figure 5b shows how a WiFi Portable Device (1) can upload some content” A” to a Media station (2) via the MIMO Antenna (3)
[00108] Figure 6a: Content Downloading by a WiFi Portable Device with Large Storage.
[00109] Figure 6a shows how a WiFi Portable Device (2) with large storage can download all the daily content updates (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) from a WiFi Media Station (3).
[00110] Figure 6b: Content Updating via a WiFi Portable Device with Large Storage.
[00111] Figure 6b shows how a WiFi Portable Device (2) with large storage can upload the earlier cached content (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) to a Media station (1) via its MIMO Antenna (3)
[00112] Figure 7 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of providing wireless content distribution among plurality of nearby mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the invention. At step 702, a plurality of digital media content is stored in plurality of nearby mobile devices. At step 704, a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting said plurality of nearby mobile devices. At step 706, the digital media content stored in said plurality of nearby mobile devices is accessed. At step 708, digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices is evaluated. At step 710, digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices is updated based on evaluating step.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[00113] A person can now utilize his journey time productively in catching up with the latest entertainment channels, songs and videos on his mobile, tablet or laptop device.
[00114] While the person is absorbed in the entertainment, his other internet based apps would get updated in the background, through the common Internet facility.
[00115] New content gets updated overnight via peer-to-peer transfer through WiFi itself, between adjacent vehicles.
[00116] New contents can be accessed at the main bus depots and taxi stands via fixed WiFi Media Station. This can reduce the cost of accessing content, compared to that of 3G.
[00117] New content cached in a WiFi Portable device, can be used for updating a Media station at no operational cost. This allows cashable credits to be given to the WiFi Portable device.
[00118] 3G needs to be used for downloading a content, only if the same has not got updated through other WiFi means, before a passenger requires that content.
[00119] The new contents at a Central Server can thus be efficiently distributed to millions of vehicles, through mostly WiFi connections themselves, minimizing the required internet bandwidth and the associated costs.
[00120] A cost-effective content distribution network becomes vital for a free infotainment service to the public, which can be sustained just via the Ads.
[00121] The foregoing description of the invention shall be construed to be explained in specific embodiments and will reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the invention shall be construed to be explained in embodiments herein, the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification(s) within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.
[00122] It will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, improvements and sub-combinations of the various embodiments, adaptations and variations can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof as claimed in the following claims:


,CLAIMS:
1. A media station for a wireless content distribution system, said media station comprising:
a storage device for storing a first digital media content;
a wireless network access point configured to connect wirelessly to a mobile device having a second digital media content;
a mobile data network modem configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and updating the first digital media content through the wireless mobile data network; and
a processor configured to:
access the second digital media content stored in the mobile device wirelessly,
determine whether the second digital media content is updated, and
update the second digital media content stored in the mobile devicewirelessly using the mobile data network upon determining that the second digital media content is not updated.

2. The media station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine whether the mobile device stores an updated version of the first digital media content,
read the updated version of the first digital media content upon determining that the mobile device stores the updated version of the first digital media content, and
store the updated version of the first digital media content in the storage device.

3. The media station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media station comprises Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas for simultaneous wireless transmission and reception of data.

4. The media stationas claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a second media station.

5. The media station as claimed in claim 4, wherein the media station is located in one vehicle and the second media station is located in another vehicle.

6. The media station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile devices having the first digital media content and the second digital media content update new content from each other on a peer-to-peer basis.

7. A method for providing wireless content distribution among plurality of nearby mobile devices having a processing unit and a memory, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of digital media content in said plurality of nearby mobile devices;
establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting said plurality of nearby mobile devices;
accessing said digital media content stored in said plurality of nearby mobile devices;
evaluating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices;
updating said digital media content of said plurality of nearby mobile devices based on evaluating step.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein evaluating step comprising:
determining whether said nearby mobile devices comprises updated version of said digital media content.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein updating step further comprising updating a new content from each of said nearby mobile devices on a peer-to-peer basis upon comparing status of the digital media content of each of said nearby mobile devices.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein updating said digital media content of said mobile devices on a fixed interval of time from a wireless mobile data network.