WO2004003810A1

WO2004003810A1 - An information filling station facilitating wireless access of data content or event-related information via a portable device or other computer-based devices at predefined locations

Info

Publication number: WO2004003810A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/016241
Authority: WO
Inventors: David A. Deas; Lalitha Suryanarayana; Bruce Edward Stuckman; David Randall Wolter; Rias Muhamed; Russell White; Michael F. Grannan
Original assignee: Sbc Properties, L.P.
Priority date: 2002-06-27
Filing date: 2003-06-27
Publication date: 2004-01-08
Also published as: AU2003247402A1; EP1532562A1; CA2489330A1

Abstract

Data content providers (304, 306, and 308) transfer data content (including DRM protected content, movies, movie products, digital movie content, etc) over a broadband network onto one or more information filling stations (IFSs 302) situated at one or more physical locations. Users are able to wirelessly communicate with the IFSs (302) via one or more of portable devices (314) that are operable in close proximity to the IFS (302). 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 (314) are also capable of facilitating point-of-sale purchases, facilitating electronic funds transfers and performing financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a prestored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Optionally, the IFS (302) also forwards advertisements promoting products and services to the portable devices. The portable device (314) is also able to instruct the IFS (302) 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).

Description

AN INFORMATION FILLING STATION FACILITATING WIRELESS ACCESS

OF DATA CONTENT OR EVENT-RELATED INFORMATION VIA A PORTABLE DEVICE OR OTHER COMPUTER-BASED DEVICES AT PREDEFINED LOCATIONS

PRIORITY INFORMATION This application claims priority from U.S. serial number 10/180,521 filed June 27, 2002 entitled "An Information Filling Station Facilitating Wireless Transfer of Data Content to a Portable Device or Other Pre-Defined Locations" and U.S. serial number 10/180,516 filed June 27, 2002 entitled "A System and Method for Wirelessly Transacting Access to a Set of Events and Associated Digital Content/Products", which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to the field of digital content providers.

More specifically, the present invention is related to wireless access of data content or event-related information via a portable device or other computer-based devices at predefined locations.

BACKGROUND ART

Websites such as Fandango.com™ and MovieTickets.com™ allow users to view movie trailers, movie reviews, and movie schedules. Users are also able to purchase tickets online at these websites, wherein the purchased tickets can be picked up at the box office prior to the movie by using a form of ID (such as the credit card that was used to make the reservation) or a transaction confirmation number.

Figure 1 illustrates a general prior art method 100 associated with purchasing movie tickets at a location other than the movie theater. The two common scenarios associated with such prior art methods include allowing users to purchase tickets either over the Internet or over a telephone. In the first scenario, users access a website (such as Fandango.com or MovieTickets.com) 102 over a network (such as the Internet) to request movie related information. In the second scenario, users access a communication center over a telephone and access movie related information 104. Steps 106 through 112 of

Figure 1 illustrate steps common to both scenarios.

In step 106, users identify a theater of interest, a movie of interest playing in the theater of interest, and a convenient showtime for the movie of interest. Next, in step 108, users select a method of payment (usually a charge card) and perform a financial transaction for purchasing tickets for the movie of interest. Upon successful completion of the financial transaction, a confirmation number and instructions regarding how and where to collect the tickets are provided to the user.

In one instance, users are instructed to collect the tickets at a kiosk located at the movie theater of interest. Upon arrival at the kiosk, the user is either instructed to insert the charge card 108 that was used to make the financial transaction for purchasing the tickets or is instructed to enter the confirmation number. Upon authentication, the kiosk prints out the tickets for the movie of interest 110, which are then collected by the user.

Although the above-mentioned first scenario is convenient for ordering movie tickets, it requires users to have access to a computer that is capable of being connected to a network such as the Internet (via a network interface device communicating with a hub/router or a modem). The second scenario, on the other hand, restricts users to use an aural interface implemented in conjunction with a telephone.

One of the problems associated with the first scenario is the necessity of a router/hub or a telephone line to be physically nearby, so that a physical connection can be made. One alternative in prior art communication systems has been to use wireless network devices (such as a wireless network interface card) that can access the router/hub without a physical connection.

One popular method of implementing a wireless connection is based upon the IEEE 802.11 standard. 802.11 refers to a family of specifications developed by the Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for wireless local area network (LAN) technology. 802.11 specifies an over-the-air interface between a wireless client and a base station or between two wireless clients. There are several specifications in the 802.11 family, some of which are described below:

• 802.11 - applies to wireless LANs providing 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band using either frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS).

• 802.11a - an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless local area networks (LANs) and provides up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. 802.1 la uses an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing encoding scheme rather than FHSS or DSSS.

• 802.1 lb - This is also referred to as 802.11 High rate or Wi-Fi (for wireless fidelity) and was formed as a ratification to the original 802.11 standard, allowing wireless functionality comparable to the Ethernet. This is an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless LANs and provides 11 Mbps transmission (with fallback to 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps) in the 2.4 GHz band.

Transmission in the 802.1 lb standard is accomplished via DSSS.

• 802.1 lg - applies to wireless LANs and provides 20+ Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.

The most popular of the above standards is the 802.11b. One problem associated with this standard is that the signal strength fades away as a function of distance and, as a result, the data rate falls back to 5.5, 2, or 1 Mbps, depending on the distance from the Wi- Fi router/hub and the strength of the signal.

Returning to the discussion of Figure 1, a computer equipped with a wireless network interface card can be conveniently used to order movie tickets, but the computer has to operate within a certain radius for it to be functional. Thus, if one were outside their residence or outside the optimal radius, they would have to use a telephone, as described in the second scenario, to order the movie tickets. But, as mentioned earlier, this is a pure aural interface which lacks the ease of a visual interface. Furthermore, prior art systems implementing functionality similar to that of Figure 1 do not offer content that can be directly downloaded wirelessly onto a portable device not operatively linked to the Internet. Data content providers presently push a myriad of data content (such as e-mail, data files, multimedia files, etc.) to various portable devices (such as personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.). Some of the limitations associated with prior art systems in the transfer of such data content include limitations in the size of the data content to be transferred and limitations associated with the transmission rate as defined by the networks over which the data content is to be transferred.

Figure 2 illustrates another prior art scenario 200 wherein one or more data content providers 202, 204, 206 push data content over a network 208 onto a proxy server 210 which, in turn, interacts with a portable device over a narrow bandwidth network 212.

Data content providers include various services such as accessing: e-mail, data files, multimedia files, and other miscellaneous information services. Users access such data content via various portable devices, including: wireless phones 214, PDA 216, pagers 218, etc. The narrow bandwidth networks 212 over which the end device and the proxy server interact include broadcast networks, cellular networks, and satellite-based networks.

Although some networks such as some satellite-based networks are promoted as wide bandwidth networks, it should be noted that only a portion of the bandwidth associated with such networks is allocated for the purposes of personalized data content transmission, thereby limiting the size of data content that can be transferred in a given time period.

It should be noted that, for simplification purposes, only one network cloud is shown facilitating the interaction between the various content providers and the proxy server (network 208) and between the proxy server and the portable device (network 212), but such interactions can occur over one or more networks.

As mentioned earlier, a customer's access to such data content today is limited by the information content (size) and network speed (rate) by which the information can be delivered to the device. Certain services are typically only one-way, i.e., radio broadcast and satellite services. On the other hand, e-mail and data file delivery, while two-way, is limited to very narrow bandwidths, which restrict the type and quantity of information that can be delivered to the customer's portable device. Thus, the prior art systems fail to provide for a fast and efficient way to facilitate the interaction between the content providers and the portable devices. Additionally, the prior art fails to disclose a system wherein content providers push data content over a broadband network to information filling stations at various physical locations accessible by portable devices (associated with mobile users) that wirelessly transact, access, and receive data content from the information filling station.

The following references provide a general description of digital content providers that allow digital content to be downloaded.

The U.S. patent to Schulhof et al. (5,572,442), assigned to Information Highway Media Corporation, provides a system for distributing subscription and on- demand audio programming. Disclosed is a system for downloading digital audio data onto a portable audio storage medium and listening to it at a desired time. The portable audio storage medium is capable of high-speed data transfer that can be downloaded from such systems as a television cable system, satellite, or fiber optic telephone link.

The published U.S. patent application to Tsukamoto (2001/0013120A1), assigned to NEC Corporation, provides for a digital contents rental system. Disclosed is a process that consists of a customer visiting the store with a portable storage unit, such as a magnetic disk. The user may then choose from a plurality of digital content and download desired content onto his/her storage medium.

The published U.S. patent application to Ekkel (2001/0037360A1), assigned to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.N., provides for a data service at a transit terminal. Disclosed is a system that provides information content to a user at a repository. While a consumer is traveling, a data service offers information availability that can be downloaded by the user to a storage device and viewed offline. Using a mobile storage medium, such as a memory card or a magnetic disk, the individual may use the highly customizable service to download electronic information content from a host repository or server.

The published U.S. patent application to Sibley (2001/0039662A1), assigned to Hughes Electronics Corporation, provides for a digital over-the-air communication system for use with digital terrestrial broadcasting system. Disclosed is a system for distributing electrical content using digital over-the-air communication. The process consists of a network operation center uplinking electronic content packages to a satellite, a broadcast center receiving the electronic content from the satellite, and a user device receiving the digital content via a digital channel generated by the broadcast center.

The published U.S. patent application to Ramachandran et al.

(2001/0044747A1), assigned to Diebold, Incorporated, provides a system and method for dispensing digital information from an automated transaction machine. Disclosed is a service that offers digital content information to a user through an automated transaction machine.

Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of the above-cited references, none of them achieve or fulfills the benefits of the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention provides for one or more information filling stations (IFS) located at one or more physical locations accessible by mobile users who wirelessly communicate with the IFS via a portable device that is in close proximity to the IFS. Users are able to wirelessly communicate with the IFS and request diverse data content such as: 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. Furthermore, users are able to use their portable device (which is either a standalone device or a device integrated with an automobile) to selectively transfer data content onto various locations such as, but not limited to, a portable device, a PC located at home, a PC located at work, etc. The IFS performs such data content transfers only after authenticating users (via a smart card or a virtual private network setup) via their portable device.

Upon such authentication, the IFS receives one or more content requests and identifies any content in such requests that is protected (e.g., copyrighted materials) using, for example, Digital Rights Management (DRM) models. Next, the availability and pricing information of the requested content (including any fees payable to content providers with respect to DRM-protected content) is extracted from one or more databases and transmitted onto the portable device, wherein it is rendered.

Optionally, one or more advertisements are also transmitted via the IFS for promoting one or more products, wherein the advertisements either provide for or indicate a location for accessing pricing information related to the advertised products.

Subsequently, instructions identifying content of interest, any products of interest, and routing instructions (identifying locations for selectively transferring each of the content of interest and any of the products of interest) are received by the IFS. Upon reception of these instructions, the IFS identifies pricing associated with the products of interest and performs a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with the content of interest and the products of interest. Lastly, a payment arrangement is made with the content providers for any identified fees that are payable with respect to the protected content, and the IFS selectively sends to the identified locations corresponding content of interest and any products of interest.

In the preferred embodiment, the mobile device is either carried in or integrated with an automobile, and the wireless communication between the mobile device and the IFS is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb protocol.

In one specific embodiment, the system and method of the present invention provide for an architecture comprising an information filling station (IFS) and a portable device interacting with the IFS over a wireless network. One or more content providers are able to push data content related to events (such as movies) over a network onto the IFS which, in turn, transmits any requested event related content to the portable computer- based device. Furthermore, the portable device is able to wirelessly interact with the IFS to perform financial transactions for purchasing tickets (direct purchase tickets or via auction-based ticket purchase), digital entertainment content of interest, and event related products. In another embodiment, the IFS is placed at or near a theater, theater lobby or ticket stand. Alternatively, many of the functions described herein can also be implemented in a hub at a location remote from a theater such as a generic information filling station.

The portable device can be any of, but not limited to, the following: a laptop, a pen-based computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless phone capable of displaying digital entertainment content, or a pager capable of displaying digital entertainment content. The data content can be any of, but not limited to, the following: trailers, reviews (text, audio, and video), showtimes, ticket availability, prices, director's comments, text of dialogue, auction information related to tickets for movies of interest, pushed advertisements, movie related products, digital movie content, movie soundtrack, food/snack information, feedback information, or chatroom related information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a prior art method associated with purchasing movie tickets at a location other than the movie theater.

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art scenario wherein one or more data content providers push data content onto one or more portable devices via a proxy server.

Figure 3 illustrates a general architecture associated with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates various categories of service that the IFS of the present invention is capable of delivering.

Figure 5 illustrates various categories of service offered under the service delivery category. Figure 6 illustrates various information services that are deliverable by the IFS of the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates various telematic services associated with the present invention. Figure 8 illustrates the various advertising and promotional services associated with the present invention. Figure 9 illustrates various modes of authentication of the portable device.

Figure 10 illustrates vehicle or device authentication via a virtual private network (VPN). Figures 1 la- 1 lb collectively illustrate the present invention's method for selectively routing data content based upon a wireless interaction between a portable device and an information filling station (IFS).

Figures 12a and 12b collectively illustrate the interaction between various wireless clients and the IFS core network.

Figure 13 illustrates a non-exhaustive group of the various interactions that are possible between a portable computer-based device and the information filling station (IFS).

Figure 14 illustrates system interaction in the preferred embodiment between the IFS and the portable device.

Figure 15 illustrates a method of the present invention as implemented between an IFS and a portable device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the invention may be produced in many different configurations, forms, and materials. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

Throughout the specification, the present invention is described with a specific example of a portable device in an automobile, but it should be noted modifications, such as the integration of the portable device and the vehicle are envisioned, and such modifications should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. It should also be noted that for the purposes of description, specific examples of venues and events (i.e., theaters for venues and movies for events) are used, but one skilled in the art can extend this to encompass other venues and events without departing from the scope of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a general architecture 300 associated with the present invention.

In this example, a user in an automobile equipped with a portable device (stand-alone or integrated) 314 is able to drive up to one of many information filling stations (IFSs) 302 that are physically located at various accessible locations. Once in close proximity to an IFS 302, users can authenticate themselves (via a security identity module (SIM) card or a virtual private network setup) to perform various functions via their portable device.

For example, users can wirelessly send one or more requests for data content to the IFS 302 which, upon reception of such requests, identifies if any of the requested data content is protected via Digital Rights Management (DRM). The IFS 302 interacts with one or more data content providers 304, 306, 308 to extract the requested data content. Next, the availability and pricing information of the requested content (including any additional fees identified with content protected via DRM) is extracted from the content providers 304, 306, 308 and transmitted onto the portable device 314, wherein it is rendered.

One or more broadband networks 310 facilitate the transfer of data between the data content providers 304, 306, 308 and IFS 302. The broadband networks used in conjunction with the present invention include local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), or the Internet. In one embodiment, data is transferred between the content providers 304, 306, 308 and the IFS 302 via a digital synchronous line (DSL) link. The data content that can be transferred includes, but is 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 data files. Thus, the system of the present invention provides access to an entire spectrum of diverse data content and uniquely solves the information content size and network speed (data rate) limitation inherent in prior art cellular, terrestrial, and satellite-based systems.

By using the IFS model of the present invention, customers are offered improved access to broadband networks without limitations in the size or data rate of information content to be transferred. Furthermore, the present invention provides convenient data access, as the IFS ports may be located at any public or privately accessible location including, but not limited to: gas stations, shopping malls, schools, airports, convenience stores, truck stops, hospitals, libraries, pay telephone locations, or any other location in close proximity of the vehicle. The IFS provides wireless high-speed access to vehicles or handheld devices wherein, in the preferred embodiment, the wireless access is based upon the 802.11b protocol. It should, however, be noted that one skilled in the art can envision using other wireless protocols including the IEEE 802.11a or IEEE 802.1 lg protocols.

Thus, such limitations in the protocols used should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, a portable device 314 wirelessly interacts with the IFS 1202 and performs financial transactions to purchase tickets, digital event related content, and event related products. More specifically, in Figure 3, the content providers 304, 306, and 308 push event related content such as, but not limited to: event information, event information, showtimes, ticket pricing, event reviews, food/snack availability at various venues hosting such events, auction information related to event tickets, advertisements, event previews, digital event content, and digital event related content (e.g., soundtrack of a movie, text of dialog of a movie, and/or directors comments related to a movie).

As mentioned above, the portable device 314 is a computer-based device that is able to communicate wirelessly with the IFS 302 to request the above described event related content over a wireless network 312. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless communications are based upon the 802.1 lb standard.

Thus, in this embodiment, users interested in purchasing tickets to one or more events of interest (e.g., one or more movies) use their portable computer-based device 314 and inquire the IFS 302 regarding one or more venues of interest (e.g., one or more theatres of interest) where the events of interest are scheduled to occur. The IFS 302 extracts information (e.g., including movies playing in the theaters of interest, ticket availability of movies, and or pricing of movies) regarding requested venues of interest and wirelessly transmits such information onto the portable device 314, where it is rendered. Users are then able to select one or more events of interest and, based upon the availability of tickets, conduct financial transactions to purchase tickets for the events of interest. Furthermore, users are able to receive event related information and digital content directly onto their portable device 314, where it is stored and rendered upon request (or, optionally, the digital content is sent to a physical address). The portable device 314 can then be used at the venue to perform wireless authentication to obtain the tickets for the event of interest. It should be noted that the IFS 302 can be placed at or near a venue, venue lobby, or ticket stand. Alternatively, many of the functions described herein can be implemented in an IFS at a location remote from a venue, such as a generic information filling station.

Figure 4 illustrates various categories of service that the IFS of the present invention is capable of delivering. The various IFS services can be categorized as: 1) service delivery, 2) authentication, and 3) discontinuous downloading.

1. Service Delivery

Figure 5 illustrates the various categories of service offered under the service delivery category. This includes: information service delivery 504, telematic services 506, and advertising and promotional services 508.

a. Information Services Delivery. Figure 6 illustrates various information services 602 that are deliverable by the IFS. Information services delivered between the IFS and a portable device (handheld or integrated within an automobile) include, but are not limited to:

• data files of various formats 604;

• rental or purchase multimedia files (e.g., audio files, video files, etc.) 606. Thus, for example, appropriate Digital Rights Management (DRM) copyrighted MP3 audio files can be accessed and delivered to authorized customers, thereby providing a distribution channel for record companies.;

• World Wide Web (WWW) access 608 allowing a user to access the Internet via the IFS;

• rental or purchase of a full-length movie at movie rental outlets 610 wherein an IFS is located outside a movie rental place and a transaction can be performed via a portable device to digitally rent a movie. The digital content associated with the movie can be either wirelessly transferred onto a portable device or be routed to a device at a remote location, such as home or office.

Thus, the IFS concept allows users to drive up to an IFS and download digital movies via a wireless port (or such digital content can be optionally routed to other locations). In the preferred embodiment, the format of the digital content related to movies is MPEG4 and appropriate DRM processing is performed before transferring such content.;

• interactive games 612 (real-time interactive games 614 or downloadable games 616);

• access to e-mail 618 (plain text e-mail 620 or e-mail with attachments 622);

• access to electronic newspapers for download 624;

• access to information 626 such as, but not limited to: news headlines 628, sports news 630, traffic news 632, and weather information 634;

• in one embodiment, the traffic 632 and weather 634 information also include alternative routing directions 636;

• electronic book delivery 638; and/or • interactive messaging 640.

Telematic Services: Figure 7 illustrates the various telematic services associated with the present invention. Telematic services 702 that are delivered between the IFS and a portable device (stand-alone or integrated with an automobile) include, but are not limited to:

• point-of-sale (POS) transactions (such as purchasing gasoline and/or food at convenience stores) 704;

• purchase of lottery tickets 706;

• electronic funds transfers 708 (wherein users access financial institutions via their portable devices to provide instructions regarding electronic transfer of funds); or • electronic directory services 710 (wherein users are able to use their portable devices to search or query electronic directories).

c. Advertising and Promotion Services: Figure 8 illustrates the various advertising and promotional services associated with the present invention.

Advertisement and promotional services delivered between the IFS and a vehicle mounted or handheld device include, but are not limited to:

• "Push" advertising for restaurants, lodging, gasoline purchasing, and entertainment within close proximity of an IFS 804; • promotional deals from businesses in close proximity to an IFS, i.e., a free car wash or food with gasoline fill-up 806; and/or

• "Push" coupons for product promotions 808.

2. Authentication Figure 9 illustrates various modes of authentication associated with the present invention. The IFS supports individual vehicle or device authentication through:

• SIM card capabilities 904;

• a virtual private network (VPN) 906; or

• Digital Rights Management based (DRM-based) authentication to ensure content security and reduce pirating of copyrighted material 908.

Figure 10 illustrates a simple vehicle or device authentication based on a VPN setting. VPN is a network that is constructed by using public wires to connect nodes. For example, there are a number of systems that enable one to create networks using the Internet as the medium for transporting data. These systems use encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the network and that data cannot be intercepted.

In this setting, an authenticating server 1002 and an IFS 1008 are part of a VPN represented by the solid line in Figure 10. It should be noted that other computers (such as 1003, 1005, 1006, 1007, and 1009) can also be connected to the service provider backbone routers 1004 and 1006, but they do not form a part of the virtual private network. Thus, an

IFS wirelessly interacting with an automobile or mobile device is able perform authentication over such a VPN.

3. Discontinuous Downloading

The IFS supports discontinuous downloading, which provides a cohesive download of large files (movies, music, or files) without having to remain at an IFS port for long periods of time. The IFS supports redirected downloads by allowing users to selectively route information services or content to other locations such as home or office.

Figures l la-l lb collectively illustrate the present invention's method 1100 for selectively routing data content based upon wireless interaction between a portable device and an information filling station (IFS). In step 1102, a portable device (either a stand alone device or a device integrated with an automobile) is authenticated, and in step 1104, one or more content requests are received by the IFS. Next, in step 1106, information is extracted from one or more content provider databases regarding availability of each of said requested content and information identifying which of said content requests are associated with protected content. Additionally, in step 1108, a price (if available - as some items may be available free of charge) associated with each of the available requested content is identified, wherein the price includes any fees that are payable with respect to said protected content. Furthermore, in step 1110 information regarding availability and any identified prices associated with the requested content is transmitted from the IFS to the portable device.

In step 1112, instructions are received from the portable device identifying one or more content of interest and routing instructions identifying one or more locations for selectively transferring each of the content of interest. Next, in step 1114, a financial transaction is performed based upon any pricing information associated with said content of interest, and upon successful completion of the financial transaction: a) one or more content providers are paid the identified fees that are payable with respect to said protected content 1116; and b) corresponding content of interest is selectively sent to the one or more identified locations 1118. Optionally, one or more advertisements promoting one or more products, are wirelessly transmitted from the IFS to the portable device wherein it is rendered. These advertisements either providing for, or indicating, a location for accessing pricing information related to the products. Furthermore, in this scenario, additional instructions are received from the portable device identifying any products of interest and one or more locations for selectively routing each of said products of interest. Next, pricing (if available) associated with said products of interest are identified and a financial transaction is performed based upon any pricing information associated with said products of interest.

Upon successful completion of the financial transaction, the IFS aids in selectively sending the identified products of interest to their corresponding identified locations.

It should be noted that the content requests as described in the above method is for any of, or a combination of, the following content: data files, rental of multimedia content, purchase of multimedia content, WWW data content, rental of digital movie content, purchase of digital movie content, real-time games, interactive games, e-mail with attachments, electronic newspapers, news information, sports information, traffic information, electronic books, or interactive messaging. Additionally, the wireless interaction in the preferred embodiment is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb wireless protocol and the preferred format for transfer of digital movie content is the MPEG4 format.

Furthermore, the method described in Figures lla-l lb is not restricted to just requests for information service content, but can include requests for telematic services. In this scenario, the IFS receives one more requests for telematic services from said portable device and the IFS then identifies, if available, a price associated with the requested telematic services. Next, a financial transaction is performed based upon any identified price associated with the requested telematic services. Lastly, upon successful completion of the financial transaction, the IFS either performs or schedules the requested telematic services. Examples of telematic services that can be requested include any of, or a combination of the following requests: requests for point of sale transactions, request to purchase lottery tickets, requests for electronic transfer of funds, or request for electronic directory services. An example of a specific implementation of the present invention to purchase digital content is now provided. EXAMPLE

In this example, a consumer with a portable computer-based device walks into a store and wirelessly connects to the store's local area network (LAN). Next, the consumer browses the products in the store and identifies a product of interest, such as an audio CD (or a DVD). Next, the consumer scans the barcode associated with the audio CD (or a

DVD) using the portable computer-based device. Then, the consumer is given the option of sampling the content (either in part or its entirety) of the audio CD (or the DVD) for a limited number of times (e.g., the tracks can be listened to twice in its entirety or a clip of the movie can be watched twice). Based on the sampled content, consumers are able to decide if they are interested in purchasing a copy of the CD or DVD (either in a digital form or on a tangible medium such as a CD or DVD sent to a physical location). Additionally, users are also given the option of downloading such content with an expiration date. For example, a CD or DVD can be purchased as a 3-day rental or a 3-day on demand download. In the event the consumer is interested in the digital form of the product of interest, a process for downloading the digital content is started.

It should be noted that the consumer does not have to be at the store after a decision is made to download (to the portable computer-based device or another physical location such as home or office). In the event the content is to be downloaded to the portable computer-based device and if consumers are no longer connected to the store's LAN, they may be required to connect to another network to continue the download process for an additional charge, or alternatively, they can pull up at one of the many information filling stations to complete the download.

Although specific examples of products of interest (e.g., CD's and DVD's) are provided, one skilled in the art can envision purchasing other products, and hence should not use the type of product to limit the scope of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention allows customers who are mobile to access broadband network services without ties to broadband wired connections in homes or offices. Figures 12a and 12b collectively illustrate the interaction between various wireless clients and the IFS core network. Figure 12a illustrates various examples of the portable devices that can be used in conjunction with the present invention. The portable device can be any of, but not limited to: a laptop 1202, a pen-based computer (e.g., a tablet PC) 1204, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 1206, a wireless phone 1208 with a display and capable of bidirectional wireless communication, or a pager 1210 with a display and capable of bidirectional wireless communication.

It should be noted that, although specific examples of portable computer-based devices are shown to best illustrate the functionality of the invention, one skilled in the art can envision other current and future portable computer-based devices that can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, 12a shows, for the purposes of simplicity, one network cloud (1212) facilitating communication between the IFS and the content provider and between the IFS and the portable computer-based devices (1212). Thus, one skilled in the art can envision using more than one type of network (e.g., LAN, WAN, or the Internet) to facilitate this communication and therefore should not use this to limit the scope of the present invention.

Figure 12b illustrates how the portable devices shown in Figure 13a interact with the IFS core network 1213. The IFS core network 1213 comprises one or more information servers 1214 and an access router 1216 that is linked with a plurality of wireless ports 1218 distributed at various physical locations. Content providers transmit various forms of data (e.g., multimedia data) to one or more information servers 1214 wherein the content providers are able to refresh stored content and associate digital rights management with the stored content. The information servers 1214 can either be local or be distributed across a network and are capable of storing and transmitting data such as multimedia data (e.g., mp3 audio files, video files in MPEG4 format). The access router

1216 provides authentication, billing (performed via a billing system and a customer database), and element management. The access router 1216 and information servers 1214 are supported by separate element management systems. The IFS core network 1213 is supported by the operator's existing or modified tier 2 network management system where such interfaces between the access router 1216, information servers 1214, and IFS core network 1213 are linked through standard SNMP or CORBA complainant interfaces. As mentioned above, the access router 1216 provides authentication and billing information, the content servers 1214 provide element management system functions providing but not limited to content management, digital rights management and accounting, traffic statistics, and storage capabilities. The information servers 1214 are linked with the access router 1216 via a transportation link such as, but not limited to, an Ethernet link, a SONET link, or a DS3 link. The access router, in turn, is linked with wireless ports via a communication link such as, but not limited to, an Ethernet link, a DS3/DS1 link, or a DSL link. Furthermore, the access router 1216 is linked with one or more wireless access ports located 1218 at various locations (e.g., payphone or other services with access to DSL, Tl, or Ethernet services). These wireless access ports 1218 (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.1 lg) provide a link between wireless clients (e.g., laptops, palmtops, PDAs, mobile telephones, etc.) 1220 and the access router 1216 (which in turn provides such clients with a link to data located in information servers 1214).

Figure 13 illustrates a non-exhaustive group of the various interactions that are possible between a portable computer-based device and the IFS 1302. As mentioned earlier, event information such as movie information 1304 can be accessed from the IFS 1302 in a wireless manner by the portable device. In the preferred embodiment, data exchange is facilitated between the IFS 1302 and a portable device via an 802.11b protocol. The various types of data that can be exchanged include, but are not limited to, movie information 1304, auction related information 1306, advertisements 1308, digital movie content 1310, food/snack information 1312, feedback 1314, and chatroom related information 1316.

Movie related information 1304 includes movie trailers 1318 (in various digital formats); reviews 1320 (that can be any of the following formats: text 1334, audio 1335, or video 1336); showtimes 1322, indicating various showtimes associated with movies playing at one or more theaters of interest; ticket availability information 1324, indicating the availability of tickets for one or more movies of interest; price information 1326, indicating price per ticket for one or more movies of interest; and supplemental information, such as, but not limited to, director's comments 1338 or text of dialogue 1340 associated with one or more movies of interest. Additionally, in an extended embodiment, the dialogue text 1340 is presented with a rewind feature that allows users to scroll back to see text for an earlier dialogue.

Auction related information 1306 can be accessed to view the availability of tickets in one or more auctions for one or more movies of interest. Alternatively, a portable device can post a previously purchased ticket for sale, transfer, or exchange via an auction. Thus, users are able to auction or reverse auction empty seats to a movie, or even inform users as to real-time price reductions based on over capacity. It should be noted that over capacity is determined in the theater ticket system separate from the IFS, wherein a notice of available seating and price is sent to the IFS. The IFS "pushes" this information much like advertisements to a user's device in close proximity of a wireless port. The device is then able to display the availability and start times associated with movies, and the user can then choose to accept or reject the theater request.

Tickets that are purchased via the IFS 1302 can be printed on paper, wherein such paper tickets or pseudo tickets are sufficient to obtain or retrieve a ticket. Alternatively, users can be given a transaction identification number that can be used at a kiosk at a theater to print valid tickets.

Advertisements 1308 are used to push movie content 1310 or movie related products

1307 such as, but not limited to: movie soundtracks 1332, a digital copy of a movie (either transferred onto a portable device or onto a tangible storage medium) 1330, or other movie related products 1307. Furthermore, such advertisements for movie content or movie related products can be pushed prior to, during, or after a movie. Additionally, although it is described that movie content or movie related products are pushed via advertisements, it should be noted that users are also able to order such content/products directly via their portable computer-based device.

The IFS 1302 is also able to provide food/snack information 1312 to users. Therefore, after purchasing their tickets, users are also able to order, via their portable device, food/snacks for pick up (or delivery to a particular location in the theater) at a theater of interest. It should be noted that such food/snack orders can be placed either before or during a movie. Users are also able to provide feedback or access feedback related information 1314 from the IFS 1302. In one embodiment, a pop-up window is provided on a movie screen that provides information uploaded from the user's device, including feedback on the film, user comments, or video of the user reacting to the film. Additionally, audience response to films after a movie, during a movie, or during a scene can also be gauged. In another extended embodiment, communications such as a chatroom environment 1316 with other users during a film are also provided by the IFS 1302. In yet another extended embodiment, a virtual drive-in experience provided by the IFS 1302 allows users to watch a movie itself on the user's portable device that is near the IFS 1302.

Figure 14 illustrates system interaction in the preferred embodiment between an IFS 1402 and a portable device 1404. One or more content providers forward data content 1406 such as movie information, auction information, advertisements, movie related products information, and digital content to information filling station 1402. The IFS 1402 is accessed by the portable device 1404, which requests and receives theater/movie information 1408. Next, users of the portable device identify a theater and a movie of interest 1410 in the theater based upon the received theater/movie information.

Upon receiving such identification for a theater and movie of interest, the IFS 1402 forwards pricing and auction information related to that theater and movie of interest. Additionally, advertisements 1414 can be pushed to the portable device 1404 promoting the sales of movie related products or digital content related to the movie of interest. The portable device 1404 then sends a request for the purchase of any identified tickets, movie related products, or digital movie content 1416 and, upon successful completion of a financial transaction 1418 related to such a purchase, the IFS forwards a confirmation related to the purchase of tickets or products and forwards any purchased digital content 1420 to the portable device 1404 (or, optionally, sends the digital content to a physical address in a storage medium).

It should be noted that, for illustration purposes, the wireless network (such as a wireless network based on the 802.11b communication protocol) between the IFS 1402 and the portable device 1404 is omitted in Figure 14. Figure 15 illustrates a method 1500 of the present invention as implemented between an IFS and a portable device. In step 1502, a portable device associated with a user receives (based upon an earlier request) information related to movies playing at one or more theaters of interest (e.g., information such as trailers, reviews, showtimes, ticket availability, prices, and/or supplemental information), wherein the received information is rendered in the portable device. Next, in step 1504, based upon an input in the portable device, at least one theater of interest and at least one movie of interest in the theater of interest is identified and communicated to the IFS. In step 1506, the portable device receives pricing and auction information regarding the availability of tickets for the identified movies(s) of interest from the IFS. Additionally, in step 1508, the portable device also receives and renders one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to the identified movie(s) of interest, digital content related to one or more movies identified based upon a profile of the user of the portable device, or movie related products.

Next, in step 1510, the user of the portable device identifies, from the advertisements and based upon an input in the portable device, digital content or products of interest. In step 1512, the portable device performs a financial transaction with the IFS, wherein the transaction is based upon the received pricing and auction information and the identified digital content of interest. Such financial transactions are accomplished either of two ways. First, the user can have a pre-established personal profile containing credit card information which the user utilizes to execute a financial transaction (via the IFS) without delivering their credit card number over the IFS network. Alternatively, the user can input their credit or debit card information in the portable device which in turn delivers this information via a secure link to the provider or digital content services. Upon successful completion of the financial transaction, the portable device receives a purchase confirmation and any identified digital content of interest in step 1514. It should be noted that any purchased digital content can also be optionally sent to a physical address instead of being transferred to the portable device.

Furthermore, the present invention includes a computer program code based product, which is a storage medium having program code stored therein which can be used to instruct a computer to perform any of the methods associated with the present invention.

The computer storage medium includes any of, but is not limited to, the following: CD- ROM, DVD, magnetic tape, optical disc, hard drive, floppy disk, ferroelectric memory, flash memory, ferromagnetic memory, optical storage, charge coupled devices, magnetic or optical cards, smart cards, EEPROM, EPROM, RAM, ROM, DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, and/or any other appropriate static or dynamic memory or data storage device.

Implemented in computer program code based products are software modules for: authenticating said portable device; aiding in the reception of one or more content requests from said portable device; aiding in extracting, from one or more databases, information regarding availability of each of said requested content and information identifying which of said content requests are associated with protected content; identifying, if available, a price associated with each of said available requested content including any fees that are payable with respect to said protected content; aiding in transmitting, to said portable device: said information regarding availability and any identified prices associated with said requested content; aiding in receiving, from said portable device, instructions identifying one or more content of interest and routing instructions identifying one or more locations for selectively transferring each of said content of interest; aiding in performing a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with said content of interest and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, aiding in paying to one or more content providers, said identified fees that are payable with respect to said protected content; and aiding in selectively sending to said one or more identified locations, corresponding content of interest.

Also implemented in computer program code based products are software modules for: aiding in the transmission, based upon a wireless protocol, of requested information related to events playing at one or more venues of interest (e.g., the venue could be a theater, the event could be a movie, and the information could be trailers, reviews, showtimes, ticket availability, prices, supplemental information); receiving at least one identified venue of interest and at least one identified event of interest in the venue of interest; aiding in the transmission of pricing and auction information regarding the availability of tickets for the identified event(s) of interest; aiding in the transmission of one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to the identified event of interest, digital content related to an event identified based upon a profile of the user of the portable device, or event related products; receiving an identification indicating digital content or products of interest and tickets of interest; facilitating a financial transaction based upon the identified tickets of interest and the identified digital content of interest; and aiding in the transmission of a purchase confirmation upon successful completion of the financial transaction and aiding in sending the identified digital content of interest either electronically or to a physical address.

CONCLUSION A system and method has been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of an information filling station facilitating wireless transfer of data content to a portable device or other pre-defined locations. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure but, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the present invention should not be limited by type or portable device, type of data content, type of protection, number of content provider databases, type of wireless network, type of network between content provider database and IFS, software/program, computing environment, format of digital content, type of wireless communication, type of portable computer based device, mode of transfer of digital content, location of information station, type of venue, type of event, or specific computing hardware.

The above enhancements are implemented in various computing environments. For example, the present invention may be implemented on a conventional IBM PC or equivalent, multi-nodal system (e.g., LAN) or networking system (e.g., Internet, WWW, wireless web). All programming and data related thereto are stored in computer memory, static or dynamic, and may be retrieved by the user in any of conventional computer storage, display (i.e., CRT), and/or hardcopy (i.e., printed) formats. The programming of the present invention may be implemented by one skilled in the art of wireless transmission protocol programming (e.g., 802.11b communication protocol programming) and database management.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method for selectively routing data content based upon wireless interaction between a portable device and an information filling station (IFS), said method as implemented in said IFS comprising the steps of: a. authenticating said portable device; b. receiving, from said portable device, one or more content requests; c. extracting, from one or more databases, information regarding availability of each of said requested content and information identifying which of said content requests are associated with protected content; d. identifying, if available, a price associated with each of said available requested content including any fees that are payable with respect to said protected content; e. transmitting, to said portable device: said information regarding availability and any identified prices associated with said requested content; f receiving, from said portable device, instructions identifying content of interest and routing instructions identifying one or more locations for selectively transferring each of said content of interest; and g. performing a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with said content of interest, and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, selectively sending to said one or more identified locations corresponding content of interest.

2. A method as per claim 1, wherein said step of performing a financial transaction further comprises the step of paying, to one or more content providers, said identified fees that are due with respect to said protected content.

3. A method as per claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of a. transmitting, to said portable device, one or more advertisements promoting one or more products, said advertisements either providing for, or indicating, a location for accessing pricing information related to said products; b. receiving, from said portable device, instructions identifying any products of interest and one or more locations for selectively routing each of said products of interest; and c. identifying, if available, pricing associated with said products of interest.

4. A method as per claim 3, wherein said financial transaction is additionally based upon any pricing information associated with said products of interest, and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, said IFS aiding in selectively sending said identified products of interest to corresponding identified locations.

5. A method as per claim 1, wherein said wireless interaction is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb wireless protocol.

6. A method as per claim 1, wherein said one or more content requests is for any of, or a combination of, the following content: data files, rental of multimedia content, purchase of multimedia content, WWW data content, rental of digital movie content, purchase of digital movie content, real-time games, interactive games, e-mail with attachments, electronic newspapers, news information, sports information, traffic information, electronic books, or interactive messaging.

7. A method as per claim 6, wherein said digital movie content is in a MPEG4 format.

8. A method as per claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: i. receiving one more requests for telematic services from said portable device; ii. identifying, if available, a price associated with said requested telematic services; iii. performing a financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with said requested telematic services; and iv. performing or scheduling said requested telematic services.

9. A method as per claim 8, wherein said requested telematic services comprises any of, or a combination of: requests for point of sale transactions, purchase of lottery tickets, electronic transfer of funds, or electronic directory services.

10. A method as per claim 1, wherein said portable device is integrated in an automobile.

11. A method as per claim 1, wherein said IFS is distributed at geographical locations accessible by said portable devices.

12. A method as per claim 1, wherein said one or more databases interact with said IFS over a network, wherein said network is any of, or a combination of the following networks: local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or the Internet.

13. A method as per claim 1, wherein processing and delivery of said protected content is based upon the Digital Rights Management (DRM) model.

14. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for aiding in selective routing of data content based upon a wireless interaction between a portable device and an information filling station (IFS), said medium comprising: a. computer readable program code authenticating said portable device; b. computer readable program code aiding in the reception of one or more content requests from said portable device; c. computer readable program code aiding in extracting, from one or more databases, information regarding availability of each of said requested content and information identifying which of said content requests are associated with protected content; d. computer readable program code identifying, if available, a price associated with each of said available requested content including any fees that are payable with respect to said protected content; e. computer readable program code aiding in transmitting, to said portable device: said information regarding availability and any identified prices associated with said requested content; f. computer readable program code aiding in receiving, from said portable device, instructions identifying one or more content of interest and routing instructions identifying one or more locations for selectively transferring each of said content of interest; and g. computer readable program code aiding in performing a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with said content of interest, and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, computer readable program code aiding in selectively sending to said one or more identified locations corresponding content of interest.

15. An article of manufacture as per claim 14, wherein said medium further comprises computer readable program code aiding in paying one or more content providers, said identified fees that are due with respect to said protected content.

16. An article of manufacture as per claim 14, wherein said medium further comprises: i. computer readable program code aiding in the reception of one more requests for telematic services from said portable device; ii. computer readable program code identifying, if available, a price associated with said requested telematic services; iii. computer readable program code aiding in performing a financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with said requested telematic services; and iv. computer readable program code aiding in performing or scheduling said requested telematic services.

17. An article of manufacture as per claim 14, wherein said medium further comprises: a. computer readable program code aiding in transmitting, to said portable device, one or more advertisements promoting one or more products, said advertisements either providing for, or indicating, a location for accessing pricing information related to said products; b. computer readable program code aiding in receiving, from said portable device, instructions identifying any products of interest and one or more locations for selectively routing each of said products of interest; and c. computer readable program code aiding in identifying, if available, pricing associated with said products of interest.

18. An article of manufacture as per claim 17, wherein said medium further comprises computer readable program code aiding in performing a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with said products of interest and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, selectively sending said identified products of interest to corresponding identified locations.

19. A method implemented in a portable device for instructing an information filling station (IFS) to selectively route data content to one or more locations based upon a wireless interaction between said portable device and said IFS, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing authentication information to said IFS; b. receiving an indication from said IFS upon successful authentication; c. transmitting, to said IFS, one or more content requests; d. receiving from said IFS information regarding availability of each of said requested content, information identifying which of said content requests are associated with protected content, and if available, a price associated with each of said available requested content including any fees that are payable with respect to said protected content; e. transmitting, to said IFS, instructions identifying one or more content of interest and routing instructions identifying one or more locations for selectively transferring each of said content of interest; f. performing a financial transaction based upon any pricing information associated with said content of interest, and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, receiving, from said IFS, a confirmation indicating selective transfer to said one or more identified locations corresponding content of interest.

20. A method as per claim 19, wherein said method further comprises the step of receiving authorization for use of said protected content upon payment to one or more content providers, said identified fees that are due with respect to said protected content.

21. A method as per claim 19, wherein said wireless interaction is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb wireless protocol.

22. A method as per claim 19, wherein said one or more content requests is for any of, or a combination of, the following content: data files, rental of multimedia content, purchase of multimedia content, WWW data content, rental of digital movie content, purchase of digital movie content, real-time games, interactive games, e-mail with attachments, electronic newspapers, news information, sports information, traffic information, electronic books, or interactive messaging.

23. A method as per claim 19, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: i. transmitting one more requests for telematic services to said IFS; ii. receiving, if available, a price associated with said requested telematic services; iii. performing a financial transaction based upon any identified price associated with said requested telematic services; and iv. upon successful completion of said financial transaction, receiving confirmation indicating completion or scheduling of requested telematic services.

24. A method as per claim 23, wherein said requested telematic services comprises any of, or a combination of: requests for point of sale transactions, purchase of lottery tickets, electronic transfer of funds, or electronic directory services.

25. A method as per claim 19, wherein said method further comprises the steps of a. receiving, from said IFS, one or more advertisements promoting one or more products, said advertisements either providing for, or indicating, a location for accessing pricing information related to said products; and b. transmitting, to said IFS, instructions identifying any products of interest, one or more locations for selectively routing each of said products of interest, and pricing information associated with said products of interest.

26. A method as per claim 25, wherein said financial transaction is additionally based upon any pricing information associated with said products of interest, and upon successful completion of said financial transaction, said IFS aiding in selectively sending said identified products of interest to corresponding identified locations.

27. A method as per claim 19, wherein processing and delivery of said protected content is based upon the Digital Rights Management (DRM) model.

28. A business method for wirelessly transmitting requested information and digital data content related to one or more events from an information filling station (IFS) to a portable computer-based device, said transmission based upon a wireless protocol, said business method as implemented in said IFS comprising the steps of: a. receiving a request, from said portable device, for information related to one or more events scheduled at one or more venues of interest; b. transmitting said requested information to said portable device; c. receiving, from said portable device, at least one identified venue of interest and at least one identified event of interest in said identified venue of interest; d. transmitting, to said portable device, available pricing and auction information regarding the availability of tickets for said identified event of interest; e. transmitting, to said portable device, one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to said identified event of interest, digital content related to one or more additional events identified based upon a profile of the user of said portable device, or event related products; f. receiving, from said portable device, an identification indicating digital content of interest, event related products of interest, and tickets of interest; g. facilitating a financial transaction based upon said received identification in step f; h. upon successful completion of said financial transaction, transmitting, to said portable device, a purchase confirmation with instructions for collecting said tickets of interest; and i. delivering said identified digital content of interest and said event related products of interest.

29. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said IFS receives said digital content from one or more content providers, said content providers communicating with said IFS via a network that is any of the following: a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a telephony-based network, or the Internet.

30. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said wireless protocol is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb standard.

31. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said portable device is any of the following: a laptop, a pen-based computer, a PDA, a wireless phone with a display, or a pager with a display.

32. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said IFS is located at a remote location from said identified venue of interest.

33. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said identified digital content of interest and/or said event related product of interest are delivered on a storage medium to a physical address.

34. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said identified digital content of interest is wirelessly delivered to said portable device.

35. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said information related to one or more events is any of, or a combination of, the following: previews, reviews, showtimes, direct ticket availability, auction-based ticket availability, prices, food availability/price, comments by event creators/producers/directors, or text of dialogue related to said events.

36. A business method as per claim 35, wherein said reviews are any of, or a combination of, the following: text reviews, audio reviews, or video reviews.

37. A business method as per claim 35, wherein said business method further comprises the steps of: j. placing a food order for pick-up or delivery at said identified venue of interest; and k. including a cost associated with said food order in said financial transaction.

38. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said digital content related to said event of interest is any of the following: copy of said event of interest or copy of a soundtrack of said event of interest.

39. A business method as per claim 28, wherein said method further comprises the step of receiving feedback related to said event of interest or digital content of interest.

40. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein aiding in a wireless interaction between an information filling station (IFS) and a portable device, said interaction facilitating transfer of requested information and digital data content related to one or more events, said medium further comprising: a. computer readable program code receiving a request, from said portable device, for information related to one or more events scheduled at one or more venues of interest; b. computer readable program code exfracting said requested inforaiation and aiding in the fransmission of said requested information to said portable device; c. computer readable program code receiving, from said portable device, at least one identified venue of interest and at least one identified event of interest in said identified venue of interest; d. computer readable program code exfracting available pricing and auction information regarding the availability of tickets for said identified event of interest and aiding in the fransmission of said extracted pricing and auction information; e. computer readable program code identifying and aiding in transmission, to said portable device, of one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to said identified event of interest, digital content related to one or more additional events identified based upon a profile of the user of said portable device, or event related products; f computer readable program code receiving, from said portable device, an identification indicating digital content of interest, event related products of interest, and tickets of interest; g. computer readable program code facilitating a financial transaction based upon said received identification in step f; h. upon successful completion of said financial transaction, computer readable program code aiding in the fransmission, to said portable device, of a purchase confirmation with instructions for collecting said tickets of interest; and i. said computer readable program code facilitating the delivery of said identified digital content of interest and said event related products of interest.

41. An article of manufacture as per claim 40, wherein said wireless interaction is based upon the IEEE 802. l ib standard.

42. A method for wirelessly fransmitting requested information and digital data content related to movies from an information filling station (IFS) to a portable computer-based device, said transmission based upon a wireless protocol, said method as implemented in said IFS comprising the steps of: a. receiving a request, from said portable device, for information related to movies playing at one or more theaters of interest; b. transmitting said requested information to said portable device; c. receiving, from said portable device, at least one identified theater of interest and at least one identified movie of interest in said theater of interest; d. fransmitting, to said portable device, available pricing and auction information regarding the availability of tickets for said identified movie of interest; e. fransmitting, to said portable device, one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to said identified movie of interest, digital content related to one or more movies identified based upon a profile of the user of said portable device, or movie related products; f receiving, from said portable device, an identification indicating digital content of interest, movie related products of interest, and tickets of interest; g. facilitating a financial transaction based upon said received identification in step f; h. upon successful completion of said financial transaction, transmitting, to said portable device, a purchase confirmation with instructions for collecting said tickets of interest; and i. delivering said identified digital content of interest and said movie related products of interest.

43. A method as per claim 42, wherein said IFS receives said digital data content from one or more content providers, said content providers communicating with said IFS via a network that is any of the following: a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a telephony-based network, or the Internet.

44. A method as per claim 42, wherein said wireless protocol is based upon the IEEE 802.1 lb standard.

45. A method as per claim 42, wherein said portable device is any of the following: a laptop, a pen-based computer, a PDA, a wireless phone with a display, or a pager with a display.

46. A method as per claim 42, wherein said IFS is located at a remote location from said identified venue of interest.

47. A method as per claim 42, wherein said identified digital content of interest and/or said movie related products of interest are delivered on a storage medium to a physical address.

48. A method as per claim 42, wherein said identified digital content of interest is wirelessly delivered to said portable device.

49. A method as per claim 42, wherein said information related to one or more movies is any of, or a combination of, the following: movie previews, movie reviews, movie showtimes, direct ticket availability, auction-based ticket availability, movie ticket prices, food availability/prices, comments by movie creators/producers/directors, or text of dialogue related to said movies.

50. A method as per claim 49, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: a. placing a food order for pick-up or delivery at said identified theater of interest; and b. including a cost associated with said food/snack order in said financial fransaction.

51. A method as per claim 42, wherein said digital content related to said movies of interest is any of the following: copy of said movie of interest or copy of a soundtrack of said movie of interest.

52. A method as per claim 42, wherein said method further comprises the step of receiving feedback related to said movie of interest or digital content of interest.

53. A method for wirelessly receiving information and digital data content related to movies from an information filling station (IFS) onto a portable device, said method as implemented in the portable device comprising the steps of: a. receiving from said IFS and based upon an request, information related to movies playing at one or more theaters of interest; b. identifying, based upon said rendered information, at least one theater of interest and at least one movie of interest in said theater of interest; c. fransmitting, to said IFS, said identified information; d. receiving, from said IFS, available pricing and auction infomiation regarding the availability of tickets for the identified movie(s) of interest; e. receiving, from said IFS, one or more advertisements indicating availability and pricing of: digital content related to the identified movie(s) of interest, digital content related to one or more movie identified based upon a profile of the user of the portable device, or one or more movie related products; f. rendering said one or more advertisements; g. identifying, based upon said rendered advertisements and based upon an input in the portable device, tickets of interest, digital content and/or movie related products of interest; h. performing a financial transaction with said IFS, said transaction based upon said received pricing and auction information and said identified digital content of interest; i. upon successful completion of said financial transaction, receiving from said IFS, a purchase confirmation with instructions for collecting said tickets of interest; and j. receiving any identified digital content of interest and/or movie related products of interest.

54. A method as per claim 53, wherein said wireless protocol is based upon the IEEE 802.11b standard.

55. A method as per claim 53, wherein said IFS is located at a remote location from said identified theatre of interest.

56. A method as per claim 53, wherein said identified digital content of interest and/or movie related products are delivered on a storage medium to a physical address.

57. A method as per claim 53, wherein said identified digital content of interest is wirelessly delivered to said portable device.