Fetching Web Content Using Smart Intermediate Servers
This patent describes a system for fetching web content by using intermediate servers, called 'tunnel devices,' chosen based on characteristics like location to speed up delivery to your phone.
Original patent title: “Content fetching by mobile device selected based on battery charge level”
This patent describes a system for fetching web content by using intermediate servers, called 'tunnel devices,' chosen based on characteristics like location to speed up delivery to your phone. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method for a mobile device to get content from a web server. Instead of connecting directly, it uses special intermediate servers called 'tunnel devices.' These tunnel devices are selected by a 'tunnel bank server' based on certain attributes, like the IP geolocation of the tunnel device. The tunnel bank server keeps a list of available tunnel devices and their attributes. When your phone requests content, the tunnel bank server picks a suitable tunnel device. This tunnel device then fetches the content from the web server and sends it back to your phone. Your phone only talks to a main server, a 'super proxy,' which manages this whole process. This is like using a specific delivery service that's closest to the warehouse to get your package faster.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Fetching content directly from a web server without using any intermediate tunnel devices.
- Selecting tunnel devices based on factors other than predefined attributes like IP geolocation.
- A system where the client device directly communicates with the web server.
- Methods that do not involve a central 'tunnel bank server' to manage tunnel device selection.
- Fetching content where the client device initiates communication with the tunnel device.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core innovation is using a 'tunnel bank server' to dynamically select the best 'tunnel device' for content fetching based on specific attributes, rather than relying on a fixed or less intelligent routing path.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Content delivery networks (CDNs) that use geographically distributed servers.
Proxy servers used to bypass regional restrictions or improve connection speeds.
Mobile applications that pre-fetch data in the background to ensure smooth user experience.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the challenge of efficient content delivery to mobile devices, which are often on less stable or slower networks. By intelligently routing requests through optimized intermediate servers, it aims to improve speed and reliability for users accessing web content.
Filed
December 21, 2023
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies involved in content delivery networks (CDNs) and edge computing services, such as Akamai, Cloudflare, and Amazon CloudFront, are likely exploring similar architectures for optimizing content delivery to end-users.
Market impact
This patent's approach could lead to more efficient and faster content delivery for mobile users, potentially reducing buffering times and improving overall application performance. It may also influence how CDNs architect their networks to better serve a mobile-first internet.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method for a mobile device to get content from a web server. Instead of connecting directly, it uses special intermediate servers called 'tunnel devices.' These tunnel devices are selected by a 'tunnel bank server' based on certain attributes, like the IP geolocation of the tunnel device. The tunnel bank server keeps a list of available tunnel devices and their attributes. When your phone requests content, the tunnel bank server picks a suitable tunnel device. This tunnel device then fetches the content from the web server and sends it back to your phone. Your phone only talks to a main server, a 'super proxy,' which manages this whole process. This is like using a specific delivery service that's closest to the warehouse to get your package faster.
The clever bit
The core innovation is using a 'tunnel bank server' to dynamically select the best 'tunnel device' for content fetching based on specific attributes, rather than relying on a fixed or less intelligent routing path.
What it does not cover
- Fetching content directly from a web server without using any intermediate tunnel devices.
- Selecting tunnel devices based on factors other than predefined attributes like IP geolocation.
- A system where the client device directly communicates with the web server.
- Methods that do not involve a central 'tunnel bank server' to manage tunnel device selection.
- Fetching content where the client device initiates communication with the tunnel device.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$19K – $61K
Midpoint $38K · 17.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Fetching Web Content Using Smart Intermediate Servers (U.S. Patent No. 12,739,296). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739296/content-fetching-by-mobile-device-selected-based-on-battery-charge-level
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Fetching Web Content Using Smart Intermediate Servers cover?
This patent describes a system for fetching web content by using intermediate servers, called 'tunnel devices,' chosen based on characteristics like location to speed up delivery to your phone.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the challenge of efficient content delivery to mobile devices, which are often on less stable or slower networks. By intelligently routing requests through optimized intermediate servers, it aims to improve speed and reliability for users accessing web content.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Fetching content directly from a web server without using any intermediate tunnel devices.
Patent monitoring