# 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. - **Patent:** US 12739296 - **Original title:** Content fetching by mobile device selected based on battery charge level - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** telecommunications, software, consumer_electronics ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Content delivery networks (CDNs) that use geographically distributed servers. 2. Proxy servers used to bypass regional restrictions or improve connection speeds. 3. Mobile applications that pre-fetch data in the background to ensure smooth user experience. ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739296/content-fetching-by-mobile-device-selected-based-on-battery-charge-level **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12739296 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8069204/azure-cloud-platform) — A method for mobile devices to store web content for offline viewing and automatically fetch new updates in the background once a wireless connection is restored. - [How Load Balancers Route Web Traffic Based on Specific Content](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774660/world-wide-web-server-with-delayed-resource-binding-for-resource-based-load-balancing-on-a-distributed-resource-multi-node-network) — A method for web servers to route user requests to specific machines based on which files they store, rather than just blindly balancing traffic across all servers. - [How Servers Prepare Web Pages for You to Read Offline](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8972477/amazon-aurora-database) — A method for a remote server to process a website in two different ways simultaneously: one for live viewing and one optimized for later offline access. - [How Early Mobile Devices Accessed the Internet Using Split Proxies](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5673322/system-and-method-for-providing-protocol-translation-and-filtering-to-access-the-world-wide-web-from-wireless-or-low-bandwidth-networks) — A 1996 system that made the early web usable on slow, unreliable wireless connections by using two 'proxy' servers to shrink and simplify data before sending it. - [How Amazon Delivers Content Faster Using Local Servers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9332078/facebook-memories) — Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for breaking down digital content into smaller pieces and storing them on servers located near users to speed up downloads and reduce network traffic.