How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline
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.
Original patent title: “Providing and receiving content over a wireless communication system”
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. Granted to Twintech EU LLC in 2011 with 136 claims and 8 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system where a mobile device downloads an information object, such as a webpage or a catalog, and stores it locally so the user can interact with it even without an internet connection. The user interface allows the user to fill out forms or make selections while offline, which the device then queues up. Once the device detects a wireless network, a background process automatically sends these requests to the remote server and retrieves the requested data. The system then updates the local content seamlessly, allowing for a continuous experience despite intermittent connectivity.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover real-time streaming where data must be received instantly to be useful.
- Does not cover systems that require a constant active connection to function.
- Does not cover hardware-specific radio communication protocols.
- Does not cover peer-to-peer data transfers between two mobile devices.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in decoupling the user interface from the network transport, allowing the device to act as a buffer that manages requests asynchronously based on network availability.
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
Email apps that let you draft messages offline to send later
News reader apps that cache articles for subway commutes
Mobile shopping apps that allow cart management without a constant signal
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology addressed the frustration of early mobile internet, where losing signal meant losing your progress in an app. By enabling offline form-filling and background synchronization, it laid the groundwork for the 'offline-first' design philosophy now standard in modern mobile applications.
Filed
August 31, 2006
Granted
November 29, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The principles of asynchronous background data synchronization are now standard across major mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. Companies like Google and Apple have integrated these concepts into their core developer frameworks to ensure apps remain responsive during network drops.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the shift away from 'always-online' application requirements, enabling the rise of mobile-first commerce and content consumption. It helped standardize the expectation that mobile apps should remain functional and state-aware even when moving through areas with poor network coverage.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system where a mobile device downloads an information object, such as a webpage or a catalog, and stores it locally so the user can interact with it even without an internet connection. The user interface allows the user to fill out forms or make selections while offline, which the device then queues up. Once the device detects a wireless network, a background process automatically sends these requests to the remote server and retrieves the requested data. The system then updates the local content seamlessly, allowing for a continuous experience despite intermittent connectivity.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in decoupling the user interface from the network transport, allowing the device to act as a buffer that manages requests asynchronously based on network availability.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover real-time streaming where data must be received instantly to be useful.
- Does not cover systems that require a constant active connection to function.
- Does not cover hardware-specific radio communication protocols.
- Does not cover peer-to-peer data transfers between two mobile devices.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
19/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$23K – $74K
Midpoint $46K · expired or expiring · 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.
The original legal language
Original claims
136 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Reisman, R. R. (2011). How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline (U.S. Patent No. 8,069,204). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8069204/azure-cloud-platform
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 How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline cover?
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.
Who owns patent US 8069204?
Twintech EU LLC owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 29, 2031, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8069204 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology addressed the frustration of early mobile internet, where losing signal meant losing your progress in an app. By enabling offline form-filling and background synchronization, it laid the groundwork for the 'offline-first' design philosophy now standard in modern mobile applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover real-time streaming where data must be received instantly to be useful.
Patent monitoring