Method and system that tailors format of transmission to suit client capabilities and link characteristics

• US 20030177269A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Jason, Smith, Mark, Robinson, Ian N., Wee, Susie J., Apostolopoulos, John G., Kitson, Frederick L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting information between a transmitter and a receiver that has capabilities through a communication link that has transmission characteristics. The information to be transmitted is received. The capabilities of the client are then determined. The transmission characteristics of the communication link are also determined. The received information is then converted into a format that is based on the capabilities of the client, the transmission characteristics of the communication link, or both the capabilities of the client and the transmission characteristics of the communication link. The information is then transmitted to the client in the format.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information between a server and a client that has capabilities through a communication link that has transmission characteristics comprising the steps of:

a) receiving information to be transmitted;

b) determining the capabilities of the client;

c) converting the received information into a client-dependent format that is based on the capabilities of the client; and

d) transmitting the information in the client-dependent format to the client.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining the transmission characteristics of the communication link; and

wherein the step of converting the received information includes the step of converting the received information into a client-dependent and link-dependent format information that is based on the capabilities of the client and the transmission characteristics of the communication link; and

wherein the step of transmitting the information includes the step of transmitting the information in the client-dependent and link-dependent format to the client.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein converting the received information into a client-dependent and link-dependent format information that is based on the capabilities of the client and the transmission characteristics of the communication link includes

decoding the received information;

and

one of rendering the decoded information to generate text and two-dimensional graphical primitives and rendering the decoded information to generate displayable pixel data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving information to be transmitted includes one of

receiving a video stream;

receiving an audio stream;

receiving an encoded video stream;

receiving an encoded audio stream

receiving a text file;

receiving a mark-up language file; and

receiving a multimedia file.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the capabilities of the client includes one of

determining the processing power of the client;

determining the decoding capability of the client;

determining the error detection and correction capability of the client; and

determining the rendering capability of the client.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the transmission characteristics of the communication link includes one of

determining the available bandwidth of the communication link;

and

determining the bit error rate of the communication link;

determining the packet loss rate due to the communication link; and

determining the latency of the communication link.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the client is one of an alarm clocks, household appliances, picture frame displays, portable devices, stationary devices, play back device, wristwatch, and a cellular telephone.

8. A system comprising:

a) a transmitter;

b) a receiver that includes capabilities;

c) a communication link for communicating data between the transmitter and the receiver that includes communication link characteristics;

wherein the transmitter includes a device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism for receiving information to be transmitted and converting the received information into a format that is based on one of receiver capabilities and communication link characteristics.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a device parameter evaluator for determining the receiver capabilities;

a data formatter, coupled to the device parameter evaluator, for receiving the receiver capabilities and converting the received information into a device specific format;

wherein the device specific format is a format that is based on the capabilities of the receiver.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to the receiver the information in the device specific format.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a communication link characterization determination unit for determining the communication link characteristics;

a data formatter, coupled to the communication link characterization determination unit, for receiving the communication link characteristics and converting the received information into a link specific format;

wherein the link specific format is a format that is based on communication link characteristics.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to the receiver the information in the link specific format.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a communication link characterization determination unit for determining the communication link characteristics;

wherein the data formatter is also coupled to the communication link characterization determination unit, for receiving the communication link characteristics, and

wherein the data formatter converts the received information into a device specific and link specific format;

wherein the device specific and link specific format is a format that is based on the receiver capabilities and the communication link characteristics.

14. A system comprising:

a) a server;

b) a client that includes capabilities;

c) a communication link for communication data between the server and the client that includes transmission characteristics;

wherein the server includes a device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism for receiving information to be transmitted and converting the received information into a format that is based on one of receiver capabilities and communication link characteristics.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a device parameter evaluator for determining the receiver capabilities;

a data formatter, coupled to the device parameter evaluator, for receiving the receiver capabilities and converting the received information into a device specific format;

wherein the device specific format is a format that is based on the capabilities of the receiver.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to the receiver the information in the device specific format.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a communication link characterization determination unit for determining the communication link characteristics;

a data formatter, coupled to the communication link characterization determination unit, for receiving the communication link characteristics and converting the received information into a link specific format;

wherein the link specific format is a format that is based on communication link characteristics.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to the receiver the information in the link specific format.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the device-dependent link-dependent transmission mechanism includes

a communication link characterization determination unit for determining the communication link characteristics;

wherein the data formatter is also coupled to the communication link characterization determination unit, for receiving the communication link characteristics, and

wherein the data formatter converts the received information into a device specific and link specific format;

wherein the device specific and link specific format is a format that is based on the receiver capabilities and the communication link characteristics.