Routing of resource information in a network

• US 20050138193A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Flaks, Jason, Srinivasan, Jai, Encarnacion, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A media server in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network includes a resource sharing service to govern the distribution of resource information regarding resources to rendering devices. In one case, the resource sharing service consults a criterion to determine whether an identified network device is authorized to receive resource information. In another case, the resource sharing service consults another criterion to determine whether a specified individual associated with the media server must consent to the transfer of the resource information in order for the transfer to occur. The resource information may include resource metadata that describes high level information regarding resources, as well as resource content. The media server includes various user interface presentations that allow the media server user to specify shared resources and distribution criteria.

Claims

1. A method for disseminating resource information over a network, comprising:

receiving, at a source entity, a consumer'"'"'s request for resource information;

processing the request at the source entity to determine whether there are any resources designated as shareable over the network that meet the request and which satisfy at least one distribution criterion;

generating a response that indicates the results of the processing; and

forwarding the response to the consumer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is configured as a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource information is resource metadata, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource metadata, and wherein the response contains resource metadata that satisfies the consumer'"'"'s request.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource information is resource content, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource content, and wherein the response contains resource content that satisfies the consumer'"'"'s request.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies at least one recipient entity that is permitted to receive resource information regarding at least one resource, providing that said at least one resource meets the request.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one recipient entity is a rendering device or a control point.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies whether an identified individual is required to provide their consent as a condition to the transfer of the response.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identified individual corresponds to an individual who has designated a resource associated with said at least one distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual is currently logged onto the source entity.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the source entity when the identified individual'"'"'s logon session has an active status.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the source entity when the identified individual is directly logged onto a console that implements the source entity.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual expressly authorizes the transfer in response to a query.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source entity stores plural sets of distribution criteria that can be separately or additively invoked.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source entity allows a user to change said at least one distribution criterion.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the user who is allowed to change said at least one distribution criterion has also designated at least one resource associated with the distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source entity prevents a user from changing said at least one distribution criterion.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically detecting the addition of a new recipient entity to the network;

notifying a user of the presence of the new recipient entity; and

allowing the user to add at least one other distribution criterion that will govern the dissemination of resource information to the new recipient entity.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing includes determining whether any resources meet browse or search terms specified in the request.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the response identifies resource metadata regarding at least one resource that meets the browse or the search terms.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing includes determining whether any resources meet a resource locator specified in the request.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the resource locator is a uniform resource locator (URL), and the request is a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) retrieval request.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the response identifies resource content taken from at least one resource that meets the request.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein,

in a first operation involving a first request:

the processing includes determining whether any resources meet browse or search terms specified in the first request; and

the response identifies resource metadata regarding at least one resource that meets the browse or the search terms, wherein the resource metadata includes a resource locator that describes where said at least one resource can be located; and

in a second operation involving a second request;

the processing includes determining whether any resources meet said resource locator, which is specified in the second request; and

the response identifies resource content taken from at least one resource that meets the second request.

24. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing each of the receiving, processing, generating, and forwarding recited in claim 1.

25. A method for defining conditions pertaining to disseminating resource information over a network using a source entity, comprising:

providing a user interface presentation that allows a user to select;

at least one resource to be shared over the network; and

at least one distribution criterion which governs the distribution of the resource information regarding at least part of said at least one resource over the network; and

receiving the user'"'"'s selection of said at least one resource and said at least one distribution criterion via said user interface presentation.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the network is configured as a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the resource information is resource metadata, and wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource metadata.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the resource information is resource content, and wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource content.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies at least one recipient entity that is permitted to receive resource information regarding said at least one resource.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said at least one recipient entity is a rendering device or a control point.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies whether an identified individual is required to provide their consent as a condition to the dissemination of resource information.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the identified individual corresponds to an individual who has designated a resource associated with said at least one distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual is currently logged onto the source entity.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the source entity when the identified individual'"'"'s logon session has an active status.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the source entity when the identified individual is directly logged onto a console that implements the source entity.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual expressly authorizes the dissemination in response to a query.

37. The method according to claim 25, wherein the source entity stores plural sets of distribution criteria that can be separately or additively invoked.

38. The method according to claim 25, wherein the source entity allows the user to change said at least one distribution criterion.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the user who is allowed to change said at least one distribution criterion has also designated at least one resource associated with the distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

40. The method according to claim 25, wherein the source entity prevents the user from changing said at least one distribution criterion.

41. The method according to claim 25, wherein the source entity organizes resources in collections of resources.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein one of the collections of resources is a resource folder, and said at least one distribution criterion applies to at least one member resource of the resource folder.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein one of the collections of resources is a resource container used by the source entity to internally manage its resources, and said at least one distribution criterion applies to at least one member resource of the resource container.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein member resources in one of the collections inherit the shareable status of their respective parent resources.

45. The method according to claim 41, wherein member resources in one of the collections inherit the distribution criteria associated with their respective parent resources.

46. The method according to claim 41, further including removing the shareable status of one of the collections of resources, thereby designated said one of the collections of resources as unshared.

47. The method according to claim 25, wherein the source entity prohibits the sharing of resource information corresponding to a resource if at least one of the following conditions is true:

the resource is stored on a removable memory media;

the resource resides remotely on the network with respect to the source entity;

a user who is attempting to share the resource does not have permission to access the resource;

the resource is stored in a hidden file or a subfolder;

or

the resource is stored in a file having a media type that does not conform to a predetermined list of media types that the source entity is configured to share out.

48. The method according to claim 25, further including controlling the dissemination of the resource information on the basis of said at least one distribution criterion in response to a request from an entity.

49. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing each of the receiving and providing recited in claim 25.

50. A server for disseminating resource information over a network, comprising:

a shared resource store configured to store an indication of resources that can be shared over the network; and

logic configured to;

receive a consumer'"'"'s request for resource information;

process the request to determine whether there are any resources specified in the shared resource store that meet the request and which satisfy at least one distribution criterion;

generate a response that indicates the results of the processing; and

forward the response to the consumer.

51. The server according to claim 50, wherein the network is configured as a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

52. The server according to claim 50, wherein the shared resource store is configured to store the indication of resources that can be shared over the network by storing resource metadata associated with the resources.

53. The server according to claim 52, wherein the shared resource store includes plural repositories.

54. The server according to claim 53, wherein the plurality repositories correspond to separate drives used by the server.

55. The server according to claim 52, wherein the shared resource store provides the resource metadata separately from its associated resources so that the resource metadata can be readily accessed.

56. The server according to claim 52, wherein the shared resource store also stores said at least one distribution criterion.

57. The server according to claim 56, wherein the shared resource store allocates two separate stores for storing the resource metadata and said at least one distribution criterion.

58. The server according to claim 56, wherein the shared resource store allocates a single store for storing the resource metadata and said at least one distribution criterion.

59. The server according to claim 50, wherein the resource information is resource metadata, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource metadata, and wherein the response contains resource metadata that satisfies the consumer'"'"'s request.

60. The server according to claim 50, wherein the resource information is resource content, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource content, and wherein the response contains resource content that satisfies the consumer'"'"'s request.

61. The server according to claim 50, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies at least one recipient entity that is permitted to receive resource information regarding at least one resource, providing that said at least one resource meets the request.

62. The server according to claim 61, wherein said at least one recipient entity is a rendering device or a control point.

63. The server according to claim 50, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies whether an identified individual is required to provide their consent as a condition to the transfer of the response.

64. The server according to claim 63, wherein the identified individual corresponds to an individual who has designated a resource associated with said at least one distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

65. The server according to claim 63, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual is currently logged onto the server.

66. The server according to claim 65, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the server when the identified individual'"'"'s logon session has an active status.

67. The server according to claim 65, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the server when the identified individual is directly logged onto a console that implements the server.

68. The server according to claim 63, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual expressly authorizes the transfer in response to a query.

69. The server according to claim 50, wherein the shared resource store is configured to store plural sets of distribution criteria that can be separately or additively invoked.

70. The server according to claim 50, wherein the server is configured to allow a user to change said at least one distribution criterion.

71. The server according to claim 70, wherein the user who is allowed to change said at least one distribution criterion has also designated at least one resource associated with the distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

72. The server according to claim 50, wherein the server is configured to prevent a user from changing said at least one distribution criterion.

73. The server according to claim 50, further comprising logic configured to:

automatically detect the addition of a new recipient entity to the network;

notify a user of the presence of the new recipient entity; and

allow the user to add at least one other distribution criterion that will govern the dissemination of resource information to the new recipient entity.

74. The server method according to claim 50, wherein the logic for processing is configured to determine whether any resources meet browse or search terms specified in the request.

75. The server according to claim 74, wherein the response identifies resource metadata regarding at least one resource that meets the browse or the search terms.

76. The server according to claim 50, wherein the logic for processing is further configured to determine whether any resources meet a resource locator specified in the request.

77. The server according to claim 76, wherein the resource locator is a uniform resource locator (URL), and the request is a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) retrieval request.

78. The server according to claim 76, wherein the response identifies resource content taken from at least one resource that meets the request.

79. A server for defining conditions pertaining to disseminating resource information regarding resources over a network, comprising:

a shared resource store configured to store an indication of resources that can be shared over the network; and

logic configured to;

provide a user interface presentation that allows a user to select;

at least one resource to be shared over the network; and

at least one distribution criterion which governs the distribution of the resource information regarding at least part of said at least one resource over the network; and

receive the user'"'"'s selection of said at least one resource and said at least one distribution criterion via said user interface presentation.

80. The server according to claim 79, wherein the network is configured as a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

81. The server according to claim 79, wherein the shared resource store is configured to store the indication of resources that can be shared over the network by storing resource metadata associated with the resources.

82. The server according to claim 81, wherein the shared resource store includes plural repositories.

83. The server according to claim 82, wherein the plurality of repositories correspond to separate drives used by the server.

84. The server according to claim 81, wherein said shared resource store provides the resource metadata separately from its associated resources so that the resource metadata can be readily accessed.

85. The server according to claim 81, where the shared resource store also stores said at least one distribution criterion.

86. The server according to claim 85, wherein the shared resource store allocates two separate stores for storing the resource metadata and said at least one distribution criterion.

87. The server according to claim 85, wherein the shared resource store allocates a single store for storing the resource metadata and said at least one distribution criterion.

88. The server according to claim 79, wherein the resource information is resource metadata, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource metadata.

89. The server according to claim 79, wherein the resource information is resource content, wherein said at least one distribution criterion governs the dissemination of the resource content.

90. The server according to claim 79, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies said at least one recipient entity that is permitted to receive resource information regarding at least one resource, providing that said at least one resource meets the request.

91. The server according to claim 90, wherein said at least one recipient entity is a rendering device or a control point.

92. The server according to claim 79, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies whether an identified individual is required to provide their consent as a condition to the dissemination of resource information.

93. The server according to claim 92, wherein the identified individual corresponds to an individual who has designated a resource associated with said at least one distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

94. The server according to claim 92, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual is currently logged onto the server.

95. The server according to claim 94, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the server when the identified individual'"'"'s logon session has an active status.

96. The server according to claim 94, wherein the identified individual is considered to be logged onto the server when the identified individual is directly logged onto a console that implements the server.

97. The server according to claim 92, wherein said at least one distribution criterion specifies that the identified individual is considered to have given their consent if the identified individual expressly authorizes the dissemination in response to a query.

98. The server according to claim 79, wherein the shared resource store is configured to store plural sets of distribution criteria that can be separately or additively invoked.

99. The server according to claim 79, wherein the server is configured to allow the user to change said at least one distribution criterion.

100. The server according to claim 99, wherein the user who is allowed to change said at least one distribution criterion has also designated at least one resource associated with the distribution criterion as shareable over the network.

101. The server according to claim 79, wherein the server is configured to prevent the user from changing said at least one distribution criterion.

102. The server according to claim 79, wherein the shared resource store organizes resources in collections of resources.

103. The server according to claim 102, wherein one of the collections of resources is a resource folder, and said at least one distribution criterion applies to at least one member resource of the resource folder.

104. The server according to claim 102, wherein one of the collections of resources is a resource container used by the server to internally manage its resources, and said at least one distribution criterion applies to at least one member resource the resource container.

105. The server according to claim 102, wherein member resources one of the collections inherit the shareable status of their respective parent resources.

106. The server according to claim 102, wherein member resources in one of the collections inherit the distribution criteria associated with their respective parent resources.

107. The server according to claim 102, further including removing the shareable status of one of the collections of resources, thereby designated said one of the collections of resources as unshared.

108. The server according to claim 79, wherein the server is configured to prohibit the sharing of resource information corresponding to a resource if at least one of the following conditions is true:

the resource is stored on a removable memory media;

the resource resides remotely on the network with respect to the server;

a user who is attempting to share the resource does not have permission to access the resource;

the resource is stored in a hidden file or a subfolder;

or

the resource is stored in a file having a media type that does not conform to a predetermined list of media types that the server is configured to share out.

109. The server according to claim 79, further including logic configured to control the dissemination of the resource information on the basis of said at least one distribution criterion in response to a request from an entity.