Method and system for generating context-aware content from source content associated with a computing device

• US 20060212621A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Padmanabhan, Udiyan I., Ash, Marcus A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44029 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A computing device receives source content and output characteristics associated with a target output device. The computing device formats the source content into multiple versions of context-aware content corresponding to specific output characteristics of the target output device. The computing device stores the multiple versions of the context-aware content in corresponding output characteristic content containers. The content containers are filtered such that only the versions of the context-aware content that correspond to the output capabilities of the target output device are made accessible to the user. The user is presented with a single namespace that is associated with the context-aware versions of the content. When the namespace is selected, the appropriate version of the context-aware content is executed based on the output characteristics of the target output device such that an optimal user experience is achieved.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating context-aware content from source content associated with a computing device, comprising:

receiving the source content and a capability profile associated with a target output device, wherein the capability profile describes output characteristics associated with the target output device;

formatting the source content into the context-aware content based on the capability profile, wherein each version of the context-aware content is formatted to be compatible with a corresponding output characteristic of the target output device;

storing each version of the context-aware content in a corresponding content container, wherein each content container is associated with an output characteristic of the target output device;

determining the current output characteristics of the target output device; and

retrieving the version of the context-aware content from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising mapping a namespace to the context-aware content, wherein the version of the context-aware content is retrieved from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device when the namespace is selected.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising executing the retrieved version of the context-aware content on the target output device, wherein an optimal user experience is achieved.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the content containers, wherein the content containers that are associated with the current output characteristics of the target output device are made accessible.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises determining the content containers that are made accessible.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises identifying peripheral devices that are connected to the target output device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises identifying local devices that are available within the target output device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the content containers to the target output device.

9. A system for generating context-aware content from source content associated with a computing device, comprising:

means for receiving the source content and a capability profile associated with a target output device, wherein the capability profile describes output characteristics associated with the target output device;

means for formatting the source content into the context-aware content based on the capability profile, wherein each version of the context-aware content is formatted to be compatible with a corresponding output characteristic of the target output device;

means for storing each version of the context-aware content in a corresponding content container, wherein each content container is associated with an output characteristic of the target output device;

means for determining the current output characteristics of the target output device;

means for filtering the content containers, wherein the content containers that are associated with the current output characteristics of the target output device are made accessible; and

means for retrieving the version of the context-aware content from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for mapping a namespace to the context-aware content, wherein the version of the context-aware content is retrieved from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device when the namespace is selected.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for executing the retrieved version of the context-aware content on the target output device, wherein an optimal user experience is achieved.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the current output characteristics of the target output device further comprises at least one of:

means for determining the content containers that are made accessible;

means for identifying peripheral devices that are connected to the target output device; and

means for identifying local devices that are available within the target output device.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for transferring the content containers to the target output device.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for generating context-aware content from source content associated with a computing device, comprising:

receiving the source content and a capability profile associated with a target output device, wherein the capability profile describes output characteristics associated with the target output device;

formatting the source content into the context-aware content based on the capability profile, wherein each version of the context-aware content is formatted to be compatible with a corresponding output characteristic of the target output device;

storing each version of the context-aware content in a corresponding content container, wherein each content container is associated with an output characteristic of the target output device;

transferring the content containers to the target output device;

determining the current output characteristics of the target output device; and

retrieving the version of the context-aware content from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising mapping a namespace to the context-aware content, wherein the version of the context-aware content is retrieved from the content container that corresponds to the current output characteristic of the target output device when the namespace is selected.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising executing the retrieved version of the context-aware content on the target output device, wherein an optimal user experience is achieved.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising filtering the content containers, wherein the content containers that are associated with the current output characteristics of the target output device are made accessible.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises determining the content containers that are made accessible.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises identifying peripheral devices that are connected to the target output device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining the current output characteristic of the target output device further comprises identifying local devices that are available within the target output device.