Selection of an appropriate online content source based on program information

• US 20100191828A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kinnis, Tony F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for selecting a content source from a plurality of potential content sources based on program information are described. A network resource maintains a mapping between itself and a static URL to be accessed by an application when updating content used in the application. The network resource can receive, over an electronic network, a configuration request providing the static URL and program information that at least identifies the application and version of the application. Based on the received information that is specific to the identified application version and from which content specific for that application version can be obtained, the network resource determines a second URL and provides the second URL to the application in response to the request.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a content source for an application from a plurality of potential content sources, comprising:

maintaining a mapping between a network resource and a static URL to be accessed by an application when updating, over an electronic network, content used in the application;

receiving, at the network resource, a configuration request providing the static URL;

receiving, at the network resource, program information that at least identifies the application and version of the application;

determining a second URL based on the received information that is specific to the identified application version and from which content specific for that application version can be obtained; and

providing the second URL to the application in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing additional configuration information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the additional configuration information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information also includes system preferences.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information also includes regional parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the application runs on a smartphone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information occurs with the configuration request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the network resource receives the information that identifies version and application information by extracting the information from a URL having a static portion that includes the address of the network resource and a variable portion that contains the program information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first website selects the second web address by looking up the address in a database of possible web addresses.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration module determines the content web address using programmed logic.

12. A computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code for selecting a content source for an application from a plurality of potential content sources, the computer program code causing a network resource to:

maintain a mapping between a network resource and a static URL to be accessed by an application when updating, over an electronic network, content used in the application;

receive, at the network resource, a configuration request providing the static URL;

receive, at the network resource, program information that at least identifies the application and version of the application;

determine a second URL based on the received information that is specific to the identified application version and from which content specific for that application version can be obtained; and

providing the second URL to the application in response to the request.

13. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of providing additional configuration information.

14. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 13, wherein the additional configuration information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

15. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the received information also includes system preferences.

16. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the received information also includes regional parameters.

17. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 16, wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

18. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 17, wherein the application runs on a smartphone.

19. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the step of receiving program information occurs with the configuration request.

20. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 19, wherein the network resource receives the information that identifies version and application information by extracting the information from a URL having a static portion that includes the address of the network resource and a variable portion that contains the program information.

21. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the first website selects the second web address by looking up the address in a database of possible web addresses.

22. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 12, wherein the configuration module determines the content web address using programmed logic.

23. A method of selecting a content source for an application from a plurality of potential content sources, comprising:

maintaining a mapping between a network resource and a static URL to be accessed by an application when updating, over an electronic network, content used in the application;

receiving, at the network resource, a configuration request providing the static URL with an appended variable portion, wherein the static portion includes the address of the network resource and the appended variable portion contains program information that at least identifies the application and version of the application;

determining a second URL based on the received information that is specific to the identified application version and from which content specific for that application version can be obtained; and

providing the second URL to the application in response to the request.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of providing additional configuration information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the additional configuration information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the received information also includes regional parameters.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the application runs on a smartphone.