PROVIDING CONTENT TO CLIENT DEVICE

• US 20110320610A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ragunathan, Ravichandran, Seikh, Attaullah, Giridharagopal, Rajini Bala
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate

Abstract

Content is provided to a client device. A request is received from the client device at a content management service which has access to a database of content and a database of devices on a network. The request identifies content requested by a client. The content management service designates a content source. Capability information is received from the client device. The content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, using the capability information. Responsive to a determination that the client device has the capabilities, the client device is provided with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source. Responsive to a determination that the client device does not have the capabilities, a communication channel is constructed between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content.

Claims

1. A method for providing content to a client device, wherein the client device communicates with other devices over a network, comprising:

receiving a request from the client device at a content management service which has access to a database of content on the network and a database of devices on the network, wherein the request identifies content requested by a client;

designating, with the content management service, a content source which stores the content identified by the request;

receiving capability information from the client device; and

determining, with the content management service, whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, wherein the determination is made using the capability information,

responsive to a determination that the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, providing the client device with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source over the network, and

responsive to a determination that the client device does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, constructing a communication channel over the network between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service constructs the communication channel by informing the client device of a location of one of the other devices, and wherein the one of the other devices receives the content identified by the request and provides the content identified by the request to the client device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service facilitates direct communication between the client device and the content source by providing the client device with location information of the content source, and wherein the client device accesses the content from the content source using the location information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by determining whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether an identity of the network of the client device is the same as an identity of the network of the content source.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the content management service determines whether the identity of the network of the client device is the same as the identity of the network of the content source by comparing unique network identifiers which are generated for each network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a first node activated on each network.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a respective network router node on each network.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device and content source have a transport protocol in common.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether or not the client device and content source both support content in the same content representation format.

11. The method according to claim 4, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether bandwidth between the client device and the content source allows for adequate consumption of content between the client device and the content source.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device can provide security credentials requested by the content source.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service delegates tasks to another resource on the network to provide communication between the client device and the content source.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the client device requests content by selecting an item or a set of items from a metadata list provided by the content management service.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service uses the functions of a network service to perform designated operations, such as transcoding, to facilitate access of the content from the content source.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by forwarding the request and capability information to a workflow/orchestration service on another device which performs the determination.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a number of devices used to satisfy the request is determined based on a number of capability mismatches between the client capabilities and the content identified by the request.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein when more than one device is used to satisfy the request, a workflow is generated which includes the services of the devices and the content source, and which ends with the client device receiving the content.

19. A communication apparatus for providing content to a client device, wherein the client device communicates with other devices over a network, comprising:

a computer-readable memory constructed to store computer-executable process steps; and

a processor constructed to execute the computer-executable process steps stored in the memory;

wherein the process steps stored in the memory cause the processor to;

receive a request from the client device at a content management service which has access to database of content on the network and a database of devices on the network, wherein the request identifies content requested by a client;

designate, with the content management service, a content source which stores the content identified by the request;

receive capability information from the client device; and

determine, with the content management service, whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, wherein the determination is made using the capability information,

responsive to a determination that the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, provide the client device with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source over the network, and

responsive to a determination that the client device does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, construct a communication channel over the network between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service constructs the communication channel by informing the client device of a location of one of the other devices, and wherein the one of the other devices receives the content identified by the request and provides the content identified by the request to the client device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service facilitates direct communication between the client device and the content source by providing the client device with location information of the content source, and wherein the client device accesses the content from the content source using the location information.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by determining whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether an identity of the network of the client device is the same as an identity of the network of the content source.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the content management service determines whether the identity of the network of the client device is the same as the identity of the network of the content source by comparing unique network identifiers which are generated for each network.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a first node activated on each network.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a respective network router node on each network.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device and content source have a transport protocol in common.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether or not the client device and content source both support content in the same content representation format.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether bandwidth between the client device and the content source allows for adequate consumption of content between the client device and the content source.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device can provide security credentials requested by the content source.

31. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service delegates tasks to another resource on the network to provide communication between the client device and the content source.

32. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the client device requests content by selecting an item or a set of items from a metadata list provided by the content management service.

33. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service uses the functions of a network service to perform designated operations, such as transcoding, to facilitate access of the content from the content source.

34. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by forwarding the request and capability information to a workflow/orchestration service on another device which performs the determination.

35. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a number of devices used to satisfy the request is determined based on a number of capability mismatches between the client capabilities and the content identified by the request.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein when more than one device is used to satisfy the request, a workflow is generated which includes the services of the devices and the content source, and which ends with the client device receiving the content.

38. The content management service module according to claim 31, wherein the content management service constructs the communication channel by informing the client device of a location of one of the other devices, and wherein the one of the other devices receives the content identified by the request and provides the content identified by the request to the client device.

37. A content management service module for providing content to a client device, wherein the client device communicates with other devices over a network, comprising:

a first receiving module for receiving a request from the client device, wherein the request identifies content requested by a client;

a designation module for designating a content source which stores the content identified by the request, wherein the designation is made based on access to databases of content and devices on the network;

a second receiving module for receiving capability information from the client device; and

a determination module for determining whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, wherein the determination is made using the capability information,

a communication facilitation module for providing the client device with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source over the network, responsive to a determination that the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, and for constructing a communication channel over the network between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, responsive to a determination that the client device does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request.

39. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the content management service facilitates direct communication between the client device and the content source by providing the client device with location information of the content source, and wherein the client device accesses the content from the content source using the location information.

40. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by determining whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly.

41. The content management service module according to claim 40, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether an identity of the network of the client device is the same as an identity of the network of the content source.

42. The content management service module according to claim 41, wherein the content management service determines whether the identity of the network of the client device is the same as the identity of the network of the content source by comparing unique network identifiers which are generated for each network.

43. The content management service module according to claim 42, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a first node activated on each network.

44. The content management service module according to claim 42, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a respective network router node on each network.

45. The content management service module according to claim 40, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device and content source have a transport protocol in common.

46. The content management service module according to claim 40, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether or not the client device and content source both support content in the same content representation format.

47. The content management service module according to claim 40, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether bandwidth between the client device and the content source allows for adequate consumption of content between the client device and the content source.

48. The content management service module according to claim 40, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device can provide security credentials requested by the content source.

49. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the content management service delegates tasks to another resource on the network to provide communication between the client device and the content source.

50. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the client device requests content by selecting an item or a set of items from a metadata list provided by the content management service.

51. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the content management service uses the functions of a network service to perform designated operations, such as transcoding, to facilitate access of the content from the content source.

52. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by forwarding the request and capability information to a workflow/orchestration service on another device which performs the determination.

53. The content management service module according to claim 37, wherein a number of devices used to satisfy the request is determined based on a number of capability mismatches between the client capabilities and the content identified by the request.

54. The content management service module according to claim 53, wherein when more than one device is used to satisfy the request, a workflow is generated which includes the services of the devices and the content source, and which ends with the client device receiving the content.

55. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for causing a computer to perform a method for providing content to a client device, wherein the client device communicates with other devices over a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the client device at a content management service which has access to a database of content on the network and a database of devices on the network, wherein the request identifies content requested by a client;

designating, with the content management service, a content source which stores the content identified by the request;

receiving capability information from the client device; and

determining, with the content management service, whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, wherein the determination is made using the capability information,

responsive to a determination that the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, providing the client device with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source over the network, and

responsive to a determination that the client device does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, constructing a communication channel over the network between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request.

56. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service constructs the communication channel by informing the client device of a location of one of the other devices, and wherein the one of the other devices receives the content identified by the request and provides the content identified by the request to the client device.

57. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service facilitates direct communication between the client device and the content source by providing the client device with location information of the content source, and wherein the client device accesses the content from the content source using the location information.

58. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by determining whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly.

59. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 58, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether an identity of the network of the client device is the same as an identity of the network of the content source.

60. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 59, wherein the content management service determines whether the identity of the network of the client device is the same as the identity of the network of the content source by comparing unique network identifiers which are generated for each network.

61. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 60, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a first node activated on each network.

62. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 60, wherein the unique network identifier for each network is generated by a respective network router node on each network.

63. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 58, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device and content source have a transport protocol in common.

64. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 58, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether or not the client device and content source both support content in the same content representation format.

65. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 58, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether bandwidth between the client device and the content source allows for adequate consumption of content between the client device and the content source.

66. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 58, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device and the content source can communicate directly by determining whether the client device can provide security credentials requested by the content source.

67. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service delegates tasks to another resource on the network to provide communication between the client device and the content source.

68. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the client device requests content by selecting an item or a set of items from a metadata list provided by the content management service.

69. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service uses the functions of a network service to perform designated operations, such as transcoding, to facilitate access of the content from the content source.

70. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein the content management service determines whether the client device does or does not have capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request by forwarding the request and capability information to a workflow/orchestration service on another device which performs the determination.

71. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 55, wherein a number of devices used to satisfy the request is determined based on a number of capability mismatches between the client capabilities and the content identified by the request.

72. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 71, wherein when more than one device is used to satisfy the request, a workflow is generated which includes the services of the devices and the content source, and which ends with the client device receiving the content.