Optimizing Server Delivery Of Content By Selective Inclusion Of Optional Data Based On Optimization Criteria

• US 20130275499A1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silver Maple, Series 86 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Mount Hamilton Partners, LLC (Innovation Management Sciences, LLC)
• Inventors: Gautier, Taylor S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,560,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

Optimization constraints are used to select an appropriate content item from an available group of content items which are ordered in a specific manner to facilitate the proper selection of the content item, even if the exact item desired is not present. The server is then able to insert the selected content item into the outgoing content page requested by the client. The optimization constraints can be, but are not limited to, anyone of the following: communication channel performance (bandwidth), client operating system, client processor, client display capabilities, client installed software (video or audio codecs for example), and/or user preferences. A software product and method enable selective delivery of content to client devices of varying performance characteristics, including varying bandwidth, by selective filtering and inclusion of markup language content using tags demarcating optional content. An optimization constraint is used to select one of the items.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing content delivery to a client device, said method comprising:

storing content that includes a first plurality of selectable content items and a second plurality of selectable content items, wherein said first plurality of selectable content items are configured for a first type but not a second type of client device software, and wherein said second plurality of selectable content items are configured for said first type and said second type of client device software; and

in response to a request received from a client device over a communications network, performing;

determining a type of client device software that is associated with the request;

automatically selecting said one or more of said first plurality of selectable content items and one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items for said client device if the request is associated with the first type of client device software;

automatically selecting said one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items if the request is associated with the second type of client device software; and

transmitting said selectable content items having been selected to said client device.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of selectable content items comprise a plurality of non-optional selectable content items.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein said transmitting includes sending one or more of said plurality of non-optional selectable content items to said client device.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein said second plurality of selectable content items comprise a plurality of optional selectable content items.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein said transmitting includes sending one or more of said plurality of non-optional selectable content items to said client device and sending one or more of said plurality of optional selectable content items to said client device.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein said first type of client device software is first type of browser software and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of browser software.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein said first type of client device software is first type of operating system and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of operating system.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein said first type of client device software is first type of rendering software and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of rendering software.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein said selectable content items include web pages, images, text, audio, or video, or a combination thereof.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein said client device is a mobile device.

11. A system for optimizing content delivery, said system comprising:

a server communicating with a plurality of client devices over a communications network, said server including;

a storage interface module configured to access storage for storing content that includes a first plurality and a second plurality of selectable content items, wherein said first plurality of selectable content items are configured for a first type but not a second type of client device software, and wherein said second plurality of selectable content items are configured for said first type and said second type of client device software;

a receiving module configured to receive a request over said communications network from a client device;

a determination module configured to determine, in response to said request received, a type of client device software associated with said request received;

a selection module configured to automatically select said one or more of said first plurality of selectable content items and one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items for said client device if the request is associated with the first type of client device software and automatically select said one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items if the request is associated with the second type of client device software; and

a transmitting module configured to transmit said selectable content items having been selected to said client device over said communications network.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein said client device is a mobile device and further wherein said receiving and transmitting modules are further configured to communicate with a transceiver of said mobile device via said communications network.

13. The system as in claim 11, wherein said first type of client device software is first type of browser software and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of browser software.

14. The system as in claim 11, further comprising a database coupled to said server, wherein said database is configured to store said content accessible by said server.

15. The system as in claim 11, wherein said server is a server computer.

16. The system as in claim 11, wherein said selectable content items include web pages, images, text, audio, or video, or a combination thereof.

17. A server for optimizing content delivery, said server configured to communicate with a plurality of client devices over a communications network, said server comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to;

access storage for storing content that includes a first plurality and a second plurality of selectable content items, wherein said first plurality of selectable content items are configured for a first type but not a second type of client device software, and wherein said second plurality of selectable content items are configured for said first type and said second type of client device software;

receive a request over said communications network from a client device;

determine, in response to said request received, a type of client device software associated with said request received;

automatically select said one or more of said first plurality of selectable content items and one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items for said client device if the request is associated with the first type of client device software and automatically select said one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items if the request is associated with the second type of client device software; and

transmit said selectable content items having been selected to said client device over said communications network.

18. The server as in claim 17 wherein said first type of client device software is first type of browser software and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of browser software.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to:

store content that includes that includes a first plurality of selectable content items and a second plurality of selectable content items, wherein said first plurality of selectable content items are configured for a first type but not a second type of client device software, and wherein said second plurality of selectable content items are configured for said first type and said second type of client device software; and

in response to a request received from a client device over a communications network, said sequence of instructions further causes said processor to;

determine a type of client device software associated with said request received;

automatically select said one or more of said first plurality of selectable content items and one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items for said client device if the request is associated with the first type of client device software;

automatically select said one or more of said second plurality of selectable content items if the request is associated with the second type of client device software; and

transmit said selectable content items having been selected to said client device over said communications network.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 19, wherein said first type of client device software is first type of browser software and further wherein said second type of client device software is a second type of browser software.