Selection of content in response to communication environment
First Claim
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1. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising:
- obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device;
determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the network and to process content received over the network based upon the user device information;
automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for one of the predefined service levels, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device;
determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device;
transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and
monitoring selections of the advertisement link;
wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation.
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Abstract
A content transfer service manager node of a computer network manages the transfer of content over the network from a content provider node to a user node. The characteristics of the configuration of the user node are determined, including the user nodes capabilities with respect to downloading content and processing downloaded content. The service manager arranges a content transfer that is particularly suited for the hardware, software, and communication capabilities of the user node.
94 Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising:
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obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the network and to process content received over the network based upon the user device information; automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for one of the predefined service levels, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising:
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obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A program product including a recording medium that stores a program readable and executable by an information processing system to cause the information processing system to perform processing that manages the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the program including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute:
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a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising, determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the network and to process content received over the network based upon the user device information; a third process comprising, automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for a predefined service level, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; a fifth process comprising, transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and a sixth process comprising, monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A program product that includes a recording medium that stores a program readable and executable by an information processing system to cause the information processing system to manage the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the program including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute:
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a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; a third process comprising making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and a fourth process comprising automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein the fourth process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An information processing system comprised of one or more information processors configured to execute program instructions that cause the information processing system to implement one or more processes for managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the processes comprising:
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a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising, determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the network and to process content received over the network based upon the user device information; a third process comprising automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for a predefined service level, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; a fifth process comprising, transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and a sixth process comprising, monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An information processing system comprised of one or more information processors configured to execute program instructions that cause the information processing system to implement one or more processes for managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the processes comprising:
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a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; a third process comprising making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein the fourth process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification