System, method, and computer program product for remotely determining the configuration of a multi-media content user based on response of the user

• US 7,480,703 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shapiro, Jody
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell; Robert B
• Application Number:
  US11/471,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for remotely determining the configuration of a computer of a multimedia content user includes sending player detection code to the user'"'"'s computer and receiving configuration information regarding the user'"'"'s computer. A method of determining a connection speed of a computer includes determining a size of a timing block based on an estimated bandwidth and retrieving the timing block. The connection speed is determined based on the timing block size and the times at which transfer begins and ends.

Claims

1. A method for remotely determining a configuration of a computer of a multimedia content user, comprising:

sending player detection code to the user'"'"'s computer;

receiving configuration information regarding the user'"'"'s computer; and

determining a type of digital rights management information on the user'"'"'s computer based on the received configuration information,

wherein a size of a timing block for a bandwidth measurement is determined based on previously estimated bandwidth information, resolution of measurement, and a measuring time of the bandwidth measurement.

2. A computer readable medium for storing an executable program for programming one or more processors to perform a method for remotely determining a configuration of a computer of a multimedia content user, the method comprising:

sending player detection code to the user'"'"'s computer;

receiving configuration information regarding the user'"'"'s computer; and

determining a type of digital rights management information on the user'"'"'s computer based on the received configuration information,

wherein a size of a timing block for a bandwidth measurement is determined based on previously estimated bandwidth information, resolution of measurement, and a measuring time of the bandwidth measurement.