Mediation of content-related services

• US 8,126,987 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chopra, Vivek, Gaxiola, David, Marr, James, Detwiler, Stephen, Maegawa, Hirotoshi, Iima, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US12/690,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-229, 709/230
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods for mediation of content-related services are provided. A client device playing content may send a request for a service related to the content. Configuration information is generated for the client device, reflecting a set of permissions that are determined based on a market segment of the client device. Once the client device is configured according to the set of permissions, the client device can communicate with a service provider of the requested service. Such communication and any further activity regarding the service is governed by the set of permissions, as is reporting regarding such communication and activity

Claims

1. A method for mediation of content-related services, the method comprising:

receiving a request sent from a client device to a mediation server, the request concerning a service, the requested service being related to content played on the client device;

executing instructions stored in memory of the mediation server, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor of the mediation server generates configuration information based on a market segment of the client device requesting the service; and

providing the configuration information for download to the client device, wherein configuration of the client device based on the configuration information allows for communication between the client device and a service provider of the requested service in accordance with the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is generated based on a set of permissions associated with the market segment of the client device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein configuration of the client device based on the configuration information further allows for communication of a report from the client device to a reporting server in accordance with the set of permissions, the report concerning client device activity associated with the service.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a compilation of information to a partner, the compilation based on one or more reports regarding the service.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a request for a report, the request being sent to the client device, wherein the report is generated by the client device in response to the request.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the content includes metadata associated with the set of permissions.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating the set of permissions and providing the update to the client device, wherein communication between the client device and the service provider is governed in accordance with the updated set of permissions in or close to real-time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service includes managing a transfer of supplemental content to or from the client device, the supplemental content being related to the content played on the client device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the supplemental content includes advertisements.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the supplemental content is user-generated.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the supplemental content is provided by one or more service providers.

12. A system for mediation of content-related services, the system comprising:

a mediation server configured to

receive a request sent from a client device, the request concerning a service provided by a service provider, the requested service being related to content played on the client device,

generate configuration information for the requested service, the configuration information based on a market segment of the client device requesting the service, and

provide the configuration information for download to the client device, wherein configuration of the client device based on the configuration information allows for communication between the client device and a service provider of the requested service in accordance with the configuration information; and

a reporting server configured to receive a report from the client device, the report concerning activity associated with the service and generated in accordance with the configuration information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the configuration information is generated based on a set of permissions associated with the market segment of the client device.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a mediation management system configured to receive an update regarding determination of the set of permissions and provide the update to the mediation server for transmission to the client device, wherein communication between the client device and the service provider is governed in accordance with the updated set of permissions in or close to real-time.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a partner reports server configured to compile a report for a partner based on information in one or more reports received by the reporting server.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an events database configured to store information regarding events based on one or more reports received by the reporting server, the events being related to the service.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for mediation of content-related services, the method comprising:

receiving a request concerning a service associated with content played on a client device;

generating configuration information for the requested service, the configuration information based on a market segment of the client device requesting the service; and

providing the configuration information for download to the client device, wherein configuration of the client device based on the configuration information allows for communication between the client device and a service provider of the requested service in accordance with the configuration information.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the configuration information is generated based on a set of permissions associated with the market segment of the client device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein configuration of the client device based on the configuration information further allows for communication of a report from the client device to a reporting server in accordance with the set of permissions, the report concerning client device activity associated with the service.

20. A method for mediation of content-related services, the method comprising:

sending a mediation request from a client device to a mediation server, the mediation request concerning a service associated with content played on the client device;

receiving configuration information for download from the mediation server to the client device, the configuration information based on a market segment of the client device requesting the service;

executing instructions associated with the configuration information, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor of the client device configures the client device based on the configuration information; and

sending a service request from the client device to a service provider of the service associated with the content, the service request being generated in accordance with the configuration information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the configuration information is generated based on a set of permissions associated with the market segment of the client device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising sending a report from the client device to a reporting server concerning activity associated with the service, the report being sent in accordance with the set of permissions.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an updated set of permissions, wherein communication between the client device and the service provider is governed in accordance with the updated set of permissions in or close to real-time.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for mediation of content-related services, the method comprising:

sending a mediation request, the mediation request concerning a service associated with content played on a client device;

receiving configuration information for download to the client device, the configuration information based on a market segment of the client device requesting the service;

configuring the client device based on the configuration information; and

sending a service request for the service associated with the content, the service request being generated in accordance with the configuration information.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the configuration information is generated based on a set of permissions associated with the market segment of the client device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the program is further executable to generate and send a report in accordance with the set of permissions, the report concerning client device activity associated with the service, the service being provided in response to the service request.