Selection of an appropriate online content source based on program information

• US 8,745,178 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kinnis, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): RECEK, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US13/689,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for selecting a content source from a plurality of potential content sources based on program information are described. A network resource maintains a mapping between itself and a static URL to be accessed by an application when updating content used in the application. The network resource can receive, over an electronic network, a configuration request providing the static URL and program information that at least identifies the application and version of the application. Based on the received information that is specific to the identified application version and from which content specific for that application version can be obtained, the network resource determines a second URL and provides the second URL to the application in response to the request.

Claims

1. A computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving, at a network resource from an electronic device, a configuration request for a content source that contains political region-specific content specific for an application on the electronic device, the configuration request including;

country information describing a political region of the electronic device and regional restrictions associated with the political region;

a static URL with an appended variable portion, wherein the static URL includes an address of the network resource and the appended variable portion includes application information, the application information including the political region of the electronic device;

populating the application information into a template in accordance to the political region;

determining a second URL based on the template, the second URL being associated with the content source from which the political region-specific content for the application can be obtained; and

providing the second URL to the electronic device in response to the configuration request.

2. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the application information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

3. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the application information includes system preferences.

4. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

5. The computer program product recited in claim 4, wherein the application runs on a smartphone.

6. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the application information includes a language preference for the application.

7. The computer program product recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program product resides in programmed logic of a configuration module.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, the application information further including an application version associated with the electronic device, the computer program further comprising computer instructions for populating the application information into a template in accordance to the application version.

9. A method of selecting a political region-specific content source for an application a plurality of potential content sources, comprising:

receiving, at a network resource from an electronic device, a configuration request for a content source that contains content specific for an application on the electronic device, the configuration request including;

country information describing a political region of the electronic device and regional restrictions associated with the political region;

a static URL with an appended variable portion, wherein the static URL includes an address of the network resource and the appended variable portion includes application information, the application information including the political region of the electronic device;

populating the application information into a template in accordance to the political region;

determining a second URL based on the template, the second URL being associated with the political region-specific source from which the content for the application can be obtained; and

providing the second URL to the electronic device in response to the configuration request.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information includes system preferences.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the application runs on a smartphone.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information includes a language preference for the application.

15. The method of claim 9, the application information further including an application version associated with the electronic device, the computer program further comprising computer instructions for populating the application information into a template in accordance to the application version.

16. A system, comprising:

an electronic device containing an application;

a plurality of content sources; and

a network resource having a processor executing stored computer code configured to;

receive, at a network resource from the electronic device, a configuration request for a political region-specific content source from the plurality of content sources that contains content specific for an application on the electronic device, the configuration request including;

country information describing a political region of the electronic device and regional restrictions associated with the political region;

a static URL with an appended variable portion, wherein the static URL includes an address of the network resource and the appended variable portion includes application information, the application information including the political region of the electronic device;

populate the application information into a template in accordance to the political region;

determine a second URL based on the template, the second URL being associated with the content source from which the political region-specific content for the application can be obtained; and

provide the second URL to the electronic device in response to the configuration request.

17. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the application information includes information controlling features to be enabled or disabled in the application.

18. The system recited in claim 16 wherein the regional parameters include global positioning system information.

19. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the application information includes a language preference for the application.

20. The system of claim 16, the application information further including an application version associated with the electronic device, the computer program further comprising computer instructions for populating the application information into a template in accordance to the application version.

21. The system of claim 16, the application information further including a geographic location, the computer program further comprising computer instructions for populating the application information into a template in accordance to the geographic location.