Content management that addresses levels of functionality

• US 9,264,669 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Allard, James F
• Primary Examiner(s): GREENE, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US12/037,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,912 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/239, 709/241
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• 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 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Data can be provided via devices based on levels of functionalities of the devices. In one example, a broker receives content from a data source and sends the content to devices in a network for presentation to a user. The devices may have different functionalities and the broker may modify the data content in accordance with each devices level of functionality. Modification of the data content may include, for example, re-formatting or changing the amount of content to be displayed or provided at the respective devices in the network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input that identifies a client device and a level of functionality of the client device, the level of functionality comprising an indication of a corresponding level describing capabilities of the client device with respect to different types of functionality;

forming a communication, to be communicated over a network, which indicates an association of the client device to a particular household and the level of functionality of the client device; and

communicating the communication for receipt by a broker device, the communication enabling the broker device to store the association of the client device to the particular household and the level of functionality of the client device, and to modify content from an information provider, the content having multiple portions that address different client functionality and enable the broker device to modify the content by;

selecting one or more of the multiple portions for communication to the client device, the one or more of the multiple portions that are selected corresponding to the level of functionality of the client device such that a larger number of the multiple portions are selected for higher levels of client functionality than for lower levels of client functionality, at least some portions of the larger number being directed to client functionality of the higher levels that is not enabled at the lower levels of client functionality; and

configuring the content to include the one or more selected portions for communication to the client device.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the input is received via a user interface that is output by another client device that performs the receiving and the forming.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the particular household is identified through use of one or more Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the input is received in response to a poll sent by a client device that performs the receiving and the forming.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the communication further includes authentication data that corresponds to a user.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein:

the authentication data is configured for processing by an authentication service; and

authentication of the authentication data by the authentication service permits access to a plurality of websites without resubmitting the authentication data.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the particular household is associated with a plurality of said client devices; and

at least one said client device has a level of functionality that is different than a level of functionality of another said client device.

8. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising obtaining the content by the client device, wherein the content corresponds to the level of functionality indicated in the communication for the client device.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the obtaining is performed without delivery of the content through a device that performs the receiving and the forming.

10. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the one or more portions of the content that are selected do not include at least one portion that is not supported by the functionality of the client device.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the level of functionality is included within a hierarchy having a plurality of said levels.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the hierarchy is arranged such that each said successive level supports the functionality of a previous said level and at least one item of functionality that is not supported by the previous said level.

13. A method as described in claim 11, wherein at least one said level corresponds to absence of an input device and another said level corresponds to inclusion of an input device.

14. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the communication is formed for communication over the network configured as an Internet.

15. A method comprising:

polling, by a broker device, one or more client devices to determine a level of functionality supported by the one or more client devices;

receiving, at the broker device, messages from the one or more client devices responsive to the polling;

determining, by the broker device, the level of functionality supported by the one or more client devices from the messages, the level of functionality corresponding to capabilities of the client devices with respect to different types of functionality such that higher levels of client functionality are determined for the one or more client devices that support both lower levels of client functionality and additional types of functionality associated with the higher levels, the determining including the broker determining that a client device, that supports each of the different types of functionality associated with a lower level of client functionality and some of the additional types of functionality but not each of the additional types of functionality associated with a higher level, supports the lower level of client functionality;

storing, by the broker device, the level of functionality supported by the one or more client devices; and

forming, by the broker device, a communication including content and parameters that enable modification of the content by the one or more client devices to the level of functionality supported by the one or more client devices.

16. A method as described in claim 15, wherein:

the level of functionality is included within a hierarchy having a plurality of said levels; and

the hierarchy is arranged such that each successive said level supports the functionality of a previous said level and at least one item of functionality that is not supported by the previous said level.

17. A method as described in claim 15, wherein:

the content is formed into a plurality of portions, with each said portion corresponding to one or more different functionalities; and

the parameters indicate which said portions correspond to which said functionalities.

18. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable memories comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

polling, by a broker device, a client for an identifier of the client;

receiving, at the broker device, the identifier of the client responsive to the polling;

associating, by the broker device, the identifier of the client to a particular household having a plurality of other identifiers of a plurality of other clients and store the association to the particular household, each said client also being associated with an indication that is stored of a corresponding level of a hierarchy arranged such that each said level is successively ordered, one after another, to;

support functionality of a previous said level; and

include functionality that is not supported by the previous said level; and

forming, by the broker device, content for delivery to a plurality of said clients to be output by the plurality of said clients, the content having multiple portions that address different client functionality, the forming involving making level-based modifications to the content that include selecting one or more of the portions of the content for each of the plurality of said clients that are commensurate with its level of the hierarchy, the portions selected to configure the content for higher levels of the hierarchy including at least one portion that is withheld from the content configured in accordance with a lower level of the hierarchy, the at least one portion addressing the client functionality of the higher levels of the hierarchy that is not enabled at the lower level of the hierarchy.

19. A system as described in claim 18, wherein each said portion has a corresponding said level of the hierarchy.

20. A system as described in claim 18, wherein the functionality is based at least in part on hardware resources.