Providing services using a device capabilities service

• US 9,485,146 B1
• Filed: 07/15/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomay, Beryl, Snodgrass, Ryan J., Gigliotti, Samuel S., Hegg, Joel C., Goldberg, Matthew E., Willhoit, Donald Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollack, Melvin H
• Application Number:
  US14/332,158
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a service to a device based on a capability of the device are described herein. A device type of the device may be identified based on information associated with the device. A determination may be made whether the device supports the service, based at least on the device type. The service may be provided to the device when the device supports the service.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, based at least in part on information associated with a device, a device type of the device, wherein the information associated with the device comprises at least one of a service account number of a user of the device, an identification number of the user of the device, a manufacturer of the device, a model number of the device, or a serial number of the device;

determining, based at least in part on the device type, capability information associated with the device;

transmitting, to a server, a capability request that indicates the device type and the capability information associated with the device;

receiving, from the server, a capability response indicating that the device is capable of supporting a service; and

providing the service to the device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the device type of the device comprises:

transmitting a device request that includes the information associated with the device to an additional server; and

receiving a device response from the additional server, the device response from the additional server indicating the device type.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the device response from the additional server includes an operating system identity of an operating system of the device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the device response from the additional server further includes one or more component identities corresponding to one or more hardware components included in the device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the device response from the additional server further includes application identities of one or more application programs installed on the device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the capability information, that the capability response indicates that the device type is associated with the capability information; and

determining that the device supports the service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the service comprises at least one of:

providing content to the device;

authenticating the device;

or

communicating with the device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the capability information comprises information associated with at least one of a communications mechanism, a content delivery mechanism, a security protocol, a location-based protocol, a user-based protocol, or a device-based protocol.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the device, an access request to access content; and

delivering the content to the device based at least in part on the device type.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the content comprises at least one of an electronic book, a digital audio file, a digital video file, a digital media file, a digital image, or a software application to be executed by the device.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media to store instructions executable by one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving, from a device, an access request to access a service;

determining a device type of the device based at least in part on information associated with the device, wherein the information associated with the device comprises at least one of a service account number of a user of the device, an identification number of the user of the device, a manufacturer of the device, a model number of the device, or a serial number of the device;

determining, based at least in part on the device type, capability information associated with the device;

transmitting, to a server, a capability request that indicates the device type and the capability information;

receiving, from the server, a capability response indicating that the device is capable of accessing the service; and

providing the service to the device.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein determining the device type of the device based on the information associated with the device comprises:

transmitting hardware information associated with the device to a second server; and

receiving a message indicating the device type from the second server.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the message identifies at least one of:

an operating system of the device;

one or more hardware components included in the device;

or

one or more application programs installed on the device.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the service comprises at least one of:

providing content to the device;

authenticating the device;

or

communicating with the device.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the capability information includes information associated with at least one of a communications mechanism, a content delivery mechanism, a security protocol, a location-based protocol, a user-based protocol, or a device-based protocol.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, the acts further comprising:

receiving, from the device, a content request to access content, the content comprising at least one of an electronic book, a digital audio file, a digital video file, a digital media file, a digital image, or a software application to be executed by the device.

17. A server comprising

one or more processors;

and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

receiving, from a device, an access request to access a service;

determining a device type of the device based at least in part on information associated with the device, wherein the information associated with the device comprises at least one of a service account number of a user of the device, an identification number of the user of the device, a manufacturer of the device, a model number, or a serial number of the device;

determining, based at least in part on the device type, capability information associated with the device;

transmitting, to a second server, a capability request that indicates the device type and the capability information; and

providing the service to the device based at least in part on receiving, from the second server, an indication that the device is capable of accessing the service.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein determining the device type of the device includes determining at least one of:

an operating system of the device;

one or more hardware components included in the device;

or

one or more application programs installed on the device.

19. The server of claim 17, wherein the acts further comprise at least one of:

providing content to the device;

authenticating the device;

or

initiating communications with the device.

20. The server of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, from the device, a content request to access content, the content comprising at least one of an electronic book, a digital audio file, a digital video file, a digital media file, a digital image, or a software application to be executed by the device; and

providing the content to the device based at least in part on determining that the device is capable of displaying the content.