Method and system for providing media content over a computer network

• US 7,747,708 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Behrens, John Robert, Ireland, Alexander Blair, Hadjitarkhani, Abie, Narimatsu, Nancy Kiyoko, Armstrong, Brooke Allysoun, Muller, Stephen John
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US11/966,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/228, 709/230, 709/231.232
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method and system to provide a media file appropriate for playback. The system identifies an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally by querying a computer system over a network to assess a local playback capability of the computer system. Next, the system creates the media file in response to the identification of the ability and based on the ability. Finally, the system provides the computer system with the media file based on the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.

Claims

1. A method of providing a media file appropriate for playback, the method comprising:

identifying an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally by querying the computer system over a network to assess a local playback capability of the computer system;

creating the media file responsive to the identifying the ability and based on the ability, the creating further comprises generating a script to create a format of the media content compatible with the local playback capability of the computer system, the media content comprising a video clip and being compatible with the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally; and

providing the computer system with the media file based on the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is transparent to a user associated with the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying and the providing are automatic and without initiation from the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video clip is formatted in a Windows Media Format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises an advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is provided to the computer system as a compressed digital file.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the media content to the computer system over a wireless computer network.

8. A system to provide a media file appropriate for playback, the system comprising:

a processor;

control logic in communication with the processor, the control logic to identify an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally based on at least one query over a network of the computer system to assess a local playback capability of the computer system, the control logic to create the media file in response to the identification of the ability and based on the ability, the creation of the media file further comprises generating a script to create a format of the media content compatible with the local playback capability of the computer system, the media content comprising a video clip and being compatible with the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally; and

a communications interface in communication with the control logic, the control logic to provide the computer system, via the communications interface and the computer network, with the media file based on the ability of the computer system to enable the computer system to playback the media content locally.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is to provide, transparent to a user associated with the computer system, a version of the media content.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is to progress and to provide, automatically and without initiation by the computer system, a version of the media content.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the video clip is formatted in a Windows Media Format.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the media content comprises an advertisement.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the media content is provided to the computer system as a highly compressed digital file.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is to provide the media content to the computer system over a wireless computer network.

15. A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium storing control logic that, when executed by a first computer system, causes the first computer system to:

identify an ability of a second computer system to playback media content locally based on at least one query over a network of the second computer system to assess the local playback capabilities of the second computer system;

create the media file based in response to the identification of the ability and based on the ability, the creation further comprises generating a script to create a format of the media content compatible with the local playback capability of the computer, the media content comprising a video clip and being compatible with the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally; and

provide the second computer system with the media file based on the ability of the second computer system to playback the media content locally.

16. A system to provide a media file appropriate for playback, the system comprising

a processor;

a means in communication with the processor, the means to identify an ability of a computer system to playback media content locally based on at least one query of the computer system to assess the local playback capabilities of the computer system, the means to create the media file in response to the identification of the ability and based on the ability, the means to create further comprises generating a script to create a format of the media content compatible with the local playback capability of the computer, the media content comprising a video clip and being compatible with the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally; and

a communications interface in communication with the control logic, the means to provide the computer system, via the communications interface and the computer network, with the media file based on the ability of the computer system to playback the media content locally.