US 7,363,384 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
`Chataniet al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`
`US007363384B2
`
`(54) SELECTION OF CONTENT IN RESPONSE
`TO COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Foster City, CA
`.
`:
`.
`(US); Sachiko Inoue, Foster City, CA
`(US)
`:
`(73) Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment
`America Ine., Foster City, CA (US)
`:
`:
`:
`:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`US.C. 154(b) by 750 days.
`
`:
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/903,308
`.
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 11, 2001
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0018767 Al
`
`Jan. 23, 2003
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`GO6F 15/16
`(52) US. Che ccc 709/232; 709/203; 709/226,
`709/229
`(58) Field of Classification Search........ 709/217-219,
`709/223—226, 201, 203, 229, 232
`See application file for complete search history.
`.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2ater A . ihoon pisham aa reeeensenses 08oe
`
`a
`ee
`tereset
`al.
`9/1999 Kalra et al. we. 709/231
`5,953,506 A *
`6,012,088 A
`1/2000 Liet al. vecseeecsseeeessee 709/219
`
`6,061,722 A *
`5/2000 Lipa et al.
`seccesseeeeeon 709/224
`6,134,584 A
`10/2000 Chang et al... 709/219
`
`(56)
`
`....... 379/201.12
`6/2002 Creameret al.
`6,411,697 Bl
`7/2003 Sahai et al. 0... 709/228
`6,594,699 BL*
`......... 709/228
`6,651,103 B1* 11/2003 Markowitz et al.
`
`oes Roe Iy004 cuban’ oe
`neoe
`se
`...
`829,
`2
`elfer et al.
`
`7,120,926 B1* 10/2006 Safadi et al. cesses 725/132
`2003/0045275 A1l*
`3/2003 McDonaghet al.
`........ 455/414
`2003/0189913 Al
`10/2003 Ki
`um
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`11-149448
`6/1999
`2000-0058858
`10/2000
`0203732 Al
`10/2002
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`JP
`KR
`wo
`
`Patent Cooperation Treaty, “International Search Report,” dated
`Oct. 3, 2002, for corresponding application No. PCT/US02/22345,
`5 pages.
`K. Ham et al., “Wireless-adaptation of WWW Content over
`CDMA”, IEEE, 1999, pp. 368-372.
`
`(Continued)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Primary Examiner—Phuoc Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fitch, Even, Tabin &
`Flannery
`57
`67)
`A content transfer service manager node of a computer
`network managesthe transfer of content over the network
`from a content provider node to a user node. The charac-
`teristics ofthe configuration ofthe user node are determined,
`including the user nodes capabilities with respect to down-
`loading content and processing downloaded content. The
`service manager arranges a content transfer that is particu-
`larly suited for the hardware, software, and communication
`Capabilities of the user node.
`
`79 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`User device requests content.
`
`510
`
`Censult communication environment
`
`
`and hardware configuration data for
`userdevice.
`
`520
`
`Determine capabilities
`for user device based upon
`
`
`communication environment/hardware
`
`
`configuration.
`530
`
`
`
`
`
`Select service levelfor content
`transfer.
`
`540
`
`Transfer content according to selected
`service level.
`
`
`560
`
`
`Determine whether user device can be
`
`
`upgraded.
`560
`
`
`Transmit message to user device
`
`
`fegarding possible upgrades,
`
`570
`
`
`Roku v. Videolabs
`
`Roku Exhibit 1005
`Roku Exhibit 1005
`Roku v. Videolabs
`
`

`

`US 7,363,384 B2
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`B. Kreller et al., “UMTS: A Middleware Architecture and Mobile
`API Approach”, IEEE Personal Communications, Apr. 1998, pp.
`32-38.
`E. Kovacs et al., “Adaptive Mobile Access to Context-aware
`Services”, IEEE, 1999, pp. 190-201.
`European Search Report for European Patent Application No.
`02752326.5.
`Chinese Patent Office, “Notification of the First Office Action” for
`corresponding Chinese application No. 02802729.9; Dec. 16, 2005;
`15 pages, including English translation.
`
`Japanese Patent Office; “Official Action (Preliminary Notice of
`Rejection)” for corresponding Japanese application No. 2003-
`512864; dated Oct. 3, 2006; 5 pages, including English translation.
`Korean Patent Office; “Notice of Preliminary Rejection” for corre-
`sponding Korean application No. 10-2003-7010263; Jul. 26, 2005;
`3 pages including English translation.
`European Patent Office; Examination Report for the corresponding
`European application No. 02 752 326.5-2211; Sep. 17, 2004; 4
`pages.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`Service Manager Device 115
`
`Service
`Management
`Software
`155
`
`i 100
`
`Browser
`140
`
`
`
`
`Content
`Transfer
`Download
`
`
`Management
`Management
`Software
`Software
`
`170
`145
`
` User Device 110
`
`Content Provider Device 120
`
`
`Content
`
`Figure 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`220
`
`USER BROWSER
`
`[—] Loe]
`
`BACK
`
`FORWARD
`
`RELOAD
`
`HOME
`
`PRINT
`
`STOP
`
`LOCATION: WWW.PLAYSTATION2.COM
`
`Content Download Page
`
`Trailers
`
`Fighting
`Flight
`
`Figure 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`Obtain data re configuration of
`device on network.
`
`310
`
`User device submits a request
`for content.
`
`320
`
`340
`
`Select service level based upon
`communication environment
`and hardware configuration
`data.
`
`330
`
`Transport content to user
`device.
`
`Figure 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`Obtain and load
`management software.
`
`410
`
`Obtain communication
`environment data and hardware
`configuration data.
`
`420
`
`
`
`Transmit data to service
`
`manager device.
`
` Update hardware
`
`configuration/communication
`
`
` 430
`environment data?
`
`Figure 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`User device requests content.
`
`510
`
`
`
`Consult communication environment
`and hardware configuration data for
`user device.
`
`520
`
`
`
`Determine capabilities
`for user device based upon
`communication environment/hardware
`configuration.
`530
`
`
`
`
`540
`
`Select service level for content
`transfer.
`
`Figure 5
`
`Transfer content according to selected
`service level.
`
`550
`
`Determine whether user device can be
`upgraded.
`
`560
`
`570
`
`Transmit message to user device
`regarding possible upgrades.
`
`End
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet6 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`Pop-Up Window 610
`
`The download speed of your computer system is
`limiting your ability to download enhanced content
`from the Internet.
`
`system
`
`Click Here To Find
`Out How to
`Upgrade Your
`
`Figure 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
` Consult communication
`
`
`
`environment and hardware
`
`
`configuration data for user
`device.
`
`710
`
`
`
`Determine servicelevels that
`are available to the user
`
`
`device for downloading
`content.
`
`720
`
`
`Determine how user device
`
`Presentlist of content to
`can be upgraded.
`user.
`765
`
`730
`
`User selects content from
`list.
`
`
`
`Transmit message to user
`device re possible upgrades.
`770
`
`740
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transfer selected content to
`
`user device.
`
`760
`
`Figure 7
`
`
`User selected
`
`downloadable
`
`content?
`750
`
`
`
`
`Administer royalties to
`appropriate parties.
`
`
`
`
`
`780
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`USER BROWSER
`
`L—)] Lo]
`
`
`
`
`BACK
`
`FORWARD
`
`RELOAD
`
`HOME
`
`PRINT
`
`STOP
`
`LOCATION: WWW.PLAYSTATION2.COM
`
`Content Download Page
`
`J]
`
`807
`
`
`
`
`
`805 [ Downloadable
`
`|
`- News1 (text only)
`|
`- News 2 (image + text)
`|
`
`
` [ Nondownloadable tt”
`|
`- News3 (video + audio)
`|
`- News4 (high resolution video + audio |
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Figure 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.22, 2008
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`Message Window 902
`
`Your computer cannot download your selection
`(News 3). Your computer requires a cable modem
`to download News3.
`
`System
`
`Click Here To Find
`Out How to
`Upgrade Your
`
`Figure 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`( 1000
`
`
`
`Display
`
`Keyboard
`
`
`
`Program Product
`Reader
`
`NETWORK
`
`Figure 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`OeLL
`
`Cobb
`
`OVLL
`
`SVLL
`
`OSLL
`
`Aiowaydol
`
`J9]]04)U07)
`
`pieAioway
`
`asn
`
`
`
`
`
`JBU8Sy6ElSAAl
`
`LLenbi4
`
`OSL!WOdSO
`
`SSLF
`
`sng
`
`dH
`
`wun
`
`
`
`jO1JU0DISIGAds
`
`O8bL
`
`GLbL
`
`SOLL
`
`dol
`
`OZbL
`
`SLL
`
`
`
`Aowayuleyy
`
`SOLL
`
`Ndd
`
`OObL
`
`Nd
`
`OLLL
`
`ShLL
`
`GLI
`
`>
`
`
`
`

`

`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`1
`SELECTION OF CONTENT IN RESPONSE
`TO COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates generally to downloading of con-
`tent over a computer network and, more particularly, to a
`system for selecting and downloading content according to
`the capabilities of a downloading device.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The Internet
`is a world-wide collection of interlinked
`
`computer networks that is used to store and transfer docu-
`ments and otherelectronic files on a globalbasis. In the early
`days of what is now known as the Internet, users ran a
`special program using a protocol called FTP (file transfer
`protocol) to access andtransfer files. Efficient use of FTP
`programs required a level of technical skill beyond that of
`the general population, but early users were generally some-
`what skilled. Furthermore, the types of files available over
`the Internet consisted largely of technical documents that
`were oflittle interest to the average person. Even if inter-
`esting content was available over the Internet, the general
`public did not have access to the computer hardware nec-
`essary to log on to the Internet. Consequently, the majority
`of Internet users were technical-savvy scientists who had
`access to Internet-capable computers and who were com-
`fortable using protocols such as FTP.
`The emergence of the World Wide Web (the “Web’’)
`resulted in a dramatic increase in the general public’s
`interest in the Internet. The Web is a collection of millions
`
`of linked documentsthat reside on computers throughout the
`world and that are accessible via the Internet. The docu-
`
`ments are typically in the form of Web pages, which
`combine text, graphics, audio, and colors, thereby resulting
`in an attractive visual appearance and entertaining multime-
`dia experience. Furthermore, unlike the early Internet docu-
`ments that were navigated using FTP, Web pages are navi-
`gated by simply clicking on hyperlinksthat are displayed on
`the user’s computer screen in a robust program. The browser
`downloads Web pages, including all page elements, from a
`Web server to the user’s computer. Moreover, Internet-
`capable hardware has decreased in cost and increased in
`availability, thereby increasing the general public’s ability to
`access to the Internet.
`
`The type of content and services that are available over
`the Internet has also grown. Internet users can now down-
`load Web pagesthat go beyond a simple combinationoftext
`and graphics. Modem Web pages can include animation,
`video, sound, and high-definition graphics. Users can use the
`Internet to download music files, video files, video games,
`and files in formats for various other applications. There are
`also various technologies now available to users for down-
`loading content overthe Internet, including video and audio
`streaming and push and pull technologies. Users are also
`accessing the Internet for various services, such as banking
`and shopping. The “old” Internet world where scientists
`used FTPto retrieve technical documents has now trans-
`formed into a “new”Internet world where millions of users
`access a myriad of content and services using any of a wide
`variety of transport technologies.
`Adding to the diversity of Internet use are the wide
`differences in Internet-ready hardware. In the past, most
`users accessed the Internet using desktop and laptop com-
`puters. Users can now access the Internet using mobile
`phones, personal digital assistants, and Web appliances. It is
`envisioned that
`the type of devices used to access the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`Internet will expand to VCR’s, automobiles, and even
`household appliances. Such Internet-capable devices have
`varying levels of hardware capabilities, such as storable
`memory space, processing speed, accessible memory, and
`graphics capabilities. The result
`is
`that
`Internet-ready
`devices are now as diverse as the users that access the
`Internet and the type of content that is available over the
`Internet.
`
`The communication technologies that are used to gain
`access to the Internet also vary widely. In the past, most
`users accessed the Internet using a modem that interacted
`with the switched public telephone network (PSTN). Users
`can now access the Internet using high-speed broadband
`connections, such as cable television lines and digital sub-
`scriber lines (DSL), which provide higher bandwidth and
`increased access
`speed over
`traditional
`telephone-line
`modems. Wireless access is also growing in popularity and
`use. Consequently, the access speeds and bandwidth capa-
`bilities can vary widely for each Internet user.
`The bottom lineis that the Internetis filled with diversity,
`from the types of available content to the types of hardware
`and communication technologies that can be used to access
`the Internet. This makes it difficult for Internet content
`
`providers to tailor their content to the hardware and com-
`munications capabilities of Internet users. As a result, some
`Internet content providers only provide content
`that
`is
`directed toward the lowest common denominator so that
`virtually any Internet user can access the content. For
`example, a content provider could provide Web pages that
`do not require high-bandwidth connections or computers
`with advanced processors. However, such rudimentary con-
`tent does not provide a satisfactory Web experience and can
`deter high-end users from accessing the site. On the other
`hand, some content providers offer only cutting-edge con-
`tent, such as video and audio streaming that requires high
`bandwidth and fast processors. Unfortunately, such content
`providers could miss out on an entire segment of users that
`do not have such capabilities.
`Onesolution to this problem is for a Web site to provide
`the ability to manually select the level of content and service
`that will be made available from the site. For example,if the
`user is downloading a movie trailer from a Website, the site
`mayprovide a menuthat allowsthe user to specify whether
`the computer has high-bandwidth or low bandwidth capa-
`bilities and thereafter choose the type of content to down-
`load. Other Websites allow the user to choose between Web
`pages with animation or Web pages without animation.
`Unfortunately, this requires the user to have knowledge of
`the hardware and communication capabilities of the com-
`puter. This may deter inexperienced users or cause a user to
`select the wrong capabilities, which may result in a poor
`Internet experience for the user.
`In light of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable for
`both Internet content providers and Internet users to have a
`way of optimizing Internet content and service levels to the
`user’s hardware and communications capabilities without
`requiring user expertise or intervention. The present inven-
`tion provides this capability.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a content
`transfer service manager node of a computer network man-
`ages the transfer of content over the network from a content
`provider nodeto a user node. The characteristics of the user
`node are determined, including the user node’s capabilities
`with respect to downloading content and processing down-
`
`

`

`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`3
`loaded content. The service managerthen arranges a content
`transfer that is particularly suited for the hardware, software,
`and communication capabilities of the user node.
`In one aspect of the invention, the transfer of content to
`a user device is managed. The user device is communica-
`tively linked to a computer network. A service manager
`obtains user device information descriptive of a configura-
`tion of the user device and receives a request to transfer
`content to the user device over the computer network. The
`service manager determines capabilities of the user device to
`download content over the network and to process content
`received over the network based upon the user device
`information. Based upon the determined capabilities of the
`user device,
`the service manager automatically selects a
`service level that is available to the user device for trans-
`
`ferring content to the user device. A service level is associ-
`ated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer
`to the user device andis further associated with one or more
`characteristics of the manner in which contentis transferred
`to the user device over the network.
`
`Other features and advantages of the present invention
`should be apparent from the following description of the
`preferred embodiment, which illustrates, by way of
`example, the principles of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network that
`operates in accordance with the present invention, showing
`a user node, a service management node, and a content
`provider node.
`FIG.2 is an illustration of a display screen producedat a
`client node of the computer network, showing a Web page
`for perusing, selecting, and downloading content from the
`content provider node.
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates the operations
`performed in configuring and managing the download of
`content from the content provider node.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates the operations
`performed in obtaining data regarding the configuration of a
`device that is linked to the computer network.
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates the operations
`performedin transferring content from the content provider
`node to the user node according to the configuration of each
`node.
`
`FIG.6 is an illustration of a display screen producedat a
`client node of the computer network, showing a pop-up
`window that contains
`information regarding possible
`upgrades to a user node device.
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates the operations
`performed in another embodiment of transferring content
`from the content provider node to the user node according to
`the configuration of each node.
`FIG.8 is an illustration of a display screen producedat a
`client node of the computer network, showing a Web page
`for selecting and downloading content from the content
`provider node.
`FIG.9 is an illustration of a display screen producedat a
`client node of the computer network, showing a message
`window that contains
`information regarding possible
`upgrades to a user node device.
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a computer in the network
`illustrated in FIG.1, illustrating the hardware components.
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computer entertainment
`system in the networkillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating the
`hardware components.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a network system
`100 that includes several computer nodes, includingat least
`one user device 110, a service manager device 115 andat
`least one content provider device 120, which areall inter-
`linked via one or more computer networks. The network
`system 100 enables the user device 110 to obtain electronic
`content from the content provider device 120, with the
`service manager device 115 acting as an intermediary that
`optimizes the transfer of content between the two, as
`described in more detail below. The service manager device
`115 preferably interfaces with both the user device 110 and
`the content provider device 120 and manages a content
`transfer between them that
`is particularly suited for the
`capabilities of each device. FIG. 1 showsonly a single user
`device 110 and a single content provider device 120,
`although the service manager device 115 can manage con-
`tent transfers between multiple user devices and content
`provider devices.
`As used herein, the term “content” refers to any type of
`electronic data that may be transferred over a computer
`network, including, for example, software executable files
`(such as computer games) and other electronic data files,
`such as Web pages,text files, audio files, and video files.
`As shown in FIG. 1, a computer network 125 communi-
`catively links the user device 110 to the service manager
`device 115. A computer network 130 communicatively links
`the content provider device 120 to the service manager
`device 115. Both of the networks 125 and 130 may comprise
`a single computer network 135, such as the Internet, as
`exhibited by a dashed box in FIG. 1 that encompasses the
`networks 125 and 130. For convenience, the network system
`100 is described herein in the context of the single network
`135. As used herein, the term “Internet”refers to a collection
`of interconnected (public and/or private) networks that are
`linked together by a set of standard protocols (such as
`TCP/IP and HTTP) to form a global, distributed network.
`While this term is intended to refer to what is now com-
`monly known as the Internet, it is also intended to encom-
`pass variations which may be madein the future, including
`changes and additions to existing standard protocols.
`The user device 110 comprises any type of device thatis
`configured to interact with and download content from the
`network 135. For example, the user device 110 may com-
`prise a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile
`phone, or a personal digital assistant. The user device 110
`can also comprise a computer entertainment system that is
`suited for playing computer video games and also commu-
`nicating with the computer network. The user device 110
`includes a network interface 146 that enables communica-
`tion over a communication link 147 between the network
`135 and the user device 110. The link 147 could be wired or
`wireless.
`
`A browser 140 preferably resides in the memory of the
`user device 100. The browser 140 is a software application
`that is used to locate and display content from the network
`130, such as World Wide Web pages. The user device 110
`further includes in memory a download management soft-
`ware application 145 that configures and manages the down-
`loading of content from the network 135, as described in
`detail below. The download management software 145 is
`preferably configured to detect data relating to the commu-
`nication and hardwarecapabilities of the user device 110 and
`to interact with corresponding service management software
`in the service manager device 115.
`
`

`

`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`6
`170 that managesthe transfer of content to the user device
`110. The content transfer management software 170 com-
`municates with the service management software 155 and
`provides information to the service management software
`155 relating to content that is available from the content
`provider device 120. The service managementsoftware 155
`preferably provides information regarding the URL of the
`content, the type of content, such as whether the content
`comprises a Web page,a videofile, or an audiofile, the size
`of the content, and the transfer modes available for the
`content, such as whether the content can be transmitted in a
`streaming fashion.
`illustrates the general
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that
`operations performed by the network system 100 in trans-
`ferring content between the content provider device 120 and
`the user device 110. The process is described in the context
`of a content transfer from the content provider device 120 to
`the user device 110, although the process could also apply to
`a content transfer or a communication from the user device
`
`110 to the content provider device 120. In the first operation,
`indicated by the flow diagram box numbered 310,
`the
`service manager device 115 obtains data relating to the
`configuration of the user device 110 and/or the content
`provider device 120 on the network 135,
`including the
`communication environment and hardware configuration of
`the device.
`
`includes any factors
`The communication environment
`that affect the speed and manner by which a device uploads
`and download content to and from the computer network
`135. The term “communication environment data” includes
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`any data that is descriptive of the communication environ-
`ment. The communication environment data for the user
`device 110 could include, for example, the bandwidth of the
`user device network interface 146, as well as the bandwidth
`of the link 147 between the user device 110 and the network
`135. The communication environment data could also
`include data that describes the link 147, such as whether the
`link is, for example, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a cable
`modem line, an integrated services digital network (ISDN)
`line, or a dial-up line. The communication environmentdata
`could also include data related to the latency of the user
`device 110 with respect to both the service manager device
`115 and the content provider device 120. The latency is the
`the network 135 via the service manager device 115. The
`time difference between when the user device 110 issues a
`service management software 155 also maintains the net-
`work location of each item of content, such as a uniform
`request for content and when the user device 110 receives
`the content.
`resource locator (URL) for content. For example, the service
`
`management software 155 could maintainalisting of con- The hardware configuration describes the arrangement of
`tent that is available from the content provider device 120,
`hardware for a device linked to the computer network. The
`as well as the URLs associated with such content. It is
`term “hardware configuration data” includes any data
`descriptive of the hardware configuration for a given device.
`The hardware configuration of the user device 110 includes,
`for example, the type of processor, the processor speed,
`whether data storage such as a hard disk is available,
`whether the storage is local, the access speed of the hard
`disk, and the data storage capacity. The hardware configu-
`ration data could also include the amount of memory avail-
`able to user device 110 and the types of video cards and
`sound cards, if any, that are present in the user device 110.
`The process of determining the communication environment
`data and the hardware configuration data is described in
`more detail below with respect to FIG. 4.
`It is appreciated that communication environment data
`and hardware configuration data could also be obtained in
`relation to the content provider device 120. In this manner,
`the service manager device 115 could maintain such data in
`relation to a plurality of user devices and content provider
`devicesthatare linked to the network 135, thereby providing
`
`5
`With referencestill to FIG. 1, the service manager device
`115 comprises a computer system that
`is configured to
`communicate over the network 135, such as using the
`standard protocols of the World Wide Web. As mentioned,
`the service manager device 115 functions as an intermediary
`between the user device 110 and the content provider device
`120 regarding the transfer of content therebetween over the
`network 135. In other words, the service manager device 115
`functions as a centralized content clearing house through
`which a user can review, select, and download content that
`is available over the network 135.
`In accordance with these functions, the service manager
`device 115 preferably administers a Web site through which
`a user can access and download content from the network
`
`135. The service manager device 115 includes a server 150
`that maintains and serves one or more Web pagesthat can be
`accessed via the user device 110. The server 150 may
`comprise a server application that executes in memory of the
`service manager device 115, or may comprise a separate
`computer component of the service manager device. FIG. 2
`showsan exemplary content download Web page 210 within
`a browser window 220 that is displayed on a display screen
`of the user device 110. The Web page 210 preferably
`includesa userinterface that presentsa listing of content that
`the user may access, such as by clicking on an appropriate
`hyperlink or selecting from a menu. For example, the Web
`page 210 mayinclude a listing of computer game applica-
`tionsthat the user can downloadora listing of music files or
`video files that the user can download.
`
`the service manager
`With reference again to FIG. 1,
`device 115 includes in memory a service management
`software application 155 that causes the service manager
`device 115 to manage contenttransfers between the content
`provider device 120 and the user device 110. Content
`transfers are managed in that the content manager device
`110 obtains information regarding the user device 110 and/or
`the content provider device 120 and, based upon the infor-
`mation, determines parameters that may govern the content
`transfer. The service manager device 115 then causes a
`content transfer to occur, as described in moredetail below.
`The service management software 155 preferably main-
`tains in a data store 160 a list of content that is available over
`
`appreciated that the service managementsoftware 155 could
`maintain a listing of content available from a plurality of
`content provider devices.
`the content provider device 120
`Referring to FIG. 1,
`comprises any source of content 162 available to the user
`device 110 via the network 135. The content provider device
`120 has access to content 162 that is stored in a local data
`store or in a data store that
`is available to the content
`
`provider device 120. The content provider device 120 device
`includes a network interface 163 that enables communica-
`tion over a communication link 175 between the network
`135 and the content provider device 120. The content
`provider device 120 further includes a server 165 that serves
`the content 162. It is appreciated that the content provider
`device 120 and the service manager device 115 could be
`combined into a single computer or system of computers.
`The content provider device 120 preferably includes in
`memory a content transfer management software application
`
`

`

`US 7,363,384 B2
`
`7
`central managementof the data. A user or a content provider
`can then update the data by simply interfacing with the
`service manager device 120 and thereby provide access to
`the updated data to authorized parties that are linked to the
`service manager device 120.
`In the next operation, represented by the flow diagram box
`numbered 320, the user device 110 submits a request for
`content to the service manager device 115. As mentioned,
`the user device 110 could submit the request by a user
`selecting a hyperlink on the Web page 210 (FIG. 2) that is
`served by the service manager device 115.
`In the next operation, represented by the flow diagram box
`numbered 330, the service manager device 115 selects a
`service level for the transfer of content to the user device
`
`the service level being based upon the previously-
`110,
`obtained communication environment data and hardware
`configuration data of the user device 110. The service level
`relates to the type of contentthatis transferred, as well as the
`manner in which the content is transferred. The service
`
`8
`mancetesting module that, when executed, causes the user
`device to conduct one or more performancetests to obtain
`communication environment data for the user device 110.
`
`The performancetesting module preferably executes upon
`installation of the download management software 145. The
`module could also execute at predetermined times, such as
`before or after a content transfer occurs to or from the user
`device 110.
`The download management software 145 could obtain
`latency information by causing the user device 110 to “ping”
`the service manager device 115 and/or the content provider
`device 120. In this regard, the user device 110 may send an
`Internet Control Message Protocol echo request to a device
`on the network 135 and wait for a reply. The user device 110
`calculates the length of time that it takes to receive the reply,
`which is an indication of the latency in relation to that
`device.
`
`The download managementsoftware 145 also queries the
`network interface 146 to obtain bandwidth information for
`
`the network interface 146 and the link 147, includingthe bit
`rate, which is the amount the amountof data that can be sent
`over the network interface 146 and link 147 per unit time.
`Thebit rate is typically measured in bits per second. Thebit
`rate may be measured using well known methods.
`The download management software 145 obtains hard-
`ware configuration data by accessing readily-accessible data
`files that are typically maintained by the operating system of
`the user device 110. For example, the “Windows” Operating
`System of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington,
`USA, maintains information relating to the hardware con-
`figuration of a device, such as the type of processor, pro-
`cessor speed, video and sound card information, and the
`peripheral devices, if any, that are attached to the device.
`The download management software 145 mayalso obtain
`the communication environment data and the hardware
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`managementsoftware 155 preferably opt