초록 ▼

A content transfer service manager node of a computer network manages the transfer of content over the network from a content provider node to a user node. The characteristics of the configuration of the user node are determined, including the user nodes capabilities with respect to downloading cont

A content transfer service manager node of a computer network manages the transfer of content over the network from a content provider node to a user node. The characteristics of the configuration of the user node are determined, including the user nodes capabilities with respect to downloading content and processing downloaded content. The service manager arranges a content transfer that is particularly suited for the hardware, software, and communication capabilities of the user node.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising: obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the

We claim: 1. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising: obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; determining 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; automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for one of the predefined service levels, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; and causing content to be transferred to the user device over the network according to the selected service level. 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a service level is also associated with one or more characteristics of the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network. 4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device. 5. A method as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising: identifying a list of content that can be transferred to the user device based upon the determined capabilities of the user device; causing the list of content to be displayed at the user device. 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of content associated with a service level includes the size of the content. 10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content includes graphic files. 11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a first service level has a corresponding minimum capabilities requirement, and further comprising selecting a first service level for the user device only if the capabilities of the user device meet the minimum capabilities requirements. 13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred. 14. A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising: obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. 15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; causing content to be transmitted to the user device according to the selected service level. 16. A method as defined in claim 14, additionally comprising: making a service level available to the user device only if the configuration of the user device meets the minimum requirements for the service level. 17. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of the service levels is made unavailable to the user device because the configuration of the user device does not meet the requirements of the service level. 18. A method as defined in claim 17 additionally comprising providing information to the user device regarding the unavailable service level. 19. A method as defined in claim 18, additionally comprising notifying the user device of changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device in order to meet the minimum requirements of the unavailable service level. 20. A method as defined in claim 19, additionally comprising sending one or more advertisements to the user device regarding changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device. 21. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 22. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 23. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 24. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes the size of the content. 25. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content comprises graphic files. 26. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 27. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device. 28. A program product including a recording medium that stores a program readable and executable by an information processing system to cause the information processing system to perform processing that manages the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the program including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute: a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising, determining 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; a third process comprising, automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for a predefined service level, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; a fifth process comprising, transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and a sixth process comprising, monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. 29. The program product of claim 28, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a processes comprising: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; causing content to be transferred to the user device over the network according to the selected service level. 30. The program product of claim 28, wherein a service level is also associated with one or more characteristics of the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network. 31. The program product of claim 30, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device. 32. The program product of claim 28, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 33. The program product of claim 28 wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 34. The program product of claim 28, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 35. The program product of claim 28, wherein the one or more characteristics of content associated with a service level includes the size of the content. 36. The program product of claim 28, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content includes graphic files. 37. The program product of claim 28, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 38. The program product of claim 28, wherein a first service level has a corresponding minimum capabilities requirement, and wherein the program further includes instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising selecting a first service level for the user device only if the capabilities of the user device meet the minimum capabilities requirements. 39. A program product as defined in claim 28, wherein the third process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred. 40. A program product that includes a recording medium that stores a program readable and executable by an information processing system to cause the information processing system to manage the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the program including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute: a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; a third process comprising making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and a fourth process comprising automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein the fourth process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. 41. The program product of claim 40, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; causing content to be transmitted to the user device according to the selected service level. 42. The program product of claim 40, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising: making a service level available to the user device only if the configuration of the user device meets the minimum requirements for the service level. 43. The program product of claim 40, wherein at least one of the service levels is made unavailable to the user device because the configuration of the user device does not meet the requirements of the service level. 44. The program product of claim 43, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising providing information to the user device regarding the unavailable service level. 45. The program product of claim 44, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising notifying the user device of changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device in order to meet the minimum requirements of the unavailable service level. 46. The program product of claim 45, the program further including instructions for causing the information processing system to execute a process comprising sending one or more advertisements to the user device regarding changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device. 47. The program product of claim 40, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 48. The program product of claim 40, wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 49. The program product of claim 40, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 50. The program product of claim 40, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes the size of the content. 51. The program product of claim 40, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content comprises graphic files. 52. The program product of claim 40, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 53. The program product of claim 40, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device. 54. An information processing system comprised of one or more information processors configured to execute program instructions that cause the information processing system to implement one or more processes for managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the processes comprising: a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising, determining 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; a third process comprising automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for a predefined service level, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; a fifth process comprising, transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and a sixth process comprising, monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation. 55. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the processes further include processes comprised of: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; and transferring content to the user device over the network according to the selected service level. 56. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein a service level is associated with one or more characteristics of the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network. 57. The information processing system of claim 56, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device. 58. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 59. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 60. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 61. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the one or more characteristics of content associated with a service level includes the size of the content. 62. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content includes graphic files. 63. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 64. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein a first service level has a corresponding minimum capabilities requirement, and wherein the processes further include a process comprised of selecting a first service level for the user device only if the capabilities of the user device meet the minimum capabilities requirements. 65. The information processing system of claim 54, wherein the third process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred. 66. An information processing system comprised of one or more information processors configured to execute program instructions that cause the information processing system to implement one or more processes for managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, the processes comprising: a first process comprising obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; a second process comprising identifying one or more service levels that may govern the transfer of content to the user device, wherein each service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content available for transfer to the user device and the manner in which content is transferred to the user device over the network, each service level being further associated with minimum requirements relating to the configuration of the user device and setting combinations of transfer parameters; a third process comprising making available at least one of the service levels to the user device for governing the transfer of content to the user device; and a fourth process comprising, automatically selecting one of the identified service levels to govern the transfer of content to the user device based upon the user device information and whether the configuration of the user device meets minimum requirements for a service level; wherein the fourth process of selecting a service level is performed at a network service manager device independent of a network provider from which the content is transferred, and wherein the identified service levels comprise a plurality of predefined service levels that include, a first predefined service level that makes text files available, a second predefined service level that makes text files and video game software applications available, a third predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, and CD quality sound files available, and a fourth predefined service level that makes text files, video game software applications, video streaming, CD quality sound files, and higher resolution video streaming available. 67. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the processes further include a process comprised of: receiving a request to transfer content to the user device over the computer network; causing content to be transmitted to the user device according to the selected service level. 68. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the processes further include a process comprised: making a service level available to the user device only if the configuration of the user device meets the minimum requirements for the service level. 69. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein at least one of the service levels is made unavailable to the user device because the configuration of the user device does not meet the requirements of the service level. 70. The information processing system of claim 69, wherein the processes further include a process comprised of providing information to the user device regarding the unavailable service level. 71. The information processing system of claim 70, wherein the processes further include a process comprised of notifying the user device of changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device in order to meet the minimum requirements of the unavailable service level. 72. The information processing system of claim 71, wherein the processes further include a process comprised of sending one or more advertisements to the user device regarding changes that may be made to the configuration of the user device. 73. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data that can be transmitted to the user device in a given amount of time over the network. 74. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the user device information includes the latency of the user device with respect to a content provider device on the computer network. 75. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the user device information includes the amount of data storage capacity available to the user device. 76. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes the size of the content. 77. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content comprises graphic files. 78. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the one or more characteristics of content includes whether the content is an executable file. 79. The information processing system of claim 66, wherein the manner in which the content is transferred to the user device comprises streaming the content to the user device.