US007818261B2
`
`a2) United States Patent
`Weiskopfetal.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,818,261 B2
`Oct. 19, 2010
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING
`LICENSES TO CONTENT
`
`7,031,471 B2
`7,047,241 Bl
`
`4/2006 Stefik etal.
`§/2006 Erickson
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David N. Weiskopf, Kirkland, WA (US);
`Erling Aspelund, Seattle, WA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Corbis Corporation, Seattle, WA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the termof this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 591 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/425,335
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 20, 2006
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2007/0168513 Al
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/760,182, filed on Jan.
`18, 2006.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`GO6F 21/00
`(52) US. Ch.
`eceeeeeteeeeseeeeeteeee 705/59; 705/1; 705/26:
`705/51; 380/231; 713/177; 713/193; 713/201
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 705/1-59;
`380/231; 713/177, 193, 201
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`Markova, Sonja, “Rightsline, Inc.,” Keiretsu News, Apr. 2004, Issue
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`html (accessed Oct. 18, 2007).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner—Pierre Eddy Elisca
`Assistant Examiner—Shahid Kamal
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Frommer Lawrence & Haug
`LLP; John W. Branch
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Process for enabling a content provider and its users to easily
`manage licenses for intended uses for selected or provided
`content. Licensing information for content previously pro-
`vided to a user or acquired bythe content provider, a digital
`fingerprint, and/or a digital
`identifier are employed to
`uniquely identify a particular instance ofthe selected/pro-
`vided content and manage licenses to use this content Once
`the selected content is provided for processing, the invention
`cannotify the user ofat least one of four conditions: (1) a user
`is currently licensed for at least one type of use for the
`selected content; (2) if a previous license to the selected
`content is expired, a current license does not include the
`selected use, or the user doesn’t haveor has an expired license
`to use the selected content, and identify steps to obtain a
`current license for at least one type of use; (3) ifa license to
`use the selected content is not available from the content
`provider; and(4) identify substantially similar content that is
`available from the content provider for a license for at least
`one type ofthe intended use for one or more of conditions (1),
`(2), and (3).
`
`35 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`EX1007
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9 715,581
`
`EX1007
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,715,581
`
`

`

`US 7,818,261 B2
`
`Page 2
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`....
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`sxeoneenanntt HOO
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`B2
`B2
`B2"
`B2
`B2
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`B2
`B2
`B2
`BI
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`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
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`5/2006 Rhoads etal.
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`Miller, Matt et al., A review ofwatermarking principlesandpractices,
`Published in Digital Signal Processing in Multimedia Systems, Ed.
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`7,072,487
`7,072,490
`7,076,082
`7,076,084
`7,086,666
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`7,095,871
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`7,099,849
`7,103,197
`TALL 168
`7,111,170
`7,113,596
`7,113,614
`7,113,615
`7,116,781
`7,123,740
`7,127,744
`7,136,838
`7,277,870
`7,398,556
`2002/00 12432
`2002/0062290
`2002/009 1645
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`
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`10/2006 Levy
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`BL* 11/2006 Peinadoet al.
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`B2*
`7/2008 Erickson......
`AL™ 1/2002 Englandetal.
`AL*
`5/2002 Ricci
`...ccccecsecscessesee
`Al
`7/2002 ‘Tohyama
`Al*
`9/2002 Lopatic «0.0.0...
`Al
`10/2002 Coley etal.
`
`siesta 705/59
`
`...
`...
`
`sissy FOS/S9
`wee FOS31
`oe 726/27
`« 380/231
`we 705/59
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 2010
`
`Sheet1 of 6
`
`US 7,818,261 B2
`
`ya100
`
`
`
`
`102
`
`Licensing Management System
`
`Customer Enabled
`
`Provider Enabled
`
`
`
`Customer Enabled
`
`Provider Enabled
`
`Network Enabled Tool,
`Service And/Or Application
`
`
`
`Network Enabled Tool,
`
`Service And/Or Application
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 19, 2010
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`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 7,818,261 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 19
`
`*
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`2010
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`Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 7,818,261 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 19, 2010
`
`Sheet4 of 6
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`US 7,818,261 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 of6
`
`US 7,818,261 B2
`
`Mobile
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.19,2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,818,261 B2
`
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`628
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`
`

`

`US 7,818,261 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING
`LICENSES TO CONTENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment ofa network device that
`may be included in a system, in accordance with the inven-
`tion.
`
`ay
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application Ser. No. 60/760,182 filed on Jan. 18, 2006, the
`benefit of the earlier filing date of which is hereby claimed
`under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and further incorporated by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The inventionis generally directed to providing access to
`content, and more particularly, to enabling a user to manage
`one or more licenses to use selected content for a particular
`purpose.
`
`BACKGROUNDOFTHE INVENTION
`
`Content caninclude, but is not limitedto, images, pictures,
`video, illustrations, drawings, graphics, symbols, text, and
`audio recordings. This content can be digitized and embodied
`in an electronic format that can be communicated over a
`
`network and/or included in a processor readable media. Typi-
`cal content users for commercial purposes include advertis-
`ers, publishers, media companies, graphic designers, and the
`like. Additionally, there are several methodsfor identifying a
`particular instance ofselected content, including compari-
`sons to original content(digital fingerprint), and unique iden-
`tifiers that are attached to the selected content. The unique
`identifiers can be included in the header of a file and/or
`
`injected into the contentitself,
`It is often difficult for content users to determinethe actual
`source ofcontent that they currently possess. Also, it can be
`inconvenient to determine if a content user needs to obtain a
`license to use selected/possessed contentfora particular com-
`mercial purpose. Consequently, even good corporate citizens
`often inadvertently and unintentionally violate their licenses
`or use content without any licensesatall.
`Current methods for verifying license rights for selected
`content are often labor and timeintensive for both the content
`provider and their customers. Also, typical Digital Rights
`Management (DRM) solutions negatively impact user work-
`flow and depend on almost non-existent industry standards
`and co-operation. Additionally, current tagging methods for
`content can degrade quality and are ofteneasily circumvented
`with relatively standard editing techniques and tools.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the
`present invention are described with reference to the follow-
`ing drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer
`to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise
`specified.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagramillustrating an overview of the
`two primary users of the invention;
`FIG, 2 is a block diagram showing an overview ofa user
`enabled system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagramillustrating an overview ofa
`provider enabled system; and
`FIG, 4 is a block diagram showingan illustrative operating
`environment;
`
`FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a mobile device that may
`be included in a system implementing the invention; and
`
`ba
`
`30
`
`4
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter
`with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a
`part hereof, and which show, by wayofillustration, specific
`exemplary embodiments by whichthe invention may be prac-
`ticed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
`different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
`embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
`provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and com-
`plete, and will fully convey the scope ofthe inventionto those
`skilled in the art. Among other things, the invention may be
`embodied as methods, processes, systems, business methods,
`or devices. Accordingly, the present invention may take the
`form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely sofi-
`ware embodimentor an embodiment combining software and
`hardware aspects. The following detailed description is,
`therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
`The inventionts generally directed to a method and system
`for enabling a content provider and its users to easily manage
`licenses for intended uses for selected or provided content.
`Licensing informationfor content previously provided to a
`user or acquired by the content provider, a digital fingerprint,
`and/or a digital identifier are employed to uniquely identify a
`particular instance ofthe selected/provided content and man-
`age licenses to use this content Once the selected contentis
`providedfor processing, the invention can notify the user ofat
`least one of four conditions: (1) auseris currently licensed for
`at least one type of use for the selected content; (2) if a
`previous license to the selected contentis expired, a current
`license does not include the selected use, or the user doesn’t
`haveor has an expired license to use the selected content, and
`identify steps to obtain a currentlicense for at least one type
`of use: (3) if a license to use the selected content is not
`available from the content provider; and (4) identify substan-
`tially similar content that is available from the content pro-
`vider fora licensefor at least one type of the intended usefor
`one or more of conditions (1), (2), and (3).
`Also, although the exemplary embodiment discussed
`below is generally directed to images, it is understood that the
`invention may also be employed ina substantially similar way
`either singly, or in combination with other types of content,
`e.g., video, pictures, illustrations, drawings, graphics, sym-
`bols, text, and audiorecordings.
`In at least one embodiment, the invention employs a com-
`parison (digital fingerprint) to an original version of the
`selected content and/oran identifier that uniquely identifies a
`particular instance of selected content.
`In at least one embodiment, the invention employs singly
`or in combination, sales information and/or licensing infor-
`mation, and the like,
`from the provider (or some other
`resource) for the selected content to determine the current
`status of a user’s license (or lack) to use the selected content.
`In one embodiment, a content provider is a single entity
`such as a website, service, or resource that is arranged on a
`network to provide content to one or more users. In another
`embodiment, the content provider can be arranged toinclude
`one or more websites, services, or resourcesthat are config-
`ured to provide content to one or more users.
`In one embodiment, the uniqueidentifier can be configured
`as metadata that is arranged in one or more arrangements,
`including but not limited to, XMP, EXIF, and IPTC. In yet
`another embodiment, the unique identifier can be configured
`
`

`

`US 7,818,261 B2
`
`3
`as an object such as a smart object, digital object identifier
`(DOI), and/or a handle. Also, the unique identifier may be
`included in a header of a file and/or injected into the actual
`data that characterizes the content. One or more methods may
`be employed to inject a unique identifier into content con-
`tained in a file, including, but not limited to, steganography,
`watermarking, and hard coding.
`In one embodiment, a Handle System is employed as the
`unique identifier for content. The Handle System provides a
`resolution service for digital objects over a network, such as
`the Internet. The arrangement of the Handle Systemis some-
`whatsimilar toa Domain Name System (DNS), except thatit
`is tailored for resolving unique identifier objects instead of
`uniform resource locators (URLs) for websites. There are
`several Requests For Comment (RFCs) that explain the spe-
`cific details of the Handle System, including RFC3650, 3651,
`and 3652. Additionally, the Handle System can be used to
`locate repositories that contain objects given their unique
`handles. Other features of the Handle System include: (1)
`open, relatively well-defined protocol and data model; (2)
`infrastructure for application domains, e.g., images, music,
`digital libraries: (3) interoperability between manydifferent
`information systems; and (4) a DNS can operate on the
`Handle System.
`In another embodiment, a unique identifier configured as
`an object is generally arranged as a DOI and/or smart object
`that provides at least some of the functionality that follows:
`(1) addressable and resolvable over a network via a resolution
`system; (2) include a payload that conforms to a metadata
`description; (3) addressis specified by a particular syntax; (4)
`can invoke a method; and (5) universally operable.
`In one embodiment, the digital fingerprinting of content
`can includeinitially processing the content to generaterela-
`tively unique signatures and one or more probability density
`functions which are stored in one or more databases. For
`
`visual content such as an image, the digital fingerprint’s sig-
`natures might correspondto the texture, shape, and/or coloror
`the image. Later, the probability density functions for feature
`vectors could be used with these signatures to identify other
`copies of the same image that may be identical or somewhat
`altered, but whose baseattributes are discernible. In a some-
`what similar way, signatures and probability density func-
`tions can be generated for digitally fingerprinting non-visual
`content such as audio recordings.
`In one embodiment, the user can manually provide or
`select content for processing, including but not limited to: (1)
`dragging and dropping the selected contentinto a visual con-
`tainer, such as a window,folder, icon, and the like; (2) iden-
`tifying a folder, directory, or virtual lightbox where at least
`one instance ofthe selected content resides; (3) selecting an
`integrated feature or a plug-in applet that provides this func-
`tionality for another application, such as an editor, digital
`asset management (DAM) application, and the like; and (4)
`accessing a link to a web site and/ora service provided overa
`network. Instances ofa user can includethe contentprovider,
`a customer of the content provider, and/or a third party con-
`tent provider. Also, each user can indicate designees that can
`have full or some lesser amount ofaccess to the functionality
`of the invention. In one embodiment, the functionality of the
`invention can be provided as a serviceto the user, andin other
`embodiments the invention is provided to the user as an
`application.
`In one embodiment, hierarchical levels of trust may be
`employed to determine which employeesor third party con-
`tractors of a customer/user are enabled to view the presence,
`or lack thereof, of licenses to the selected content. For
`example, the invention can be configured so that managers are
`
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`
`4
`advised ofthe particular details of an out ofdate or missing
`license to the selected content. In this case, other employees
`and/or third party contractors could be directed to contact
`their managerin regard to a license to the selected content.
`In yet another embodiment, the user can arrange the inven-
`tion to automatically pre-processat least a portion of content
`stored in at least one location, e.g., a folder, directory, and
`virtual lightbox, for at least one current license. Once the
`invention determines that content at the location does not
`haveat least one license, the invention can notify the userin
`one or more ways, including, an email, text message, alert
`message, pop-up window,audiotone, visual flag, and thelike.
`FIG, 1 illustrates a block diagram of overview 100 of
`features of licensing management system 102. As shown,
`system 102 can be arranged for providing access for two or
`more types of users, e.g., a customeror a content provider. If
`features of content provider embodiment 106is selected, the
`system provides at least one of a network enabled tool, ser-
`vice, and/or an application for access by the content provider
`and/or
`its designees. Somewhat
`similarly,
`if customer
`embodiment 104 is selected, the system provides a network
`enabledtool, service, and/or an application for access by the
`customerand/orits designees.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagramof system overview 200
`ofa customerenabled arrangement of the invention for image
`based content. As shown, source content from a variety of
`different sources 202 is processed and ingested for a content
`provider at block 204. This process canbe adapted fordiffer-
`ent sources that provide their content in different ways, such
`providing an electronic file on a processor readable media
`and/or over a wired and/or wireless network, Source content
`can also be provided onphysical media suchas a photograph,
`book, poster, painting, andthe like. The “physical” contentis
`processed into an electronic format. At block 210, a digital
`fingerprint value and/or a uniqueidentifier is associated with
`each item of the source content.
`
`The provider enables the source content to be provided to
`the customer at block 206, where copies ofthe source content
`is stored at customerstorage space 208 forlater use. At block
`214, the customer can select particular copies ofthe source
`content in their storage space 208 for a particular intended
`use, such as a mock up advertisement. Subsequently, the
`customer can provide the content to license management
`process 212 that employs at least one of a digital fingerprint
`and unique identifier provided from block 210 to uniquely
`compare the provided content to the source content. If the
`license management process 212 determines that a license to
`the provided content is managed by the content provider, a
`determinationis madeat decision block 220 as to whether the
`
`customerhas licensed the provided content.If true, the pro-
`cess moves to block 224 where a current
`license to the
`
`selected copy of the source contentor the provided content for
`the intended useis identified and the customeris notified that
`it is cleared for the intended use. However, if the customer has
`not licensed the selected source or provided content, the pro-
`cess flows to block 222 where this content is stored and the
`customeris notified that a license needs to be acquiredfor the
`intended use. Further, the invention advises the customer on
`steps to obtain a valid license and indicates the cost to do so.
`These steps may include completing a questionnaire, and/or
`communicating with a representative of the content provider.
`Also, the invention can cause the selected/provided contentto
`be movedto a location, such as a virtual container, folder,
`website, virtual lightbox, and the like, that is arranged to
`generally store content that
`is waiting for a license for a
`particular intended use.
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`However,ifit is determined that a license to the selected/
`provided content is not managed by the content provider, the
`process advancesto decision block 216 and then to block 218
`where the customer is advised that a valid license to the
`selected/provided content is unavailable and suggests sub-
`stantially similar source contentthatis available for a valid
`license for the intended use.
`Additionally, information regarding licenses and intended
`uses for selected/provided content is gathered by the content
`provider to determine those customers that could potentially
`benefit fromparticular product offerings, and/or contact with
`the provider’s representative. Also, this information could
`help identify those customers that are the most and/orleast
`diligent about obtaining a valid license. In one embodiment,
`the use of content by the least diligent customers might be
`more closely scrutinized than other customers, and the most
`diligent customers might be rewarded for their behavior.
`In another embodiment, the process proceeds in substan-
`tially the same manneras discussed above exceptfor a deter-
`mination is made as to whether or not the customer has 2
`acquired a license to the selected/provided content, andifso,
`the current and/or expired licenses are displayed to the cus-
`tomer. For this embodiment, providing the intended use for
`the selected content is not a predicate to determining if a
`license to the content exists for the customer. Additionally,
`although this exemplary embodiment is directed to image
`content, the invention is not so limited, and canbe applied to
`at least the other types of content discussed in greater detail
`elsewhere inthe specification.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a provider enabled arrangement of the
`invention that is somewhatsimilar to the processillustrated in
`FIG. 2, albeit different in several ways. As shown, source
`content from a variety ofdifferent sources 302 is processed/
`ingested at block 304 by a content provider. This intake pro-
`cess can be adapted for different sources that provide source
`content in different ways, such providing an electronic file on
`a processor readable media or over a network. Source content
`can also be provided on physical media such as a photograph,
`book, poster, painting, and the like. The “physical” source
`content is processed into an electronic format. At block 310,
`a digital fingerprint and/or a unique identifier is associated
`with each copy ofthe source content. A copy ofthe selected
`source content is provided to the customerat block 306.
`At block 308, the process is arranged to crawl one or more
`publicsites 312, private sites 316, or other sites 314, on one or
`more networks, wheredigital fingerprints and/or unique iden-
`tifiers are used to identify stored copies of content whose
`licenses are managed by the content provider. The process
`employs licensing and/or sales information to determine if
`the site owneris licensed to use the identified contentfor its
`current use. This license compliance information can be pro-
`vided to one or more resources including, but notlimited to,
`content provider sales representatives 318, content provider
`marketing representatives 320, content provider licensing
`representatives 322, and content provider’s anti-piracy
`enforcement and compliance representatives 324. Addition-
`ally, although this exemplary embodiment
`is directed to
`image content, the invention is not so limited, and can be
`applied to at least the other types of content discussed in
`greater detail elsewhere in the specification.
`It will be understoodthat each block ofthe above flowchart
`illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart
`illustrations, can be implemented by computer program
`instructions. These program instructions may be provided to
`a processor to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions,
`which execute onthe processor, create means for implement-
`ing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The
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`US 7,818,261 B2
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`computer programinstructions may be executed by a proces-
`sor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by
`the processor to produce a computer implemented process
`such that the instructions, which execute on the processor to
`provide steps for implementing the actions specified in the
`flowchart block or blocks.
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`Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support
`combinations of means for performing the specified actions,
`combinations ofsteps for performing the specified actions
`and programinstruction means for performing the specified
`actions. It will also be understood that each block ofthe
`flowchart illustration, and combinations ofblocksin the flow-
`chart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose
`hardware-based systems which performthe specified actions
`or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and
`computerinstructions.
`
`Illustrative Operating Environment
`FIG, 4 shows components of an exemplary environment in
`whichthe invention maybepracticed. Notall the components
`may be required topracticethe invention, and variations in the
`arrangementand type of the components may be made with-
`out departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. As
`shown, system 400 of FIG. 1 includes local area networks
`(“LANs”)/wide area networks (“WANs”) 405, wireless net-
`work 410, server network device 406, client network device
`402, and mobile device 404.
`
`Generally, client network device 402 may includevirtually
`any computing device capable of receiving and sending a
`message over a network, such as network 405, wireless net-
`work 410, andthelike, to and from another computing device,
`suchas server network device 406, mobile device 404, and the
`like. The set of such devices may include devices that typi-
`cally connect using a wired communications medium suchas
`personal computers, multiprocessor systems, microproces-
`sor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network
`PCs, and the like. The set of such devices may also include
`devices that typically connect using a wireless communica-
`tions medium such as cell phones, smart phones, pagers,
`walkie talkies, radio frequency (RF) devices, infrared (IR)
`devices, CBs, integrated devices combining one or more of
`the preceding devices, or virtually any mobile device, and the
`like. Similarly, client device 402 also may be any computing
`device that is capable of connecting using, a wired or wireless
`communication mediumsuchas a PDA, POCKETPC, laptop
`computer, wearable computer, and any other device that is
`equipped to communicate over a wired and/or wireless com-
`munication medium.
`
`Client network device 402 may include a browser applica-
`tion that is configured to receive and to send web pages,
`web-based messages, and the like. The browser application
`may be configured to receive and display graphics, text, mul-
`timedia, and the like, employing virtually any web based
`language, including Standard Generalized Markup Language
`(SMGL), suchas HyperText Markup Language (HTML), and
`so forth.
`
`Client network device 402 may further include a client
`application that enables it
`to perform a variety of other
`actions,
`including, communicating a message, such as
`through a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Mes-
`sage Service (MMS), instant messaging (1M), internet relay
`chat (IRC), mIRC, Jabber, and the like, betweenitself and
`another computing device. The browser application, and/or
`another application, suchas the client application, a plug-in
`application, and the like, may enable client device 402 to
`communicate content to another computing device.
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`US 7,818,261 B2
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`Mobile device 404 represents one embodimentofa client
`device that is configured to be portable. Thus, mobile device
`404 may include virtually any portable computing device
`capable of connecting to another computing device and
`receiving information. Such devicesinclude portable devices
`such as, cellular telephones, smart phones, display pagers,
`radio frequency (RF) devices,infrared (IR) devices, Personal
`Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, laptop com-
`puters, wearable computers,
`tablet computers,
`integrated
`devices combining one or more of the preceding devices, and
`the like. As such, mobile device 104 typically ranges widely
`in terms of capabilities and features. For example, a cell
`phone may have a numeric keypad and a few lines of mono-
`chrome LCD display on which only text may be displayed, In
`another example, a web-enabled remote device may have a
`touch sensitive screen, a stylus, and several lines of color
`LCDdisplay in which both text and graphics may be dis-
`played. Moreover,
`the web-enabled remote device may
`include a browserapplication enabledto receive and to send
`wireless application protocol messages (WAP), and thelike.
`In one embodiment, the browser application is enabled to
`employ a Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML),
`Wireless Markup Language (WML), WMLScript, JavaS-
`cript, and thelike, to display and send a message.
`Mobile device 404 also may include at least one client
`application with componentsthat that are configured to com-
`municate content with another computing device, such as
`another mobile device, network device, and the like. The
`client application may include a capability to provide and
`receive textual content, graphical content, audio content, and
`the like. The client application may further provide informa-
`tion that identifies itself, including a type, capability, name,
`identifier, and the like. The information may also indicate a
`content format that mobile device 404 is enabled to employ.
`Such information may be provided in a message, or the like,
`sent to server network device 406, and the like.
`Mobile device 404 may be configured to communicate a
`message, such as through a Short Message Service (SMS),
`Multimedia Message Service (MMS),
`instant messaging
`(IM), internet relay chat (IRC), mIRC, Jabber, and thelike,
`between another computing device, such as server 406, and
`the like. However, the present inventionis not limited to these
`message protocols, and virtually any other message protocol
`may be employed.
`Wireless network 410 is configured to couple mobile
`device 404 and its components with WAN/LAN 402. Wire-
`less network 410 may include any of a