Method Of And System For Managing Client Resources And Assets For Activities On Computing Devices
Patent No. US11451883 (titled "Method Of And System For Managing Client Resources And Assets For Activities On Computing Devices") was filed by Winview Ip Holdings Llc on Jun 4, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’883 is related to the field of distributed entertainment systems, particularly those that deliver interactive experiences synchronized with live events or television programs to computing devices. The background acknowledges the challenges in coordinating such systems across a wide network, including network congestion, device limitations (memory, processing power), and variations in programming schedules and legal restrictions across different geographic locations. Prior solutions struggled with efficiently delivering the necessary software and data to diverse devices in a timely manner.
The underlying idea behind ’883 is to optimize the delivery of software components ( assets ) required for interactive activities on computing devices. Instead of sending entire data packages, the invention focuses on identifying and transmitting only the specific assets that are missing from a device, thereby reducing network traffic and ensuring timely preparation for live events. This is achieved by comparing a list of required assets with the assets already present on the device.
The claims of ’883 focus on a method and system for implementing a consumer service on a mobile Internet-connected computing device. The device loads service-related information from a server, allows the user to select an option, downloads service-specific information related to that option, and executes an application. Crucially, the device receives a list of assets necessary for executing the application, compares it to its existing assets, and then receives *only* the missing assets from the server. The claims also cover the corresponding server-side functionality and the devices themselves.
In practice, a user selects an interactive activity (e.g., a game synchronized with a TV show) on their mobile device. The device then communicates with a server to determine the specific software components (images, sound files, scripts) needed for that activity. The device sends a list of its currently stored assets to the server. The server compares this list with a master list of required assets and transmits only the missing components back to the device. This ensures that the device has all the necessary resources to run the activity without wasting bandwidth or storage space.
This approach differentiates itself from prior solutions by avoiding the transmission of redundant data. Instead of pushing entire software packages or relying on users to manually download updates, ’883 employs a targeted delivery mechanism. By only sending the delta – the difference between what the device has and what it needs – the system minimizes network load and reduces the time required to prepare a device for an interactive experience. The use of a manifest (a list of assets) and the comparison process are key to this efficient delivery.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’883 was filed, systems commonly relied on client-server architectures for delivering content and applications to mobile devices. At a time when mobile devices had limited processing power and memory, it was typical to optimize data transfer by minimizing the amount of data sent over the network. When hardware or software constraints made efficient resource management non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art did not teach or suggest selecting an option from an activity client from a list of available options, downloading service-specific information related to the selected option from a server to a mobile device, executing an application related to the selected option within the activity client on the mobile device, receiving a list of assets from the server, comparing that list with the assets already on the mobile device, and then receiving only the assets not already present on the device.
Claims
This patent contains 148 claims, of which claims 1, 20, 41, 62, 81, 102, and 123 are independent. The independent claims generally focus on methods and devices for implementing a consumer service on a mobile Internet-connected computing device, involving the selective downloading of assets necessary for executing an application. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the specifics of the independent claims, adding details and limitations to the methods and devices described.
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Date
Description
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US11451883
- Application Number
- US16893180
- Filing Date
- Jun 4, 2020
- Status
- Expired
- Expiry Date
- Jun 20, 2026
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents