Distributing content

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed for distributing content items to a handheld device using a personal computer. A user can browse and select content using a personal computer or other computer that may be more readily available or more convenient to use than the handheld device. The personal computer can communicate with a web server which receives the user's request for content to be distributed to the handheld device. The web server can retrieve configuration information pertaining to the handheld device and communicate with a content server to determine whether the user's request for content distribution is valid based on information identifying the handheld device and at least some of the configuration information pertaining to the handheld device. The content server can transmit the requested content item to the handheld device if the user's request is valid and if the handheld device is able to receive the content item.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by at least one of a first server and a second server, a first request that originates at a computer other than a handheld device wherein the first request specifies a content item to be distributed to the handheld device; determining, by at least one of the first server and the second server whether the first request is valid; when the first request is valid, transmitting, from the first server to the second server, a second request specifying the content item to be distributed to the handheld device and information identifying the handheld device; accessing configuration information pertaining to the handheld device based on the information identifying the handheld device; determining whether the second request is valid based on the information identifying the handheld device and at least a portion of the configuration information pertaining to the handheld device; and when the second request is valid, transmitting, from the at least one of the first server and the second server, the content item to the handheld device when the handheld device is able to receive the content item.