Session continuity for providing content to a remote device

Abstract

A method and apparatus is directed to provide a clip of content to a remote device, such as a mobile device. The invention enables an end-user to select content from a networked device, such as a personal computer. The selected content may include content from a webpage, graphic images, audio files, and the like. Selecting the content includes entry of an identifier such as a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), and a Mobile Station International ISDN Number (MSISDN). When the end-user employs the remote device to access the content, a server employs the identifier to determine if the remote device is authenticated and authorized to access the content. If it is, then the server provides the content to establish session continuity with the remote device. The content may then be transmitted to the remote device using any of a variety of messaging protocols.

1 . A server for communicating content over a network, comprising: 
 a transceiver for receiving and sending content over the network; and    a content manager that is configured to perform actions, including: 
 enabling a selection of content on a first computing device;  
 receiving an identifier associated with a second computing device, wherein the first computing device and second computing device are currently uncoupled;  
 receiving a request from the second computing device to access the server;  
 receiving the identifier from the second computing device; and  
 enabling access to the content by the second computing device based on the identifier, wherein the identifier further enables session continuity between the first computing device and the second computing device.  
   
   
   
       2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the content manager is configured to perform actions, further comprising: 
 receiving, from the second computing device, at least one of an action and a status associated with the content; and    enabling access by the first computing device to the at least one action and status, using, in part, the identifier from the second computing device to further session continuity.    
   
   
       3 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises, authenticating the second computing device using, at least in part, the identifier.  
   
   
       4 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises, enabling access to the content if the second computing device is authorized to access the content.  
   
   
       5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises, enabling access if a time period associated with the content is not expired.  
   
   
       6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the second computing device is a mobile device.  
   
   
       7 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the content further comprises at least one of a graphic image, an audio file, a screen shot, a document, a binary file, a video file, a File Transfer Protocol command, a compressed file, a script, an application, an email message, and an alert.  
   
   
       8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier further comprises at least one of Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a Mobile Station International ISDN Number (MSISDN), Media Access Control (MAC) address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and an electronic serial number (ESN).  
   
   
       9 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises employing at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), instant messaging (IM), internet relay chat (IRC), mIRC, Jabber, and an HTTP protocol.  
   
   
       10 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the content manager performs actions further comprising storing the based, at least in part, on the identifier.  
   
   
       11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the stored content is indexed using the identifier.  
   
   
       12 . A method of communicating content over a network, comprising: 
 enabling a selection of content on a first computing device;    sending, by the first computing device, an identifier associated with a second computing device, wherein the first computing device and second computing device are currently uncoupled;    sending a request from the second computing device to access a server;    sending the identifier from the second computing device to the server;    determining if the second computing device is authorized to access the content; and    if the second computing device is authorized, enabling access to the content by the second computing device based on the identifier.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining if the second computing device is authorized further comprises, authenticating the second computing device using, at least in part, the identifier from the second computing device.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining if the second computing device is authorized further comprises, determining a level of sensitivity associated with the content.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining a level of sensitivity further comprises, if the level of sensitivity is high, authenticating the second computing device based, at least in part, on a pre-registered identifier.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining a level of sensitivity further comprises, if the level of sensitivity is moderate, authenticating the second computing device based, at least in part, on if the second computing device is logged into a same account as the first computing device was when sending the identifier associated with the second computing device.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second computing device is a mobile device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the content further comprises at least one of a graphic image, an audio file, a screen shot, a document, a binary file, a video file, a File Transfer Protocol command, a compressed file, a script, an application, an email message, and an alert.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the identifier further comprises at least one of Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a Mobile Station International ISDN Number (MSISDN), Media Access Control (MAC) address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and an electronic serial number (ESN).  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises employing an asynchronous message protocol.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises employing a message hook, including at least one of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), the identifier, a script, and an executable program.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 12 , where enabling the selection further comprises providing at least one of a toolbar button, an icon, a script, a link, a drop-down menu, a pop-up menu, and an application for use in selecting the content.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein enabling access to the content further comprises employing at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), instant messaging (IM), internet relay chat (IRC), mIRC, Jabber, and an HTTP protocol.  
   
   
       24 . A modulated data signal for communicating content over a network, the modulated data signal comprising: 
 enabling a selection of content on a first computing device;    sending from the first computing device an identifier associated with a second computing device, wherein the first computing device and second computing device are currently uncoupled;    sending a request from the second computing device to access the server;    sending the identifier from the second computing device; and    if the second computing device is authorized, enabling access to the content by the second computing device based on the identifier.    
   
   
       25 . The modulated data signal of  claim 24 , wherein the second computing device is a mobile device.  
   
   
       26 . The modulated data signal of  claim 24 , wherein if the second computing device is authorized further comprises, determining authorization based one at least one of a sensitivity associated with the content, a digital right associated with the content, and a time period associated with the content.  
   
   
       27 . The modulated data signal of  claim 24 , wherein the content further comprises at least one of a graphic image, an audio file, a screen shot, a document, a binary file, a video file, a File Transfer Protocol command, a compressed file, a script, an application, an email message, and an alert.  
   
   
       28 . The modulated data signal of  claim 24 , wherein the identifier further comprises at least one of Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a Mobile Station International ISDN Number (MSISDN), Media Access Control (MAC) address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and an electronic serial number (ESN).  
   
   
       29 . A server for communicating content over a network, comprising: 
 a transceiver for receiving and sending content over the network; and    a content manager that is configured to perform actions, including: 
 a means for enabling a selection of content on a first computing device;  
 a means for receiving an identifier associated with a second computing device, wherein the first computing device and second computing device are currently uncoupled;  
 a means for employing the identifier to store the content;  
 a means for receiving a request from the second computing device to access the server;  
 a means for receiving the identifier from the second computing device;  
 a means for employing the identifier to retrieve the stored content; and  
 a means for providing the content to the second computing device, wherein the identifier enables session continuity between the first computing device and the second computing device.