Site redirection

Abstract

A site redirection system and corresponding methods for redirecting a user from a requested site to a target site is provided. When a user navigates to a site on which the redirection system is implemented, the site downloads onto the user's machine client-side redirection logic. The client-side redirection logic collects the machine's configuration information and passes the collected configuration information to the site. On the site, server-side redirection logic uses the received configuration information to determine a target URL based on the configuration information passed by the client-side redirection logic. The server-side redirection logic then passes the target URL to the client-side redirection logic where the final redirection occurs.

1 . A method in a computer system for redirecting a client to a target site, the method comprising:
 at a web site,
 receiving from a client a request to access the web site; 
 obtaining from the client configuration information; 
 based on the client configuration information, determining a target URL; and 
 providing the client the target URL, 
   
       such that the client redirects to a destination corresponding to the target URL. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web site provides the client a successful response upon determining that the target URL addresses the web site. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information is obtained by executing a client-side redirection logic on the client. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the client-side redirection logic is provided to the client as part of a default page of the web site. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of an operating system executing on the client. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of the type of processor on the client. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises localization information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of the version of an update agent executing on the client. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of a version of the web site. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of a version of an update agent executing on the client, wherein the update agent is configured to provide updates provided by a first service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the client configuration information comprises an indication of whether the client has opted-in to receive updates provided by a second service. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client configuration information is checked in a predetermined sequence until the target URL is determined. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a web site to redirect a client, by performing operations comprising:
 receiving a request from a client to access the web site;   in response to receiving the request, sending to the client client-side redirection logic, wherein the client-side redirection logic is configured to obtain configuration information and send the web site the obtained configuration information;   receiving client configuration information obtained by the client-side redirection logic;   based on the received client configuration information, determining a target URL; and   sending the client the target URL,   
       such that the client redirects to a destination site corresponding to the target URL. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the client-side redirection logic is sent to the client with a default page of the web site. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the target URL is determined by a redirect page on the web site. 
     
     
         21 . A redirection system configured to provide a redirection address in response to receiving a request from a hand-held computing device, the redirection system comprising:
 a redirection data structure mapping each of a plurality of system configurations to at least one redirection address;   a redirection address identification component configured to access the redirection data structure to determine a redirection address mapped to a system configuration of the hand-held computing device in response to receiving from the hand-held computing device an indication of a system configuration corresponding to the hand-held computing device; and   a transmission component configured to transmit the determined redirection address to the hand-held computing device.   
     
     
         22 . A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a client computing system, cause the client computing system to perform operations comprising:
 in response to sending to a remote computing system a request to access a first location specified by a first URL,   receiving, from the remote computing system, client-side redirection logic configured to collect system configuration information corresponding to the configuration of the client computing system,   obtaining, from the received client-side redirection logic, system configuration information collected by the client-side redirection logic,   sending, to the remote computing system, the obtained system configuration information, wherein the remote computing system is configured to identify a redirection URL in response to receiving system configuration information,   receiving, from the remote computing system, a redirection URL associated with the obtained system configuration information, and   directing the client computing system to a second location specified by the received redirection URL to effect the redirecting of the client computing system based on the configuration of the client computing system.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 22  wherein the client computing system is a hand-held device. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 22  wherein the client-side redirection logic is a plug-in to an application executing on the client computing system. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 22  wherein the client-side redirection logic is obtained as a control within a web page displayed by a browser executing on the client computing system. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 22 , wherein the obtained system configuration information specifies an operating system, a processor, and localization information.