Network-aware structured content downloads

Abstract

A request for content is received at a content server via a first network connection from a client device. The content includes a set of portions represented within a root document. Based upon a download constraint of at least one portion of the content and a network characteristic of the first network connection, at least one portion of the content is deferred for download over a network connection other than the first network connection. The content is sent with each deferred portion of the content replaced with a content stub within the root document. Each content stub identifies the respective portion of the content as a deferred portion of the content and includes a content identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a communication module; and   a processor programmed to:
 receive, via the communication module over a first network connection, a request for content from a client device, where the content comprises a plurality of portions represented within a root document; 
 determine to defer at least one portion of the content for download via a network connection other than the first network connection based upon a download constraint of the at least one portion of the content and a network characteristic of the first network connection; and 
 send the content with each of the at least one portion of the content replaced with a content stub within the root document, where each content stub identifies the respective portion of the content as a deferred portion of the content and comprises a content identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , where, in being programmed to determine to defer the at least one portion of the content for download via the network connection other than the first network connection based upon the download constraint of the at least one portion of the content and the network characteristic of the first network connection, the processor is programmed to:
 compare the download constraint of the at least one portion of the content to the network characteristic of the first network connection; and   determine that the download constraint identifies a network download characteristic greater than the network characteristic of the first network connection.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , where the processor is further programmed to:
 receive a request for at least one deferred portion of the content from the client device via a second network connection;   determine that a network characteristic of the second network connection is at least equivalent to the download constraint of the at least one deferred portion of the content; and   send the at least one deferred portion of the content to the client device via the second network connection.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , where the processor is further programmed to:
 detect a change of network connection with the client device from the first network connection to a second network connection;   determine that a network characteristic of the second network connection is at least equivalent to the download constraint of the at least one deferred portion of the content; and   send the at least one deferred portion of the content to the client device via the second network connection.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , where the content stub comprises an extensible markup language (XML) fragment and the processor is programmed to copy the XML fragment into a location of the deferred portion of the content within the root document. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , where at least one content stub further comprises the download constraint of the respective deferred portion of the content. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 receive, via a first network connection, a request for content from a client device, where the content comprises a plurality of portions represented within a root document;   determine to defer at least one portion of the content for download via a network connection other than the first network connection based upon a download constraint of the at least one portion of the content and a network characteristic of the first network connection; and   send the content with each of the at least one portion of the content replaced with a content stub within the root document, where each content stub identifies the respective portion of the content as a deferred portion of the content and comprises a content identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , where, in causing the computer to determine to defer the at least one portion of the content for download via the network connection other than the first network connection based upon the download constraint of the at least one portion of the content and the network characteristic of the first network connection, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
 compare the download constraint of the at least one portion of the content to the network characteristic of the first network connection; and   determine that the download constraint identifies a network download characteristic greater than the network characteristic of the first network connection.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
 receive a request for at least one deferred portion of the content from the client device via a second network connection;   determine that a network characteristic of the second network connection is at least equivalent to the download constraint of the at least one deferred portion of the content; and   send the at least one deferred portion of the content to the client device via the second network connection.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
 detect a change of network connection with the client device from the first network connection to a second network connection;   determine that a network characteristic of the second network connection is at least equivalent to the download constraint of the at least one deferred portion of the content; and   send the at least one deferred portion of the content to the client device via the second network connection.   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , where the content stub comprises an extensible markup language (XML) fragment and the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to copy the XML fragment into a location of the deferred portion of the content within the root document. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , where at least one content stub further comprises the download constraint of the respective deferred portion of the content.