Patent ID: 7363384

Claim:
A method of managing the transfer of content to a user device that is communicatively linked to a computer network, comprising: obtaining user device information descriptive of a configuration of the user device; determining capabilities of the user device to download content over the network and to process content received over the network based upon the user device information; automatically selecting a service level that is selected from among a plurality of predefined service levels that set combinations of transfer parameters and is determined to be available to the user device for transferring content thereto based upon whether the determined capabilities of the user device meet minimum requirements for one of the predefined service levels, wherein the selected service level is associated with one or more characteristics of content for transfer to the user device; determining whether an upgrade could make any additional of the plurality of predefined service levels available to the user device; transmitting a message to the user device that causes a notice having an advertisement link to be displayed on the user device, wherein the advertisement link is for a provider that could assist in making changes to a configuration of the user device in order to upgrade the capabilities of the user device; and monitoring selections of the advertisement link; wherein the advertisement link may effect a receipt of compensation.