Use of network composition descriptors for determining product compatibility

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
• receive, at an external network interface in response to the request for the scanning service, a query for a network location of a home network where the scanning service is accessed,
• determine to provide to the service provider the network location in response to the query;
• receive a confirmation dialog from the service provider in response to the request for the scanning service, wherein the confirmation dialog includes the network location where the scanning service is accessed;
• determine to facilitate accessing the network location in response to user activation of the confirmation dialog;
• determine to obtain, via the home network, descriptors that describe a composition of the home network, wherein accessing the network location initiates the obtaining of the home network composition descriptors;
• determine to obtain, via the home network, media file data that describes media of one or more devices of the home network, wherein the home network composition descriptors are obtained in response to a request for a scanning service directed to the service provider;
• determine to facilitate comparison of the home network composition descriptors to descriptors of products available from an e-commerce service provider, wherein the comparison determines compatibility of the products with the devices of the home network;
• and
• determine to communicate to a user an identity of compatible products selected from the products based on the comparison,
• wherein the determination to obtain descriptors comprises sending queries over the home network to the one or more devices and gathering the descriptors over the home network from the one or more devices.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program instructions,
• the at least one memory and the computer program instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
• receive, at a gateway of at least one home network in response to a request for a scanning service, a query for a home network location of a networking interface where the scanning service is accessed;
• determine to provide from the gateway to an e-commerce service provider, the network location in response to the query;
• receive a confirmation dialog from the service provider in response to the request for the scanning service, wherein the confirmation dialog includes the network location where the scanning service is accessed;
• determine to access the network location via the confirmation dialog to initiate obtaining descriptors that describe a composition of the at least one home network;
• determine to obtain, via the networking interface, the home network composition descriptors, wherein the home network composition descriptors are obtained in response to the request for the scanning service directed to the service provider;
• determine to obtain, via the networking interface, media file data that describes media of one or more devices of the at least one home network;
• determine to obtain descriptors of products offered for sale via an e-commerce Internet site;
• determine to compare the home network composition descriptors to the descriptors of the products;
• determine compatibility of the products with devices of the home network based on the comparison;
• and
• determine to communicate, to a user of the home network, an identity of compatible products selected from the products based on the determination of compatibility,
• wherein the determination to obtain descriptors comprises sending queries over the home network to the one or more devices and gathering the descriptors over the home network from the one or more devices.

A system comprising:

• means for receiving, in response to a request for a scanning service, a query for a home network location;
• means for determining to provide, in response to the query, the network location to an e-commerce service provider that is external to the home network;
• means for receiving a confirmation dialog from the service provider in response to the request for the scanning service, wherein the confirmation dialog includes the network location where the scanning service is accessed;
• means for determining to access the network location via the confirmation dialog to initiate obtaining descriptors that describe a composition of the home network;
• means for obtaining the home network composition descriptors, wherein the home network descriptors are obtained in response to the request for a scanning service directed to the service provider;
• means for obtaining media file data that describes media of one or more devices of the home network;
• means for comparing the home network composition descriptors to descriptors of products available from the e-commerce service provider;
• means for determining compatibility of the products with devices of the home network;
• and
• means for communicating to a user an identity of compatible products selected from the products based on the determination of compatibility,
• wherein the determination to obtain descriptors comprises means for sending queries over the home network to the one or more devices and means for gathering the descriptors over the home network from the one or more devices.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

• receive, at a gateway of a home network in response to a request for a scanning service, a query for a home network location of a scanning component where the scanning service is accessed;
• determine to provide from the gateway to an e-commerce service provider that is external to the home network, the network location in response to the query;
• receive a confirmation dialog from the e-commerce service provider in response to the request for the scanning service, wherein the confirmation dialog includes the network location where the scanning service is accessed;
• determine to access the network location via the confirmation dialog to initiate obtaining descriptors that describe a composition of the home network;
• determine to obtain, via the home network, the home network composition descriptors, wherein the home network composition descriptors are obtained in response to the request for the scanning service directed to the e-commerce service provider;
• determine to obtain, via the home network, media file data that describes media of one or more devices of the home network, wherein the scanning component comprises the gateway;
• determine to facilitate comparison of the home network composition descriptors to descriptors of products available from the e-commerce service provider that is external to the home network, wherein the comparison determines compatibility of the products with the devices of the home network and the gateway assists in scanning on behalf of the e-commerce service provider;
• and
• determine to communicate to a user the identity of compatible products selected from the products based on the comparison,
• wherein the determination to obtain descriptors comprises sending queries over the home network to the one or more devices and gathering the descriptors over the home network from the one or more devices.