Sponsor-based desktop customization as a revenue stream

• US 20030200542A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group LP (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Altendorf, Mark J., Sood, Gaurav, Saxby, Arthur M., Shaughnessy, Monica J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The specification describes a method for realizing revenue streams for computer manufacturers apart from hardware sales. More particularly, the specification discloses a method where personal computers are configured such that each user has an individual login capability, and each user may experience a different desktop theme and related overall customization. The end-user may select a particular theme, and each theme is based on the goods and/or services of a sponsor of that theme. The computer manufacturer realizes revenue initially for enabling the end-user to select particular themes, but also realizes a revenue for end-users selecting themes. Further, the specification discloses a method where computer manufacturers realize revenue by generation of internet traffic to, and electronic-commerce on, a sponsor'"'"'s internet sites.

Claims

1. A method of making a computer system by a computer manufacturer comprising:

installing an operating system;

installing a custom program, and wherein the custom program provides sponsor based customizations of the computer system;

allowing a user to choose at least one of the sponsor based customizations;

applying the at least one sponsor based customizations; and

obtaining revenue by the computer manufacturer from a sponsor for each user who chooses at least one of the sponsor based customizations.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising charging the sponsor for each computer system in which the custom program is installed.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein installing an operating system further comprises installing a Windows®

XP operating system produced by Microsoft, Inc.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein installing a custom program further comprises installing a custom program that monitors the computer system for an initial user logon; and

wherein allowing a user to choose at least one of the sponsor based customizations further comprises allowing the user to choose at least one of the sponsor based customizations contemporaneously the initial user logon.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein applying the at least one sponsor based customizations further comprises modifying a standard desktop configuration by modification of at least one attribute selected from the list:

a wallpaper setting;

a cursor setting;

a screen saver.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein applying the at least one sponsor based customizations further comprises modifying a home page of an internet browser to show an internet site of the sponsor.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the sponsor based on the consumer'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site of the sponsor.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 further comprising adding an entry to a favorite list on the internet browser that, when selected, directs the internet browser to show the internet site of the sponsor.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the sponsor based on the consumer'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site of the sponsor.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein applying the at least one sponsor based customizations further comprises modifying a desktop of the computer system to comprise an icon that directs the consumer to an internet site of the sponsor.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the sponsor based on the user'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site of the sponsor.

12. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

providing updates to at least one of the sponsor based customizations; and

allowing the user to selectively install the updates.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein providing updates further comprises downloading the updates to the user'"'"'s computer prior to the allowing step.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the allowing step further comprises allowing the user to selectively install previously downloaded updates.

15. The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising charging the sponsor for each update selected by the user.

16. A method comprising:

providing with a computer system a customization set based on the goods or services provided by a first sponsor;

allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization of the customization set, and thereafter each user'"'"'s session is based on the customization selected; and

charging the first sponsor for each customization selected.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

wherein the providing step further comprises providing with the computer system the customization set based on the goods or services provided by the first and a second sponsor, each customization in the customization set based on the goods or services of one of the first and second sponsors; and

wherein the charging step further comprises charging the first sponsor for each customization selected based on the first sponsor'"'"'s goods and services, and charging the second sponsor for each customization selected based on the second sponsor'"'"'s goods and services.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 further comprising programming buttons on a keyboard of the computer system to direct an internet browser of the computer to one of the first and second sponsor'"'"'s internet site depending on the customization selected.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization of the customization set, and thereafter each user'"'"'s session is based on the customization selected further comprises changing a standard desktop configuration in at least one attribute from the following list of attributes;

a wallpaper;

a cursor setting;

a screen saver;

sponsor specific desktop icons.

20. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization of the customization set, and thereafter each user'"'"'s session is based on the customization selected further comprises modifying a home page of an internet browser to show an internet site of the first sponsor.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the first sponsor based on the consumer'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site of the sponsor.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising adding an entry to a favorites list on the internet browser that, when selected, directs the internet browser to show the internet site of the sponsor.

23. The method as defined in claim 22 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the sponsor based on the consumer'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site.

24. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization of the customization set, and thereafter each user'"'"'s session is based on the customization selected further comprises adding an icon to the desktop that directs the user to a web site of the sponsor.

25. The method as defined in claim 24 further comprising sharing revenue between a manufacturer of the computer system and the sponsor based on electronic-commerce directly attributable to use of the icon.

26. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein providing with a computer system a customization set based on the goods or services provided by a first sponsor further comprises providing with the computer system theme based customizations.

27. The method as defined in claim 26 wherein providing with the computer system theme based customizations further comprises providing with the computer system at least one theme based customization selected from the following list:

music;

movies;

television;

gaming;

kids;

sports;

women'"'"'s interests;

education;

research travel;

geography;

news; and

finance.

28. The method as defined in claim 27 wherein providing with the computer system at least one theme based customization further comprises providing variants of one or more of the theme based customizations from which to choose.

29. The method as defined in claim 27 further comprising:

wherein the providing step further comprises providing with the computer system the theme based customizations based on the goods or services provided by the first and a second sponsor, each customization in the theme based customizations based on the goods or services of one of the first and second sponsors; and

wherein the charging step further comprises charging the first sponsor for each customization selected based on the first sponsor'"'"'s goods and services, and charging the second sponsor for each customization selected based on the second sponsor'"'"'s goods and services.

30. The method as defined in claim 29 further comprising programming buttons on a keyboard of the computer system to direct an internet browser of the computer to one of the first and second sponsor'"'"'s internet site depending on the customization selected.

31. The method as defined in claim 29 wherein allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization step further comprises changing a standard desktop configuration in at least one attribute from the following list of attributes;

a wallpaper;

a cursor setting;

a screen saver.

32. The method as defined in claim 31 wherein allowing each user of the computer system at an initial logon to select a customization step further comprises modifying a home page of an internet browser to show an internet site of the first sponsor.

33. The method as defined in claim 32 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the first sponsor based on the user'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site of the sponsor.

34. The method as defined in claim 32 further comprising adding an entry to a favorites list on the internet browser that, when selected, directs the internet browser to show the internet site of the sponsor.

35. The method as defined in claim 34 further comprising sharing revenue between the computer manufacturer and the sponsor based on the user'"'"'s electronic-commerce conducted on the internet site.

36. A method comprising generating revenue for a computer manufacturer by providing with new computer systems user selectable theme based configurations that promote goods and services of sponsors.

37. The method as defined in claim 36 wherein generating revenue for the computer manufacturer further comprises generating revenue from a first sponsor each time a user selects a theme based configuration that promotes the goods and services of the first sponsor.

38. The method as defined in claim 36 wherein providing with new computer systems user selectable theme based configurations that promote goods and services of sponsors further comprises allowing the user to select a theme based configuration after an initial logon to a computer system, and thereafter applying the theme based configuration on each subsequent logon by that user.

39. The method as defined in claim 36 wherein generating revenue for the computer manufacturer further comprises generating revenue from a first sponsor each time a user conducts electronic-commerce on a web site of the first sponsor where the user is directed to the web site by elements of the theme based configuration.

40. The method as defined in claim 39 wherein generating revenue from a first sponsor each time a user conducts electronic-commerce on a web site of the first sponsor where the user is directed to the web site by elements of the theme based configuration further comprises generating revenue when the user is directed to the web site by an icon on the desktop.

41. The method as defined in claim 39 wherein generating revenue from a first sponsor each time a user conducts electronic-commerce on a web site of the first sponsor where the user is directed to the web site by elements of the theme based configuration further comprises generating revenue when the user is directed to the web site by a keyboard hot-button, and wherein the keyboard hot-button changes for each theme of the theme based configurations.