User Interface for Selecting Operators

• US 20080250053A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Ahopelto, Timo, Antikainen, Ismo
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method of identifying data delivery parameters relating to delivery of data accessible from a network location via a communications service provider. Embodiments of the invention are particularly well suited to identifying delivery parameters when the delivery of data is metered, such as when data are delivered to terminals connected to mobile networks.

Claims

1. A method of identifying data delivery parameters relating to delivery of data accessible from a network location via a communications service provider, wherein the communications service provider has a delivery rate associated therewith, said delivery rate being applicable in respect of said delivery of data, the method comprising:

receiving first data indicative of an amount of data that can be downloaded in respect of a request for data access from the network location;

receiving second data indicative of a quantity of resource to be allocated in respect of delivery of data accessed from the network location;

using the delivery rate and the second data so as to identify a number of individual access requests relating to the first data that can be offset by the allocated quantity of resource, whereby to identify a said delivery parameter; and

outputting data indicative of the identified number of individual access requests.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising using a further, different, delivery rate and second data so as to identify a further number of individual access requests relating to the first data that can be offset by the allocated quantity of resource, and outputting data indicative of the further number of individual access requests.

3. A method according to claim 2, including ordering the outputted data on the basis of the number and further number of individual access requests.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the further delivery rate relates to the communications service provider.

5. A method according to any one of claim 1 to claim 3, in which the further delivery rate relates to a different communications service provider.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including weighting the amount of data according to the size of at least one data element accessible from the network location, whereby to generate said first data.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including weighting the amount of data according to the size of a predetermined number of data elements accessible from the network location, whereby to generate said first data.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the network location includes a link to a further network location, said further network location being accessible via said network location, and the method includes weighting the amount of data according to the type of said link to the further network location, whereby to generate said first data.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the delivery rate comprises a predetermined delivery rate.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including deriving said delivery rate from a data plan associated with the communications service provider.

11. A method according to claim 10, the method comprising retrieving said data plan from a storage system on the basis of an identifier associated therewith.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims including receiving said first data and second data via a user interface accessible by a content provider associated with said network location.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including receiving third data indicative of a selection criterion relating to the data accessible from the network location, said selection criterion being for use in serving a said request for data from the network location.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising:

receiving data indicative of a first bid amount corresponding to the selection criterion, the first bid amount and selection criterion corresponding to a set of data accessible via the network location;

generating a second bid amount in dependence on the first bid amount and an amount of data associated with the set of data accessible via the network location; and

storing the generated second bid amount and search term corresponding thereto in a storage system.

15. A method according to claim 14, comprising generating said second bid amount so as to account for an amount of data corresponding to at least one data item accessible from the network location.

16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the communications service provider comprises a mobile communications service provider.

17. A computer program product, or a suite of computer program products comprising program code means being adapted to perform the steps of any one of claim 1 to claim 16 when the program is run on a computer or on a suite of computers.

19. A system for identifying data delivery parameters relating to delivery of data accessible from a network location via a communications service provider, wherein the communications service provider has a delivery rate associated therewith, said delivery rate being applicable in respect of said delivery of data, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving first data indicative of an amount of data that can be downloaded in respect of a request for data access from the network location;

a storage system arranged to hold second data indicative of a quantity of resource to be allocated in respect of delivery of data accessed from the network location; and

a processor arranged to retrieve the second data and to identify a number of individual access requests relating to the first data that can be offset by the allocated quantity of resource, whereby to identify a said delivery parameter.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising the computer program product according to claim 19.

20. A user interface for collecting data indicative of data access characteristics for use in determining delivery criteria in relation to said data access, the user interface comprising:

a display area arranged to display a plurality of editable regions and a plurality of user-selectable objects, at least one said editable region being for use in receiving data indicative of a network location from which said data can be accessed and the user interface comprising selection means responsive to selection of a said user-selectable option so as to store said selected option, wherein the user-selectable options include at least one communications service provider for enabling said data access.

21. A user interface according to claim 20, wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of identifiers relating to data accessible from said network location.

22. A user interface according to claim 21, wherein said identifiers include any one or some of keywords, data type and temporal criteria accessibility relating thereto.

23. A user interface according to any one of claim 20 to claim 22, wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of an amount of resource to be allocated for said data access.

24. A user interface according to any one of claim 20 to claim 23, wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of a bid amount, said bid amount being for use in ranking of said network location relative to other network locations.

25. A user interface according to any one of claim 20 to claim 24, wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of radio access technology requirements associated with said provision of data access by the or each communications service provider.