Allocation system and method

• US 20080288642A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Ahopelto, Timo, Saru, Sami
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network

Abstract

A method of recording allocation of resources in response to a request for a data item to be transmitted to a device in the network where the request comprises data indicative of one or more requested items. The device is typically a mobile device and the requested items can be key words making up a search request or can be web site names indicating web sites of interest to the user. In response to the request, data listings having items generating a match with the requested data item are identified and data indicative of a network location corresponding to the or each matched data item are retrieved. In addition data indicative of an amount of data and a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location are retrieved and these data, together with a network subscription associated with device and the amount of data, are used to evaluate actual usage of network resources when accessing the set of data. If data are subsequently requested from the network location the evaluated actual usage is offset against the resource allocation so as to identify an amount of usage of network resources to be charged to the network subscription, and a record associated with said data listing is updated so as to log said resource allocation event.

Claims

1. A method of providing access to network resources in response to a request, the method comprising:

receiving a request including a data item relating to data to be transmitted to a device in the network, the data item being indicative of one or more requested items;

accessing a storage system so as to identify data listings having items generating a match with the data item;

retrieving data indicative of a network location for a data listing corresponding to each matched data item, the network location providing access to a set of data corresponding to a data listing;

retrieving parameter data relating to the set of data accessible via the network location; and

on the basis of a network subscription associated with device and the parameter data, evaluating a characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data, said characteristic being capable of variation in dependence on the set of data and the network subscription.

2. The method according to claim 1, including:

creating a message comprising the parameter data and the corresponding network location;

sending said created message to a second device accessible within the network; and

arranging for said second device to perform at least part of said evaluation.

3. The method according to claim 2, including retrieving data indicative of one or more transport parameters associated with the network subscription, whereby to evaluate said characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data.

4. The method according to claim 1, including retrieving data indicative of one or more transport parameters associated with the network subscription, whereby to evaluate said characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data.

5. The method according to claim 4, in which the data indicative of one or more transport parameters are retrieved from a device associated with the network subscription.

6. The method according to claim 3, in which the data indicative of one or more transport parameters are retrieved from a device associated with the network subscription.

7. The method according to claim 6, in which the transport parameters are stored in a removable storage module within the device associated with the network subscription.

8. The method according to claim 5, in which the transport parameters are stored in a removable storage module within the device associated with the network subscription.

9. The method according to claim 1, including transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

10. The method according to claim 1, including transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

11. The method according to claim 1, including transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data indicative of an amount of data in the set of data accessible via the network location.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

17. The method according to claim 4, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

18. The method according to claim 2, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

25. The method according to claim 14, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

26. The method according to claim 13, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

27. The method according to claim 20, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

28. The method according to claim 19 in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

29. The method according to claim 12, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

30. The method according to claim 11, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

31. The method according to claim 10, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

32. The method according to claim 9, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

33. The method according to claim 4, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

34. The method according to claim 2, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

35. The method according to claim 1, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the method includes displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

36. The method according to claim 35, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

37. The method according to claim 34, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

38. The method according to claim 33, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

39. The method according to claim 32, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

40. The method according to claim 31, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

41. The method according to claim 30, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

42. The method according to claim 29, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

43. The method according to claim 28, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

44. The method according to claim 27, including ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

45. The method according to claim 36;

including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

46. The method according to claim 35, including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

47. The method according to claim 32, including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

48. The method according to claim 31, including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

49. The method according to claim 30, including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

50. The method according to claim 29, including arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

51. The method according to claim 12, including assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

52. The method according to claim 11, including assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

53. The method according to claim 10, including assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

54. The method according to claim 9, including assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

55. The method according to claim 1, including assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the classifications include subsidized and non-subsidized.

57. The method according to claim 56, including displaying a selectable link classified as subsidized differently to a selectable link classified as non-subsidized.

58. The method according to claim 57, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

59. The method according to claim 56, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

60. The method according to claim 55, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

61. The method according to claim 35, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

62. The method according to claim 19, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

63. The method according to claim 12, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

64. The method according to claim 11, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

65. The method according to claim 10, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

66. The method according to claim 9, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

67. The method according to claim 4, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

68. The method according to claim 2, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

69. The method according to claim 1, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the method includes formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

70. The method according to claim 69, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

71. The method according to claim 1, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

72. The method according to claim 71, in which the request comprises a search request comprising one or more search terms.

73. The method according to claim 69, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

74. The method according to claim 10, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

75. The method according to claim 9, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

76. The method according to claim 4, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

77. The method according to claim 1, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

78. The method according to claim 77, in which the name identifies a web site.

141. A computer program product, or a suite of computer program products comprising program code means being adapted to perform the steps of claim 1 when the program is run on a computing device or on a suite of computing devices.

142. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising the computer program product according to claim 141.

79. A system for providing access to network resources in response to a request, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request including a data item relating to data to be transmitted to a device in the network, the data item being indicative of one or more requested items;

means for accessing a storage system so as to identify data listings having items generating a match with the data item;

means for retrieving data indicative of a network location for a data listing corresponding to each matched data item, the network location providing access to a set of data corresponding to a data listing;

means for retrieving parameter data relating to the set of data accessible via the network location; and

means for, on the basis of a network subscription associated with device and the parameter data, evaluating a characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data, said characteristic being capable of variation in dependence on the set of data and the network subscription.

80. The system according to claim 79, including:

means for creating a message comprising the parameter data and the corresponding network location;

means for sending said created message to a second device accessible within the network; and

means for arranging for said second device to perform at least part of said evaluation.

81. The system according to claim 80, including means for retrieving data indicative of one or more transport parameters associated with the network subscription, whereby to evaluate said characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data.

82. The system according to claim 79, including means for retrieving data indicative of one or more transport parameters associated with the network subscription, whereby to evaluate said characteristic of usage of network resources when accessing the set of data.

83. The system according to claim 82, in which the data indicative of one or more transport parameters are retrieved from a device associated with the network subscription.

84. The system according to claim 81, in which the data indicative of one or more transport parameters are retrieved from a device associated with the network subscription.

85. The system according to claim 80, in which the transport parameters are stored in a removable storage module within with the device associated with the network subscription.

86. The system according to claim 83, in which the transport parameters are stored in a removable storage module within with the device associated with the network subscription.

87. The system according to claim 86, including means for transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

88. The system according to claim 83, including means for transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

89. The system according to claim 82, including means for transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

90. The system according to claim 80, including means for transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

91. The system according to claim 79, including means for transmitting data providing access to at least part of the set of data to the mobile device, said transmitted data including data indicative of said characteristic.

92. The system according to claim 91, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

93. The system according to claim 86, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

94. The system according to claim 83, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

95. The system according to claim 82, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

96. The system according to claim 80, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

97. The system according to claim 79, including means for 10 transmitting data indicative of the amount of usage of network resources to be charged to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in decrementing an account balance associated therewith.

98. The system according to claim 97, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

99. The system according to claim 91, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

100. The system according to claim 86, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

101. The system according to claim 83, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

102. The system according to claim 82, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

103. The system according to claim 80, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

104. The system according to claim 79, including means for transmitting data indicative of the amount of a resource allocation associated with a set of data to a billing system maintained by a network operator associated with the network subscription, for use in incrementing an account balance associated therewith.

105. The system according to claim 82, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to an amount of data in the set of data accessible via the network location.

106. The system according to claim 79, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to an amount of data in the set of data accessible via the network location.

107. The system according to claim 82, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

108. The system according to claim 79, wherein said parameter data comprises parameter data relating to a resource allocation associated with the set of data accessible via the network location.

109. The system according to claim 108, wherein said resource allocation comprises an offset against use of network resources when accessing the set of data accessible via the network location.

110. The system according to claim 82, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the system includes means for displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

111. The system according to claim 79, in which a plurality of data listings corresponds to the data item, and the system includes means for displaying said plurality of data listings as a plurality of corresponding selectable links via a user interface on the device.

112. The system according to claim 111, including means for ordering the data listings in dependence on the evaluated characteristic.

113. The system according to claim 112, including means for arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

114. The system according to claim 111, including means for arranging the data listings in a plurality of portions, whereby to display said selectable links in accordance with said characteristic.

115. The system according to claim 82, including means for assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

116. The system according to claim 79, including means for assigning a classification to the data listing on the basis of the characteristic.

117. The system according to claim 116, wherein the classifications include subsidized and non-subsidized.

118. The system according to claim 117, including means for displaying a selectable link classified as subsidized differently to a selectable link classified as non-subsidized.

119. The system according to claim 116, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

120. The system according to claim 111, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

121. The system according to claim 109, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

122. The system according to claim 106, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

123. The system according to claim 104, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

124. The system according to claim 97, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

125. The system according to claim 91, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

126. The system according to claim 86, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

127. The system according to claim 83, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

128. The system according to claim 82, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

129. The system according to claim 80, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

130. The system according to claim 79, in which each data listing in the storage system is further held in association with rating data indicative of a rating applied to the set of data, and the system includes means for formatting said transmitted data at least partly in dependence on said rating data.

131. The system according to claim 130, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

132. The system according to claim 86, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

133. The system according to claim 83, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

134. The system according to claim 82, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

135. The system according to claim 79, in which the data item is a search term and the data listing comprises a search listing stored in association with corresponding search terms.

136. The system according to claim 135, in which the request comprises a search request comprising one or more search terms.

137. The system according to claim 130, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

138. The system according to claim 82, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

139. The system according to claim 79, in which the data item comprises a name, and the data listing comprises a network location stored in association with the name.

140. The system according to claim 139, in which the name identifies a web site.