Advertisement in Operating System

• US 20090265214A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Coffman, Patrick, Christie, Gregory N., Matas, Mike, Jobs, Steven, Anzures, Freddy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0262 during computer stand-by mode

Abstract

Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a device, the method comprising:

disabling a function of an operating system in a device;

presenting an advertisement in the device while the function is disabled; and

enabling the function in response to the advertisement ending.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein disabling the function causes the device to not respond to an input device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein disabling the function causes an application program to cease generating output.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operating system is scheduled to perform the disabling, presentation and enabling steps at predefined times.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the function among a plurality of functions before each advertisement presentation.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising determining, before each advertisement presentation, at least one activity being performed in the device, wherein the function is selected using the determination.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input prompting the presentation of the advertisement to be postponed for a predefined amount of time;

postponing, in response to user input, the presentation of the advertisement by the predefined amount of time; and

reducing a time until a subsequent advertisement is presented by the predefined amount of time.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input prompting the advertisement to be presented a predefined amount of time earlier than scheduled, wherein the advertisement is presented according to the user input; and

extending, in response to the user input and by the predefined amount of time, a time until a subsequent advertisement is presented.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is presented using a presentation technique selected from the group consisting of:

presenting the advertisement as a pane on top of any other pane in a user interface of the device;

presenting the advertisement in a designated area of a background of the user interface;

presenting the advertisement in a window for an application program;

presenting the advertisement inserted in content from an application program;

presenting the advertisement through an audio output of the device; and

combinations thereof.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a user pays attention to the advertisement.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the determination comprises:

performing, while the advertisement is presented, an operation that urges the user to respond; and

detecting whether the user responds to the performed operation.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting in the device a user-selectable control that when activated triggers at least one selected from the group consisting of:

causing presentation of a page from an advertiser associated with the advertisement;

recording a user rating of the advertisement;

again presenting the advertisement;

sharing the advertisement with another user;

initiating a transaction for user purchase of a product that eliminates the presentation of advertisements on the device;

postponing presentation of the advertisement;

causing the advertisement to be presented ahead of schedule;

causing a previous advertisement to be presented;

causing a preview of a subsequent advertisement to be presented;

causing an overview of all available advertisements to be presented; and

initiating a transaction for user purchase of a product or service to which the advertisement relates.

13. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for operating a device, the method comprising:

disabling a function of an operating system in a device;

presenting an advertisement in the device while the function is disabled; and

enabling the function in response to the advertisement ending.

14. A computer-implemented method for providing an advertisement in a device, the method comprising:

providing an operating system of a device with at least one advertisement, the operating system configured to temporarily disable a function thereof and present the advertisement in the device while the function is disabled; and

receiving a report from the device confirming that the advertisement has been presented.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising configuring the operating system to perform the presentation and temporary disablement steps at predefined times.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the report further identifies usage of the device relating to the presentation of the advertisement.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the advertisement is selected to be provided to the device based on information about a user of the device.

18. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for providing an advertisement in a device, the method comprising:

providing an operating system of a device with at least one advertisement, the operating system configured to temporarily disable a function thereof and present the advertisement in the device while the function is disabled; and

receiving a report from the device confirming that the advertisement has been presented.

19. An operating system tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising:

an advertisement that the operating system is configured to present to a user; and

a function that the operating system is configured to disable for presenting the advertisement and then enable in response to the advertisement ending.

20. The operating system of claim 19, wherein disabling the function causes the operating system to not respond to an input device.

21. The operating system of claim 19, wherein disabling the function causes an application program to cease generating output.

22. The operating system of claim 19, wherein the advertisement is presented using a presentation technique selected from the group consisting of:

presenting the advertisement as a pane on top of any other pane in a user interface of the device;

presenting the advertisement in a designated area of a background of the user interface;

presenting the advertisement in a window for an application program;

presenting the advertisement inserted in content from an application program;

presenting the advertisement through an audio output of the device; and

combinations thereof.