Software Program Ratings

• US 20100011336A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Muller, Max, Cortes, Ricardo D., Bhatnagar, Aloke
• Granted Patent: US 9,342,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie

Abstract

Improved approaches for rating a software program are disclosed. The rating can be automatically determined from a plurality of user characterizations. The user characterizations can be designated by a user (e.g., developer or publisher) with respect to a plurality of content descriptors. The user characterizations can be supplied by the user on submitting a software program to an online distribution system. Once a rating is determined and associated with a software program, the rating can be used to influence availability of the software program from an online distribution system. The rating (or how the rating influences availability) can be dependent on geographical region. The rating being determined can also be influenced by rating rules.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a rating for a software program, comprising:

displaying a plurality of content descriptors;

receiving a user characterization for each of the content descriptors with respect to the software program; and

determining a rating for the software program based on the user characterizations.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

assigning the rating to the software program.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving a user selection of a level for each of the content descriptors.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein the user selection of the level is a selection of one of a set of predetermined levels.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein the level is an intensity level.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein the level is a frequency level.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining of the rating is based on the user selections of the levels for the content descriptors.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of the rating comprises:

assigning a rating level to the user characterization for each of the content descriptors;

selecting the highest rating level from the rating levels assigned to the user characterization for each of the content descriptors; and

assigning the rating for the software program to the selected rating level.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of the rating comprises:

assigning a rating level to the user characterization for each of the content descriptors;

identifying a rating rule to be applied;

evaluating the rating rule; and

determining the rating for the software program based on the rating rule.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9, wherein said evaluating evaluates the rating rule based on at least one of the rating levels

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of the rating comprises:

assigning a rating level to the user characterization for each of the content descriptors;

determining whether a rating rule is applicable;

if said determining determines that the rating rule is applicable,

evaluating the rating rule based on at least one of the rating levels; and

determining the rating for the software program based on the rating rule; and

if said determining determines that the rating rule is not applicable,

selecting the highest rating level from the rating levels assigned to the user characterization for each of the content descriptors; and

determining the rating for the software program based on the selected rating level.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rating is an age group rating.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises:

displaying a table having content descriptors on one axis and having a plurality of selectable levels on another axis.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of the rating is based exclusively on one or more of the user characterizations.

15. A method for distributing a software program from an online repository, said method comprising:

receiving product information pertaining to a software program;

receiving characterizations of content descriptors with respect to the software program;

receiving at least one electronic file pertaining to the software program;

receiving at least one distribution parameter to be used for the software program; and

storing the at least one electronic file pertaining to the software program to the online repository for distribution.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

determining a rating for the software program based on the user characterization.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

facilitating distribution of the software program from the online repository in accordance with the product information, the at least one distribution parameter, or the rating.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein availability of the software program in different geographical locations is dependent on the rating.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein availability rules for the software program are provided for at least a plurality of the different geographical locations, and

wherein, for a given geographical location, distribution of the software program is dependent on the rating and the corresponding availability rule for the given geographical location.

20. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

preventing distribution of the software program if the rating is greater than a maximum rating for distribution.

21. A method for submitting a software product to an online repository for distribution, said method comprising:

receiving product information pertaining to a software product to be submitted to the online repository;

receiving characterizations of content descriptors with respect to the software product;

uploading at least one electronic file pertaining to the software product;

receiving at least one distribution parameter to be used for the software product; and

submitting the software product to the online repository for distribution.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said submitting comprises submitting the product information, the characterizations, the at least one distribution parameter and the at least one electronic file to the online repository.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving storefront availability data to be associated with the digital product.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the product information includes at least two of:

a product name, a supported device type indication, a version number, and a product identifier.

25. A system for facilitating submission and management of digital products to be distributed online, said system comprising:

a product management and distribution system configured to permit digital product providers to submit digital products and manage distribution of their digital products, said product management and distribution system including at least;

a product submission module configured to receive submission of new digital products for distribution, each of the new digital products being submitted providing at least product information and product content characterization information,

wherein the product content characterization information includes at least characterizations of a plurality of content descriptors with respect to the corresponding digital product.

26. A system as recited as recited in claim 25,

wherein the product information includes at least a product name and a supported device type indication, and

wherein each of the new digital products being submitted further includes product distribution information having at least one pricing parameter for use in online distribution of the corresponding digital product.

27. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the digital product is a computer program product.

28. A system as recited in claim 25,

wherein the product information further includes at least a genre indication, version number, product identifier, support information, and license agreement information, and

wherein the product distribution information further includes storefront availability data to be associated with the digital product, the storefront availability data being used to control from which of a plurality of different online storefronts the corresponding digital product is authorized to be distributed online.

29. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for determining a rating for a software program, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for displaying a plurality of content descriptors;

computer program code for receiving a user characterization for each of the content descriptors with respect to the software program; and

computer program code for determining a rating for the software program based on the user characterizations.