Server controlled branding of client software deployed over computer networks

• US 7,188,342 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: DeMello, Marco A., Narin, Attila, Madonna, Christopher Robert Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Steelman; Mary J.
• Application Number:
  US09/839,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20020157091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 717/178, 717/173, 710/303, 345/744, 345/746, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

This invention describes a system and method for branding software deployed over computer networks. A user contacts the distributor'"'"'s web site and initiates a download of the software. When the user visits the download website, the identity of the particular web site from which the download was initiated is transmitted to a branding server and captured on the user'"'"'s computer, preferably in the form of a cookie. Subsequently, the user contacts the branding server and branding instructions are provided to the user'"'"'s computer in accordance with the cookie. Branding may take the form of featuring the distributor'"'"'s web site more prominently in an “integrated shopping service” or in a directory, or it may perform other alterations to the software. Branding is controlled by the software manufacturer'"'"'s branding server, and can be modified at any time after the software is released.

Claims

1. A method of branding;

a computer program comprising the acts of;

receiving a triggering event registering a computer program that renders encoded digital content, wherein registering the program indicates that a first copy of the computer program has been downloaded to a first computing device from an originating distributor, wherein the originating distributor is that distributor of the renderable digital content from which the first copy was downloaded and that said first copy is to be branded with information associated with the originating distributor, the computer program further comprising an embedded limited-function web browser, wherein the embedded limited-function web browser provides a content-shopping feature that displays a directory of distributors comprising the originating distributor and other non-originating distributors and automatically connects to an Internet website of a selected distributor from the directory;

transmitting data identifying the originating distributor;

receiving acknowledgement from said first computing device; and

providing branding instructions to said first computing device in response to receiving the acknowledgement, said branding instructions comprising placing the originating distributor first in the directory, a supplier of said computer program controlling which renderable digital content-providing distributors are displayed in said directory based on agreements between said supplier and said content-providing distributors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing act comprises:

providing instructions to said first computing device which cause said first copy of said computer program to display a logo associated with said originating distributor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing act comprises:

providing instructions to said first computing device which cause said first copy of said computer program to display a link to a web site associated with said originating distributor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said act of providing branding instructions further comprises:

providing instructions to said first computing device which affect the placement of said link among other links.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said directory includes a link to a web site associated with said originating distributor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said act of providing a directory to said first computing device comprises:

providing a first page which includes said link to said web site, wherein said web site is a first web site; and

providing a second page which includes one or more links to one or more second web sites different from said first web site.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first page includes a link to said first web site and does not include any other links to any other web site.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

receiving an indication that a second copy of said computer program has been downloaded to a second computing device and that said second copy is to be branded with a second distributor different from said originating distributor;

transmitting identifying the second distributor to said second computing device;

receiving acknowledgment from said second computing device; and

providing second branding instructions to said first computing device, said second

branding instructions being different from said first branding instructions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting act comprises:

setting a cookie on said first computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said act of receiving said acknowledgment from said first computing device comprises receiving said cookie.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said originating distributor is a retailer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said originating distributor is a wholesaler.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A method of branding;

a computer program that has been provided to a first computing device, comprising the acts of;

receiving information indicative of a distributor of encoded digital content to be rendered by the computer program, wherein the computer program comprises encoded digital content-rendering software and an embedded limited-function web browser and content shopping program that displays a directory of distributors and automatically connects to an Internet website of a selected distributor from the directory;

providing branding data based on said received information to a first computing device for durable storage on said first computing device in response to a triggering event comprising registration of the computer program;

following said act of providing branding data, receiving said stored branding data from said first computing device; and

in response to receiving said stored branding data, providing branding instructions to said first computing device based on said received branding data, said branding instructions comprising placing an originating distributor first in a list of electronic content-providing entities displayed on said first computing device by the computer program, a supplier of said computer program controlling which content providing entities are displayed in said list based on agreements between said supplier and said content-providing entities and wherein the originating distributor comprises an entity of the content-providing entities from which the computer program was received.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving act comprises:

receiving said information indicative of a first entity from a second entity identified in an image hidden within a web page.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second entity causes a cookie to be set on said first computing device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said cookie contains information specific to a branding device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said cookie contains information identifying said branding instructions to be downloaded to said first computing device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said act of providing branding data further comprises sending said cookie from said first computing device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said cookie comprises information indicative of said first entity.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said cookie comprises information associated with a second computing device.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a fee from said first entity as a pro-condition for providing either said branding data or said branding instructions.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said act of providing branding instructions comprises instructing said first computing device as to the manner in which a link to a network address is to be displayed on a list of network addresses.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising limiting the set of said network addresses on said list.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing data on a list of network addresses automatically.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 14.

27. A method for distributing a variation of software through one of a plurality of entities, comprising:

providing a standardized version of software from a first entity and an indication that said standardized version of software is to be branded, wherein the indication comprises a triggering event comprising registration of a content-rendering program, said first entity comprising a distributor of content to be rendered by a content-rendering program, the content-rendering program comprising a. content-shopping feature for purchasing content to be rendered; and

providing a customized version of said software as a function of one of a plurality of entities, said customized version of said software being branded by placing said first entity first in a list of content-providing entities displayed in the content-shopping feature of said content-rendering program, a supplier of said computer program controlling which content-providing entities are displayed in said list based on agreements between said supplier and said content-providing entities.

28. A system for branding a computer program comprising:

a first computing device which comprises;

a memory which stores branding instructions for one of a plurality of entities;

a network interface communicatively coupled to a computer network; and

logic which communicates one of a plurality of sets of branding instructions to a second computing device through said network interface in response to a triggering event comprising registration of a content-rendering program, said one of said plurality of sets of branding instructions comprising instructions to place a first entity first in a list of content-providing entities displayed in a content-shopping feature of a content-rendering program, a supplier of said computer program controlling which content-providing entities are displayed in said list based on agreements between said supplier and said content-providing entities.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said logic causes said instructions to be stored on a second computing device.