System, method and apparatus for providing an application carousel

• US 8,739,070 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Appcarouseldirect Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wmode Inc. (AppDirect, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mullen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): IPAKCHI, MARYAM M
• Application Number:
  US13/666,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method for providing an application carousel includes providing a self-service website for a third party partner supplier to create, select or group apps in a unique app carousel created by the supplier in the website. Blogs, reviews or comments may be provided in association with a GUI of the app carousel to promote the app carousel. The supplier populates the app carousel with app icons which may be rotated about a looped carousel display track. The app carousel is then exposed for location by consumers via their electronic devices and associated browsers.

Claims

1. A method for providing an application carousel comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a third party partner supplier with a means to create, select or group apps from said supplier in a unique app carousel created by said supplier in a self-serve website, wherein said apps are selected or grouped according to a theme or subject matter that said apps have in common, and wherein said supplier is provided with a means to provide a title for said app carousel and is provided with a means to provide at least review or comments at least in association with a GUI of said app carousel to promote said app carousel;

(b) providing said supplier access to said unique app carousel, and allowing said supplier to populate said unique app carousel with app icons on a carousel display track, wherein said app icons correspond to said apps, and wherein said track appears graphically on said GUI as an inclined looped rotational track having at least front, rear and front center positions, wherein said track appears inclined away from a user screen viewed by a user so that said app icons at said front of said track, are larger than said icons which have rotated to said rear of said track, wherein said front center position corresponds to a largest said icon, and wherein said icons are linked for display to corresponding content pages, from which an app is selectable for download;

(c) exposing said app carousel, once said populated with said created or selected apps for location by consumers via electronic devices including those of the group comprising;

handsets, smart phones, tablet computers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, display appliances, and associated browsers cooperating therewith;

wherein said supplier includes a content manager and wherein said content manager is provided a space for one or more of the group comprising;

summary, description, said comment, said review, blog, and at least further including in said space a third party blog from other than said supplier on some or all of;

said app icons viewable on said app carousel, product pages associated with said app icons, said app carousel GUI, a product page associated with said app carousel, whereby the consumer makes a choice assisted by a content of said space including said third party blog.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said content manager is a blogger.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said consumer choice is between different said app carousels.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said consumer choice is between different said apps on said app carousel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein access to a website for said creation of said app is provided to said supplier.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said website provides for creation of both said app and an app-functioning website which provides functions of said app.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said supplier is provided access to a definition database associated with said app carousel having said title.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said definition database includes at least said title and app carousel content and said supplier is provided access to said content.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said definition database further includes an app carousel layout template.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said definition database further includes an app carousel theme and supplier branding.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said definition database further includes an app carousel type.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said app carousel type includes at least a free App Carousel and a premium App Carousel.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein said App Carousel is provided at no charge to:

said consumers, said supplier, said blogger, and is at least partially funded by advertising in association with said app carousel.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a content server and providing said App Carousel content to said devices.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a platform associated with said device of the consumer is determined and wherein said App Carousel icons direct the consumer to an app store upon selection of one of said icons by the consumer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said app store is an app store corresponding to said platform of said device.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein said app carousel is updated by updating said app carousel content with new said apps after said app carousel has been delivered to one of said electronic devices.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said supplier uses said self-serve website to said update said apps in said content.