Systems and methods for enterprise branded application frameworks for mobile and other environments

• US 8,788,358 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
• Inventors: Knitowski, Alan S., Dang, Luan, Kane, Alan M., Trim, James D., Hall, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Civan, Ethan D
• Application Number:
  US13/033,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An application framework for mobile devices may provide a variety of application modules directed towards enterprise brand extension. The application modules are organized into five main categories: (1) featured, (2) community, (3) play/engage, (4) media, and (5) shop. The “featured” category may allow enterprises to push specific content onto its consumers. The “community” category may allow enterprises to leverage social networks and consumer communities that build and expand around their brands. The “play/engage” category may allow enterprises to offer compelling value and engaging utility to its customers. The “media” category may allow enterprises to entertain, inform, and educate consumers about brands through media content. The “shop” category may allow enterprises to facilitate electronic commerce with its customers. Further application analytics may be utilized by aggregating affiliate, sales, or usage data, etc. to better drive new revenue streams and optimize the return on investment associated with sales, promotion and advertising efforts.

Claims

1. A system for creating a mobile application framework to extend or promote branding of a plurality of customers within a targeted industry segment, comprising:

computer memory comprising a resource that, with the aid of a computer processor, (i) organizes a set of substantially identical branding features provided by a developer into a plurality of pre-defined branding categories, wherein the plurality of pre-defined branding categories are designed for the targeted industry segment to promote or extend the brand of each of the plurality of customers, and (ii) creates a plurality of mobile applications for the customers within the targeted industry segment, wherein each mobile application includes a common user interface with the set of substantially identical branding features and a set of unique customized branding features designed for each particular customer that is distinguishable from other customers within the targeted industry segment;

wherein each of the mobile applications, when presented on a display of a mobile device, includes (i) a navigation menu for accessing the plurality of pre-defined branding categories, and (ii) submenus for providing access to specific functions within the pre-defined branding categories; and

wherein the branding features and pre-defined branding categories are accessible in the mobile applications to extend or promote branding of the customers within the targeted industry segment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the branding features include featured products, tutorials, games, media, or online shopping.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the targeted industry segment of the customer is education, retail, or television and entertainment.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising another resource in the computer memory for analyzing usage data of a user'"'"'s interaction with the mobile application framework.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the usage data includes statistics based on a number of times that specific functions are accessed.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the usage data includes statistics based on an amount of time spent in specific functions.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the usage data includes statistics based on a user'"'"'s navigation patterns.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the usage data includes statistics based on a user'"'"'s network usage.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the usage data includes an aggregation of usage data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation menu simultaneously displays all of the plurality of pre-defined branding categories.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the navigation menu is for accessing the plurality of pre-defined branding categories within a viewing area adjacent to the navigation menu.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said application separates and distinguishes brands within the targeted industry segment in a familiar way.

13. A method for creating a mobile application framework to extend or promote branding of a plurality of customers within a targeted industry segment, the method comprising:

organizing, using a computer processor, a set of substantially identical branding features provided by a developer into a plurality of pre-defined branding categories, wherein the plurality of pre-defined branding categories are designed for the targeted industry segment to promote or extend the brand of each of the plurality of customers; and

creating, in a computer memory and using a computer processor, a plurality of mobile applications for the customers within the targeted industry segment, wherein each mobile application includes a common user interface with the set of substantially identical branding features and a set of unique customized branding features designed for each particular customer that is distinguishable from other customers within the targeted industry segment,

wherein each of the mobile applications, when presented on a display of a mobile device, includes (i) a navigation menu for accessing the plurality of pre-defined branding categories, and (ii) submenus for providing access to specific functions within the pre-defined branding categories,

wherein the branding features and pre-defined branding categories are accessible in the mobile applications to extend or promote branding of the customers within the targeted industry segment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pre-defined branding categories include featured content, community, play/engage content, media, and mobile commerce.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the featured content category allows the customer to push content to at least one user based on a marketing initiative of the customer.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile application connects to a social network via an application programming interface, and wherein the community category provides at least one user with access to social network content relating to the brand of the customer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one user can interact with the mobile application framework through an interface of the social network.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the play/engage category provides at least one user an ability to interact and engage in activities relating to the brand.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the media category provides at least one user an ability to view or download images, video, audio or other content relating to the brand.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile commerce category provides an online store where at least one user may purchase subscriptions, merchandise, or access to digital content relating to the brand.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the brand is selected from the group consisting of:

a sports brand, a university brand, a television show brand, and a celebrity brand.

22. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer processor to perform a method for creating a mobile application framework to extend or promote branding of a plurality of customers within a targeted industry segment, the method comprising:

organizing a set of substantially identical branding features provided by a developer into a plurality of pre-defined branding categories, wherein the plurality of pre-defined branding categories are designed for the targeted industry segment to promote or extend the brand of each of the plurality of customers; and

creating a plurality of mobile applications for the customers within the targeted industry segment, wherein each mobile application includes a common user interface with the set of substantially identical branding features and a set of unique customized branding features designed for each particular customer that is distinguishable from other customers within the targeted industry segment,

wherein each of the mobile applications, when presented on a display of a mobile device, includes (i) a navigation menu for accessing the plurality of pre-defined branding categories, and (ii) submenus for providing access to specific functions within the pre-defined branding categories;

wherein the branding features and pre-defined branding categories are accessible in the mobile applications to extend or promote branding of the customers within the targeted industry segment.