Configurable download timing and reward system in a data network

• US 8,874,782 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clearwire Ip Holdings LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Clearwire Ip Holdings LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lobsenz, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Julian
• Application Number:
  US13/444,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 709232-235, 709217-219, 709223-226, 705 141- 1439, 370229-234
• US Class Current: 709/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/748 Negotiation of resources, e.g. modification of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12

Abstract

A system and method are provided for determining whether a transaction between a subscriber and a merchant website requires downloading and/or streaming digital objects. In response to a determination that the transaction does require downloading and/or streaming of digital objects, a subscriber is provided with various options for delaying such downloading and/or streaming in return for incentives of varying value.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing a delayed downloading of a digital object, the method comprising a plurality of operations being performed by a processor, the plurality of operations comprising:

determining whether an amount of data transfer involved with a download of the digital object exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

in response to a determination that the amount of data transfer involved with the download of the digital object exceeds the pre-determined threshold, analyzing of one or more network resources associated with a network operator system;

determining whether the download of the digital object should be delayed based on the amount of data transfer and the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system;

in response to a determination that the download of the digital object should be delayed, determining whether the download of the digital object should be automatically delayed based on a delay option and an associated incentive that are acceptable to a user, wherein the delay option and the associated incentive are based at least on the analysis of the network resources; and

if the delay option and the associated incentive are not acceptable to the user, receiving a user input to re-analyze the one or more network resources and provide another delay option and/or incentive based on the re-analysis.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of data transfer comprises:

determining the amount of data transfer involved with the download of the digital object based on the size of the digital object.

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

analyzing one or more resources associated with a merchant website operator system, wherein a determination of whether the download of the digital object should be delayed is based on the determined amount of data transfer, the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system, and the analysis of resources associated with the merchant website operator system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically generating the delay option and the associated incentive based on the determined amount of data transfer and the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the dynamic generation of the delay option and the associated incentive includes adjusting a time delay associated with the delay option and adjusting an amount or value associated with the associated incentive.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the delay option and the associated incentive are configurable by a user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system includes at least one of:

analysis of bandwidth availability for the download of the digital object, analysis of current network traffic, or analysis of anticipated network traffic based on historical information.

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

in response to a determination that the digital object should be automatically delayed, delaying the download of the digital object without presenting the delay option and the associated incentive.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the associated incentive comprises monetary compensation.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the associated incentive a service credit.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the associated incentive a billing credit.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the associated incentive loyalty points associated with a loyalty program.

13. A computer-implemented system for managing a delayed downloading of a digital object comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether an amount of data transfer involved with a download of the digital object exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

in response to a determination that the amount of data transfer involved with the download of the digital object exceeds the pre-determined threshold, analyze of one or more network resources associated with a network operator system;

determine whether the download of the digital object should be delayed based on the amount of data transfer and the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system;

in response to a determination that the download of the digital object should be delayed, determine whether the download of the digital object should be automatically delayed based on a delay option and an associated incentive that are acceptable to a user, wherein the delay option and the associated incentive are based at least on the analysis of the network resources; and

if the delay option and the associated incentive are not acceptable to the user, receive a user input to re-analyze the one or more network resources and provide another delay option and/or incentive based on the re-analysis.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions causing the processor to determine an amount of data transfer further include instructions causing the processor to:

determine the amount of data transfer involved with the download of the digital object based on the size of the digital object.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

analyze one or more resources associated with a merchant website operator system, wherein a determination of whether the download of the digital object should be delayed is based on the determined amount of data transfer, the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system, and the analysis of resources associated with the merchant website operator system.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

dynamically generate the delay option and the associated incentive based on the determined amount of data transfer and the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 16, wherein the dynamic generation of the delay option and the associated incentive includes one or more computer-readable instructions that further cause the processor to adjust a time delay associated with the delay option and adjust an amount or value associated with the associated incentive.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the delay option and the associated incentive are configurable by a user.

19. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the analysis of the network resources associated with the network operator system includes at least one of:

analysis of bandwidth availability for the download of the digital object, analysis of current network traffic, or analysis of anticipated network traffic based on historical information.

20. The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

in response to a determination that the digital object should be automatically delayed, automatically delay the download of the digital object without presenting the delay option and the associated incentive.