Computer based method and system for logging in a user mobile device at a server computer system

• US 9,973,875 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Evan, Hamre, Lasse, Moss, Michael, MacTiernan, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Dae
• Application Number:
  US13/746,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The invention provides a computer-based method for logging a user mobile device onto a server computer system including registering a unique identifier of a user mobile device, receiving a first message from the user mobile device, detecting an Internet Protocol address associated with the user mobile device, receiving the unique identifier corresponding to the Internet Protocol address; and transmitting to the user mobile device a second message.

Claims

1. A server computer system comprising:

a memory and processor coupled to the memory;

a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the computer program including;

a first module configured to, deliver different homepages to a user associated with a user mobile device in response to receiving a request for a homepage from the user associated with the user mobile device, wherein the request for the homepage does not differentiate between user-specific and general homepages, and wherein delivering different homepages includes;

providing, to registered users associated with the user mobile device, a user-specific homepage customized for individual registered users, the user-specific homepage including first functionality of a website not available via a general homepage on an unrestricted basis, wherein the first functionality includes customization of a media station;

providing, to an unregistered user of the user mobile device, via the general homepage, access to the first functionality via the general homepage, the access to the first functionality being limited based on a user reaching a user interaction threshold;

a transmission module configured to transmit a token to the user mobile device, the token configured to;

track historical unregistered interaction data at the user mobile device, wherein the historical unregistered interaction data represents interactions with the first functionality occurring at the user mobile device prior to the user of the user mobile device being registered;

store customization data related to the first functionality;

a second module configured to report the historical unregistered interaction data to at least one web service associated with providing the first functionality, the historical unregistered interaction data preserved until one or more additional user interaction thresholds are reached;

the second module further configured to respond to registration of the user of the user mobile device with the server computer system by;

reporting the historical unregistered interaction data with the first functionality as registered interaction data to the at least one web service;

receiving the customization data stored by the token; and

incorporating the customization data into the user-specific homepage.

2. The server computer system of claim 1, the second module further configured to:

provide feedback from a user supported by the user mobile device with regard to the first functionality as the historical unregistered interaction data to the at least one web service; and

respond to registration of the user of the user mobile device by providing preferences specified by the user with regard to the first functionality as registered interaction data to the at least one web service.

3. The server computer system of claim 1, the access is disallowed in response to a determination that the user interaction threshold is reached, the user interaction threshold corresponds to a maximum of one or more allowed interactions by the user mobile device with a plurality of media files.

4. The server computer system of claim 1, the token is further configured to determine whether the user interaction threshold is reached based on the historical unregistered interaction data generated by the token.

5. The server computer system of claim 1, the transmission module further configured to transmit a roadblock message disallowing the access provided to the user mobile device in response to a determination that the user interaction threshold is reached.

6. The server computer system of claim 1, the second module further configured to respond to registration of the user of the user mobile device of the server computer system by storing the user-specific homepage as registered user data.

7. The server computer system of claim 1, wherein the second module is further configured to:

clear at least a portion of the historical unregistered interaction data from storage on the user mobile device in response to the historical unregistered interaction data being reported to the at least one web service as registered interaction data.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer carries out a method comprising:

delivering a general homepage to a device associated with a user in response to a homepage request specifying a first network address;

storing, in a token transmitted to the device associated with the user, historical unregistered interaction data associated with interactions by an unregistered user with content provided in association with a web service through a general homepage providing limited access to functionality otherwise fully available through a user-specific homepage, the interactions limited based on receiving an indication that the unregistered user reaches a user interaction threshold and the historical unregistered interaction data preserved in the token, at least until one or more additional user interaction thresholds are reached, and wherein the functionality includes selection of the content for inclusion in a customized media station;

storing, in the token transmitted to the device, user customization data related to customization of the customized media station;

providing a first portion of the historical unregistered interaction data to the web service in association with a web service call;

in response to registration of the user with the web service;

receiving the customization data and the historical unregistered interaction data stored in the token;

uploading a second portion of the historical unregistered interaction data to a server computer system as registered user data associated with the user;

incorporating the customization data and the historical unregistered interaction data into a user-specific homepage; and

delivering the user-specific homepage to the device associated with the user in response to a subsequent homepage request specifying the first network address.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

in response to determining that cumulative interactions by the unregistered user with the content meets a predetermined one of the one or more additional user interaction thresholds, disallowing access by the unregistered user to the content.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

in response to determining that cumulative interactions by the unregistered user with the content meets the predetermined one of the one or more additional user interaction thresholds, displaying a roadblock message to the unregistered user that allows the unregistered user to overcome the disallowing via user registration on the server computer system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

in response to registration of the unregistered user with the web service subsequent to the disallowing, providing restored access by the user to the content.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

storing at least the second portion of the historical unregistered interaction data in a local cache of a user device supporting the unregistered user; and

in response to registration of the user with the web service subsequent to the disallowing, uploading the second portion of the historical unregistered interaction data from the local cache to a file database supported by the server computer system as registered user data and deleting the local cache.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein:

the interactions by an unregistered user include access to a plurality of content items;

the first portion of the historical unregistered interaction data includes user-specified feedback associated with at least one of the plurality of content items;

the second portion of the historical unregistered interaction data includes user-specified parameters associated with a user-customized plurality of content items; and

the restored access includes restored access to the functionality based on the user-specified parameters.

14. A computer-based method comprising:

transmitting to a user computer system associated with a user, in response to a webpage request specifying a first network address, an unregistered user page associated with an unregistered user area of a web site supported by a server computer system;

transmitting a token to the user computer system, the token configured to store;

user interaction data with regard to first functionality that would otherwise be fully available through a user-specific page associated with a registered user area of the web site, and to store customization data related to the first functionality, and wherein the first functionality includes customization of a media station;

receiving interaction data associated with interactions by the user with regards to the first functionality until at least one user interaction threshold is met, wherein the interaction data includes a historical record of a plurality of interactions with the first functionality through the unregistered user area of the web site;

in response to a registration of the user as a registered user on the server computer system;

receiving the customization data related to the first functionality and the user interaction data stored in the token;

saving the interaction data as registered user data associated with the registered user;

incorporating the interaction data and the customization data related to the first functionality into the user-specific page; and

delivering the user-specific page to the user computer system in response to a subsequent webpage request specifying the first network address.

15. The computer-based method of claim 14, providing access based on user interactions with regards to the first functionality includes responding to a determination that cumulative interactions of the user meet a threshold of cumulative user interactions by disallowing the user computer system from further access with regards to the first functionality.

16. The computer-based method of claim 15, comprising responding to registration of the user subsequent to the disallowing by uploading interaction data from a local cache on the user computer system to a file database supported by the server computer system as registered user data.

17. The computer-based method of claim 15, comprising responding to registration of the user subsequent to the disallowing by providing restored access by the user computer system with regards to the first functionality of a web site.

18. The computer-based method of claim 17, wherein:

the first functionality includes access to a plurality of content items;

the interaction data includes user-specified parameters associated with a user-customized plurality of content items; and

the restored access includes restored access to the first functionality based on the user-specified parameters.

19. The computer-based method of claim 18, providing restored access by the user computer system with regards to the first functionality of a web site based on the registered user data includes providing the user-customized plurality of content items based on the interaction data stored as registered user data.

20. The computer-based method of claim 15, providing access based on user interactions with regards to the first functionality further includes responding to a determination that the cumulative interactions of the user meet the threshold of cumulative user interactions by providing a roadblock message to the user computer system that allows the user to overcome the disallowing via user registration on the server computer system.