Software program ratings

• US 10,339,574 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Muller, Max, Cortes, Ricardo D., Bhatnagar, Aloke
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khakhar, Nirav K
• Application Number:
  US15/132,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20160307244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie

Abstract

Systems and methods here include computer-implemented methods for determining ratings for software including displaying multiple content descriptors and options for user selection of both the frequency and intensity of the content in the software program by non-numerical selections. Some embodiments include receiving selections of user characterizations of frequency and intensity for each of the multiple content descriptors, and mapping the user characterization selections of each of the multiple content descriptors to find a rating level for each of the multiple content descriptors. Some embodiments include determining a highest rating level for the software program by comparing all of the rating levels of all of the multiple content descriptors, and distributing the software program to certain geographies based on the determined highest rating level for the software program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a rating for a digital product, the method comprising:

receiving submission of digital products, through an online access point, over a data network;

causing storage of the received digital products;

displaying, on a display associated with a computing device, a user interface that comprises;

multiple content descriptors for a first digital product of the received digital products; and

options coinciding with the multiple content descriptors for user selection that describe a frequency and an intensity of the content in the first digital product by non-numerical selections;

receiving selections of user characterizations of the frequency and the intensity for each of the multiple content descriptors;

calculating a rating level for each of the multiple content descriptors using the user characterizations;

determining a highest rating level for the first digital product by comparing all of the rating levels of all of the multiple content descriptors;

disallowing distribution of the first digital product over the data network to a first geographic region of a plurality of geographic regions based on the determined highest rating level for the first digital product; and

authorizing distribution of the first digital product over the data network to a second geographic region of the plurality of geographic regions based on the determined highest rating level for the first digital product.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first digital product is assigned different rating levels in different geographic regions based on a geographic rule pertaining to specific geographic regions, the geographic rule assigning a higher rating than the determined highest rating level for the first digital product in a third geographic region of the plurality of geographic regions relative to the determined highest rating level assigned for the first digital product in at least one other geographic region.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays a table, each row of the table labeled with one of the multiple content descriptors, and each column of the table labeled with one of the options that describe the frequency and the intensity of the coinciding content.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is selected from a group comprising:

cartoon violence, fantasy violence, and realistic violence.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is sexual conduct or nudity.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is profanity or crude humor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is alcohol, tobacco or drug use references.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is mature or suggestive themes.

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

receiving at least one distribution parameter for use in controlling a manner in which the first digital product is distributed, wherein the at least one distribution parameter includes information selected from a group comprising;

pricing information, digital storefront availability information, geographic availability information, preview eligibility, and license category information; and

distributing the first digital product according to the received at least one distribution parameter.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is horror or fear themes.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is prolonged graphic or sadistic realistic violence.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is graphical sexual content and nudity.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the rating level is an age group rating.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code, that when executed by one or more processors, performs for a method of determining a rating for a digital product, the method comprising:

receiving submission of digital products, through an online access point, over a data network;

causing storage of the received digital products;

displaying, on a display associated with a computing device, a user interface that comprises;

multiple content descriptors for a first digital product of the received digital products; and

options coinciding with the multiple content descriptors for user selection that describe a frequency and an intensity of content in the first digital product by non-numerical selections;

receiving selections of user characterizations of the frequency and the intensity for each of the multiple content descriptors;

calculating a rating level for each of the multiple content descriptors using the user characterizations;

determining a highest rating level for the first digital product by comparing all of the rating levels of all of the multiple content descriptors; and

disallowing distribution of the first digital product over the data network to a first geographic region of a plurality of geographic regions based on the determined highest rating level for the first digital product; and

authorizing distribution of the first digital product over the data network to a second geographic region of the plurality of geographic regions based on the determined highest rating level for the first digital product.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first digital product is assigned different rating levels in different geographic regions based on a geographic rule pertaining to specific geographic regions, the geographic rule assigning a higher rating than the determined highest rating level for the first digital product in a third geographic area of the plurality of geographic regions relative to the determined highest rating level assigned for the first digital product in at least one other geographic region.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user interface displays a table, each row of the table labeled with one of the multiple content descriptors, and each column of the table labeled with one of the options that describe the frequency and the intensity of the coinciding content.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is selected from a group comprising:

cartoon violence, fantasy violence, and realistic violence.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is sexual conduct or nudity.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is profanity or crude humor.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is alcohol, tobacco or drug use references.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is mature or suggestive themes.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one distribution parameter for use in controlling a manner in which the first digital product is distributed, wherein the at least one distribution parameter includes information selected from a group comprising;

pricing information, digital storefront availability information, geographic availability information, preview eligibility, and license category information; and

distributing the first digital product according to the received at least one distribution parameter.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is horror or fear themes.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is prolonged graphic or sadistic realistic violence.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple content descriptors is graphical sexual content and nudity.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the rating level is an age group rating.