Platform for enabling users to sign up for sponsored functions on computing devices
AssigneeKajeet, Inc.
InventorDaniel John Neal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for sponsoring functions of computing devices associated with users. A sponsor may define a sponsorship that includes rules for sponsoring certain functions available to a user via a computing device. The execution of the functions may be facilitated, in some instances, by a service provider that may also specify rules and policies that control the functions. As such, when the user executes one or more of the sponsored functions by way of the computing device, instead of charging the associated cost to the user, the service provider may charge the cost to the sponsor based on the associated rules and policies.
Claims27
A method for using a sponsorship associated with a computing device of a subscriber, the method comprising:
- sending first information to a system configured to support a use of the computing device, the system being associated with a service provider, the first information causing the system to generate a subscription associated with the subscriber, the subscription comprising:
- (a) a selection of a service provided by the service provider for supporting the use of the computing device, and
- (b) units of value for paying for the service;
- sending, to the system, second information indicative of a selection of the sponsorship by the subscriber, the second information causing the system to associate the sponsorship with the subscription, the sponsorship comprising a rule for applying the sponsorship to the use of the computing device and being associated with an account of a sponsor;
- and
- using the computing device, the using causing the system to:
- (c) determine whether the using is covered by the sponsorship based at least in part on the selection and the rule,
- (d) determine whether to charge a cost to the account of the sponsor or to the units of value of the subscription based at least in part on the rule, the cost being associated with the using, and
- (e) charging the cost to the account of the sponsor or the units of value based at least in part on the determine in (d).
A system configured to facilitate a selection of a sponsorship for sponsoring a computing device, the system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
- provide an interface to a first user, the interface allowing the first user to select the sponsorship for sponsoring the computing device, the first user being associated with the computing device, the sponsorship being offered by a second user, the sponsoring the computing device being supported by way a service provided by a service provider, the first user being subscribed to the service of the service provider, the second user offering the sponsorship by way of the service provider, the sponsorship comprising a rule for applying the sponsorship to the computing device;
- receive the selection of the sponsorship from the first user by way of the interface;
- and
- send information indicative of the selection to a system configured to provide the service, the information causing the system to apply the sponsorship to the computing device by charging a cost associated with the sponsorship to the second user based at least in part on the rule.
A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, upon execution on a system configured to allow a user to accept a sponsorship associated with sponsoring a computing device, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
- receiving information associated with one or more sponsorships that sponsor the computing device by paying by an entity other than the user for a use of the computing device, the paying for the use of the computing device being based at least in part on one or more rules specified by the one or more sponsorships;
- selecting at least a sponsorship from the one or more sponsorships based at least in part on the received information;
- and
- sending information indicative of the selection to a system that facilitates the use of the computing device, the information indicative of the selection causing the system to charge a cost associated with the use of the computing device to an account of the entity based at least in part on the one or more rules specified by the sponsorship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.