Platform for enabling sponsored functions of a computing device
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.
Claims22
A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, upon execution on a system configured to use a sponsorship associated with a computing device, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
- storing first information indicative of the sponsorship, the first information comprising:
- a rule for applying the sponsorship, and
- an identifier of a sponsor to charge for the sponsorship;
- storing second information indicative of a selection of the sponsorship, the second information comprising:
- an identifier of a subscriber associated with the computing device, the subscriber having a subscription to a service provided by a service provider, the service facilitating a use of the computing device, and
- a connection between the selection of the sponsorship and the subscription;
- and
- applying, based at least in part on the first information and the second information, the sponsorship to the use of the computing device.
A method for supporting a sponsorship available to a computing device, the method comprising:
- generating an account associated with a first user, the account supporting an application of the sponsorship to a use of the computing device, the sponsorship being defined by the first user, the computing device being associated with a second user, the use of the computing device being associated with a service provided over a network of a service provider, the application of the sponsorship to the use of the computing device being based at least in part on a rule associated with the sponsorship;
- generating a subscription associated with the second user, the subscription comprising:
- a selection of the service provided over the network of the service provider, and units of value for paying for using the network of the service provider;
- storing information indicative of a selection of the sponsorship by the second user;
- and
- applying, based at least in part on the information indicative of the selection, the sponsorship to the use of the computing device, the applying comprising:
- determining, based at least in part on the rule associated with the sponsorship, whether a cost associated with the use of the computing device is to be charged to the account associated with the first user or to units of value from the subscription, and
- charging the cost to the account associated with the first user or to units of value from the subscription based at least in part on the determination.
A system configured to facilitate a use of 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 a first interface to a sponsor, the first interface being configured to receive information from the sponsor describing one or more rules associated with a sponsorship associated with the computing device, the information being indicative of charging the sponsor for a cost associated with the use of the computing device;
- provide a second interface to a subscriber, the second interface being configured to receive information from the subscriber describing a selection of the sponsorship, the subscriber being associated with the computing device and with a subscription to one or more services of a service provider, the one or more services including facilitating the use of the computing device;
- and
- when the computing device is used, enforce the one or more rules of the sponsorship based at least in part on the one or more rules associated with the sponsorship and the selection, the enforcement comprising determining whether the cost associated with the use of the computing device is to be charged to the sponsorship or to the subscription and charging the cost to the sponsorship or to the subscription based at least in part on the determination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.