IP Library Granted Patent US 11,120,475
Granted Patent B2
US 11,120,475 · App. 16/735,991 · Granted Sep 14, 2021

Systems and methods for ad-supported mobile data plans or in-app purchases

Inventors: Jeffrey B. Katz (Brookeville, MD); Chad Gallagher (Baltimore, MD); Lucas J. Matyja (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Verizon Media, Inc.
G06Q30/0267G06Q30/0272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,120,475
App. No.
16/735,991
Granted
Sep 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing an ad-supported mobile data plan, where ad display may be tied to data usage levels and user input. A method includes receiving, using at least one processor, user interaction with advertisement content displayed on a device; retrieving, using the at least one processor, a data usage limit associated with the device; and causing a change in the data usage limit based on the user interaction with the advertisement content displayed on the device.

Claims (51)

1. A method for processing electronic transactions between a user's device and a content provider, the method comprising:

generating a display of electronic content on a lock screen of the user's device, wherein the electronic content occupies a user-specific proportion of the lock screen, the user-specific proportion of the lock screen occupied by the electronic content being determined according to user behavior including how frequently the lock screen is displayed or how frequently the user interacts with the displayed content of the lock screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a plurality of display options for the electronic content;

retrieving a data consumption level associated with the user's device;

selecting one or more of the plurality of display options based on the data consumption level associated with the user's device; and

increasing a data consumption limit associated with the user's device based on user interaction with the electronic content displayed on the user's device, such that a greater amount of user interaction with the electronic content causes a greater increase in the data consumption limit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of display options vary according to user preferences, context information, and/or user interaction information.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

categorizing the plurality of display options; and

creating associations between categories of the plurality of display options and data consumption levels.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

creating a hierarchy of the plurality of display options from most prominent display formats to least prominent display formats;

defining the data consumption levels as low data consumption or high data consumption;

associating the most prominent display options with low data consumption; and

associating the least prominent display options with high data consumption.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

creating the plurality of display options for the electronic content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a user of the user's device, a selection of custom notifications, wherein the custom notifications include one or more of health statistics provided by wearable technology, a personalized news feed, weather forecasts, and notifications from user-selected sources.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-specific proportion of the lock screen occupied by the electronic content is further determined according to user selected options.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prompting a user to accept promotions in exchange for allowing display of electronic content on the lock screen.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's device includes a mobile phone or a tablet.

11. A system for processing electronic transactions between a between a user's device and a content provider, the system comprising:

a data storage device storing instructions for processing electronic transactions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising:

generating a display of electronic content on a lock screen of the user's device, wherein the electronic content occupies a user-specific proportion of the lock screen, the user-specific proportion of the lock screen occupied by the electronic content being determined according to user behavior including how frequently the lock screen is displayed or how frequently the user interacts with the displayed content of the lock screen.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining a plurality of display options for the electronic content;

retrieving a data consumption level associated with the user's device;

selecting one or more of the plurality of display options based on the data consumption level associated with the user's device; and

increasing a data consumption limit associated with the user's device based on user interaction with the electronic content displayed on the user's device, such that a greater amount of user interaction with the electronic content causes a greater increase in the data consumption limit.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of display options vary according to user preferences, context information, and/or user interaction information.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system is further configured for:

categorizing the plurality of display options; and

creating associations between categories of the plurality of display options and data consumption levels.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system is further configured for:

creating a hierarchy of the plurality of display options from most prominent display formats to least prominent display formats;

defining the data consumption levels as low data consumption or high data consumption;

associating the most prominent display options with low data consumption; and

associating the least prominent display options with high data consumption.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is further configured for:

receiving, from a user of the user's device, a selection of custom notifications, wherein the custom notifications include one or more of health statistics provided by wearable technology, a personalized news feed, weather forecasts, and notifications from user-selected sources.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user-specific proportion of the lock screen occupied by the electronic content is further determined according to user selected options.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the system is further configured for:

associating lock screen displays with a particular goods or services provider; and

displaying electronic content for the particular goods or services provider on the lock screen of the user's device.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the system is further configured for:

prompting a user to accept promotions in exchange for allowing display of electronic content on the lock screen.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user's device includes a mobile phone or a tablet.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 22, 2022
From: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
To: YAHOO AD TECH LLC
Reel/Frame 059472/0163 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: OATH INC.
To: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
Reel/Frame 054258/0635 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: KATZ, JEFFREY B.; GALLAGHER, CHAD; MATYJA, LUCAS J.
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 051518/0547 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: AOL INC.
To: OATH INC.
Reel/Frame 051597/0061 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14554642 · Nov 26, 2014
Provisional Application 62046007 · Sep 4, 2014
Provisional Application 61955038 · Mar 18, 2014
Provisional Application 61932296 · Jan 28, 2014
Related Publication 20200143426A1 · May 7, 2020
Cited By (3)
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