User interface for collecting criteria and estimating delivery parameters

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method of identifying data delivery parameters relating to delivery of data accessible from a network location via a communications service provider. Embodiments of the invention are particularly well suited to identifying delivery parameters when the delivery of data is metered, such as when data are delivered to terminals connected to mobile networks.

1 . A method for collecting data indicative of data access characteristics for use in determining delivery criteria in relation to said data access, the method comprising:
 presenting information representing a user interface to a content provider, the user interface including a display area arranged to display a plurality of editable regions and a plurality of user-selectable options, at least one said editable region being for use in receiving data indicative of a network location from which said data can be accessed, wherein the user-selectable options include at least one communications service provider for enabling said data access, one or more categories in which the data can be located via searching, and an amount of resources to be allocated by the content provider to at least subsidize delivery of the data;   storing information representing the data to be delivered, one or more categories associated with the data, and the amount of resources allocated for delivery of the data in a database, wherein the database includes stored therein information associated with a plurality of data items of a plurality of content providers for distribution;   in response to a search request received from a client device of a user for searching content based on a keyword, identifying a list of content items from the database based on the keyword; and   transmitting the list of content items to the client device to be presented to the user, the list of content item including a first content item that is free to access and a second content item that requires an additional resource from the user to access, wherein the additional resource is determined based on a respective amount of resource allocated by a respective content provider to subsidize delivery of the second content item.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of identifiers relating to data accessible from said network location. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said identifiers include any one or some of keywords, data type and temporal criteria accessibility relating thereto. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of an amount of resource to be allocated for said data access. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of a bid amount, said bid amount being for use in ranking of said network location relative to other network locations. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of radio access technology requirements associated with said provision of data access by each communications service provider. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each communications service provider is associated with its own rate for delivering data. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 presenting information representing a user interface to a content provider, the user interface including a display area arranged to display a plurality of editable regions and a plurality of user-selectable options, at least one said editable region being for use in receiving data indicative of a network location from which said data can be accessed, wherein the user-selectable options include at least one communications service provider for enabling said data access, one or more categories in which the data can be located via searching, and an amount of resources to be allocated by the content provider to at least subsidize delivery of the data;   storing information representing the data to be delivered, one or more categories associated with the data, and the amount of resources allocated for delivery of the data in a database, wherein the database includes stored therein information associated with a plurality of data items of a plurality of content providers for distribution;   in response to a search request received from a client device of a user for searching content based on a keyword, identifying a list of content items from the database based on the keyword; and   transmitting the list of content items to the client device to be presented to the user, the list of content item including a first content item that is free to access and a second content item that requires an additional resource from the user to access, wherein the additional resource is determined based on a respective amount of resource allocated by a respective content provider to subsidize delivery of the second content item.   
     
     
         9 . A medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of identifiers relating to data accessible from said network location. 
     
     
         10 . A medium according to  claim 9 , wherein said identifiers include any one or some of keywords, data type and temporal criteria accessibility relating thereto. 
     
     
         11 . A medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of an amount of resource to be allocated for said data access. 
     
     
         12 . A medium according to  claim 11 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of a bid amount, said bid amount being for use in ranking of said network location relative to other network locations. 
     
     
         13 . A medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of radio access technology requirements associated with said provision of data access by each communications service provider. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein each communications service provider is associated with its own rate for delivering data. 
     
     
         15 . A data processing system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, which when executed from the memory, cause the processor to
 present information representing a user interface to a content provider, the user interface including a display area arranged to display a plurality of editable regions and a plurality of user-selectable options, at least one said editable region being for use in receiving data indicative of a network location from which said data can be accessed, wherein the user-selectable options include at least one communications service provider for enabling said data access, one or more categories in which the data can be located via searching, and an amount of resources to be allocated by the content provider to at least subsidize delivery of the data, 
 store information representing the data to be delivered, one or more categories associated with the data, and the amount of resources allocated for delivery of the data in a database, wherein the database includes stored therein information associated with a plurality of data items of a plurality of content providers for distribution, 
 in response to a search request received from a client device of a user for searching content based on a keyword, identify a list of content items from the database based on the keyword, and 
 transmit the list of content items to the client device to be presented to the user, the list of content item including a first content item that is free to access and a second content item that requires an additional resource from the user to access, wherein the additional resource is determined based on a respective amount of resource allocated by a respective content provider to subsidize delivery of the second content item. 
   
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of identifiers relating to data accessible from said network location. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein said identifiers include any one or some of keywords, data type and temporal criteria accessibility relating thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of an amount of resource to be allocated for said data access. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of a bid amount, said bid amount being for use in ranking of said network location relative to other network locations. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the editable regions include a region for receiving data indicative of radio access technology requirements associated with said provision of data access by each communications service provider. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein each communications service provider is associated with its own rate for delivering data.