Patents Assigned to SMS.ac, Inc.
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Patent number: 8718616Abstract: A wireless network carrier can track and monitor third-party network-enabled applications (pods) that are accessed by, and billed to, users of the wireless network carrier through a mobile content platform, and to control access to such third-party network-enabled applications (pods) based on selectable criteria for the performance and user-based feedback related to each content application (pod). The network-enabled applications can also be registered with the mobile content platform through an intermediary, such as an aggregator. The network-enabled application can then be associated with the intermediary so that the intermediary receives a share of the revenue generated by the network-enabled application.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20140099936Abstract: Systems and methods according to certain embodiments of the invention include integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers. The systems and methods include providing a developer library for use by developers in creating their network-enabled applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Patent number: 8682290Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to a method and system for automatically generating an application pod for a third party through which the third party's content is offered for access, purchase and use by mobile phone users within a community network. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein are directed to an application pod that can be automatically generated based on content and information retrieved from one or more web pages of the third party.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Pousti
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Patent number: 8606247Abstract: A platform for supporting network enabled applications enables billing for microtransactions associated with the applications using the users wireless network carriers. The platform also enables access to billing for third party network enabled applications by wrapping the third party network enabled applications in code that allows the third party network enabled applications to be rendered to the user and the billing component.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventors: Michael Pousti, Andrew Ballester
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Patent number: 8559919Abstract: A method of providing a service to a customer comprises receiving a request by a customer for an item of content, providing to the customer an option to subscribe to a service for a limited time, if the customer opts to subscribe, then providing the service for the limited time, and if the customer does not opt to subscribe, then not providing the service for the limited time.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20130217375Abstract: Systems and methods according to certain embodiments of the invention include integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers. The systems and methods include providing a developer library for use by developers in creating their network-enabled applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: SMS.ac, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130198303Abstract: A system for sending invitations potential subscribers of a service provider includes a registration engine configured to complete a registration process with a registering user. Furthermore, the registration engine is further configured during the registration process to receive from the registering user: a) an e-mail address of the registering user; b) access information for that e-mail address; c) permission to access the e-mail address; and d) an instruction to send an invitation to join the service provider to at least some of a plurality of addresses within an address book of the registering user. The system also includes an authorization engine configured to extract the plurality of addresses from the address book; and an invitation engine configured to send a respective invitation to at least one of the extracted plurality of addresses.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: SMS.ac, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130130645Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to a method and system for automatically generating an application pod for a third party through which the third party's content is offered for access, purchase and use by mobile phone users within a community network. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein are directed to an application pod that can be automatically generated based on content and information retrieved from one or more web pages of the third party.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: SMS.ac, Inc.
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Patent number: 8380163Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, in which a message request is received from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user, and wherein the mobile phone user is charged only once for a predefined amount or number of message-related services or products, thereby making the billing experience clearer to the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: SMS .ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20130036224Abstract: Integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, including receiving a request from a third-party provider to integrate a network-enabled application with the platform, receiving a set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, the set of registration data including a link to an application location for accessing the network-enabled application, receiving a set of pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, updating a system database in the platform to include the set of registration data and the pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application, and enabling the network-enabled application to be accessible to the plurality of users via a networked interface operated by the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: SMS.ac, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130023251Abstract: A wireless network carrier can track and monitor third-party network-enabled applications (pods) that are accessed by, and billed to, users of the wireless network carrier through a mobile content platform, and to control access to such third-party network-enabled applications (pods) based on selectable criteria for the performance and user-based feedback related to each content application (pod). The network-enabled applications can also be registered with the mobile content platform through an intermediary, such as an aggregator. The network-enabled application can then be associated with the intermediary so that the intermediary receives a share of the revenue generated by the network-enabled application.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: SMS.AC, INC.
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Publication number: 20130013581Abstract: A search engine that can be configured to combine information related to a web page (channel) or content file view and/or “click throughs” with revenue information in order to determine relevance of the various matched content listed in the search results, is disclosed. By combining revenue information with page view/click through information, potentially more relevant results can be presented to the user for viewing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Pousti, Andrew Ballester
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Publication number: 20130006855Abstract: A method of providing a service to a customer comprises receiving a request by a customer for an item of content, providing to the customer an option to subscribe to a service for a limited time, if the customer opts to subscribe, then providing the service for the limited time, and if the customer does not opt to subscribe, then not providing the service for the limited time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120311059Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a desktop user interface for accessing and using community-based contact management, communication tools, websites and application pods in a convenient and integrated fashion, in an always-on mode. The desktop user interface resides on the user's desktop as an application and provides access to the aforementioned community-based services in a convenient, integrated manner without the need to open a browser in order to access the community-based services.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120238241Abstract: A platform for supporting a network-enabled application is configured to render the network enabled application for a user, via a user interface associated with the user, in accordance with various APIs included in the platform and used by a program developer to develop the network-enabled application. The rendering can included recognizing that the user interface is a mobile user interface and rendering the network-enabled application in a manner appropriate and/or optimal for the mobile user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120238240Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to a method and system for automatically generating an application pod for a third party through which the third party's content is offered for access, purchase and use by mobile phone users within a community network. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein are directed to an application pod that can be automatically generated based on content and information retrieved from one or more web pages of the third party.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120198016Abstract: A system for sending invitations potential subscribers of a service provider includes a registration engine configured to complete a registration process with a registering user. Furthermore, the registration engine is further configured during the registration process to receive from the registering user: a) an e-mail address of the registering user; b) access information for that e-mail address; c) permission to access the e-mail address; and d) an instruction to send an invitation to join the service provider to at least some of a plurality of addresses within an address book of the registering user. The system also includes an authorization engine configured to extract the plurality of addresses from the address book; and an invitation engine configured to send a respective invitation to at least one of the extracted plurality of addresses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120174055Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically uploading information about a program or blog, and allowing third parties to develop the program or blog and allow users in a mobile community to have access to the developed product.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventors: Michael Pousti, Andrew Michael Ballester, Szeying Tan
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Publication number: 20120143737Abstract: Billing a customer through an intermediary billing system for a transaction by receiving, at the intermediary billing system, a transaction request associated with a transaction amount and a customer identification code, validating, in the intermediary billing system, the transaction request by determining whether the customer identification code corresponds to a customer that is registered with the intermediary billing system, and sending, in the case that the transaction request is valid, a billing event trigger associated with the customer identification code to an external billing mechanism, the billing event trigger representing the transaction amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: SMS.AC, INC.Inventor: Michael Pousti
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Publication number: 20120136783Abstract: A method of providing a service to a customer comprises receiving a request by a customer for an item of content, providing to the customer an option to subscribe to a service for a limited time, if the customer opts to subscribe, then providing the service for the limited time, and if the customer does not opt to subscribe, then not providing the service for the limited time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: SMS.ac, Inc.Inventor: Michael Pousti