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United States Patent Application 20070033102 Kind Code A1 Frank; Alexander ; et al. February 8, 2007
Securely providing advertising subsidized computer usage
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assuring delivery of paid advertising to a user may involve asking a question about an advertisement or requiring data about the advertisement to be entered. In one embodiment, a human presence indicator, such as stylized letters, may be displayed during or after the presentation of an advertisement to be copied by a user to indicate presence during the advertisement. When the challenge relating to ad viewing is correctly answered, a value associated with viewing the ad may be credited to a user account, either locally or at a clearinghouse or other repository.
Inventors: Frank; Alexander; (Bellevue, WA) ; Ahdout; Isaac P.; (Bellevue, WA) ; Duffus; James S.; (Seattle, WA) ; Phillips; Thomas G.; (Bellevue, WA) Correspondence Address: MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP (MICROSOFT) 233 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE 6300 SEARS TOWER CHICAGO IL 60606 US Assignee: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Redmond
WA
Family ID: 46325176 Appl. No.: 11/321668 Filed: December 29, 2005
Related U.S. Patent Documents
Application Number Filing Date Patent Number 11092041 Mar 29, 2005 11321668 Dec 29, 2005
Current U.S. Class: 705/14.44 ; 705/14.47; 705/14.49 Current CPC Class: G06F 2221/2101 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 30/0251 20130101; G06Q 30/0248 20130101; G06Q 30/0245 20130101 Class at Publication: 705/014 International Class: G06Q 30/00 20060101 G06Q030/00
Claims
Description
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On December 29th 2005, Microsoft applied for a patent that allows the operating system to require users to pay attention to ads shown on their computers. According to the patent, a user will be asked to identify her / himself to a webcam or provide some data regarding the advertisement to be entered. The technology that is part of this patent is meant to give Microsoft the right to repossess one's computer if one does not pay attention to advertisements. 

According to the patent, the technology will be used so that the 

The stated aim of the technology is so that telephone companies, internet service providers, or leasing companies, can provide computer systems etc. to users either free or at reduced charge and recoup the cost of the system through sale of advertising.