Apple patent: Show ads while suspending desktop/OS

[AAA]

http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20090265214&OS=20090265214&RS=20090265214

Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

How many of you asked for ads in the OS?

[tenders]

I'm surprised that's patentable. Lots of things get interrupted/suspended for ads. Adding an OS to the list is obvious. What isn't obvious is that anyone would want to do it. Should I file a patent for building a system that makes you watch an ad when driving a car before the brakes work?

[Mike Sellers]

Maybe they filed for a patent to prevent Microsoft from actually doing it.


EDIT: OR, give Microsoft another idea to steal so they WILL do it.

[Black]

AAA wrote:
http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20090265214&OS=20090265214&RS=20090265214

Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

How many of you asked for ads in the OS?

You were just looking through the patents and found this one?
Wow, a macresource forum exclusive!

[cbelt3]

tenders wrote:
I'm surprised that's patentable.

I'm not. The USPTO never should have allowed 'business process' patents. EVER. Software used to be copyrighted, and everything was fine. Once we started this patent gubbage, only the lawyers and trolls make money.

But I agree- basically this is an 'interrupt' process. Gee.... lots of prior art on that one !

[deckeda]

Looks like somebody's been thinking "DVR" in Cupertino .... but as a Mac app, not standalone box?

[MacArtist]

I could see Microsoft roll out something like this. But Apple?

I accept seeing ads on tv and websites. Not on my computer desktop.

[MikeF]

1300+ views for this thread?

[deckeda]

MacArtist wrote:
I could see Microsoft roll out something like this. But Apple?

I accept seeing ads on tv and websites. Not on my computer desktop.

Ah, but remember, Apple likes to stay in good standing with content providers. And all of those hate that viewers skip through ads on recorded shows. If Apple can show them how easy it is for viewers to watch ads in some creative way that gives viewers some control and content providers some piece of mind it could be a decent balance. It'll be interesting to see how and if this pans out.

MikeF: yes

[jardster]

MikeF wrote:
1300+ views for this thread?

did someone at Apple see this thread, and now it's being viewed by everyone in Cupertino? Probably not, more likely a forum glitch?