How Uber Updates App Features for Specific Groups of Users
A system that automatically changes how an app looks or behaves for some users based on their location or device, while leaving other users' apps unchanged.
Original patent title: “Adjusting attributes for an on-demand service system based on real-time information”
A system that automatically changes how an app looks or behaves for some users based on their location or device, while leaving other users' apps unchanged. Granted to Uber Technologies Inc in 2018 with 21 claims and 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way for a central server to push updates to a specific subset of users without updating everyone at once. The system collects real-time data, such as GPS location or device type, from various phones running a specific app. It then automatically triggers a change—like showing a different graphic image on the screen—only for the devices that meet certain criteria. For example, Uber could use this to show a special 'surge pricing' icon only to users in a specific neighborhood while keeping the standard interface for everyone else.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover updates that are pushed to all users simultaneously.
- Does not cover manual updates where the user must download a new version of the app from an app store.
- Does not cover systems that lack a mechanism to differentiate between two sets of users based on device data.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system treats the app's interface as a dynamic variable controlled by a remote configuration database rather than a static piece of code, allowing for surgical, real-time UI changes based on user context.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Uber's phased rollout of new ride-type icons.
Targeted promotional banners in ride-sharing apps.
Dynamic UI changes based on a user's city or region.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is the backbone of modern A/B testing and phased feature rollouts. It allows companies to test new interface designs or pricing models on small groups of people in real-time to see how they react before committing to a global change. It is essential for managing the complexity of large-scale, location-based services like ride-sharing or food delivery.
Filed
March 27, 2015
Granted
February 6, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Uber Technologies continues to utilize this logic for its platform updates. Major tech companies like DoorDash, Lyft, and various food delivery platforms use similar server-side configuration systems to manage feature flags and regional UI variations.
Market impact
This patent helps solidify the practice of 'server-side configuration,' which has become standard in the app industry. It shifted the power of app updates away from rigid, version-controlled releases toward fluid, on-demand experiences, enabling companies to iterate faster and reduce the risk of deploying broken features to their entire user base.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way for a central server to push updates to a specific subset of users without updating everyone at once. The system collects real-time data, such as GPS location or device type, from various phones running a specific app. It then automatically triggers a change—like showing a different graphic image on the screen—only for the devices that meet certain criteria. For example, Uber could use this to show a special 'surge pricing' icon only to users in a specific neighborhood while keeping the standard interface for everyone else.
The clever bit
The system treats the app's interface as a dynamic variable controlled by a remote configuration database rather than a static piece of code, allowing for surgical, real-time UI changes based on user context.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover updates that are pushed to all users simultaneously.
- Does not cover manual updates where the user must download a new version of the app from an app store.
- Does not cover systems that lack a mechanism to differentiate between two sets of users based on device data.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$46K – $146K
Midpoint $91K · 8.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Barreto, A. (2018). How Uber Updates App Features for Specific Groups of Users (U.S. Patent No. 9,888,087). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9888087/uber-pool
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Uber Updates App Features for Specific Groups of Users cover?
A system that automatically changes how an app looks or behaves for some users based on their location or device, while leaving other users' apps unchanged.
Who owns patent US 9888087?
Uber Technologies Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 6, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9888087 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is the backbone of modern A/B testing and phased feature rollouts. It allows companies to test new interface designs or pricing models on small groups of people in real-time to see how they react before committing to a global change. It is essential for managing the complexity of large-scale, location-based services like ride-sharing or food delivery.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover updates that are pushed to all users simultaneously.
Same assignee
More from Uber Technologies Inc
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