System for targeting information to specific users on a computer network
AssigneeWebTV Networks, Inc.
InventorsAlan Cohn, John L. Adelus, Dean Blackketter, Samuel Thomas Scott, III, Stephen G. Perlman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for targeting information on a computer network. The system involves categorizing a plurality of address pointers according to the content designated by the address pointer. The system further involves reading the address pointer which designates the content received by the user and determining which category or categories, if any, the address pointer is within. Information packets, such as advertisements, are targeted to selected categories. Once the category of an address pointer has been determined, an information packet targeted to that category is selected and transmitted to the user.
Claims38
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising steps for:
- the targeting information system targeting one or more information packets to at least a first content category;
- automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers;
- and
- if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are within at least the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a computer program product for implementing a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, comprising:
- a computer readable medium carrying machine-executable instructions for implementing said method at the targeting information system;
- and
- wherein said method is comprised of machine-executable instructions for performing steps for:
- the targeting information system targeting one or more information packets to at least a first content category;
- automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers;
- and
- if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are within at least the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising acts of:
- the targeting information system assigning one or more information packets to at least a first content category of a targeting database;
- automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system receiving one or more particular content addresses from the user terminal, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers;
- and
- if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are within at least the first content category, the targeting information system transmitting the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a computer program product for implementing a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, comprising:
- a computer readable medium carrying machine-executable instructions for implementing said method at the targeting information system;
- and
- wherein said method is comprised of machine-executable instructions for performing acts of:
- the targeting information system assigning one or more information packets to at least a first content category of a targeting database;
- automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system receiving one or more particular content addresses from the user terminal, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers;
- and
- if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are within at least the first content category, the targeting information system transmitting the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.