Systems and methods for information management over a distributed network

• US 20010037246A1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edmund C. Reiter, Michael A. Tzannes
• Original Assignee: Edmund C. Reiter, Michael A. Tzannes
• Inventors: Reiter, Edmund C, Tzannes, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US09/808,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An information distribution system distributes information over a distributed network in a multi-phase manner. In particular, the information distribution system provides, for example, to an end user, a model for determining a particular output. Then, as a user requests the most current output of the model, a parameter set is forwarded to the user and introduced to the model. This parameter set, with the cooperation of the model, allows for determining, for example, a current merchants pricing information for a plurality of goods and/or services. By using this model based approach, the entire set of information need not be distributed to the user every time an update is made. To the contrary, only a sub-set of information, i.e., the parameters, will be forwarded to the user for updating of information at a user device.

Claims

1. An information distribution system comprising:

a pricing model; and

one or more parameters, wherein the parameters are distributed to the pricing model which determines a price list based at least on the one or more parameters.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the distribution of the parameters consumes less bandwidth than distribution of the price list.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the pricing model is associated with an internet browser.

4. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the one or more parameters can be updated at various times.

5. A method of updating information over a distributed network comprising:

distributing a price model; and

distributing one or more parameters to the price model, wherein the price model determines a price list.

6. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the one or more parameters can be updated at a plurality of different times.

7. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the one or more parameters are updated based on a request from one or more of the price model, a user device and a server.

8. A method of updating information at a user site over a distributed network comprising:

transmitting a model to the user site, the model used to determine information; and

transmitting a set of parameters to the user site, the parameters used to at least one of update the model and determine the information.

9. The method of

claim 8

, wherein the information is at least one of price information and merchant information.

10. A method of maintaining communication with a user comprising:

distributing one or more parameters to a user at a user device, the one or more parameters used to update a model, wherein the parameters themselves request updating of the one or more parameters.

11. The method of

claim 10

, wherein the one or more parameters that are used more frequently are used to indicate that the parameters that are used less frequently need updating.

12. An information storage media comprising information that updates information at a user site over a distributed network comprising:

information that transmits a model to the user site, the model used to determine information; and

information that transmits a set of parameters to the user site, the parameters used to at least one of update the model and determine the information.

13. The information storage media of

claim 12

, wherein the information is at least one of price information and merchant information.