Internet-access enabled device personalization

• US 20020103933A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blink.com
• Original Assignee: Blink.com
• Inventors: Siegel, David, Garon, Ross
• Application Number:
  US09/770,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for quickly and automatically personalizing an Internet-access enabled device based upon a user'"'"'s pattern of behavior or express preferences on other, possibly incompatible, Internet-access enabled devices. The system and method enable a user to create a personal profile on a first Internet-access enabled device. This profile comprises URLs in the form of bookmarks, a history file, express preferences, or common behaviors derived from a list of URLs. The profile can also include other indicators of preference, such as browser cookies, log files, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

receiving a first network address bookmark at a server, from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser;

receiving a characterization at the server of a second computer having a second type browser;

translating the first bookmark at the server into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the second bookmark to the second computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type browser is different from the second browser type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the translating step further comprises:

transmitting a trial message on the network from the server using the second network address bookmark;

receiving at the server a response to the transmitting step from the network; and

determining from the response whether the second network address exists in the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the translating step further comprises:

searching a database of candidate bookmarks for the second network address bookmark; and

determining from results of the searching step whether the second bookmark is valid.

6. A method for managing network address bookmarks at a server for a user at a computer in a network, comprising:

receiving, from a user at a computer, a first network address bookmark at a server, the first bookmark having an interest category;

accessing with the server a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the interest category;

forming a list of a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step; and

sending the list of bookmarks to the computer.

7. A method for managing network address bookmarks at a server for a user at a computer in a network, comprising:

receiving a first user profile at a server, from a first user at a first computer, the first user profile including an interest category;

accessing with the server a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the interest category;

forming a list including a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step, and

sending the list of bookmarks to the computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user profile includes a history log of the computer, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining from the history log a second interest category;

accessing with the server a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the second interest category;

augmenting the list with a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step, and

sending the augmented list of bookmarks to the computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user profile includes browser cookie data of the computer, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining from the browser cookie data a second interest category;

accessing with the server a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the second interest category;

augmenting the list with a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step, and

sending the augmented list of bookmarks to the computer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user profile includes demographic data of the user, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining from the demographic data a second interest category;

accessing with the server a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the second interest category;

augmenting the list with a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step, and

sending the augmented list of bookmarks to the computer.

11. A method for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

receiving, at a server from a first computer, interest data having a first format;

receiving a characterization at the server of a second computer having a second format;

compiling a first set of bookmarks in the first format based upon the interest data; and

compiling a second set of bookmarks in the second format based upon the first set of bookmarks.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending the second set of bookmarks to the second computer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the interest data includes a list of bookmarks, a history file, a cookie file, demographic information, or express preference information.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

sending the second bookmark to the second computer.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the interest data includes a list of bookmarks, a history file, a cookie file, demographic information, or express preference information.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the characterization of the second format compatible with a second computer is a browser type in the second computer.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

sending the selected bookmark to the second computer.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the interest data includes a list of bookmarks, a history file, a cookie file, demographic information, or express preference information.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer is a browser type in the second computer.

14. A method for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

receiving, at a server from a first computer, interest data having a first format compatible with the first computer;

receiving a characterization at the server of a second format compatible with a second computer;

accessing a database containing bookmarks having the first format and retrieving a first bookmark based upon the interest data; and

translating the first bookmark into a second bookmark in the second format.

18. A method for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

receiving, at a server from a first computer, interest data having a first format compatible with the first computer;

receiving a characterization at the server of a second format compatible with a second computer;

accessing a first database containing bookmarks having the first format and retrieving a first bookmark based upon the interest data;

accessing a second database containing bookmarks having the second format; and

selecting a bookmark from the second bookmarks, wherein the selected bookmark is based upon the interest data.

22. A system for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

means for receiving;

a first network address bookmark from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser; and

a characterization of a second computer having a second type browser;

means for translating the first bookmark into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

means for sending the second bookmark to the second computer.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the second set of bookmarks is sent to the second computer.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the interest data includes a list of bookmarks, a history file, a cookie file, demographic information, or express preference information.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the selected bookmark is sent to the second computer.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the interest data includes a list of bookmarks, a history file, a cookie file, demographic information, or express preference information.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer is a browser type in the second computer.

23. A system for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

said memory storing;

a first network address bookmark received from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser; and

a characterization received of a second computer having a second type browser;

wherein the first bookmark is translated by the processor into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

wherein the second bookmark is sent by the processor to the second computer.

24. A system for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

said memory storing;

interest data from a first computer, the interest data having a first format; and

a characterization of a second computer having a second format;

wherein a first set of bookmarks in the first format is compiled based upon the interest data; and

wherein a second set of bookmarks in the second format is compiled based upon the first set of bookmarks.

27. A system for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

said memory storing;

interest data having a first format compatible with a first computer;

a characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer;

wherein a first database containing bookmarks having the first format is accessed and wherein the bookmarks include a first bookmark based upon the interest data; and

wherein a first bookmark is translated into a second bookmark in the second format.

31. Computer executable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive a first network address bookmark from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second type browser;

code to translate the first bookmark into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

code to send the second bookmark to the second computer.

32. Computer executable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second format;

code to compile a first set of bookmarks in the first format based upon the interest data; and

code to compile a second set of bookmarks in the second format based upon the first set of bookmarks.

33. Computer executable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format compatible with the first computer;

code to receive a characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer;

code to access a first database containing bookmarks having the first format and retrieving a first bookmark based upon the interest data;

code to access a second database containing bookmarks having the second format; and

code to select a bookmark from the second bookmarks, wherein the selected bookmark is based upon the interest data.

34. A computer readable medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive a first network address bookmark from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second type browser;

code to translate the first bookmark into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

code to send the second bookmark to the second computer.

35. A computer readable medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second format;

code to compile a first set of bookmarks in the first format based upon the interest data; and

code to compile a second set of bookmarks in the second format based upon the first set of bookmarks.

36. A computer readable medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, the code for managing network address bookmarks in a server for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format compatible with the first computer;

code to receive a characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer;

code to access a first database containing bookmarks having the first format and retrieving a first bookmark based upon the interest data;

code to access a second database containing bookmarks having the second format; and

code to select a bookmark from the second bookmarks, wherein the selected bookmark is based upon the interest data.

37. A programmed computer for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a memory for storing computer executable code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in memory, wherein the program code includes;

code to receive a first network address bookmark from a first computer having a first type browser, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second type browser;

code to translate the first bookmark into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

code to send the second bookmark to the second computer.

38. A programmed computer for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a memory for storing computer executable code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in memory, wherein the program code includes;

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format;

code to receive a characterization of a second computer having a second format;

code to compile a first set of bookmarks in the first format based upon the interest data; and

code to compile a second set of bookmarks in the second format based upon the first set of bookmarks.

39. A programmed computer for managing network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

a memory for storing computer executable code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in memory, wherein the program code includes;

code to receive, from a first computer, interest data having a first format compatible with the first computer;

code to receive a characterization of a second format compatible with a second computer;

code to access a first database containing bookmarks having the first format and retrieving a first bookmark based upon the interest data;

code to access a second database containing bookmarks having the second format; and

code to select a bookmark from the second bookmarks, wherein the selected bookmark is based upon the interest data.

40. Computer executable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for requesting by a first computer having a first type browser, network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to send a first network address bookmark from the first computer to a server, the first bookmark having a first format suitable for the first type browser;

code to send a characterization to the server of a second computer having a second type browser;

code to cause the server to translate the first bookmark into a second network address bookmark having a second format suitable for the second type browser; and

code to cause the server to send the second bookmark to the second computer.

41. Computer executable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for requesting by a first computer having a first type browser, network address bookmarks for a variety of browser types in computers in a network, comprising:

code to send a first user profile from the first computer to a server, the first user profile including an interest category;

code to cause the server to access a database of candidate bookmarks associated with the interest category, form a list including a portion of the candidate bookmarks obtained from the accessing step, and send the list of bookmarks to the first computer.