Information provision over a network based on a user's profile

• US 20020111994A1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Raghunandan, Hulikunta Prahlad
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, apparatus and product for providing information via a public network, such as the Internet, is disclosed. A user is firstly identified, and profile data is acquired based on that person'"'"'s usage history. Information, obtained via a public network, is provided to the user based on the profile. The user can either be identified specifically, or as a member of one or more demographic groups. In relation to the latter, attributes in the user profile may include the user'"'"'s age group, education and occupation/profession. The user profile may optionally include a weighting for each topic of interest. If the user is identified specifically, advertising to be displayed on the Internet may be matched with the current user'"'"'s profile so that the advertising provided might appeal directly to the user. If the user is identified as a member of a demographic, web sites that match the demographic can be served.

Claims

1. A method for providing information via a public network to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying the user;

acquiring a user'"'"'s network usage data;

generating a user profile from said acquired data; and

providing information obtained via the network to said user based on a said user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying said user identifies that person specifically, and includes one or more of the steps of:

acquiring said user'"'"'s fingerprints;

acquiring said user'"'"'s retinal pattern;

or

acquiring said user'"'"'s voice pattern; and

wherein said providing information step serves advertisements directed to said specific user based on said user'"'"'s profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said acquiring step is performed by recording details about sites searched or visited by a user.

4. The method of claim 3, further wherein section headings and keywords of sites visited are recorded.

5. The method of claim 4, further wherein keywords used in searching for sites are recorded.

6. The method of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein recorded information is allocated to one or more attribute records.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said attributes are selected from the group consisting of economic stratum, age group, sex, educational background, occupation, religious background, personal technical interests and personal special interests.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said associating step is performed by weighting each said attribute matched by said acquired data to generate said user profile.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said weighting is performed on the basis of time or spent or the frequency of visit to sites.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a user'"'"'s profile is continuously updated with usage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying said user identifies a demographic to which said user belongs, and includes capturing a video image of a portion of said user'"'"'s body, including the head, from which demographic information is derived, and said step of providing information serves sites suited to said user'"'"'s profile.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said acquiring step is performed by recording details about sites searched or visited by a user.

13. The method of claim 12, further wherein section headings and keywords of sites visited are recorded.

14. The method of claim 13, further wherein keywords used in searching for sites are recorded.

15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein recorded information is allocated to one or more attribute records.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said attributes are selected from the group consisting of economic stratum, age group, sex, educational background, occupation, religious background, personal technical interests and personal special interests.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said associating step is performed by weighting each said attribute matched by said acquired data to generate said user profile.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said weighting is performed on the basis of time or spent or the frequency of visit to sites.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a user'"'"'s profile is continuously updated with usage.

20. A server system for providing information via a public network to a user, comprising:

means for identifying a user;

means for acquiring a user'"'"'s network usage data;

means for generating a user profile from said acquired data;

and wherein said server system provides information, obtained via said network, to said user based on a said user profile.

21. The server system of claim 20, wherein said acquiring means includes any one or more of:

means for acquiring said user'"'"'s fingerprints,

means for acquiring said user'"'"'s retinal pattern, or

means for acquiring said user'"'"'s voice pattern; and

wherein advertisements are served to said specific user based on said user'"'"'s profile.

22. The server system of claim 20, wherein said identifying means identifies a demographic to which said user belongs, and includes means for capturing a video image of a portion of a user'"'"'s body, including the head, from which demographic information is derived, and wherein information served to said user is suited to said user'"'"'s profile.

23. A computer program product comprising computer program code on a storage medium, said computer program code including:

a code element for identifying a user;

a code element for acquiring a user'"'"'s network usage;

a code element for generating a user profile from said acquired data; and

a code element for providing information, obtained from a public network, to said user based on said user profile.