User-driven data network communication system and method

• US 20030158777A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant, LLC (Publicis Groupe SA)
• Original Assignee: Dotomi Incorporated (Alliance Data Systems Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Tamir, Schiff, Eyal
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals the messages of which the user is willing to view. The system provides benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercials value to him. The messages are displayed in a space of a web page belonging to a portal or web site, in which banners are normally displayed or destined to be displayed.

Claims

1. A method for messaging over a data network, comprising the steps of:

i) providing an Administration Server (AS) in which user portfolios are stored, said AS being in communication with a terminal belonging to a user;

ii) allowing every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals the messages of which the user is willing to view; and

iii) displaying to one or more users on their terminal messages according to the information contained in the user portfolio.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the messages have a commercial value, further comprising:

iv) providing benefit(s) to the user for messages displayed to him; and

v) debiting the Provider for messages displayed to said one or more users.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

i) providing one or more message templates to an additional server;

ii) selecting one or more customer from a data base, to which the templates should be sent;

iii) generating one or messages by attaching one or more templates to said selected customer; and

iv) transferring said generated messages to the AS, from which said messages should be sent to one or more selected customer.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the additional server is a Rich Media Campaign Server (RMCS).

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the data base is a local and/or remote client data base.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data network is the Internet.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the messages are displayed in a space of a web page belonging to a portal or web site, in which banners are normally displayed or destined to be displayed.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information contained in the user'"'"'s portfolio comprises an indication of a viewing priority for each Provider.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the message comprises an advertisement.

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the terminal is a device with Internet connectivity or with any other digital media connectivity.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the terminal is selected from a PC, a hand-held device and a cellular telephone.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the advertisement is in a form that can be viewed on a graphical, textual or video application which enables to view messages on the Internet.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the advertisement is in a form that can be viewed on a web browser page.

14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising attaching to messages to be displayed start and end dates before and after which the message cannot be displayed.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising attaching to messages to be displayed differential values for the displaying to specific customers or groups of customers.

29. A method according to claim 1, further providing means for allowing two or more registered users to use the same terminal, and means for alerting the AS of the identity of the registered user currently using the terminal.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein the order and/or the frequency in which messages are displayed to a user are determined by the user himself.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the user determines the order and/or frequency by indicating a preference in his portfolio.

16. A system for messaging over a data network, particularly the Internet, comprising:

i) an Administration Server (AS) provided with storage means in which user portfolios are stored,

ii) a terminal belonging to a user, said terminal being in communication with said AS;

iii) means for allowing every registered user to generate and update user portfolios containing information relative to the Providers and the individuals the messages of which the user is willing to receive while exposed to digital media; and

iv) display means associated with the user'"'"'s terminal, for displaying to said one or more users messages according to the information contained in the user portfolio.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the messages displayed have a commercial value, further comprising:

v) means for providing benefit(s) to the user for advertisements displayed to him; and

vi) means for debiting the Provider for advertisements displayed to said one or more users.

18. A system according to claim 16, further comprising an additional server, said additional server comprising means for generating messages.

19. A system according to claim 18, in which the additional server is a Rich Media Campaign Server (RMCS).

20. A method for communicating between two or more users of a data network, particularly of the Internet, comprising the steps of:

i) providing an Administration Server (AS) in which user portfolios are stored, said AS being in communication with a terminal belonging to a user;

ii) allowing every registered user to generate and update a user portfolio containing information relative to surfers the messages originating from whom or which the user is wiling to view; and

iii) displaying to one or more users on their terminal messages according to the information contained in the user portfolio.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the message is in a form that can be viewed on a graphical or textual application which enables to view messages on the Internet.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the message is in a form that can be viewed on a web browser.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the user is recognized by saving a cookie on his terminal.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the user accesses the AS system from a temporary terminal, such as a public terminal, in which the user logs-in into his portfolio, and requests that the browser from which he is temporarily surfing be identified as belonging to him for a limited period of time, whereby a “

temporary cookie”

is stored on said temporary terminal.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the user voids the cookie by actively logging-out of the system.

26. A system according to claim 25, comprising means for notifying the AS of the current identity of the person who is surfing from a computer at a given time.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the means for notifying the AS comprise one or more of an external client, and embedded source or subroutines, ActiveX controls, or suitable browser plug-ins or components.

28. A system according to claim 27, which is a stand alone person-to-person communication system not connected to an advertising messaging system.

32. A method for messaging over a data network, comprising the steps of:

i) allowing every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals the messages of which the user is willing to view; and

ii) displaying to one or more users on their terminal messages according to the information contained in the user portfolio, optionally providing benefit(s) to the user for viewing said messages.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the generation and/or the update of the user'"'"'s portfolio is effected via the user'"'"'s browser.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the generation and/or the update of the user'"'"'s portfolio is carried out by a plug-in of the browser.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the generation and/or the update of the user'"'"'s portfolio is carried out by a functionality built-in the browser.

36. A method according to claim 32, wherein the user'"'"'s portfolio is stored in the user'"'"'s browser or in a location accessible by it.

37. A method according to claim 32, wherein the user'"'"'s portfolio is stored at the portal level.

38. A method according to claim 32, wherein the message is a message received by a recipient and forwarded by said recipient to one or more additional recipient(s).