Targeted information delivery to multiple users

• US 20030236839A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Toohey, James J., Demsky, Scott H., James, Donald A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

A method of delivering targeted application generated information to multiple users can include generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user and associating the data items with data categories. The data categories can be associated with at least one of the classes of users. The data items can be distributed to classes of users that are associated with the data categories of the data items.

Claims

1. A method of delivering application generated information to multiple users comprising:

generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user;

associating said data items with data categories, wherein said data categories are associated with at least one of said classes of users; and

distributing said data items to classes of users that are associated with said data categories of said data items.

2. The method of claim 1, said associating step further comprising:

determining said data category associations and said user class associations by applying distribution rules to said data items.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said distribution rules comprise content rules, said associating step further comprising:

comparing said data item content with said content rules, wherein said content rules specify associations between said data item content and said user classes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said associating step takes place dynamically during a session wherein said data items are generated for presentation to at least one class of user.

5. The method of claim 4, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items; and

disassociating one of said user classes from a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

6. The method of claim 4, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items; and

associating a different one of said user classes with a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

7. The method of claim 4, said providing step further comprising:

determining a preferred media format for distributing said data items to said classes of users; and

converting a media format of said data items to be provided to said classes of users to said determined preferred media format.

8. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user;

associating said data items with data categories, wherein said data categories are associated with at least one of said classes of users; and

distributing said data items to classes of users that are associated with said data categories of said data items.

9. The machine-readable storage of claim 8, said associating step further comprising:

determining said data category associations and said user class associations by applying distribution rules to said data items.

10. The machine-readable storage of claim 9, wherein said distribution rules comprise content rules, said associating step further comprising:

comparing said data item content with said content rules, wherein said content rules specify associations between said data item content and said user classes.

11. The machine-readable storage of claim 10, wherein said associating step takes place dynamically during a session wherein said data items are generated for presentation to at least one class of user.

12. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items; and

disassociating one of said user classes from a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

13. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items; and

associating a different one of said user classes with a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

14. The machine-readable storage of claim 11, said providing step further comprising:

determining a preferred media format for distributing said data items to said classes of users; and

converting a media format of said data items to be provided to said classes of users to said determined preferred media format.