Apparatus and method for marketing to instant messaging service users
First Claim
1. A method for creating a targeted list of users from a user database based on selection criteria, said user being instant messaging users and having a specific user name and user definable interests, said method comprising:
- connecting a user computer to a network;
using the user computer, accessing an instant messaging marketing program that interfaces with an instant messaging program located on the network;
using the instant messaging marketing program to perform the steps of;
acquiring a user database;
defining a selection criterion, said selection criterion being defined by an advertiser;
searching said user database using said selection criterion; and
creating a list of targeted users based on said search.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for marketing advertisements to instant messaging users. The invention comprises: a user registration program, a user selection program, an advertisement delivery program, a queuing program, and an instant messaging interface program. The instant messaging interface program interfaces between an instant messaging service and the present invention. The user registration program allows the user to register with an instant messaging service and indicate the types of goods and/or service he is interested in. The user selection program selects users form the instant messaging service'"'"'s database based on advertiser established criteria. The advertisement delivery program delivers the advertisement in a format that does not disrupt their online chats by notifying the user that the advertisement is ready for viewing. Users have the option of viewing, saving, or deleing the advertisement. Users may also view additional information, view coupons, play a game, or temporarily block the delivery of advertisements.
266 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for creating a targeted list of users from a user database based on selection criteria, said user being instant messaging users and having a specific user name and user definable interests, said method comprising:
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connecting a user computer to a network;
using the user computer, accessing an instant messaging marketing program that interfaces with an instant messaging program located on the network;
using the instant messaging marketing program to perform the steps of;
acquiring a user database;
defining a selection criterion, said selection criterion being defined by an advertiser;
searching said user database using said selection criterion; and
creating a list of targeted users based on said search. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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connecting a user computer to a network;
using the user computer, accessing an instant messaging marketing program that interfaces with an instant messaging program located on the network;
using the instant messaging marketing program to perform the steps of;
queuing a plurality of advertisements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 49, 50, 51)
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17. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:
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a computer-usable medium;
wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;
instructions for acquiring a user database;
instructions for defining a selection criterion;
instructions for searching said user database using said selection criterion; and
instructions for creating a list of targeted users based on said search. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:
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a computer-usable medium;
wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;
instructions for queuing an advertisement;
instructions for determining if a user has blocked said advertisement; and
wherein upon determination that said user has not blocked said advertisement, instructions for notifying a user that said advertisement is available. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 52, 53, 54)
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32. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:
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a computer-usable medium;
wherein said computer usable medium comprises;
a user registration program, whereby said user registration program allows a user to create a user name;
a user selection program, whereby said user registration program searches a user database for users matching a selection criterion; and
an advertisement delivery program, whereby said advertisement delivery program delivers an advertisement to said user. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification