Interactively communicating selectively targeted information with consumers over the internet
First Claim
1. A method of providing a system for selective communication of promotional information among a plurality of sponsors and a plurality of users over a computer network comprising the acts of:
- a) enrolling a plurality of sponsors, the act of enrolling each sponsor comprising the act of assigning the sponsor with at least one group of customization parameters which are sufficient to uniquely define the look and feel of a value portal skin;
b) providing a sponsor server software in computer useable form to at least one of the plurality of sponsors, wherein the sponsor server software executing on a sponsor server comprises functionality for communicating messages with a client software on a user'"'"'s computer over the computer network according to a special communication protocol;
c) providing the client software to a plurality of users in machine useable form, each of said plurality of users having a user'"'"'s computer capable of using the client software and having access to the computer network, wherein each user'"'"'s computer operates under an operating system having a graphical user interface with a task bar thereon, and wherein the client software when executing on a user'"'"'s computer comprises i) functionality for installing a value portal on the user'"'"'s computer, the look and feel of the value portal capable of being defined by any of the unique group of customization parameters defining a value portal skin which have been assigned to each of the plurality of sponsors, ii) functionality for providing access to a plurality of additional utilitarian application programs through said value portal, iii) a system database capable of storing a plurality of groups of customization parameters, said system database comprising at least one group of customization parameters therein corresponding to at least one sponsor of said plurality of sponsors, iv) functionality for choosing which group of customization parameters from the plurality of groups of customization parameters in the system database will be used to define the look and feel of the value portal, v) functionality for exchanging messages with at least one sponsor through communication with a sponsor server operated by the sponsor server software, according to the special communication protocol, vi) functionality for displaying messages on the value portal, and vii) functionality for registering a user with a sponsor server executing the sponsor server software.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to a message, system and software allowing permissive interactive marketing among a plurality of users and a plurality of sponsors over a computer network such as the Internet. The system provides users with a desktop portal which comprises valuable utilitarian software to promote use of the portal and a message receiving space. The portal is customizable such that each sponsor can present a unique look and feel while at the same time providing users with a familiar functionality. By selection of sponsors each user forms a virtual dynamically variable network corresponding to his preferences.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method of providing a system for selective communication of promotional information among a plurality of sponsors and a plurality of users over a computer network comprising the acts of:
-
a) enrolling a plurality of sponsors, the act of enrolling each sponsor comprising the act of assigning the sponsor with at least one group of customization parameters which are sufficient to uniquely define the look and feel of a value portal skin;
b) providing a sponsor server software in computer useable form to at least one of the plurality of sponsors, wherein the sponsor server software executing on a sponsor server comprises functionality for communicating messages with a client software on a user'"'"'s computer over the computer network according to a special communication protocol;
c) providing the client software to a plurality of users in machine useable form, each of said plurality of users having a user'"'"'s computer capable of using the client software and having access to the computer network, wherein each user'"'"'s computer operates under an operating system having a graphical user interface with a task bar thereon, and wherein the client software when executing on a user'"'"'s computer comprises i) functionality for installing a value portal on the user'"'"'s computer, the look and feel of the value portal capable of being defined by any of the unique group of customization parameters defining a value portal skin which have been assigned to each of the plurality of sponsors, ii) functionality for providing access to a plurality of additional utilitarian application programs through said value portal, iii) a system database capable of storing a plurality of groups of customization parameters, said system database comprising at least one group of customization parameters therein corresponding to at least one sponsor of said plurality of sponsors, iv) functionality for choosing which group of customization parameters from the plurality of groups of customization parameters in the system database will be used to define the look and feel of the value portal, v) functionality for exchanging messages with at least one sponsor through communication with a sponsor server operated by the sponsor server software, according to the special communication protocol, vi) functionality for displaying messages on the value portal, and vii) functionality for registering a user with a sponsor server executing the sponsor server software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A client software on a computer readable medium for operation on a user'"'"'s computer comprising:
-
a) functionality for installing a value portal on a user'"'"'s computer, the look and feel of the value portal capable of being defined by a group of customization parameters defining a value portal skin which have been assigned to a sponsor;
b) functionality for providing access to a plurality of additional utilitarian application programs through said value portal;
c) a system database capable of storing a plurality of groups of customization parameters, said system database comprising at least one group of customization parameters therein corresponding to at least one sponsor;
d) functionality for choosing which group of customization parameters from the plurality of groups of customization parameters in the system database will be used to define the look and feel of the value portal;
e) functionality for exchanging messages with at least one sponsor through communication with a sponsor server operated by a sponsor server software, according to a special communication protocol;
f) functionality for displaying messages on the value portal; and
g) functionality for registering a user with a sponsor server executing the sponsor serve software, wherein the sponsor server software comprises functionality for communicating with the user'"'"'s computer executing the client software when operating the sponsor server software. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for selective communication of promotional information among a plurality of sponsors and a plurality of users over a computer network comprising:
-
a) at least one sponsor server accessible over the computer network;
b) sponsor server software operating said at least one sponsor server;
c) a plurality of user'"'"'s computers, having access to the computer network and operating under control of an operating system with a graphical interface having a task bar thereon;
d) client software operating each of the plurality of user'"'"'s computers said client software comprising i) functionality for installing a value portal, the look and feel of the value portal capable of being defined by a group of customization parameters defining a value portal skin which has been assigned to a sponsor, ii) functionality for providing access to a plurality of additional utilitarian application programs through said value portal, iii) a system database capable of storing a plurality of groups of customization parameters, said database comprising at least one group of customization parameters therein corresponding to at least one of said plurality of sponsors, iv) functionality for choosing which group of customization parameters from the at least one group of customization parameters in the system database which will be used to define the look and feel of the value portal, v) functionality for exchanging messages with the at least one sponsor server, vi) functionality for displaying messages on the value portal, and vii) functionality for registering each of the plurality of users with the at least one sponsor server; and
e) a special communication protocol by which a user'"'"'s computer system operated by the client software can exchange messages with the at least one sponsor server operated by the sponsor server software, said special communication protocol implemented in software operating on the at least one sponsor server and the plurality of user'"'"'s computers. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification