Computer systems and methods supporting on-line interaction with content, purchasing, and searching
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- electronically enabling a user to access a selection of items of content over the Internet;
electronically enabling the user to choose a specific item of content-from the items of content available in the selection of the items of content;
electronically enabling the user to access the specific item of content;
electronically enabling the user to interact with the specific item of content;
electronically determining a monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content;
electronically enabling the user to access over the internet a selection of at least one of products and services;
electronically enabling the user to choose a specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services;
electronically enabling the user to purchase the specific product or service; and
electronically applying at least a portion of the monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content towards the purchase of the specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services;
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The preferred computer apparatus and methods use computer technology in a unique way to motivate children to devote more time to educational and cultural enrichment, and encourages them to explore the appropriateness of various educational institutions that they may apply to for admission. In the preferred embodiment, educational material is provided at a child'"'"'s local computer under control of a central computer system connected to it over a computer network. On completing a particular educational task, the child is rewarded with a certain number of points. Points that the child accumulates are stored centrally, and at least some of the points can be redeemed towards the purchase of goods and services offered through the system of the preferred embodiment by its commercial participants. The purchasing transactions are also administered by the central computer. Parents, preferably, use the system to support their children'"'"'s purchasing activity financially and to select Is content available for presentation to the child. Users, both children and parents, can explore entrance requirements to colleges, universities, and other institutions, and school administrators can use the system to identify and locate appropriate applicants. The disclosed systems and methods can be used for purposes unrelated to education of children. For example, the disclosed system also supports limited on-line interaction with various products and services, rewarding users with discounts on those products and services.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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electronically enabling a user to access a selection of items of content over the Internet;
electronically enabling the user to choose a specific item of content-from the items of content available in the selection of the items of content;
electronically enabling the user to access the specific item of content;
electronically enabling the user to interact with the specific item of content;
electronically determining a monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content;
electronically enabling the user to access over the internet a selection of at least one of products and services;
electronically enabling the user to choose a specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services;
electronically enabling the user to purchase the specific product or service; and
electronically applying at least a portion of the monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content towards the purchase of the specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-implemented method used in connection with a web site offering of at least one of products and services for a monetary value comprising:
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enabling a customer communicating with the web site over the Internet to interact with at least one product or service available through the web site;
determining a measure of the customer interaction with the at least one electronic product or service available through the web site;
determining a discount available to the customer based on the determined measure of the interaction; and
enabling the customer to purchase at least one of the products or services available through the web site for a price adjusted in accordance with the determined discount. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-implemented method for determining whether an individual and an organization are compatible comprising:
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retrieving from memory a profile of the individual comprising stored characteristics of the individual;
retrieving a stored profile of the organization comprising fitness criteria adopted by the organization; and
determining a measure of fitness of the individual and the organization by applying the fitness criteria to the characteristics of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of providing advertisement to a user communicating with an advertising entity over a network, comprising:
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sending e-mail containing an advertisement message specifying a monetary value associated with the message, wherein the monetary value is displayed before the user is capable of reading the advertisement;
receiving a response from the user indicating that the user has opened the e-mail; and
transferring the monetary value specified in the e-mail to the account of the user. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of determining a path for an individual that would lead to acceptance of the individual to a desired organization, comprising:
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receiving over the Internet an identification of the desired organization;
retrieving a profile of the individual;
retrieving stored data relating to paths that lead to acceptance to the desired organization; and
producing a path leading to the acceptance to the desired organization based on the user profile and the stored data relating to the paths that lead to the acceptance to the desired organization. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer system comprising:
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software for enabling a user to access a selection of items of content over the Internet;
software for enabling the user to choose a specific item of content from the items of content available in the selection of the items of content;
software for enabling the user to access the specific item of content;
enabling the user to interact with the specific item of content;
software for determining a monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content;
software for enabling the user to access over the Internet a selection of at least one of products and services;
software for enablibg the user to choose a specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services;
software for enabling the user to purchase the specific product or service; and
software for applying at least a portion of the monetary value of the user interaction with the specific item of content towards the purchase of the specific product or service available in the selection of the at least one of products and services. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A computer system supporting a web site offering of at least one of products and services for a monetary value comprising:
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software for enabling a customer communicating with the web site over the Internet to interact with at least one product or service available through the web site;
software for determining a measure of the customer interaction with the at least one electronic product or service available through the web site;
software for determining a discount available to the customer based on the determined measure of the interaction; and
software for enabling the customer to purchase at least one of the products or services available through the web site for a price adjusted in accordance with the determined discount. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer system that determines whether an individual and an organization are compatible comprising:
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software supporting interaction with users over the Internet software for retrieving from memory a profile of the individual comprising stored characteristics of the individual;
software for retrieving a stored profile of the organization comprising fitness criteria adopted by the organization; and
software for determining a measure of fitness of the individual and the organization by applying the fitness criteria to the characteristics of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A computer system for determining a path for an individual that would lead to acceptance of the individual to a desired organization, comprising:
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software for receiving over the Internet an identification of the desired organization;
software for retrieving a profile of the individual;
software for retrieving stored data relating to paths that lead to acceptance to the desired organization; and
software for producing a path leading to the acceptance to the desired organization based on the user profile and the stored data relating to the paths that lead to the acceptance to the desired organization. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification