Systems and methods for determining, collecting, and using geographic locations of internet users
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Abstract
A method of determining a geographic location of an Internet user involves determining if the host is on-line, determining ownership of the host name, and then determining the route taken in delivering packets to the user. Based on the detected route, the method proceeds with determining the geographic route based on the host locations and then assigning a confidence level to the assigned location. A system collects the geographic information and allows web sites or other entities to request the geographic location of their visitors. The database of geographic locations may be stored in a central location or, alternatively, may be at least partially located at the web site. With this information, web sites can target content, advertising, or route traffic depending upon the geographic locations of their visitors. Through web site requests for geographic information, a central database tracks an Internet user'"'"'s traffic on the Internet whereby a profile can be generated. In addition to this profile, the central database can store visitor'"'"'s preferences as to what content should be delivered to an IP address, the available interface, and the network speed associated with that IP address.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A method of providing geographic locations of Internet users to requestors, comprising:
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collecting geographic locations on a plurality of Internet users and storing the geographic locations in a database;
receiving a query from a requestor for the geographic location of a particular Internet user, the query containing at least one of an IP address or a domain name for the particular Internet user;
determining whether the geographic location of that particular Internet user is available in the database;
if the geographic location is available in the database, delivering the geographic location on that particular Internet user to the requestor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of tracking the behavior of Internet users based on their activities on the Internet, comprising:
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obtaining geographic locations of a plurality of Internet users and storing the geographic locations in a database;
receiving queries from requestors for the geographic locations of a particular Internet user;
delivering the geographic location for that particular Internet user to the requesters;
tracking the requesters associated with that particular Internet user; and
determining the behavior of the particular Internet user based on the associated requesters. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A method for permitting information to be selectively delivered to Internet users, comprising:
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compiling information on a plurality of Internet users and obtaining data related to the Internet users;
storing the information and data related to the plurality of Internet users in at least one database;
receiving a query from a requestor regarding a particular Internet user;
retrieving the data associated with that particular Internet user; and
transmitting the data to the requestor;
wherein the data permits the requestor to select desired content for that particular Internet user from a plurality of possible choices of possible content and to deliver the desired content to that particular Internet user. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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36. (canceled)
Specification