Apparatus and method for directing content to a user by an internet service provider

• US 20070185988A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tribinium Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tribinium Corporation
• Inventors: Maring, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/348,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A processor implemented method for directing content to a user by an internet service provider comprising the steps of: tracking the websites visited by a user; identifying at least one on-line business visited by the a user; and providing a link to the on-line business through a browser.

Claims

1. A processor implemented method for directing content to a user by an internet service provider comprising the steps of:

tracking the websites visited by a user;

identifying at least one on-line business visited by the a user; and

providing a link to the on-line business through a browser.

2. The processor implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing information pertaining to tracking of a user to an on-line business;

receiving information pertaining to content suited to the user form the on-line business based upon the information provided to the on-line business; and

providing the information to the user from the on-line business within the link provided to the user.

3. The processor implemented method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing information comprises the steps of:

discretely providing the information within the link, such that the information is revealed when a pointer is positioned over the link.

4. The processor implemented method of claim 1 wherein the step of tracking further comprises the steps of:

becoming an affiliate of at least one on-line business;

identifying a request from a user for content from the at least one business;

providing an affiliate identification along with the request for content from the at least one business; and

obtaining the content from the at least one business for the user.

5. The processor implemented method of claim 4 wherein:

the step of identifying further comprises the steps of;

identifying each on-line business visited by the user of which the internet service provider is an affiliate; and

maintaining an ranking of each on-line business based upon visits;

the step of providing further comprises the step of;

providing a link to a predetermined number of on-line businesses based upon the ranking of each on-line business.

6. The processor implemented method of claim 5 wherein:

the predetermined number of on-line businesses comprises at least the four most frequently visited on-line businesses by the user.

7. The processor implemented method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

providing information pertaining to tracking of a user to an on-line business;

receiving information pertaining to content suited to the user form the on-line business based upon the information provided to the on-line business; and

providing the information to the user from the on-line business within the link provided to the user.

8. The processor implemented method of claim 7 wherein the step of providing information comprises the steps of:

discretely providing the information within the link, such that the information is revealed when a pointer is positioned over the link.

9. The processor implemented method of claim 1 wherein the link is provided in the form of a tool bar button within a browser window of a user.

10. An apparatus for directing content to a user by an internet service provider comprising:

means for tracking the websites visited by a user;

means for identifying at least one on-line business visited by the a user; and

means for providing a link to the on-line business through a browser.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

means for becoming an affiliate of at least one on-line business;

means for identifying a request from a user for content from the at least one business;

means for providing an affiliate identification along with the request for content from the at least one business; and

means for obtaining the content from the at least one business for the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the identifying means further comprises;

means for identifying each on-line business visited by the user of which the internet service provider is an affiliate; and

means for maintaining an ranking of each on-line business based upon visits;

the providing means further comprises;

means for providing a link to a predetermined number of on-line businesses based upon the ranking of each on-line business.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the predetermined number of on-line businesses comprises at least the four most frequently visited on-line businesses by the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for providing information pertaining to tracking of a user to an on-line business;

means for receiving information pertaining to content suited to the user form the on-line business based upon the information provided to the on-line business; and

means for providing the information to the user from the on-line business within the link provided to the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the providing means further comprises means for discretely providing the information within the link, such that the information is revealed when a pointer is positioned over the link.

16. An article of manufacture for managing the viewing of images by a user comprising:

A computer-readable medium configured with instructions for causing a processor-based system to perform the steps of;

tracking the websites visited by a user;

identifying at least one on-line business visited by the a user; and

providing a link to the on-line business through a browser.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-readable medium configured with instructions for causing a processor-based system to perform the steps of;

becoming an affiliate of at least one on-line business;

identifying a request from a user for content from the at least one business;

providing an affiliate identification along with the request for content from the at least one business; and

obtaining the content from the at least one business for the user.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17 further comprising:

a computer-readable medium configured with instructions for causing a processor-based system to perform the steps of;

identifying each on-line business visited by the user of which the internet service provider is an affiliate; and

maintaining an ranking of each on-line business based upon visits; and

providing a link to a predetermined number of on-line businesses based upon the ranking of each on-line business.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 16 further comprising:

a computer-readable medium configured with instructions for causing a processor-based system to perform the steps of;

providing information pertaining to tracking of a user to an on-line business;

receiving information pertaining to content suited to the user form the on-line business based upon the information provided to the on-line business; and

providing the information to the user from the on-line business within the link provided to the user.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17 further comprising:

a computer-readable medium configured with instructions for causing a processor-based system to perform the step of;

embedding the information within the link, such that the information is revealed when a pointer is positioned over the link.