Use of behavioral portraits in the conduct of E-commerce

• US 20080201206A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: 7 Billion People Incorporated
• Inventors: Pokorney, Trevor, Minnis, William Charles, Nagaitis, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/012,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A method is provided for determining a website user behavioral portrait based on navigation on the website and dynamically reconfiguring web pages based on those portraits. In accordance with the method, data relating to the progress of a user through a website is recorded, and an ongoing behavioral portrait of the user is built based on the data. The portrait is then used to dynamically reconfigure web content.

Claims

1. A method for doing business, comprising:

providing a computing device equipped with a software program adapted to (a) receive user input from a server, (b) create a behavioral portrait of the user based on the user input, and (c) utilize the behavioral portrait to modify a web page;

utilizing the computing device to produce modified web content;

providing the modified web content to a web site provider; and

charging the web site provider a fee based on the modified web content displayed on the web site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fee is based on the number of modified web pages displayed on the web site.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the web site provider is charged only for the number of modified web pages displayed on the web site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the behavioral portrait is dynamically updated as additional user input becomes available, thereby creating an updated behavioral portrait.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the behavioral portrait is provided by a first entity, wherein the business lead is provided by a second entity distinct from the first entity, and wherein the first and second fees are distributed to the first and second entities, respectively.

5. A method for doing business, comprising:

providing a behavioral portrait of a user to a third party entity, the behavioral portrait being based on user input gathered during an online session that the user was involved in; and

assessing a first fee to the third party based on the third party'"'"'s acceptance of the portrait.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a business lead relating to the user whose portrait is provided; and

assessing a second fee to the third party.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second fee is based on the third party'"'"'s acceptance of the business lead.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavioral portrait is provided by a first entity, wherein the business lead is provided by a second entity distinct from the first entity, and wherein at least one of the first and second fees is apportioned among the first and second entities.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein both of the first and second fees are apportioned among the first and second entities.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the behavioral portrait and the business lead are provided by the same entity.

12. The method of 5, wherein the first fee is based on the value of at least one sale subsequently made to the user by the third party entity.

13. A method for doing business, comprising:

creating a behavioral portrait of a user based on user input gathered during an online session that the user was involved in;

using the behavioral portrait to determine a recommended manner of interacting with the user; and

selling to another party a document containing the recommended manner of interacting with the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the other party is selected from the group consisting of (a) call centers;

(b) marketing groups; and

(c) sales teams.