System and method for searching network users
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An advertising management arrangement capable of targeting advertising, comprising:
- at least one database containing data about a plurality of individuals to which advertisements can be directed, said database being generated based on events performed by each individual when using a terminal;
a search engine arranged to search said at least one database; and
at least one interface for enabling advertisers to access said search engine and to input search parameters into said search engine to cause said search engine to search said at least one database based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters,whereby advertisements can be directed to the identified individuals'"'"' terminals.
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Abstract
System, method and computer program for targeting advertising in which advertiser can access a search engine and input search parameters to cause the search engine to search one or more databases based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters. Each database may contain data about individuals to which advertisements can be directed and is generated based, in part, on known information or the individuals as well as on events performed by each individual when using their terminal, e.g., when talking, messaging, browsing, blogging and responding to displayed advertisements.
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Citations
123 Claims
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1. An advertising management arrangement capable of targeting advertising, comprising:
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at least one database containing data about a plurality of individuals to which advertisements can be directed, said database being generated based on events performed by each individual when using a terminal; a search engine arranged to search said at least one database; and at least one interface for enabling advertisers to access said search engine and to input search parameters into said search engine to cause said search engine to search said at least one database based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters, whereby advertisements can be directed to the identified individuals'"'"' terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An advertising management arrangement capable of targeting advertising, comprising:
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at least one database containing a plurality of log files, each log file relating to an individual to which advertisements can be directed and having a dynamic form based on actions performed by each individual when using a terminal; a search engine arranged to search said at least one database; and at least one interface for enabling advertisers to access said search engine and to input search parameters into said search engine to cause said search engine to search said at least one database based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for targeting advertisements to individuals, comprising:
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forming at least one database containing data about a plurality of individuals to which advertisements can be directed based on information about each individual and events performed by each individual when using a terminal; searching the at least one database based on search parameters input by advertisers to identify individuals meeting the search parameters; and enabling the advertisements to be directed to the identified Individuals'"'"' terminals. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A computer program embodied on computer-readable medium and which is capable of targeting advertisements to individuals, the computer program being arranged to:
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form at least one database containing data about a plurality of individuals to which advertisements can be directed based on information about each individual and events performed by each individual when using a terminal; search the at least one database based on search parameters input by advertisers to identify individuals meeting the search parameters; and enable the advertisements to be directed to the identified Individuals'"'"' terminals. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for targeting advertisements to individuals, comprising:
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forming at least one database containing a plurality of log files, each log file relating to an individual to which advertisements can be directed and having a dynamic form based on actions performed by each individual when using a terminal; searching the at least one database based on search parameters input by advertisers to identify individuals meeting the search parameters; and enabling the advertisements to be directed to the identified Individuals'"'"' terminals. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A computer program embodied on computer-readable medium and which is capable of targeting advertisements to individuals, the computer program being arranged to:
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form at least one database containing a plurality of log files, each log file relating to an individual to which advertisements can be directed and having a dynamic form based on actions performed by each individual when using a terminal; search the at least one database based on search parameters input by advertisers to identify individuals meeting the search parameters; and enable the advertisements to be directed to the identified Individuals'"'"' terminals. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method for use in searching for users of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a database arranged to store usage data indicative of usage patterns of users in relation to services using the telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a searching party, a search request comprising; one or more search terms; importance criteria, indicative of an importance of the or each received search term for the searching party, and from which an importance weighting of the or each term can be derived; and target preference values relating to preferences of a target user with respect to one or more parties associated with the or each received search term; and
,in response to receiving a said search request; retrieving usage data from the database corresponding to the users; determining, on the basis of the retrieved usage data, a preference value for each user in relation to the or each received search term; determining a ranking value for each user on the basis of a degree of match between a received target preference value and a determined preference value for the user for each received search term, weighted according to the importance criteria; and outputting search results indicative of a plurality of users ranked according to the determined ranking values. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111)
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112. A search system for use in searching users of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a database arranged to store usage data indicative of usage patterns of users in relation to services using the telecommunications network, the system comprising:
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data input means operable to receive, from a searching party, a search request comprising; one or more search terms; importance criteria, from which an importance of the or each received search term for the searching party can be derived; and preference criteria, from which a target preference of a user in relation to the or each received search term can be derived; and processing means arranged, responsive to receipt of said search request, to; retrieve usage data from the database corresponding to the users; determine, on the basis of the retrieved usage data, a preference value for each user in relation to the or each received search term; and determine a ranking value for each user on the basis of a degree of match between a said received preference criterion and a determined preference value for the user for each received search term, weighted according to the importance criteria, wherein the search system is arranged to output search results indicative of a plurality of users ranked according to the determined ranking values. - View Dependent Claims (113, 114, 115)
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116. A messaging system comprising a search system for use in searching users of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a database arranged to store usage data indicative of usage patterns of users in relation to services using the telecommunications network, the search system comprising:
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data input means operable to receive, from a searching party, a search request comprising; one or more search terms; importance criteria, from which an importance of the or each received search term for the searching party can be derived; and preference criteria, from which a target preference of a user in relation to the or each received search term can be derived; and processing means arranged, responsive to receipt of said search request, to; retrieve usage data from the database corresponding to the users; determine, on the basis of the retrieved usage data, a preference value for each user in relation to the or each received search term; and determine a ranking value for each user on the basis of a degree of match between a said received preference criterion and a determined preference value for the user for each received search term, weighted according to the importance criteria, wherein the search system is arranged to output search results indicative of a plurality of users ranked according to the determined ranking values, and wherein the messaging system comprises means operable to select users and send messages to the selected users, the selection of users being performed on the basis of the determined ranking values.
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117. A computer program embodied on computer-readable media and arranged, when run on a computer, to cause the computer to search for users of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a database arranged to store usage data indicative of usage patterns of users in relation to services using the telecommunications network, the computer program being arranged to:
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receive, from a searching party, a search request comprising; one or more search terms; importance criteria, indicative of an importance of the or each received search term for the searching party, and from which an importance weighting of the or each term can be derived; and target preference values relating to preferences of a target user with respect to one or more parties associated with the or each received search term; and
, in response to receiving a said search request;retrieve usage data from the database corresponding to the users; determine, on the basis of the retrieved usage data, a preference value for each user in relation to the or each received search term; determine a ranking value for each user on the basis of a degree of match between a received target preference value and a determined preference value for the user for each received search term, weighted according to the importance criteria; and
output search results indicative of a plurality-of users ranked according to the determined ranking values. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123)
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Specification