METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A USER TRAFFIC WEIGHTED SEARCH

• US 20090106228A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: WEINMAN, JOSEPH B. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a user traffic weighted search in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a query from a customer and determines whether the customer has opted-in for a service for traffic data monitoring. The method then provides one or more search results to the customer in response to the query, where the one or more search results are prioritized in accordance with collected user usage data if the customer has opted-in for the service for traffic data monitoring.

Claims

1. A method for providing a search result in a network, comprising:

receiving a query from a customer;

determining whether said customer has opted-in for a service for traffic data monitoring; and

providing one or more search results to said customer in response to said query, where said one or more search results are prioritized in accordance with collected user usage data if said customer has opted-in for said service for traffic data monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more search results to said customer in response to said query, where said one or more search results are not prioritized in accordance with said collected user usage data if said customer has opted-out for said service for traffic data monitoring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer opts-in or opts-out of said service for traffic data monitoring by providing a selection in a browser window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a network service provider of said service for traffic data monitoring provides at least one incentive to said customer who has opted-in for said service for traffic data monitoring.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one incentive comprises at least one of:

a financial incentive, a performance incentive or a service incentive.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein financial incentive comprises a price reduction for a service, wherein said performance incentive comprises a higher quality of service, and wherein said service incentive comprises a new service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said collected user usage data comprises data associated with accessing activities of a plurality of resources.

8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing a search result in a network, comprising:

receiving a query from a customer;

determining whether said customer has opted-in for a service for traffic data monitoring; and

providing one or more search results to said customer in response to said query, where said one or more search results are prioritized in accordance with collected user usage data if said customer has opted-in for said service for traffic data monitoring.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

providing one or more search results to said customer in response to said query, where said one or more search results are not prioritized in accordance with said collected user usage data if said customer has opted-out for said service for traffic data monitoring.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said customer opts-in or opts-out of said service for traffic data monitoring by providing a selection in a browser window.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a network service provider of said service for traffic data monitoring provides at least one incentive to said customer who has opted-in for said service for traffic data monitoring.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein at least one incentive comprises at least one of:

a financial incentive, a performance incentive or a service incentive.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein financial incentive comprises a price reduction for a service, wherein said performance incentive comprises a higher quality of service, and wherein said service incentive comprises a new service.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said collected user usage data comprises data associated with accessing activities of a plurality of resources.

15. A method for providing a search result in a network, comprising:

receiving a query from a user; and

providing one or more search results to said user in response to said query, where said one or more search results are prioritized in accordance with collected user usage data derived from at least one of;

a plurality of other users other than said user who have provided a first preference associated with opting-in for traffic data monitoring or a plurality of content providers who have provided a second preference associated with opting-in for traffic data monitoring.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first preference comprises a preference by each of said plurality of other users as to:

whether traffic of said other user is to be monitored, whether traffic of said other user is not to be monitored, or whether said other user is ambivalent about traffic of said other user being monitored.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said traffic comprises at least one of:

outgoing traffic, or incoming traffic.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said second preference comprises a preference by each of said plurality of content providers as to:

whether traffic of said content provider is to be monitored, whether traffic of said content provider is not to be monitored, or whether said content provider is ambivalent about traffic of said content provider being monitored.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said traffic comprises at least one of:

outgoing traffic, or incoming traffic.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said first preference and said second preference are capable of being selectively changed by at least one of said plurality of said other users and said content providers, respectively.