METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMIZING INFORMATION

• US 20090276801A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reece, David Wayne
• Application Number:
  US12/112,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64784 Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for customizing information is provided. The method monitors electronic activities through a communication link coupling a consumer system and a service provider, the consumer system including a plurality of communication devices. The method determines in response to the monitoring which of the plurality of communication devices are operating and collects activity information indicative of activities of each of a plurality of consumers in accessing electronic content through one or more of the communication devices. The method associates the collected activity information corresponding to each of the plurality of consumers with one of the plurality of activity profiles maintained in a database. The method also customizes information in response to the plurality of associated activity profiles for delivery to corresponding consumers

Claims

1. A method for customizing information, comprising:

monitoring electronic activities through a communication link, the communication link operable to communicate data between a consumer system and a service provider, the consumer system including a plurality of communication devices;

determining in response to the monitoring which of the plurality of communication devices are operating;

collecting activity information indicative of activities of each of a plurality of consumers in accessing electronic content through one or more of the plurality of communication devices;

associating the collected activity information corresponding to each of the plurality of consumers with one of a plurality of activity profiles maintained in a database; and

customizing information in response to the plurality of associated activity profiles for delivery to corresponding consumers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises performing a deep packet inspection of packets communicated though the communication link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the deep packet inspection comprises interrogating header, payload, content, title of the inspected packets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting activity information comprises aggregating activity information from different communication devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the different communication devices comprise a personal computer, a television, and a web phone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizing information is delivered with the accessed electronic content and presented on or more of the associated communication devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the plurality of activity profiles in the database using the collected activity information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized information is selected from information provided by a plurality of information providers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized information comprises an advertisement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the accesses electronic content is a video content.

11. A system for customizing information, comprising:

a communication unit that monitors electronic activities through a communication link, the communication link operable to communicate data between a consumer system and a service provider, the consumer system including a plurality of communication devices, determines in response on the monitoring which of the plurality of communication devices are operating, and collects activity information indicative of activities of each of a plurality of consumers in accessing electronic content through one or more of the communication devices;

an activity analyzer that associates the collected activity information corresponding to each of the plurality of consumers with one of a plurality of activity profiles maintained in a database, and customizes information in response to the associated activity profiles; and

an information delivery unit that delivers to each of the plurality of the consumers the corresponding customized information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring comprises performing a deep packet inspection of packets communicated though the communication link.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the deep packet inspection comprises interrogating header, payload, content, title of the inspected packets.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein collecting activity information comprises aggregating activity information from different communication devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the different communication devices comprise a personal computer, a television, and a web phone.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the customizing information is delivered with the accessed electronic content and presented on or more of the associated communication devices.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the activity analyzer updates the plurality of activity profiles in the database using the collected activity information.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the activity analyzer selects the customized information from information provided by a plurality of information providers.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the customized information comprises an advertisement.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the accesses electronic content is a video content.

21. A computer-readable medium containing a computer program adapted to cause a computer to execute a method for customizing information, comprising:

monitoring electronic activities through a communication link, the communication link operable to communicate data between a consumer system and a service provider, the consumer system including a plurality of communication devices;

determining in response to the monitoring which of the plurality of communication devices are operating;

collecting activity information indicative of activities of each of a plurality of consumers in accessing electronic content through one or more of the plurality of communication devices;

associating the collected activity information corresponding to each of the plurality of consumers with one of a plurality of activity profiles maintained in a database; and

customizing information in response to the plurality of associated activity profiles for delivery to corresponding consumers.