METHOD, SYSTEM, AND SOFTWARE FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED NETWORK ADVERTISING

• US 20110307335A1
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heavy Hammer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Heavy Hammer Incorporated
• Inventors: URBANSKI, Michael William, DENT, Charles David
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,737 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.

Claims

1. A computer server for communicating information over a network comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that;

provides a new first information site hosted by the computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter, wherein the first information site is one of a web site, a television communication site, a radio communication site, an electronic billboard, a web-based television site, an Internet-enabled communication site, a network gaming site, an interactive gaming site, and an Internet radio application site;

receives at the first information site an information request from a communications device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from the memory;

determines at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, the information request relating to the particular subject matter and the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, the communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieves answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the communication device to the advertiser'"'"'s information site, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

provides the answer information from the first information site to the communication device based on an input of address information.

2. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

3. The computer server in claim 2, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

4. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor determines the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information independent of a physical location of the mobile communication device.

5. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor stores the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in memory.

6. The computer server in claim 5, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

7. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor assigns answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

8. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

9. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

10. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor periodically conducts an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

31. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

34. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a zip code in the information request.

35. The computer server of claim 34, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

40. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by address information in the information request.

41. The computer server of claim 40, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

46. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a location on a map in the information request.

47. The computer server of claim 46, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

52. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the input of address information includes at least one of an input of a network address, an email address, a telephone number, an area code, and a country code.

11. A method of electronically providing information to a mobile communication device comprising:

providing a new first information site hosted by the computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter, wherein the first information site is one of a web site, a television communication site, a radio communication site, an electronic billboard, a web-based television site, an Internet-enabled communication site, a network gaming site, an interactive gaming site, and an Internet radio application site;

receiving at the first information site an information request from a mobile communication device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from the memory;

determining at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, the information request relating to the particular subject matter and the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the mobile communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, the mobile communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the mobile communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieving answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the mobile communication device to the advertiser'"'"'s information site, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

providing the answer information from the first information site to the mobile communication device based on an input of address information.

12. The method in claim 11, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

13. The method in claim 12, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

14. The method in claim 11, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined independent of a physical location of the mobile communication device.

15. The method in claim 11, further comprising:

storing the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in memory.

16. The method in claim 15, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

17. The method in claim 11, further comprising:

assigning answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

18. The method in claim 17, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

19. The method in claim 17, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

20. The method in claim 17, further comprising:

periodically conducting an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

32. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

36. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a zip code in the information request.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

42. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by address information in the information request.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

48. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a location on a map in the information request.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

53. The method of claim 11, wherein the input of address information includes at least one of an input of a network address, an email address, a telephone number, an area code, and a country code.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for controlling a computing device for electronically providing information to a mobile communication device, the instructions comprising:

providing a new first information site hosted by the computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter, wherein the first information site is one of a web site, a television communication site, a radio communication site, an electronic billboard, a web-based television site, an Internet-enabled communication site, a network gaming site, an interactive gaming site, and an Internet radio application site;

receiving at the first information site an information request from a mobile communication device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from the memory;

determining at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, the information request relating to the particular subject matter and the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the mobile communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, the mobile communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the mobile communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieving answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the mobile communication device to the advertiser'"'"'s information site, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

providing the answer information from the first information site to the mobile communication device based on an input of address information.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 21, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 22, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 21, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined independent of a physical location of the mobile communication device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 21, further comprising:

storing the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in memory.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 25, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 21, further comprising:

assigning answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 27, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 27, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 27, further comprising:

periodically conducting an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a zip code in the information request.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by address information in the information request.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the particular geographic area is determined by a location on a map in the information request.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the information request is a Real Estate information request with real estate advertiser information.

54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the input of address information includes at least one of an input of a network address, an email address, a telephone number, an area code, and a country code.