APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MARKETING SERVICE

• US 20120265646A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evergage, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MyBuys Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shukla, Anu, Berman, Richard Russell, Weiler, Mark, GHADIALY, Majeed
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a marketing service are described. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium includes: (1) a preferences module that is configured to collect a set of preferences of a user; (2) a monitoring module that is configured to monitor a web site based on the set of preferences so as to identify relevant content; and (3) a notification module that is configured to generate a message alerting the user of the relevant content.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A computer implemented method comprising:

generating, by a computer system, advertising material personalized for a user based on preferences of the user;

monitoring, by the computer system, a rate of access by the user to the advertising material;

determining, by the computer system, a desired frequency at which the advertising material is to be provided for the user based on the rate of access; and

providing, by the computer system, the advertising material for the user at the desired frequency.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the providing the advertising material includes using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the providing the advertising material includes using E-Mail.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the providing the advertising material includes using instant messaging (IM).

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the providing the advertising material includes using Really Simple Syndication (RSS).

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the providing the advertising material includes using Short Message Service (SMS).

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising determining the preferences of the user based on browsing behavior of the user at a web site of a merchant.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the determining the preferences includes inferring the preferences of the user based on at least one of a number of visits by the user to a product detail page, a number of visits by the user to a product category page, addition by the user of a product to a cart, and completion by the user of an on-line purchase.

32. The method of claim 24 further comprising monitoring browsing behavior of the user at a web site of a merchant upon receipt of consent from the user.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the generating advertising material includes inferring desirable characteristics of the advertising material based on comparison of the rate of access by the user with a typical rate.

34. The method of claim 24 further comprising collecting product information related to a merchant.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the collecting product information includes at least one of web crawling a web site of the merchant and using a data feed.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising matching the preferences of the user with the product information to identify recommended products for the user.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the advertising material is based on the recommended products.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising matching the preferences of the user with the product information to identify relevant content for the user.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the advertising material is based on the relevant content.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the relevant content relates to at least one of an available product and an alternative product.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the advertising material includes a navigation link.

42. A computer storage medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a computer implemented method comprising:

generating advertising material personalized for a user based on preferences of the user;

monitoring a rate of access by the user to the advertising material;

determining a desired frequency at which the advertising material is to be provided for the user based on the rate of access; and

providing the advertising material for the user at the desired frequency.

43. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to perform;

generating advertising material personalized for a user based on preferences of the user;

monitoring a rate of access by the user to the advertising material;

determining a desired frequency at which the advertising material is to be provided for the user based on the rate of access; and

providing the advertising material for the user at the desired frequency.