METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONSUMERS WITH CONTROL OVER USAGE OF THE CONSUMER' S DATA AND REWARDS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH

• US 20130103485A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Postrel
• Original Assignee: Richard Postrel
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/276,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20130103485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user

Abstract

A method of and system for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards. A data control server computer (DCSC) receives from a consumer computing device consumer data and an associated data control parameter that specifies a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data. The DCSC utilizes the received consumer data in accordance with the specified level of control over the usage of the consumer data. The DCSC will provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data entered by the consumer and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer, and/or based on the quantity of the consumer data entered by the consumer, and/or based on the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a. a data control server computer receiving from a consumer computing device (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data, the data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data;

b. the data control server computer utilizing the received consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter, and

c. the data control server computer providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data received from the consumer computing device and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 comprising the further step of providing the consumer computing device with a data request form web page comprising a consumer data input field and an associated data usage control, the consumer data input field enabling the consumer to enter requested consumer data, the associated data usage control enabling the consumer to enter the data control parameter specifying the level of control over the usage of the consumer data entered into the consumer data input field.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer based on the quantity of the consumer data entered by the consumer.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer based on the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the rewards comprise cash consideration.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 comprising the further step of the data control server computer storing a consumer profile, the consumer profile comprising a plurality of consumer data and a data control parameter associated with the plurality of consumer data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 comprising the further step of the data control server computer enabling the consumer profile to be modified by changing the consumer data or the data control parameter.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the rewards provided to the consumer are a function of a value ascribed to the consumer data when utilized in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

receiving from each of a plurality of consumer computing devices (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data;

aggregating the consumer data received from each of the plurality of consumer computing devices in accordance with the associated data control parameters to generate aggregated consumer data,

utilizing the aggregated consumer data, and

providing rewards to each of the plurality of consumers from whom consumer data has been received in accordance with the relative value of the consumer data with respect to the aggregated consumer data.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

providing the received consumer data to a third party in accordance with the associated data control parameter,

receiving consideration from the third party based on the utilization by the third party of the consumer data in accordance with the associated data control parameter, and

providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the consideration received from the third party.

12. A computer-implemented method of providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a. a data control server computer receiving authorization from a consumer computing device to acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device, the tracking data indicative of computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device,

b. the data control server computer acquiring tracking data from the consumer computing device as authorized,

c. the data control server computer utilizing the acquired tracking data, and

d. the data control server computer providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the acquired tracking data.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein the computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device comprises web browsing activity.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising receiving from the consumer computing device a data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the acquired tracking data.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer as a function of the data control parameter.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein the computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device comprises web browsing activity.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising the consumer computing device providing to the data control server computer a data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the acquired tracking data.

17. A computer-implemented method of providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a. a data control server computer receiving from a consumer computing device (i) a consumer data retrieval permission parameter and (ii) an associated data control parameter, the consumer data retrieval permission parameter specifying permission to retrieve previously supplied consumer data, the associated data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of previously supplied consumer data retrieved with permission from the consumer;

b. the data control server computer retrieving the previously supplied consumer data with permission from the consumer;

c. the data control server computer utilizing the retrieved previously supplied consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter, and

d. the data control server computer providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the retrieved previously supplied consumer data and the level of control of the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the consumer.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer based on the quantity of previously supplied consumer data for which permission to retrieve has been granted by the consumer to the data control server computer.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer based on the permission granted by the consumer to retrieve the previously supplied consumer data.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

21. A computer-implemented method of a consumer controlling the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a consumer computing device providing consumer data to a data control server computer, and

the consumer computing device providing a data control parameter associated with the consumer data to the data control server computer, the data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data and enabling the data control server computer to utilize the consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter and provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data provided by the consumer computing device and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 further comprising receiving a data request form web page from the data control server computer, the data request form web page comprising a consumer data input field and an associated data usage control, the consumer data input field enabling the consumer to enter requested consumer data, the associated data usage control enabling the consumer to enter the data control parameter specifying the level of control over the usage of the consumer data entered into the consumer data input field.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 further comprising the consumer computing device modifying a consumer profile stored on the data control server computer, the consumer profile comprising a plurality of consumer data and a data control parameter associated with the plurality of consumer data.

24. A computer-implemented method of a consumer controlling the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a. a consumer computing device providing to a data control server computer authorization to acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device, the tracking data indicative of computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device, and

b. the consumer computing device providing to the data control server computer tracking data as authorized for utilization by the data control server computer and for providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the acquired tracking data.

27. A computer-implemented method of a consumer controlling the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards for use of that data comprising:

a consumer computing device providing to a data control server computer a consumer data retrieval permission parameter specifying permission to retrieve previously supplied consumer data; and

the consumer computing device providing to the data control server computer an associated data control parameter, the associated data control parameter (i) specifying a level of control over the usage of previously supplied consumer data retrieved with permission from the consumer and (ii) enabling the data control server computer to utilize the retrieved previously supplied consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter and provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the retrieved previously supplied consumer data and the level of control of the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the consumer.

28. A computer system for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards comprising:

A. a data control server computer; and

B. a consumer computing device interconnected with the data control server computer;

wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

a) receive from the consumer computing device (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data, the data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data;

b) utilize the received consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter, and

c) provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data entered by the consumer and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

29. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide the consumer computing device with a data request form web page comprising a consumer data input field and an associated data usage control, the consumer data input field enabling the consumer to enter requested consumer data, the associated data usage control enabling the consumer to enter a data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of consumer data entered into the consumer data input field.

30. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quantity of the consumer data entered by the consumer.

31. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

32. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

33. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the rewards comprise cash consideration.

34. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to store a consumer profile, the consumer profile comprising a plurality of consumer data and a data control parameter associated with the plurality of consumer data.

35. The computer system of claim 34 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to enable the consumer profile to be modified by changing the consumer data or the data control parameter.

36. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the rewards provided to the consumer are a function of a value ascribed to the consumer data when utilized in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter.

37. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

receive from each of a plurality of consumer computing devices (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data;

aggregate the consumer data received from each of the plurality of consumer computing devices in accordance with the associated data control parameters to generate aggregated consumer data,

utilize the aggregated consumer data, and

provide rewards to each of the plurality of consumers from whom consumer data has been received in accordance with the relative value of the consumer data with respect to the aggregated consumer data.

38. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

provide the received consumer data to a third party in accordance with the associated data control parameter,

receive consideration from the third party based on the utilization by the third party of the consumer data in accordance with the associated data control parameter, and

provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consideration received from the third party.

39. A computer system for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards comprising:

A. a data control server computer; and

B. a consumer computing device interconnected with the data control server computer;

wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

a. receive from the consumer computing device authorization to acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device, the tracking data indicative of computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device,

b. acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device as authorized,

c. utilize the acquired tracking data, and

d. provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the acquired tracking data.

40. The computer system of claim 39 wherein the computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device comprises web browsing activity.

41. The computer system of claim 39 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to receive from the consumer computing device a data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the acquired tracking data.

42. The computer system of claim 41 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer as a function of the data control parameter.

43. The computer system of claim 39 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

44. A computer system for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards comprising:

a. a data control server computer; and

b. a consumer computing device interconnected with the data control server computer;

wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

i) receive from the consumer computing device (A) a consumer data retrieval permission parameter and (B) an associated data control parameter, the consumer data retrieval permission parameter specifying permission to retrieve previously supplied consumer data, the associated data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of previously supplied consumer data retrieved with permission from the consumer;

ii) retrieve the previously supplied consumer data with permission from the consumer;

iii) utilize the retrieved previously supplied consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter; and

iv) provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the retrieved previously supplied consumer data and the level of control of the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the consumer.

45. The computer system of claim 44 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quantity of previously supplied consumer data for which permission to retrieve has been granted by the consumer to the data control server computer.

46. The computer system of claim 44 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the permission granted by the consumer to retrieve the previously supplied consumer data.

47. The computer system of claim 44 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

48. A data control server computer for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards, the data control server computer being programmed to

a) receive from a consumer computing device (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data, the data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data;

b) utilize the received consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter, and

c) provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data entered by the consumer and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

49. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to provide the consumer computing device with a data request form web page comprising a consumer data input field and an associated data usage control, the consumer data input field enabling the consumer to enter requested consumer data, the associated data usage control enabling the consumer to enter a data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of consumer data entered into the consumer data input field.

50. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quantity of the consumer data entered by the consumer.

51. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the level of control of the usage of the consumer data specified by the consumer.

52. The data control server computer of claim 48 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

53. The data control server computer of claim 48 wherein the rewards comprise cash consideration.

54. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to store a consumer profile, the consumer profile comprising a plurality of consumer data and a data control parameter associated with the plurality of consumer data.

55. The data control server computer of claim 54 further programmed to enable the consumer profile to be modified by changing the consumer data or the data control parameter.

56. The data control server computer of claim 48 wherein the rewards provided to the consumer are a function of a value ascribed to the consumer data when utilized in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter.

57. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to

receive from each of a plurality of consumer computing devices (i) consumer data and (ii) a data control parameter associated with the consumer data;

aggregate the consumer data received from each of the plurality of consumer computing devices in accordance with the associated data control parameters to generate aggregated consumer data,

utilize the aggregated consumer data, and

provide rewards to each of the plurality of consumers from whom consumer data has been received in accordance with the relative value of the consumer data with respect to the aggregated consumer data.

58. The data control server computer of claim 48 further programmed to

provide the received consumer data to a third party in accordance with the associated data control parameter,

receive consideration from the third party based on the utilization by the third party of the consumer data in accordance with the associated data control parameter, and

provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consideration received from the third party.

59. A data control server computer for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards, the data control server computer being programmed to:

a. receive from a consumer computing device authorization to acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device, the tracking data indicative of computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device,

b. acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device as authorized,

c. utilize the acquired tracking data, and

d. provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the acquired tracking data.

60. The data control server computer of claim 59 wherein the computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device comprises web browsing activity.

61. The data control server computer of claim 59 further programmed to receive from the consumer computing device a data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the acquired tracking data.

62. The data control server computer of claim 61 wherein the rewards are provided to the consumer as a function of the data control parameter.

63. The data control server computer of claim 59 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

64. A data control server computer for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards, the data control server computer being programmed to:

i) receive from a consumer computing device (A) a consumer data retrieval permission parameter and (B) an associated data control parameter, the consumer data retrieval permission parameter specifying permission to retrieve previously supplied consumer data, the associated data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of previously supplied consumer data retrieved with permission from the consumer;

ii) retrieve the previously supplied consumer data with permission from the consumer;

iii) utilize the retrieved previously supplied consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter; and

iv) provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the retrieved previously supplied consumer data and the level of control of the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the consumer.

65. The data control server computer of claim 64 further programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quantity of previously supplied consumer data for which permission to retrieve has been granted by the consumer to the data control server computer.

66. The data control server computer of claim 64 further programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the permission granted by the consumer to retrieve the previously supplied consumer data.

67. The data control server computer of claim 64 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

68. A consumer computing device controlling of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards, the consumer computing device being programmed to

provide consumer data to a data control server computer, and

provide a data control parameter associated with the consumer data to the data control server computer, the data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the associated consumer data and enabling the data control server computer to utilize the consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter and provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the consumer data provided by the consumer computing device and the level of control of the usage of the consumer data.

69. The consumer computing device of claim 68 further programmed to receive from the data control server computer a data request form web page comprising a consumer data input field and an associated data usage control, the consumer data input field enabling the consumer to enter requested consumer data, the associated data usage control enabling the consumer to enter a data control parameter specifying a level of control over the usage of consumer data entered into the consumer data input field.

70. The consumer computing device of claim 68 further programmed to modify a consumer profile stored on the data control server computer, the consumer profile comprising a plurality of consumer data and a data control parameter associated with the plurality of consumer data.

71. A consumer computing device controlling of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards, the consumer computing device being programmed to

a. provide to a data control server computer authorization to acquire tracking data from the consumer computing device, the tracking data indicative of computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device, and

b. provide to the data control server computer tracking data as authorized for utilization by the data control server computer and for providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the acquired tracking data.

72. The consumer computing device of claim 71 wherein the computing activity undertaken on the consumer computing device comprises web browsing activity.

73. The consumer computing device of claim 71 further programmed to provide to the data control server computer a data control parameter specifying a level of control granted over the usage of the acquired tracking data.

74. A consumer computing device controlling of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and receiving associated rewards, the consumer computing device being programmed to

provide to a data control server computer a consumer data retrieval permission parameter specifying permission to retrieve previously supplied consumer data, and

provide to the data control server computer an associated data control parameter, the associated data control parameter (i) specifying a level of control over the usage of previously supplied consumer data retrieved with permission from the consumer and (ii) enabling the data control server computer to utilize the retrieved previously supplied consumer data in accordance with the level of control over the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the associated data control parameter and provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the retrieved previously supplied consumer data and the level of control of the usage of the previously supplied consumer data specified by the consumer.

75. A computer-implemented method of rewarding a consumer for providing consumer data comprising:

a. a data control server computer collecting consumer data associated with a consumer,

b. the data control server computer utilizing the collected consumer data, and

c. the data control server computer providing rewards to the consumer as a function of the utilization of the collected consumer data.

76. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the step of the data control server computer collecting consumer data associated with a consumer comprises the data control server computer receiving information input by consumer.

77. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the step of the data control server computer collecting consumer data associated with a consumer comprises

i. the data control server computer requesting permission from the consumer to retrieve consumer data from an external source,

ii. if permission is granted by the consumer, then the data control server computer retrieving consumer data from the external source.

78. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the rewards are provided by the data control server computer to the consumer based the quantity of consumer data provided by the consumer.

79. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the rewards are provided by the data control server computer to the consumer based on the quality of consumer data provided by the consumer.

80. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the rewards are provided by the data control server computer to the consumer based on the permission to use the consumer data provided by the consumer.

81. The computer-implemented method of claim 75 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.

82. A computer system for providing consumers with control of the use of the consumer'"'"'s data and providing associated rewards comprising:

a. a data control server computer; and

b. a consumer computing device interconnected with the data control server computer;

wherein the data control server computer is programmed to

i) collect consumer data associated with a consumer,

ii) utilize the collected consumer data, and

iii) provide rewards to the consumer as a function of the utilization of the collected consumer data.

83. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to collect consumer data associated with a consumer by receiving information input by consumer.

84. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to collect consumer data associated with a consumer by

i. requesting permission from the consumer to retrieve consumer data from an external source,

ii. if permission is granted by the consumer, then retrieving consumer data from the external source.

85. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quantity of consumer data provided by the consumer.

86. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the quality of consumer data provided by the consumer.

87. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the data control server computer is programmed to provide rewards to the consumer based on the permission to use the consumer data provided by the consumer.

88. The computer system of claim 82 wherein the rewards comprise reward points added to a reward account associated with the user.