System for automatically updating personal profile server with updates to additional user information gathered from monitoring user's electronic consuming habits generated on computer during use

• US 5,710,884 A
• Filed: 03/29/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dedrick, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/412,707
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 395/828, 395/830, 395/831, 395/832, 395/833, 395/834, 395/836, 395/875, 395/602, 395/610, 395/352, 395/677, 395/200.31, 395/200.33, 395/200.38, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 395/201, 395/326
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1425 involving dedicated fields in the data packet for billing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1428 Invoice generation, e.g. customization, lay-out, database processing, algorithms for calculating the bill or formatting invoices as WWW pages invoicing in general G06Q30/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for storing and updating electronic information in a personal profile server for an individual user, and dynamically changing the residence of the electronic information. The electonic information is being transmitted between a computer and a network system. The computer interfaces with a removable non-volatile storage device containing minimum user information on the individual user. The connection is secured between the computer and the network using the minimum user information. Additional user information is transmitted from the personal profile server of the network to the computer. Further, the personal profile server is updated with updates to the additional user information generated on the computer during use.

Claims

1. A method for storing and updating electronic information in a personal profile server for an individual user, and dynamically changing the residence of the electronic information, said electronic information being transmitted between a computer and a network system including said personal profile server, comprising the steps of:

interfacing the computer with a removable non-volatile storage device containing minimum user information on the individual user including information identifying the individual user;

securing connection between the computer and the network using said minimum user information;

transmitting additional user information from said personal profile server of the network to the computer, said additional user information including the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits; and

automatically updating the personal profile server with updates to said additional user information gathered from monitoring the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits generated on the computer during use.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the step of storing said additional user information transmitted from said personal profile server in the computer'"'"'s volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of updating further comprises the step of transmitting updated said additional user information to said personal profile server at update intervals indicated in a field stored in said removable non-volatile storage device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of interfacing further comprises the step of transmitting an access request to the network using a user password stored in said removable non-volatile storage device, said user password being part of said minimum user information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of securing further comprises the step of downloading said additional user information from said personal profile server of the network to the computer if said user password allows access to the individual user'"'"'s personal profile.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of changing the residence of said additional user information on said personal profile server.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of connecting to a new personal profile server.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of downloading said updated additional user information from old personal profile server onto the computer.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of setting up a new additional user information with said new personal profile server by downloading said updated additional user information to said new personal profile server.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of deleting old updated additional user information stored on said computer.

11. An apparatus for storing and updating electronic information in a personal profile server for an individual user, said apparatus being capable of dynamically changing the personal profile server on which said electronic information is stored, the electronic information being transmitted between a computer and a network including said personal profile server, said apparatus comprising:

a personal profile database which stores consumer information corresponding to the individual user including the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits;

a content adapter coupled to the personal profile database which customizes the electronic information to the individual user according to the consumer information stored in the personal profile database;

a client activity monitor coupled to the personal profile database which monitors actions taken by the individual user and automatically updates the personal profile database and the personal profile server with updated individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits based on the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habit generated on the computer during use; and

a removable non-volatile storage device couplable to the computer and containing minimum user information including information identifying the individual user and allowing a secure access and interface from the computer to additional user information on the personal profile server, said additional user information including the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said removable non-volatile storage device comprises of a smart card.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said user information further comprises of a user password and a user identification number.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer comprises a volatile memory in where said additional user information temporarily stored while the computer and the network are interfaced.

15. A system for storing and updating electronic information in a personal profile server for an individual user, said system being capable of dynamically changing the personal profile server on which said electronic information is stored, the electronic information being transmitted between a computer and a network including said personal profile server, comprising:

an electronic information server containing a plurality of electronic information units; and

a client system coupled to the electronic information server which receives the electronic information units from the electronic information server, wherein the client system includes,

a personal profile database which stores user information corresponding to the individual user including the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits,

a content adapter coupled to the personal profile database which customizes the received electronic information units to the individual user according to the user information stored in the personal profile database, the user information and the personal profile server being automatically updated with changes in the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits based on individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits generated on the computer during use, and

a removable non-volatile storage device couplable to the computer and containing minimum user information including information identifying the individual user and allowing a secure access and interface from the computer to additional user information on the personal profile server, said additional user information including the individual user'"'"'s electronic consuming habits.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said removable non-volatile storage device comprises of a smart card.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said removable non-volatile storage device stores user information identifying a user and providing secure access to the network.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said user information further comprises of a user password and a user identification number.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer comprises a volatile memory in where said additional user information temporarily stored while the computer and the network are interfaced.