System for targeting information to specific users on a computer network

• US 6,606,652 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Samuel Thomas III, Blackketter, Dean, Adelus, John L., Perlman, Stephen G., Cohn, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/978,411
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/227, 709/203, 709/224, 709/245, 709/238, 705/10, 705/14, 705/27, 705/8, 705/63, 725/2, 725/32, 725/46, 725/48
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/19 at layers above the network layer network arrangements for networked applications for scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system for targeting information on a computer network. The system involves categorizing a plurality of address pointers according to the content designated by the address pointer. The system further involves reading the address pointer which designates the content received by the user and determining which category or categories, if any, the address pointer is within. Information packets, such as advertisements, are targeted to selected categories. Once the category of an address pointer has been determined, an information packet targeted to that category is selected and transmitted to the user.

Claims

1. In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising steps for:

the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category;

automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and

if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a third party categorization database is used to determine whether the first content category is associated with the one or more content addresses.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the targeting information system connects the plurality of servers and the computer network through the Internet.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of displaying the one or more information packets at the user terminal.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more particular content addresses is associated with a the first content category based on one or more words within the first content category that is available at the at least one of the one or more particular content addresses.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more information packets are targeted to at least a first content category by a third party.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the target database is remotely located from the target information system.

8. A computer program product for use in a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from ally particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising;

the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category;

automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and

if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.

9. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein a third party categorization database is used to determine whether the first content category is associated with the one or more content addresses.

10. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein the targeting system connects the plurality of servers and the computer network through the Internet.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, further including an act of displaying the one or more information packets at the user terminal.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more particular content addresses is associated with the first content category based on one or more words within the first content category that is available at the at least one of the one or more particular content addresses.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more information packets are targeted to at least a first content category by a third party.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the target remotely located from the target information system.