System and method for content optimization

• US 6,662,215 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I Novation Inc.
• Original Assignee: I Novation Inc.
• Inventors: Gofman, Alexander, Moskowitz, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/613,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/217, 709/219, 705/10, 705/14, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A communication method for communication between a user computing device and a first server arrangement includes the steps of: transmitting a communication, which includes data representing a characteristic of the user of the user computing device, from the first server arrangement to a second server arrangement; selecting a population segment in accordance with the user characteristic; determining a content in accordance with the user characteristic; transmitting a first response, which includes data representing the determined content, from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement; and transmitting a second response, which includes at least the determined content, from the first server arrangement to the user computing device. The content corresponds to a plurality of concept elements. The method may be embodied in a computer-readable storing medium or in a computer system.

Claims

1. A data communication method, comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a first request communication from a user computing arrangement to a first server arrangement via a communications network;

(b) transmitting a second request communication from the first server arrangement to a second server arrangement, the second request communication including data representing at least one characteristic of a user of the user computing arrangement;

(c) selecting one of a plurality of population segments in accordance with the at least one characteristic of the user;

(d) determining a content in accordance with the population segment selected in the selecting step (c), the content corresponding to a combination of a plurality of concept elements;

(e) transmitting a first response communication from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement in response to the second request communication, the first response communication including data representing the content determined in the determining step (d); and

(f) transmitting a second response communication from the first server arrangement to the user computing arrangement via the communications network in response to the first request communication, the second response communication including at least the content determined in the determining step (d) wherein the determining step (d) comprising the steps of;

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions;

selecting a plurality of respondents from each of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the plurality of respondents an evaluation of the content executions;

assigning the content executions to a respective one of the plurality of population segments; and

determining, for each of the plurality of population segments, an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined content executions.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected one of a plurality of predetermined content executions from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions includes a default content execution.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting appropriate individual elements corresponding to each of the plurality of concept elements.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of assembling the selected individual elements to define the content.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected individual elements from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the assembled content from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the at least one characteristic of the user, the user characteristic determining step including at least one of the steps of:

obtaining a response from the user to each of at least one stimulus or question;

obtaining an identifying code corresponding to the user; and

identifying prior behavior of the user.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the prior behavior identifying step includes the step of transmitting data indicative of the user'"'"'s prior behavior from the user computing device to at least one of the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a conjoint measurement relating to a plurality of combinations of the concept elements, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the conjoint measurement.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the conjoint measurement performing step includes a substep of obtaining normative information relating to a plurality of respondents and relating to the plurality of combinations of the concept elements.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of defining the plurality of population segments in accordance with the conjoint measurement performed and normative information obtained.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions, each of the predetermined content executions corresponding to a respective combination of the concept elements;

assigning each of the respondents to one of the plurality of population segments;

assigning each of the plurality of content executions to one of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the respondents an evaluation of the content execution assigned to the respondent'"'"'s respective population segment; and

for each population segment, determining an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second request communication includes data representing a number of characteristics of the user, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the number of characteristics of the user.

19. A computer-readable storing medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor arrangement to implement a data communication method, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a first request communication from a user computing arrangement to a first server arrangement via a communications network;

(b) transmitting a second request communication from the first server arrangement to a second server arrangement, the second request communication including data representing at least one characteristic of a user of the user computing arrangement;

(c) selecting one of a plurality of population segments in accordance with the at least one characteristic of the user;

(d) determining a content in accordance with the population segment selected in the selecting step (c), the content corresponding to a combination of a plurality of concept elements;

(e) transmitting a first response communication from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement in response to the second request communication, the first response communication including data representing the content determined in the determining step (d); and

(f) transmitting a second response communication from the first server arrangement to the user computing arrangement via the communications network in response to the first request communication, the second response communication including at least the content determined in the determining step (d) wherein the determining step (d) comprising the steps of;

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions;

selecting a plurality of respondents from each of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the plurality of respondents an evaluation of the content executions;

assigning the content executions to a respective one of the plurality of population segments; and

determining, for each of the plurality of population segments, an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

20. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 19, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined content executions.

21. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 20, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected one of a plurality of predetermined content executions from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

22. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

23. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

24. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions includes a default content execution.

25. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 19, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting appropriate individual elements corresponding to each of the plurality of concept elements.

26. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 25, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of assembling the selected individual elements to define the content.

27. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 25, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected individual elements from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

28. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 26, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

29. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 26, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the assembled content from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

30. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises the step of determining the at least one characteristic of the user, the user characteristic determining step including at least one of the steps of:

obtaining a response from the user to each of at least one stimulus or question;

obtaining an identifying code corresponding to the user; and

identifying prior behavior of the user.

31. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 30, wherein the prior behavior identifying step includes the step of transmitting data indicative of the user'"'"'s prior behavior from the user computing device to at least one of the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement.

32. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises the step of performing a conjoint measurement relating to a plurality of combinations of the concept elements, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the conjoint measurement.

33. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 32, wherein the conjoint measurement performing step includes a substep of obtaining normative information relating to a plurality of respondents and relating to the plurality of combinations of the concept elements.

34. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 33, wherein the method further comprises a step of defining the plurality of population segments in accordance with the conjoint measurement performed and normative information obtained.

35. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 34, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions, each of the predetermined content executions corresponding to a respective combination of the concept elements;

assigning each of the respondents to one of the plurality of population segments;

assigning each of the plurality of predetermined content executions to one of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the respondents an evaluation of the predetermined content execution assigned to the respondent'"'"'s respective population segment; and

for each population segment, determining an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

36. The computer-readable storing medium according to claim 19, wherein the second request communication includes data representing a number of characteristics of the user, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the number of characteristics of the user.

37. A computer system, comprising:

a first server arrangement;

a second server arrangement

at least one user computing arrangement; and

a data communication method comprising the steps of;

(a) transmitting a first request communication from the user computing arrangement to the first server arrangement via a communications network;

(b) transmitting a second request communication from the first server arrangement to the second server arrangement, the second request communication including data representing at least one characteristic of a user of the user computing arrangement;

(c) selecting one of a plurality of population segments in accordance with the at least one characteristic of the user;

(d) determining a content in accordance with the data representing the at least one characteristic of the user, the content corresponding to a combination of a plurality of concept elements; and

(e) transmitting a first response communication from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement in response to the second request communication, the first response communication including data representing the content determined in the determining step (d);

(f) transmitting a second response communication from the first server arrangement to the user computing arrangement via the communications network in response to the first request communication, the second response communication including at least the content determined in the determining step (d) wherein the determining step (d) comprising the steps of;

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions;

selecting a plurality of respondents from each of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the plurality of respondents an evaluation of the content executions;

assigning the content executions to a respective one of the plurality of population segments; and

determining, for each of the plurality of population segments, an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

38. The computer system according to claim 37, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined content executions.

39. The computer system according to claim 38, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected one of a plurality of predetermined content executions from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

40. The computer system according to claim 39, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

41. The computer system according to claim 39, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the selected predetermined content execution from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

42. The computer system according to claim 38, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions includes a default content execution.

43. The computer system according to claim 37, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of selecting appropriate individual elements corresponding to each of the plurality of concept elements.

44. The computer system according to claim 43, wherein the content determining step (d) includes a substep of assembling the selected individual elements to define the content.

45. The computer system according to claim 44, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

46. The computer system according to claim 43, wherein the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmits data indicative of the selected individual elements from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement.

47. The computer system according to claim 44, wherein each group of individual elements is stored in a data storing device of the second server arrangement, the first response communication transmitting step (e) transmitting the assembled content from the second server arrangement to the first server arrangement, the second response communication transmitting step (f) transmitting the assembled content from the first server arrangement to the user computing device.

48. The computer system according to claim 37, wherein the method further comprises the step of determining the at least one characteristic of the user, the user characteristic determining step including at least one of the steps of:

obtaining a response from the user to each of at least one stimulus or question;

obtaining an identifying code corresponding to the user; and

identifying prior behavior of the user.

49. The computer system according to claim 48, wherein the prior behavior identifying step includes the step of transmitting data indicative of the user'"'"'s prior behavior from the user computing device to at least one of the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement.

50. The computer system according to claim 37, wherein the method further comprises the step of performing a conjoint measurement relating to a plurality of combinations of the concept elements, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the conjoint measurement.

51. The computer system according to claim 50, wherein the conjoint measurement performing step includes the substep of obtaining normative information relating to a plurality of respondents and relating to the plurality of combinations of the concept elements.

52. The computer system according to claim 51, wherein the method further comprises the step of defining the plurality of population segments in accordance with the conjoint measurement performed and normative information obtained.

53. The computer system according to claim 52, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

defining a plurality of predetermined content executions, each of the predetermined content executions corresponding to a respective combination of the concept elements;

assigning each of the respondents to one of the plurality of population segments;

assigning each of the plurality of predetermined content executions to one of the plurality of population segments;

obtaining from each of the respondents an evaluation of the predetermined content execution assigned to the respondent'"'"'s respective population segment; and

for each population segment, determining an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

54. The computer system according to claim 37, wherein the second request communication includes data representing a number of characteristics of the user, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the number of characteristics of the user.

55. A computer system, comprising:

a user computing arrangement;

a first server arrangement; and

a second server arrangement;

wherein the user computing arrangement is configured to transmit a first request communication to the first server arrangement via a communications network;

wherein the first server arrangement is configured to transmit a second request communication to the second server arrangement, the second request communication including data representing at least one characteristic of a user of the user computing arrangement;

wherein the second server arrangement is configured to select one of a plurality of population segments in accordance with the at least one characteristic of the user;

wherein the second server arrangement is further configured to determine a content in accordance with the population segment selected, the content corresponding to a combination of a plurality of concept elements;

wherein the second server arrangement is further configured to transmit a first response communication to the first server arrangement in response to the second request communication, the first response communication including data representing the content determined by the second server arrangement;

wherein the first server arrangement is further configured to transmit a second response communication to the user computing arrangement via the communications network in response to the first request communication, the second response communication including at least the content determined by the second server arrangement wherein the second server arrangement is further configured to;

define a plurality of predetermined content executions;

select a plurality of respondents from each of the plurality of population segments;

obtain from each of the plurality of respondents an evaluation of the content executions;

assign the content executions to a respective one of the plurality of population segments; and

determine, for each of the plurality of population segments, an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

56. The computer system according to claim 55, wherein the second server arrangement is configured to determine the content by selecting one of a plurality of predetermined content executions.

57. The computer system according to claim 56, wherein the first response communication includes data indicative of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined content executions.

58. The computer system according to claim 57, wherein the first server arrangement includes a data storing device, the plurality of predetermined content executions being stored in the data storing device, the second response communication including the selected one of plurality of predetermined content executions.

59. The computer system according to claim 58, wherein the second server arrangement is configured to define the plurality of population segments in accordance with the conjoint measurement and the normative information.

60. The computer system according to claim 59, wherein the second server arrangement is configured to define a plurality of predetermined content executions, each of the predetermined content executions corresponding to a respective combination of the concept elements;

wherein the second server arrangement is configured to assign each of the respondents to one of the plurality of population segments;

wherein the second server arrangement is configured to assign each of the plurality of predetermined content executions to one of the plurality of population segments;

wherein the second server arrangement is configured to obtain from each of the respondents an evaluation of the predetermined content execution assigned the respondent'"'"'s respective population segment; and

wherein the second server arrangement is configured to determine, for each population segment, an optimization of the predetermined content executions in accordance with the evaluations obtained.

61. The computer system according to claim 56, wherein the plurality of predetermined content executions includes a default content execution.

62. The computer system according to claim 57, wherein second server arrangement includes a data storing device, the plurality of predetermined content executions being stored in the data storing device, the first response communication including the selected one of the plurality of predetermined content executions and the second response communication including the selected one of the plurality of predetermined content executions.

63. The computer system according to claim 57, wherein the conjoint measurement performed includes obtaining normative information relating to a plurality of respondents and relating to the plurality of combinations of the concept elements.

64. The computer system according to claim 55, wherein the second server arrangement is configured to select appropriate individual elements corresponding to each of the plurality of concept elements.

65. The computer system according to claim 64, wherein at least one of the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement is configured to assemble the selected individual elements to define the content.

66. The computer system according to claim 65, wherein the first server arrangement includes a data storing device, each group of individual elements being stored in the data storing device, first server arrangement being configured to assemble the selected individual elements to define the content, the second response communication including the assembled selected individual elements.

67. The computer system according to claim 64, wherein the first response communication includes data indicative of the selected individual elements.

68. The computer system according to claim 65, wherein the second server arrangement includes a data storing device, each group of individual elements being stored in the data storing device, the second server arrangement being configured to assemble the selected individual components to define the content, the first response communication including the assembled selected individual elements and the second response communication including the assembled selected individual components.

69. The computer system according to claim 55, wherein at least one of the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement is configured to determined the at least one characteristic of the user in accordance with at least one of:

a response received from the user to at least one stimulus or question;

an identifying code corresponding to the user; and

a prior behavior of the user.

70. The computer system according to claim 69, wherein the user computing device is configured to transmit data indicative of the user'"'"'s prior behavior to at least one the first server arrangement and the second server arrangement.

71. The computer system according to claim 55, wherein the second server arrangement is configured to perform a conjoint measurement relating to a plurality of combinations of the concept elements, the content being determined in accordance with the conjoint measurement.

72. The computer system according to claim 55, wherein the second request communication includes data representing a number of characteristics of the user, the content determined in the determining step (d) being determined in accordance with the number of characteristics of the user.