Online content provider system and method

• US 6,778,982 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CXT Systems, Inc. (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maquis Techtrix LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Knight, Timothy O., Gross, J. Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Debbie M.
• Application Number:
  US10/370,542
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-3, 707/6-7, 707/10, 707/9, 705/1, 705/14
• US Class Current: 707/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

An online content system is disclosed for creating, compiling and presenting content to subscribers. A subscriber interface is configured to present search, review and listing operations in a flexible manner. Tracking and tabulation is performed on message postings and queries to compile data about a community of subscribers. Content can also be collected and presented from outside the community, incuding from other message boards, newsources, websites, etc.

Claims

1. A tracking system for monitoring and analyzing message traffic on an online message board used by a number of subscribers, said system comprising:

a set of message data items that are stored based on a classification scheme having a plurality of groups and classes;

a first query processing program for processing a first subscriber query to locate selected message data items of interest to the subscriber, said first subscriber query being selectable as content categories presented as individually selectable buttons within a first portion of a window of a user interface, and which content categories correspond to said plurality of groups and classes so that each such first subscriber query be satisfied by said query processing program based on said classification scheme; and

a second query processing program for processing a second subscriber query provided by the subscriber as a text based query within a second portion of said window of the user interface for locating a customized set of message data items;

a posting program adapted to receive and store subscriber message data items, at least some of said subscriber message data items being coded so that such subscriber message data items can also be classified and reviewed by subscribers based on said classification scheme and/or other identifying parameters for said subscriber message data item; and

a tracking program for creating a profile of each subscriber based on monitoring and analyzing subscriber message data items, subscriber queries, and customized settings of said user interface for each subscriber, including preferred topics of interest identified by a subscriber within said first portion of said window of the user interface;

wherein said profile includes information specifying search words, preferences and subjects associated with the subscriber, and such profile is used to determine appropriate advertising information to be communicated to a subscriber within said window of the user interface;

further wherein the user interface is adapted such that said first portion of said window of the user interface associated with the first subscriber query and said second portion of the window of the user interface associated with the second subscriber query can remain visible and selectable to the user while a content of said message data items can be reviewed by the user in a separate portion of the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of said subscriber message data items are coded with more than one code so that they classified in more than one group and/or class.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second subscriber queries are coded to have a coding based on analyzing a text content of said query so that a customized logical group of messages is created for said query from said plurality of groups.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first subscriber queries and subscriber message data are tabulated to include a ranking of coding characteristics pertaining to respectively:

(1) groups and/or classes most often queried; and

(2) groups and/or classes most often posted to.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first subscriber queries and subscriber message data are tabulated to include a ranking of identifying parameters pertaining to:

(1) authors most often queried; and

(2) postings made by authors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second subscriber queries and subscriber message data are tabulated to include a ranking of identifying parameters pertaining to subscriber query formulation preferences compiled for all of said users of said system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said profile includes information identifying company names and/or product brand names previously used in queries for each of said users of said system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said classification scheme is automatically modified by the online message board on a periodic basis in response to tabulations of said content categories queried by said first subscriber queries and/or said identifying parameters of said second subscriber queries, so that new sets of message data items and content are created automatically in new groups and/or new classes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein message data items are sent automatically to a subscriber based on filter selection items customized by said subscriber.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said codes for said subscriber message are also changed in accordance with any modifications to said classification scheme.

11. A method of monitoring and analyzing message traffic on an online message board system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) classifying message items based on a classification scheme having a plurality of groups and classes;

(b) processing first user queries received from users of the online message board system to locate selected message data items of interest to said users, said first user queries being selectable as content categories presented as individually selectable buttons within a first portion of a window of a user interface, and which content categories correspond to said plurality of groups and classes

(c) processing second subscriber queries received as a text based query provided by the subscribers within a second portion of said window of the user interface for locating a customized set of message data items;

(d) processing user posted message data items from said users, said user posted message data items also being classified based on said classification scheme and/or other identifying parameter; and

(d) generating a profile of each subscriber, said profile being based on analyzing subscriber message data items, subscriber queries, and customized settings of a user interface for each subscriber, including preferred topics of interest identified by a subscriber within said first portion of said window of the user interface;

wherein said profile includes information specifying search words, preferences and subjects associated with the subscriber, and such profile is used to determine appropriate advertising information to be communicated to a subscriber subscriber within said window of the user interface

further wherein the user interface is adapted such that said first portion of said window of the user interface associated with the first subscriber query and said second portion of the window of the user interface associated with the second subscriber query can remain visible and selectable to the user while a content of said message data items can be reviewed by the user in a separate portion of the user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein message board system feedback information is made available for access to said users including at least:

(1) an identification of content categories most commonly queried; and

/or (2) an identification of content categories most commonly posted to by users.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said classification scheme is derived in part from said message board system feedback information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said system feedback information also includes:

(1) an identification of most frequently queried authors;

(2) an identification of most frequently posting authors.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said system feedback information also includes:

(1) an identification of interface customizations most frequently used by the users of the online message board system.

16. A method of presenting advertising to users of an online website comprising the steps of:

(a) classifying and presenting content items to the users within first portion of a window of an electronic interface based on a classification scheme having a plurality of groups and classes;

(b) processing first user queries received from the users to locate selected message data items of interest to said users, said first user queries being based on said classification scheme, so that lists of said content items can be retrieved within said window by a single interface selection of a particular group and/or class of content items by the users;

(c) processing second user queries for content items presented as customized keyword text searches generated by the users within a second portion of a window of said electronic interface; and

(d) presenting content for one or more of said content items within a third portion of an interface in response to one of said first user queries and/or said second user queries, such that all content for said one or more of said content items can be reviewed while said first portion and second portions of said window of said electronic interface also remain visible and selectable for a further query;

(d) determining and selecting advertising information to be presented within said window of said electronic interface to said users based on correlating said advertising information to said one or more of said content items.

17. The method of claim 16, further including a step:

(d) generating a profile of each user, said profile being based on analyzing said first user queries, said second user queries, and customizations of said interface by the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said profile is also used to determine appropriate advertising information to be communicated to a subscriber.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said first user queries and said second user queries are monitored and tabulated as an aggregate for an entire community of online users, and said advertising information is presented based on said aggregate tabulation.