Targeted information delivery to multiple users

• US 7,107,317 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Toohey, James J., Demsky, Scott H., James, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US10/178,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207, 709/202, 709/224, 709/248, 709/227, 707/102, 707/10, 717/7, 717/9, 705/1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

A method of delivering targeted application generated information to multiple users can include generating data items to be output to classes of at least one user and associating the data items with data categories. The data categories can be associated with at least one of the classes of users. The data items can be distributed to classes of users that are associated with the data categories of the data items.

Claims

1. A method of delivering application generated information to multiple users comprising:

specifying a plurality of users participating in a collaboration session, wherein said users enter numeric data items during said collaboration session;

assigning at least one user to at least one class;

receiving numeric data items from said plurality of users during the collaboration session;

computing a numeric outcome from an evaluation of said numeric data items;

analyzing the numeric outcome that is generated to determine at least one of said classes that should be granted access to said numeric data items as said numeric outcome is computed in real-time with reference to content rules, wherein

if said numeric outcome is greater than a predetermined threshold, granting access to at least one class,

if said numeric outcome is less than a predetermined threshold, denying access to at least one class,

associating said numeric outcomes with data categories corresponding to at least one of said classes of users;

distributing said numeric data items to classes of users with granted access that are associated with said data categories of said data items;

wherein said associating step takes place dynamically during the collaboration session wherein said data items are generated for presentation to at least one class of user;

wherein said distributing step further comprising;

determining a preferred media format for distributing said data items to said classes of users; and

converting a media format of said data items to be provided to said classes of users to said determined preferred media format.

2. The method of claim 1, said associating step further comprising:

determining said data category associations and said user class associations by applying distribution rules to said data items.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said distribution rules comprise content rules, said associating step further comprising:

comparing said data item content with said content rules, wherein said content rules specify associations between said data item content and said user classes.

4. The method of claim 1, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items for granting access; and

disassociating one of said user classes from a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

5. The method of claim 1, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items for granting access; and

associating a different one of said user classes with a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

6. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

specifying a plurality of users participating in a collaboration session, wherein said users enter numeric data items during said collaboration session;

assigning at least one user to at least one class;

receiving numeric data items from said plurality of users during the collaboration session;

calculating a numeric outcome from an evaluation of said numeric data items;

analyzing the numeric items outcome that is generated to determine at least one of said classes that should be granted access to said numeric data items as said numeric outcome is developed computed in real-time with reference to content rules, wherein

if said numeric outcome is greater than a predetermined threshold, granting access to at least one class,

if said numeric outcome is less than a predetermined threshold, denying access to at least one class,

associating said item numeric outcomes with data categories corresponding to at least one of said classes of users;

distributing said numeric data items to classes of users with granted access that are associated with said data categories of said data items; and

wherein said associating step takes place dynamically during the collaboration session wherein said data items are generated for presentation to at least one class of user;

wherein said distributing step further comprising;

determining a preferred media format for distributing said data items to said classes of users; and

converting a media format of said data items to be provided to said classes of users to said determined preferred media format.

7. The machine-readable storage of claim 6, said associating step further comprising:

determining said data category associations and said user class associations by applying distribution rules to said data items.

8. The machine-readable storage of claim 7, wherein said distribution rules comprise content rules, said associating step further comprising:

comparing said data item content with said content rules, wherein said content rules specify associations between said data item content and said user classes.

9. The machine-readable storage of claim 6, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items for granting access; and

disassociating one of said user classes from a data category of said data items according to said data item content.

10. The machine-readable storage of claim 6, said associating step further comprising:

determining content of said data items for granting access; and

associating a different one of said user classes with a data category of said data items according to said data item content.