System for viewing content over a network and method therefor

• US 7,194,542 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Segan LLC
• Original Assignee: M.H. Segan Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Segan, Marc H., Lewin, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lezak; Arrienne M.
• Application Number:
  US11/343,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 395/226, 705 1- 45, 705 50- 80, 709/205, 709217-219, 709227-231, 345/769
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for viewing content over the Internet wherein a user accesses a service provider server to view a character icon provided by the service provider to a user interface device. The user will select web site addresses of subscriber target sites where the user can access enhancement content for the character icon to provide functionality to the character icon such as for animating the character icon on the user device. Addresses for such web sites may be provided to the user based on a particular character icon selection which may, in and of itself, signify interests and/or demographic information of the user. Access to enhancement content will be provided by accessing authorization codes present at the target sites. In a preferred embodiment, only certain enhancement content will be operable on certain character icons, thus requiring the user to locate enhancement content that is compatible with the user'"'"'s character icon.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring enhancement functions for character icons, with each character icon having a corresponding attribute for manipulating the display of respective ones of said character icons on a first user device and a second user device, said first user device depicting a first icon having a first corresponding attribute, and said second device depicting a second icon having a second corresponding attribute, comprising the steps of:

accessing a service provider with said first and second user devices;

providing the user devices with addresses of target websites offering content having enhancement authorization codes corresponding to the first character icon and the second character icon;

accessing at least one of the target website addresses on each of said first and second user devices;

communicating between the user devices and a target website to locate new character enhancements for the user character icons;

communicating between a target website and said service provider for offering a new character enhancement for the user characters icons, wherein the new character enhancement is capable of being enabled in the user'"'"'s record of the first and/or second user at the service provider without requiring user interaction with the service provider, and wherein the character enhancements are obtained per predefined authorization rules from the service provider and/or the target website in addition to predetermined user preferences;

obtaining at least one enhancement authorization code on said first and second user devices upon access of the at least one of the target website addresses, said at least one enhancement authorization code corresponding to enhancement functions for the first and second character icons;

selecting the at least one new character enhancement by performing an action on the user devices;

determining whether the at least one selected enhancement authorization code corresponding to the selected enhancement icons are authorized to be used with the presently-selected character icons displayed on said first and second user devices;

adding an access code for the enhancement function to a first user enhancement file associated with a first user operating said first user device remotely located from said first user device if the enhancement function corresponding to the selected authorization code selected by the first user device is authorized to be used with the presently-displayed character icon on said first user device;

adding an access code for the enhancement function to a second user enhancement file associated with a second user operating said second user device remotely located from said second user device if the enhancement function corresponding to the selected authorization code selected by said second user device is authorized to be used with the presently-displayed character icon on said second user device; and

providing an indication to the first and second user devices that the selected enhancement functions have been added to the respective user enhancement files.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user can display the first character icon and said corresponding acquired enhancement to the second user on said second user device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring the access code contained in the first user enhancement file, to the second user enhancement file upon receipt of an authorization command provided by the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the enhancement function from an index portrayed on each of said first and second the user devices for causing at least one of the first and second character icons to perform the selected enhancement function on said user devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first character icon represents certain predetermined user preferences of a first user, wherein said second character icon represents certain predetermined user preferences of a second user, and wherein the content offered by the target websites further comprises content corresponding to the certain predetermined user preferences of the first and second users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring contents contained in the first user file to the second user file.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one enhancement authorization code provides an instruction for directing a browser operable on one of the first and second user devices to locate a target website other than a presently-located target website.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the first character icon on the second user device and displaying the second character icon on the first user device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of displaying the first character icon on the second user device and displaying the second character icon on the first user device allows for the first and second character icons to simulate a baffle.