Method for providing customized user interface and targeted marketing forum

• US 7,599,851 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Equalitative Research, Inc., TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Equalitative Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Bellantoni, John, Frengut, Renee, Burdick, John
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US09/825,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,108 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

A method for providing customized network interface and targeted marketing forum. Consumers are provided with a graphical interface tailored in appearance and content based solely on the consumer'"'"'s specifications. In addition, advertisers and other commercial entities are provided with a targeted audience of consumers having an increased likelihood of interest in the advertisement or commercial object.

Claims

1. A method for generating a customized interface, comprising the steps of:

associating in a computer one or more ads with each ad having a respective ad profile;

associating in a computer one or more user profiles with each user profile created from information inputted by a corresponding user and transmitted to the computer, wherein each user personally assists in the creation of his or her user profile by knowingly inputting the information and is aware that the information will be used to create a customized interface for each user profile,

determining matching ad profiles by comparing the ad profiles with user profiles for matches;

selectively including in the interface of a user at least one of the one or more ads associated with the ad profiles matching a user profile created from the information provided by the user; and

formatting the interface in accordance with the user profile;

wherein the user profile defines an amount of space on the interface, the method further comprising the step of formatting the interface such that the one or more ads included in the interface are restricted to the amount of space defined in the user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of excluding from the interface any ads associated with an ad profile not matching the user profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile for each user is created from and solely based on information knowingly provided by each user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of including in the interface ads that are related to one or more favorite category of products or services specified in the information provided by the user to create his or her user profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile defines a list of one or more advertisers, the method further comprising the step of including in the interface only those ads that are associated with the advertisers listed in the user profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile defines a framework, the method further comprising the step of formatting the interface in accordance with the framework defined in the user profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the interface in real time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing statistical data determined according to the user'"'"'s activity at the interface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of charging an advertiser of the ads having a matching profile in accordance with the statistical data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging an advertiser of the ads having a matching profile in accordance with the matches.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the charging step comprises charging the advertiser in accordance with the number of users having matching user profiles.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging step comprises charging the advertiser as a function of amount of space available for presenting the ad to the users.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the charging step comprises charging the advertiser according to the number of users to whom the ad was sent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the charging step comprises charging the advertiser an amount determined according to a function of when the user receives the ad.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad profile contains information about a targeted audience for the ad.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of including the ad in the interface on condition that the user profile is consistent with the targeted audience and the inclusion of the ad is consistent with the user profile.

17. A method for generating a customized interface, comprising the steps of:

associating in a computer one or more ads with each ad having a respective ad profile;

associating in a computer one or more user profiles with each user profile created from information inputted by a corresponding user and transmitted to the computer, wherein each user personally assists in the creation of his or her user profile by knowingly inputting the information and is aware that the information will be used to create a customized interface for each user profile,

determining matching ad profiles by comparing the ad profiles with user profiles for matches;

selectively including in the interface of a user at least one of the one or more ads associated with the ad profiles matching a user profile created from the information provided by the user; and

formatting the interface in accordance with the user profile;

wherein the user profile defines an percentage of space on the interface, the method further comprising the step of formatting the interface such that the one or more ads included in the interface occupy no more space than the percentage defined in the user profile.