Customize an email using an expertise level rules engine

• US 7,979,493 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company LLC (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Go Daddy Group Incorporated (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rechterman, Barbara J., Proctor, Neil, Bennett, Bill, Fitzpatrick, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dustin
• Application Number:
  US11/861,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 706/45, 706/62, 707/9, 707/999.003, 707/1, 434/362, 379/266.01, 705/7.14
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content

Abstract

A Web site, through the use of a Rules Engine, determines an expertise level of a User for one or more topics on a Web page. The Rules Engine may analyze User related data, such as the search term used by the User to find the Web site, the past products purchased by the User, the path through the Web site taken by the User, the usage history by the User on the Web site, the demographics of the User and/or the self declared expertise level of the User, to determine an expertise level of the User for the topics on the Web page. A Display Engine may customize a Web page based on the expertise levels of a User so that topics on the Web page are presented in a manner most appropriate for the User. An Email Engine may be used to customize emails to the User so that topics in the email are presented in manner most appropriate for the User. A Support Entity Engine may also be used to route an incoming support inquiries from a User to an appropriate technical support person for the User.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, from a web site, usage pattern data related to content on the web site, wherein the content comprises one or more topics within one or more web pages within the web site;

b) calculating an expertise level for each of the one or more topics, wherein the expertise level is calculated by a rules engine,

wherein the rules engine comprises one or more software packages on a server computer communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the rules engine is configured to analyze the usage pattern data to determine the expertise level;

c) customizing an email content, wherein the email content is customized by an email engine and wherein the email engine comprises one or more software packages on the server computer configured to alter text, graphics, images, a layout, a template or offered products in an email responsive to receiving the expertise level calculated by the rules engine for each of the one or more topics; and

d) transmitting the email content, as customized in the email by the email engine, to an email software application displayed on a client computer communicatively coupled to the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expertise level for each of the one or more topics is self declared by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the expertise level for each of the one or more topics is determined using at least one purchase made by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expertise level for each of the one or more topics is determined using a path of a user through the web site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the email content includes the one or more topics at the same technical level as the expertise level determined by the rules engine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of expertise levels are determined by the rules engine for a plurality of topics.

7. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, from a eb site, usage pattern data related to content on the web site, wherein the content comprises one or more topics within one or more web pages within the web site;

b) calculating an expertise level for each of the one or more topics, wherein the expertise level is calculated by a rules engine,

wherein the rules engine comprises one or more software packages on a server computer communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the rules engine is configured to analyze the usage pattern data to determine the expertise level;

c) customizing a technical content of an email, wherein the technical content comprises text unrelated to products offered, wherein the technical content is customized by an email engine and wherein the email engine comprises one or more software packages on the server computer configured to alter text, graphics, images, a layout or a template in the email responsive to receiving the expertise level calculated by the rules engine for each of the one or more topics; and

d) transmitting the technical content, as customized in the email by the email engine, to an email software application displayed on a client computer communicatively coupled to the network.

8. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving usage pattern data from a first web site, and additional usage pattern data from a second web site, wherein the usage pattern data, and the additional usage pattern data, are related to content on the first web site and the second web site, respectively, and wherein the content comprises one or more topics within one or more web pages within the first web site and the second web site;

b) calculating an expertise level for each of the one or more topics, wherein the expertise level is calculated by a rules engine,

wherein the rules engine comprises one or more software packages on a server computer communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the rules engine is configured to analyze the usage pattern data and the additional usage pattern data to determine the expertise level;

c) customizing an email content, wherein the email content is customized by an email engine and wherein the email engine comprises one or more software packages on the server computer configured to alter text, graphics, images, a layout, a template or offered products in an email responsive to receiving the expertise level calculated by the rules engine for each of the one or more topics; and

d) transmitting the email content, as customized in the email by the email engine, to an email software application displayed on a client computer communicatively coupled to the network.

9. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, from a web site, usage pattern data related to content on the web site, wherein the content comprises one or more topics within one or more web pages within the web site;

b) calculating an expertise level for each of the one or more topics, wherein the expertise level is calculated by a rules engine,

wherein the rules engine comprises one or more software packages on a server computer communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the rules engine is configured to analyze the usage pattern data to determine the expertise level;

c) customizing an email content, wherein the email content is customized by an email engine and wherein the email engine comprises one or more software packages on the server computer configured to offer a product in an email responsive to receiving the expertise level calculated by the rules engine for each of the one or more topics; and

d) transmitting the email content, as customized in the email by the email engine, to an email software application displayed on a client computer communicatively coupled to the network.

10. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, from a web site, usage pattern data related to content accessed on a first visit to the web site, wherein the content comprises one or more topics within one or more web pages within the web site;

b) receiving, from the web site, additional usage pattern data on a second visit to the web site, wherein the additional usage pattern data is related to the content accessed on the second visit to the web site;

c) calculating an expertise level for each of the one or more topics, wherein the expertise level is calculated by a rules engine,

wherein the rules engine comprises one or more software packages on a server computer communicatively coupled to a network and wherein the rules engine is configured to analyze the usage pattern data to determine the expertise level;

d) customizing an email content, wherein the email content is customized by an email engine and wherein the email engine comprises one or more software packages on the server computer configured to alter text, graphics, images, a layout, a template or offered products in an email responsive to receiving the expertise level calculated by the rules engine for each of the one or more topics; and

e) transmitting the email content, as customized in the email by the email engine, to an email software application displayed on a client computer communicatively coupled to the network.