Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner

• US 8,204,965 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AlmondNet, Inc.
• Inventors: Shkedi, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US13/024,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/245, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.51, 705/14.53
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber'"'"'s history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method performed using one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers has access to electronic data containing personal identities of users of respective online user interface devices, and wherein an entity controlling the one or more computers has access to certain online activity performed using the online user interface device through an Internet connection, the method comprising:

(a) receiving at one or more of the computers from a requesting server an electronic transmission of an IP address and a time and date;

(b) automatically determining, using one or more of the computers, to which of the users the IP address received in part (a) was associated at the time and date received in part (a); and

(c) automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider, which offline data concern the user determined in part (b), which communication does not convey to the offline data provider information pertaining to a history of the online activity to which the entity has access, which online activity is performed by the user determined in part (b), and which delivery and which offline data do not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the acts of parts (b) and (c) are performed without associating the history of online activity with a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data originating from the offline data provider, which offline data concerns the user determined in part (b).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data that were received from the offline data provider before the IP address, time, and date were received in part (a).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

6. The method of claim 5:

(i) wherein automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in receipt by one or more of the computers of the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b); and

(ii) wherein the delivery caused in part (c) comprises transmitting to the requesting server the offline data received from the offline data provider.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b), the identity of which requesting server has been prearranged.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b).

9. The method of claim 8 wherein automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), further comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information identifying the requesting server.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

(i) receiving from the requesting server an online identifier corresponding to the received IP address, time, and date of part (a); and

(ii) transmitting from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider the online data identifier in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

(i) receiving from the offline data provider an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user; and

(ii) transmitting from one or more of the computers to the requesting server the offline data identifier in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a).

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

(i) generating, using one or more of the computers, an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user;

(ii) transmitting the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the requesting server in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a); and

(iii) transmitting the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the IP address, time, and date of part (a) are received from the requesting server.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the IP address, time, and date of part (a) correspond to online access or an online redirect to the requesting server via an online access device of the user determined in part (b).

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the IP address received from the requesting server is associated with the online user interface device of the user and at least one other online user interface device of the user.

16. A system comprising one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers has access to electronic data containing personal identities of users of respective online user interface devices, and wherein an entity controlling the one or more computers has access to certain online activity performed using the online user interface device through an Internet connection, wherein the one or more servers are structured and connected to:

(a) receive at one or more of the computers from a requesting server an electronic transmission of an IP address and a time and date;

(b) determine automatically, using one or more of the computers, to which of the users the IP address received in part (a) was associated at the time and date received in part (a); and

(c) transmit automatically from one or more of the computers an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider, which offline data concern the user determined in part (b), which communication does not convey to the offline data provider information pertaining to a history of the online activity to which the entity has access, which online activity is performed by the user determined in part (b), and which delivery and which offline data do not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

17. The system of claim 16 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that the acts of parts (b) and (c) are performed without associating the history of online activity with a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

18. The system of claim 16 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data originating from the offline data provider, which offline data concerns the user determined in part (b).

19. The system of claim 18 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data that were received from the offline data provider before the IP address, time, and date were received in part (a).

20. The system of claim 16 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

21. The system of claim 20 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that (i) automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in receipt by one or more of the computers of the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b);

and (ii) the delivery caused in part (c) comprises transmitting to the requesting server the offline data received from the offline data provider.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b), the identity of which requesting server has been prearranged.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b).

24. The system of claim 23 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), further comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information identifying the requesting server.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected (i) to receive from the requesting server an online identifier corresponding to the received IP address, time, and date of part (a);

and (ii) to transmit from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider the online data identifier in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

26. The system of claim 23 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected (i) to receive from the offline data provider an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user;

and (ii) to transmit from one or more of the computers to the requesting server the offline data identifier in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a).

27. The system of claim 23 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected to (i) generate, using one or more of the computers, an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user;

(ii) transmit the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the requesting server in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a); and

(iii) transmit the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

28. The system of claim 16 wherein one or more of the computers is further structured and connected to receive the IP address, time, and date from the requesting server.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein the IP address, time, and date received in part (a) correspond to online access or an online redirect to the requesting server via an online access device of the user determined in part (b).

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the IP address received from the requesting server is associated with the online user interface device of the user and at least one other online user interface device of the user.

31. An article comprising a non-transitory tangible medium encoding computer-readable instructions that, when applied to one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers has access to electronic data containing personal identities of users of respective online user interface devices, and wherein an entity controlling the one or more computers has access to certain online activity performed using the online user interface device through an Internet connection, the computer-readable instructions instruct one or more of the computers to:

(a) receive at one or more of the computers from a requesting server an electronic transmission of an IP address and a time and date;

(b) determine automatically, using one or more of the computers, to which of the users the IP address received in part (a) was associated at the time and date received in part (a); and

(c) transmit automatically from one or more of the computers an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider, which offline data concern the user determined in part (b), which communication does not convey to the offline data provider information pertaining to a history of the online activity to which the entity has access, which online activity is performed by the user determined in part (b), and which delivery and which offline data do not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

32. The medium of claim 31 wherein the encoded instructions do not include instructions to one or more of the computers to perform the acts of parts (b) and (c) by associating the history of online activity with a personal identity of the user determined in part (b).

33. The medium of claim 31 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data originating from the offline data provider, which offline data concerns the user determined in part (b).

34. The medium of claim 33 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the requesting server the offline data that were received from the offline data provider before the IP address, time, and date were received in part (a).

35. The medium of claim 31 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

36. The medium of claim 35 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that (i) automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in receipt by one or more of the computers of the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b);

and (ii) the delivery in part (c) comprises transmitting to the requesting server the offline data received from the offline data provider.

37. The medium of claim 35 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b), the identity of which requesting server has been prearranged.

38. The medium of claim 35 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b) results in the offline data provider transmitting to the requesting server the offline data concerning the user determined in part (b).

39. The medium of claim 38 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers so that automatically transmitting from one or more of the computers the electronic communication, in part (c), further comprises automatically electronically directing to the offline data provider information identifying the requesting server.

40. The medium of claim 38 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers (i) to receive from the requesting server an online identifier corresponding to the received IP address, time, and date of part (a);

and (ii) to transmit from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider the online data identifier in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

41. The medium of claim 38 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers (i) to receive from the offline data provider an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user;

and (ii) transmitting from one or more of the computers to the requesting server the offline data identifier in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a).

42. The medium of claim 38 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers to (i) generate, using one or more of the computers, an offline data identifier that corresponds to the user determined in part (b), which offline data identifier does not personally identify that user;

(ii) transmit the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the requesting server in association with the received IP address, time, and date of part (a); and

(iii) transmit the generated offline data identifier from one or more of the computers to the offline data provider in association with the information personally identifying the user determined in part (b).

43. The medium of claim 31 wherein the encoded instructions further instruct one or more of the computers to receive the IP address, time, and date from the requesting server.

44. The medium of claim 31 wherein the IP address, time, and date received in part (a) correspond to online access or an online redirect to the requesting server via an online access device of the user determined in part (b).

45. The medium of claim 31 wherein the IP address received from the requesting server is associated with the online user interface device of the user and at least one other online user interface device of the user.

46. A method performed using one or more computers, comprising:

(a) automatically electronically transmitting an IP address and a time and date, wherein the IP address and time and date correspond to an online action of a first user, to a computer having access to electronical data containing the personal identities of users of respective online user interface devices, and wherein an entity controlling the computer to which the IP address and time and date are transmitted has access to certain online activity performed using the respective online user interface devices through respective Internet connections; and

(b) receiving an electronic transmission of offline data concerning the first user, wherein the offline data originate from an offline data provider that lacks information pertaining to a history of the online activity to which the entity has access, which online activity is performed by the first user, and wherein the received electronic transmission and the offline data do not convey a personal identity of the first user.

47. A method performed using one or more computers under control of an offline data provider, comprising:

(a) receiving an electronic communication that includes information personally identifying a first user, wherein the communication is received from a server having access to electronic data containing personal identities of users of respective online user interface devices, wherein the server is controlled by an entity that has access to certain online activity performed using the online user interface devices through respective Internet connections, wherein the received communication does not convey information pertaining to a history of online activity to which the entity has access, which online activity is performed by the first user; and

(b) in response to part (a), automatically electronically transmitting to a requesting server (i) offline data concerning the first user and (ii) an identifier associated by the requesting server with an online user interface device used by the first user to conduct an online action on a certain time and date via an IP address associated with the first user, wherein the offline data and the identifier do not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the first user.