System and method for adding targeted content in a web page

• US 8,219,642 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Upland Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Augme Technologies Incorporated (Upland Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Charles P., Burgess, Jr., Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US12/861,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/203, 709/208, 370/332, 370/351
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network (20) includes a first processor (22) for maintaining a Web page (34) having an embedded first code module (36) and accessible through a Web address (38). A second processor (24) supports a Web browser (52) for receiving transmission of the Web page (34) and executing the first code module (36). When executed, the first code module (36) issues a first command (93) to retrieve a second code module (90) from a server system (26). The server system (26) includes a database (68) having a service response (162, 176, 186) associated with the Web address (38). A processor (62) assembles the second code module (90) having the service response (162, 176, 186). When the second code module is retrieved, the first code module (36) issues a second command (106) to initiate execution of the second code module (90) to provide added function to the Web page (34).

Claims

1. A method of adding targeted content to a Web page comprising the steps of:

(a) downloading the Web page at a processor platform by a Web browser employing HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and generated in a HyperText Markup Language (HTML);

(b) downloading and automatically executing a first code module generated in a HTML that executes with the downloaded Web page;

(c) issuing at least one command from the first code module to cause retrieval of a second code module, the second code module having an associated service response that loads the targeted content to the Web page;

(d) executing the second code module at the processor platform; and

(e) issuing an instruction to the Web browser to ignore a second command in the first code module.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a Web address of the Web page;

determining if the Web page is registered with a server system; and

when the Web page is not registered, performing a registration of the Web page with the server system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of performing a registration of the Web page further comprises the steps of:

receiving the Web page at the server system;

extracting informational content of the Web page;

archiving the informational content of the Web page; and

producing a profile of the Web page in response to the extracting and archiving steps.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service response further comprises targeted advertising related to the profile of the Web page.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

storing the service response in association with the Web address and accessing the service response when the first code module issues the first command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service response one of a denial of service, an indicator of conditional service or a predetermined service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining visitor information from the processor platform, indexing the visitor information and identifying the visitor based upon the obtained visitor information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting a service response based upon the obtained visitor information and executing the second code module having the associated service response.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising prior to the downloading step, the steps of:

registering the visitor information in the visitor database and establishing any visitor specified parameters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the service response is a metaphor, and the method further comprises the step of displaying the metaphor in connection with the Web page on the processor platform.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of customizing the metaphor to include a parameter set relevant to the Web page, the customized metaphor describing a conditional service presented upon execution of the second code module.

12. A system for adding targeted content for display in association with a Web page, comprising a first processor platform for maintaining a Web address accessible Web page and a second processor platform in communication with the first processor platform via a communications connection, the second processor platform supporting a Web browser, the Web browser being configured to download and execute the Web page by employing HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and generated in a HyperText Markup Language (HTML), downloading and automatically executing a first code module of the Web page generated in a HTML, wherein the first code module of the Web page issues a command to retrieve a second code module having a service response that loads targeted content to the Web page and the Web Page ignores a second command in the first code module, the communications network further comprises a server system in communication with the second processor platform for receiving the command, the server system including:

a database having stored therein the service response associated with the Web address;

a processor, in communication with the database that assembles the second code module and a communications connection that communicates the second code module to the second processor platform where the second code module is executed and loads the service response to the Web page.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the server system further comprises a memory element accessible by the processor, the memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to access the database to locate an entry in the database for the Web address, and when the entry is absent, the instructions cause the processor to receive the Web page, extract informational content of the Web page, archive the informational content in the database, and produce a profile of the Web page.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate the entry for the Web address in the database, the entry including the service response related to the profile.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the service response is a metaphor, and the instructions further cause the processor to establish a parameter set in response to the profile, the parameter set defining the metaphor.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the server system further comprises:

means for receiving, from the second processor platform, first information related to the Web browser and second information related to the second processor platform, the processor being in communication with the receiving means; and

a memory element accessible by the processor, the memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to assemble the second code module in response to the first and second information.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the server system further comprises:

means for receiving, from the second processor platform, first information related to the Web browser and second information related to the second processor platform, the processor being in communication with the receiving means;

a visitor database; and

a memory element accessible by the processor, the memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to apply a tracking index to the second processor platform for subsequent access by the server system and to generate an entry in the visitor database, the entry including the first and second information related to the tracking index.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server system further comprises:

an input element for receiving visitor specified parameters; and

means for amending the entry in the visitor database in response to the visitor specified parameters.