Method, system, and software for geographically focused network advertising

• US 8,306,856 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heavy Hammer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Heavy Hammer Incorporated
• Inventors: Urbanski, Michael William, Dent, Charles David
• Primary Examiner(s): Champagne, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US13/487,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 155 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.49, 705/14.54, 705/14.58
• US Class Current: 705/14.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.

Claims

1. A computer server for communicating information over a network comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that;

provides a new first information site hosted by the computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter;

receives at the first information site an information request from a communications device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from a user'"'"'s data file stored in the memory;

determines at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, a location from the user'"'"'s data file, the communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieves answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the communication device to a web page of an advertiser, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

provides the answer information from the first information site to the communication device.

2. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

3. The computer server in claim 2, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

4. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor determines the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information independent of a physical location of the communication device.

5. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor stores the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in the memory.

6. The computer server in claim 5, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

7. The computer server in claim 1, wherein the processor assigns answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

8. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

9. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

10. The computer server in claim 7, wherein the processor periodically conducts an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

11. The computer server of claim 1, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

12. A method of electronically providing information to a communication device comprising:

providing a new first information site hosted by a computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter;

receiving at the first information site an information request from a communications device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from a user'"'"'s data file stored in the computer server memory;

determining at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, a location from the user'"'"'s data file, the communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieving answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the communication device to a web page of an advertiser, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

providing the answer information from the first information site to the communication device.

13. The method in claim 12, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

14. The method in claim 13, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

15. The method in claim 12, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined independent of a physical location of the communication device.

16. The method in claim 12, further comprising:

storing the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in the memory.

17. The method in claim 16, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

18. The method in claim 12, further comprising:

assigning answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

19. The method in claim 18, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

20. The method in claim 18, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

21. The method in claim 18, further comprising:

periodically conducting an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for controlling a computing device for electronically providing information to a communication device, the instructions comprising:

providing a new first information site hosted by the computing device on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter;

receiving at the first information site an information request from a communications device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from a user'"'"'s data file stored in the computing device memory;

determining at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, a location from the user'"'"'s data file, the communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieving answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing a link to connect the communication device to a web page of an advertiser, the advertiser'"'"'s information site relating to the particular subject matter; and

providing the answer information from the first information site to the communication device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 23, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 24, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 23, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined independent of a physical location of the communication device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 23, further comprising:

storing the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in the memory.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 27, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 23, further comprising:

assigning answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 29, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 29, further comprising:

assigning at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 29, further comprising:

periodically conducting an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the one or more databases include at least one database that contains answer information and at least one database that contains advertiser information.

34. A computer server for communicating information over a network comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that;

provides a new first information site hosted by the computer server on the network, the first information site being characterized by a new network address, the network address relating to a particular subject matter;

receives at the first information site an information request from a communications device connected through the network, wherein the information request includes an information request and information retrieved from a user'"'"'s data file stored in the memory;

determines at least one particular geographic area for relevant information to be provided in answering the information request, wherein the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information is determined from at least one of the communication device'"'"'s derived geographic location, a location from the user'"'"'s data file, the communication device'"'"'s location stored in the memory, the communication device'"'"'s network address, the information request, and the particular subject matter;

retrieves answer information from one or more databases, the answer information comprising information responsive to the information request and advertiser information, the advertiser information being based on the determined at least one particular geographic area for relevant information and containing information usable by a user to contact the advertiser relating to the particular subject matter; and

provides the answer information from the first information site to the communication device.

35. The computer server in claim 34, wherein the advertiser information comprises sponsored information.

36. The computer server in claim 35, wherein the sponsored information is sponsored for specific geographic locations.

37. The computer server in claim 34, wherein the processor determines the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information independent of a physical location of the communication device.

38. The computer server in claim 34, wherein the processor stores the at least one particular geographic area for relevant information in the memory.

39. The computer server in claim 38, wherein providing the first information site causes advertiser information from the stored at least one particular geographic area to be displayed.

40. The computer server in claim 34, wherein the processor assigns answer information to categories and at least one advertiser information provider is assigned to each category for an answer to an information request.

41. The computer server in claim 40, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category until an event alters the identity of the at least one advertiser information provider for the category.

42. The computer server in claim 40, wherein the processor assigns at least one advertiser information provider to each the category for a particular time period.

43. The computer server in claim 40, wherein the processor periodically conducts an auction for a right to be assigned as the at least one advertiser information provider.