Subscriber list system and method

• US 8,516,057 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluehornet Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital River Incorporated (Danube Private Holdings II, LLC)
• Inventors: Gillespie, Adam Thomas, Wardhaugh, Tyler Glendon
• Primary Examiner(s): Desrosiers, Evans
• Application Number:
  US11/565,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 709206-209, 715/962
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

The present invention is related to a software system that solves the above-mentioned problems. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computerized subscriber list creation and management system for use on the internet or other network is described. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a business may conduct advanced database search queries, then save, manage and update those searches automatically. A business may build subscriber lists using multi-part rules determined by customer data including demographics, preferences, and behaviors. Moreover, the business may save the searches and manage database segments effectively for use in multiple campaigns. Subscriber lists update automatically as the database grows and changes.

Claims

1. A computerized subscriber list system for use on a network including a server with a processor and a memory, comprising:

a database stored in a non-transitory computer-readable media within the server memory having customer profile data where each customer record includes an email address, a subscriber preference setting, and an online product shopping behavior for each customer;

a software module containing program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of building a subscriber list query from the customer profile data using multi-part rules to identify target customers that meet particular criteria based on (i) a subscriber preference setting, (ii) an online product shopping behavior, (iii) recency and frequency of purchase, (iv) options based on customer characteristics and profile data, saving the subscriber list query in a library stored in the server memory, and creating a new subscriber list automatically as matching subscriber records and data are added to the database based on the subscriber list query saved in the library

a statistics module allowing the viewing of statistics related to the matching records; and

an email campaign manager containing program code which when executed by the processor in the server causes the server to perform operations of sending a personalized message over the network to a customer identified from the new subscriber list which was updated automatically as subscriber records and data are added to the database so that any personalized message sent over the network will be current and relevant to an identified customer.

2. The subscriber list system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber list query comprises fields that specify click through behavior.

3. The subscriber list system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber list query comprises customized fields.

4. The subscriber list system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber list query comprises fields that specify campaign statistics.

5. The subscriber list system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber list query comprises fields that specify a group.

6. The subscriber list system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber list query comprises fields that specify active status.

7. A method for managing subscriber lists for use on a network performed by a server having a processor and memory operating under the control of program code within a software module, the method comprising steps of:

storing customer profile data in a database stored in the server memory where each customer record in the database includes an email address, a subscriber preference setting, and an online product shopping behavior for each customer;

building subscriber list query from the customer profile data using multi-part rules to identify target customers that meet particular criteria based on (i) a subscriber preference setting, (ii) online product shopping behavior, (iii) recency and frequency of purchase, and (iv) options based on based on customer characteristics and profile data;

saving the subscriber list query in a library stored in the server memory;

creating a new subscriber list automatically as matching subscriber records and data are added to the database based on the subscriber list query saved in the library

providing a view of statistics related to the matching records;

and

sending the personalized message from the server over the network to a customer identified in the new subscriber list which was updated automatically as subscriber records and data are added to the database so that any personalized message sent over the network will be current and relevant to an identified customer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the building step comprises building the subscriber list query from fields that specify click through behavior.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the building step comprises building the subscriber list query from customized fields.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the building step comprises building the subscriber list query from fields that specify campaign statistics.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the building step comprises building the subscriber list query from fields that specify a group.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the building step comprises building the subscriber list query from fields that specify active status.