Integration of offline activity records and online data records

• US 9,342,843 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outleads, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dorin Rosenshine
• Inventors: Rosenshine, Dorin
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US14/854,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20160005075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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: H04M 2203/10 related to the purpose or context of the telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

A method of collecting and indexing data by appending a tracking identifier (generated directly or indirectly by a tracking company) into a data file, wherein the data file is acquired from a computer system operated by a user. The data file could be data collected by a form made available through a website hosted by a web server. Additional data collected from other sources (stored as a record), such as a computer system operated by an agent, would be associated with the collected data file by an inquiry management company. The collected data and associated records are forwarded to a computer system that tracks online users and visitors. The process can many computer collected data (other than the data file) about website activity with other activities that are independent of the website.

Claims

1. A method for integrating offline activity records and online data records, the method comprising steps of:

establishing a group of computers including a first computer system, a second computer system, a third computer system, and a fourth computer system, wherein each computer within the group of computers is capable of exchanging data with at least one other computer within the group of computers;

generating a user level identifier to identify one of a user or a visitor, wherein the step of generating the user level identifier is accomplished by the first computer system;

presenting a digital form on the second computer system, wherein the second system is in communication with the first computer system;

appending the user level identifier to the digital form in the second computer system;

receiving data entered into the digital form using the second computer system to complete the digital form;

creating a record comprising the entered data and the respective user level identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system;

appending information to the record using the fourth computer system, wherein the information is collected from sources other than a website hosting the digital form; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the entered data associated with the completed digital form from the third computer system to the first computer system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is characterized as a data management company,

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system,

wherein the third computer system is characterized as an inquiry management system,

wherein the fourth computer system is characterized as an agent computer system having an agent entering data thereto.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of first computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of third computer systems, the same digital form being submitted at least two of the plurality of third computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of fourth computer systems, each of the plurality of fourth computer systems acquiring information by at least one of;

(a) different agents, wherein each agent of the different agents manually entering information into a respective fourth computer system of the plurality of fourth computer systems;

(b) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically acquires the information; and

(c) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically receives the information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is selected from a group of first computers, the group comprising;

(a) an advertising platform,

(d) a data management platform,

(e) a publishing service,

(f) a content management system,

(g) a content optimization service, or

(h) a generic computer system that issues user-level identifiers;

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system;

wherein the third computer system is selected from a group of third computers, the group comprising;

(a) a customer relationship management system,

(b) an email marketing system,

(c) a marketing automation system,

(d) a call center management system, and

(e) a generic system used to track and record information about incoming inquiries and ensuing activity;

wherein the fourth computer system is selected from a group of fourth computers, the group comprising;

(a) a computer or mobile device having information entered manually by an agent,

(b) a computer or mobile device having information entered automatically, and

(c) a computer or mobile device receiving information automatically.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

defining the record comprising the entered data and the respective user level identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system as an original record;

creating a subsequent record based upon the original record;

associating the created subsequent record with the originally generated record; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the entered data associated with the subsequent record from the third computer system to the first computer system.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer system comprises a plurality of first computer systems, the method further comprising steps of:

referencing the user level identifier as a first user level identifier;

generating at least one second user level identifier to identify a same one of the user or the visitor, wherein the step of generating the at least one second user level identifier is accomplished by any of the first computer systems of the plurality of first computer systems; and

appending each of the at least one second user level identifier to the digital form.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of appending the user level identifier to the digital form is accomplished by appending the user level identifier as one of:

(a) a prefix of a data string generated from the digital form;

(b) an intermediary segment of a data string generated from the digital form;

or

(c) a suffix of a data string generated from the digital form.

8. A method for integrating offline activity records and online data records, the method comprising steps of:

establishing a group of computers including a first computer system, a second computer system, a third computer system, a fourth computer system, and a fifth computer system, wherein each computer within the group of computers is capable of exchanging data with at least one other computer within the group of computers;

generating a user level identifier to identify one of a user or a visitor, wherein the step of generating the user level identifier is accomplished by the first computer system;

communicating the user level identifier from the first computer system to the fifth computer system;

generating a tracking identifier, wherein the tracking identifier is generated by the fifth computer system;

defining and managing an association between the tracking identifier and the user level identifier;

presenting a digital form on the second computer system, wherein the second computer system is in communication with the first computer system;

appending the tracking identifier to the digital form in the second computer system;

receiving data entered into the digital form using the second computer system to complete the digital form;

creating a record comprising the entered data and the respective tracking identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system;

appending information to the record using the fourth computer system, wherein the information is collected from sources other than a website hosting the digital form;

using the tracking identifier to retrieve the entered data associated with the completed digital form from the third computer system;

locating the user level identifier associated with the tracking identifier; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the retrieved data to the first computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising steps of:

defining the record comprising the entered data and the respective tracking identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system as an original record;

creating a subsequent record based upon the original record;

associating the created subsequent record with the originally generated record; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the entered data associated with the subsequent record from the third computer system to the first computer system.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising steps of:

defining the record comprising the entered data and the respective user level identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system as an original record;

creating a subsequent record based upon the original record;

associating the created subsequent record with the originally generated record;

using the tracking identifier to retrieve the entered data associated with the subsequent record from the third computer system;

locating the user level identifier associated with the tracking identifier; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the retrieved data to the first computer system.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is characterized as a data management company,

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system,

wherein the third computer system is characterized as an inquiry management system,

wherein the fourth computer system is characterized as an agent computer system having an agent entering data thereto.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of first computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of third computer systems, the same digital form being submitted at least two of the plurality of third computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of fourth computer systems, each of the plurality of fourth computer systems acquiring information by at least one of;

(a) different agents, wherein each agent of the different agents manually entering information into a respective fourth computer system of the plurality of fourth computer systems;

(b) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically acquires the information; and

(c) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically receives the information.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is selected from a group of first computers, the group comprising;

(a) an advertising platform,

(b) a data management platform,

(c) a publishing service,

(d) a content management system,

(e) a content optimization service, or

(f) a generic computer system that issues user-level identifiers;

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system;

wherein the third computer system is selected from a group of third computers, the group comprising;

(a) a customer relationship management system,

(b) an email marketing system,

(c) a marketing automation system,

(d) a call center management system, and

(e) a generic system used to track and record information about incoming inquiries and ensuing activity;

wherein the fourth computer system is selected from a group of fourth computers, the group comprising;

(a) a computer or mobile device having information entered manually by an agent,

(b) a computer or mobile device having information entered automatically, and

(c) a computer or mobile device receiving information automatically.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first computer system comprises a plurality of first computer systems, the method further comprising steps of:

referencing the user level identifier as a first user level identifier;

generating at least one second user level identifier to identify a same one of the user or the visitor, wherein the step of generating the at least one second user level identifier is accomplished by any of the first computer systems of the plurality of first computer systems; and

associating each at least one second user level identifier with the tracking identifier.

15. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of appending the tracking level identifier to the digital form is accomplished by appending the tracking level identifier as one of:

(a) a prefix of a data string generated from the digital form;

(b) an intermediary segment of a data string generated from the digital form;

or

(c) a suffix of a data string generated from the digital form.

16. A method for integrating offline activity records and online data records, the method comprising steps of:

establishing a group of computers including a first computer system, a second computer system, a third computer system, a fourth computer system, and a fifth computer system, wherein each computer within the group of computers is capable of exchanging data with at least one other computer within the group of computers;

generating a user level identifier to identify one of a user or a visitor, wherein the step of generating the user level identifier is accomplished by the first computer system;

communicating the user level identifier from the first computer system to the fifth computer system;

generating a temporary, non-unique identifier, wherein the temporary, non-unique identifier is generated by the fifth computer system;

defining and managing an association between the temporary, non-unique identifier and the user level identifier;

presenting a digital form on the second computer system, wherein the second computer system is in communication with the first computer system;

appending the temporary, non-unique identifier to the digital form in the second computer system;

receiving data entered into the digital form using the second computer system to complete the digital form;

creating a record comprising the entered data and the respective temporary identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system;

appending information to the record using the fourth computer system, wherein the information is collected from sources other than a website hosting the digital form;

generating a permanent, unique identifier in the fifth computer system;

replacing the temporary identifier with a permanent, unique identifier in the association and each record associated with a completed digital form;

using the permanent, unique identifier to retrieve the entered data associated with the completed digital form from the third computer system;

locating the user level identifier associated with the permanent, unique identifier; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the retrieved data to the first computer system.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising steps of:

defining the record comprising the entered data and the respective tracking level identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system as an original record;

creating a subsequent record based upon the original record;

associating the created subsequent record with the originally generated record; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the entered data associated with the subsequent record from the third computer system to the first computer system.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising steps of:

defining the record comprising the entered data and the respective tracking level identifier associated with the completed digital form in the third computer system as an original record;

creating a subsequent record based upon the original record;

associating the created subsequent record with the originally generated record;

using the permanent, unique identifier to retrieve the entered data associated with the completed digital form from the third computer system;

locating the user level identifier associated with the permanent, unique identifier; and

using the user level identifier to communicate the retrieved data to the first computer system.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is characterized as a data management company,

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system,

wherein the third computer system is characterized as an inquiry management system,

wherein the fourth computer system is characterized as an agent computer system having an agent entering data thereto.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of first computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of third computer systems, the same digital form being submitted at least two of the plurality of third computer systems;

wherein the group of computers includes a plurality of fourth computer systems, each of the plurality of fourth computer systems acquiring information by at least one of;

(a) different agents, wherein each agent of the different agents manually entering information into a respective fourth computer system of the plurality of fourth computer systems;

(b) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically acquires the information; and

(c) automatically, wherein at least one of the fourth computer system of the fourth computer systems automatically receives the information.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is characterized by at least one of the following:

wherein the first computer system is selected from a group of first computers, the group comprising;

(a) an advertising platform,

(b) a data management platform,

(c) a publishing service,

(d) a content management system,

(e) a content optimization service, or

(f) a generic computer system that issues user-level identifiers;

wherein the second computer system is characterized as a user'"'"'s computer system;

wherein the third computer system is selected from a group of third computers, the group comprising;

(a) a customer relationship management system,

(b) an email marketing system,

(c) a marketing automation system,

(d) a call center management system, and

(e) a generic system used to track and record information about incoming inquiries and ensuing activity;

wherein the fourth computer system is selected from a group of fourth computers, the group comprising;

(a) a computer or mobile device having information entered manually by an agent,

(b) a computer or mobile device having information entered automatically, and

(c) a computer or mobile device receiving information automatically.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the first computer system comprises a plurality of first computer systems, the method further comprising steps of:

referencing the user level identifier as a first user level identifier;

generating at least one second user level identifier to identify a same one of the user or the visitor, wherein the step of generating the at least one second user level identifier is accomplished by any of the first computer systems of the plurality of first computer systems; and

associating each at least one second user level identifier with the tracking identifier.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of appending the tracking level identifier to the digital form is accomplished by appending the tracking level identifier as one of:

(a) a prefix of a data string generated from the digital form;

(b) an intermediary segment of a data string generated from the digital form;

or

(c) a suffix of a data string generated from the digital form.