Compensation model for network services

• US 9,530,150 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adcension LLC
• Original Assignee: Adcension LLC
• Inventors: Van Antwerp, John, Goldberg, Sheldon F., Dupray, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Kito R
• Application Number:
  US12/357,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,896 Days
• Field of Search: 705/42, 705/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24539 using cached or materialised query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A compensation model is disclosed for compensating a network service provider. A networked system is also disclosed for presenting advertising during on-line interactions between a user and a service of a network (e.g., the Internet, interactive cable, and/or a LAN). Advertisements (ads) are presented to a networked user unrequestedly during user interactions with the service. The user can activate the ads (via hyperlinks) for receiving additional advertising. The system gathers user data and/or develops user profiles for selectively presenting ads, promotionals, discounts, etc. targeted to receptive users. In exchange for viewing such selective presentations, on-line access to the service is provided, the service including, e.g., (a) playing on-line interactive games (e.g., blackjack and poker), (b) providing access to the network itself (e.g., an Internet service provider), and/or (c) providing access to substantially any interactive service accessible via (b). The system can provide free/reduced cost network services to the user for viewing unrequested advertising. The system can be provided for a casino.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic machine service on an electronic communications network, comprising performing the following by computational equipment:

providing, the electronic machine service for a user to access, via a first network connection to the network in a first session of a plurality of network sessions of the service, wherein each of the sessions includes network transmissions, between a network user node for the user and at least one network site, for performing sessions of the service entirely by machine operations, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are for one or more of;

(i) playing one or more user interactive games requiring the network transmissions, (ii) providing targeted advertising matched to the user by the at least one network site, (iii) providing access to the network or Internet for the network user node, and (iv) interactively communicating on the network with the network user node for performing the service;

providing the network user node with access to the first session of the service, wherein the user interacts with the service via the network transmissions, the network transmissions output by a machine network interface, the interface transmitting, on the first network connection, first information from the at least one network site for the service to the network user node from which the user communicates with the at least one network site;

wherein said first information is subsequently available for transmission in a subsequent network communication to the at least one network site from the network user node;

wherein said first information is electronically stored on the network user node so that it is available in a subsequent network session of the plurality of network sessions of the service by the network user node, wherein access to the service on the subsequent network session requires registering the user in order to allow the user to subsequently interactively communicate on the network for performing the service via the subsequent network session;

activating, in response to electronic transmissions from the network user node, an electronic controller to communicate with the network user node so that the user is provided with access to the first session;

transmitting one or more corresponding service display representations of the first session from the at least one network site to the network user node, wherein at least most of the service display representations are interactive with the user for providing corresponding responsive transmissions on the network to the at least one network site during the first session;

wherein a computational machine advertising selector determines a corresponding advertising presentation (P), from a plurality of advertising presentations, to present to the user at the network user node, the corresponding advertising presentation P selected as a result of machine advertising selector operations that identify a correspondence between information specific to the user and predetermined information associated with the corresponding advertising presentation;

wherein data for the corresponding advertising presentation P is transmitted, via the network, to the network user node without there being a corresponding network transmission (T), from the user, to which the transmitting of the data for the corresponding advertising presentation P to the network user node would be both;

(i) an immediately next network response to the transmission T, and (ii) from the at least one network site;

wherein the data for the presentation P is used for presenting information about at least one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service;

wherein a corresponding user input for activating the first session is received prior to activation of the advertising selector for determining the corresponding advertising presentation P;

combining via the execution of computer software instructions;

(1) advertising information, with (2) at least one of the service display representations for the first session to obtain a resulting combination for transmitting on the network by the at least one network site to the network user node;

wherein upon the network user node receiving the resulting combination, a display (D) of an advertising presentation corresponding to said advertising information is presented on said network user node, said display D occurring concurrently with a display of the at least one corresponding service display representation for the first session, said advertising presentation presenting interactive advertising;

(i) related to a purchase of a product or service, and (ii) providing the network user node with network address data to access a network site for electronically communicating with the network site, wherein the network site provides further information related to the purchase of the product or service;

activating the subsequent network session after a termination of the first network connection;

wherein the activating includes receiving first responsive information from the network user node via a transmission for the subsequent network session;

determining, using the transmitted first responsive information, that the first information resides on the network user node;

wherein said first information is used for providing the user with a second access to the service, via the subsequent network session; and

electronically transmitting, via the network and in the subsequent network session, service related information to the network user node in response to user inputs to the network user node for allowing the user to interact with the service.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service is free for the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of users are each required to authorize an initial activation fee to access the electronic machine service.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

applying predetermined criteria, from a computational component of the network, to user information indicative of the user interacting with the service via the network transmissions for the first session, for determining when the user satisfies the predetermined criteria;

wherein the criteria includes the user achieving a predetermined level of proficiency related to the service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the user, after a given amount of time, does not achieve the level of proficiency, the user is charged a fee.

6. The method of claim 1, further including receiving a design from the user for the service, wherein the design is selected from the group consisting of landscape designs, auto designs, and house designs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is dependent upon a creation of a musical composition or a video provided by the user.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the criteria includes a level of proficiency by the user, wherein the level is determined by a predetermined group of judges.

9. The method of claim 1, further including providing the user with a ranking of a second user that is participating in the service.

10. The method of claim 1, further including obtaining, by the at least one network site, information related to Internet interactions by the user, the information related to the Internet interactions including information related to a plurality of websites visited by the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said service requires that a user'"'"'s funds are only retained by the service when the user fails to satisfy a predetermined criteria related to the service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein an advertiser provides a compensation for the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the advertiser is selected by the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertiser sponsors the service.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertiser selects the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are at least (i) playing one or more user interactive games requiring the network transmissions.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are at least (ii) providing targeted advertising matched to the user by the at least one network site.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are at least (iii) providing access to the network or Internet for the network user node.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are at least (iv) interactively communicating on the network with the network user node for performing the service.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the user network node comprises a touch-sensitive input area.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the information specific to the user includes a location of the user.

22. A method for providing an electronic machine service on an electronic communications network, comprising performing the following by computational equipment:

providing, the electronic machine service for a user to access, via a first network connection to the network in a first session of a plurality of network sessions of the service, wherein each of the sessions includes network transmissions, between a network user node for the user and at least one network site, for performing sessions of the service entirely by machine operations, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are for one or more of;

(i) playing one or more user interactive games requiring the network transmissions, (ii) providing targeted advertising matched to the user by the at least one network site, (iii) providing access to the network or Internet for the network user node, and (iv) interactively communicating on the network with the network user node for performing the service;

providing the network user node with access to the first session of the service, wherein the user interacts with the service via the network transmissions, the network transmissions output by a machine network interface, the interface transmitting, on the first network connection, first information from the at least one network site for the service to the network user node from which the user communicates with the at least one network site;

wherein said first information is subsequently available for transmission in a subsequent network communication to the at least one network site from the network user node;

wherein said first information is electronically stored on the network user node so that it is available in a subsequent network session of the plurality of network sessions of the service by the network user node, wherein access to the service on the subsequent network session requires registering the user in order to allow the user to subsequently interactively communicate on the network for performing the service via the subsequent network session;

in response to electronic transmissions from the network user node, electronically generating communications with the network user node so that the user is provided with access to the first session;

transmitting one or more corresponding service display representations of the first session from the at least one network site to the network user node, wherein at least most of the service display representations are interactive with the user for providing corresponding responsive transmissions on the network to the at least one network site during the first session;

electronically combining (1) advertising indicative information, with (2) at least one of the service display representations for the first session to obtain a resulting combination for transmitting on the network by the at least one network site to the network user node;

wherein upon the network user node receiving the resulting combination, a display (D) of an advertising presentation corresponding to said advertising indicative information is presented on said network user node, said display D occurring concurrently with a display of the at least one corresponding service display representation for the first session, said advertising presentation presenting interactive advertising;

(i) related to a purchase of a particular product or service, and (ii) providing the network user node with network address data to access a network site for electronically communicating with the network site, wherein the network site provides further information related to the purchase of the particular product or service;

activating the subsequent network session, by the user, after a termination of the first network connection;

wherein the activating includes receiving first responsive information from the network user node via a transmission for the subsequent network session;

determining, using the transmitted first responsive information, that the first information resides on the network user node in order to provide the user with a second session with the service, via the subsequent network session;

electronically transmitting, via the network and in the subsequent network session, information for the second session to the network user node in response to user inputs to the network user node for allowing the user to interact with the service;

obtaining third party network site information for a third party network site specified by the user and accessed via the network user node to access the network;

electronically determining, using the third party network site information, data related to network information that is accessed by the user via the third party network site; and

electronically determining an advertisement, to electronically transmit to the user, by using a correspondence between subject matter of the advertisement and the data related to the network information.

23. A method for providing a service on a communications network, comprising performing the following by computational equipment:

providing, for each of a plurality of sessions for the service for a user, via a connection to the network, wherein each of the sessions includes network transmissions, between a network user node for the user and at least one network site, for performing sessions of the service entirely by machine operations, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are one of;

(i) playing one or more user interactive games requiring the network transmissions, (ii) providing targeted advertising matched to the user by the at least one network site, (iii) providing access to the network or Internet for the network user node, and (iv) interactively communicating on the network with the network user node for performing the service;

providing the network user node with access to a first session of the service with which the user interacts with the service via the network transmissions, the network transmissions provided by a network interface for transmitting, on the connection, first information from the at least one network site for the service to the network user node from which the user communicates with the at least one network site;

wherein said first information is stored on the network user node so that it is available in a subsequent connection by the network user node to the service, the subsequent connection performed via the network;

transmitting one or more corresponding service display representations of the first session from the at least one network site to the network user node, wherein at least most of the service display representations are interactive with the user for providing corresponding responsive transmissions on the network to the at least one network site during the first session;

wherein a activation of a machine advertising selector determines, electronic data for a corresponding advertising presentation, from data for a plurality of advertising presentations, to present to the user via the network user node, the data for the corresponding advertising presentation selected as a result of machine advertising selector operations that identify a correspondence between information specific to the user and predetermined information associated with the data for the corresponding advertising presentation;

wherein data for at least one presentation (P) of said advertising presentations is transmitted, via the network, to the network user node, without a corresponding network transmission (T), from the user, where the transmission T transmits the data for the at least one presentation P to the network user node as an immediately next response to a network user node input by the user for transmitting information to the at least one network site;

wherein the data for the at least one presentation P is used for presenting information about at least one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service;

wherein a corresponding user input for activating the first session is received prior to activation of the advertising selector for determining the data for the corresponding advertising presentation;

electronically combining (1) advertising related information for the corresponding advertising presentation, with (2) service related information for the first session to obtain a resulting combination for transmitting on the network by the at least one network site to the network user node;

electronically transmitting to the network user node the resulting combination, wherein a display of an advertising presentation corresponding to said corresponding advertising presentation is presented on said network user node, said display occurring concurrently with a display of one of the corresponding service display representations for the first session, said advertising presentation presenting advertising related to;

(i) a purchase of at least one product or service, and (ii) providing the network user node with network address data to access a network site for electronically communicating with the network site, wherein the network site provides further information related to the purchase of the at least one product or service;

wherein upon the user activating the subsequent connection to the service (a) and (b) following are performed at a network site distinct from the network user node;

(a) receiving first responsive information from the network user node via a transmission on the subsequent connection when the user has reconnected the network user node to the network; and

(b) determining, using the transmitted first responsive information, that the first information resides on the network user node in order to provide the user with a second session with the service, via the subsequent network session;

intermittently electronically transmitting, via the network and throughout the second session, service related information to the network user node in response to user inputs to the network user node, the service related information for allowing the user to continue to access and interact with the second session;

electronically obtaining third party network site information for a third party network site specified by the user and accessed by the user via the network user node;

electronically determining, using the third party network site information, data related to information accessed by the user via the third party network site; and

electronically determining an advertisement, by the advertising selector, using a correspondence between subject matter of the advertisement and the data related to the information accessed by the user accessed by the user.

24. A system for providing a service on a communications network, comprising:

computational machinery providing a service accessible by a user via a connection to the network, wherein each of a plurality of sessions of the service includes network transmissions, between at least one network site, of the computational machinery, and a network user node for the user for performing sessions of the service entirely by machine operations, wherein the service and the sessions thereof are for one or more of;

(i) playing one or more user interactive games requiring the network transmissions, (ii) providing targeted advertising matched to the user by the at least one network site, (iii) providing access to the network or Internet for the network user node, and (iv) interactively communicating on the network with the network user node for performing the service;

the computational machinery providing a first session of the service interactively accessible by the network user node via the network transmissions, the network transmissions provided by a network interface for transmitting, on the connection, first information from the at least one network site for the service to the network user node from which the user communicates with the at least one network site;

wherein said first information is stored on the network user node so that it is available in a subsequent connection by the network user node to the service, the subsequent connection performed via the network;

wherein one or more corresponding service display representations of the first session is transmitted from the at least one network site to the network user node, wherein at least most of the service display representations are interactive with the user for providing corresponding responsive transmissions on the network to the at least one network site during the first session;

the computational machinery providing an advertising selector which selects a corresponding advertising presentation, from a plurality of advertising presentations, to present to the user at the network user node, the corresponding advertising presentation selected as a result of machine advertising selector operations that identify a correspondence between information specific to the user and predetermined information associated with the corresponding advertising presentation;

wherein at least one presentation (P) of said advertising presentations is transmitted, on the network and to the network user node, without a corresponding network transmission (T), from the user, to which the transmission of the at least one presentation P is both an immediately next network response to the transmission T, and from the at least one network site, wherein the presentation P is for presenting information about at least one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service;

wherein a corresponding user input for activating the first session is received prior to activation of the advertising selector for determining the corresponding advertising presentation,

wherein (1) advertising related information, obtained from the advertising selector and (2) service related information for the first session is combined to obtain a resulting combination for transmitting on the network by the at least one network site to the network user node;

wherein a display of an advertising presentation corresponding to said advertising information on said network user node is provided upon the network user node receiving the resulting combination, said display occurring concurrently with a display of one of the corresponding service display representations for the first session, said advertising presentation presenting advertising related to a purchase of a product or service;

wherein the subsequent connection to the service is activated by the user;

wherein first responsive information from the network user node is received via a transmission on the subsequent connection when the user has reconnected the network user node to the network;

wherein whether the first information resides on the network user node is determined using the transmitted first responsive information;

wherein said first information is used for providing the user with an access to a second one of the sessions;

wherein service related information to the network user node in response to user inputs for allowing the user to continue to access and interact with the second session is intermittently transmitted throughout the second session;

wherein third party network site information is obtained for a third party network site accessed by the user via the network user node;

wherein data related to network information accessed by the user is determined using the third party network site information; and

wherein an advertisement is determined, by the advertising selector, using a correspondence between subject matter of the advertisement and the data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein third party network site information is obtained from a communication station used by the user to access the network.