Controlled transfer of information in computer networks

• US 20010037467A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soverain IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Market, Inc. (Divine Technology Ventures)
• Inventors: OʼToole, James W. Jr., Gifford, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to techniques for controlling transfers of information in computer networks. One technique involves transmitting from a server computer to a client computer a document containing a channel object corresponding to a communication service, and storing an access ticket that indicates that a user of the client computer permits the information source computer to communicate with the user over a specified channel. Another technique involves transmitting smart digital offers based on information such as coupons and purchasing histories stored at the computer receiving the offer. Another technique involves transmitting from a server computer to a client computer a request for a user'"'"'s personal profile information, and activating a client avatar that compares the request for personal profile information with a security profile of the user limiting access to personal profile information. Another technique involves transmitting from a server computer to a client computer a document containing an embedded link, activating the embedded link at the client computer and recording activation of the embedded link in a metering log.

Claims

1. A network-based system for controlled transfer of information, comprising:

a client computer;

a server computer; and

an information source computer;

the client computer, the server computer, and the information source computer being interconnected by a computer network;

the server computer being programmed to transmit to the client computer a document containing a channel object corresponding to a communication service to be provided over an information transfer channel between the information source computer and the client computer;

the client computer being programmed to activate the channel object received from the server computer, and, in response to activation of the channel object, to cause an access ticket to be stored that indicates that a user of the client computer permits the information source computer to communicate with the user over the channel;

the information source computer being programmed to transmit information to the client computer over the channel;

the client computer being programmed to receive the information from the information source computer over the channel, based on the stored access ticket.

2. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the information source computer is the server computer.

3. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the information source computer is distinct from the server computer.

4. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the channel comprises a broadcast or multicast channel.

5. The network-based system of

claim 4

wherein the channel further comprises a specific time period during which the information from the information source computer is to be transmitted over the broadcast or multicast channel.

6. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the channel comprises the computer network linking the client computer and the information source computer and the information from the information source computer is received by the client computer via an asynchronous communication over the computer network.

7. The network-based system of

claim 1

further comprising a notification server, the client computer being programmed to store the access ticket at the notification server, the notification server being programmed to receive the information from the information source computer over the channel based on the stored access ticket and to transmit the information to the client computer.

8. The network-based system of

claim 7

wherein the notification server comprises a filtering mail gateway.

9. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the client is programmed to store the access ticket at the client computer.

10. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the channel object comprises identifying data specific to the information to be provided by the information source computer.

11. The network-based system of

claim 10

wherein the client computer is pre-programmed to activate the channel object if the identifying data falls within preset parameters.

12. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the client computer is programmed to receive a request from the user to activate the channel object and to activate the channel object in response to the request.

13. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the client computer is programmed to cause a message to be transmitted to the server computer indicating the user'"'"'s interest in the information supplied by the information source computer.

14. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the channel object comprises icon data and the client computer is programmed to display the icon data to the user.

15. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the client computer is programmed to cause the access ticket to be stored for a limited period of time.

16. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the information from the information source computer is encrypted and the client computer is programmed to receive a decryption key upon payment of a fee for use of the information and to decrypt the information from the information source computer using the key.

17. The network-based system of

claim 1

wherein the communication service is an asynchronous communication service, and the client computer is programmed to receive the information from the information source computer asynchronously over the channel.

18. A method of controlling transfer of information in a computer network comprising a client computer, a server computer, and an information source computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting from the server computer to the client computer a document containing a channel object corresponding to a communication service to be provided over an information transfer channel between the information source computer and the client computer;

activating the channel object received by the client computer from the server computer;

in response to activation of the channel object, causing an access ticket to be stored that indicates that a user of the client computer permits the information source computer to communicate with the user over the channel;

transmitting information from the information source computer to the client computer over the channel; and

receiving the information from the information source computer at the client computer over the channel based on the stored access ticket.

19. A network-based system for smart digital offer pricing, comprising:

a client computer; and

an offer-providing server computer;

the client computer and the offer-providing server computer being interconnected by a computer network;

the offer-providing server computer being programmed to transmit a document to the client computer comprising a smart digital offer object;

the client computer being programmed to store user-specific information at the client computer, to receive the document comprising the smart digital offer object, to activate the smart digital offer object at the client computer, which, upon activation, provides an offer to the client computer based on the stored user-specific information, and to transmit an acceptance of the offer to the offer-providing server together with an authenticator;

the offer-providing server being programmed to verify the authenticator and to cause the offer to be fulfilled based on verification of the authenticator.

20. The network-based system of

claim 19

wherein the smart digital offer object is activated in a smart card on the client computer.

21. The network-based system of

claim 19

wherein the smart digital offer comprises a digital signature or code to protect the smart digital offer against unauthorized tampering, and the client computer is programmed to receive the smart digital offer, to activate the smart digital offer on the client computer, and to transmit the smart digital offer back to the offer-providing server upon acceptance of the offer.

22. The network-based system of

claim 19

wherein the client user-specific information comprises user profile information.

23. The network-based system of

claim 22

wherein the client computer is programmed to ask the user whether the user wishes to reveal the user profile information and the client computer releases the user profile information for use by the smart digital offer only if the user authorizes release of the user profile information.

24. A method of smart digital offer pricing in a computer network comprising a client computer and an offer-providing server computer, comprising the steps of:

storing user-specific information at the client computer;

transmitting a document from the offer-providing server computer to the client computer comprising a smart digital offer object;

receiving, at the client computer, the document comprising the smart digital offer object;

activating the smart digital offer object at the client computer, which, upon activation, provides an offer to the client computer based on the stored user-specific information;

transmitting an acceptance of the offer from the client computer to the offer-providing server together with an authenticator;

verifying the authenticator at the offer-providing server; and

fulfilling the offer based on verification of the authenticator.

25. A network-based system for coupon-based smart digital offer pricing, comprising:

a client computer;

a coupon-providing server computer; and

an offer-providing server computer;

the client computer, the coupon-providing server computer, and the offer-providing server computer being interconnected by a computer network;

the coupon-providing server computer being programmed to transmit coupon information to the client computer together with an authenticator;

the client computer being programmed to receive the coupon information and the authenticator and to cause the coupon information and the authenticator to be stored;

the offer-providing server computer being programmed to transmit a document to the client computer corresponding to a smart digital offer object;

the client computer being programmed to receive the document corresponding to the smart digital offer object, to activate the smart digital offer object, which, upon activation, verifies the authenticator and provides an offer to the client computer based on the stored coupon information, and to transmit an acceptance of the offer to the offer-providing server.

26. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the coupon-providing server computer is distinct from the offer-providing server computer.

27. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the coupon information comprises a coupon expiration date.

28. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the client computer is programmed to periodically remind the user of the coupon information.

29. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the smart digital offer object is activated in the offer-providing computer and the client computer is programmed to cause the coupon information to be transmitted to the offer-providing computer.

30. The network-based system of

claim 29

wherein the coupon information comprises a code verifiable by the smart digital offer object to ensure validity of the coupon information.

31. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the coupon information comprises a digital receipt corresponding to a purchase of a product.

32. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the coupon-providing server is programmed to notify the offer-providing server of coupon distribution frequency.

33. The network-based system of

claim 25

wherein the offer-providing server is programmed to notify the coupon-providing server of offer acceptance frequency.

34. A method of coupon-based smart digital offer pricing in a computer network comprising a client computer, a coupon-providing server computer, and an offer-providing server computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting coupon information from the coupon-providing server computer to the client computer together with an authenticator;

receiving the coupon information and the authenticator at the client computer;

causing the coupon information and the authenticator to be stored;

transmitting a document from the coupon-providing server computer to the client computer corresponding to a smart digital offer object;

receiving, at the client computer the document corresponding to the smart digital offer object

activating the smart digital offer object, which, upon activation, verifies the authenticator and provides an offer to the client computer based on the stored coupon information; and

transmitting an acceptance of the offer from the client computer to the offer-providing server.

35. A network-based system for automatic transfer of information pertaining to a person profile of a user, comprising:

a client computer; and

a server computer;

the client computer and the server computer being interconnected by a computer network;

the server computer being programmed to transmit to the client computer a request for personal profile information pertaining to a user of the client computer;

the client computer being programmed to receive the request for personal profile information, and to activate a client avatar at the client computer that compares the request for personal profile information with a security profile of the user limiting access to personal profile information and that causes a subset of a personal profile of the user to be transmitted to the server computer based on the request for personal profile information and the security profile;

the server computer being programmed to transmit to the client computer information customized for the user based on the subset of the personal profile of the user.

36. The network-based system of

claim 35

further comprising an agency computer programmed to store the personal profile, wherein the client avatar causes an authorization message to be transmitted to the agency computer authorizing the agency computer to release the subset of the personal profile, and the agency computer is programmed to transmit the subset of the personal profile to the server computer.

37. The network-based system of

claim 36

wherein the agency computer comprises a trusted mail server.

38. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the security profile comprises a list of trusted server computers and the client avatar causes the subset of the personal profile of the user to be transmitted to the server computer if the server computer is on the list of trusted server computers.

39. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the security profile comprises instructions to query the user before releasing certain items of personal profile information and the client avatar queries the user if the request for personal profile information pertains to one of the certain items of personal profile information and causes the one of the certain items of personal profile information to be transmitted to the server computer only if the client avatar receives a consent from the user.

40. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the information customized for the user and transmitted by the server computer to the client computer comprises a commercial offer having user-specific terms based on the subset of the personal profile of the user.

41. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the information customized for the user and transmitted by the server computer to the client computer comprises a catalog having user-specific content.

42. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the information customized for the user and transmitted by the server computer to the client computer contains a channel object corresponding to a channel for information transfer to the client computer.

43. The network-based system of

claim 42

wherein the client computer is programmed to activate the channel object received from the server computer, and, in response to activation of the channel object, to store an access ticket that indicates that a user of the client computer permits information to be received over the channel, and to receive the information over the channel based on the stored access ticket.

44. The network-based system of

claim 35

wherein the information customized for the user and transmitted by the server computer to the client computer is transmitted over a channel specified by a channel object transmitted by the server computer to the client computer.

45. A method for automatic transfer of information pertaining to a person profile of a user in a computer network comprising a client computer and a server computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting from the server computer to the client computer a request for personal profile information pertaining to a user of the client computer;

receiving at the client computer the request for personal profile information;

activating a client avatar at the client computer that compares the request for personal profile information with a security profile of the user limiting access to personal profile information and that causes a subset of a personal profile of the user to be transmitted to the server computer based on the request for personal profile information and the security profile; and

transmitting from the server computer to the client computer information customized for the user based on the subset of the personal profile of the user.

46. A network-based system for metering of a user'"'"'s access to linked information, comprising:

a client computer; and

a server computer;

the client computer and the server computer being interconnected by a computer network;

the server computer being programmed to transmit to the client computer a document containing an embedded link;

the client computer being programmed to activate the embedded link when at least a portion of the document is displayed, to-record activation of the embedded link in a metering log, and to cause information stored in the metering log pertaining to activation of the embedded link to be transmitted to the server computer.

47. The network-based system of

claim 46

further comprising an agency computer, wherein the client computer is programmed to communicate information from the metering log to the agency computer for storage and the agency computer is programmed to cause the information from the metering log to be transmitted to the server computer.

48. The network-based system of

claim 47

wherein the agency computer is programmed to store billing records corresponding to the information from the metering log.

49. The network-based system of

claim 46

wherein the client computer is programmed to cause the information stored in the metering log pertaining to activation of the embedded link to be transmitted immediately if the embedded link comprises an instruction to transmit it immediately.

50. The network-based system of

claim 46

wherein the embedded link is structured to participate in display refresh of the document but is not structured to affect visual appearance of the document.

51. The network-based system of

claim 50

wherein the client computer is programmed to record in the metering log mouse-click activity on the portion of the document corresponding to the embedded link and to allow the mouse-click activity to pass on to objects on the document other than the embedded link.

52. The network-based system of

claim 46

wherein the embedded link is a link to a document other than the document containing the embedded link.

53. The network-based system of

claim 46

wherein the embedded link is structured to participate in display refresh of the document and affects visual appearance of the document.

54. The network-based system of

claim 53

wherein the embedded link is structured to require the client computer to verify the presence of the metering log on the client computer before allowing the client computer to activate the embedded link.

55. The network-based system of

claim 53

wherein the embedded link is structured to require the client computer to search for information stored on the client computer pertaining to authorization of the user activate the embedded link.

56. A method for metering a user'"'"'s access to linked information in a computer network comprising a client computer and a server computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting from the server computer to the client computer a document containing an embedded link;

activating the embedded link at the client computer when at least a portion of the document corresponding to the embedded link is displayed;

recording activation of the embedded link in a metering log; and

causing information stored in the metering log pertaining to activation of the embedded link to be transmitted to the server computer.