Dynamic web page construction based on determination of client device location

• US 20040102197A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy Alan Dietz
• Original Assignee: Timothy Alan Dietz
• Inventors: Dietz, Timothy Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/715,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method for serving a web page begins by storing a set of location-specific page elements. In response to a request for the web page from a client browser, a control routine parses the request to locate a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser that has made the request. The geographic location data string may be generated at the client browser in a number of different ways, e.g., by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver coupled to the client computer. At the server, the web page is built dynamically using the geographic location data string to select a given one of the set of location-specific page elements and, preferably, an element having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser. The web page is then served in response to the request. In this way, targeted advertising or other page content is included in the web page as a function of the client browser location.

Claims

1. A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of:

storing a set of location-specific page elements;

receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;

dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of the set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser; and

serving the web page in response to the request.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.

4. The method as described in claim 3 wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the client browser provides the geographic location data string in a cookie.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the client browser provides the geographic location data sting in an HTML form.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the set of location-specific page elements are stored at a third party server.

8. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the web page is built using a Java server page mechanism.

2. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.

9. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for serving a web page, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser; and

means responsive to the request for dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of a set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser.

10. The computer program product as described in claim 9 further including means for serving the web page in response to the request.

11. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.

12. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.

13. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.

14. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the means to the request for dynamically building the web page is a Java server page mechanism.

15. A web server, comprising:

means for receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser; and

means responsive to the request for dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of a set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser.

16. The web server as described in claim 15 further including means for serving the web page in response to the request.

17. The web server as described in claim 15 wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.

18. The web server as described in claim 15 wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.

19. The web server as described in claim 18 wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.

20. The web server as described in claim 15 wherein the means to the request for dynamically building the web page is a Java server page mechanism.

21. A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;

dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given location-specific page element;

caching the web page for future use;

serving the web page in response to the first request;

responsive to receipt of a second request for the web page, determining whether the second request originates within a given distance from the location; and

if so, retrieving and serving the cached web page in response to the second request.

22. A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;

dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data sting to select a fist location-specific page element;

serving the web page with the first location-specific page element in response to the first request;

responsive to receipt of a second request for the web page from the client browser, dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a second location-specific page element; and

serving the web page with the second location-specific page element in response to the second request.