Apparatus and method for marketing to instant messaging service users

• US 20040186766A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seaman, James Wesley, Gusler, Carl Phillip, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Fellenstein, Craig William
• Application Number:
  US10/392,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186766A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method and apparatus for marketing advertisements to instant messaging users. The invention comprises: a user registration program, a user selection program, an advertisement delivery program, a queuing program, and an instant messaging interface program. The instant messaging interface program interfaces between an instant messaging service and the present invention. The user registration program allows the user to register with an instant messaging service and indicate the types of goods and/or service he is interested in. The user selection program selects users form the instant messaging service'"'"'s database based on advertiser established criteria. The advertisement delivery program delivers the advertisement in a format that does not disrupt their online chats by notifying the user that the advertisement is ready for viewing. Users have the option of viewing, saving, or deleing the advertisement. Users may also view additional information, view coupons, play a game, or temporarily block the delivery of advertisements.

Claims

1. A method for creating a targeted list of users from a user database based on selection criteria, said user being instant messaging users and having a specific user name and user definable interests, said method comprising:

connecting a user computer to a network;

using the user computer, accessing an instant messaging marketing program that interfaces with an instant messaging program located on the network;

using the instant messaging marketing program to perform the steps of;

acquiring a user database;

defining a selection criterion, said selection criterion being defined by an advertiser;

searching said user database using said selection criterion; and

creating a list of targeted users based on said search.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection criterion is a specific word or term in a user name.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user interest identified by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection criterion is random selection of users.

6. A method comprising:

connecting a user computer to a network;

using the user computer, accessing an instant messaging marketing program that interfaces with an instant messaging program located on the network;

using the instant messaging marketing program to perform the steps of;

queuing a plurality of advertisements.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining if a user has blocked said advertisement; and

responsive to a determination that said user has not blocked said advertisement, notifying a user that said advertisement is available.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

selecting a time interval;

starting a clock;

wherein said queuing step is performed when said clock reaches said time interval; and

wherein upon determining that said user has blocked said advertisement, resetting said interval without notifying said user that said advertisement is available.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

accepting user input to dispose of said advertisement.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to view said advertisement.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to save said advertisement.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to delete said advertisement.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification is illumination of a light on a graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification is an email.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification is a pop-up screen.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification is an instant message.

49. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to view additional information regarding said advertisement.

50. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to view a coupon associated with said advertisement.

51. The method of claim 9 wherein said user input is to run an interactive game bot.

17. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;

instructions for acquiring a user database;

instructions for defining a selection criterion;

instructions for searching said user database using said selection criterion; and

instructions for creating a list of targeted users based on said search.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user profile.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein said selection criterion is a specific word or term in a user name.

20. The program product of claim 17, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user interest identified by the user.

21. The program product of claim 17, wherein said selection criterion is random selection of users.

22. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;

instructions for queuing an advertisement;

instructions for determining if a user has blocked said advertisement; and

wherein upon determination that said user has not blocked said advertisement, instructions for notifying a user that said advertisement is available.

23. The program product of claim 22 further comprising:

instructions for selecting a time interval;

instructions for starting a clock;

wherein said instructions for queuing are executed when said clock reaches said time interval; and

wherein upon determining that said user has blocked said advertisement, instructions for resetting said interval without notifying said user that said advertisement is available.

24. The program product of claim 22 further comprising:

instructions for accepting user input to dispose of said advertisement.

25. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to view said advertisement.

26. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to save said advertisement.

27. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to delete said advertisement.

28. The program product of claim 22 wherein said notification is illumination of a light on a graphical user interface.

29. The program product of claim 22 wherein said notification is an email.

30. The program product of claim 22 wherein said notification is a pop-up screen.

31. The program product of claim 22 wherein said notification is an instant message.

52. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to view additional information regarding said advertisement.

53. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to view a coupon associated with said advertisement.

54. The program product of claim 24 wherein said user input is to run an interactive game bot.

32. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises;

a user registration program, whereby said user registration program allows a user to create a user name;

a user selection program, whereby said user registration program searches a user database for users matching a selection criterion; and

an advertisement delivery program, whereby said advertisement delivery program delivers an advertisement to said user.

33. The program product of claim 32 wherein said user registration program further allows a user to enter a user profile and at least one user interest.

34. The program product of claim 32 wherein said user selection program comprises:

instructions for acquiring a user database;

instructions for defining a selection criterion;

instructions for searching said user database using said selection criterion; and

instructions for creating a list of targeted users based on said search.

35. The program product of claim 34, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user profile.

36. The program product of claim 34, wherein said selection criterion is a specific word or term in a user name.

37. The program product of claim 34, wherein said selection criterion is a specific user interest identified by the user.

38. The program product of claim 34, wherein said selection criterion is random selection of users.

39. The program product of claim 32 wherein said user selection program comprises:

instructions for queuing an advertisement;

instructions for determining if a user has blocked said advertisement; and

wherein upon determination that said user has not blocked said advertisement, instructions for notifying a user that said advertisement is available.

40. The program product of claim 39 further comprising:

instructions for selecting a time interval;

instructions for starting a clock;

wherein said instructions for queuing are executed when said clock reaches said time interval; and

wherein upon determining that said user has blocked said advertisement, instructions for resetting said interval without notifying said user that said advertisement is available.

41. The program product of claim 39 further comprising:

instructions for accepting user input to dispose of said advertisement.

42. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to view said advertisement.

43. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to save said advertisement.

44. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to delete said advertisement.

45. The program product of claim 39 wherein said notification is illumination of a light on a graphical user interface.

46. The program product of claim 39 wherein said notification is an email.

47. The program product of claim 39 wherein said notification is a pop-up screen.

48. The program product of claim 39 wherein said notification is an instant message.

55. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to view additional information regarding said advertisement.

56. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to view a coupon associated with said advertisement.

57. The program product of claim 41 wherein said user input is to run an interactive game bot.