Systems and methods for determining, collecting, and using geographic locations of internet users
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Abstract
A method of determining a geographic location of an Internet user involves determining if the host is on-line, determining ownership of the host name, and then determining the route taken in delivering packets to the user. Based on the detected route, the method proceeds with determining the geographic route based on the host locations and then assigning a confidence level to the assigned location. A system collects the geographic information and allows web sites or other entities to request the geographic location of their visitors. The database of geographic locations may be stored in a central location or, alternatively, may be at least partially located at the web site. With this information, web sites can target content, advertising, or route traffic depending upon the geographic locations of their visitors. Through web site requests for geographic information, a central database tracks an Internet user'"'"'s traffic on the Internet whereby a profile can be generated. In addition to this profile, the central database can store visitor'"'"'s preferences as to what content should be delivered to an IP address, the available interface, and the network speed associated with that IP address.
93 Citations
93 Claims
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1-61. -61. (canceled)
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62. An automated computer-implemented method of determining a geographic location of an Internet user, comprising:
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receiving one of an IP address, host name or domain name associated with the Internet user;
determining a geographic address of an entity that owns the IP address, host name or domain name;
obtaining a route through the Internet to a target host for the IP address, the route containing any intermediate hosts and the target host;
determining a geographic naming convention for at least one of the hosts contained in the route through the Internet to the target host;
deriving a geographic location of at least one of the hosts contained in the route by automatically matching at least one of the hosts contained in the route to geographic locations through use of a database correlating geographic naming conventions to geographic locations;
automatically determining the geographic location of the Internet user by analysis of the route and the geographic location of the at least one host contained in the route; and
storing the geographic location of the Internet user in a database. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A computer-readable medium having computer readable program code for determining a geographic location of an Internet user, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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program code for receiving one of an IP address, host name or domain name associated with the Internet user;
program code for determining a geographic address of an entity that owns the IP address, host name or domain name;
program code for obtaining a route through the Internet to a target host for the IP address, the route containing any intermediate hosts and the target host;
program code for determining a geographic naming convention for at least one of the hosts contained in the route through the Internet to the target host;
program code for deriving a geographic location of at least one of the hosts contained in the route by automatically matching at least one of the hosts contained in the route to geographic locations through use of a database correlating geographic naming conventions to geographic locations;
program code for automatically determining the geographic location of the Internet user by analysis of the route and the geographic location of the at least one host contained in the route; and
program code for storing the geographic location of the Internet user in a database.
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78. An automated computer-implemented method of determining a geographic location of an Internet user, comprising:
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receiving one of an IP address, host name or domain name associated with the Internet user;
determining a geographic address of an entity that owns the IP address, host name or domain name;
obtaining a route through the Internet to a target host for the IP address, the route containing any intermediate hosts and the target host;
deriving a geographic location of at least one of the hosts contained in the route by automatically matching a geographic naming convention of at least one of the hosts contained in the route to a geographic location through use of a database correlating geographic naming conventions to geographic locations;
automatically determining the geographic location of the Internet user by analysis of the route and the geographic location of the at least one host contained in the route; and
storing the geographic location of the Internet user in a database. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A computer-readable medium having computer readable program code for determining a geographic location of an Internet user, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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program code for receiving one of an IP address, host name or domain name associated with the Internet user;
program code for determining a geographic address of an entity that owns the IP address, host name or domain name;
program code for obtaining a route through the Internet to a target host for the IP address, the route containing any intermediate hosts and the target host;
program code for deriving a geographic location of at least one of the hosts contained in the route by automatically matching a geographic naming convention of at least one of the hosts contained in the route to a geographic location through use of a database correlating geographic naming conventions to geographic locations;
program code for automatically determining the geographic location of the Internet user by analysis of the route and the geographic location of the at least one host contained in the route; and
program code for storing the geographic location of the Internet user in a database.
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Specification