Method and system for providing personalized online services and advertisements in public spaces

• US 6,847,969 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Streetspace Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Streetspace Incorporated
• Inventors: Mathai, Tom J., Margon, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veillard, Jacques
• Application Number:
  US09/959,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 5, 707/10, 707/100, 709/200, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 715/501.1, 705/30, 705/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A method and system for providing, personalized and integrated online services for communications and commercial transactions both in private and public venues. The invention provides personalized information that is conveniently accessible through a network of public access stations (or terminals) which are enabled by a personal system access card (e.g., smart card). The invention also provides advertisers the opportunity to directly engage action; and potential user-consumers with selected advertising or marketing content based on each user'"'"'s profile and usage history.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a terminal, wherein said terminal has an identification code for determining an exact physical location of said terminal;

a database having a profile for a user; and

a program for displaying personalized information, wherein said personalized information is selected for display based upon said profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon said usage history information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon the exact physical location of said terminal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said personalized information includes an advertisement.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said personalized information includes an online service.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system records the time said user logs on to and logs off of the system, and wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon the time said user logs on to the system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said profile is progressively developed and updated based upon said usage history information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said program displays advertising content tailored to said user'"'"'s interests and behavior.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a keyboard and a touch sensitive screen.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal comprises a credit card swipe terminal for processing credit transactions.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal is publicly accessible.

12. A system, comprising:

a plurality of terminals located in public spaces and accessible to a user,

each of said plurality of terminals having a unique identification code for determining an exact physical location of said terminal;

a user access card for allowing said user access to said plurality of terminals, said card having a unique user identification code corresponding to said user;

a database comprising a user profile for said user;

a program for recording the usage history information of said user; and

a program for displaying personalized information to said user, wherein said personalized information is selected based upon said user profile.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon said usage history information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon the exact physical location of said terminal.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said personalized information includes an advertisement.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said personal information includes an online service.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said program for recording records the time said user logs on to and logs off of the system, and wherein said personalized information is also selected for display based upon the time said user logs on to the system.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising an email program for allowing said user to send and receive emails.

19. A method, comprising:

providing a terminal accessible by a consumer, wherein said terminal has an identification code for determining an exact physical location of said terminal;

maintaining a database having a profile of said consumer;

recording usage history information of said consumer;

maintaining a plurality of advertisements and online services;

selecting among said plurality of advertisements and online services based upon said profile;

providing selected advertisements and online services to said consumer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting step also uses said usage history information.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting step also uses the exact physical location of said terminal.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting step also uses the time said consumer logs on to said terminal.

22. The method of 19, wherein said selected advertisements are displayed to said consumer on a rolling basis.