Media content notification via communications network
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to provide information for use in identifying content of potential interest to one or more users, comprising:
- a computer readable medium operable for storing information, in a database, related to at least one user, the information operable in identifying content of potential interest to the at least one user, the computer readable medium further comprising;
at least one file containing information related to the at least one user and further comprising;
at least one first entry associating interest information with the user;
wherein the interest information is based upon passively monitored Internet usage patterns for the user; and
at least one second entry identifying a notification criteria comprising at least an indication of notification scheduling specified by the at least one user and obtained from a registration website that is separate from the apparatus and configured to maintain the notification criteria of the at least one user;
a processor, facilitating access to the database; and
a communications interface facilitating access to the database;
wherein the notification criteria is obtained from the registration website by the operations of;
the at least one user communicating the notification criteria to the registration website at a first time and a user identifier to the processor at a second time; and
the processor communicating at least the user identifier to the registration website to obtain the notification criteria of the at least one user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The notification system identifies media content based on personal preferences of individual users and provides notification of identified media content to the users. In one embodiment, the system (100) includes a number of user nodes (102, 104, and 106) that communicate with a registration site (110) and a notification site (112) via the internet (108). The notification site (112) includes a media content database (120) and a processor (118) running contents election logic. The processor (118) accesses the media content database (120) in order to identify content that may be of interest to particular users of the user nodes (102,104 and 106). In this regard, content for a particular user may be identified by matching interest information obtained from the registration site (110) with the content information of the media content database (120).
166 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to provide information for use in identifying content of potential interest to one or more users, comprising:
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a computer readable medium operable for storing information, in a database, related to at least one user, the information operable in identifying content of potential interest to the at least one user, the computer readable medium further comprising; at least one file containing information related to the at least one user and further comprising; at least one first entry associating interest information with the user;
wherein the interest information is based upon passively monitored Internet usage patterns for the user; andat least one second entry identifying a notification criteria comprising at least an indication of notification scheduling specified by the at least one user and obtained from a registration website that is separate from the apparatus and configured to maintain the notification criteria of the at least one user; a processor, facilitating access to the database; and a communications interface facilitating access to the database; wherein the notification criteria is obtained from the registration website by the operations of; the at least one user communicating the notification criteria to the registration website at a first time and a user identifier to the processor at a second time; and the processor communicating at least the user identifier to the registration website to obtain the notification criteria of the at least one user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for identifying content of potential interest to a user, comprising:
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obtaining, via a network, preference information for at least one user;
wherein the preference information is based, at least in part, upon a currently ascertained Internet usage history for the user;obtaining, via a network, a notification criteria comprising at least an indication of notification scheduling from a registration website configured to maintain the notification criteria of the at least one user through the operations of receiving, from the at least one user via the network, a user identifier; communicating at least the user identifier, via the network, to the registration website; and receiving, from the registration website, the notification criteria of the at least one user based on the provided user identifier; obtaining information related to at least one content; identifying, whether any of the at least one content are of potential interest to the at least one user; and generating a notification to the at least one user after the at least one content is identified as being of potential interest to the at least one user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of providing information for use in identifying content of interest to a user, comprising:
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accessing, via a network, first information useful in identifying content of interest to the user;
wherein the first information includes passively determined Internet usage patterns and express user indications of interest in particular subject matter;accessing second information useful in identifying demographics of the user; and accessing third information useful in identifying a notification criteria comprising at least an indication of notification scheduling from a registration website configured to maintain the notification criteria, wherein the notification criteria is obtained by the operations of; receiving, from the at least one user via the network, a user identifier; communicating at least the user identifier, via the network, to the registration website; and receiving, from the registration website, the notification criteria of the at least one user based on the provided user identifier; whereupon accessing the first and the second information, a notification program identifies content of interest to the user and notifies the user that content of interest is available. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification