Patent US5768508A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5768508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Computer network system and method for efficient information transfer
Assignee: OROSTREAM LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-11
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Granted: 1998-06-16
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Expires: 2017-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A computer network connects information providers and end-users of network services, facilitates direct information to users, and gathers user responses. The computer network is designed to use otherwise idle bandwidth of the network transmission medium to transfer targeted commercial and non-commercial information to users while minimizing the delay of normal network traffic. User reports containing demographics and user responses are generated ensuring user privacy. Information providers can access user reports without violating user anonymity.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Eikeland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; H04L47/12; H04L47/127; H04L47/25; H04L47/28; H04L47/283; H04L47/32; H04L67/00; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04L43/00; H04L43/08; H04L43/0852; H04L43/0864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A computer network for connecting information providers and users, comprising: a user node including means for sending a node ID corresponding to the user node, means for receiving a target information reference, means for fetching target information using the target information reference, and means for controlling the transfer of the target information in a background state while receiving non-target information to the user node without additional communication delay; a master database containing profile information and corresponding target information reference; a master node, coupled to the user node, and including means for transferring the target information to the user node; and a master program, coupled to the master node and the master database, and including means for receiving the node ID from the user node, means for accessing from the master database profile information corresponding to the node ID, and means for transmitting the target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information to the user node.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer network for connecting information providers and users, comprising: a user node including means for sending a node ID corresponding to the user node, means for receiving a target information reference, means for fetching target information using the target information reference, and means for controlling the transfer of the target information in a background state while receiving non-target information to the user node without additional communication delay; a master database containing profile information and corresponding target information reference; a master node, coupled to the user node, and including means for transferring the target information to the user node; and a master program, coupled to the master node and the master database, and including means for receiving the node ID from the user node, means for accessing from the master database profile information corresponding to the node ID, and means for transmitting the target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information to the user node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer network of claim 1, wherein the controlling means includes means for measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer network of claim 2, wherein the controlling means further includes means for computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time for delivering the target information, and means for adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer network of claim 1, wherein the controlling means further includes means for requesting the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer network of claim 1, wherein the controlling means includes means for fetching the target information during times when non-target information is not being sent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer network of claim 1, further including means for notifying the user when the target information is ready for display once the transfer of the target information is complete.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A network traffic controller for controlling the transfer of target information without causing additional communication delay to non-target information traffic between a user node and a master node, comprising: means for measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information; means for computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time; and means for adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A network traffic controller for controlling the transfer of target information without causing additional communication delay to non-target information traffic between a user node and a master node, comprising: means for measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information; means for computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time; and means for adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The network traffic controller of claim 7, wherein the adjusting means includes means for transferring no packets of target information, and means for adjusting the transmission rate after transferring each packet of the target information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network traffic controller of claim 7, further including means for receiving a target information reference, and means for requesting the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network traffic controller of claim 7, further including means for fetching the target information during times when non-target information is not being sent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
A master program, coupled to a master node and a master database, for connecting an information provider and a user node of a computer network, comprising: means for registering the user node at the master node; means for receiving, through the master node, a node ID from the user node; means for accessing a master database for profile information corresponding to the node ID; and means for transmitting to the user node, through the master node, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information, wherein the target information reference is a pointer to target information to be delivered to the user node while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A master program, coupled to a master node and a master database, for connecting an information provider and a user node of a computer network, comprising: means for registering the user node at the master node; means for receiving, through the master node, a node ID from the user node; means for accessing a master database for profile information corresponding to the node ID; and means for transmitting to the user node, through the master node, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information, wherein the target information reference is a pointer to target information to be delivered to the user node while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A user node for connecting information providers and users of a computer network having a master node, a master database, and a master program, the user node comprising: means for sending to the master node a node ID corresponding to the user node; means for receiving a target information reference from the master program; means for controlling the transfer of target information in the background while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay between the master node and the user node; and means for receiving from the master node the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A user node for connecting information providers and users of a computer network having a master node, a master database, and a master program, the user node comprising: means for sending to the master node a node ID corresponding to the user node; means for receiving a target information reference from the master program; means for controlling the transfer of target information in the background while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay between the master node and the user node; and means for receiving from the master node the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The user node of claim 12, wherein the controlling means includes means for measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The user node of claim 13, wherein the controlling means further includes means for computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time for delivering the target information, and means for adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The user node of claim 12, further including means for notifying the user when the target information is ready for display once the transfer of the target information is complete.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of connecting information providers and users, comprising the steps of: sending from a user node to a master program a node ID corresponding to the user node; accessing, by the master program, profile information corresponding to the node ID; transmitting, by the master program, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information to the user node; fetching, by the user node, target information using the target information reference; controlling, by the user node, the transfer of the target information in a background state while receiving non-target information to the user node without additional communication delay; and receiving, by the user node, the target information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of connecting information providers and users, comprising the steps of: sending from a user node to a master program a node ID corresponding to the user node; accessing, by the master program, profile information corresponding to the node ID; transmitting, by the master program, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information to the user node; fetching, by the user node, target information using the target information reference; controlling, by the user node, the transfer of the target information in a background state while receiving non-target information to the user node without additional communication delay; and receiving, by the user node, the target information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling step includes the step of measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling step further includes the steps of computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time for delivering the target information, and adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling step includes the step of requesting the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling step includes the step of fetching the target information during times when non-target information is not being sent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16, further including the step of notifying the user when the target information is ready for display once the transfer of the target information is complete.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the transfer of target information without causing additional communication delay to non-target information traffic between a user node and a master node, comprising the steps of: measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information; computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time; and adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the transfer of target information without causing additional communication delay to non-target information traffic between a user node and a master node, comprising the steps of: measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information; computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time; and adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the adjusting step includes the substeps of transferring packets of target information, and adjusting the transmission rate after transferring each packet of the target information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 22, further including the steps of receiving, by the user node, a target information reference, and requesting the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22, further including the step of fetching the target information during times when non-target information is not being sent.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of connecting an information provider and a user node of a computer network, the method, performed by a master program, comprising the steps of: registering the user node at a master node; receiving, through the master node, a node ID from the user node; accessing a master database for profile information corresponding to the node ID; and transmitting to the user node, through the master node, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information, wherein the target information reference is a pointer to target information to be delivered to the user node while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of connecting an information provider and a user node of a computer network, the method, performed by a master program, comprising the steps of: registering the user node at a master node; receiving, through the master node, a node ID from the user node; accessing a master database for profile information corresponding to the node ID; and transmitting to the user node, through the master node, a target information reference corresponding to the accessed profile information, wherein the target information reference is a pointer to target information to be delivered to the user node while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of connecting information providers and users of a computer network having a master node, a master database, and a master program, the method, performed by a user node, comprising the steps of: sending to the master node a node ID corresponding to the master node; receiving a target information reference from the master program; controlling the transfer of target information in the background while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay between the master node and the user node; and receiving the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of connecting information providers and users of a computer network having a master node, a master database, and a master program, the method, performed by a user node, comprising the steps of: sending to the master node a node ID corresponding to the master node; receiving a target information reference from the master program; controlling the transfer of target information in the background while transferring non-target information without additional communication delay between the master node and the user node; and receiving the target information corresponding to the target information reference.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the controlling step includes the step of measuring round-trip delay time for delivering the target information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the controlling step further includes the steps of computing a ratio between the round-trip delay time and a predetermined minimum round-trip delay time for delivering the target information, and adjusting a transmission rate of the target information based on the computed ratio.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 27, further including the step of notifying the user when the target information is ready for display once the transfer of the target information is complete.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |