US6085229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing client side personalization of content of web pages and the like
Assignee: Belarc Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-14
•
Granted: 2000-07-04
•
Expires: 2018-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A network includes one or more client computers which can retrieve Web pages and supplemental content items, such as advertisements, from one or more server computers, for display or other processing. Each Web page can have fixed content, one or more fixed URL's identifying supplemental content items to be, for example, displayed at particular locations on the Web page, and one or more sets of conditional items, with each conditional item set comprising content item(s) or content item identifier(s), such as URL's, and personal selection criteria to be used in selecting one of the content item(s) or identifier(s) to be, for example, displayed at a respective location on the Web page. When a client computer receives a Web page from a server computer, it (that is, the client computer) will, for example, display the fixed Web page content and, obtain supplemental content items identified by the fixed URL's to be displayed along with the fixed content. In addition, the client computer will process each set of conditional items in conjunction with personal information maintained by the client computer and selection criteria for the set to identify one of the conditional content item(s) to be displayed, or one of the conditional item identifier(s) to be used in obtaining a supplemental content item to be displayed along with the Web page. Since the client computer determines the particular conditional content or content identifier based on selection criteria provided with the Web page, and personal information maintained by the client computer itself, the personal information need not be provided to or otherwise obtained by the server computer to allow for personalization of the Web page.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary H. Newman
- 👤 Christopher J. Enscoe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9535
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 85
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A network including a server computer and a client computer, A. the server computer having a downloadable information item having associated therewith a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with information content used in connection with said downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, B. said client computer having i. a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of downloadable information item from said server computer, and ii. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with said conditional content items in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A network including a server computer and a client computer, A. the server computer having a downloadable information item having associated therewith a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with information content used in connection with said downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, B. said client computer having i. a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of downloadable information item from said server computer, and ii. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with said conditional content items in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A network as defined in claim 1 in which the selected conditional content item comprises a pointer to content that is retrievable over the network, the client computer being configured to use the pointer to retrieve the content over the network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A network as defined in claim 2 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item, thereby to enable the browser to initiate a retrieval of content pointed to by the pointer and display the content associated therewith to the operator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network as defined in claim 3 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A network as defined in claim 4 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A network as defined in claim 2 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A network as defined in claim 2 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A network as defined in claim 1 in which the client computer includes a display configured to display information to the operator, the conditional content item as selected by the conditional item selection processor being used in connection with display of said retrieved downloadable information item to the operator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A network as defined in claim 8 in which the selected conditional content item comprises content configured to be displayed to the operator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A network as defined in claim 9 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A network as defined in claim 9 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network as defined in claim 1 the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network as defined in claim 12 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A network as defined in claim 12 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network as defined in claim 1 in which the downloadable information item is a Web page.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A network as defined in claim 1 in which the downloadable information item further includes at least one fixed content item, the browser being configured to use said at least one fixed content item in connection with said retrieved downloadable information item.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be displayed at a selected location in the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer comprising: A. a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer; and B. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with said conditional content items in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be displayed at a selected location in the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer comprising: A. a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer; and B. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with said conditional content items in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A client computer as defined in claim 17 in which the selected conditional content item comprises a pointer to content that is retrievable over the network, the client computer being configured to use the pointer to retrieve the content over the network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
A client computer as defined in claim 18 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item, thereby to enable the browser to initiate a retrieval of content pointed to by the pointer and display the content associated therewith to the operator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A client computer as defined in claim 19 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A client computer as defined in claim 20 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to rewrite the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A client computer as defined in claim 18 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A client computer as defined in claim 18 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A client computer as defined in claim 17 in which the client computer includes a display configured to display information to the operator, the conditional content item as selected by the conditional item selection processor being used in connection with display of said retrieved downloadable information item to the operator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A client computer as defined in claim 24 in which the selected conditional content item comprises content configured to be displayed to the operator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A client computer as defined in claim 25 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A client computer as defined in claim 25 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A client computer as defined in claim 17 the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A client computer as defined in claim 28 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
A client computer as defined in claim 28 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A client computer as defined in claim 17 in which the downloadable information item is a Web page.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A client computer as defined in claim 17 in which the downloadable information item further includes at least one fixed content item, the browser being configured to use said at least one fixed content item in connection with said retrieved downloadable information item.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
189 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement configured to be used in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be used in connection with the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the conditional item selection processing arrangement including: A. a conditional item set receiver configured to receive the conditional item set from said browser, and B. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set as received by the conditional item set receiver in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
189 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement configured to be used in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be used in connection with the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the conditional item selection processing arrangement including: A. a conditional item set receiver configured to receive the conditional item set from said browser, and B. a conditional item selection processor configured to process the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set as received by the conditional item set receiver in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with said downloadable information item.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
45 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 33 in which the selected conditional content item comprises a pointer to content that is retrievable over the network, the client computer being configured to use the pointer to retrieve the content over the network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 34 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item, thereby to enable the browser to initiate a retrieval of content pointed to by the pointer and display the content associated therewith to the operator.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 35 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 36 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 34 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 34 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
53 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 33 in which the client computer includes a display configured to display information to the operator, the conditional content item as selected by the conditional item selection processor being used in connection with display of said retrieved downloadable information item to the operator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 40 in which the selected conditional content item comprises content configured to be displayed to the operator.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 41 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 41 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to enable the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 33 the conditional item selection processor is configured to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 44 in which the conditional item selection processor is configured to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
57 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 44 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor being configured to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 33 in which the downloadable information item is a Web page.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conditional item selection processing arrangement as defined in claim 33 in which the downloadable information item further includes at least one fixed content item, the browser being configured to use said at least one fixed content item in connection with said retrieved downloadable information item.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
192 words
A conditional item selection processing method for use in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be used in connection with the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the conditional item selection processing method including: A. a conditional item set receiving step including the step of receiving the conditional item set from said browser, and B. a conditional item selection processing step including the step of processing the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set as received by the conditional item set receiver in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with downloadable information item.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
192 words
A conditional item selection processing method for use in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be used in connection with the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the conditional item selection processing method including: A. a conditional item set receiving step including the step of receiving the conditional item set from said browser, and B. a conditional item selection processing step including the step of processing the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set as received by the conditional item set receiver in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with downloadable information item.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
50 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 49 in which the selected conditional content item comprises a pointer to content that is retrievable over the network, method further comprising the step of enabling the client computer to use the pointer to retrieve the content over the network.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
61 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 50 in which the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of selecting one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item, thereby to enable the browser to initiate a retrieval of content pointed to by the pointer and display the content associated therewith to the operator.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
43 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 51 in which the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of modifying the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
59 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 52 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processing step including the step of re-writing the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 50 in which the client computer includes a display, the conditional item selection processing step including the step of enabling the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 50 in which the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of enabling the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
56 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 49 in which the client computer includes a display configured to display information to the operator, the conditional content item as selected by the conditional item selection processing step including the step of enabling the display to display said retrieved downloadable information item to the operator.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 56 in which the selected conditional content item comprises content configured to be displayed to the operator.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 57 in which the conditional item selection processing step is includes the step of enabling the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 57 in which the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of enabling the browser to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 49 the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of selecting one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
43 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 60 in which the conditional item selection processing step includes the step of modifying the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
59 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 60 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processing step including the step of re-writing the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 49 in which the downloadable information item is a Web page.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conditional item selection processing method as defined in claim 49 in which the downloadable information item further includes at least one fixed content item, the method further comprising the step of enabling the browser to use said at least one fixed content item in connection with said retrieved downloadable information item.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
173 words
A computer program product configured to be used in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be displayed at a selected location in the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a conditional item selection processor module configured to enable the client computer to process the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with aid downloadable information item.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
173 words
A computer program product configured to be used in connection with a client computer, the client computer configured to be used in a network including a server computer, the server computer having a downloadable information item associated with a conditional item set comprising a plurality of conditional content items, each conditional content item being associated with content to be displayed at a selected location in the downloadable information item, and each conditional content item further being associated with a personal selection criterion, said client computer further including a browser configured to initiate the retrieval of said downloadable information item from said server computer, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a conditional item selection processor module configured to enable the client computer to process the personal selection criteria associated with the conditional content items comprising the conditional item set in relation to personal information associated with and maintained by said client computer to select one of said conditional content items for use in connection with aid downloadable information item.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 65 in which the selected conditional content item comprises a pointer to content that is retrievable over the network, the client computer being configured to use the pointer to retrieve the content over the network.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 66 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item, thereby to enable the browser to initiate a retrieval of content pointed to by the pointer and display the content associated therewith to the operator.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 67 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 68 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor module being configured to enable the computer to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 66 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 66 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to, in turn, enable the browser to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 65 in which the client computer includes a display configured to display information to the operator, the selected conditional content item being used in connection with display of said retrieved downloadable information item to the operator.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 72 in which the selected conditional content item comprises content configured to be displayed to the operator.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 73 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to, in turn, enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 73 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to, in turn, enable the browser to enable the display to display the content to the operator.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 65 the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to select one of said conditional content items by modifying the downloadable information item.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 76 in which the conditional item selection processor module is configured to enable the computer to modify the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 76 in which the downloadable information item as received by said browser is in textual form, the conditional item selection processor module being configured to enable the computer to re-write the text of the downloadable information item by deleting the conditional content item set and inserting therefor the selected conditional content item.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 65 in which the downloadable information item is a Web page.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer program product as defined in claim 65 in which the downloadable information item further includes at least one fixed content item, the browser being configured to enable the computer to use said at least one fixed content item in connection with said retrieved downloadable information item.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5740549A
Cited
US5918014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |