US6453347B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Active marketing based on client computer configurations
Assignee: McAfee LLC
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Filing: 2002-04-01
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Granted: 2002-09-17
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Expires: 2022-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for actively marketing products and services to a user of a client computer such as over a network are disclosed. A product information database comprising product summary files that facilitate determination of presence or absence of products associated with the client computer, a marketing rule knowledge base comprising opportunity rule files governing marketing opportunities, and an opportunity detection object for determination of marketing opportunities are utilized to determine active marketing opportunities and may be downloaded to the client computer from a service provider computer system. The opportunity detection object may comprise a scan engine, an opportunity analysis engine, and a presentation engine which collectively determine and present marketing information to the client computer user. The scan engine compares the client computer against the product information database to determine the configurations of the client computer and to generate a client computer inventory database. The opportunity analysis engine analyzes the client computer inventory database against the marketing rule knowledge base and generates a list of marketing opportunities for the client computer. The presentation engine analyzes the list of marketing opportunities and provides marketing and/or other information regarding marketed products to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Siddaraya B. Revashetti
- 👤 Chandrasekar Balasubramaniam
- 👤 Babu Katchapalayam
- 👤 Ravi Lingarkar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0877; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0242; G06Q30/0244; G06Q30/0245; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0269; G06Q30/0277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for displaying purchase opportunities using information on a client computer, comprising: initiating a scan for products associated with the client computer; displaying a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scan; initiating an opportunity analysis to identify purchase opportunities, the opportunity analysis including comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and presenting the detected purchase opportunities to the user of the client computer upon detection of purchase opportunities.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for displaying purchase opportunities using information on a client computer, comprising: initiating a scan for products associated with the client computer; displaying a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scan; initiating an opportunity analysis to identify purchase opportunities, the opportunity analysis including comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and presenting the detected purchase opportunities to the user of the client computer upon detection of purchase opportunities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said scan includes scanning for at least one of software files, operating system, hardware peripherals, and hardware components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rule knowledge base includes a first rule file defining a purchase opportunity and a condition for a product in the client computer inventory for the purchase opportunity, the condition being of a predefined value selected from the group consisting of absent, present, optional, and value of a measurable characteristic of the product in the client computer inventory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said product information database includes a product summary file including a detection command and a product signature comprising a value for indicating association of the product with the client computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein said scan for products associated with the client computer includes executing the detection command to detect a presence of a product signature on the client computer, and, upon detection of the product signature on the client computer, writing a product record of the detected product associated with the client computer to said client computer inventory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein each product record comprises at least one of an existing product identification, an existing product category, and an existing product property of the detected product associated with the client computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein said product summary file is selected from the group consisting of a software product summary file, a hardware product summary file, and an operating system product summary file.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein said product signature of the product summary file is selected from the group consisting of an executable-type product signature, a registry-type product signature, an initialization-type product signature, a driver-type product signature, and a command-type product signature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the product signature of the product summary file is an executable-type product signature, the executable-type product signature comprising at least one executable file property for indicating a presence of a product on the client computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 9 , wherein the executable file property is selected from the group consisting of an executable name, an executable file size, and an executable timestamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the product signature of the product summary file is a registry-type product signature, the registry-type product signature comprising at least one registry entry for indicating a presence of a product on the client computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the product signature of the product summary file is an initialization-type product signature, the initialization-type product signature comprising at least one initialization file property for indicating a presence of a product on the client computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the initialization file property is selected from the group consisting of initialization file name, initialization parameter name, and initialization parameter value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the product signature of the product summary file is a driver-type product signature, the driver-type product signature comprising at least one driver file property for indicating a presence of a product on the client computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the driver file property is selected from the group consisting of driver file name, driver file size, and driver file timestamp.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing at least one of the product information database and the rule knowledge base in the client computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detected product purchase opportunity is selected from the group consisting of a product commerce opportunity, a service advertisement opportunity, and a product advertisement opportunity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer product for displaying purchase opportunities using information on a client computer, comprising: computer code for initiating a scan for products associated with the client computer; computer code for displaying a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scan; computer code for initiating an opportunity analysis to identify purchase opportunities, the opportunity analysis including comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and computer code for presenting the detected purchase opportunities to the user of the client computer upon detection of purchase opportunities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer product for displaying purchase opportunities using information on a client computer, comprising: computer code for initiating a scan for products associated with the client computer; computer code for displaying a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scan; computer code for initiating an opportunity analysis to identify purchase opportunities, the opportunity analysis including comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and computer code for presenting the detected purchase opportunities to the user of the client computer upon detection of purchase opportunities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer product according to claim 18 , wherein the rule knowledge base includes a first rule file defining a purchase opportunity and a condition for a product in the client computer inventory for the purchase opportunity, the condition being of a predefined value selected from the group consisting of absent, present, optional, and value of a measurable characteristic of the product in the client computer inventory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer product according to claim 18 , wherein the product information database includes a product summary file including a detection command and a product signature comprising a value for indicating association of the product with the client computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
The computer product according to claim 20 , wherein said computer code that scans includes computer code that executes the detection command to detect a presence of a product signature on the client computer, and, upon detection of the presence of the product signature on the client computer, writes a product record of the detected product associated with the client computer to the client computer inventory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer product according to claim 20 , wherein the product signature of the product summary file is selected from the group consisting of an executable-type product signature, a registry-type product signature, an initialization-type product signature, a driver-type product signature, and a command-type product signature.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
88 words
A method, comprising: scanning for products associated with a client computer, the scanning includes scanning the client computer and comparing results of the client computer scanning against a product information database; generating a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scanning; performing an opportunity analysis to identify update opportunities, said performing the opportunity analysis includes comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and outputting the detected update opportunities upon detection of update opportunities.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
88 words
A method, comprising: scanning for products associated with a client computer, the scanning includes scanning the client computer and comparing results of the client computer scanning against a product information database; generating a client computer product inventory based on products associated with the client computer as determined in said scanning; performing an opportunity analysis to identify update opportunities, said performing the opportunity analysis includes comparing rules of a rule knowledge base to the client computer product inventory; and outputting the detected update opportunities upon detection of update opportunities.
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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) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-18 | 2006-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-16 | 2010-03-18 | 2010-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-16 | 2014-03-18 | 2014-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |