US6606652B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for targeting information to specific users on a computer network
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2001-10-16
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Granted: 2003-08-12
•
Expires: 2021-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A system for targeting information on a computer network. The system involves categorizing a plurality of address pointers according to the content designated by the address pointer. The system further involves reading the address pointer which designates the content received by the user and determining which category or categories, if any, the address pointer is within. Information packets, such as advertisements, are targeted to selected categories. Once the category of an address pointer has been determined, an information packet targeted to that category is selected and transmitted to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Cohn
- 👤 John L. Adelus
- 👤 Dean Blackketter
- 👤 Samuel Thomas Scott, III
- 👤 Stephen G. Perlman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06F16/9574; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/19; H04L67/00; H04L67/14; H04L67/50; H04L67/53; H04L67/60; H04L67/63; H04L61/00; H04L61/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising steps for: the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category; automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising steps for: the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category; automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a third party categorization database is used to determine whether the first content category is associated with the one or more content addresses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the targeting information system connects the plurality of servers and the computer network through the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further including an act of displaying the one or more information packets at the user terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more particular content addresses is associated with a the first content category based on one or more words within the first content category that is available at the at least one of the one or more particular content addresses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more information packets are targeted to at least a first content category by a third party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the target database is remotely located from the target information system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
250 words
A computer program product for use in a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, the computer program product comprising: one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from ally particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising: the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category; automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A computer program product for use in a computer network that includes a plurality of servers and at least one user terminal logically connected to the computer network through a targeting information system that operates as an access point to the computer network by directing requests for content from the at least one user terminal to one or more servers providing the content that the at least one user terminal requests, the computer program product comprising: one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of targeting one or more information packets for download to a user terminal, wherein the targeting is independent of the user terminal requesting content from ally particular server, and wherein the targeting is based on content requested by the user terminal, the method comprising: the targeting information system accessing a target database, the target database including one or more information packets that are targeted to at least a first content category; automatically, without user intervention, and independent of the user terminal requesting content from any particular server, the targeting information system obtaining one or more particular content addresses, wherein the particular one or more content addresses have been requested by the user terminal and correspond to content provided by one or more servers; and if the particular one or more content addresses which have been requested by the user terminal are associated with the first content category, the targeting information system delivering the one or more information packets to the user terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 , wherein a third party categorization database is used to determine whether the first content category is associated with the one or more content addresses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 , wherein the targeting system connects the plurality of servers and the computer network through the Internet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 , further including an act of displaying the one or more information packets at the user terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more particular content addresses is associated with the first content category based on one or more words within the first content category that is available at the at least one of the one or more particular content addresses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 , wherein the one or more information packets are targeted to at least a first content category by a third party.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 13 , wherein the target remotely located from the target information system.
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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) | 2006-08-11 | 2007-02-10 | 2007-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-11 | 2011-02-10 | 2011-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-11 | 2015-02-10 | 2015-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |