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`provided to the sponsor.
`
`The other sites visited can also
`
`provide valuable marketing data for the sponsor.
`
`A second one of the inventive methods includes the
`
`distribution, by either retail sales, or in a sponsor
`
`promotion, of a specialized telephone calling card.
`
`The
`
`calling card includes instructions on getting Internet
`
`access software and provides for a certain amount of
`
`Internet access time and/or long distance calling time.
`
`In
`
`the event of a sponsor promotion,
`
`the cards are
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`distributed, e.g. by mail or in specially marked packages
`
`15
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`of the sponsor's products, free or at low cost.
`
`For retail
`
`sales,
`
`the specialized cards are sold at retail outlets or
`
`in other standard marketing techniques.
`
`In either case,
`
`the calling card includes a PIN number along with
`
`instructions on dialling a toll free number to either order
`
`some free or low cost Internet access software or make a
`
`long distance call.
`
`The toll free number connects the
`
`customer to an Enhanced Entry Server which can provide
`
`either standard long distance calling or a connection to
`
`the Internet. Once connected,
`
`the consumer is given verbal
`
`instructions on selecting either a long distance call or
`
`instructions for ordering the free or low cost software.
`
`If the option of receiving software is selected,
`
`the
`
`consumer is polled for name, address, etc., which is then
`
`25
`
`associated with the assigned PIN number.
`
`The software, on
`
`a floppy disc or CD ROM,
`
`is then sent to the consumer along
`
`with instructions on installing and using the Internet
`
`access software on a personal computer
`
`(PC).
`
`lAlternatively,
`
`the software Can be directly downloaded to
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`the consumer’s PC. Telephone access to the Internet is
`
`accomplished by utilizing the Internet access time
`
`allocated by the calling card.
`
`The Internet access
`
`software accesses and "handshakes" with the Enhanced Entry
`
`Server, which verifies the PIN number, provides the access
`
`and times the user’s access time.
`
`The Enhanced Entry
`
`Server is programmed to recognize the PIN number on the
`
`calling card as entitling the user to either a limited
`
`prepaid Internet access time and/or a time limited ordinary
`
`long distance call within the continental U.S. Typically a
`
`long distance time period could be 30 minutes, for example,
`
`while the Internet access can be for 1 or 2 hours or even
`
`days.
`
`If the consumer elects to use the calling card
`
`solely for long distance calling and does not order the
`
`Internet access software,
`
`then no further records are kept,
`
`but the calling time is treated as simply a consumer
`
`product or a sponsor giveaway. However, if the consumer
`
`orders the Internet access software and uses it to dial the
`
`Entry server,
`
`then the Enhanced Entry Server performs a
`
`registration process which includes a number of personal
`
`questions. Optionally, for sponsor paid cards, as in the
`
`first method, custom data is gathered by the Enhanced Entry
`
`Server in the form of queries provided by the sponsor for
`
`response by the user.
`
`The pertinent answers are then
`
`immediately provided to the sponsor. Also,
`
`in sponsor paid
`
`promotions,
`
`the Enhanced Entry Server initially gives the
`
`user a mandatory "guided tour" of the sponsor's Home Page
`
`and domain where the user is exposed to any current product
`
`Vpromotion by the sponsor and can download promotional
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`coupons, product information, etc. After this mandatory
`
`guided tour is completed,
`
`the user is allowed to access
`
`other information on the sponsor’s home page, and is then
`
`released to access any other information on the Internet.
`
`The Enhanced Entry Server also tracks the other Internet
`
`sites visited by the user during the allotted time period,
`
`which information can often provide valuable marketing
`
`data.
`
`The third of the inventive methods includes the
`
`provision of on—line help services to purchasers of a
`
`sponsor/vendor’s consumer products by providing them with
`
`vendor—paid access to the Internet for a limited time.
`
`The
`
`method includes the step of distributing to purchasers,
`
`along with the products, a floppy disc with Internet access
`
`software thereon. Associated with the floppy disc is a
`
`unique personal identification number
`
`(PIN) along with
`
`instructions on installing and using the Internet access
`
`software on a personal computer
`
`(PC).
`
`The Internet access
`
`software accesses and "handshakes" with an Internet Entry
`
`Server, which verifies the PIN number, provides the access
`
`and times the user's access time.
`
`The Internet Entry
`
`Server is programmed to recognize the PIN number as
`
`entitling the user to a limited prepaid or "free" Internet
`
`access time for on—line help services.
`
`Such a time period
`
`could be for a total time period such as 1 hour or more, or
`
`access to on—line help services can be unlimited for 90
`
`days,
`
`6 months, etc., for example, with the access time
`
`paid for by the sponsor/vendor.
`
`The first time a customer
`
`uses the on-line help service,
`
`the Internet Entry Server
`
`performs a registration process which includes a number of
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`personal questions and custom data gathering in the form of
`
`queries provided by the sponsor/vendor for response by the
`
`user.
`
`The pertinent answers are then immediately provided
`
`to the sponsor/vendor.
`
`The Internet Entry Server then
`
`"hot—links" the customer to the sponsor/vendor's Internet
`
`domain or Home Page for a mandatory "guided tour" where the
`
`user is exposed to any current product promotion by the
`sponsor/vendor and can download promotional coupons,
`
`product information, etc. After this mandatory guided tour
`
`is completed,
`
`the customer is allowed to enter queries for
`
`help in installing or using the sponsor/vendor's product.
`
`As an optional promotional service, upon termination of the
`
`on-line help session, access to other information on the
`
`Internet can be provided.
`
`All three methods share the
`
`common characteristic of, once the prepaid time period is
`
`up, prompting the user with one or more of a plurality of
`
`options for extending the access period.
`
`For example,
`
`the
`
`user can be prompted to enter a credit card number to which
`
`access time will be charged; he or she can be given the
`
`opportunity to answer additional survey information in
`
`return for additional "free" or prepaid time; or a "900"
`
`subscriber paid telephone access number can be provided
`
`through which additional access will be billed via the
`
`normal telephone company 900 billing cycles.
`
`Objects and Advantages of the Invention
`
`The principle objects and advantages of the invention
`
`include: for the first, sponsor product promotion method,
`
`to provide an improved method of featuring a sponsor's
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`products or services by providing "free" Internet access
`
`time to a participating consumer or "user";
`
`to provide such
`
`an improved method in which the user is given Internet
`
`access software for a PC which interfaces the PC with an
`
`Internet Entry Server to provide access to the Internet;
`
`to
`
`provide such a method in which a unique PIN number is
`
`associated with the access software, which PIN number
`
`entitles the user to the free Internet access time;
`
`to
`
`provide such a method in which the Internet Entry Server
`
`prompts the user, upon initial dial—up,
`
`to register by
`
`answering a series of queries provided by the sponsor;
`
`to
`
`provide such a method in which the user, once the queries
`
`are answered,
`
`is given a mandatory "guided tour" of the
`
`sponsor's home page and domain prior to being given general
`
`"browsing" access to the Internet;
`
`to provide such a method
`
`in which any browsing done by the user is also monitored
`
`and reported back to the sponsor for additional marketing
`
`information; and to provide such a method which achieves
`
`effective exposure and marketing of a sponSor’s products or
`
`services with minimal expense; for the second, calling card
`
`distribution method,
`
`to provide an improved method of
`
`retailing a specialized calling card or of featuring a
`
`sponsor’s products or services by providing a free
`
`specialized calling card to a consumer which allows either
`
`of a limited Internet access time or ordinary long distance
`
`calling;
`
`to provide such an improved method in which the
`
`recipient of the prepaid calling card is given the option
`
`> of ordering free or low cost Internet access software for a
`
`‘PC which interfaces the PC with an Enhanced Entry Server to
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`15
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`provide access to the Internet;
`
`to provide such a method in
`
`which a unique PIN number is associated with the prepaid
`
`calling card, which PIN number entitles the user to the
`
`limited Internet access time and/or calling time;
`
`to
`
`provide such a method in which the Enhanced Entry Server
`
`prompts a user of the Internet access software, upon
`
`initial dial—up,
`
`to register by answering a series of
`
`queries which can include customized survey questions in
`
`the event of a sponsor promotion;
`
`to provide such a method
`
`in which the user, once the queries are answered,
`
`is
`
`optionally given a mandatory "guided tour" of the sponsor’s
`
`home page and domain prior to being given general
`
`"browsing" access to the Internet;
`
`to provide such a method
`
`in which any browsing done by the user can also be
`
`monitored and reported back to the sponsor for additional
`
`marketing information; and, for the on—line help method,
`
`to
`
`provide an improved method of providing on—line help for
`
`customers of a sponsor/vendor’s consumer products by
`
`providing "free" Internet access time to a the customer;
`
`to
`
`provide such an improved method in which the customer is
`
`given Internet access software for a PC which interfaces
`
`the PC with an Internet Entry Server to provide access to
`
`the Internet;
`
`to provide such a method in which a unique
`
`PIN number is associated with the access software, which
`
`PIN number entitles the customer to the free Internet
`
`access time and on—line help;
`
`to provide such a method in
`
`which the Internet Entry Server prompts the customer, upon
`
`initial dial-up,
`
`to register the software by answering a
`
`series of queries provided by the sponsor/vendor;
`
`to
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`provide such a method in which the customer, once the
`
`registration is complete,
`
`is given a mandatory promotional
`
`"guided tour" of the sponsor/vendor's home page and domain
`
`prior to being given access to on—line help queries and
`
`personnel;
`
`to provide such a method in which any browsing
`
`done by the customer is also monitored and reported back to
`
`the sponsor/vendor for additional marketing information;
`
`and to provide such a method which achieves effective
`
`marketing of a sponsor/vendor’s software products while
`
`10
`
`providing on-line help to the customers at minimal expense;
`
`and, for all three methods,
`
`to provide such a method in
`
`which, when the initial allotted on—line help or Internet
`
`access time is used up,
`
`the customer is given one or more
`
`options to acquire additional on—line help and/or Internet
`
`15
`
`access time.
`
`Other objects and advantages of this invention will
`
`become apparent from the following description taken in
`
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set
`
`forth, by way of illustration and example; certain
`
`20
`
`embodiments of this invention.
`
`The drawings constitute a part of this specification
`
`and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention
`
`and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
`
`25
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`Fig.
`
`1 is a schematic block diagram of the first
`
`method in which sponsor paid Internet access time is
`
`provided in return for the collection of marketing data and
`
`the
`
`P
`
`P
`romotion of a s onsor’S'
`
`roducts and/or services.
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`Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a the second
`
`method involving the distribution of specialized calling
`
`cards which offer a recipient the option of using the card
`
`for either prepaid Internet time or ordinary long distance
`
`5
`
`calling.
`
`Fig.
`
`3 is a schematic block diagram of the third
`
`method of providing sponsor/vendor paid Internet access
`
`time for on-line help services while simultaneously
`
`promoting registration of the software and marketing the
`
`10
`
`sponsor/vendor’s other products and/or services.
`
`Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a first option
`
`for extending a consumer/customer's access to on—line help
`
`via the Internet past the initial sponsor/vendor paid
`
`access time allotment.
`
`15
`
`Fig.
`
`5 is a schematic block diagram of a second option
`
`for extending a consumer/customer's access to on—line help
`
`via the Internet past the sponsor/vendor paid access time
`
`allotment.
`
`Fig.
`
`6 is a schematic block diagram of a third option
`
`20
`
`for extending a consumer/customer’s access to on—line help
`
`via the Internet past the sponsor/vendor paid access time
`
`allotment.
`
`25
`
`Detailed Description of the Invention
`
`As required, detailed embodiments of the present
`
`invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be
`
`understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
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`exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in
`
`various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed
`
`herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as
`
`a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
`
`teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the
`
`present invention in virtually any appropriate manner.
`
`Referring to Fig. 1,
`
`the numeral 1 generally refers to
`
`a method of providing a consumer or user with a sponsor-
`
`paid Internet access time allotment while collecting
`
`marketing data for the sponsor and featuring the sponsor’s
`
`products and/or special services.
`
`At block 2,
`
`the sponsor provides the user with
`
`Internet access software and a PIN number which authorizes
`
`the user to access the Internet for the allotted time
`
`period. Distribution can be accomplished in a number of
`
`ways,
`
`including, but not limited to placing program floppy
`
`discs,
`
`instructions and PIN numbers in specially marked
`
`packages of a sponsor's product, providing a toll free
`
`number which users can call to receive a package including
`
`the floppy and PIN number, and/or distributing packages
`
`through retail outlets which sell the sponsor's products.
`
`At block 3,
`
`the user installs the program on his or her PC
`
`and initiates the toll free call and log—in procedure to
`
`the Internet Entry Server (IES) via the PC’s modem. At
`
`block 4,
`
`the IES receives the protocol handshake
`
`automatically entered by the PC and verifies the user’s PIN
`
`number. At block 5,
`
`the IES prompts the user with a
`
`customized "welcome" screen which preferably features the
`
`sponsor’s logo and other sponsor supplied information. At
`
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`this point,
`
`the user is requested to register by supplying
`
`answers to queries,
`
`including typical questions such as
`
`name, address, age, gender, etc. as well as sponsor
`
`supplied specialized survey queries. At block 6,
`
`the user
`
`provides answers to the questions, wherein, at block 11,
`
`the IES collects the information and compiles a database
`
`profile for this user,
`
`forwards the profile to the sponsor,
`
`and activates a timer to time the user's Internet access.
`
`At block 12,
`
`the IES activates an Internet
`
`navigational software "browser" program on the user’s PC.
`
`Such browser programs are widely available, and include
`
`titles such as Netscape, Mosaic, etc.
`
`The IES directs the
`
`browser program to directly connect
`
`(hot—link)
`
`the user to
`
`the Internet domain/Home Page of the sponsor, signified by
`
`block 13. At block 13,
`
`the user is conducted through a
`
`mandatory "guided tour" of the sponsors domain where he or
`
`she is exposed to any promotional information, coupon
`
`retrieval options, etc., which the sponsor wants to
`
`feature. After the sponsor domain guided tour, at block
`
`14,
`
`the IES returns control to the user who is now free to
`
`visit other areas of interest within the sponsor's domain
`
`the user is released to visit other
`and then, at block 15,
`domains or areas of interest within the Internet for the
`
`remaining time of the sponsor paid allotment. At block 21,
`
`the IES provides an open link to the Internet for the
`
`remainder of the time period and also keeps a record of
`
`other domains visited by the user until the IES clock, at
`
`block 22,
`
`times out the initial period and brings up a
`
`predefined informational screen to the user, again
`
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`preferably featuring the sponsor’s logo and identifying
`
`information.
`
`On this informational screen, one or more
`
`alternatives (Figs. 4—6) are provided to the user to extend
`
`or "refresh" the Internet access time. At block 23,
`
`the
`
`user reads the informational interrupt screen and makes a
`
`decision about logging off or refreshing his allotted time
`
`period.
`
`Referring to Fig. 2,
`
`the numeral 31 generally refers
`
`to a method of providing a consumer or user with a
`
`specialized prepaid calling card which allows the recipient
`
`to make long distance calls and/or allows a limited
`
`Internet access time.
`
`In addition,
`
`the card allows the
`
`recipient to order free or low cost Internet access
`
`software.
`
`For sponsor distributed cards,
`
`the method
`
`includes collecting marketing data for the sponsor as well
`
`as featuring the sponsor's products and/or special
`
`services.
`
`At block 32,
`
`the sponsor or a retailer distributes,
`
`either independently or along with a sponsdr product, a
`
`telephone long distance calling card (not shown).
`
`For
`
`sponsor promotions,
`
`the card can be distributed free but,
`
`alternatively,
`
`the calling cards can simply be a value
`
`added consumer item.
`
`The card, for example, can take the
`
`form and size of an ordinary plastic credit card and can
`
`include printed indicia including a personal identification
`
`number
`
`(PIN). An instruction set is preferably printed on
`
`the card as well, but could be distributed in a separate
`
`paper or card.
`
`The instruction set can read, for example,
`
`as follows:
`
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`THIS CARD ENTITLES THE BEARER T0 INTERNET ACCESS
`
`SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER AND TO 2 HOURS OF
`
`INTERNET ACCESS TIME.
`
`PLEASE DIAL 1-800—555-5555 AND
`
`FOLLOWING THE VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO ORDER YOUR
`
`INTERNET SOFTWARE.
`
`AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THIS CARD CAN
`
`BE USED FOR 30 MINUTES LONG DISTANCE CALLING WITHIN
`
`THE CONTINENTAL U.S. BY DIALLING l—800-555-5555 AND
`
`ENTERING THE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN)
`
`PRINTED ABOVE AND THEN FOLLOWING THE VERBAL CALLING
`
`10
`
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`15
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`20
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`25
`
`The calling card thus provides the user with a PIN
`
`number and instructions for ordering the Internet access
`
`software. Once the Internet access software is received
`
`and loaded,
`
`the PIN number can be used either for computer
`
`access to the Internet for the allotted time period or for
`
`ordinary long distance calls or any combination of the two
`
`totalling the allotted time. Distribution of the telephone
`
`calling cards can be accomplished in a number of ways,
`
`including, but not limited to, placing them in specially
`
`marked packages of a sponsor’s product and/or distributing
`
`them free, or selling them at retail through retail
`
`outlets.
`
`Referring again to Fig. 2, at block 32,
`
`the user dials
`
`the toll free number and, at block 33,
`
`the Enhanced Entry
`
`Server
`
`(EES) gives verbal instructions on either completing
`
`the long distance call or ordering the software.
`
`For
`
`example,
`
`the instructions might be "Please Dial 1 to
`
`complete a long distance call or Dial 2 if you wish to
`
`receive the free Internet software".
`
`If the user dials
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`"l", at block 34 the EES instructs the user to enter the
`
`PIN, verifies the entered PIN and allows the user to simply
`
`dial any allowed long distance number and receive up to 30
`
`'minutes (for example) of long distance calling time, which
`
`is timed by the EES. Alternatively, if the user is
`
`interested in receiving the Internet access software,
`
`the
`
`user dials 2 and, at block 35,
`
`the EES verifies the PIN
`
`number, queries the user for their name, address, etc., and
`
`forwards the software to the user. At block 40,
`
`the user
`
`answers the queries and receives the software, either by
`
`mail, or, optionally, by downloading to a computer. At
`
`block 41,
`
`the user installs the access software on his or
`
`her PC and initiates the toll free call and log—in
`
`procedure to the EES via the PC's modem, preferably by
`
`simply selecting a "hot button" on a menu screen. At block
`
`42,
`
`the EES receives the protocol handshake automatically
`
`entered by the PC and verifies the user's PIN number. Also
`
`at block 42,
`
`the EES prompts the user with a customized
`
`“welcome" screen which can be personalized to the user
`
`since the user's name and address has already been
`
`associated with the PIN number in the EES database.
`
`For
`
`sponsor supplied cards,
`
`the welcome screen preferably
`
`features the sponsor’s logo and other sponsor supplied
`
`information. At this point,
`
`the user is requested to
`
`register by supplying answers to queries,
`
`including typical
`
`questions such as address, age, gender, etc., and, again
`
`for sponsor provided cards, additional sponsor supplied
`
`specialized survey queries.
`
`The user provides answers to
`
`the questions and the EES collects the information and
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`10
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`15
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`compiles a database profile for this user and activates a
`
`timer to time the user’s Internet access.
`
`Again, at block 42,
`
`the EES activates an Internet
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`navigational software "browser" program on the user’s PC.
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`Such browser programs are widely available, and include
`
`titles such as Netscape, Mosaic, etc.
`
`For sponsor supplied
`
`cards,
`
`the EES optionally directs the browser program to
`
`directly connect
`
`(hot-link) the user to the Internet
`
`domain/Home Page of the sponsor, signified by block 44. At
`
`block 44,
`
`the user is conducted through a mandatory "guided
`
`tour" of the sponsor’s domain where he or she is exposed to
`any promotional information, coupon retrieval options,
`
`etc., which the sponsor wants to feature. After the
`
`optional sponsor domain guided tour, at block 45,
`
`the EES
`
`returns control to the user who is now free to visit other
`
`areas of interest, either within the sponsor’s domain if he
`
`or he has been hot-linked there, or elsewhere as the user
`
`is released to visit other domains or areas of interest
`
`within the Internet for the remaining time allotment
`
`provided by the calling card. At block 51,
`
`the EES
`
`provides an open link to the Internet for the remainder of;
`
`the time period and also keeps a record of other domains
`
`visited by the user until the EES clock, at block 52,
`
`times
`
`out the initial period and brings up a predefined
`
`informational screen to the user.
`
`For sponsor provided
`
`cards this screen can again feature the sponsor's logo and
`
`identifying information.
`
`On this informational screen, as
`
`in the method of Fig. 1, one or more alternatives (Figs.
`
`4—
`
`6) are provided to the user to extend or “refresh" the
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`Internet access time. At block 53,
`
`the user reads the
`
`informational interrupt screen and makes a decision about
`
`logging off or refreshing his allotted time period. Of
`
`course,
`
`the user can log off of the Internet at any time
`
`after registration and can reserve any remaining allotted
`
`time for later Internet access use or for ordinary long
`
`distance calling.
`
`Referring to Fig. 3,
`
`the numeral 61 generally refers
`
`to a method of providing a purchaser of a consumer product
`
`with a sponsor/vendor—paid Internet access time allotment
`
`for on—line service help with the software while promoting
`
`registration of the customer and simultaneously providing
`
`an effective marketing tool for marketing other products to
`
`the customer.
`
`At block 62,
`
`the customer purchases a product, such as
`
`a software product, and, along with the product the vendor
`
`or sponsor provides the customer with Internet access
`
`software and a PIN number which authorizes the customer to
`
`access the Internet for an allotted time period in order to
`
`access on-line help services for the product. At block 63,
`
`the customer loads the Internet access software and
`
`initiates log-in.
`
`Log—in can be a requirement during the
`
`set-up phase of the purchased software, for example, such
`
`that registration is automatically accomplished.
`
`For
`
`example, during set—up the software can cause the
`
`customer's PC to automatically dial a toll free number to
`
`access the sponsor’s domain and registration can be
`
`accomplished as described below for all customers.
`
`Alternatively,
`
`log-in can be accomplished selectively by
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`the customer only when he or she has a problem or question
`
`for the sponsor/vendor about the product.
`
`It should be
`
`noted here that, although the product is described herein
`
`as software, any other suitable consumer product for which
`
`on-line help is provided can be substituted.
`
`For example,
`
`manufacturers of home appliances, automobiles, or other
`
`products with relatively complex control systems can
`
`provide customers with on-line help over the Internet by
`
`using the method disclosed and described herein.
`
`If the
`
`product is software,
`
`the Internet access software can be an
`
`integral part of the purchased software package.
`
`In that
`
`situation, step 3 would be accomplished simply by loading
`
`and initializing the purchased software.
`
`At block 64,
`
`the IES receives the protocol handshake
`
`automatically entered by the PC and verifies the customer’s
`
`PIN number. At block 65,
`
`the IES prompts the customer with
`
`a customized "welcome" screen which preferably features the
`
`sponsor/vendor's logo and other sponsor/vendor supplied
`
`information. At this point,
`
`the customer is requested to
`
`register by supplying answers to queries,
`
`including typical
`
`questions such as name, address, age, gender, etc. as well
`as sponsor/vendor supplied specialized survey queries.
`For
`purposes of receiving "time-shifted" help, as explained
`
`below,
`
`the customer can be requested to enter an Electronic
`
`mail address during registration as well. At block 66,
`
`the
`
`customer provides answers to the questions, wherein, at
`
`block 71,
`
`the IES collects the information and compiles a
`
`database profile for this customer,
`
`forwards the profile to
`
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`the sponsor, and activates a timer or starts a calendar to
`
`time the customer's Internet on—line help access.
`
`At block 72,
`
`the IES activates an Internet
`
`navigational software "browser" program on the customer's
`
`PC.
`
`Such browser programs are widely available, and
`
`include titles such as Netscape, Mosaic, etc.
`
`The IES
`
`directs the browser program to directly connect
`
`(hot-link)
`
`the customer to the Internet domain/Home Page of the
`
`sponsor, signified by block 73. At block 73,
`
`the customer
`
`10
`
`is conducted through a mandatory "guided tour" of the
`
`sponsors domain where he or she is exposed to any product
`
`promotional information, coupon retrieval options, etc.,
`
`which the sponsor wants to feature. After the sponsor
`
`domain guided tour, at block 74,
`
`the customer now has
`
`15
`
`access to the on-line help features provided by the
`
`sponsor.
`
`The customer can type in questions and receive
`
`answers in one of two ways. At block 75, when help Staff
`
`is available for real time answers, i.e. as a question is
`
`entered,
`
`someone on the sponsor's staff has a "live"
`
`20
`
`discussion with the customer and provides immediate answers
`
`to the questions. Block 76 illustrates an alternative in
`
`which the sponsor provides "time shifted" responses.
`
`For
`
`example, when all staff are busy or during off hours,
`
`queries can be logged in and answered later via Electronic
`
`25
`
`mail.
`
`The customer’s Electronic mail address can be
`
`provided as a feature of the log-on or registration
`
`procedure, as described above. At block 81,
`
`the customer
`
`can repeat the access to the sponsor’s domain for
`
`Iadditional help inquiries at any time during which he is
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`still entitled to on—line help.
`
`For example, each customer
`
`can be given a total of 2 hours of help time which can be
`
`used at any time, or he or she can be given unlimited
`
`access to on-line help during the first 90 days after
`
`purchase and registration. At block 82,
`
`the IES clock or
`
`calendar times out the initial period and brings up a
`
`predefined informational screen to the customer, again
`
`preferably featuring the sponsor’s logo and identifying
`
`information.
`
`On this informational screen, one or more
`
`alternatives (Figs. 4—6) are provided to the customer to
`
`extend or "refresh" the time during which access to on—line
`
`help is available via the Internet.
`
`Referring to Fig. 4, a block diagram of a first option
`
`for refreshing the Internet time allotment is illustrated.
`
`In this option,
`
`the user can give a credit card number to
`
`which additional Internet access time will be billed via
`
`the normal
`
`IE8 or EES billing procedure. At block 91,
`
`the
`
`user chooses the credit card option from a menu of refresh
`
`options and provides his or her credit card information as
`
`well as a time purchase to the IES or EES. At block 92,
`
`the IES (or EES) receives the credit card information,
`
`performs an on-line validation from a credit card
`
`validation database (block 93), provides confirmation to
`
`the user and credits the user’s PIN account with the
`
`additional time. At block 94,
`
`the user reactivates the
`
`browser program and continues the Internet access or logs
`off and reserves the purchased time for later use. At
`
`block 95, each time the user reactivates the Internet
`
`browser program, a screen is presented which features the
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`sponsor’s logo or other identifying data and an option to
`
`hot—link to the sponsor's domain, possibly for no charge
`
`during the sponsor domain access. At block 96,
`
`the user is
`
`billed during the normal credit card billing cycle.
`
`Fig.
`
`5 illustrates a block schematic diagram of a
`
`second option for refreshing the user’s Internet time
`
`.allotment.
`
`In this option,
`
`the user can take an additional
`
`"survey", answering additional questions and/or providing
`
`further information solicited by the sponsor, and,
`
`in
`
`return, receives an additional sponsor paid Internet time
`
`allotment. At block 101,
`
`the user chooses the Survey
`
`refresh option and, at block 102,
`
`the EES connects the user
`
`to a survey screen or hot-links the user to the sponsor
`
`domain where the user interactively provides the required
`
`information. Once the additional survey is complete,
`
`the
`
`sponsor, again at block 103, authorizes the additional
`
`Internet connect time allotment to the user. At block 104,
`
`the user reactivates the browser program and re-accesses
`
`the Internet or logs off and reserves the additional time
`
`for later use. At block 105, as in block 95 in Fig. 4,
`
`each time the user logs on, a sponsor tailored information
`
`screen is displayed with sponsor hot—link options.
`
`Fig.
`
`6 illustrates a block schematic diagram of a
`
`third option for refreshing the user’s Internet time
`
`allotment.
`
`In this option,
`
`the user can access the EES via
`
`a "900" subscriber pay number where Internet access time
`
`will be bil