United States Patent (19)
`Bull et al.
`
`54 INFORMATION AGGREGATION AND
`SYNTHESIZATION SYSTEM
`
`75 Inventors: David Stanley Bull, Irving; Robert
`Neal Carr, Jr., Watauga; Joseph
`Robert Offutt, Jr., Grapevine, all of
`TeX.
`
`73 Assignee: Sabre Inc., Fort Worth, Tex.
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/788,899
`22 Filed:
`Jan. 23, 1997
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63 Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/685,805, Jul. 24,
`1996, Pat. No. 5,901,287
`60 Provisional application No. 60/015,384, Apr. 1, 1996.
`(51) Int. Cl." ...................................................... G06F 13/00
`52 U.S. Cl. ............................................... 705/14; 709/217
`58 Field of Search .................................. 70.5/10, 14, 26;
`707/10; 395/200.47, 200.48, 200.49, 200.54,
`500; 709/217, 218, 219, 224; 235/383
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,249,044 9/1993 Kohorn ................................. 705/14 X
`5,309,355 5/1994 Lockwood .................................. 705/6
`5,347,632 9/1994 Filepp et al............................. 709/202
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`649121A2 10/1994 European Pat. Off. ........ GO7F 17/16
`PCT/US93/
`OO628 1/1993 WIPO ............................. GO6F 15/22
`PCT/US94/
`12646 10/1994 WIPO ............................. G06F 17/60
`PCT/NO94/
`00206 12/1994 WIPO.
`
`USOO5995943A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,995,943
`Nov.30, 1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Stuart Harris et al., Netscape Quicke Tour for Macintosh,
`Ventura Press, pp. 30,41, Jan. 1995.
`Aubrey, David, “Nomads of the Net (intelligent agents for
`data Searching), Computer Shopper, Vol. 15, No. 12, p.
`616(4), pp. 1-8, Dec. 1995.
`Yuwono et al., “Search and Ranking Algorithms for Locat
`ing Resources on the World WideWeb.” IEEE, pp. 164-171,
`1996.
`IEEE, Article by M.F. Wyle, entitled “A Wide Area Network
`Information Filter”, Oct. 1991, pp. 10-15.
`Object Magazine, Article by Darrell Woelk, Michael Huhns,
`and Christine Tomlinson, entitled “Uncovering the Next
`Generation of Active Objects”, Jul/Aug. 1995, pp. 33–40.
`Online Information 94 Proceedings, Article by David Gee
`and Peter Woolliams, entitled “Novel Approaches to Auto
`mating the Gathering of Intelligence from the Online Com
`munity through the Internet”, 1994, pp. 501-511.
`Multimedia at Work, Article by Thomas D.C. Little, entitled
`“Commerce on the Internet”, 1994, pp. 74-78.
`Database WPI Week 96340813.
`“The Whole Internet-For Windows 95”, Author Ed Krol &
`Paula Ferguson, pp. 117-121, 126.
`Primary Examiner Zarni Maung
`ASSistant Examiner Patrice L. Winder
`Attorney, Agent, Or Firm-Finnegan, HenderSon, Farabow,
`Garrett, & Dunner, L.L.P.
`57
`ABSTRACT
`An information aggregation and Synthesization System and
`process. The present invention provides aggregation and
`packaging of Structured or unstructured information from
`disparate Sources Such as those available on a network Such
`as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface
`device is operated by a user. The network interface device
`communicates with local datastores or network accessible
`datastores via an addressing Scheme Such as Uniform
`Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet.
`Data passing between the network interface device and the
`datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an
`intermediary gateway System. Such aggregated information
`is then Synthesized, customized, personalized and localized
`to meet the information resource requests Specified by the
`user via the network interface device.
`7 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`SoWARE
`AGENT AWERTESNG
`mSERTION
`
`SUPPERINPU:
`TARGET:
`PERSONS LOOKING FOR
`AIRSCHEBULES ARES
`FROMDF w To JAMAICA
`
`SESUPAGENTINATASTORE
`
`ww DATA
`THRUTRAVELGN
`
`GTAD TO INSERT
`
`AWERTISING
`DATABASE
`(250)
`
`
`
`FREQUIRED,
`CHCKNWNTORY
`CRITERA
`
`ADWERTSER'S
`COMPUTER
`SYSTEM
`(400 N)
`
`FLAGSET
`FOR ANSERTION
`
`(ORNFLAG)
`
`conTINUE
`
`SENADOR
`SET FLAGINCSION
`RAWE GENIE
`SESSIONMANAGEENT
`SYSTEM
`(212)
`
`AD OFLAG
`
`RECORD OF
`ACTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AWERISMG
`ACTWITY
`DATASTORE
`(260)
`
`INSERA
`
`-
`OUTPUT:
`REPORTS OF
`AD ACTIVITY
`
`AGENTSWATCH
`PASSINGATA
`SREAM
`conTINUE
`NO
`
`SPPLIER
`THRESHLD
`1.
`
`
`
`USE SEROFE
`ASADITIONAL
`CRITERA
`
`USERS
`PROFELE
`(210)
`
`CUSTMER
`OUTPUT
`OTU
`
`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 1
`
`

`

`5,995,943
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4/1995 Remillard ............................. 379/93.25
`5,404,393
`4/1995 Levinson.
`... 203/58
`5,404.505
`5,422,809 6/1995 Griffin et al. ..
`... 705/5
`5,442,771 8/1995 Filepp et al. ...
`... 709/219
`5,459,306 10/1995 Stein et al. .
`... 235/383
`5,459,859 10/1995 Senda .........
`... 707/10
`al.
`: E. E. 5.
`"E.
`5,555.407 9/1996 Cloutier et al. ...
`... 707/104
`5,572,643 11/1996 Judson ...........
`709/218
`5,594.910
`1/1997 Filepp et al............................... 712/23
`
`5,623,652 4/1997 Vora et al. ................................ 707/10
`5,649,486 7/1997 Ferguson ................................. 707/533
`5,696,965 12/1997 Dedrick ..................................... 707/10
`5,710,886
`1/1998 Christensen et al. ..................... 705/14
`5,724,521 3/1998 Dedrick ..................................... 705/26
`5,737,560 4/1998 Yohanan .....
`709/217
`5,737,619 4/1998 Judson et al. ........................... 707/500
`5,740,549 4/1998 Reilly et al. .............................. 705/14
`5,754,939 5/1998 Herz et al. ......................... 395/200.49
`5,794,210 8/1998 Goldhaber et al. ....................... 705/14
`5,848,396 12/1998 Gerace ...................................... 705/10
`
`
`
`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 2
`
`

`

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`Nov. 30, 1999
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`
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`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
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`5,995,943
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
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`5,995,943
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`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 5
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
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`5,995,943
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`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 6
`
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`5,995,943
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`
`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 7
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`5,995,943
`
`OPERATIONS SYSTEM (290)
`291
`USER GREETING SYSTEM
`292
`TGSESSIONMANAGEMENT
`
`
`
`
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`293
`SEARCH REDUCTION SYSTEM
`294
`USER INTERRUPT SYSTEM
`295
`R/T SESSION ANALYSIS SYSTEM
`296
`AD 1 COUPON INSERTION SYSTEM
`297
`PERSISTENTAGENT ENTRY
`298
`DATA SUPPORT SYSTEMS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2961
`SMART ADS
`
`2981
`DATA INDEXING SERVICE
`2982
`DATA MONITORING SERVICE
`2991
`299
`UNMET NEEDS ANALYSIS SYSTEM REAL TIME MARKETPLACE
`
`
`
`Fig. 4
`
`292
`SESSION PROFILE UPDATE
`2931
`SEARCH REDUCTION SYSTEM
`2932
`PICTURE SEARCH SYSTEM
`2933
`COLLABORATIVE DESTINATIONASSESSMENT
`2934
`SMART INDEXES
`2935
`SMART SEARCH
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`5,995,943
`
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`
`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 9
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
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`5,995,943
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`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 10
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`5,995,943
`
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`Petitioner’s Ex. 1006, Page 11
`
`
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`
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`
`
`

`

`5,995,943
`
`1
`INFORMATION AGGREGATION AND
`SYNTHESIZATION SYSTEM
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/685,805 filed Jul. 24, 1996 now U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,901,287, which is based on Provisional Applica
`tion No. 60/015,384 entitled INFORMATION AGGREGA
`TION AND SYNTHESIZATION SYSTEM, filed Apr. 1,
`1996.
`
`2
`and communicating the monitored activity to a facility and
`initiating appropriate actions. A controller initiates an auto
`mated configuration by acquiring configuration information.
`The controller monitors television channel selection infor
`mation and assembles the monitored television information
`into a user profile. An option includes capturing images or
`text and forwarding to the user through a mail facility.
`Remillard differs from the present invention in that it
`Suggests a device to acceSS distant information through a
`television Set. The present invention utilizes network addres
`Sable information resource and human interface elements
`Such as those used by the Internet, one of which may in fact
`be attached to a TV. Remillard's invention (or that of others)
`may be used as a means to acquire WWW information but
`does not contemplate the present invention.
`Levinson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,404.505) provides information
`in a database which is tagged with indices to form an
`hierarchical Structure. Software having a Set of Subscriber
`requests handling routines interacts with a data filter Sub
`System. The data filter Subsystem receives incoming data
`Stream and Selects those packets that meet certain Selection
`criteria. A special Smart caching routing is provided for
`anticipating future requests by the user.
`Levinson differs from the present invention:
`1) Levinson proposes a satellite based information
`retrieval System. This is based on fixed data Sources
`(CompuServe, Prodigy) being queried by a user on a tele
`phone line with the results being returned via a television
`connection. The present invention uses a Similar infrastruc
`ture to return requested information to the user but our
`process for identifying content that is relevant is Software
`agent based and retrieval of dynamic content is from the
`WWW vs. fixed data sources. The present invention can use
`any means: for example, TV, Cable Modem, RF, ISDN,
`Modem, fixed line (T-2, T-3 etc.).
`2) Levinson would establish user inputted profiles for
`“Automatic Data Retrieval'. The present invention supple
`ments user provided profile information by constructing
`implicit profile recognition patterns, based upon historical
`Search activity.
`3) Levinson's invention does not specify any of the six
`components proposed in the present invention.
`Griffin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,809) provides an infor
`mation Storage and retrieval System for Storing, referencing
`and retrieving various travel information from a database. A
`querying device queries the user for input used to define the
`field for the travel destination desired. Statistical records are
`produced which provide relevant information relating to
`travel destinations using the System. Information is thus
`provided which can be used to evaluate the popularity of
`particular destinations.
`Griffin et al. differs from the present invention in that it
`discloses a kiosk System and the processes and Subprocesses
`for self service travel planning and reservations. While the
`present invention provides Similar capability using other
`means, the Six features of the present invention are not
`disclosed in this patent.
`Senda (U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,859) discloses an information
`providing System using a communication network which
`stores attribute/schedule information from each Subscriber
`and uses that information to match with other Subscribers.
`Senda differs from the present invention in that it is a
`Software based System for meeting a System while traveling.
`It involves a best fit match between profiles. The present
`invention also provides a “best fit” but between software
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention is directed to an information aggre
`gation and Synthesization System which connects with local
`and network accessible datastores through an intermediary
`gateway System.
`2. Prior Art
`Widespread use of personal computers, modems
`(modulator/demodulator devices that enable data to be
`transmitted) and data connections has allowed the growth of
`computer networks. The Internet Serves as an example of a
`type of computer network, and indeed, is a large network of
`networks, all inter-connected, wherein the processing activ
`ity takes place in real time. The Internet offerS mail, file
`transfer, remote log in and other services. The World Wide
`Web (WWW) is the fastest growing part of the Internet.
`On the World Wide Web (WWW), a technology called
`hypertext allows Internet addressable resources to be
`connected, or linked, to one another.
`In the past, certain, limited aspects, of the present inven
`tion have been proposed, Such as monitoring of computer
`uSage.
`Lockwood (U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,355) provides a comput
`erized tool to augment Sales and marketing capabilities of
`travel agency perSonnel. The System creates and displayS
`customized sales presentations from (1) Stored client pro
`files; (2) travel agent assessment of client profiles, and (3)
`computerized reservation System responses to client profiles.
`Selected factors are analyzed by the operating program
`based upon an organization hierarchy of Specifications.
`Lockwood differs from the present invention in:
`1) Data Sources-Lockwood uses content from both a
`Videodisk (static) and computerized reservation Systems
`(dynamic). The present invention is capable of deriving
`content from totally dynamic sources on the World Wide
`Web (including Internet and local datastores or caches
`simulating a WWW component).
`2) Client Profiles-Lockwood proposes that these be
`input by a Travel Agent. In the present invention, profiles are
`entered by the consumer (explicit) or collected through
`analysis of online Session activity (implicit).
`3) Data Organization-Lockwood uses preindexed Vid
`eodisks. The present invention indexes prequalified WWW
`Sites, updating these as they change or as users expand their
`WWW Searches.
`4) Programation-Lockwood places the entire index of
`information in a PROM. This index is exercised by the
`Sequencer which displays a Sales presentation. The present
`invention Stores indices in magnetic medium but retrieval
`and presentation of the indexed information is executed
`dynamically on premised upon user input.
`Remillard (U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,393) discloses an elec
`tronic device and method for monitoring television activity
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`3
`agents and data being viewed. Senda has both formatted
`Selection and Source data inputted for a specific purpose (to
`meet Someone). The present invention uses Software agents
`to format Selection data but the Source data is unformatted
`from the WWW.
`Belove et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,820) discloses a storage
`transmission mechanism for retrievable items and may be
`used on the Internet. The System may include a filter on each
`client or on the server between the user and the Internet.
`Belove et al. differs from the present invention in that it
`is a client Server object caching System. Except for the
`pruning mechanism that limits the information cached at the
`client Side, there is no resemblance to the present invention.
`Accordingly, it is a principal object and purpose of the
`present invention to provide an information aggregation and
`Synthesization proceSS and System connecting a network
`operable device and a plurality of local or network acces
`Sible datastores wherein data passing there between is
`accessed, polled and retrieved through an intermediary gate
`way System.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention includes at least Six different
`aspects or functional components which are related, all
`involving use of a computer accessible data network Such as
`the Internet. While the individual aspects may be utilized
`together, they may also be used Separately.
`The user initiates access to the System through a network
`addressable interface device (Such as a personal computer,
`Internet Appliance, an interactive television or even a per
`Sonal digital assistant or Smart telephone). The user is then
`connected to the information aggregation and Synthesization
`System via a network Service provider (most likely through
`the Internet or Some variation). The user logs on to the
`System either by name, address, or with Some pseudonym
`(or some combination). This allows the user's activity to be
`tracked and establishes a log of the user's activity during the
`current online experience (Session). The user is also asked
`for explicit profile information concerning preferences.
`These preferences will be used to narrow the information
`retrieval and may be collected when the user first logs in or
`incrementally as the user asks for Specific information. This
`profile information will be kept and updated as the indi
`vidual user's preferences change.
`Once the user is logged in, the information aggregation
`and Synthesization System will facilitate the user's access to
`local information or information distributed on a network
`(this network could be a local area network or a wide area
`network Such as the Internet). All user access to information
`is through the System.
`This information is topically oriented (Germany travel,
`the Olympics, Spring Break or even new cars), composed of
`files and file references using the Hypertext Markup Lan
`guage (“HTML') or similar tagged reference format that
`may be prescreened for relevance and appropriateness.
`Selected text can be “expanded” at any time to provide other
`information. These words are, thus, linked to other docu
`ments. This information is indexed in this fashion in advance
`of the user's logging in.
`Agateway is provided into the WWW for shopping while
`retaining the user passing through the information aggrega
`tion and Synthesization System. A gateway is provided to
`poll, access and retrieve information from various locations.
`A filtering process is provided and the resulting information
`is returned to the requested party.
`The user is presented with a variety of Search, display and
`output options. The Search options include: 1) Search using
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`key words or combinations; 2) Use of complex Software text
`Search agents that have been predefined by the information
`aggregation and Synthesization System Site operators. These
`agents take advantage of the expansive Subject matter exper
`tise in understanding which Search parameters will best
`Serve the user's Search needs; 3) Use of Search patterns and
`agents from this user's previous Sessions, perhaps expanded
`by available specials and promotions; 4) Natural Language
`Query; and 5) Some combination of 1), 2), 3) and 4).
`The user selects information to be viewed from the results
`of the search. This information is retrieved from its Source
`and presented to the user in the manner and at the time
`requested. The available display options include but are not
`limited to: display on the user's network capable device,
`personal TV channel, customized Internet page, custom
`CD-ROM, electronic mail, mobile devices (Personal Digital
`ASSistants, telephones and pagers) and facsimile. Informa
`tion retrieval and display can be text, Still pictures, Videos,
`Interactive multimedia, audio and geographic.
`In certain situations, data from the datastores destined for
`the user is converted prior to delivery to the user. The data
`stream returned to the user may be modified to fit the
`bandwidth, character Set and display limitations of the
`network and may be modified to meet the limitations of the
`user interface device.
`Along with displays, including those for data entry,
`Searches, Search results, information retrieval, the user will
`be presented with advertisements and/or coupons based on
`criteria entered by advertisers. This criteria may take the
`form of Simple logic, linking an ad/coupon with a display or
`be derived from complex Software text Search agents that
`analyze one or more of the following: The user's looking
`pattern, the user's psychographic profile, the user's personal
`profile, the availability of the advertisers/couponer's goods
`or Services at the instant in time that the criteria is being
`exercised. The placement of the ad/coupon will be logged
`along with user profile information and provided to the
`advertiser/couponer in Some form of report.
`During a user Session or when a user completes a Session,
`the user's looking activity is analyzed for patterns, prefer
`ences and trends and the profile annotated or updated So that
`when they next use the information aggregation and Syn
`thesization System, the nominated Searches will be custom
`ized to their individual desires.
`The Six aspects of the information aggregation and Syn
`thesization System are:
`I. URL Munging
`The World Wide Web (“WWW) is characterized by
`computer (user) connection through an Internet Service
`Provider to any WWW address or site. Hence, use of the
`WWW is like placing individual telephone calls to many
`merchants, trying to compare products and Services. URL
`Munging is the process that allows the goods and Services of
`many merchants to be displayed through a Single virtual
`Shopping center.
`This involves encapsulating and indexing the content of
`various merchants as well as modifying parts of the internal
`Structure, repurposing and redirecting it to be integrated into
`the information aggregation and Synthesization process.
`This allows content from and access to multiple merchants
`to be aggregated, Synthesized and accessed at a single
`WWW Site.
`II. WWW CD-Rom
`World Wide Web (“WWW) access from homes is often
`constrained by the lack of Sufficient data communications
`bandwidth within a typical residential infrastructure (WWW
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`S
`information may be accessed through the Internet WWW, a
`local Internet WWW, or a local datastore or cache simulating
`a WWW component).
`The Internet user will select World Wide Web (WWW)
`content for retrieval using a Search engine to return Selected
`WWW references. The user will then select certain of these
`references to be included in a custom CD which will be
`burned or recorded onto a CD and then sent by express
`delivery to the user.
`III. Software Agent Advertising Insertion
`Currently, advertisements in WWW pages are tightly tied
`to each page, are inserted based on keywords or on a
`psychographic profile of the user.
`Certain criteria will be entered which delineates a pattern
`that is requested to be monitored. When this pattern is seen
`(or is in close match) in the user's WWW activity, the
`insertion mechanism is activated. If a certain web page is
`requested, the present invention will display a particular
`advertisement. The ad will be inserted based on the content
`of the existing web page being read. An analysis of the text
`Stream of the user's interactive Session will be performed
`on-line. For instance, if the user accesses web pages for
`Holiday Inns on the West Coast, the insertion mechanism
`could be established to automatically insert ads for Hilton
`Inns on the West Coast.
`IV. Automated Profile Generation
`Presently, user's profiles are collected based on explicit
`entry by the user, and extraction from demographic data
`collected from a variety of Sources.
`In the present invention, the Searching patterns of the user
`on the Internet are monitored. A Set of Software text agent
`profiles is developed and may be integrated with explicitly
`collected profile information. The automated profile genera
`tion will have both explicit profile information gathering and
`implicit profile information gathering capabilities.
`AS the user uses the information aggregation and Synthe
`Sization System, the pattern of information being viewed is
`analyzed. During a user's Session, advanced text analysis
`tools are used in real-time to understand the interests of the
`user by Synthesis of the text stream of pages looked at. This
`Synthesis is used as input to a Statistical correlation with
`Similar interests of a larger population. The results of this
`correlation are used to predict the extended interests of the
`user. These are matched using intelligent Software text
`agents and a variety of reasoning techniques. The user is
`presented with Search ideas as well as promotions and
`Specials from Suppliers based on these Searching patterns.
`V. Automated Lead Generation Currently, leads are gener
`ated by recording user's WWW site selection. (For Example,
`user's visiting a “Chicago' information site would be “Chi
`cago' leads.)
`In the present invention, the user WWW viewing patterns
`are recorded. These and optionally the user's profile are
`matched against Software text agents entered by a Supplier.
`When these agents match a pattern/profile, the Supplier is
`notified. When this profile is approximately matched, the
`Supplier is notified.
`VI. Software Agent Unmet Needs Generation.
`Currently, there is no on-line immediately accessible
`System to analyze unmet needs of Internet users.
`In the present invention, records will be maintained from
`user usage of the Internet on what consumer queries are
`unmet by the WWW content retrieved. The invention will
`intuitively construct a profile from user inputted data. This
`will be done by recognizing unanswered queries and/or user
`initiated requests. From this, a profile will be developed to
`identify new markets. AS an example, if one hundred people
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`inquire about Snorkeling off the coast of Texas, this infor
`mation could be sold to a tour provider who could not only
`prepare a travel package but Sell the leads to a company.
`Thus, the system will be able to gather “negative' leads.
`In the course of a Session, the user may desire information
`not yet available. This information could be in the form of
`a product, a Service or an event. The user then can establish
`a persistent (stays around after the user's Session is over)
`complex Software text Search agent to monitor future infor
`mation additions to the System and alert the user through a
`variety of means (facsimile, electronic mail, text page,
`voice, pager) that the information that was requested is
`available or in Some instances, provide the information
`directly. The Set of persistent agents will also be analyzed by
`the information aggregation and Synthesization System
`operators and provided to potential Suppliers who would in
`turn develop new product offerings which would be added to
`the information aggregation and Synthesization System
`SOUCCS.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of the Specification, illustrate presently
`preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with
`the preceding general description and the following detailed
`description, explain the principles of the invention. In the
`drawings:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an interface of the present system with
`a user acceSS System and various data Sources,
`FIG. 1A illustrates a modified arrangement of the inter
`face of present System with alternate user acceSS Systems
`and alternate network interface devices,
`FIG. 1B illustrates a limited bandwidth limited character
`Set Subsystem consistent with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates Several datastore categories and an I/O
`System consistent with the present invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates dialog management and agent datastore
`categories consistent with the present invention;
`FIG. 4 illustrates operation Systems categories consistent
`with the present invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for a WWW CD ROM
`consistent with the present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram for a software agent
`advertising insertion consistent with the present invention;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram for automated profile
`generation consistent with the present invention;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of lead generation
`consistent with the present invention; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram for an unmet need agent
`consistent with the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`In the embodiments described herein and accompanying
`figures, a travel information Scenario is depicted. It will be
`understood that the present invention is capable of perform
`ing Similarly for other venues, Such as mortgages, automo
`bile Sales and any other interactive eXchange of information
`Sought by information content Seekers and potentially Sat
`isfied by information content providers.
`Initial Setup For User
`Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a
`diagram showing the interface of the present system 200
`with a user on a user acceSS System 100 and various data
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