Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 1 of 38 PageID 132
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 1 of 38 Page|D 132
`
`EXHIBIT B
`
`EXHIBIT B
`
`
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 2 of 38 PageID 133
`“’°“|‘|||l|1|l|l|Hfl|l||llllllllllllflllflllfilllflmfillfllllllmlllllllllfllfillf
`
`US 20l201585l2A1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0158512 A1
`Hoyle
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jun. 21, 2012
`
`(54) PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION
`RESOURCES USING A DIGITAL NETWORK
`PROTOCOL
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int Cl
`'
`'
`G06F 3/01
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`.
`(73) Assigneez
`
`)David Hoyle, New Orleans,
`
`B.E. TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.,
`S
`'
`MI
`S
`agmaw’
`(U )
`
`13/3289743
`
`(21) APPL N05
`.
`.
`Ffled‘
`
`(22)
`
`Dec‘ 16’ 2011
`.
`.
`Related U'S' Apphcatlon Data
`(63) Continuation of application No, 12/729,219, filed on
`Mar. 22, 2010, which is a continuation of application
`No. 12/110,818, filed on Apr. 28, 2008, now Pat. No.
`7,685,537, which is a continuation of application No.
`10/909,613, filed onAug. 2, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,366,
`996, which is a continuation ofapplication No. 09/744,
`033, filed on Apr. 11, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,771,290,
`filed as application No. PCT/US99/16135 on Jul. 16,
`1999, which is a continuation-in-part of application
`No. 09/118,351, filed on Jul. 17, 1998, now Pat. No.
`6,141,010.
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................. .. 705/14.64; 715/738; 705/14.66
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus for providing an automatically
`upgradeable software application includes targeted advertis-
`ing based upon demographics and user interaction with the
`computer. The software application includes a display region
`used for banner advertising that is downloaded over a network
`such as the Internet. The software application is accessible
`from a server via the network and demographic information
`on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining
`what advertising will be sent to the user. The software appli-
`cation further targets the advertisements in response to nor-
`mal user interaction with the computer. A distribution tool is
`provided for software distribution and upgrading over the
`network. Also provided is a user profile that is accessible to
`any computer on the network. Furthermore, multiple users of
`the same computer can possess Internet web resources and
`files that are personalized, maintained and organized.
`
`Client
`Sofiware
`
`Application
`
`26
`
`
`
`
`
`GUI i ADM
`
`
`
`
`
`Module
`
`Module
`
`22
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 3 of 38 PageID 134
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 3 of 38 Page|D 134
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`Application
`
`Software
`
`Client
`
`
`
`
`
`UserData
`
`Storage
`
`YourAdHere
`
`22
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 4 of 38 PageID 135
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 4 of 38 Page|D 135
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 2 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 5 of 38 PageID 136
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 5 of 38 Page|D 136
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 3 of 16
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`US 2012/0158512 A1
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 6 of 38 PageID 137
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 6 of 38 Page|D 137
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2012/0158512 A1
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 7 of 38 PageID 138
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 7 of 38 Page|D 138
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 8 of 38 PageID 139
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 8 of 38 Page|D 139
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 6 of 16
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`US 2012/0158512 A1
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 9 of 38 PageID 140
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 10 of 38 PageID 141
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 10 of 38 Page|D 141
`
`Patent Application Publication
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`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 8 of 16
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`US 2012/0158512 A1
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 11 of 38 PageID 142
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 11 of 38 Page|D 142
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 9 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`User Download
`Request
`
`Send Form
`to User
`
`1 32
`
`134
`
`
`
`138
`
`All
`
`
`Required Fields
`No
`Filled Out
`
`‘.7
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`Request Correction
`of Form
`
`Assign Unique
`ID to User
`
`140
`
`142
`
`
`
`Store ID Along
`with Demographic
`Data
`
`
`
`Transmit Client
`
`144
`
`Application to User
`
`FIG 8
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 12 of 38 PageID 143
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 12 of 38 Page|D 143
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 10 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`Stan
`
`
`
`
`Login Name
`
`?
`
`New
`
`
`
`Access User Setup
`Preferences & Bookmarks
`
`from User Data Storage
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`Access Default
`Preferences & Bookmarks
`
`
`
`
`
` Setup
`New Account
`?
`
`Request
`
`Demographic Data 1
`
` All
`Required Data
`
`P’“3°‘“
`
`Report Demographic
`Data & Store New
`User Data
`
`Display
`
`St0P
`
`1 5 6
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 13 of 38 PageID 144
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 13 of 38 Page|D 144
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 11 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`ADM Server
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`Internet
`
`Connection
`
`Available
`?
`
`
`
` Update
`Components
`
`Yes
`
`Expired
`?
`
`190
`
`Yes
`
`1 76
`
`r Process
`User Input
`
`
`
`Select &
`
`Display Banner
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 14 of 38 PageID 145
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 14 of 38 Page|D 145
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 12 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`Sm
`
`FIG. 1 1
`
`194
`
`
`
` Run Default
`Browser and open
`Banner Link
`
`
`
`
`
`Shortcut/
`
`Application
`Selected
`
`?
`
`No
`
`
`
`208
`W35
`
`212
`Run Default
`Browser and open
`Selected Link
`
`
`
`218
`Run Default
`Browser and 0 en
`Specified Lirgc
`
`210
`Set
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`1
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`
`216
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`
`
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`1 98
`
`‘ 200
`
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`Pfi0TitY = Medium
`
`Execute Shortcut/
`Application
`
`204
`
`206
`
`Set
`Priority = Medium
`
`Open Category
`Links Window
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 15 of 38 PageID 146
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 15 of 38 Page|D 146
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 13 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`FIG. 12
`
`220
`
`-222
`
`
`
`
`Banners
`
`Expired
`?
`
`Move to Next
`Set of Banners
`
`
`
`
`Notify Flag
`Alert Component
`
`Determine
`
`Priority Level
`
`Determine
`
`Banner Category
`
`Select & Display
`Banner
`
`Record Event, Time,
`& Banner Display
`
`Increment
`Banner Count
`
`224
`
`226
`
`228
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 16 of 38 PageID 147
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 16 of 38 Page|D 147
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 14 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`sm
`
`FIG. 13
`
`Access Version Numbers for
`
`236
`
`
`each Upgradable Component
`in Client Application
`
`
`
`238
`
`246
`
`
`
`Determine New
`
`
`
`
`Cornponent(s) Needed
`
`Generate
`Current
`
`Blueprint
`
`
`
`
`Pass Control to
`Auxiliary Module
`
`New
`
`Builder Module
`
`Needed
`
`‘.7
`
`240
`
`Access updated
`Blueprint from ADM
`
` 252
`Server
`
`
`Execution
`Is Updated
`Blueprint Equal
`to current
`
`
`
`254
`
`
`
`Blueprint ?
`
`Y“
`
`No Upgrading
`Necessary
`
`Download and Install
`New Component(s)
`
`250
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 17 of 38 PageID 148
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 17 of 38 Page|D 148
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 21, 2012 Sheet 15 of 16
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
` FIG. 14
`
`
`Access Updated
`Blueprint ID
`from ADM Server
`
`256
`
` Updated
`ID equal to
`
`current ID
`9
`
`Yes
`
`
`
`
`Download & Install
`
`Updated Component(s)
`
` Send Current
`
`ID to ADM Server
`
`No upgrading
`_
`Necessary
`
`

`
`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 18 of 38 PageID 149
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 18 of 38 Page|D 149
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
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`Case 2:12-cv-02830-JPM-tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 19 of 38 PageID 150
`Case 2:12—cv—O2830—JPM—tmp Document 22-3 Filed 12/18/12 Page 19 of 38 Page|D 150
`
`US 2012/0158512 A1
`
`Jun. 21,2012
`
`PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION
`RESOURCES USINGA DIGITAL NETWORK
`PROTOCOL
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 12/729,219 filed Mar. 22, 2010, which is
`a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/110,818
`filed Apr. 28, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,537, which is a
`continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/909,613,
`filed Aug. 2, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,366,996, which is a
`continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/744,033,
`filedApr. 11, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,771,290, as a 371 of
`PCT/US99/16135, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is a continua-
`tion-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/118,351,
`filed Jul. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,010. The contents
`of these prior applications are hereby incorporated by refer-
`ence.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002] This invention relates in general to user interfaces
`for accessing computer applications
`and information
`resources and, in particular, to user interfaces that provide
`advertising obtained over a global computer network such as
`the Internet. This invention also relates to user interfaces for
`
`maintaining, organizing and communicating information
`accessible to a computer network such as the Internet and, in
`particular, to user interfaces that provide the user with avail-
`ability to that information in a personalized manner.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] The continuing expansion of the Internet and other
`private and semi-private networks has led to the now wide-
`spread practice of electronic distribution of software to end
`users, whether as freeware, shareware, or fully paid-up
`licensed software. Traditionally, freeware programs have
`generally been small, unsupported single-purpose programs
`that are of limited use. Since no income was derived from
`
`these programs, there was little incentive for the creators of
`this type of software to undertake major development efforts.
`More recently, however, a new type of free software has
`emerged which, while free to end users, does provide income
`to the creator ofthe software via advertising incorporated into
`the software. This is of benefit both to the end user and
`advertiser, as the end user obtains useful software at no cost
`and the advertiser gets advertising exposure for its products or
`services. One well known example of this type of arrange-
`ment is in push technology products, such as PointcastTM,
`which permits a user to receive and display broadcasted infor-
`mation over the Internet. Using this software, new advertising
`is periodically received along with various requested types of
`news information (e.g., financial, business, sports) and is
`stored locally on the user’s computer for later retrieval and
`display by the program.
`[0004] The new advertising medium provided by the Inter-
`net has a number of significant advantages for advertisers.
`First, the users ofthe software within which the advertising is
`placed have, on average, much more disposable income to
`spend on products and services than the average user of other
`traditional advertising media, such as television or print. Sec-
`ond, the advertising can, in some instances, be targeted in
`various ways, such as demographically or reactively. An
`
`example of the latter of these is in push technology where the
`user requests certain types of information and this request is
`used to select the type of advertisement sent to the user along
`with the requested content. Third, the advertising can not only
`include audio and video elements as well as simple visual
`elements, but can also be interactive. For example, by clicking
`on the advertisement, the user can be provided with additional
`information about the advertised products or services and can
`even be given the opportunity to purchase the products or
`services electronically.
`[0005] One ofthe most common methods of advertising via
`the Internet is through the use of links (e.g., uniform resource
`locators, known as URLs) embedded within web pages. By
`using embedded links, the advertisements need not be located
`on the same server as the web pages themselves. When the
`web page is loaded or reloaded, the advertising server is
`accessed to obtain a new advertisement which is incorporated
`into the web page displayed on the user’s screen. These adver-
`tisements are simple graphical images (such as animated gifs)
`that are retrieved from the advertising server along with an
`associated link to additional information about the advertised
`
`product or service. While this permits new advertising to be
`displayed each time a web page is loaded or refreshed, and
`while this allows geographically unlimited advertising, it at
`most permits targeting of the advertisement based upon the
`type of information contained in the web page. Moreover,
`access to a new advertisement is only available during the
`period of time that the client computer is connected to the
`Internet.
`
`[0006] Currently-available computer programs that incor-
`porate advertising into their user interface include the neces-
`sary programming built into the software itself That is, the
`various parameters relating to the presentation of the adver-
`tisement is pre-deterrnined and programmed into the soft-
`ware. These parameters may include such things as where on
`the screen the advertisement is displayed, the display size, the
`duration of display, the number of times a particular adver-
`tisement is displayed, the conditions under which a particular
`advertisement is to be displayed, the type ofaction taken upon
`a user clicking on the advertisement, and so forth. One prob-
`lem with these currently available programs is that these
`parameters can only be changed by replacement of the entire
`program with an updated, revised version, making it difficult
`to respond to desired changes in advertising approaches.
`[0007]
`To provide demographically-targeted advertising,
`the advertiser or distributor of the advertising must obtain
`demographic data on its end users. Perhaps the most common
`way to acquire demographic data regarding users via the
`Internet is to request the information using a form written in
`html (HyperText Markup Language) and provided to the user
`over the World-Wide Web (WWW) using http (HyperText
`Transfer Protocol). This is sometimes done as a prerequisite
`to allowing the user access to information resources or down-
`load software from a particular web site. While authentication
`of demographic information obtained this way is difficult and
`rarely done, it has been found that end users typically provide
`accurate demographic data in return for free download access
`to software. Furthermore, studies have shown that while
`people are concerned about privacy issues and, in particular,
`do not wish to provide specific information that identifies
`them (such as their name, address, or Social Security num-
`ber), they generally do not mind providing demographic
`information, nor do they mind monitoring of their computer
`
`

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`usage as long as theirusage is not associated with any specific
`information that could be used to identify them.
`[0008] Various other arrangements have been suggested for
`obtaining and reporting information about an end user over a
`computer network such as the Internet. For example, U. S. Pat.
`No. 5,724,521 to Dedrick discloses an electronic advertising
`system in which a user profile is created and transferred to a
`metering server where it is used along with other end user
`profiles to charge advertiser’s according to a consumer scale.
`The profile data is also used by the metering server to select
`advertisement titles that are sent to the end user for viewing at
`the request of the end user. When a user requests an adver-
`tisement, the metering server sends the advertisement to the
`end user, charges the advertiser, and provides the advertiser
`with profile data on that end user. The system can include
`client-side software which acquires and compiles informa-
`tion concerning the user’s interaction with the advertising or
`other content provided by the metering server.
`[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,218 to Bland et al. discloses a
`system for gathering data concerning an end-user’s access to
`information resources and reporting the data back to the serv-
`ers that contain the information resources. Data gathering at
`the client is accomplished using an applet, plug-in, or other
`browser extension that acquires the data and then reports that
`data to those servers accessed by the client, either periodically
`or in response to a specific request by the servers. In this way,
`the servers being accessed for their information resources get
`reported back to them information concerning the end-user’s
`use of that information. Limited demographic information
`(e.g., time zone, locale, client hardware) can be included in
`this reporting as well.
`[0010] One of the disadvantages of prior art systems that
`acquire data regarding an end-user’s computer usage is that
`they are generally limited to gathering information concem-
`ing only certain limited uses of the computer. For example, in
`Bland et al., the focus of the gathering and use of end-user
`data is in the user’s interaction with web pages, whether over
`the Internet or otherwise. Similarly, in Dedrick, the compila-
`tion ofdata is directed to interaction between the end-user and
`
`the advertising or other content provided by the metering
`server itself. By limiting the reported data in this manner, it is
`difficult to develop accurate profiles for the individual users
`that are useful in targeting the advertising.
`[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,632 to Filepp et al. discloses a
`reception system in which both user demographics and indi-
`vidual system usage information can be used to target adver-
`tising. However, this information is used to select which
`advertisements are to be placed into an advertisement queue
`from which advertisements are then accessed, apparently in
`the order in which they were placed in the queue. Thus, this
`system permits targeting of advertising generally, but does
`not provide real time targeting of advertising based upon user
`actions.
`
`Internet users typically employ browser applica-
`[0012]
`tions and related technologies in order to access the WWW;
`and to locate and view files, documents and audio/video clips.
`Exemplary browser applications include Opera by Opera
`Software, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Communicator 4.6
`and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 .0. Browser applications are
`loaded onto a user’s computer, and then can be used for
`communication over networks using protocols such as that
`utilized by the WWW. Browsers are useful for accessing
`desired files and web sites, and also have the capability of
`storing information regarding visited or favorite web sites on
`
`the user’s computer. However, it has been common practice
`for browsers to be employed by the user for fairly limited
`purposes, such as for accessing information. Certain applica-
`tions, such as Windows NT 4.0, allow a user to receive and
`store electronic information on a limited network system.
`However, the usefulness and flexibility of such systems are
`severely limited, because each browser installation tradition-
`ally has been independent of other browser installations to
`which a user has access. Thus,
`information within one
`browser is not easily transportable to the other browser.
`[0013] Except as may be explicitly indicated otherwise, the
`following definitions shall apply:
`[0014]
`browser—A program that can communicate over a
`network using http or another protocol and that can display
`html information and other digital information.
`[0015]
`client computer—A computer that is connected to a
`network (including computers that are connected only occa-
`sionally to the network such as, for example, by a modem and
`telephone line) and that can be used to send requests for
`information to other computers over the network.
`[0016]
`computer—An apparatus having a processing
`device that is capable of executing instructions, including
`devices such as personal computers, laptop computers, and
`personal digital assistants, as well as set top television boxes,
`televisions,
`radios, portable telephones, and other such
`devices having a processing capability.
`[0017]
`computer usage information—Data concerning a
`person’s use of a computer, including such things as what
`programs they run, what information resources they access,
`what time of day or days of the week they use the computer,
`and so forth.
`
`data set—A group of data items; for example, links,
`[0018]
`keywords, or entries in an address book.
`[0019]
`display object—Data capable of display by a com-
`puter, including graphical images as well as multimedia pre-
`sentations or other display data that includes audio in addition
`to visually-perceived data.
`including information,
`item,
`[0020]
`file—Any digital
`documents, applications, audio/video components, and the
`like, that is stored in memory and is accessible via a file
`allocation table or other pointing or indexing structure.
`[0021]
`graphical image—Visually-perceived data stored in
`a graphic format (e.g., jpeg, gif, bmp, tiff, pcx, etc.), including
`electronically-reproduced photographs, graphics, anima-
`tions, icons, and textual messages.
`[0022]
`information resource—A source of information
`stored on a server or other computer that is accessible to other
`computers over a network.
`[0023]
`keyword—A textual data item used in locating
`related sources of information.
`
`link—A data item that identifies the location or
`[0024]
`address of a program or information resource. A URL is a
`link, as is a path and filename of an information resource.
`[0025]
`network—A system having at least two computers
`in communicable connection, including intranets, personal
`networks, virtual private networks, and global public net-
`works such as the Internet.
`
`storage device—A memory
`non-volatile data
`[0026]
`device that retains computer-readable data or programming
`code in the absence of extemally-supplied power, including
`such things as a hard disk or a floppy disk, a compact disk
`read-only memory (CDROM), digital versatile disk (DVD),
`magneto-optical disk, and so forth.
`
`

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`profile—User-specific information relating to an
`[0027]
`individual using a computer.
`[0028]
`program component—A set ofinstructions stored in
`a file in computer-readable format, whether as object code or
`source code, and whether written in a compiled language, in
`byte code (such as JavaTM), or in a scripting or other inter-
`preted language.
`[0029]
`program module—One or more related program
`components.
`[0030]
`program—One or more related program modules.
`[0031]
`reactively—In response to some type of user input,
`such as a mouse click on a particular user application or on a
`link to an information resource.
`
`server—A computer on a network that stores infor-
`[0032]
`mation and that answers requests for information.
`[0033]
`software application—A program and associated
`libraries and other files; for example, a word processing appli-
`cation, a spreadsheet application, or a personal information
`management application.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with an aspect of the present inven-
`[0034]
`tion there is disclosed a method of providing demographi-
`cally-targeted advertising to a computer user. The method
`includes the steps of: (a) providing one or more servers that
`are accessible via a computer network; (b) permitting a com-
`puter user to access said server(s) via said computer network;
`(c) acquiring demographic information about the user; (d)
`providing the user with download access to computer soft-
`ware that, when run on a computer, displays advertising con-
`tent and records computer usage information concerning the
`user’s utilization of the computer; (e) transferring a copy of
`said software to the computer; (f) determining a unique iden-
`tifier associated with the computer, wherein said identifier
`uniquely identifies information sent over said computer net-
`work from the computer to at least one of said server(s); (g)
`associating said unique identifier with demographic informa-
`tion in a database; (h) selecting advertising content for trans-
`fer to the computer in accordance with the demographic infor-
`mation associated with said unique identifier; (i) transferring
`said advertising content from at least one of said server(s) to
`the computer for display by said software; (j) acquiring said
`unique identifier and said computer usage information
`recorded by said software via said computer network; and (k)
`associating said computer usage information with said demo-
`graphic information using said unique identifier.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0035] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with
`the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
`elements, and:
`[0036]
`FIG. 1 is block diagram of a first embodiment of the
`invention depicting a client software application comprising
`two program modules located on a computer connected to a
`server by way of the Internet;
`[0037]
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of second embodiment
`that is a modified form of that shown in FIG. 1;
`[0038]
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting further details
`regarding use of the server shown in FIG. 1;
`[0039]
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of
`the invention depicting a client software application broken
`
`into a number ofmodules including a builder module respon-
`sible for upgrading and addition of any of the program mod-
`ules;
`FIG. 5 is an exemplary view of the graphical user
`[0040]
`interface (GUI) generated by the client software application
`of FIG. 4;
`[0041]
`FIGS. 5a-5c are exemplary views of a bookmark
`category window generated by the client software application
`of FIG. 4;
`[0042]
`FIG. 6 is block diagram that provides additional
`detail regarding the client software application depicted in
`FIG. 4;
`FIG. 7 depicts the structure of the banner database
`[0043]
`used by the client software application of FIG. 4;
`[0044]
`FIG. 8 depicts a method for providing access to the
`client software application and for obtaining and utilizing
`demographic information regarding users of the software
`application;
`[0045]
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the portion of the client
`software application of FIG. 4 that handles user login as well
`as acquisition of demographic information for new users of
`the application;
`[0046]
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting an overview of the
`core operation of the client software application of FIG. 4;
`[0047]
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart ofthe processing ofuser input
`that is carried out by the client software application of FIG. 4;
`[0048]
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the processing of key
`events that is carried out by the client software application of
`FIG. 4;
`FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the process used by the
`[0049]
`builder module of FIG. 4 to upgrade different program mod-
`ules or components used in the client software application;
`[0050]
`FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a alternative process that
`can be used by the builder module of FIG. 4 to upgrade
`program modules or components used in the client software
`application; and
`[0051]
`FIG. 15 is block diagram of an embodiment of the
`invention depicting a server that includes several database
`services program modules and that is accessible by a client
`computer via the Internet.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0052] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an overview
`of a client software application 10 comprising a graphical
`user interface (GUI) program module 12 and an advertising
`and data management (ADM) program module 14. Working
`together, these program modules act as a single software
`application that provides the computer user with a fully inte-
`grated interface to the other software applications loaded on
`the user’s computer 18, as well as to information resources
`located on a private or public network, such as the Internet 20.
`Client application 10 may also include other executables,
`support files, and libraries that are used by program modules
`12 and 14. In general, GUI module 12 contains the basic
`programming necessary to provide a user interface to the
`computer’s software applications and operating system (e.g.,
`Windows98 or WindowsNT), while ADM module 14 pro-
`vides the basic management of the display and refreshing of
`advertising as well as the acquisition and reporting of com-
`puter usage information to an advertising and data manage-
`ment (ADM) server 22 via the Internet 20. As will be dis-
`cussed below, client software application 10 provides an
`organized interface into the files and other applications on the
`
`

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`user’s computer. That is, the client software application 10
`supports an intuitive GUI that can provide access to network
`bookmarks (i.e., stored URLs), and can initiate execution of
`local application software packages. In addition, features are
`provided to deliver advertising (e.g., banner adve