Patent•
Method and apparatus for tracking client interaction with a network resource and creating client profiles and resource database
20 Mar 1998-
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for monitoring client interaction with a resource downloaded from a server (10) in a computer network includes the steps of using a client (12) to specify an address of a resource located on a first server, downloading a file corresponding to the resource from the first server in response to specification of the address, using the client to specify a first executable program located on another server, the address of the first executable programs being embedded in the file downloaded from the second server, and a software timer for monitoring the amount of time the client(12) spends interacting with
Abstract: A method for monitoring client (12) interaction with a resource downloaded from a server (10) in a computer network includes the steps of using a client (12) to specify an address of a resource located on a first server (10), downloading a file corresponding to the resource from the first server (10) in response to specification of the address, using the client (12) to specify an address of a first executable program located on a second server (10), the address of the first executable program being embedded in the file downloaded from the first server (10), the first executable program including a software timer for monitoring the amount of time the client (12) spends interacting with and displaying the file downloaded from the first server (10), downloading the first executable program from the second server to run on the client (12) so as to determine the amount of time the client (12) interacts with the file downloaded from the first server (10). A server (10) for use in analysis and automatically serving out files assembled according to user interests and preferences.
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Patent•
12 Mar 2004TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet, and the use of advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users.
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks.
2,131 citations
Patent•
16 Jul 1999
TL;DR: In this article, an interactive television program guide with remote access is provided, where a remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive TV program guide equipment by a remote access link.
Abstract: An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.
1,565 citations
Patent•
18 Nov 2002
TL;DR: In this paper, a system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet is presented, where the web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time.
Abstract: A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed on a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.
1,504 citations
Patent•
18 Jun 2010
TL;DR: An interactive television program guide system is provided in this article, which provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server and to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
1,316 citations
Patent•
21 Feb 2002
TL;DR: In this article, an interactive television application (application) may be implemented to provide enhanced personal video recorder (PVR) and interactive television program guide (IPG) functionality are provided.
Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.
1,307 citations
References
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Patent•
24 May 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an information and advertising distribution system, in which a data server stores and updates a database of information items and advertisements, each categorized so that each has an associated information category.
Abstract: In summary, the present invention is an information and advertising distribution system. A data server stores and updates a database of information items and advertisements. The information items and advertisements are each categorized so that each has an associated information category. Workstations remotely located from the data server each include a display device, a communication interface for receiving at least a subset of the information items and advertisements in the data server's database and local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from the data server. An information administrator in each workstation establishes communication with the data server from time to time so as to update the information items and advertisements stored in local memory with at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored by the data server. An information display controller in each workstation displays on the workstation's display device at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored in local memory when the workstation meets predefined idleness criteria. At least a subset of the workstations include a profiler for storing subscriber profile data. The subscriber profile data represents subscriber information viewing preferences, indicating information categories for which the subscriber does and does not want to view information items. The information display controller includes a filter for excluding from the information items displayed on the display device those information items Inconsistent with the subscriber profile data.
1,788 citations
Patent•
03 Jun 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a system for controlling and monitoring access to network servers that includes client-server sessions over the Internet, where when the user attempts to access an access-controlled file, the server subjects the request to a secondary server which determines whether the client has an authorization or valid account.
Abstract: This invention relates to methods for controlling and monitoring access to network servers. In particular, the process described in the invention includes client-server sessions over the Internet. In this environment, when the user attempts to access an access-controlled file, the server subjects the request to a secondary server which determines whether the client has an authorization or valid account. Upon such verification, the user is provided with a session identification which allows the user to access to the requested file as well as any other files within the present protection domain.
1,321 citations
Patent•
08 Oct 1987
TL;DR: In this article, a "return on investment" digital database usage metering, billing, and security system includes a hardware device which is plugged into a computer system bus (or into a serial or other functionally adequate connector) and a software program resident in the hardware device.
Abstract: A "return on investment" digital database usage metering, billing, and security system includes a hardware device which is plugged into a computer system bus (or into a serial or other functionally adequate connector) and a software program system resident in the hardware device. One or more databases are encrypted and stored on a non-volatile mass storage device (e.g., an optical disk). A tamper-proof decrypting device and associated controller decrypts selected portions of the stored database and measures the quantity of information which is decrypted. This measured quantity information is communicated to a remote centralized billing facility and used to charge the user a fee based on database usage. A system may include a "self-destruct" feature which .disables system operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event unless the user implements an "antidote"--instructions for implementing the antidote being given to him by the database owner only if the user pays his bill. Absolute database security and billing based on database usage are thus provided in a system environment wherein all database access tasks are performed at the user's site. Moreover, a free market competitive environment is supported because literary property royalties can be calculated based on actual data use.
1,132 citations
Patent•
03 Nov 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, a client system containing a personal profile database stores consumer information corresponding to individual end users(s) of the client system, and includes a content adapter which compares electronic information received by the client systems to the consumer information in the personal profile databases and customizes the electronic information to an individual end user based on this comparison.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically customizing electronic information to individual end users includes a client system containing a personal profile database which stores consumer information corresponding to individual end user(s) of the client system. The client system also includes a content adapter which compares electronic information received by the client system to the consumer information in the personal profile database and customizes the electronic information to an individual end user based on this comparison. The client system also includes a client activity monitor which monitors actions taken by an individual end user when consuming electronic information and updates the personal profile database based on these actions. In one embodiment, the client activity monitor also monitors which actions are ignored by the individual end user and updates the personal profile database based on the consumer's interaction with the electronic information (that is, both the consumer's action and inaction). In one embodiment, an electronic information server containing a plurality of electronic information units is coupled to the client system via an electronic information distribution network and serves as the source of the electronic information.
921 citations
Patent•
23 Nov 1995TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a system for controlling use and distribution of composite digital works, which is comprised of a description part (700) and a content part (705,706).
Abstract: A system for controlling use and distribution of composite digital works. A digital work is comprised of a description part (700) and a content part. The description part contains control information for the composite digital work. The content part stores the actual digital data comprising the composite digital work. The description part (700) is logically organized in an acyclic structure, e.g. a tree structure. For a composite digital work each node of the acyclic structure represents an individual digital work or some distribution interest in the composite digital work. A node in the acyclic structure is comprised of an identifier (701) of the individual work, usage rights (704) for the individual digital work and a pointer (705,706) to the digital work. Composite digital works are stored in repositories. A repository has two primary operating modes, a server mode and a requester mode. When operating in a server mode, the repository is responding to requests to access digital works. When operating in requester mode, the repository is requesting access to a digital work. A repository will process each request to access a composite digital work by examining the usage rights for each individual digital work found in the description part of the composite digital work.
854 citations