Method and apparatus for providing electronic advertisements to end users in a consumer best-fit pricing manner
US5724521A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0601
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing electronic advertisements to end users in a consumer best-fit pricing manner includes an index database, a user profile database, and a consumer scale matching process. The index database provides storage space for the titles of electronic advertisements. The user profile database provides storage for a set of characteristics which correspond to individual end users of the apparatus. The consumer scale matching process is coupled to the content database and the user profile database and compares the characteristics of the individual end users with a consumer scale associated with the electronic advertisement. The apparatus then charges a fee to the advertiser, based on the comparison by the matching process. In one embodiment, a consumer scale is generated for each of multiple electronic advertisements. These advertisements are then transferred to multiple yellow page servers, and the titles associated with the advertisements are subsequently transferred to multiple metering servers. At the metering servers, a determination is made as to where the characteristics of the end users served by each of the metering servers fall on the consumer scale.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.