Network advertising

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for collecting information about network (internet) users for determining advertising to be presented to the users. In one embodiment, user profiles are determined, and advertising is selectively provided by comparing user personal information in such profiles with a desired demographic profile. User responses to advertising are used for evaluating advertising effectiveness. The invention is useful for test marketing of products, advertisements, and reduces advertising costs.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 502,285 filed Feb. 11, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 753,513 filed Jan. 8, 2004 (abandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 502,285 filed Feb. 11, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 105,401 filed Jun. 26, 1998 (now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,366), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 759,895 filed Dec. 3, 1996 (now issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,879), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 010,703 filed on Jan. 26, 1996, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 010,361 filed on Jan. 19, 1996.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for automating the playing games such as blackjack so that they can be played continuously and asynchronously by a potentially large plurality o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a computerized interactive advertising system that allows players to interact with advertisements while playing games. The system selectively presents advertisements to players based on their characteristics and preferences. Games can be played at the player's pace, and players can interact with advertisements while playing games. The system also allows players to compete against one another for prizes in gaming tournaments. The technical effects of the invention include increased cost effectiveness of advertising, increased engagement with players, and improved targeting of advertisements to players with specific characteristics."

Problems solved by technology

The cost effective automation of playing certain games, like blackjack, has been difficult due to the fact that these games typically require a dealer and only a relatively small number of players may play the game with a single dealer.

Furthermore, it has been difficult to cost-effectively provide a network gaming system on such networks as the Internet in that gaming restrictions prohibit wagering and ante fees in most contexts except such situations as local area networks within a casino.

However, if a player's card hand goes over 21, the player may lose any wagers bet on the hand regardless of the value of the card hand of the dealer.

However, in requesting such additional cards, a player runs the risk of “busting” each hand played wherein the player loses his / her wager(s) on a card hand by adding cards to the hand until a value exceeding 21 occurs.

However, in all known variations of blackjack, players are only allowed to enter a blackjack game at the completion of a previous game and, further, there is a relatively small number of players that can play blackjack at a dealer's station simultaneously.

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