714 results about "Information providers" patented technology

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. A mobile user (MU) may use a portable computing device (PCD) to connect to the network and access information or services from the network. The PCD may be configured to transmit a signal indicating a presence of the PCD as well as identification information indicating the mobile user. Upon detection of the wireless signal by a first access point in proximity to the PCD, and upon receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the PCD, the first access point may transmit the identification information, as well as the known geographic location of the first access point, to one or more providers on the network. The known geographic location of the first access point indicates the approximate location of the PCD of the mobile user. A first information provider may receive this information and provide content information or services to the mobile user. For example, the first information provider may select content information dependent upon the known geographic location of the first access point and demographic information or past activities of the mobile user of the PCD. The first information provider may then provide the selected content information through the network and through the first access point to the PCD of the mobile user.

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. Content provided by the service providers may be based on the known geographic location of the user of a portable computing device (PCD). The known geographic location may be determined with a high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one of several different techniques. In one embodiment, the geographic location of the PCD may be determined within a radius of ten feet. Access points may be configured to determine the bearing of a signal received from a PCD, as well as the strength of the signal transmitted by the PCD. Access points may also be configured to send and receive signals with time stamps. These time stamps may be used to calculate signal travel time, thereby allowing a determination of the distance between an access point and a PCD. Each access point may include location circuitry. The location circuitry may include both analog and digital circuitry configured to perform the various methods used to determine the precise geographic location.

A time / location information delivery system that provides focused advertising and / or other information to individuals based on the time and their location. A wireless identification device is carried by an individual and can be read from or written to when the individual passes by interrogators in a specific geographic location. The detectors read ID information embedded in the wireless identification device. A computer uses the ID and location information to select, from a list of information providers, those information providers which provide information content identifiable or correlated to a location and / or time, and is of interest to the individual. The information content can be forwarded to the individual by a variety of information channels. One channel uses conventional Internet email to deliver advertisements and other information to the individual's Internet mailbox. The email can be delivered to a conventional PC, a portable computer, a PDA, an intelligent telephone, pager or other suitable device. For ease of discussion, a pager and a PDA will be referred to collectively as a PDA. The wireless identification device can be an RFID tag embedded in a card, or even a wireless telephone. The RFID tag is read or written to by fixed interrogators and the location of the wireless telephone is detected by triangulating information from cell towers or by embedding the GPS receiver in the wireless telephone thereby providing the location information directly from the telephone. Of course, other nearly identical location determination means, such as quadrangulation could also be used. The location determination can be performed through similar means with other devices such as PDAs, laptops, pagers, etc.

When an ad hoc network is formed between short range wireless devices, at least one device assumes the role of an ad hoc network information provider for the new piconet. In this role, the device allocates a browsing hierarchy of service classes in its service registry. The service classes will provide a record to characterize the ad hoc network. When a new wireless device arrives within the communication range of any member of the ad hoc network, its inquiry signals are answered by the first member detecting the inquiry. If that first member is an ad hoc network information provider, it responds with information accessed from its service registry characterizing the ad hoc network. If, instead, an ordinary device in the ad hoc network is the first to respond to the inquiry signals of the arriving device, the device responds with the address of the ad hoc network information provider. The arriving device then pages the ad hoc network information provider to obtain information characterizing the ad hoc network.

In the disclosed information delivery scheme for delivering WWW information provided by information servers on the Internet to mobile computers connected to the Internet through a wireless network, a plurality of cache servers capable of caching WWW information provided by the information servers are provided in association with the wireless network. The cache servers can be managed by receiving a message indicating at least a connected location of a mobile computer in the wireless network from the mobile computer, selecting one or more cache servers located nearby the mobile computer according to the message, and controlling these one or more cache servers to cache selected WWW information selected for the mobile computer, so as to enable faster accesses to the selected WWW information by the mobile computer. Also, the cache servers can be managed by selecting one or more cache servers located within a geographic range defined for an information provider who provides WWW information from an information server, and controlling these one or more cache servers to cache selected WWW information selected for the information provider, so as to enable faster accesses to the selected WWW information by the mobile computer.

A system for distributing, storing and retrieving information associated with an end user from one or more information providers between a host computer and a client computer associated with the end user according to the present invention includes a host computer with a processor. The processor aggregates information associated with the end user and transmits the information to the client computer associated with the end user. The processor receives requests concerning the aggregated information from a variety of sources. The processor also receives the previously transmitted aggregated information from the client computer. The processor proceeds to service the received request based on the aggregated information received from the client computer.

A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network such as the Internet to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet search engine. A database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information for a network information provider. In addition, each account contains at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A search term relevant to the content of the web site or other information source to be listed is first selected. A search listing includes the search term and a description. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system and method then compares the bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term. The rank value determines where the listing will appear on the search results list page that is generated in response to a query of the search term by a searcher.

Systems connected to users generate a plurality of keys which are mutually shared, and download and upload digital contents by using secret channels formed between the systems. An information provider receives an authorization from a certificate authority. A licensed SDMI compliant module (LCM) is authenticated through the information provider, and the information provider and the LCM form a channel. A portable device is authenticated from the information provider through the LCM, and the LCM and the portable device form a channel. The digital content between the LCM and the portable device is downloaded and uploaded according to respective control state data of the LCM and the portable device. The system can use a physical address of a bad sector formed in the portable medium during the manufacturing process for preventing an illegal copy of the downloaded digital contents through the portable device after the digital contents have been downloaded.

The invention relates to a system configured to enable a user to track how his or her personal data is being used, and to control its collection, storage, and / or use, and delete certain personal data across information providers. A user may establish criteria regarding such collection, use, and storage of personal data generated by a security system device, capture the personal data at a control gateway before it is provided to an information provider; and applying the criteria to the personal data. The invention also relates to a system to present additional information to the user that is relevant to both the user and at least one marketing partner (such as targeted advertising); and to provide data to enable at least one marketing partner to provide value (a “reward”) to the user in exchange for the user allowing an information provider to collect and use personal data of the user.

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting / receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

A distributed network search mechanism may be provided for consumers coupled to a network to search information providers coupled to the network. Consumers may make search requests according to a query routing protocol. A network hub may be configured to receive search requests from consumers. The hub may also receive registration requests from information providers according to the query routing protocol. Information providers register with the hub to indicate search queries in which they are interested in receiving. When a query request is received, the hub resolves the query request with a provider registration index. The hub matches search query information from the query request with provider registrations to determine which providers have registered to receive search queries like the current search query. The hub then routes the search query to matching providers according to the query routing protocol.

A system and method for enabling use of detailed consumer profiles for the purposes of targeted information delivery while protecting these profiles from disclosure to information providers or hostile third parties are disclosed herein. Rather than gathering data about a consumer in order to decide which information to send her, an information provider makes use of a client-side executable software module called a negotiant function. The negotiant function acts as a client-side proxy to protect consumer data, and it also directs the targeting of information, requesting items of information from the information provider that are tailored to the profile provided by the consumer.

A variable data business system and method provide improved production of documents in support of business operations. The system includes a server that stores business data and provides a network interface for access via a client browser. The system provides for entry, maintenance, and reporting functions of business data such mailing recipients, customer information, and business inventory. Interfaces are provided to access business data for the efficient design and production of personalized variable data documents. Themed promotional Internet websites are generated to complement themed promotional variable data document mailers. Automated electronic data gathering from third-party Internet information providers enhances the efficiency of business data collection and supports business transactions.

In a mirror with a non-reflective portion provided within its reflective mirror surface as an information provider the portion is transparent and is backed by a display. The display has a moving image or has a colored image representation. Preferably at least one loudspeaker is connected to the display behind the mirror surface. That loudspeaker can also be connected to an input device.

A method and apparatus routes user information including confidential information and other information to a vendor in a secure manner without requiring the user to transmit information in a secure manner. The user provides a user identifier and information including confidential information to a response collector, who relates the user identifier to the user information. The response collector may verify the information to protect against fraud. An information provider provides an application identifier and vendor routing information to a response collector, who relates the vendor routing information to the application identifier. The application identifier corresponding to the vendor is broadcast to the user via an interactive information system application, and the interactive information system sends the application identifier, a user identifier and other response information to a response collector as directed by the user and the interactive information system application. The response collector may then route the user's information and other response information to the vendor according to the vendor routing information. The user may send anonymous responses in the same manner without sending the user identifier to the response collector.

A system for distributing information via short-range wireless communication. A mobile server receives information from an information provider for distribution to encountered devices. The information received from the service provider may contain both content to be distributed and context information that controls how the content is distributed. The mobile server may sense current environmental conditions, which are compared to distribution rules created from the context information to control how content information is distributed. The present invention is suitable for many applications, including the distribution of podcast-related information.

An arrangement for distributing information from Information Providers (IP) to Information Recipients (IR) that utilizes the email system and the Internet to communicate with popular hardware devices—computers, PDAs, cellular phones, etc. IRs receive information anonymously and only the information desired. IPs do not need to “spam” the world in the hope of getting their information into the right hands because it is organized in a manner that allows IRs to receive exactly what they are looking for. Information is provided by an IP to an IR in response to a request from an IR. A PR server organizes and stores information uploaded by IPs, retrieves information requested by an IR and sends an automated response to the IR. A web domain is associated with the PR server provides a common email addressing scheme for communicating between the PR server and the IRs.

A distributed network search mechanism may be provided for consumers coupled to a network to search information providers coupled to the network. Consumers may make search requests according to a query routing protocol. A network hub may be configured to receive search requests from consumers. The hub may also receive registration requests from information providers according to the query routing protocol. Information providers register with the hub to indicate search queries in which they are interested in receiving. When a query request is received, the hub resolves the query request with a provider registration index. The hub matches search query information from the query request with provider registrations to determine which providers have registered to receive search queries like the current search query. The hub then routes the search query to matching providers according to the query routing protocol.

A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list. A database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information. In addition, each account contains at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after logging into his or her account via an authentication process. The network information provider influences a position for a search listing in the provider's account by first selecting a relevant search term and entering that search term and the description into a search listing. A continuous online competitive bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. This bid amount is compared with all other bid amounts for the same search term. A rank value is generated for all search listings having that search term. The generated rank value determines where the network information provider's listing will appear on the search results list page that is generated in response to a query of the search term by a searcher at a client computer on the computer network. A higher bid by a network information provider will result in a higher rank value and a more advantageous placement.

The invention disclosed herein enables a collection of computers and associated communications infrastructure to offer a new communications process which allows information providers to broadcast information to a population of information consumers. The information may be targeted to those consumers who have a precisely formulated need for the information. This targeting may be based on information which is inaccessible to other communications protocols. The targeting also includes a time element. Information can be brought to the attention of the consumer precisely when it has become applicable, which may occur immediately upon receipt of the message, but may also occur long after the message arrives. The communications process may operate without intruding on consumers who do not exhibit the precisely-specified need for the information, and it may operate without compromising the security or privacy of the consumers who participate.

Disclosed herein are a financial services network and associated processes for providing interactive transmissions between network participants. The financial services network includes a private and secure transport network that allows for any number of financial services to be conducted between participants and other entities associated with the network. Each participant can operate as a requestor or responder. The system also includes a network administrator that is configured to govern the flow of messages directly between participants. By interconnecting participants to an unlimited number of information providers, all participants can obtain information and verifications on an interactive basis. Also, by employing a single network having a standardized message format and protocol, all participants can quickly and easily interactively request or provide information and verify to any other participant without the concern of incompatibility between system, transmission, or even message formats or protocols.

The invention disclosed herein enables a collection of computers and associated communications infrastructure to offer a new communications process which allows information providers to broadcast information to a population of information consumers. The information may be targeted to those consumers who have a precisely formulated need for the information. This targeting may be based on information which is inaccessible to other communications protocols. The targeting also includes a time element. Information can be brought to the attention of the consumer precisely when it has become applicable, which may occur immediately upon receipt of the message, but may also occur long after the message arrives. The communications process may operate without intruding on consumers who do not exhibit the precisely-specified need for the information, and it may operate without compromising the security or privacy of the consumers who participate.

In a system and method for enabling information providers to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list, a database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information for a network information provider. In addition, each account contains at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system and method then compares the bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term to determine where the listing will appear on the search results list page.

A method is provided for associating content objects with a database wherein the content objects are accessible over a network communication medium by a user. The method includes: receiving a suggestion for a new content object for addition to the database; approving the suggested content object; generating a list of information users desiring the approved content object; compelling an information provider to provide the desired content object based at least in part on demand identified by the generated list; and making the generated content object available to the database.

An apparatus and method for managing QoS in an integrated network system are provided. The apparatus includes: an information provider, a condition calculator, a policy deciding unit, and a resource allocator. The information provider is for providing policy information based on a network equipment control algorithm, a user profile and network information. The condition calculator is for calculating conditions that are used for selecting a policy based on the user profile and the network information received from the information provider. The policy deciding unit is for deciding a network equipment control algorithm in accordance with the conditions, receiving the policy information corresponding to the decided network equipment control algorithm from the information provider, and requesting resource allocation. The resource allocator is for receiving the request of resource allocation from the policy deciding unit and allocating resources.