WO2001016798A1

WO2001016798A1 - Method for internet communication

Info

Publication number: WO2001016798A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan ÖLVE
Original assignee: Posten Ab
Priority date: 1999-08-27
Filing date: 2000-08-24
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Also published as: SE9903040D0; SE514733C2; AU7045200A; SE9903040L

Abstract

An Internet communication method in which an arbitrary computer (1) is connected to an Internet operator (2) and in which the Internet operator establishes a connection to a web server (3) that includes a homepage or corresponding information requested by the computer user (4), and in which the Internet operator (2) establishes said connection with the aid of a dynamic Internet protocol so as to link the computer (1) with the homepage (5), said Internet protocol being stored at the visited homepage (5) as so-called log data. The intervention is characterised in that in conjunction with or after a visit to the homepage (5) concerned, the web server (3) is caused to transfer the Internet protocol used and the time at which the visit was made to a second computer (6) connected to a database (7); in that said second computer (6) is caused to send received Internet protocol and associated time points to one or more existing Internet operators (2, 14, 15) and therewith ask to be informed of the geographical location of the arbitrary computer (1) whose used Internet protocol and time point are registered in said database (7); and in that the geographic information is caused to be sent from the Internet operator (2, 14, 15) to said database (7).

Description

METHOD FOR INTERNET COMMUNICATION

The present invention relates to an Internet communication method.

It is becoming more and more usual for different companies to place on the Internet homepages on which the companies present themselves and their respective products.

The number of so-called homepage visitors is extremely large and is increasing in leaps and bounds. Programs exist that register the number of homepage visits from persons seeking information on the Internet. Obviously, a large part of visits to different homepages is governed by the interest of the person concerned in the products or services of a company.

When a person connects to the Internet via a computer, i.e. via an Internet operator, and seeks, for instance, a certain homepage, the Internet operator obtains a dynamic, temporary

Internet protocol, IP, which is used for the communication on the Internet between the Internet operator and the so called web server that contains the desired homepage. The Internet protocol used is taken out of service when the computer is shut down and later used by the Internet operator for communication with the Internet on behalf of another user.

Because the dynamic Internet protocol is temporary, it is not tied to any particular user either before or after its use. The Internet protocol can be seen as a temporary address.

Naturally, it is highly desirable for those that have homepages to know the identity of persons visiting their homepage. This is not possible at present, however, because the user, or more correctly the computer connected to a homepage, does not leave an address or other form of identification to the owner or administrator of the homepage concerned.

This problem is solved by the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an Internet communication method wherewith an arbitrary computer is connected to an Internet operator and wherewith the Internet operator establishes a connection to a web server that includes the homepage or corresponding information desired by the user of the computer, where the Internet operator uses to establish said connection a dynamic Internet protocol that links the computer with said homepage, said Internet protocol being stored in the visited homepage as so-called log data, wherein the method is characterised in that on the occasion of a visit to the homepage concerned or subsequent to such a visit, the web server is caused to transfer the Internet protocol used and the time of said visit to a second computer that is connected to a database; in that said second computer is caused to send received Internet protocols and associated times to one or more existing Internet operators and therewith ask to be informed of the geographical location of the arbitrary computer whose used Internet protocol and said visiting time are registered in said database is located, and in that the geographical information is caused to be sent from the Internet operator to said database.

The invention will now be described in more detail partly with reference to an exemplifying embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which

- Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 3 illustrates a so-called log protocol.

Figure 1 illustrates an Internet communication method in which an arbitrary computer 1 is connected to an Internet operator 2 and in which the Internet operator 2 establishes a connection to a web server 3 containing a homepage 5 or corresponding information desired by the computer user 4.

In establishing the connection, the Internet operator uses a dynamic Internet protocol to link the computer 1 with the homepage 5. The Internet protocol IP is stored at the visited homepage 5 as its so-called log data. The Internet protocol can be seen as a temporary address for precisely the connection concerned. The log data stored at the homepage contains at least one information function relating to the allocated dynamic Internet protocol and an information function concerning the time of day at which the connection was made.

According to the present invention, the web server 3 is caused to transfer log data 8 in the form of the Internet protocol used and the time of the visit to the homepage 5 concerned to a second computer 6 connected to a database 7, this transfer taking place when either at the time of making said visit or subsequent thereto. This second computer and the database are owned by the person practicing the present invention. This information transfer tells the person practicing the invention the identity of the Internet protocol used and the time of day at which the connection between the computer 1 and the homepage 5 was established.

According to the invention, the second computer 6 is then caused to send the Internet protocols received and their associated times to one or more existing Internet operators 2, 14, 15 and therewith enquire of the geographical location of each of the arbitrary computers 1 whose respectively used Internet protocols and time points are registered in the database 6. It is namely so that the arbitrary computer 1, or rather its user, will have a subscription or a corresponding agreement with an Internet operator. The address of the arbitrary computer will be evident from this subscription. Such an enquiry can be sent to one or more international operators. The enquiry must, of course, be sent to all Internet operators in order to obtain full coverage.

The Internet operator to which the enquiry is directed enters into the information field of the log data transferred to the Internet operator in conjunction with the enquiry at least the address, or some other geographic determination, of the arbitrary computer 1 that used a given dynamic Internet protocol at a given time point. The Internet operator will also suitably enter its name. Operators to which the enquiry was directed but which were not involved in the connection concerned will conveniently return log data without further measures.

Figure 3 illustrates an example of a so-called log protocol. The log protocol 14 includes, for instance, five address fields 15-19. In the illustrated case, the first address field 15 includes information concerning allocated Internet protocol, such as a dynamic Internet protocol. The second address field 16 contains information concerning the time at which the connection concerned was made. The third address field 17 contains information relating to the homepage concerned (URL). The fourth address field 18 contains an information function concerning the address of the connected computer. This can be used by the connected computer 1 to enter the zip code or postal code of the address The fifth address field 19 contains information relating to the Internet operator 2 concerned. It will be understood that the log protocol can be given some other configuration depending on desired data.

For instance, in addition to a geographical determination, the Internet operator may send other available data, such as subscriber information and telephone number information.

Finally, the geographical information is caused to be sent from the Internet operator 2 to said database 7.

Thus, the inventive method provides information concerning the homepages visited by arbitrary computers 1, the time at which said homepages were visited, and the geographical location of said arbitrary computers.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the geographical location is given in the form of an address, such as a street address, or a zip code.

According to another preferred embodiment, the address is translated by the second computer 6 to a zip code, which is then stored in the database 7.

According to a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the web server 3, 9, 10 is linked with the second computer 6 and the database 7 in real time. This is illustrated by the dash-dotted line 11 in Figure 1.

Figure 2 illustrates a particular embodiment in which the Internet operator establishes the connection to a web server via the second computer 6, this latter computer belonging to the person practicing the invention. Thus, in this regard, the owners of the web servers may be clients of the user. This is illustrated by the lines 12, 13 in Figure 2.

According to a further embodiment, the web servers 9, 10 are integrated in the second computer, this second computer 6 being in fact a web server. Because the web server 3, 9,

10 is linked with the second computer 6 and the database 7 in real time, information concerning the homepage visited by an arbitrary computer 1 and its geographical location in real time is available in the database. In this case, it is highly preferred that when a user has established a connection with the home page concerned and said geographical area of the user has been transferred to the database 7, the second computer 6 will be caused to send an instruction to the web server to present a predetermined homepage to the user 4.

For example, when a person 4 connects to Volvo's home page for instance and then chooses a retail dealer, the second computer 6 will instruct the web server concerned to present a homepage relating to the nearest geographical retail dealer.

As a result of the invention, the owner of the second computer 6 will thus be supplied with information relating to the homepages that have been visited and also with information relating to the various geographical areas of the visiting computers 1.

The present invention thus enables the user to formulate incoming Internet connections and outgoing control data in accordance with the same structure as that used by public companies in their normal marketing practices. Together with such public companies, the user is able to structure incoming connections and to control said incoming connections in real time on the basis of the postal structure.

The user may also construct the marketing regions where outgoing marketing systems and incoming response handling are co-ordinated.

In addition, the user is able to steer customers to homepages or to response locations adapted in accordance with the type of customer concerned, such as in accordance with sociodemographic properties, or in accordance with the postal region to which the customer belongs.

Customers can also be controlled down to a local level via the Internet or via telephony, such as to the nearest shop or retailer that sells or has information relating to desired products or services.

The present invention also enables the user to measure response frequencies that have known sociodemographic origins, to carry out direct response activities, and to carry out effective selection methods for direct marketing purposes. It will be evident that the present invention enables a number of measures to be carried out, owing to the existence of information relating to visits to homepages with regard to the geographical location from where the visits were made.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplifying embodiments, it will be obvious that replies from the Internet operators with respect to the query sent from the second computer 6 may be answered in bulk instead of one by one at certain time points.

It will also be understood that an Internet operator may have the second computer 6 and the associated database integrated in its own system.

The present invention shall not therefore be considered restricted to the aforedescribed embodiments, since variations and modifications can be made within the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. An Internet communication method in which an arbitrary computer (1) is connected to an Internet operator (2) and in which the Internet operator establishes a connection to a web server (3) that includes a homepage or corresponding information requested by the computer user (4), and in which the Internet operator (2) establishes said connection with the aid of a dynamic Internet protocol so as to link the computer (1) with the homepage (5), said Internet protocol being stored at the visited homepage (5) as so-called log data, characterised in that in conjunction with or after a visit to the homepage (5) concerned, the web server (3) is caused to transfer the Internet protocol used and the time at which the visit was made to a second computer (6) connected to a database (7); in that said second computer (6) is caused to send received Internet protocol and associated time points to one or more existing Internet operators (2, 14, 15) and therewith ask to be informed of the geographical location of the arbitrary computer (1) whose used Internet protocol and time point are registered in said database (7); and in that the geographic information is caused to be sent from the Internet operator (2, 14, 15) to said database (7).

2. A method according to Claim 1, characterised in that said geographical location is an address.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second computer (6) is caused to translate said address to a postal number or zip code, which is then stored in said database (7).

4. A method according to Claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said web server (3, 9,

10) is linked in real time with said second computer (6) and said database (7).

5. A method according to Claim 4, characterised in that the second computer (6) is caused to instruct the web server (3, 9, 10) to present a predetermined homepage to the user subsequent to the user (1) having established a connection to the homepage concerned and subsequent to said geographical location having been sent to the database (7).