WO2002065343A9 - System and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating the user via an electronic network - Google Patents

System and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating the user via an electronic network

Info

Publication number
WO2002065343A9
WO2002065343A9 PCT/US2002/003648 US0203648W WO02065343A9 WO 2002065343 A9 WO2002065343 A9 WO 2002065343A9 US 0203648 W US0203648 W US 0203648W WO 02065343 A9 WO02065343 A9 WO 02065343A9
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
code
site
providing
communication device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/003648
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002065343A1 (en
Inventor
Sean P Lane
Kieran M Ryan
Original Assignee
Carlson Marketing Group Inc
Sean P Lane
Kieran M Ryan
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carlson Marketing Group Inc, Sean P Lane, Kieran M Ryan filed Critical Carlson Marketing Group Inc
Publication of WO2002065343A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002065343A1/en
Publication of WO2002065343A9 publication Critical patent/WO2002065343A9/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/955—Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
    • G06F16/9566—URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a system and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating users for viewing the displayed content over an electronic network based upon the user's entry of coded information.
  • the present invention is directed to a system which can be employed using the internet or other electronic network, in which a user enters a code into a personal computer or other terminal connected to the electronic network, for example by scanning a bar code, which then decodes an internet address referenced by the bar code (or alternatively encoded within the bar code) to connect with a site located at the referenced (or decoded) address.
  • the code is thus automatically supplied to the computer.
  • the bar code may contain, for example, a reference to an address, for example, a uniform resource locator address (URL).
  • URL uniform resource locator address
  • the reference causes the site to obtain the address, e.g., URL, desired which causes the web page corresponding to the URL to be displayed in the user' s web browser. Scanning the bar code also results in an award of compensation in the form of non-monetary currency in electronic form to be credited to a user in an account designated for this purpose. The awards or compensation can be accumulated and spent for products or services at the compensation provider's website or another vendor's website.
  • the bar code itself may contain the URL, but it is preferred to merely have a reference to it in the bar code because this effectively allows storage of a large quantity of data in a small code by keeping the details on line and only encoding the reference.
  • 6,039,244 to Finsterwald discloses a method of building up a data bank containing customer data and/or for the organization of a rebate or coupon system.
  • the user connects to a website by entering the website address via a keyboard, i.e., the user manually enters the website address.
  • the user then enters a code which appears on the product that has been purchased.
  • an amount corresponding to a preselected value as determined by the manufacturer of the product is then credited to the user's account, assuming the user has already set up an account. If the user has not yet set up the account the user is provided with the option to do so and then the amount is credited to the user's account.
  • The-user can accumulate amounts in the account and redeem the accumulated value at a later time for a purpose selected by the user. For example, the user may redeem the value and apply it to the purchase of goods or services.
  • the Finsterwald patent teaches manually entering a web address and furthermore, manually entering a code corresponding to the product purchased.
  • a code contained on the product or service purchased by the user for example a bar code located on a page in a magazine relating to a product or service or some other advertisement, is scanned using a bar code scanning device which automatically provides the coded information to the computer, in the preferred embodiment, the reference to the desired address, e.g., URL.
  • the computer decodes the reference, obtains the URL and then automatically connects to the website defined by the URL.
  • the URL may be provided in the bar code by the manufacturer or provider of the product or service described in the advertisement, for example, on which the code is provided. If the user is already a subscriber, upon connecting to the website, the user's account is credited. If the user is not already a subscriber, the user is provided an opportunity via a window administered by the administrator of the account to open up an account by providing identifying information and any other information required. Once the user has opened an account, the account is then credited. The system thus provides an incentive for the customer to visit the web address by scanning the code on the product or advertisement. Typically, the product or advertisement will inform the customer that he/she can receive compensation if he/she scans the code to visit the website.
  • Fig. 1 shows the operation of the system.
  • Fig. 1 shows the operation of the system using a bar code scanner
  • other means of providing the code can be employed.
  • the invention is not limited to a bar code seamier for entering the code into the computer.
  • the code can be entered by any other suitable means which allows the computer to automatically connect to the appropriate website which is defined by the reference to the address in the code (or alternatively the address, e.g., URL, in the code).
  • Fig. 2 shows the overall diagram of the system of the invention.
  • the user first scans the code as shown at 5 which is automatically entered into the user's computer shown at 10.
  • the computer 10 is connected to the network which might comprise the internet.
  • the network is shown generally at 20.
  • An account administrator 30 also connected to the network, includes a database 35 wherein the account information is stored.
  • the account administrator 30, connected to the network is provided with identifying information by the user and an account is established in the user's name.
  • the site obtains the address for the desired website from a database cross referencing the references and addresses (URLs).
  • the account administrator 30 will credit the user's account in the database 35.
  • the user can be required to perform certain jobs/functions/operations on the web site before receiving compensation.
  • the invention is not limited to scanning a bar code.
  • Other means of entering the coded information can be employed and the coded information need not be a bar code.
  • the code information could be provided by a digital watermark and suitable reader, for example, or by a magnetic medium and reader, for example, a magnetic disc or by a CD ROM or other storage device.
  • a CD ROM purchased by the user may have the code stored thereon, and when the user uses the CD ROM, the user is automatically or at user selection, connected to the referenced or encoded web site.

Abstract

A code (5) is provided to a user in a product or service or advertisement, which is associated with a destination site (40) on an electronic network (20) such as the Internet. The code may contain a URL address or a reference which is decoded to such address. The user reads the code (5) with a barcode reader or other electronic input device, and the user's computer in response thereto automatically connects to and displays the destination site (40) to the user. An administration site connected to the networks (20) establishes accounts for the users and automatically credits an account of a user with non-currency in electronic form when the user connects to the destination site (40).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY
DISPLAYING CONTENT TO USERS AND
COMPENSATING THE USERS VIA AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Serial No. 60/267,911, filed February 9, 2001 entitled "System and Method of Automatically Displaying Content to Users and Compensating the Users Via an Electronic Network", which application is incorporated herein by reference.
Background of the Invention The present invention is directed to a system and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating users for viewing the displayed content over an electronic network based upon the user's entry of coded information. In particular, the present invention is directed to a system which can be employed using the internet or other electronic network, in which a user enters a code into a personal computer or other terminal connected to the electronic network, for example by scanning a bar code, which then decodes an internet address referenced by the bar code (or alternatively encoded within the bar code) to connect with a site located at the referenced (or decoded) address. The code is thus automatically supplied to the computer. The bar code may contain, for example, a reference to an address, for example, a uniform resource locator address (URL). The reference causes the site to obtain the address, e.g., URL, desired which causes the web page corresponding to the URL to be displayed in the user' s web browser. Scanning the bar code also results in an award of compensation in the form of non-monetary currency in electronic form to be credited to a user in an account designated for this purpose. The awards or compensation can be accumulated and spent for products or services at the compensation provider's website or another vendor's website. Alternatively, the bar code itself may contain the URL, but it is preferred to merely have a reference to it in the bar code because this effectively allows storage of a large quantity of data in a small code by keeping the details on line and only encoding the reference. U.S. Patent No. 6,039,244 to Finsterwald discloses a method of building up a data bank containing customer data and/or for the organization of a rebate or coupon system. In that system, the user connects to a website by entering the website address via a keyboard, i.e., the user manually enters the website address. Once the user connects to the website, the user then enters a code which appears on the product that has been purchased. Upon entry of the code, an amount corresponding to a preselected value as determined by the manufacturer of the product is then credited to the user's account, assuming the user has already set up an account. If the user has not yet set up the account the user is provided with the option to do so and then the amount is credited to the user's account. The-user can accumulate amounts in the account and redeem the accumulated value at a later time for a purpose selected by the user. For example, the user may redeem the value and apply it to the purchase of goods or services. The Finsterwald patent, however, teaches manually entering a web address and furthermore, manually entering a code corresponding to the product purchased.
Summary of the Invention the present invention, in contrast, a code contained on the product or service purchased by the user, for example a bar code located on a page in a magazine relating to a product or service or some other advertisement, is scanned using a bar code scanning device which automatically provides the coded information to the computer, in the preferred embodiment, the reference to the desired address, e.g., URL. The computer decodes the reference, obtains the URL and then automatically connects to the website defined by the URL.
Alternatively, the URL may be provided in the bar code by the manufacturer or provider of the product or service described in the advertisement, for example, on which the code is provided. If the user is already a subscriber, upon connecting to the website, the user's account is credited. If the user is not already a subscriber, the user is provided an opportunity via a window administered by the administrator of the account to open up an account by providing identifying information and any other information required. Once the user has opened an account, the account is then credited. The system thus provides an incentive for the customer to visit the web address by scanning the code on the product or advertisement. Typically, the product or advertisement will inform the customer that he/she can receive compensation if he/she scans the code to visit the website.
Brief Description of the Figures Fig. 1 shows the operation of the system. Although Fig. 1 shows the operation of the system using a bar code scanner, other means of providing the code can be employed. The invention is not limited to a bar code seamier for entering the code into the computer. For example, the code can be entered by any other suitable means which allows the computer to automatically connect to the appropriate website which is defined by the reference to the address in the code (or alternatively the address, e.g., URL, in the code).
Fig. 2 shows the overall diagram of the system of the invention. The user first scans the code as shown at 5 which is automatically entered into the user's computer shown at 10. The computer 10 is connected to the network which might comprise the internet. The network is shown generally at 20. An account administrator 30 also connected to the network, includes a database 35 wherein the account information is stored. The account administrator 30, connected to the network, is provided with identifying information by the user and an account is established in the user's name. Based on the reference in the code, the site obtains the address for the desired website from a database cross referencing the references and addresses (URLs). Once the user connects to a website 40, as identified by the reference or URL in the code scanned by the user, the account administrator 30 will credit the user's account in the database 35. Alternatively, the user can be required to perform certain jobs/functions/operations on the web site before receiving compensation.
As discussed, the invention is not limited to scanning a bar code. Other means of entering the coded information can be employed and the coded information need not be a bar code. The code information could be provided by a digital watermark and suitable reader, for example, or by a magnetic medium and reader, for example, a magnetic disc or by a CD ROM or other storage device. For example, a CD ROM purchased by the user may have the code stored thereon, and when the user uses the CD ROM, the user is automatically or at user selection, connected to the referenced or encoded web site.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A system for automatically displaying content to users and compensating the users via an electronic network, comprising: a code contained in a medium to be presented to a user, the code associated with a destination site on an electronic network; an input device for reading the code; a communication device for use by the user for data communication over the electronic network, the communication device connected to the input device for reading the code and operative in response thereto to automatically connect to the destination site on the network associated with the code; and an administration site connected to the network, the site including a database of destination sites corresponding to the codes and accounts for users, the administration site operative in response to a user accessing a destination site to credit an account of the user.
2. The system of claim 1 where in the administration site is operative in the case of a user without an account, to establish an account for the user.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the user account is credited with non monetary currency in electronic form.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user communication device includes a display and wherein the destmation site is automatically displayed to the user.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the user communication device comprises a personal computer.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the user communication device comprises a terminal com ected to a network.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the user communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is contained in packaging for a product or service purchased by the user.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is contained in advertising for a product or service.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the code includes a URL address for a site.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the code includes a reference which is decoded by the communication device to a URL address for a site.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is contained in a barcode on a product, service or advertisement, and wherein the input device comprises a barcode reader.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the code is contained in a computer readable medium and wherein the input device includes a reader for the computer-readable medium.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a CD ROM.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet.
16. A method for automatically displaying content to users and compensating the users via an electronic network, comprising: providing a code contained in a medium to be presented to a user, the code associated with a destination site on an electronic network; reading the code with an input device operated by a user; in response to the code, automatically connecting via a user communication device and an electronic network to the destination site; and automatically crediting an account of the user based on the user's comiecting to the destmation site.
17. The method of claim 16 including displaying data from the destination site to the user.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of crediting an account of the user includes creating a new account for a new user.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of crediting an account of the user includes crediting non-monetary currency in electronic form.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a code includes providing a code in a product or service purchased by the user.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a code includes providing a code in an advertisement viewed by the user.
22. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a code comprises providing a barcode.
23. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a code comprises providing a code is contained in a computer-readable medium.
24. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a code comprises providing a code is contained in a CD ROM.
25. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the code includes a URL address for a site.
26. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the code includes a reference which is decoded by the communication device to a URL address for a site.
27. The method of claim 16 wherein automatically connecting via a user communication device comprises connecting via a personal computer.
28. The method of claim 16 wherein automatically connecting via a user communication device comprises connecting via a personal digital assistant.
29. The method of claim 16 wherein automatically connecting via a user communication device comprises connecting via a terminal connected to a network.
30. The method of claim 16 wherein automatically comiecting via a user commumcation device comprises connecting via the Internet.
PCT/US2002/003648 2001-02-09 2002-02-08 System and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating the user via an electronic network WO2002065343A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26791101P 2001-02-09 2001-02-09
US60/267,911 2001-02-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002065343A1 WO2002065343A1 (en) 2002-08-22
WO2002065343A9 true WO2002065343A9 (en) 2004-04-15

Family

ID=23020663

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/003648 WO2002065343A1 (en) 2001-02-09 2002-02-08 System and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating the user via an electronic network

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002065343A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8210351B2 (en) * 2007-04-19 2012-07-03 Tri State Distribution, Inc. Labeling system with multiple designs for prescription containers
WO2013150091A1 (en) * 2012-04-04 2013-10-10 Nestec S.A. Beverage dispenser with identification code

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5864604A (en) * 1994-05-20 1999-01-26 General Patent Corp Method of providing message service for limited access telecommunications
US5616902A (en) * 1994-09-12 1997-04-01 Lottery Enterprises Inc. Bill pay system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002065343A1 (en) 2002-08-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6032195A (en) Method, system, and article for navigating an electronic network and performing a task using a destination-specific software agent
US6766302B2 (en) Method and apparatus for advertisement
US5969324A (en) Accounting methods and systems using transaction information associated with a nonpredictable bar code
US8140386B2 (en) Delivery, organization, and redemption of virtual offers from the internet, interactive-TV, wireless devices and other electronic means
KR100345429B1 (en) Network-based product information server
EP1473634A1 (en) Information providing system using code information
US20050071230A1 (en) Delivery, organization, and redemption of virtual offers from the internet, interactive-TV, wireless devices and other electronic means
US20070005427A1 (en) System for providing offers using a billing statement
US20120254914A1 (en) System for providing offers using a billing statement
US20060080111A1 (en) Mobile electronic transaction system, device and method therefor
JP2003524806A (en) Print coupon with embedded discount for online purchases
WO2007111882A2 (en) Incentive system and method for tracking advertising effectiveness
US20040107135A1 (en) Electronic coupon distribution and redemption system and method
WO2003001363A1 (en) Electronic vouchers and a system and method for issuing the same
US20020165800A1 (en) Processing system
WO2002033518A2 (en) System and method for linking a paper based barcode to a webpage
WO2002065343A9 (en) System and method of automatically displaying content to users and compensating the user via an electronic network
US20100312694A1 (en) Mobile Electronic Transaction System, Device and Method Therefor
JP2005202733A (en) Sales support system and sales support method using internet
JP2005202734A (en) Sales support system and method using internet
JP2005250665A (en) Customer registering system
KR20010091545A (en) A system and method for collecting a marketing information using a mobile communication networks
CA2437466A1 (en) Product code-based method and system for distributing electronic coupons
WO2001011539A1 (en) Accounting methods and systems employing non-predictable bar codes
WO2000039728A2 (en) Method and apparatus for distributing purchase incentives

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

COP Corrected version of pamphlet

Free format text: PAGES 1/2-2/2, DRAWINGS, REPLACED BY A NEW PAGE 1/1

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase in:

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP