United States Patent (19)
`Dedrick
`
`US005754787A
`Patent Number:
`11
`45 Date of Patent:
`
`5,754,787
`May 19, 1998
`
`54 SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY
`PUBLISHING OBJECTS WITH HEADER
`SPECIFYING MINIMUMAND MAXIMUM
`URE
`REQ
`DTRANSPORT DELIVERY RATES
`AND THRESHOLD BEING AMOUNT
`PUBLISHER IS WILLING TO PAY
`
`75 Inventor: Rick Dedrick, Hillsboro, Oreg.
`73 Assignee: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif.
`
`5,428,606 6/1995 Moskowitz. ............................... 370/60
`5,446,730 8/1995 Lee et al. ........................
`... 370/54
`5,455,826 10/1995 OZveren et al.
`... 370/60
`5,461,611 10/1995 Drake, Jr. et al. ...
`... 370/54
`5,473,679 12/1995 La Porta et al......
`... 379/201
`5,577.042 11/1996 McGraw, Sr. et all
`370/85.7
`g/ 7
`9 ra
`to a co
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Multimedia Mixed Object Envelopes Supporting A Gradu
`ated Fee Scheme via Encryption, IBMTechnical Disclosure
`Bulletin, 413, Mar, 1994.
`A. Wolisz et al. Service Provider Selection in an Open
`-
`SErvice Environment, Future Trends of Distributed Com
`puting Systems, '90 Workshop, 229, 1994.
`Nachum Shacham. Multipoint Communication. By Hierar
`chically Encoded Data, INFOCOM'92, 2107-13, 1992.
`Peterson, L., A Yellow Page Service for a Local Area
`Network, Special Issue, ACM, pp. 235-242, 1988.
`Primary Examiner Thomas C. Lee
`Assistant Examiner Anderson I. Chen
`Attorney Agent, or Firm Blakely, Sokoloff. Taylor &
`Zafman
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A Smart electronic information transport router which cor
`References Cited
`rectly transmits electronic information when connected to
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`multiple parallel but bandwidth diverse transport channels is
`described herein. The smartelectronic information transport
`3. 3. E. Jr. et al. ............... ''2'''
`F w1
`ckberg, Jr. et al. .................... 370/60
`router allows an electronic information publisher to label
`4,788,679 11/1988 Kataoka et al. .....
`... 370/60
`each electronic information object or object stream speci
`4,815,029 3/1989 Barker et al.
`395,778
`fying minimum and maximum required transport/delivery
`4,827,508 5/1989 Shear ...............
`3804
`throughput data rates for the various media types included
`4,953,157 8/1990 Franklin et al
`... 370/60
`within the electronic information being electronically pub
`5,038,340 8/1991 Ochiai ..........
`... 370/17
`lished. The smart electronic information transport router will
`5,063562 11/1991 Barzilai et al.
`... 370/94.1
`correctly transmit electronic information over the lowest
`5. gE. :
`et al...
`- s:
`5,214,779 5/1993 Barker et al.
`g; cost transport channel containing enough free bandwidth to
`provide high quality transmission of electronic information
`5,287,500 2f1994 Stoppani, Jr. ....
`... 395/600
`h
`d
`ltipl.
`allel bandwidth di
`5,375,200 12/1994 Dugan et al. ...
`...
`is
`when connected to multiple parallel bandwidth diverse
`5,381,404
`1/1995 Sugano et al. ............................ 37013
`transport channels.
`5,392,344 2/1995 Ash et al. ............
`379/221
`5,410,343 4/1995 Coddington et al. ....................... 348/
`45 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`Appl. No.: 779
`21
`pp. No
`428
`21)
`22 Filed:
`Jan. 7, 1997
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63 Struation of Ser. No. 371,267, Dec. 23, 1994, aban-
`
`O8.
`
`6
`511 Int. Cl. .......................................... G06F 13/00
`52 U.S. Cl. .............
`... 395/2005:395/20049
`58) Field of Search ..
`.................. 395/200; 370/54,
`370/60, 85.7; 379/221
`
`56)
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`aww.
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`at areas. --ov.o.o. as a so-
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`a
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`-
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`Publisherlsbels each electronic
`information object.
`
`Donal title lar
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`35
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`sy
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`E. -"
`-
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`'eriorm a heel-lit. iip:Tati in using the
`labels to the available channel linkx.
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`Trillanti ti" (lectrumenformation over
`selected channelliaks)
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 1 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Metering
`Server
`14
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`Client
`System
`12
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`Clearinghouse
`Server
`20
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`Regional
`Content Server
`21
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`Yellowpage
`Server
`22
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`Metering
`Server
`14
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`Metering
`Server
`14
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`Metering
`Server
`14
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`Publisher
`18
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`Advertiser
`18
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`Publishing
`Tool
`19
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`Yellow page
`Server
`22
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`Clearinghouse
`Server
`20
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`Figure 1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Client
`Interface
`23
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`Appraisal
`Agent (s)
`28
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`Content
`Adapter
`25
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`Session
`Manager
`29
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`Personal
`Profile
`Database
`27
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`Statistic
`Compilation
`Process
`26
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`ul- - - - - - - - -a- - - - - - - - -a - - - -ane re- -anese -
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`Figure 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 3 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Aggregate User
`Profile
`Database
`30
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`Transaction
`Database
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`Index
`Database
`35
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`Content
`Database
`34
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`Smart Router
`31
`Metering
`Process
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`Billing
`Process
`37.
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`Session
`Manager
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`is - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -e- - - - - - - -
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`r RAnt
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`Database
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`Error-Signalling
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`82
`----------------------------
`Figure 3a
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Aggregate
`Demographic
`Database
`50
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`Subscriber
`Database
`58
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`Transaction
`Database
`52
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`Routing
`Database
`62
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`Billing
`Process
`54
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`Session
`Manager
`56
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`Calendar
`Database
`T2
`Advertising
`Database
`70
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`Scheduling
`Process
`74
`Interactive
`Process
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`Session
`Manager
`78
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 19, 1998
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`Sheet 5 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Publisher/Advertiser Establishes an
`Account in the Clearinghouse Server.
`End User Establishes Account
`in Metering Server.
`
`Publisher Transmits Unit of Information
`to Clearinghouse Server Along with
`Request and Instructions Regarding
`User Profile Data.
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`100
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`102
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`Clearinghouse Server Downloads
`Information to Metering Servers
`and Regional Servers.
`
`Metering Servers Transfer Content
`Titles to Client Computers.
`
`105
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`Smart Router routes
`Electronic Information.
`
`Metering Servers Transfer
`Information to Client Systems of
`Subscribing End Users. Client Systems
`Customize Information for
`Consumption by End Users. .
`
`Non-Subscribing End User Requests
`Consumption of Information.
`
`108
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`110
`
`Figure 6a
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`
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`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`5,754,787
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`Metering Server Determines Whether
`Consumption of Information Will
`Exceed End User's Credit Account.
`
`Metering Server Debits
`End User's Account.
`
`Smart Router routes
`Electronic Information.
`
`Metering Server Transfers Information
`to Non-Subscribing End User's Client
`System. Client System Customizes
`Information for End User's Consumption.
`
`Profile and Billing Data is
`Transmitted from the Metering Server
`to the Clearinghouse Server.
`
`Clearinghouse Server Credits
`Publishers Account and Transmits
`Aggregate User Profile Data to Publisher.
`
`Clearinghouse Server
`Generates a Bill that is Sent
`to the End User.
`
`Figure 6b
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`Metering Server Transmits Aggregate
`Profile Data to Clearinghouse
`Server.
`
`Clearinghouse Server Transmits
`Requested Profile Data
`to the Advertiser.
`
`Advertiser Transmits a Unit
`of Information to the
`Yellow Page Server.
`
`Advertising Title and Profile
`Target Data are Downloaded From
`the Yellow Page Server to the
`Metering Servers.
`
`Advertising Title is Transferred
`from the Metering Servers
`to the End Users with
`matching User Profiles.
`
`End User Requests Advertisement.
`
`Figure 7a
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`5,754,787
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`Advertisement is Downloaded to
`the Metering Server from the
`Yellow Page Server.
`
`Smart Router routes
`Advertisement.
`
`Advertisement Transmitted to End User.
`Metering Server Credits End User's
`Account and Records Profile
`Data of Consuming End User.
`
`Client System Customizes
`Advertisement to fit User's Profile.
`
`Profile Data and Billing
`Information is Transferred to the
`Clearinghouse Server from the
`Metering Server.
`
`Advertiser Account is Debited and
`the Profile Data is Compiled in
`the Clearinghouse Server.
`
`Clearinghouse Server
`Tranmsits a Bill and User Profile Data
`to the Advertiser.
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`25
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`216
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`28
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`220
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`Figure 7b
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`300
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`2
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`4
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`6
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`Publisher labels each electronic
`information object.
`
`Download electronic information along
`with the labels.
`
`Extract the labels from the header
`associated with the electronic information.
`
`Determine what are the available transport
`bandwidths and associated costs connecting
`the metering server with the
`consumer consumption device.
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`
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`307
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`Only One
`Channel Link
`available?
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`Perform a best-fit operation using the
`labels to the available channel links.
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`
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`Transmit the electronic information over
`selected channel link(s).
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`Figure 8a.
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 19, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
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`5,754,787
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`
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`Switch transport channels if there exists any
`problems and if more than one transport
`is available.
`
`Charge consumer for the electronic
`information consumption.
`
`Charge publisher/advertiser for storage and
`distribution of the electronic information.
`
`Figure 8b
`
`

`

`1.
`SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY
`PUBLISHING OBJECTS WITH HEADER
`SPECIFYING MINIMUMAND MAXIMUM
`REQUIRED TRANSPORT DELIVERY RATES
`AND THRESHOLD BEING AMOUNT
`PUBLISHER IS WILLING TO PAY
`
`5,754,787
`
`2
`electronic content and information based upon the minimum
`bandwidth required by each media object type, and provid
`ing high quality distribution of multiple media at the abso
`lute lowest cost to the consumer is desirable.
`
`10
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`15
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`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A smart electronic information transport router which
`correctly transmits electronic information when connected
`to multiple parallel but bandwidth diverse transport channels
`is described herein. The Smart electronic information trans
`port router allows an electronic information publisher to
`label each electronic information object or object stream
`specifying, (1) minimum and maximum required transport/
`delivery through-put data rates, and (2) cost thresholds that
`the publisher is willing to sustain for such transports for the
`various media types included within the electronic informa
`tion being electronically published. The Smart electronic
`information transport router will correctly transmit elec
`tronic information over the lowest cost transport channel
`containing enough free bandwidth to provide high quality
`transmission of electronic information when connected to
`multiple parallel bandwidth diverse transport channels.
`In one embodiment, the smart transport routers reside
`within local distribution servers such as metering servers.
`connecting service providers with the ultimate recipients of
`the electronic information (home and business consumers).
`These service providers work with publishing tools which
`automatically attach labels providing bandwidth Smart elec
`tronic information. In another embodiment, the Smart elec
`tronic information transport router may work with consumer
`based devices able to signal local electronic information
`distribution servers enabling the consumers electronic infor
`mation consumption devices to signal the servers to switch
`transport channels in case of something going awry on the
`current local server to consumption device transport chan
`nel.
`The Smart electronic information transport router offers a
`method and an apparatus of providing the consumer with
`quality access to electronic information at the lowest trans
`port channel transmission cost available, increasing the
`value of existing electronic distribution networks.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The present invention is illustrated by way of example
`and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying
`drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements
`and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic of a network of one embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic of a client system in one embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic of a metering server in one embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3a is a schematic of a Smart router in one embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic of a clearinghouse server in one
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic of a yellow page server in one
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 6a and 6b are flow diagrams that show a unit of
`information consumed by an end user according to one
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 7a and 7b are flow diagrams that show an elec
`tronic advertisement consumed by an end user according to
`one embodiment of the present invention;
`
`This is a Continuation Application of application Ser. No.
`08/371,267, filed Dec. 23, 1994, now abandoned.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`(1) Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to the field of electronic
`information distribution networks. More particularly, this
`invention relates to a smart electronic information transport
`router for correctly transmitting electronic information over
`a low cost transport channel, when connected to multiple
`parallel bandwidth diverse transport channels.
`(2) Prior Art
`Computer technology is continuously advancing, provid
`ing newer computer systems with continuously improved
`performance. One result of this improved performance is an
`increased use of computer systems by individuals in a wide
`variety of business, academic and personal applications. In
`some instances, these computer systems are linked together
`by a network or modems so that the systems can commu
`nicate with each other via electronic mail.
`The current wide-ranging use of computer systems pro
`vides a relatively large potential market to providers of
`electronic content or information. Today, content and infor
`mation distribution to consumers are provided in various
`mediums including television, radio, newspaper and maga
`zine. Providers of content and information may include, for
`35
`example, advertisers and other information publishers such
`as newspaper and magazine publishers.
`Most advertisers distributing content/information through
`networks will be distributing "rich media” advertisements.
`"Rich media” may consist of digital video, audio, animation,
`high and low resolution graphics, and textual data, as well as
`associated labels and attributes.
`With distribution of electronic information over networks,
`attaining a perception of “high quality” delivery of such
`electronic information is desirable. What is considered to be
`of “high quality” delivery may be determined based upon
`the type of electronic information being transmitted.
`When each of the media objects are combined into one
`presentation of electronic content or information, the overall
`perceived quality of the presentation may be inconsistent if
`it is not consumed over anything but the highest bandwidth
`transports. For example, textual messages incorporated in a
`combination of rich media objects may be perceived to have
`the highest degree of responsiveness when viewed over a
`low bandwidth transport medium. However, digital audio
`and digital video objects within the same electronic content
`may be perceived to have a low degree of responsiveness
`when distributed over the same low bandwidth transport
`medium.
`Multiple, diverse transport media are already used to
`60
`connect consumers' homes to the telephone and cable com
`panies. With further advance in the capability of handling
`higher bandwidth digital transmissions, and as new transport
`capabilities are brought into the home, home consumption
`devices will be connected to multiple diverse transports
`simultaneously. With the combination of multiple diverse
`transports, a smart transport router providing routing of
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`FIGS. 8a and 8b are flow diagrams that show the steps
`followed in routing each electronic information object or
`object stream.
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`5,754,787
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`4
`as age, sex, income and marital Status. Psychographic infor
`mation refers to the lifestyle and behavioral characteristics
`of individuals, such as likes and dislikes, color preferences
`and personality traits that show consumer behavioral char
`acteristics. Thus, the consumer variables refer to information
`such as marital status, color preferences, favorite sizes and
`shapes, preferred learning modes, employer, job title, mail
`ing address, phone number, personal and business areas of
`interest, the willingness to participate in a survey, along with
`various lifestyle information. This information will be
`referred to as user profile data, and is stored on a consumer
`owned portable profile device such as a Flash memory-based
`PCMCIA pluggable card. The end user initially enters the
`requested data and the non-identifying information is copied
`to the metering server 14. That is, the information associated
`with the end user is compiled and copied to the metering
`server 14 without any indication of the identity of the user
`(for example, the name and phone number are not included
`in the computation). The GUI also allows the user to receive
`inquiries, request information and consume information by
`viewing, storing, printing, etc. The client system may also be
`provided with tools to create content, advertisements, etc. in
`the same manner as a publisher/advertiser.
`All of the fields in the GUIrelating to consumer variables
`are hidden from the consumer. The display of the GUI is
`based upon these fields, but the GUI does not display them
`to the user except when the user brings up a “profile editor",
`as discussed in more detail below. Thus, the monitoring of
`consumer actions and inaction based on these consumer
`variables and the updating of user profile data is transparent
`to the consumer. In addition, modifications made to the
`electronic information to customize it to a particular con
`sumer are also transparent to the consumer.
`The publisher/advertiser 18 is provided with software
`tools to create electronic information which includes content
`and advertisements that can be transmitted over the system.
`The electronic information may allow an end user to access
`a content database, or the information may be all or a portion
`of a content database. By way of example, the content
`database may be the text and video of an electronic news
`paper. The content database may reside within the publisher
`unit or be located at a remote location such as the metering
`server or a regional server that services a plurality of
`metering servers. The software tools may include a hyper
`text oriented mark up language that routes distributed end
`users to the content databases.
`In one embodiment, the software tools provided to the
`publisher/advertiser 18 include software tools for embed
`ding consumer variables within the electronic information.
`The embedded consumer variables enable a client activity
`monitor and a consumption device to monitor consumer
`interaction with the electronic information based on the
`consumer's interaction with the unit of information currently
`being consumed. This interaction includes both inputs by the
`consumer and actions which the consumer could have taken
`but chose not to. In one implementation, the publisher/
`advertiser 18 is provided with a GUI which allows the
`publisher/advertiser 18 to select certain consumer variables
`from a set of consumer variables and associate the selected
`variables with specific objects or fields within the electronic
`information. For example, the electronic information may
`include several option fields from which end users may
`select. The publisher/advertiser 18 may associate a color
`preference variable with these option fields, thereby indi
`cating to the client systems 12 to track the color of the option
`field selected by the end user.
`The publisher/advertiser 18 is also provided with software
`tools to create electronic information in a wide variety of
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`In the following detailed description numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough under
`standing of the present invention. However, it will be
`understood by those skilled in the art that the present
`invention may be practiced without these specific details. In
`other instances well known methods, procedures,
`components, and circuits have not been described in detail
`So as not to obscure the present invention.
`FIG. 1 shows a network system 10 of one embodiment of
`the presentinvention. The network 10 includes a plurality of
`client systems 12 coupled to a metering server 14 within a
`local area network (LAN) 16. Alternatively, a single client
`system 12 may be coupled to a metering server 14. Each
`client system 12 may be a personal computer that is operated
`by an end user. Alternatively, each client system 12 may be
`any other type of consumer consumption device, such as a
`television set, a cable settop converter, a game machine, etc.
`The server 14 is typically a dedicated computer that provides
`an interconnect contact node which allows the client systems
`12 to communicate with the server 14 and other client
`systems 12. The server 14 may contain resident modem
`sharing software that allows the server 14 and client systems
`12 to communicate with a device external to the local
`network 16. The server 14 is also capable of maintaining
`resident databases. Both the server 14 and the client systems
`12 contain the necessary interface hardware and software
`required to transfer information between the components of
`the system 10.
`The metering server 14 is coupled to a publisher unit 18
`through a plurality of clearinghouse servers 20. By way of
`example, the publisher 18 may be connected to the server 14
`as part of an overall wide area network (WAN) that allows
`the server 14 and publisher unit 18 to transfer information.
`40
`The system 10 may also have a yellow page server 22
`coupled to the publisher unit 18 and the metering servers 14.
`The publisher unit and servers of the WAN system contain
`the interface hardware and software necessary to transfer
`electronic information between the components of the sys
`tem. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 may have multiple
`client systems 12 coupled to a single metering server 14 and
`multiple servers 14 coupled to a single clearinghouse server
`20, a regional content database server 21 and a single yellow
`page server 22. There may be multiple clearinghouse and
`yellow page servers located at regional centers throughout
`the country/world. In addition, depending on the size of a
`community, there may also be multiple yellow page servers
`for each local community. Although the computer 18 is
`referred to as a publishing unit, it is to be understood that the
`computer can also be a node for an advertiser 18 and that the
`use of the terms publisher and advertiser may be synony
`OS
`Each client system 12 is provided with an interface, such
`as a graphic user interface (GUI), that allows the end user to
`participate in the system 10. The GUI contains fields that
`receive or correspond to inputs entered by the end user. The
`fields may include the user's name and possibly a password.
`The GUI may also have hidden fields relating to "consumer
`variables.” Consumer variables refer to demographic, psy
`chographic and other profile information. Demographic
`information refers to the vital statistics of individuals, such
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`consumption formats that can be transmitted over the sys
`tem. These consumption formats include formats such as
`audio, video, graphics, animation, text, etc. For example, an
`advertiser 18 may create an advertisement for a camera
`which describes the camera in both audio and video format.
`Both of these consumption formats are transferred to yell
`lowpages servers 14, and subsequently to the client systems
`12. The end user is then able to consume the advertisement
`in whichever format he or she prefers, or alternatively in
`both formats.
`In one embodiment, each piece of electronic information
`received by client system 12 includes a header block which
`includes the consumer variables and their related objects or
`fields for that piece of electronic information. For example,
`the header block of the given piece of electronic information
`may include a quality parameter and a cost parameter
`indicating the minimum quality the electronic information
`must be delivered at the designated cost. Such information
`may be input by the publisher/advertiser 18 at the authoring
`site of the electronic information. The header block of a
`given piece of electronic information may also include an
`indicator that a color preference variable is associated with
`certain option fields. In addition, default colors for particular
`fields or objects, or a default consumption format, such as
`audio or video, for the electronic information may also be
`included in the header block.
`As shown in FIG. 2, each client system 12 includes a
`session manager 29, a client interface 23, a client activity
`monitor 24, a content adapter 25, a statistic compilation
`process 26, and a personal profile database 27. The client
`interface 23 provides individual users with access to the
`system 10. Interface 23 may be any of a wide variety of user
`interaction devices. For example, the client interface 23 may
`be the display device and input device of a personal com
`puter based on an Intel(E) microprocessor architecture.
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`Alternatively, the client interface 23 may be a display and
`input device coupled to, or part of, any of a wide variety of
`consumer consumption devices, such as a television set or a
`game machine. In one embodiment, the client interface 23 is
`a physical device which is separate from the remainder of
`client system 12. For example, client interface 23 may be a
`personal computer system, while the remaining components
`of client system 12 are contained in a separate box or similar
`physical device coupled to the personal computer system.
`Interface 23 supports any one or more of a wide variety of
`45
`conventional input methods, including alphanumeric key
`board inputs, voice inputs, cursor control inputs (such as a
`mouse or trackball), touch screen inputs, etc.
`Session manager 29 transfers data and control information
`to and from the components of client system 12, and acts as
`an interface between client system 12 and metering server
`14. Electronic information which is transferred to client
`system 12 is received by session manager 29 and forwarded
`to client interface 23. In one embodiment, the electronic
`information is forwarded to client interface 23 via content
`adapter 25. Content adapter 25 may then modify the elec
`tronic information, based on the end user's data stored in
`personal profile database 27. Session manager 29 also
`instructs statistic compilation process 26 to compile the
`aggregate data stored in personal profile database 27 when
`the information is requested by metering server 14.
`The client activity monitor 24 tracks the consumer vari
`ables corresponding to the preferences of the end user(s) of
`client system 12. When an end user consumes electronic
`information, and also possibly interacts with that electronic
`information, client activity monitor 24 associates the elec
`tronic information with the appropriate consumer variables
`
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`and stores this data in the personal profile database 27. For
`example, the client activity monitor 24 tracks the color of
`fields or objects that are selected most frequently and least
`frequently by the end user. Similarly, the consumption
`format chosen most frequently and least frequently by the
`end user, such as audio or video, is also tracked and stored
`in personal profile database 27. In one embodiment, the
`consumer variables and corresponding fields or objects are
`indicated in a header block received with the electronic
`information.
`The personal profile database 27 maintains the user profile
`data for the end user(s) of client system 12. For example,
`age, gender, income, marital status, color preferences, etc.
`are stored in personal profile database 27 for each individual
`end user of client system 12. In addition, personal profile
`database 27 may also include additional information such as
`credit card numbers, social security numbers, mailing
`addresses, preferred shipping methods, etc. for each indi
`vidual end user to facilitate ordering items displayed in
`advertisements.
`Personal profile database 27 is updated with consumer
`variable information based on the activity monitored by
`client activity monitor 24. In one embodiment, this infor
`mation can also be directly modified by the end user. For
`example, client interface 23 may include the ability to access
`the user profile data for a particular end user which is stored
`in personal profile database 27, such as through a GUI
`profile editor. The end user is then able to alter this data,
`which is then returned to metering server 14 (via statistic
`compilation process 26 discussed below), and used by
`content adapter 25 discussed below.
`In one embodiment, the information in personal profile
`database 27 is protected from access by anyone other than
`the individual who is associated with the information. For
`example, the information may be protected on a computer by
`encrypting the profile when it is not in use. Alternatively, the
`information may be stored on a removable nonviolatile
`storage device, such as a PCMCIA Flash memory card.
`Thus, an individual may remove the Flash-based profile card
`from a computer and thereby remove the risk of exposure of
`private information to other individuals operating in the
`network system 10. In addition, since the profile is
`removable, individual end users can move a profile from
`computer to computer, such as between office and home.
`All of the information stored on the removable personal
`profile storage device is also encrypted. To access the
`consumer profile, the consumer inserts the card into the
`client system 12, which prompts the consumer for a personal
`identification number (PIN) or password. Upon receiving
`the correct PIN, the client system 12 decrypts the profile
`information in the storage device and stores the decrypted
`profile information in the client system's volatile memory.
`The consumer is then able to utilize the profile
`(transparently). The profile in volatile memory is
`re-encrypted periodically and stored back to the storage
`device. When the consumer finishes using the client system
`12, the final profile revision is encrypted and stored in the
`storage device. The card is then ejected from the client
`system 12 and pocketed by the consumer, and the
`un-encrypted profile information in the volatile memory is
`overwritten and wiped.
`The content adapter 25 customizes electronic content to
`the individual end user based on the user profile data
`contained in personal profile database 27. Electronic content
`received by system 12 from metering server 14 may include
`fields which can be customized. Which fields can be cus
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`tomized may be indicated in a header block received with
`the electronic content. For example, a unit of electronic
`information may be received with a particular field having
`the default color of green. If personal profile database 27
`contains sufficient data regarding color preferences for the
`individual end user, then content adapter 25 changes the
`color of that particular field from green to whatever color
`preference is contained in personal profile database 27 for
`that individual end user. Similarly, the default consumption
`format may be video, but if personal profile database 27
`indicates that the end user prefers audio format, then content
`adapter 25 delivers the audio format version of the electronic
`information to the client interface 23 rather than the video
`version.
`Data is collected for personal profile database 27 by direct
`input from the end user and also by client activity monitor
`24 monitoring the end user's activity. When the end user
`consumes a piece of electronic information, each variable
`(or a portion of each variable) within the header block for
`that piece of electronic information is added to the database
`for this end user. For example, if this piece of electro