Patent Application
20090132633
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to systems and methods for providing information via a dynamic content pipeline.
2. Description of the Known Technology
Users have long experienced electronic content, such as web based advertisements, in passive ways. An example of passive content, or passively experienced content, is an advertisement with text and graphics displayed on a web page with other information in response to a user request. Increasingly, users also process that content, or wish to experience and use that content in contexts other than that with which the content was originally presented. Essentially, one drawback to passive content, such as a web based advertisement, is that if a user wishes to later access that content, the user may have some difficulty because the content may be inaccessible or very difficult to find.
Additionally, current methods of capturing content for further processing are not systematized or fail to deliver significant user value. Frequently, the user must have some technical facility to capture the content, such as a web based advertisement for further processing. An example of this would be cutting and pasting or downloading the content to a local client device only to later upload the same content to another location. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system and method for providing information via a dynamic content pipeline that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
In overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the known technology, the present invention provides a system and method for providing information via a dynamic content pipeline. The system includes a processor having instructions and a network interface in communication with the processor. The instructions configure the processor to display a media element on a display device of a computer, display a dispatcher link on the display device of the computer and display a dispatcher window on the display device of the computer when the dispatcher link is selected. The dispatcher window has a destination input area configured to receive a destination identifier which provides the location of a destination device. Finally, the instructions configure the processor to provide the media element to the dynamic content pipeline for additional processing and deliver the media element to the destination device.
Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification.
Referring to
The destination device 18 may be any one of a number of different destination devices. For example, the destination device 18 may be a general purpose computer 22 having a display device 24. Generally, the general purpose computer 22 is connected to the network 20 and is capable of accessing the Internet and receiving e-mails, instant messages, and other forms of electronic communication. The destination device 18 may also be a mobile device 26 such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, or any other form of mobile device having a display area 28 for displaying text and graphics. Like the general purpose computer 22, the mobile device 26 is in communication with the network 20 and is capable of receiving at least one of e-mails, instant messages, or other forms of electronic communication. The destination device 18 may also be a server 30 capable of relaying a message to a printing device 32, such as a laser printer or inkjet printer. The printing device 32 is capable of printing a physical mailer 34 that can be delivered to a physical mail address. Finally, the destination device 18 may be GPS/navigation system of an automobile or even a smart appliance. A smart appliance is machine designed for a specific function that also has a built-in Web-enabled computer. Examples of smart appliances would include diverse products such as Web-enabled refrigerators and microwaves.
Referring to
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In step 56, a dispatcher link 54 is displayed in a portion of the second section 52 of the media element 48. Generally, the dispatcher link 54 is a user selectable icon. Additionally, it should be understood that steps 46 and 56 may occur simultaneously. In other words, the dispatcher link 54 may be displayed as soon as the media element 48 is displayed on the display device 16 of the client computer 14.
In step 58, a determination is made if the dispatcher link 54 has been selected by a user of the client computer 14. Generally, the dispatcher link 54 is selected by using an analog cursor device, such as a mouse, as is well known in the art. If the dispatcher link 54 is not selected, the method 44 returns to step 58. Otherwise, as shown in step 60, a dispatcher window is displayed on the display device 16 of the client computer 14.
Referring to
The choice of whether to enter a phone number, email, or instant messaging address can be selected by the user viewing the dispatcher window or can be selected by an outside system, such as the server 12. For example, if the person using the destination device prefers to receive emails as opposed to instant messages, the outside system can be configured so as only forward the media element based on the preference of the person using the destination device. This preference may be selected by the user of the destination device or may be determined by the outside system. Additionally, the outside system may inform the user wishing to forward the media element of the destination device user's preference, but allowing the user wishing to forward the media element to override this preference.
It should also be understood, that the dispatcher window 62 may also include an area for entering in a physical mailing address of a user. As was explained earlier and shown in
Referring back to
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In step 78, the media element is localized based upon the geographic location of a user of the destination device. Generally, if the geographic location of the user of the destination device is known, the media element can be tailored so as to encourage the user to visit one or more known local retailers. Additionally, the media element may contain advertising for a service that is not yet available in the geographic location of the user, in such a case, the media element can be tailored so as to inform the user of this issue.
In step 80, the media element is personalized based upon a personal profile of the user of the destination device. As it is well known, web based service providers, such as Yahoo!, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., are known to keep personal profiles of users. Essentially, in step 80, any information contained in the personal profile of the user may be incorporated into the media element so as to better entice the user to purchase goods or services advertised in the media element 48. Additionally, this step may also relay information back to the web based service provider regarding the media element to be forwarded to the destination device, so as to further enhance the profile of the user. Alternatively or additionally, this information may also be relayed to outside advertisers who place web based advertisements. By so doing, outside advertisers will be able to use this relayed information to better target this, or other users, with advertisements.
In step 82, the media element can be enriched to add or subtract functionality or information found in the media element 48. Generally, the destination device 18 may, or may not be, be capable of certain functions. If the destination device 18 is capable of certain functions, such as animated graphics, the media element 48 may be enriched to include additional functionality, so as to entice the user of the destination device 18 to purchase goods and services advertised in the media element 48.
In step 84, the media element is rendered based upon the type of destination device used by the user. For example, if the destination device 18 is the general purpose computer 22, the media element 48 may be sized and shaped differently than if the media element is displayed on a much smaller display area 28 of the mobile device 26.
As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of the principles of this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.
