Method and apparatus for providing specifically targeted advertising and preventing various forms of advertising fraud in electronic books

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing specifically targeted advertisements and preventing various forms of advertising fraud in electronic books. In one embodiment, the method includes; receiving or having access to the contents of books; receiving or having access to subscriber target criteria; receiving, creating, or having access to advertisements; receiving or having access to information from subscribers ;receiving or having access to requests for electronic books; determining or having access to whether subscriber target criteria for the advertisements is satisfied by the information from the subscriber requesting the electronic books; selecting a set of advertisements for electronic books by choosing advertisements having associated subscriber target criteria that are satisfied by the information from the subscriber requesting the electronic books; inserting the selected advertisements for electronic books into the electronic books; and providing access to the electronic books to the subscribers who requested electronic books.

Description

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where individuals interested in becoming subscribers and downloading electronic books are introduced to various features, benefits and advantages of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing search results and other related information obtained after performing a search for electronic books that can be downloaded or given access to.

FIG. 3 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage that allows subscribers to login and use different features and advantages of the website (e.g., download electronic books) and obtain important subscriber information (e.g., password) and allows those individuals interested in becoming subscribers with the ability to begin the process of becoming subscribers.

FIG. 4 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage describing the registration process and basic rules of using the products and services provided by the electronic book provider.

FIG. 5 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage that requests, as part of the registration process, contact, verification, code and referral information from individuals wanting to become subscribers and download electronic books.

FIG. 6 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage that requests, as part of the registration process, logon, age, gender, race and employment information from individuals wanting to become subscribers and download electronic books.

FIG. 7A shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of a webpage that requests, as part of the registration process, education and activities information from individuals wanting to become subscribers and download electronic books.

FIG. 7B shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, another part of a webpage that requests, as part of the registration process, education and activities information from individuals wanting to become subscribers and download electronic books.

FIG. 8 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a partial webpage that shows a portion of a sample licensing agreement and other provisions that must be agreed to and accepted by individuals wanting to become subscribers and download electronic books as part of the registration process and other aspects of classifying and accepting emails from the electronic book provider.

FIG. 9 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage providing confirmation that the individual having completed the registration process is now a subscriber and is therefore capable of downloading electronic books.

FIG. 10 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing various aspects of ordering checkout, notification and delivery of an electronic book.

FIG. 11 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing various aspects of the ordering, processing, confirmation and downloading of an electronic book.

FIG. 12 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an email sent to a subscriber indicating that the electronic book or books the subscriber requested are available and providing information regarding access to, downloading and viewing of those electronic.

FIG. 13 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where subscribers can modify or select various account preferences including updating their account information, viewing orders, or providing information regarding friends and family who can use, through the use of an access code or otherwise, the subscriber's account to obtain electronic books.

FIG. 14 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing various aspects of downloading an electronic book ordered by a subscriber.

FIG. 15 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a page of an electronic book and the bookmarks associated with the electronic book as viewed using an electronic document reader.

FIG. 16 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, another page of an electronic book containing an advertisement and the bookmarks associated with the electronic book as viewed using an electronic document reader.

FIG. 17 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, another page of an electronic book containing an identification code that helps prevent the illegal or unwanted dissemination of the electronic book and bookmarks associated with the electronic book as viewed using an electronic document reader.

FIG. 18 shows another page of an electronic book containing an identification code that helps prevent the illegal or unwanted dissemination of the electronic book and bookmarks associated with the electronic book as viewed using an electronic document reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 shows another page of an electronic book containing an advertiser's index that helps improve the content of the electronic book provided and makes it easier for subscribers to find and go to any particular advertisement in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where advertisers interested in placing advertising in electronic books can login to access.

FIG. 21 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where advertisers can view important information and statistics and modify various aspects of their advertising campaigns.

FIG. 22 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where information regarding the advertiser's advertising campaign is requested from the advertiser.

FIG. 23 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing information requested from advertisers identifying the advertiser's subscriber target criteria.

FIG. 24A shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of a webpage showing information requested from advertisers identifying the advertisers' subscriber target criteria for one or more campaigns.

FIG. 24B shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, another part of a webpage showing information requested from advertisers identifying the advertisers' subscriber target criteria for one or more campaigns.

FIG. 25 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing the information requested from advertisers identifying the advertiser's subscriber target criteria.

FIG. 26 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing the incentive or promotion information requested when creating an incentive for subscribers reading the electronic books.

FIG. 27 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing the subscriber target criteria requested when creating an incentive for subscribers reading the electronic books.

FIG. 28A shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of a webpage showing additional subscriber target criteria requested when creating an incentive for subscribers reading the electronic books.

FIG. 28B shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, another part of a webpage showing yet additional subscriber target criteria requested when creating an incentive promotion, incentive or prize for subscribers reading the electronic books.

FIG. 29 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage showing yet additional subscriber target criteria requested when creating a promotion, incentive or prize for subscribers reading the electronic books.

FIG. 30 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where the promotion, incentive or prize setting provided can be reviewed and verified.

FIG. 31 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a blank sample advertising page containing an emblem or symbol indicating to the subscriber reviewing the advertising that he or she is the winner of a promotion, incentive, or prize.

FIG. 32 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where subscribers can redeem a promotion, incentive, or prize awarded to them.

FIG. 33 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where subscribers who have received a promotion, incentive, or prize can receive additional information regarding it and, if necessary, provide additional information or take additional steps to receive it.

FIG. 34 shows, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a webpage where important aspects, information and statistics regarding an incentive, promotion, or prize can be viewed or modified in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for providing individuals with a plurality of electronic books containing targeted advertising comprising: a. receiving or having access to at least the contents of two or more books;b. receiving or having access to one or more subscriber target criteria for one or more advertisements;c. receiving, creating, or having access to one or more advertisements that are associated with the one or more subscriber target criteria;d. receiving or having access to information from a first subscriber interested in receiving one or more electronic books;e. receiving or having access to a first request from the first subscriber for a first electronic book;f. determining or having access to whether the one or more subscriber target criteria for the one or more advertisements is satisfied by the information from the first subscriber requesting the first electronic book;g. selecting a first set of advertisements for the first electronic book by choosing at least one of the one or more advertisements having one or more associated subscriber target criteria that are satisfied by the information from the first subscriber requesting the first electronic book;h. inserting the selected first set of advertisements for the first electronic book into the first electronic book; andi. providing or providing access to the first electronic book to the first subscriber making a first request for a first electronic book.

2. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the first set of advertisements for the first electronic book further requires choosing at least one of the one or more advertisements having one or more associated subscriber target criteria that are most closely satisfied by the information from the first subscriber requesting the first electronic book.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein choosing at least one of the one or more advertisements having one or more associated subscriber target criteria that are satisfied by the information from the first subscriber requesting the first electronic book is done randomly.

4. A method of claim 2, wherein selecting a first set of advertisements for the first electronic book and inserting the selected first set of advertisements for the first electronic book into the first electronic book are performed in such a way that the first electronic book provided or given access to does not contain the same advertising in the same location of the electronic book as any other electronic book previously provided to or gained access by a subscriber.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the first set of selected advertising and their relative locations in the first electronic book can be used to identify which subscriber or subscribers were provided or given access to the first electronic book.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the information from the first subscriber making a first request for electronic books includes one or more of the following: i. the subscriber's name and address;ii. the subscriber's email address;iii. the subscriber's age and gender;iv. credit card information for the subscriber;v. information that can be used to verify the identity of the subscriber;vi. the subscriber's race;vii. the subscriber's educational status;viii. the subscriber's educational history;ix. the subscriber's employment status;x. the subscriber's employment history;xi. the subscriber's past and present employment duties;xii. the subscriber's activities;xiii. the subscriber's viewing preferences;xiv. the subscriber's listening preferences;xv. the subscriber's reading preferences;xvi. the subscriber's hobbies;xvii. the subscriber's food preferences;xviii. the subscriber's beverage preferences;xix. the subscriber's email preferences; andxx. the subscriber's agreement to or acceptance of a licensing agreement regarding the electronic books.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the contents of the two or more books are from textbooks and the electronic books are electronic textbooks.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the information from a first subscriber interested in receiving one or more electronic books includes at least the subscriber's name, address, email address, age and gender.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the advertisements in the electronic book provided or given access to contains a notification that the subscriber who requested the first electronic book has won an incentive.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein, in order for the subscriber to receive the incentive, the subscriber must provide or verify certain information or perform certain acts.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic book contains the name of the first subscriber who requested the electronic book.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic book contains one or more unique serial numbers, bar codes, images or other identifying information that may or may not be visible to the first subscriber that can be used to identify the first subscriber.

13. A method of claim 1 further comprising: j. receiving or having access to information from a second subscriber interested in receiving one or more electronic books;k. receiving a first request from the second subscriber for a second electronic book;l. determining or having access to whether the one or more subscriber target criteria for the one or more advertisements is satisfied by the information from the second subscriber requesting the second electronic book;m. selecting a second set of advertisements for the second electronic book by choosing at least one of the one or more advertisements having one or more associated subscriber target criteria that are satisfied by the information from the second subscriber requesting the second electronic book;n. inserting the selected second set of advertisements for the second electronic book into the second electronic book; ando. providing the second electronic book to the subscriber making a first request for a second electronic book.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the first and second set of advertisements for the first and second electronic books further requires choosing at least one of the one or more advertisements having one or more associated subscriber target criteria that are most closely satisfied by the information from the first and second subscribers requesting the first and second electronic books respectively.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein selecting a first set of advertisements for the first electronic book and inserting the selected first set of advertisements for the first electronic book into the first electronic book are performed in such a way that the first electronic book provided or given access to does not contain the same advertising in the same location of the electronic book as any other electronic book previously provided to or gained access by a subscriber and selecting a second set of advertisements for the second electronic book and inserting the selected second set of advertisements for the second electronic book into the second electronic book are performed in such a way that the second electronic book provided or given access to does not contain the same advertising in the same location of the electronic book as any other electronic book previously provided to or gained access by a subscriber.

16. A method of claim 13, wherein the first set of selected advertising and their relative locations in the first electronic book and the second set of selected advertising and their relative locations in the second electronic book can be used to identify which subscribers were provided or given access to the first and second electronic books.

17. A method of claim 13, wherein the information from the first and second subscribers making a first request for the first and second electronic books respectively includes one or more of the following: i. the subscriber's name and address;ii. the subscriber's email address;iii. the subscriber's age and gender;iv. credit card information for the subscriber;v. information that can be used to verify the identity of the subscriber;vi. the subscriber's race;vii. the subscriber's educational status;viii. the subscriber's educational history;ix. the subscriber's employment status;x. the subscriber's employment history;xi. the subscriber's past and present employment duties;xii. the subscriber's activities;xiii. the subscriber's viewing preferences;xiv. the subscriber's listening preferences;xv. the subscriber's reading preferences;xvi. the subscriber's hobbies;xvii. the subscriber's food preferences;xviii. the subscriber's beverage preferences;xix. the subscriber's email preferences; andxx. the subscriber's agreement to or acceptance of a licensing agreement regarding the electronic books.

18. A method of claim 13 wherein the contents of the two or more books are from textbooks and the first and second electronic books are electronic textbooks.

19. A method of claim 13, wherein the information from a first and second subscriber requesting the first and second electronic books respectively includes at least the first and second subscribers' names, addresses, email addresses, ages and genders.

20. A method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the advertisements in the first electronic book, the second electronic book or the first and second electronic books provided or given access to contains a notification that the subscriber or subscribers who requested the electronic books have won an incentive.

21. A method of claim 13, wherein in order for the subscriber or subscribers to receive the incentive requires that the subscriber or subscribers provide or verify certain information or perform certain acts.

22. A method of claim 13, wherein the first electronic book contains the name of the first subscriber who requested the electronic book and the second electronic book contains the name of the second subscriber who requested the electronic book.

23. A method of claim 13, wherein the first and second electronic books each contain one or more unique serial numbers, bar codes, images or other identifying information that may or may not be visible to the first or second subscriber that can be used to reveal the identity of the first and second subscriber or other important information about the creation or dissemination of the first and second electronic book.

24. A method of claim 13, wherein the selected first and second set of selected advertisements contain one or more additional advertisements that cannot be viewed by the first or second subscriber respectively until a predefined event occurs and the first and second set of selected advertisements have the ability to display or link to a additional or related information about the advertisement.

25. An apparatus for providing one or more subscribers with a plurality of electronic books containing specifically targeted advertising comprising: one or more computers or electronic storage devices containing or having access to the contents of two or more books, subscriber target criteria for one or more associated advertisements to be placed in one or more electronic books, information from one or more subscribers interested in receiving or having access to one or more electronic books, and advertising information from one or more advertisers;wherein upon receiving a request for an electronic book from the one or more subscribers, the one or more computers or electronic storage devices determine or obtain information regarding which of the subscribers' target criteria for one or more associated advertisements are satisfied by the information from the one or more subscribers that requested the electronic book and select and insert or have inserted the one or more associated advertisements having satisfied subscriber target criteria into an electronic book and providing or giving access to the requested electronic book containing the associated advertising to the one or more subscribers that requested the electronic book.

26. An apparatus of claim 25, wherein information from one or more subscribers interested in receiving or having access to one or more electronic books contained on the one or more computers or electronic storage devices includes one or more of the following: i. the subscriber's name and address;ii. the subscriber's email address;iii. the subscriber's age and gender;iv. credit card information for the subscriber;v. information that can be used to verify the identity of the subscriber;vi. the subscriber's race;vii. the subscriber's educational status;viii. the subscriber's educational history;ix. the subscriber's employment status;x. the subscriber's employment history;xi. the subscriber's past and present employment duties;xii. the subscriber's activities;xiii. the subscriber's viewing preferences;xiv. the subscriber's listening preferences;xv. the subscriber's reading preferences;xvi. the subscriber's hobbies;xvii. the subscriber's food preferences;xviii. the subscriber's beverage preferences;xix. the subscriber's email preferences; andxx. the subscriber's agreement to or acceptance of a licensing agreement regarding the electronic books.

27. An apparatus of claim 26, wherein the contents of the two or more books are from textbooks and the electronic books are electronic textbooks.

28. An apparatus of claim 25, wherein information from one or more subscribers contained on the one or more computers or electronic storage devices includes at least the subscriber's name, address, email address, age and gender.

29. An apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of the advertisements in the one or more electronic books provided or given access to by the one or more computers or electronic storage devices contains a notification that the one or more subscribers who requested the one or more electronic books have won an incentive.

30. An apparatus of claim 29, wherein, in order for the one or more subscribers to receive the incentive, the one or more subscribers must provide or verify certain information or perform certain acts.

31. An apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the one or more electronic books contain the name of the subscriber who requested the electronic book.

32. An apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first electronic book contains one or more unique serial numbers, bar codes, images or other identifying information that may or may not be visible to the first subscriber that can be used to identify the first subscriber.

33. A method of preventing advertising fraud in advertising provided in electronic books comprising: a. providing or giving access to one or more electronic books containing one or more electronic advertisements having the ability to display or link to additional or related information about the advertisement to a subscriber;b. providing the ability to limit or limiting the number of times the subscriber can receive any one advertisement in one or more electronic books to a particular number; andc. providing the ability to limit or limiting the number of times any one subscriber can click on the advertisement in one or more electronic books to access the additional or related information about the advertisement.

34. A method of claim 33 wherein the advertisement contains a hyperlink to a webpage that, when selected or clicked by the subscriber, retrieves additional or related information about the advertisement.

35. A method of claim 33 wherein the providing the ability to limit is provided by the individual or entity that provides or gives access to the electronic books.