Method and system for presenting data over a network based on network user choices and collecting real-time data related to said choices

Abstract

A character having a plurality of attributes is created by a network user while within a character-enabled network site. Each attribute is defined by at least one of either audio data and/or visual image data and is selected by the user from a plurality of attributes presented to the user through a user interface. The combination of attributes defines a persona for the character. At least one of either an audio presentation and/or a visual image presentation is provided to the user interface. The presentations presented are selected from a plurality of presentations based on the character's persona. Data related to character attributes are stored in a database. One or more of the presentations presented to the user may be interactive, in that it allows for the user to make choices.

1 . A method of collecting data on-line in response to user choices made on-line, said method comprising:
 storing a plurality of character data in a database;   storing a plurality of character-attribute data in a database;   linking the character attribute data with one or more of the character data;   presenting to a user interface, one or more character data defining one or more characters for selection by the user;   upon selection of a character, presenting in real time to the user interface, the selected character along with at least one of the character-attribute data linked to the selected character for selection by the user;   upon selection of a character attribute, presenting in real time to the user interface, the selected character including the selected character attribute; and   tallying the number of times the selected character attribute has been selected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the character data comprises at least one of audio data and visual image data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the character-attribute data comprises at least one of audio data and visual image data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing data in a database indicative of the selected character and selected character attribute, the selected character and selected character attributes collectively defining a character persona; 
 storing a plurality of character-persona data; 
 linking the character-persona data with one or more of the character-attribute data; and 
 presenting to the user interface, one or more character-persona data linked to the character persona. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the character-persona data is different from the character data and the character-attribute data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the character-persona data comprises at least one of audio presentations and visual image presentations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the character-persona data comprise at least one link to a network site. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the network site is able to present to the user interface the selected character including the selected character attribute. 
     
     
         9 . An on-line data collection and presentation system comprising:
 a plurality of character data; a plurality of character-attribute data linked with one or more of the character data; and   a processor programmed to:   present to a user interface, one or more of the character data defining one or more characters for selection by the user;   upon selection of a character, present in real time to the user interface, the selected character along with at least one of the character-attribute data linked to the selected character for selection by the user;   upon selection of a character attribute, present in real time to the user interface, the selected character including the selected character attribute; and   tally the number of times the selected character attribute has been selected.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  herein character data comprises at least one of audio data and visual image data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the character-attribute data comprises at least one of audio data and visual image data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of character persona data linked with one or more of the character-attribute data and the processor is further programmed to present to the user interface, one or more character-persona data linked to the character persona. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is further programmed to store data indicative of the selected character and selected character attribute collectively defining a character persona. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the character-persona data comprises at least one of audio presentations and visual image presentations. 
     
     
         15 . A method of communicating through an information network, said method comprising:
 storing a plurality of character data in a database;   storing a plurality of character-attribute data in a database;   linking the character attribute data with one or more of the character data;   providing for the creation of on-line characters by:   presenting to a user interface one or more character data defining one or more characters for selection;   upon selection of a character, presenting in real time to the user interface, the selected character along with at least one of the character-attribute data linked to the selected character for selection; and   upon selection of a character attribute, presenting in real time to the user interface, the selected character including the selected character attribute;   tallying the number of time the selected character attribute has been selected; and   providing a communications link that allows a plurality of created characters to be presented on a common network site.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the common network site is different from the network site through which at least one of the characters was created. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communications link allows data to be exchanged through the user interfaces associated with each respective character. 
     
     
         18 . A method of navigating network sites on an information network, comprising the steps of:
 a) presenting to a user interface, one or more characters for selection by a user;   b) upon selection of a character, presenting in real-time to the user interface, the selected character along with at least one character attribute for selection by said user;   c) upon selection of a character attribute, presenting in real-time to the user interface, the selected character including the selected character attribute;   d) storing data indicative of said selected character and said selected character attribute;   e) navigating a first character-enabled (CE) network site wherein said stored data indicative of said selected character and said selected character attribute accompanies said user during said navigation of said CE network site;   f) following a link to a second CE network site;   g) sharing said stored data indicative of said selected character and said selected character attribute with said second CE network site; and   h) navigating said second character-enabled (CE) network site, wherein said stored data indicative of said selected character and said selected character attribute accompanies said user during said navigation of said CE network site.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said stored data indicative of said selected character and said selected character attribute is stored as a cookie and transferred to said second CE network site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of analyzing said stored data indicative of said character, said character attributes and said portions of said CE network site visited by said user to develop marketing statistics representative of said users.