Computer system for accumulating descriptive profile data along with source information for use in targeting third-party advertisements

Abstract

A method of accumulating descriptive profile data uses a databank that can be contacted by profile providers who contribute profile elements about an online visitor. The method includes keeping track of which profile provider contributed which elements, so that use of particular elements in targeting electronic third-party advertisements automatically can result in compensation.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A hardware computer server coupled to a global computer network and programmed to perform an automated method of providing profiles of Internet-using entities, the method performed by the programmed computer server comprising:
 (a) with the computer server, which is controlled by a proprietor operating a website, automatically sending, by URL redirection, a partial profile of an entity that uses a user computer coupled to the global computer network and accessing the website, which partial profile contains at least one profile attribute related to the entity, which URL redirection is from a portion of a page of the website that is accessed by the user computer;   (b) wherein, as a result of the sending by URL redirection, the partial profile is electronically received by a programmed computer system coupled to the global computer network and controlled by an unaffiliated third party, which computer system has access to a storage device and is structured and programmed to automatically electronically:
 (i) store the received partial profile in the storage device by adding the received partial profile to an electronically stored profile believed to be related to the same entity, which stored profile, including the added partial profile, comprises data used in targeting third-party advertisements to the user computer over the global computer network; 
 (ii) generate and store an electronic record of which of a plurality of unaffiliated third parties including the proprietor contributed to the stored profile particular profile attributes using the computer server or other computer servers controlled by the unaffiliated third parties; and 
 (iii) use the electronic record to create, in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, electronic data used to identify a payment amount due to the proprietor as a result of at least one of the profile attributes in the partial profile contributed by the proprietor being used in targeting the third-party advertisements to the entity's computer over the global computer network. 
   
     
     
         41 . The computer server of  claim 40  wherein the computer system is further structured and programmed to automatically electronically determine whether the received partial profile contains any profile attributes about the entity that were not previously contained in a stored profile. 
     
     
         42 . The computer server of  claim 40  wherein the computer system further maintains a credibility rating associated with at least one of the profile attributes of the stored profile. 
     
     
         43 . The computer server of  claim 42  wherein the credibility rating is reflected in a price for the at least one profile attribute. 
     
     
         44 . The computer server of  claim 40  wherein the computer system is further structured and programmed to automatically electronically select profile attributes from the stored profile to be used in targeting advertisements based on the source thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The computer server of  claim 40  wherein part (b)(ii) comprises the computer system being structured and programmed to automatically electronically add the received partial profile to a stored profile believed related to the same entity on account of the added partial profile and the stored profile being related to the same user computer. 
     
     
         46 . The computer server of  claim 45  wherein the computer system is structured and programmed to automatically electronically determine that the received partial profile and the stored profile are related to the same user computer by automatically reading a cookie on the user computer.