System, Method and Apparatus for Increasing Website Relevance While Protecting Privacy

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for increasing relevance of a content provided to a visitor by a content provider by providing one or more server computers and at least one data storage communicably coupled to the one or more server computers, receiving at least a portion of a visitor token and at least a portion of a content provider token at the one or more server computers from a content provider device, determining whether a release of an anonymous unfilled demand for the visitor is authorized based on the visitor token, the content provider token and one or more preferences stored in the at least one data storage, and sending at least a portion of the anonymous unfilled demand for the visitor to the content provider device when the release is authorized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for increasing relevance of a content provided to a visitor by a content provider, the method comprising:
 providing a server computer and at least one data storage communicably coupled to the server computer;   receiving at least a portion of a visitor token and at least a portion of a content provider token at the server computer;   the server computer performs the following solely in response to receiving the visitor token and the content provider token without any request from the visitor:
 determining whether a creation of a relevant content for the visitor is authorized based on the visitor token, the content provider token and one or more preferences stored in the at least one data storage; 
 updating the visitor token and the content provider token to include a portion of the one or more preferences, one or more categories, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor when the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized; and 
 sending the updated visitor token and the updated content provider token. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating the visitor token for the visitor;   sending the visitor token to a visitor device;   receiving the one or more preferences from the visitor device; and   storing the one or more preferences for the visitor in the data storage.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more preferences comprise one or more general preferences, one or more payment preferences, one or more contact preferences, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the one or more payment preferences comprise paying the visitor for: use of an unfilled demand for the visitor, time spent on the website by the visitor, or clicking on an advertisement. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more categories, the one or more ads or the one or more keywords for the visitor are provided by the server computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein server computer performs the determining, updating and sending steps in response to the visitor device accessing a website or a search engine. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the visitor token or the content provider token do not contain any personal information. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the visitor token and the content provider token comprise a cookie, a digital certificate or an electronic passport. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a regular content at the content provider device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was not authorized; and   sending the regular content from the content provider device to a visitor device.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising displaying a warning on the visitor device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was not authorized. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating the relevant content based on the at least the portion of the one or more preferences, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor at the content provider device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was authorized; and   sending the relevant content from the content provider device to a visitor device.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising preparing a customized seal for the content provider whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized, and sending the customized seal with the content from the content provider to a visitor device. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising determining a privacy score for the content provider and sending the privacy score with the content from the content provider to a visitor device. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising incorporating the privacy score in a customized seal. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the privacy score is displayed on the visitor device as a number, a graphic or both along with the content from the content provider. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the privacy score is determined based on a content provider rating, how the content provider settles disputes, how the content provider uses visitor behavioral profiles, spyware, cookies, Web beacons, Web bugs, adware, spam, visitor personal information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the privacy score is determined by:
 setting the privacy score to a first value if the content provider uses the token, or to zero if the content provider does not use the token;   adding a second value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees not to store a behavioral profile without permission of the visitor;   adding a third value to the privacy score if the content provider does not use spyware, cookies, web beacons, web bugs, adware or spam without permission of the visitor;   adding a fourth value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees not to share, trade or sell personal information without permission of the visitor;   adding a fifth value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees to use best efforts to resolve disputes with the visitor;   multiplying the privacy score by a sixth value when there are a specified number of ratings for the content provider; and   adding an average rating for the website divided by a seventh value to the privacy score where there are not the specified number of ratings for the content provider.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first value, the second value, the third value, the fourth value and the fifth value are all equal to ten; and   the sixth value and the seventh value are equal to two.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising providing a messaging system between the visitor and the content provider. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the visitor remains private with the messaging system. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the one or more preferences, one or more keywords, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor does not reveal an identity of the visitor. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a receiving device of the visitor or the content provider controls a receipt of any messages from a sending device to the receiving device. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for increasing relevance of a content provided to a visitor by a content provider comprising:
 a server computer;   at least one data storage communicably coupled to the server computer; and   the server computer receives at least a portion of a visitor token and at least a portion of a content provider token at the server computer, and the following are performed solely in response to receiving the visitor token and the content token without any request from the visitor: (a) determines whether a creation of a relevant content for the visitor is authorized based on the visitor token, the content provider token and one or more preferences stored in the at least one data storage, (b) updates the visitor token and the content provider token to include portion of the one or more preferences, one or more categories, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor when the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized, and (c) sends the updated visitor token and the updated content provider token.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the server computer:
 creates the visitor token for the visitor;   sends the visitor token to a visitor device;   receives the one or more preferences from the visitor device; and   stores the one or more preferences for the visitor in the data storage.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the one or more preferences comprise one or more general preferences, one or more payment preferences, one or more contact preferences, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the one or more payment preferences comprise paying the visitor for: use of an unfilled demand for the visitor, time spent on the website by the visitor, or clicking on an advertisement. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the one or more categories, the one or more ads or the one or more keywords for the visitor are provided by the server computer. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein server computer performs the determining, updating and sending steps in response to the visitor device accessing a website or a search engine. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the visitor token or the content provider token do not contain any personal information. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the visitor token and the content provider token comprise a cookie, a digital certificate or an electronic passport. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein:
 a regular content is created at the content provider device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was not authorized; and   the regular content is sent from the content provider device to a visitor device.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , wherein a warning is displayed on the visitor device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was not authorized. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 the relevant content is created based on the at least the portion of the one or more preferences, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor at the content provider device whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor was authorized; and   the relevant content is sent from the content provider device to a visitor device.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a customized seal is prepared for the content provider whenever the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized, and the customized seal is sent with the content from the content provider to a visitor device. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a privacy score is determined for the content provider and the privacy score is sent with the content from the content provider to a visitor device. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the privacy score is incorporated in a customized seal. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the privacy score is displayed on the visitor device as a number, a graphic or both along with the content from the content provider. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the privacy score is determined based on a content provider rating, how the content provider settles disputes, how the content provider uses visitor behavioral profiles, spyware, cookies, Web beacons, Web bugs, adware, spam, visitor personal information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the privacy score is determined by:
 setting the privacy score to a first value if the content provider uses the token, or to zero if the content provider does not use the token;   adding a second value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees not to store a behavioral profile without permission of the visitor;   adding a third value to the privacy score if the content provider does not use spyware, cookies, web beacons, web bugs, adware or spam without permission of the visitor;   adding a fourth value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees not to share, trade or sell personal information without permission of the visitor;   adding a fifth value to the privacy score if the content provider agrees to use best efforts to resolve disputes with the visitor;   multiplying the privacy score by a sixth value when there are a specified number of ratings for the content provider; and   adding an average rating for the website divided by a seventh value to the privacy score where there are not the specified number of ratings for the content provider.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 39 , wherein:
 the first value, the second value, the third value, the fourth value and the fifth value are all equal ten; and   the sixth value and the seventh value equal two.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a messaging system is provided between the visitor and the content provider. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the visitor remains private with the messaging system. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the portion of the one or more preferences, one or more keywords, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor does not reveal an identity of the visitor. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a receiving device of the visitor or the content provider controls a receipt of any messages from a sending device to the receiving device. 
     
     
         45 . A system for increasing relevance of a content provided to a visitor by a content provider comprising:
 a network;   one or more visitor devices communicably coupled to the network;   one or more content provider devices communicably coupled to the network;   server computer communicably coupled to the network;   at least one data storage communicably coupled to the server computer; and   the server computer receives at least a portion of a visitor token and at least a portion of a content provider token at the server computer, and the following are performed solely in response to receiving the visitor token and the content token without any request from the visitor: (a) determines whether a creation of a relevant content for the visitor is authorized based on the visitor token, the content provider token and one or more preferences stored in the at least one data storage, (b) updates the visitor token and the content provider token to include portion of the one or more preferences, one or more categories, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor when the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized, and (c) sends the updated visitor token and the updated content provider token.   
     
     
         46 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for increasing relevance of a content provided to a visitor by a content provider, the computer program comprising program instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 receive one or more preferences from a visitor device;   store the one or more preferences for the visitor in at least one data storage communicably coupled to the processor;   create a visitor token for the visitor;   send the visitor token to the visitor device;   receive at least a portion of the visitor token and at least a portion of a content provider token at the processor;   the processor performs the following solely in response to receiving the visitor token and the content provider token without any request from the visitor:
 determine whether a creation of a relevant content for the visitor is authorized based on the visitor token, the content provider token and the one or more preferences stored in the at least one data storage; 
 update the visitor token and the content provider token to include at least a portion of the one or more preferences, one or more ads or one or more keywords for the visitor when the creation of the relevant content for the visitor is authorized; and 
 send the updated visitor token and the updated content provider token.