WO2006053902A1 - Method of managing and distributing data between a plurality of users and a plurality of target sites - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of managing and distributing data between a plurality of users and a plurality of target sites from an interfacing platform, which enables a user to address requests to service provider sites. According to the invention, the parameters of the request can be set by the user such that he/she can select the medium to be used in order to return the data required. The service provider site can select and prepare the data according to the type of medium requested by the user, thereby optimising the quality of the data supplied.

Description

METHOD OF MANAGING AND DISPENSING INFORMATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF USERS AND A PLURALITY OF TARGET SITES

Introduction

The present invention relates to the field of information distribution systems, in particular a platform for connecting users (Example: buyers) with service providers (Example: sellers).

Description of the state of the art

The Internet is a great tool for connecting users with needs and service providers who can meet those needs. There are many systems for this, the simplest being the registration on the site of the provider to receive regular information.

Other thematic subscriptions are offered when registering in a forum or creating an e-mail address.

The information is transmitted in the form of e-mail to users at their personal address.

This solution, although satisfactory at first, has the disadvantage that the address of the recipient is known to the provider. It can be seen that mailing lists travel quickly and we find ourselves inundated with unsolicited mail. It is also possible to generate automatic e-mail addresses if the name of the provider is known; thus several millions of e-mail addresses are automatically created to feed the spammers databases.

Another disadvantage is the lack of knowledge of affiliated and recognized providers under the thematic category that we have chosen. Thus, the user has no control to verify that a site is referenced in the category he has chosen.

Brief description of the invention

The various problems mentioned above made it possible to elaborate the solution of the invention, namely a method of managing and distributing information. between at least one user and a plurality of target sites from an interfacing platform, this method comprising the following steps:

- receiving by the platform a profile of a user including his preferences and at least two media transmission information to said user,

assigning a unique user identifier to said user and storing the profile in a first database,

- defining a second database comprising for each target site (S) at least one Internet address and at least one information transmission means,

reception by the platform of a selection by the user of a target site (S) on the second database,

recording at least one request for information at said target site in a third database, this request comprising a definition of the type of information desired and at least one media for transmitting the information,

transmission to the target site, via the means for transmitting information specific to this target site, of the request from the user comprising at least one request identifier, the type of information desired and the information transmission medium,

receiving by the platform the desired information associated with the request identifier according to the chosen medium, said information being transmitted by the target site,

determination by the platform of the user on the basis of the unique request identifier and communication to said user of either a notification of the availability of the desired information or the direct sending of the desired information.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible to anonymously transmit requests to service providers and to parameterize each request individually. For a given site, information on new products will be requested, while on another site information on environmental policy will be requested. We can also determine if we want to debit for the purchase of an information or a product, or a paid service via either his mobile phone, his credit card or his personal account on the platform.

The platform acts as a filter because queries are formatted according to a specific schema. Conversely, the sites or providers will not be able to generate unsolicited messages by the user, because they do not know him. On the other hand, each message sent by the service provider is formatted according to the media chosen by the user; it is important to specify that the platform manages all types of media, namely visual media, audio media and written media, as well as all the combinations between them.

As a media, there is of course the electronic message. For example, you can specify the desired format HTML, XML or Plain Text.

Another medium may be the fax. The service provider formats the information for a fax machine and sends it to the platform. The latter sends the fax to the user's phone number

Another medium is the mobile phone or palm organizer, that is to say generally, a portable device connected to a wireless network. It can also be specified if you only want SMS text or MMS images or Wav files, etc. or sounds. With the advent of video, we can also specify this media, or the version or maximum speed supported. This can be achieved by a DVB-H portable video terminal. One can thus specify how one wishes to receive this information with the file format (s) (examples: ai; aiff; gif; txt; html; htm; image; jpg; jpeg; mpg, mpeg; move; pdf; tiff; uu; uue; wav; avi; etc) and according to the reception device or devices that will be chosen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood thanks to the detailed description below which refers to the appended drawings and which are given by way of non-limiting examples, namely: - Figure 1 illustrates the various elements involved in the invention.

- Figure 2 illustrates the format of a request to a provider. detailed description

According to the diagram of FIG. 1, the platform PF plays a central role and receives the requests from the MEM users.

A user is defined by a unique identifier URP which allows to reference it in the first database BD1. A user's data includes the different media that can be accessed and the details of those media. Take for example the mobile phone as the first medium. The details of this media consist of the TL number and the reception details (SMS, MMS, DVB-H etc.).

It is possible to link a user to means of payment such as credit card, debit account or even collected points account (loyalty). The TA field defines the conditional means of the request when the request causes a payment or generates a cost.

Another medium is the e-mail message consisting of the EM address and reception methods, such as HTML messages, XML, Plain Text, mpeg file.

Thus, it differentiates the data specific to a user such as his phone number or e-mail address and the modes supported by this media.

In parallel, the platform PF includes a second database BD2 which lists the different target sites S1, S2, Sn in the form of a URL address or bookmark for mobile phone formats or Internet on all digital media. A site is classified in a category according to the type of services or products it offers. A site may appear in more than one category if the products or services offered meet the criteria of these categories.

In addition, each site has a means of communication receiving requests in a predefined format. This means can be an e-mail address of the site administrator or ftp access to a specialized service of the site. A MEM user who has previously registered in the first database BD1 makes a selection that leads to a list of sites that meet his criteria.

According to a first variant, the user MEM determines a site S1 of his choice from the list of proposed sites. It determines a request to be made in relation to this site. This request consists of requesting information from the site through the platform PF.

When defining this request, it will be able to define in which form it wishes to receive the information. This is of great importance because the solutions known to date are content only to collect thematic information and to transmit it to interested users in the desired form.

This does not optimize the means of communication and very little choice is given to the user. There is often only a choice to specify the format of the e-mail message (HTML or Plan Text).

In addition, in known solutions, the choice is made during the profile definition and therefore for all information providers.

According to the invention, when a user enters a request, he can make the choice of the media or media for returning the information and its format. One can thus choose to receive the information in the form of MMS images on his mobile phone for a site offering trips. For a site offering technology products, it will be better to be informed of news by SMS short message, while for a mail order site, the email message will be the most appropriate. The user can also define multiple destination media for the same target site; he can say, for example, that he wants to receive information about a promotion of a car site on his mobile via an SMS or MMS and on his email too. In addition, the system is capable of handling interactive messages that will allow the user to give an orientation to the message received immediately. Example: the user receives an MMS for the promotion of a car brand; this MMS asks him if he wants to see the clip of the new cut yes or no; if so, would he like to see it on his mobile (choice a) or on his email (choice b); he chooses b; the system can handle several types of variants on the choice a or b by asking if it wants the link to download the clip or if it wants to receive the clip and with what file format (Mpeg, avi, etc.).

This information of the media providing information and the parameters of this media is very important also for the provider's site. Indeed, the quality of the information returned depends on this knowledge of the access media to the user.

Once the request processed by the platform and stored in the third database BD3, it receives a unique IDR IDR. According to a defined parameterized rhythm, for example once a day, all the requests are transmitted to the service provider site. A request includes an IDR request identifier, the type of information desired by the user TD, the communication medium MD and the PM parameters of this medium and incidentally user data such as its PRF preferences, eg its age A, its region, its language, .... The user is also able to determine the type of payment he wants to make, either by credit card, by mobile debit or from his account on the flat form that has been credited before. In the context of purchases, the platform also offers the user the possibility of giving his geographical position, and thus the platform can indicate to him which entity within a radius of n kilometers proposes the product or the service he wish to acquire and its price. In this case, he activates the GPRS location of his position either on his mobile phone or any other mobile device (eg PC, PDA, ...), either in his car connected to GPRS or a fixed set with his IP address for example. On the basis of the request, the provider site prepares a message for this user taking into account all the received parameters, in particular the communication medium.

The means of communication between the provider site and the platform is codified so that only a participating service provider site can communicate to the users through the platform. The message formed by the service provider site can be encrypted by one or more known platform keys. This channel can not be used to send unwanted mail to users. Thanks to the request identifier, the message arriving at the platform PF can be connected to the user. In the database BD3 are the data of the request accompanied by the identifier of the user. The database BD1 allows to know who this user is, as well as the additional data necessary to contact him, such as his e-mail address.

The message can therefore be sent to the end user according to the format he selected during the request.

According to a variant of the invention, the user does not select a target site, but a category that may include many sites. The operation is identical to previously, except that the platform will generate a query for all members of this category.

So a person wishing to inquire about 4x4 cars can do so with a request for all providers of such cars.

The structure illustrated in FIG. 1 comprising 3 databases is only given by way of example. Indeed, the realization can be done with a BD database containing all the information, or conversely this data can be distributed on any number of databases.

Figure 2 illustrates the format of such a request transmitted from the PF platform to the provider site.

This query consists of three parts. The first part includes the IDR identifier of the request and the PFID identifier of the platform. These two pieces of information will make it possible to return the information to those who are entitled to it.

The second part includes the data resulting from the selection of the user and the parameters that he will have introduced during this selection. This data includes the desired TD information type (s) and the media or MD information transmission media. Depending on the type of media MD for example in the form of a mobile phone film (DVB-H), it is possible to add a PM precision such as the maximum bitrate or the size of the desired image. In addition, a TA action can be associated with the request by the user, an action that allows a prior processing of the request. A TA action is to determine user-specific parameters relating to the request, i.e. the data is used to complete the request. This is the case during a purchase for example for the credit check of said user. In this case, the TA action is to compare the current credit of the user with the amount covered by the request.

The third part of the request includes the data taken from the profile of the PRF user, that is to say the first database BD1. Data concerning age A, sex S or interests I can also be placed in the request. The PF platform can add statistical data, such as the frequency of queries by this user, his / her areas of interest based on previously visited sites etc.

According to one variant of the invention, the identifier of the request IDR is the identifier of the user URP. This always guarantees the anonymity of the user, but allows for a provider site to retrace the history of previous requests and thus be able to determine the fidelity of a user, or even sharpen his offer.

The provider site can provide information prior to a request from the user. As a first step, it can simply specify the different query possibilities that are offered to users. This prevents the user from requesting a type of information that is not supported by this site (eg open workstations).

The provider site may transmit to the platform other information to advise the user in his choices. Indeed, depending on the type of information chosen, the media for transmitting this information may be of some importance. The provider site issues recommendations that are stored in the second database BD2 with the data relating to this site. These recommendations take the form of a proposal when a user has chosen the desired type of information, proposal of the best media for transmitting the information, the nearest geographical location to acquire the product, etc. The system makes it possible to simultaneously manage (multi-threaded) the type of source site and the type of media related thereto; it also allows you to set up the interactions during the transmission of the messages.

Example: The user is interested in the car category (n source sites) and he wants to receive video clips on his email but manage his account and the setting thereof via his mobile. The system will inform by SMS or MMS whenever a clip can be delivered on his email; but as soon as he connects when arriving at the office to his email he can also say that he wishes for a period no longer receive MMS messages to inform him but that emails. In fact, this means that the system allows the user to access permanently any digital medium to a central that allows him to manage the source site, the type of information desired, the choice of media and appropriate interactions. Such a system is open because it does not take into account formats but attributes and manages the simplest attribute of everyone involved in the system; without reformatting the information unless necessary or requested.

The system perfectly integrates the notion of dynamic information management; it manages the plurality of solutions that are proposed to it; scenarios can even be predicted by integrating artificial intelligences algorithms that will allow the system to build paths based on the interaction of each user and / or to base all user and media behavior and possible interactions for each user and this according to his profile, history and his behavior with the system. It should be noted that the dissemination of information can be done simultaneously on several media. Indeed, during the information request, the user can communicate more than one media on which he wishes to receive information. The provider site will send several content according to the selected media.

When this information is received by the platform, the platform sends a notification according to a predefined media in order to allow the care user to determine whether a video clip is to be sent on his mobile phone or on his e-mail address. email. This function makes it possible to redirect information on a different medium than the one selected during the request.

According to one variant of the invention, the notification is accompanied by the sending of the information or, more simply, directly forms part of the information, the notification being the part that announces the content of the message.

In addition, the system is able to encode or decode the content received by a provider site in different media formats and address them simultaneously to one or more sources. Example: the system receives a video clip in mpeg format; it analyzes the content of the video by coding it by images, by sound file and text file so it will be able to send the end users who wish it the message either in video format, images format, audio format or choice text; indeed today there are enough solutions allowing the system to automatically retranscribe the information according to the original format. Just as it will be possible from a text message to produce a sound file or to create a video file.

Similarly, a video clip transmitted by a provider site may be reworked according to the reception media of the user. The bandwidth will be modified to conform to the receiving characteristics of the user. This adaptation can be done downwards (lowering the resolution, for example to reduce the bandwidth) or on the contrary upward (extrapolation of the missing bits to obtain a higher resolution than that of the transmitted content).

The present invention is not limited to a method but also to a system arranged to perform the various steps of the method. For this purpose, it includes:

means for receiving information defining a profile (PRF) of user and means for storing this profile in a first database (BD1), this user being identified by a user identifier (URP),

a second database (BD2) comprising for each target site (S) at least one Internet address and at least one information transmission means, means for receiving a request by a user (MEM), this request comprising the indication of a target site (S), a user identifier (URP), a definition of the desired type of information (TD) and at least one media (MD) for transmitting the information, - means for recording this request in a third database (BD3) and means for generating a request identifier (IRP),

means for transmitting via the information transmission means specific to said target site at least a part of said request comprising at least the request identifier (IDR), the desired information type (TD) and the media of the request; information transmission (MD),

means for receiving desired information associated with the request identifier (IDR) according to the chosen medium, said information being transmitted by the target site,

means for determining the user concerned on the basis of the unique request identifier (IDR) and means for communicating to said user a notification of the availability of the desired information.

Claims

A method of managing and distributing information between at least one user and a plurality of target sites from an interface platform, the method comprising the steps of: - receiving by the platform of a profile (PRF) of a user including his preferences and at least two media for transmitting information to said user, assigning a user unique identifier (URP) to the user and storing the profile in a first database (BD1), defining a second database (BD2) comprising for each target site (S) at least one Internet address and at least one information transmission means, reception by the platform of a selection by the user (MEM) of a target site (S) on the second database (BD2), recording at least one information request to said target site in a third database (BD3), this request comprising a definition of the desired type of information (TD) and at least one media (MD) for transmitting the information , transmission to the target site (S), via the information transmission means specific to this target site, of the request of the user comprising at least one request identifier (IDR), the type of information desired (TD) and the information transmitting medium (MD), receiving by the platform the desired information associated with the request identifier (IDR) according to the chosen medium, said information being transmitted by the target site, determination by the platform of the user on the basis of the unique request identifier (IDR) and communication to said user of a notification of the availability of the desired information. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the unique user identifier (URP) is used as the request identifier (IDR). 3. Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the selection of the media (MD) is accompanied by a selection of parameters (PM) specific to this medium. 4. Method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the request comprises information defining an action (TA) to be performed prior to sending said request. 5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the notification is accompanied by the sending of the desired information on the information transmission medium (s). 6. Method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that upon receipt by the user of the notification of the availability of information, this method consists in choosing by the user the final media for receiving said information. 7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step of transforming the information received from the provider site to adapt to the characteristics of the media of the user. A method of managing and distributing information between at least one user and a plurality of target sites from an interface platform, the method comprising the steps of: - receiving by the platform of a profile (PRF) of a user including his preferences and at least two media for transmitting information to said user, assigning a user unique identifier (URP) to the user and storing the profile in a first database (BD1), defining a second database (BD2) comprising for each target (S) an Internet address and at least one transmission means, determination in the second database (BD2) of a category to which at least one target site belongs, recording a request for information related to this category in a third database (BD3), this request including a definition of desired type of information (TD) and at least one media (MD) for transmitting the information, transmission to the target sites (S) members of this category, via the means of transmitting information specific to each target site, of the request of the user comprising at least one request identifier (IDR), the type of information (TD) and the information transmission media (MD), receiving by the platform the desired information associated with the request identifier (IDR) according to the chosen medium, said information being transmitted by the target site, - determination by the platform of the user on the basis of the unique identifier of request and communication of a notification of the availability of the desired information. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the unique user identifier (URP) is used as the request identifier (IDR). 10. Method according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the selection of the media (MD) is accompanied by a selection of parameters (PM) specific to this medium. 11. Method according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the request comprises information defining an action (TA) to be performed prior to sending said request. 12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the notification is accompanied by the sending of the desired information on the media or information transmission. 13. Method according to claims 8 to 11, characterized in that upon receipt by the user of the notification of the availability of information, this method consists in choosing the final media for receiving said information. 14. Method according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a step of transforming the information received from the provider site to adapt to the characteristics of the media of the user.