Digital Reg of Texas, LLC v. Adobe Systems Incorporated et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against AVG Technologies USA, Inc., Adobe Systems Incorporated, Electronic Arts, Inc., Symantec Corporation, UbiSoft Entertainment, Inc., Valve Corporation, Zynga Game Network Inc., Zynga, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3078865.), filed by Digital Reg of Texas, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Civil Cover Sheet)(Albritton, Eric)

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US007127 515B2

United States Patent

(10)

Patterson

(12)

(45)

(54)

DELIVERING ELECTRONIC CONTENT

(75)

Inventor:

(73)

Assignee: DRM Technologies, LLC, Tucson, AZ
(US)

( *)

Notice:

5,023,907
5,033,084
5,057,935
5,191,611
5,204,897
5,319,705
5,337,357
5,615,264
5,629,980
5,671,276
5,671,279
5,677,953
5,703,279
5,703,951
5,708,709
5,708,780
5,715,314
5,724,424
5,778,173

Patrick E. Patterson, Arlington, VA
(US)

This patent issued on a continued prosecution application filed under 37 CFR
1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
patent tenn provisions of 35 U.S.c. 154
(a)(2).
Subject to any disclaimer, the tenn of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days.

US 7,127,515 B2

Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

*Oct. 24, 2006

6/1991 Johnson et al.
7/1991 Beecher ......................... 380/4
10/1991 Williams
311993 Lang ........................... 380125
4/1993 Wyman
6/1994 Halter et al.
8/1994 Chou et al. .................... 380/4
3/1997 Kazmierczak et aI .......... 380/4
5/1997 Stefik et aI.
9/1997 Eyer et al. ..................... 380/4
9/1997 Elgamal ...................... 380123
1011997 Dolphin
12/1997 Igura et al.
12/1997 Dolphin
111998 Rose ............................. 380/4
111998 Levergood et aI ..... 395/200.12
2/1998 Payne et al. .................. 380124
3/1998 Gifford ........................ 380124
7/1998 Apte ..................... 3951187.01

This patent is subject to a tenninal disclaimer.

(Continued)
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

(21)

Appl. No.: 091231,714

(22)

Filed:

(65)

(52)
(58)

WO 96/27155

911996

(Continued)

Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0028608 Al
(51)

WO

Jan. 15, 1999

Feb. 6,2003

Int. Cl.
G06F 15116
(2006.01)
U.S. Cl. ....................................... 7091229; 709/206
Field of Classification Search ... ... ... ....... 709/231,
709/233,202,235,232,238,203,207

OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Netdox Brochure, "Certified Verified Anytime" (12 pages).

(Continued)
Primary Examiner-Paul H. Kang
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGuireWoods LLP
(57)

ABSTRACT

See application file for complete search history.
(56)

References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,471,163
4,528,643
4,558,176
4,658,093
4,683,553
4,796,220
4,999,806

A
A
A
A
A
A
A

911984
711985
1211985
411987
711987
111989
311991

Donald et al. ........... 178/22.08
Freeny, Jr................... 364/900
Arnold et al. ........... 178/22.08
Hellman .. ..... ... ... ... ...... 380125
Mollier .......................... 380/4
Wolfe ......................... 364/900
Chernow et al. ........... 364/900

Delivering electronic content includes providing instructions that cause a computer to collect information including
an e-mail address and transmitting the collected infonnation
to a receiving computer. The computer that receives the
transmitted infonnation selects electronic content based on
the received infonnation and e-mails the selected electronic
content to the e-mail address included in the received
information.
33 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets

124
132

134

Distribution Software

10

Content

136_H-tS===~
130

138
104

1380

138n

US 7,127,515 B2
Page 2

u.s. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,778,367
5,784,460
5,790,664
5,790,790
5,794,207
5,796,952
5,889,943
5,892,825
5,905,860
5,958,005
5,958,051
5,963,915
6,014,688
6,021,491
6,035,329
6,055,570
6,067,526
6,073,256
6,075,862
6,098,056
6,134,592
6,144,942
6,178,442
6,192,396
6,205,485
6,253,193
6,256,672
6,266,692
6,288,738
6,289,461
6,304,897
6,314,454
6,332,156
6,389,541
6,484,156
6,684,248
6,751,670

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl
Bl

*

*
*

*
*
*

*
*

*

711998
711998
811998
811998
811998
811998
311999
411999
511999
911999
911999
1011999
112000
212000
3/2000
4/2000
5/2000
6/2000
6/2000
8/2000
10/2000
1112000
112001
2/2001
3/2001
6/2001
7/2001
7/2001
9/2001
9/2001
1012001
1112001
1212001
512002
1112002
112004
6/2004

Westinger, Jr. et al.
380/4
Blumenthal et al.
Coleyet aI.
Smith et al.
Walker et al. ................ 705/23
Davis et al. ........... 395/200.54
Ji et al.
Mages et al.
Olsen et al.
Thorne et al.
Renaud et al.
Kirsch ........................ 7091203
Venkatraman et al.
Renaud
Mages et al.
Nielsen ...................... 7091233
Powell ........................ 705/14
Sesma
Yoshida et al.
Rusnak et al.
Montulli ..................... 7091229
Ruckdashel .................... 705/9
Yamazaki
Kohler
Kikinis ....................... 709/231
Ginter et al.
Redpath
Greenstein
Dureau et al. ................. 348/6
Dixon
Venkatraman et al. ...... 7091206
Wang et al.
Cho et aI.
Patterson
Gupta et aI ................. 7091203
Janacek et aI.
Patterson

2005/0021633 Al

112005 Venkatraman et aI.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
WO
WO

WO 98/30964
WO 98/58306

7/1998
12/1998

OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Netdox Brochure 1997-Doxit Service Overview (5 pages).
Tumbleweed Software, "POSTA"; http://www.posta.comlpostai
posta_overview.htrn, (3 pages).
InterTrust Technology "MetaTrust Overview"; http:www.intertrust.
comltechnology/tech.htrnl (8 pages).
InterTrust Technologies Corporation: Overview: InterTrust Powers
The New Digital Economy, A Piece of the Tick-Version 2.0, Oct.
9, 1998 (38 pages).
Sibert et aI., DigiBox: A Self-Protecting Container for Information
Commerce, Proceedings of the First USENIX Workshop on Electronic Commerce, New York, New York, Jul. 1995 (14 pages).
Vbox White Paper, http://www.previewsystems.comlproducts/
vbox/whitepaper/white_paper.htrnl, (13 pages).
Overview of Release Software's Services (3 pages).
Setting Up a Web Store: A White Paper for Software Resellers; 1997
Release Software Corp.; pp. 1-17 http://www.releasesoftware.coml
whitep/resellerwhitepaper.rtf.
Setting Up a Web Store: A White Paper for Software Developers and
Publishers; 1997 Release Software Corp.; pp. 1-18; http://www.
releasesoftware.comlwhitep/isvwhitepaper.rtf.
Stuffit Deluxe 5.0, Award-winning, industry compression by Aladdin Systems, Sep. 1998.
Stuffit Deluxe 5.0: The Complete Compression Solution; modified
Jan. 7, 1999 pp. 1-3 http://www.Aladdinsys.comideluxe/benefits.
htrnl.
WinZip Home Pape: Do you have Questions about WinZip? Check
our FAQ Page; downloaded Apr. 26,1999 http://www.winzip.coml.
InterTrust Technologies: http://www.intertrust.comlmain/technology/rs_howitworks.htrnl (8 pages).

* cited by examiner

u.s. Patent

Oct. 24, 2006

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 1 of 14

100

r

o Netscape - [Welcome to Boston.com]

GlClIEl

File Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directory Window Help

[;]~~ ~~~[!][[][gJ
Bad:

Forward

Reload

Home

Images

Print

Open

Find

Stop

~~

~ location: Ihttp://www.baston.com/
I What's New? II What's Cool? II Destinations
23, Partly cloudy
(~rl

Boston,com wa~ last upduted at
1;46 PM

II Net Search II

People II Software

A!!~lT~o~~~!oN

i~@@1liJil

I

I

,,,eo,,,,,,,
~~~

Welcome home! a

A

1'-102

CLICK HERE FOR

PUll DOWN FOR OTI-IER OPTIONS ~

&

ONLINE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1999

SRARCH:
@ Roston.com

GEORGIA SHOOTING

o Keyword
o w,blLYCosl

!?@
//----:J

I
Careers
Yellow Pase~

§]

Cla5sifieds
Rusiness

I

/(/;/j

Technology
Autos
Real Estate
Going Out/Arts

~ichelc
b~

Crews tri[lhl) i~ comfurt~d
b.:r molncr in ClUToilon.

IDocument: Done
~I Q Lotuscc:Mail- [Me··lIOSOFTSOL

PRESIDENT ON TRIAL:

Mark~t

Senators agree on
format for trial

DOW

Republicans and Dem<X:r3LS

NASDAQ

reached a general agreement
today covering ground rules for
President Clinton's impeachment
trial. Lawmakers on both sides
said it included Ihe posihility
of testllllony by witnesses. The
details hud nol yet been dmfted.
senators said, and they
cautioned that no final accord
was sealed.

Watch
9593.12 (+55.36)
2343,7 (+17.61)

:it()('k Yuot('E: Locl,1 Index(,§

Sports
BRE ...IJ{I~G

~E\\,S

Roport. Holmgren hired by

SCllhll",k"

i .story I
Thompson n''''lh'lll'i II;;

I

@~

116J Z:\PUBUC\DESK\···II 0

Netscape - [We ... I

FICJ "

I~

I a1

.

1:50 PM I

u.s. Patent

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 2 of 14

Oct. 24, 2006

o Netscape - [Welcome to Boston.com]

~~

Rle Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directoly Window Help

[;]G;]~ ~~~[!][[JrnJ
Forward

Bad<

Reload

Horne

I

Images

Print

Open

Ftnd

:

Stop

@]I~

Location: http://www.trappfamily.com!
I What's New? II Whafs Cool?

d H E LODGE

~ACTIVITIES

II

Destinations II Net Search I ~ I Software I

.

o/1i~ 1~ L~~t
A MOUNTAIN RESORT ,:-/ TIlE EUROPEAN TRADITION
BY TilE FAMilY TllAT INSPIRED

"TIIESOUNDOI~

Mt:SIC"

~'''m'' ~

_
e:J'0UDAY
~
GIFT IDEAS ~ ~

*

SNOW
REPORT

---.....:

, . A PERSONAL
WELCOME

ISPECIAL OFFERS'I
~~ IDocument: Done

~

-=-----=

IQ Lotus ceMail - (Me··lIO SOFTSOL

r"

IIEsi Z:\PU8UC\DESK\... 110 Netscape - (Tra ...

FICZ

I
I

I

I~

a'l
1:49 PM I

u.s. Patent

Oct. 24, 2006

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 3 of 14

ONetscape - [AGN Finandal Newsletter - AGN capital Management Inc.]
File Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directnry Window Help

I¢.ll-¢l~ ~~f3flffil~ n5I
~~~~~~~~~

Ell

LOGltion:1 http://

I What's Newl II

What's Cool?

II

Handbook

~MAIr~r~ ._____1 12
@dress

& WIN
FReE GOLF

II

IINet Directory II

Net Search

!
L

Software

I

106

08~11
0

'-1----"------,1

Subm~

AGN

104

/

AGN Capital Managemenllnc
2000 Island Blvd. #1503
Williams Island. Miami Fla, 33160
Phone. [phone] Fax: 305-46B-05n

e-mail: [e-mail]

Financial Newsletter
May 1998

A Monthly Review

FICJ

u.s. Patent

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 4 of 14

Oct. 24, 2006

o Netscape - [AGN Flnaneal Newsletter - AGN Capital Management Inc.)
Rle Edit View Go

Bookmarks Options Directoly Window Help

~I-¢l~ ffil~f!flf8l~ Ic5l
~~~~~~~~~

~L~;ti='o~n:~lh=~~:~~~~~~==~==~~==~~~==~~~____________________~lv~1I11 ~
I Whars New? II What's Cool?

Enter

YOU'~"-

EMAIL
@dress
&

-,

II

Handbook

II Net Search II Net Directory II Software

,d

11 0

,--112

10B

WIN)

0

L.::

I

.---3

11 106
I~

Netscape - [Your email i...

bIQ! IE!

FREE GOLf
1 [e-mail]
1 Su Thank y~'j for Y·Jur interest in
lh=====;:=~~~~~~~~~1 S:Jia Great Golf Givea·..ay'
~our email

AGN

:3

the

04

114
r-----..;

Con its w;y!

t:ntinc.
~========~W~i=llIa=ms~ls=,a=nd~.M~'=~iF~la,~~~
Phone: [phone] Fax: 305-468..Qsn

[e-mail]

Financial Newsletter
May 1998

A Monthly Review

@~ IDocument: Done

If

~ 1QLotus cc:Mail • [IICl Z:\PUBUC\D ...

II I

IIE:lC:\work

IIE:lC:\work\desk.. ·IOVIAexpress Un ..

FIC4

11D Netscape . [... II fgJ ~

I

9~
402PM 1

u.s. Patent

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 5 of 14

Oct. 24, 2006

116

r
o Lotus cc:Mail - [Message - Great Golf Giveaway Information!)

QiSllEl
GliSllEl

Edit Text Message Alachements Rules Tools Window Help

13 File

~II~I~GJ~I J~I~II~I~I
IAddress...

II TO Ell I

I

o Receipt

TO: [e-mail] at Internet

[>[6 Text item (0 bytes)
~ attach. 01/11/99 2:51p (39894

181 Log

~20

1/12/99
6:50 PM

INormal

~I

I Subject: II Great Golf Giveaway Information!
0

20

10

I

Xl

SO

<0

The inforrr.ation you requested is included in the attached fLe

Inbox 0/23

~

I

Folders: 1/435

IQ Lotus cc:Maii - [Mess... II 0 SOFTSOl

I

B80rd Notify Offll3

I

70

60

I

~

~

'

1/12{99 6:51 PM

I~

..

IIJD

6:51 PM

I

u.s. Patent

Oct. 24, 2006

Sheet 6 of 14

US 7,127,515 B2

104
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>AGN Financial Newsletter· AGN Capital Management Inc.<fIlTLE>

)

<script>function writeBox(checkvalue)
{
var quote=document.form I.box. value I?2
1?4
var quote2:"http://www. viaexpress.comlscriptslsa vemail.cgi?site=www. bannersite .com&file=dave .exe&email="+quo~}
lk =window.open( . email.htm".nemail"~
~~
120
1 14
"toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,scrolbars=no,
106
menubar=no,resizable=no, width=200,hei~lt= I00");
document.forml.boxvalue="11

~

'----ti4c

<!script>
<!HEAD>
<BODY BACKGROUND="bg.gif' bgcolor="#PFFFFF" text=#OOOOOO" link="OOOOCC" vlink="#OOOOCC" alink=I#FFOOOO">
<CENTER>
<table cellspacing+2cellpadding=5 border=4>
<tr>
<td width= IOO%align=center bgcolor=FFFFFF>
<form name="forml">
<IMG SRC="goltban.gif' ALT="Enter your Email address here to WTW' BORDER=O> ____ 1 12
<input type=text value="" name=box" size=lS"> - - - - 1 0 8
<input type=button value="Submit" onClick="writeBoxO" height=2> - - , 10
<ltd>
</tf>

<!form>

<!center>
<!table>
<BR BR>
<table border=O cellpadding=O cellspacing=O width="600">
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;<ftd>
<td colspan=2 align=right valign=top>
<img sfc="newslett.gif' alt=AGN Financial Newsletter."width=470 height=83 bOfder=O br>
<b font sixe=+2>May 1998</font ;b p>
<ltd>
<Itr>

u.s. Patent

Oct. 24, 2006

Sheet 7 of 14

US 7,127,515 B2

<tr>
<td valign="top">
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlindex.html.. img src="bome.gif' alt="Back to home page." width= 120 height=54
border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlabout.html.. img src="about.gif' alt="About AGN."width= 120 height=54 border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlassetmanagement.html . img src="asseLgif' alt="Asset management." width=120 height=54
border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlcontactus.html . imgsrc=. contact.gif.atl=•. Contact infonnation." width=120 height=54
border=O fa br>
<a href;.hnpJlwww.agnfin.comlcntena.html.. img src="cntena.gif'alt=!nvestment critena."width=120 height=54
border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.com/howto.html.. img src="howt();gif'atl=" About the A financial newsletter." width= 120
GN
height=54 border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlsubscnbe.html'' img src="subscnbe.giratl="Subscribe to the newsletter." width=120 height=54
border=O ia br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comldisclaimer.html..imgsrc=. disclosu.gif.atl= . Disclosure &disclaimer." width=120 beight=54
border=O la br>
<a href=http://www.agnfin.comlen_espano!.htmllimgsrc="en_espan.. ~r.atl= . En Espano!." width=120 height=54
border=O ,a br>
<img src="dot.gif'width+ 135 height= 1border=O hspace=O vspace=O alt="*" br>
<ltd>
<ltd>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
<ltd>
<td valign="top">

e
•

Web Client
Browser
Software

~1

7Jl
•

26

___1

28
~

134 ~
Web Page

r-

132

Distribution Software

-::::

~

~1 04

ID

136

~

Content

I
I

--~-------------I

Web Server
Web Page

~

130

~, 04

I

138

-

"'/Dl

--

e
•

7Jl
•

Web Client
Browser
Software
Web Page

124

126
128

?????
.. ...

132

104
Distribution Software

136_-4--

10

Content
I

--~-------------I

Web Server

130
138-~

Web Page

104
1380

FIe 713

138n

e
•

7Jl
•

Web Client
Browser
Software

~

~

124

~

~

~

128

132

134

Distribution Software

=
~

0
(')

:-+-

...

N
~

1380

N
0
0
0\

136

Content

10
I

--~-------------,

Web Server

130

=....
....
....
.....

0
0

138

Web Page

rFJ
('D
('D

104

FIe 7C

...

e
•

138

FIG.7D

7Jl
•

e

722

700
N

SUCCESSFUL
TRANSMISSION?

DENY
ACCESS

725

705
NOTIFICATION
INFOMATION
SUCCESS FULLY
TRANSMITTED?

•
7Jl
•

STORE INDICATOR OF
SUCCESSFUL TRANSMISSION

730
PROMPT FOR PASSWORD /

750

N
/'

710

COLLECT NOTIFICATION
INFORMATION

CORRECT
PASSWORD
ENTERED?

,>-_N---.j

TRANSMIT
NOTIFICATION
INFORMATION

740

r-------~----~/'~

715
ATTEMPT TO TRANSMIT
NOTIFICATION INFORMATION

GRANT ACCESS TO
ELECTRONIC CONTENT

r-----~------~

TRANSMIT NOTIFICATION

FIGURE 7E

755
DENY
ACCESS

745

e
•

7Jl
•

134

/
Receive
Request

Determine Electronic
Content Corresponding
to ID

L.--------

40

'

~

142
rFJ

=....
....
....

('D
('D

.....

(.H

0

Transmit Determined ~1 44
Electronic Content

.j;o.

u.s. Patent

Oct. 24, 2006

US 7,127,515 B2

Sheet 14 of 14

---148
Network

=
I
r---'

160

151

Memory

152 ______

f-----,,..-----i

Processor

164b

~

162___ -

Operating System

134_____ 11

136 ___ H-\

Distribution Software
Electronic Content

~-~,------------~

(
164a

US 7,127,515 B2
1

2

DELIVERING ELECTRONIC CONTENT

mitted information at the second computer by using the
transmitted information to select electronic content and
e-mailing the selected electronic content to the transmitted
e-mail address.
In general, in another aspect, a method of delivering
electronic content includes storing electronic content corresponding to different sets of instructions, receiving a request
for electronic content produced by one of the sets of instructions, the request including an e-mail address, and

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to delivering electronic content.
BACKGROUND
The Internet offers a tremendous amount of information
on a wide range of subjects. Many businesses and organizations offer world-wide-web sites that promote products,
offer technical assistance, and provide other useful information. Search engines (e.g., Yahoo™) typically can provide
lengthy lists of sites related to any topic of interest. Users
typically do not want to take the time to investigate more
than a handful of these sites. As a result, the vast number of
web-sites makes it difficult for web-site providers to lure
Internet users to their respective sites.
Since the inception of the web, web-pages have featured
links to other sites. A link can appear as underlined text (e.g.,
"please visit deskgate"), as a picture, or as a sequence of
images. Each link has an associated URL (universal resource
locator) that identifies a web-site. For example, the URL
associated with the deskgate link is http://www.deskgate.com. A link can be programmed to transport a user to a
link's associated URL when a user selects the link (e.g., by
clicking a mouse button).
To attract users to a site, some businesses rent space on
other web-pages. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a
newspaper web-page 100 includes a variety oflinks to other
sites. As shown, the web-page includes a banner 102 (i.e., a
picture link in the shape of a bauner) linked to a resort's
web-site. By selecting the link, the user is transported to the
resort's web-page as shown in FIG. 2.

10

15

20

25

30

35

SUMMARY
In general, in one aspect, a method of delivering electronic content includes providing instructions that cause a
first computer to collect information including an e-mail
address, and transmitting the collected information to a
second computer. The second computer processes the transmitted information by selecting electronic content for transmission to the e-mail address and e-mailing the selected
electronic content.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following.
The instructions can be web-page instructions such as
HTML. The instructions can be of a form. The instructions
can collect the information by querying the computer or by
receiving user input. The information can include demographic information and/or system information.
The processing can be done by a program such as a script
(e.g., a CGI script). A URL (universal resource locator)
displayed at a browser using the instructions may not be
altered by the transmitting of the collected information. The
processing can select electronic content based on the transmitted information. The electronic content can include text,
graphics, audio, video and/or executable instructions.
The information transmitted can include identification of
the instructions that transmitted the information and/or identification of a site that transmitted the information.
In general, in another aspect, a method of delivering
electronic content includes providing web-page form
instructions that cause a first computer to interactively
collect an e-mail address from a user and transmit information including the collected address information to a second
computer. The method further includes processing the trans-

40

45

selecting electronic content from the stored electronic content based on the received request. The selected electronic
content is transmitted to the e-mail address included in the
request.
In general, in another aspect, a computer-implemented
method of providing access to electronic content includes
displaying in a browser a web-page that includes a link
corresponding to electronic content and in response to a
user's selection of the link, collecting information without
modifYing the web-page displayed in the browser. The
collected information is transmitted to a remote server, and
electronic content from the remote server is sent to the
e-mail address based on the collected information.
In general, in another aspect, a computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, includes instructions
for causing a first computer's processor to receive information collected by instructions at a second computer, and
based on the received information, select electronic content
and transmit the electronic content to an e-mail address
included in the received information.
Advantages may include one or more of the following. By
linking an e-mail based electronic content delivery system to
a web-page, businesses can enjoy the benefits of reaching
"web-surfers" without the cost and/or computer resources
needed to maintain a web-site. Linking in this mauner also
provides Internet users with the ability to get more information about a topic without leaving a web-page and
without waiting for graphics and other information to be
transmitted to their browser. A business providing electronic
content can not only can receive demographic data describing interested users, but also can determine which webpages are most effective in producing requests for information.
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent
in view of the following description, including the figures,
and the claims.
DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

50

55

60

65

FIG. 1 is a screenshot of web-page that includes a banner.
FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a web-page reached via the
banner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a web-page that includes a link.
FIG. 4 is a content is a screenshot of a submission
confirmation window.
FIG. 5 is a screenshot of an e-mail message including
electronic content.
FIG. 6 is a listing of web-page instructions.
FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams illustrating delivery of electronic content.
FIG. 7D is a block diagram of an embodiment of electronic content, according to principles of the invention.
FIG. 7E is a flow diagram showing steps of processing
notification instructions, according to principles of the
invention.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of distribution software.
FIG. 9 is a diagram of a computer.

US 7,127,515 B2

3

4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

web-server and specifY values for different parameters
124a-124c. The remote server program processes the
parameters to select electronic content to deliver to a specified e-mail address 108. As shown, the program is a CGI
(Common Gateway Interface) script, however, programs
written in other progrannning languages can also process the
collected information (e.g., a Perl script or a Java or C++
program).
As shown, the instructions 106 transmit the e-mail
address 124c interactively collected from a user and an
identification of the electronic content 124b to deliver to the
e-mail address specified 124c. Instead of hard-coding the
content to deliver 124b, the instructions 120 can transmit an
I.D. that identifies electronic content to transmit. For
example, different I.D.s can be assigned to different sets of
instructions 120. That is, an I.D. for the golf promotion fonn
may be "001" while the I.D. for a car promotion fonn may
be "002". Though the same instructions 120 can be incorporated into different web-pages, the remote server can use
the I.D. to select the electronic content to transmit (e.g.,
information on the golf or car promotion). By using an I.D.
instead of hard-coding a reference to electronic content,
electronic content transmitted to a user can be easily altered.
The instructions 106 can be copied 106 into different
web-pages to reach more web users. To identifY the site that
produced a request for electronic content, the instructions
106 can transmit a site identification token 124a of the site
transmitting the infonnation. This infonnation can be hardcoded (as shown) or dynamically detennined by interacting
with a browser's API (Application Programming Interface).
By transmitting the site token 124a, the remote web-server
can identifY which web-pages produced the most number of
requests for content.
The instructions 106 can be configured to interactively
collect a wide variety of information from a user in addition
to an e-mail address. Such infonnation can include demographic information (e.g., name, address, and age) or information describing a user's interests. The electronic content
transmitted by the remote server can be selected based on
this infonnation.
Additionally, the instructions 106 can dynamically access
a body of information stored, for example, on the user's
computer, and then transmit that infonnation to the remote
web-server. For example, the instructions can access a
Windows™ registry on the user's computer to collect user
and system information relating to the computer executing
the instructions.
Though the instructions 106 shown produce a form, the
instructions 106 that collect an e-mail message by querying
a user's computer (e.g., by accessing the Windows™ registry) could instead present a simple picture or text (e.g.,
"Click here for e-mail information on golf'). When a user
clicks on the picture or text, the instructions 106 dynamically collect the user's e-mail address and other infonnation
from the system and transmit the collected infonnation to
the remote server without requiring any data entry by the
user.
Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, a remote web-server 132
delivers electronic content 138 based on a user's interaction
with a web-page 104. As shown in FIG. 7A, a user's
computer 126 runs browser software 128. When the user
navigates (e.g, by following a link or entering a URL) to a
web-site, the web server 130 for that web-site transmits
web-page instructions 104 to the user's computer 126. The
user's browser 126 processes the web-page instructions 104
for display (as shown in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 3, a web-page 104 viewed by a network
browser (e.g., Netscape™ Navigator) uses text and graphics
to present infonnation to a user. As shown, the text and
graphics include infonnation related to a business enterprise.
The web-page 104 also includes a form 106 that accepts user
input. As shown, the fonn 106 includes a text entry control
108, and a submit button 110. The form 106 also provides a
graphic image 112 designed to attract attention. As shown,
the form assumes the shape traditionally associated with
banner-links (e.g., a bordered rectangle) but other shapes or
formats could be used. The banner shape can communicate
to a user that the form 106 is associated with a web-site other
than the site the user is currently visiting. The form 106 can
include other user input controls (not shown), for example,
checkboxes that identify different areas of interest (e.g.,
"send me infonnation on golf clubs" and "send me information on golf vacations").
Unlike a conventional banner-link, interaction with the
form 106 does not transport the user to a different web-site.
Instead, submitting entered infonnation into the form (e.g.,
by typing infonnation into the text box and then clicking the
submit button 110) transmits the information entered by the
user to a remote web-server without changing the current
URL being displayed by the browser. The remote webserver uses the transmitted infonnation to select and deliver
electronic content (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video, and
executable instructions) via email. Co-pending U.S. Pat. No.
6,751,670, titled "Tracking Electronic Content", and filed
Nov. 24, 1998, describes an electronic content delivery
system, and is incorporated by reference.
Referring to FIG. 4, as shown, a user has entered an
network e-mail address into the text field 108 and clicked the
submit button 110. This action initiates transmission of the
entered information to the remote web-server. After submitting the infonnation, a window 114 appears informing a user
that the information has been transmitted. The feedback
provided by the window 114 prevents users from making
repeated submissions in the mistaken belief their request
failed.
FIG. 5 shows the interface for an e-mail client. After the
remote web-server has received the transmitted infonnation,
it selects the appropriate electronic content and e-mails the
selected electronic content to the specified e-mail address.
The requestor then can view or otherwise access the delivered content using the e-mail client. As shown, the electronic
content may be transmitted as an e-mail attachment 120. By
delivering electronic content via e-mail, users can request
information without interrupting their use of a currently
displayed web-page 104 and without waiting for a linked
site's web-page to load. Additionally, a business can deliver
the content to an Internet user without the cost and expense
of maintaining a web-site or reserving an Internet address.
Referring to FIG. 6, a network browser constructs a
web-page's appearance from web-page instructions 104.
These instructions 104 can be expressed in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), Java, or other fonnats. When a user
visits a web-page, the instructions 104 for the page are
transmitted to the user's computer for processing by the
user's browser. The instructions 104 describe the appearance
and behavior of web-page elements. For example, the
instructions describe the fonn 106, the graphic image 112,
the text control 108, and submit button 110. The instructions
104 include instructions 120 for transmitting collected informati on to the remote web-server for processing. As shown,
the instructions 106 identifY a program 122 at a remote

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

US 7,127,515 B2

5

6

Referring to FIG. 7B, the web-page 104 includes instruc725, an indicator may be stored indicating successful transtions 106 for collecting and transmitting information to the
mission. At step 730, a prompt for a password may occur. At
remote server 132. When a user submits a request for
step 735, a check may be make whether a correct password
electronic content (e.g., clicking the submit button 110), the
was entered. If the password was not correctly entered then,
information 124 collected from a user and/or system is
at step 750, an attempt to transmit notification infonnation
transmitted to the remote web-server 132. As described
may occur. At step 755, access to electronic content may be
above, the infonnation 124 includes an e-mail address and
denied. If, however, a correct password was entered, or, if
can include other infonnation such as an I.D. and/or the
not prompted for, then at step 740, access may be granted to
address of the site 126 producing the request 124.
the electronic content (e.g., decompress and decrypt). At
Referring to FIG. 7C, the remote web-server 132 includes 10 step 745, an attempt to transmit notification infonnation may
occur.
a program 134 for processing the transmitted infonnation
Referring to FIG. 8, the program 134 running on the
124. The program 134 can be a CGI script or alternatively
a Perl, Java, or c++ program. The remote web-server also
remote web-server 132 processes infonnation to select and
e-mail electronic content to a specified e-mail address. After
stores electronic content 138 for transmission to a requesting
user. The remote web-server 132 also may include a table 15 receiving a request for electronic content (140), the program
134 may repress transmission of information to a user's
136 that stores the electronic content 138 that should be sent
in response to an I.D. included received information. The
browser (e.g., for example by issuing an "echo status: 202
remote web-server 132 selects and transmits the electronic
No Response" command). This command prevents a user's
content 138a via e-mail to the e-mail address specified in the
display from being altered.
received infonnation 124.
The program 134 can use the I.D. to determine which
20
electronic content to send to a specified address (142). The
The remote web-server 132 produces reports based on
program 134 can also analyze demographic data included in
requests that indicate which addresses received content,
the received infonnation 124 to select electronic content for
which web-pages produced content requests, and demodelivery. After selecting the electronic content, the program
graphic infonnation describing the user's requesting information. Thus, businesses can closely track their efforts at 25 134 can e-mail the determined content (144) to the e-mail
reaching users.
address specified in the request 124.
The remote web-server 132 can store electronic content
Referring to FIG. 9, a computer platfonn 146 includes a
monitor 148, input devices such as a keyboard 150 and
138 corresponding to any number of different sets of instructions 106 (e.g., different fonns). Thus, a single web-server
mouse 151, and a digital computer 152. The digital computer
132 can provide electronic content delivery for a large 30 152 includes memory 154, a processor 156, a mass storage
number of different businesses or organizations. Processing
device 164a (e.g., a hard disk) and a network connection 160
for transmitting and receiving data. The mass storage device
requests for content typically consumes considerable com164a includes instructions for an operating system 162 (e.g.,
putational resources on the processing computer. In addition,
storing the content 138 typically requires a large volume of
Windows™ 98), distribution software 134, and electronic
non-volatile storage. By letting a remote web-server dedi- 35 content 138. These instructions can be stored in other
computer readable mediums such as a floppy disk 164b, a
cated to processing requests handle delivery and storage of
content, the computers associated with the various enterCD-ROM drive 164c, or other hardware such as an EPROM
prises will not be slowed or otherwise burdened by the
164d. In the course of operation, the stored instructions are
processing of requests during business hours.
transferred to memory 154 and the processor 156 for execuReferring to FIG. 7D, the electronic content 138 may 40 tion.
include electronic content 138b such as text, graphics, audio,
The techniques described here are not limited to any
video, and/or executable files. Electronic content 138 may
particular hardware or software configuration. The techalso include notification instructions 138c that may be
niques may be implemented in hardware or software, or a
executable instructions that collect and transmit notification
combination of the two. Preferably, the techniques are
information. The notification instructions 138c may be con- 45 implemented in computer programs executing on programfigured to control access to the electronic content 138b.
mable computers that each include a processor, a storage
Further, different electronic content may use different file
medium readable by the processor (including volatile and
formats. When executed, notification instructions 138c can
nonvolatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one
determine whether a previous attempt to access the elecinput device, and one or more output devices. Program code
tronic content 138b resulted in success (e.g., successful 50 is applied to data entered using the input device to perfonn
transmission of notification information or receipt of an
the functions described and to generate output information.
access granting message(. The notification instructions 138c
The output information is applied to one or more output
may interactively collect notification infonnation from a
devices.
recipient. The notification instructions 138c may also collect
Each program is preferably implemented in a high level
information by querying the recipient's computer system. 55 procedural or object oriented progrannning language to
FIG. 7E is a flow diagram showing steps of processing the
communicate with a computer system. However, the pron notification instructions, according to principles of the
grams can be implemented in assembly or machine laninvention, starting at step 700. At step 705, a check is made
guage, if desired. In any case, the language may be a
whether notification information was transmitted successcompiled or interpreted language.
Each such computer program is preferably stored on a
fully previously. If successful, then the process continues at 60
step 730. Otherwise, the notification infonnation may be
storage medium or device (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk or
collected. At step 715, an attempt to transmit the notification
magnetic diskette) that is readable by a general or special
information may be made. At step 720, a check may be made
purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is
to detennine if the transmission notification infonnation was
successful. If not successful, then at step 722, access is 65 read by the computer to perfonn the procedures described in
denied to the electronic content. If, however, the transmisthis document. The system may also be considered to be
sion of notification information was successful, then at step
implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, con-

US 7,127,515 B2
7

8

figured with a computer program, where the storage medium
23. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing
so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and
repeated transmission of the notification information.
predefined manner.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions
Other embodiments are within the scope of the following
distinguishes between a plurality of users of the first comclaims.
puter and avoids sending notification information for one of
What is claimed is:
the plurality of users when the information has been previ1. A method of delivering electronic content, the method
0usly transmitted for the one of the plurality of users.
comprising the steps of:
25. A method of delivering electronic content, the method
providing instructions that causes a first computer to
comprising the steps of:
dynamically transmit a user's email address to a second 10
providing web-page form instructions that causes a first
computer in response to a request for data;
computer to dynamically transmit the first computer's
processing the request for data at the second computer;
email address to a second computer in response to a
emailing the requested data to the user's email address;
request for data;
and
processing the request at the second computer to select
attempting to transmit notification information to a server 15
electronic content and e-mailing the electronic content
upon an attempt to access the requested data,
to the first computer's email address; and
wherein the instructions are executable instructions and
attempting to transmit notification information when trigcollect the notification information and the instructions
gered by an accessing event at the first computer,
are configured to grant or deny access to the requested
wherein the instructions are executable instructions and
data based on the results of the attempt to transmit.
20
collect the notification information and the instructions
2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing instructions
are configured to selectively grant or deny access to the
comprises providing web-page instructions.
electronic content based on results of the attempt to
3. The method of clam 2, wherein web-page instructions
transmit.
comprise HTML instructions.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmit4. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructions com- 25 ting notification information when the electronic content is
prise form instructions.
accessed at a third computer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions com27. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing step
prise instructions that query the computer for information.
selects electronic content based on demographic data col6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comlected at the first computer.
prise instructions that receive user input.
30
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the notification
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises
information includes an identifier identifYing a web site
demographic information.
producing the instructions.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises
29. A computer-implemented method of providing access
system information.
to electronic content, the method comprising the steps of:
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises 35
displaying in a browser a web-page that includes a link
executing a script.
corresponding to electronic content;
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the script comprises
dynamically transmitting, in response to a user's selection
a Common Gateway Interface script.
of the link, information including an e-mail address to
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions
a remote server;
40
remain present at the first computer during processing.
sending electronic content from the remote server to the
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content
e-mail address based on the transmitted information,
comprises text.
wherein the electronic content contains executable
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content
instructions; and
comprises graphics.
attempting to transmit notification information when an
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content 45
attempt to access the electronic content occurs,
comprises video information.
wherein the executable instructions collect the notifica15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content
tion information and is configured to selectively grant
comprises audio information.
or deny access to the electronic content based on results
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content
of the attempt to transmit.
comprises executable instructions.
50
30. A computer program, disposed on a computer readable
17. The method of claim 1, wherein processing comprises
medium, the computer program including instructions for
selecting electronic content based on transmitted informacausing a first computer's processor to:
tion.
receive dynamically transmitted information from a sec18. The method of claim 1, wherein the information
ond computer including the second computer's email
comprises identification of the instructions that transmitted 55
address;
the information.
based on the received information, select electronic con19. The method of claim 1, wherein the information
tent, and transmit the selected electronic content to the
comprises identification of a computer that transmitted the
second computer's e-mail address included in the
information.
received information, wherein the electronic content
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmit- 60
contains executable instructions; and
ting notification information when the requested data is
attempt to transmit notification information when trigsubsequently accessed by a third computer.
gered by an access event,
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer is
wherein the executable instructions collect the notificathe server.
tion information and selectively grants or denies access
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are 65
configured to grant or deny access to the requested data
to the electronic content based on results of the attempt
during creation of an envelope that includes the instructions.
to transmit.

US 7,127,515 B2
10

9
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the instructions that

cause the processor to select electronic content comprise
instructions that cause the processor to use a table that
includes electronic content corresponding to data included in
the received infonnation.
32. The computer program of claim 30, further including
instructions to transmit notification infonnation when the
electronic content is accessed in at least one of the second
computer and a third computer.
33. A computer implemented method of providing access
to electronic content, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying in a web page a link representing electronic
cont

10

ent;
dynamically transmitting, in response to a user's action,
information including a network address associated
with the user to a remote server;
sending electronic content from the remote server to the
network address associated with the user based on the
transmitted infonnation, the electronic content containing executable instructions; and
attempting to transmitting notification information when
triggered by an access event,
wherein the executable instructions collect the notification infonnation and selectively grants or denies access
to the electronic content based on the results of the
attempt to transmit.

* * * * *