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)

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111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 USOO7272655B2 (54) United States Patent (10) Patterson (12) (45) DELIVERING ELECTRONIC CONTENT (75) Inventor: (73) 5,023,907 5,033,084 5,057,935 5,191,611 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 5,765,152 Assignee: DRM Technologies, LLC, Tucson, AZ (US) (*) Notice: Patrick E. Patterson, Arlington, VA (US) Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days. This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. (21) Appl. No.: 111412,827 (22) Filed: Apr. 28, 2006 (65) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 6/1991 7/1991 10/1991 3/1993 6/1994 8/1994 3/1997 5/1997 9/1997 9/1997 10/1997 12/1997 12/1997 111998 111998 2/1998 3/1998 6/1998 Johnson et al. Beecher Williams Lang Halter et al. Chou et al. Kazmierczak et al. Stefik et al. Eyer et al. Elgamal Dolphin Igura et al. Dolphin Rose Levergood et al. Payne et al. Gifford Erickson Prior Publication Data US 2006/0190568 Al Aug. 24, 2006 (Continued) Related U.S. Application Data (63) Continuation of application No. 09/231,714, filed on Jan. 15, 1999, now Pat. No. 7,127,515. (51) Int. Cl. G06F 15116 (2006.01) U.S. Cl. ....................................... 7091229; 709/206 Field of Classification Search ...... .......... 709/231, 709/232,233,235,238,202,203,207,206, 709/229 See application file for complete search history. (52) (58) Patent No.: US 7,272,655 B2 Date of Patent: *Sep.18,2007 (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. Freeny Arnold et al. Hellman Mollier Wolfe Chernow et al. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS CA 2220457 5/1998 (Continued) Primary Examiner-Paul H. Kang (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGuireWoods LLP (57) ABSTRACT Delivering electronic content includes providing instructions that cause a computer to collect information including an e-mail address and transmitting the collected information to a receiving computer. The computer that receives the transmitted information selects electronic content based on the received information and sends the selected electronic content to the e-mail address included in the received information. 22 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets Web Client Browser Software 132 Web Page Distribution Software 130 138 104 13 a 138n US 7,272,655 B2 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,778,173 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 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 711998 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 Apte Wesinger, Jr. et aI. Blumenthal et al. Coleyet aI. Smith et al. Walker et al. Davis et al. Ji et al. Mages et al. Olsen et al. Thorne et al. Renaud et al. Kirsch Venkatraman et al. Renaud Mages et al. Nielsen Powell Sesma Yoshida et al. Rusnak et al. Montulli 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 6,449,719 6,484,156 6,684,248 2005/0021633 A Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Al 1112000 112001 212001 3/2001 6/2001 7/2001 7/2001 912001 912001 10/2001 1112001 12/2001 5/2002 912002 1112002 112004 112005 Ruckdashel Yamazaki Kohler Kikinis Ginter et al. Redpath Greenstein Dureau et al. Dixon Venkatraman et aI. Wang et al. Cho et aI. Patterson Baker Gupta et al. Janacek et al. Venkatraraman et al. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS EP WO WO WO 0717338 W096/27155 W098/30964 W098/58306 6/1996 9/1996 7/1998 12/1998 u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 US 7,272,655 B2 Sheet 1 of 14 100 r o Netscape - [Welcome to Boston.com] GJij'J(8] File Edit View Go Bookmar1cs Options Directory Window Help [;]~~ [gJ~OO[gJ[[][gJ Back Forward Home ~ I..oci!tion: Ihttp://www.boston.com! I Whafs New? II Whafs COOl? 23, PartIy cloudy (MOIll WSI!ther] Boston.com was last updated at 1:46PM II Destinations II Net Search II People ~~ A!~~2~~~O~!ON i~7i@@{l[fiJ I I puu. 8~ . II Software I Welcome homel DOWN FOR OlliER OPTIONS ~ §] t---.-102 ruCK HERE FOR iIiJ~ ~~ ONUNE FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1999 I SEARCH: GEORGIA SHOOTING @ Boston.com o Keyword o Web!Lyeos! I §] Careers Yellow Pages Classifieds Business Technolol!I Autos Real Estate Going: Out/Arts rn7[q] I PRESIDENT ON TRIAL: ~ /J-:J Senators agree on fonnat for trial DOW Republicans and Democl1lts NASDAQ I(//~ Michele Crew. (right) is comforted by her mother in Canolton, IDocument: Done ~I Q Lotus cc:Mail- [Me.. 1I0 SOFTSOL reached 8 general agreement today covering ground rules for President Clinton's impeachment trial. Lawmakers on both sides said it included the posibiJity of testimony by witnesses. The details had not yet been drafted, senators said, and they cautioned that no final accord was sealed. Market Wg~h 9593.12 (+55.36) 2343.7 (+l7.61l Stock Quote. ! LocalledeXE's SpOrts BREAKING NEWS Report: Holmgren bired by Seahawka (stOJy I ... Thompson resigns a.a I1Es1 Z:\PUBUC\DESK\... 110 Netscape - (We... I I I~ I at 1:50 PM I u.s. Patent Sheet 2 of 14 Sep.18,2007 US 7,272,655 B2 o Netscape - [Welcome to Boston.com] bICJ(g) File Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directory Window Help [;]~~ [g]~OO[gJ[[][gJ Location:1 http://www.trappfamily.com/ I What's New? II What's Cool? II Destinations II Net Search II People ~~ II Software I I!J ~1riW 1~ £~~e 6 H E LODGE ~ACTIVITIES o HISTORY A MOUNTAIN REsoRT IN TIlE EUROPEAN TRAomON BY TIlE FAMILY THAT INSPIRED '"TIlE SOUND OF MUSIC'" i9-----:::=::: - ~HOLIDAY ~ GIFTIDEAS~ ~ * SNOW REPORT ' A PERSONAL WELCOME ISPECIAL OFFERS!I @~ IDocument: Done ~ ---- ~IQ Lotuscc:MaIl· [Me··1I0 S0FTSOL I-; lIe Z:\PUBUC\DESK\..·l!o Netscape - [Tra••• I FI~ Z I af I I ~ 1:49 PM I u.s. Patent US 7,272,655 B2 Sheet 3 of 14 Sep.18,2007 o Netscape - [AGN Anandal Newsletter - AGN Capital Management Inc.] GJiSJIEI Ale Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directory Window Help [;]~~ ~~~[!][[][[] Location:1 http:// I Whafs New? II What's Cool? II Handbook lYD~ II Net Search II Net Directory II Software I I!l EMArLU~ ~112 @dress WIN fRff GOLF & )08 110 I rJ° 6 II~itl AGN 104 ~ AGN Capital Managemenllnc. 2000 Island Blvd. #1503 Williams Island, Miami Fla. 33160 Phone: 3~1·2gg1 Fax: 3O!H68-0577 eofTlaH: Info@agnfin.com Financial Newsletter May 1998 A Monthly Review @&1 II <;1 I IDocument: Done I ~ QLotus a::Maii - [lie Z:\puBUC\D... lIec:\WOrk l/elc:\wOrk\desk.. ·IDVIAexpress un.. llD Netscape - [... IIIgl ~ FI~J I sf 4:02PM I u.s. Patent US 7,272,655 B2 Sheet 4 of 14 Sep.18,2007 o Netscape - [AGN Rnandal Newsletter - AGN capital Management Inc.] GJ:CJ(8] Rle Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directory Window Help .[;]~~ IIadc Forward· Halle ~~~[[][!][]] I @]I~ Location: http:// I What's New? II What's Cool? Ente,yOu~ EMAIL @dress -. WIN FREE GOLF & II Handbook ~112 II II Net Directory II Net Search d 110 108 ) Igreenberg@fr.com Software I 8 In I 106 If---J o Netscape - [your email I... I 104 .-/ GJ:CJ (8] IW 114 Su Thank you for your interest in the ,,--..;, SEllB Great Golf Giveaway! Your email is on its way! AGN -;;nne: #1503 Island. Miami Fla. 33160 Phone: 305-631·2991 Fax: 3O~68~5n e..-nan: Info@agniin.com W~Uams Financial Newsletter May 1998 A Monthly Review r;. @8D IDocument: Done ~I QLotus cc:Mail- [1161 Z:\PUBUC\D... 116J c:\work I 1161 C:\work\desk.··IOVIAexpress un··~ID Netscape - [ ... III¥l ~ I af 4:02PM I u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 US 7,272,655 B2 Sheet 5 of 14 116 r OLotus cc:Maii - [Message - Great Golf Giveaway Information!] GI File Edit Text Message Atachements Rules Tools Window Help IAddress ... II TO I ell I I ~[(\ Text Item (0 bytes) :=T;:o:=g=ree:::::::nbe~=rg~@::;:fr=.oo=m=a!.!:t::;:In=te=m=et=============1;-;~::::;/:-:1~-:-:I:-:Pt--l ~ attach~. 2:S1p (39894 01/11/99 6:50 PM INonnal I Subject: II Great Golf Giveaway Information! 10 \20 ~I I 30 12 0 70 The information you requested is included in the attached file! Inbox 0/23 T Folders:l/435 I ~I QL.otus cc:Mail - [Mess... 1I0soFTSOl BBord Notify Off/13 I 1/12/99 6:51 PMT WJ I~ 6:51 PM I u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 Sheet 6 of 14 US 7,272,655 B2 104 <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>AGN Financial Newsletter -AGN Capital Management lnc.<lTITLE> ) <script>function writeBox(checkvalue) I varquote=documentforml.box.value 172 1?~4 ____-., var quote2='"http://www.viaexpress.comlscriptslsavemail.c~?~ite=www.bannersite.co~&,file=dave.ex~~mail="~UO~,} lk=window.open("email.htm"."email... 124a 124b 124c 120 1 14 ntoolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,scrolbars=no, 106 menubar=no,resizable=no,width=200~eight= I00"); document.fonnl.boxvalue="" } <lscript> ~ </HEAD> <BODY BACKGROUND="bg.gif' bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text=#OOOOOO" \ink="OOOOCC" vlink="#OOOOCC" alink="#FFOOOO"> <CENTER> <table cellspacing+2cellpadding=5 border=4> <tr> <td width= IOOOloalign=center bgcolor=FFFFFF> <form name="forml"> <IMG SRC="goltban.gif' ALT="Enter your Email address here to WIN!" BORDER=O> _ _ 1 12 <input !ype=text value='1It name=box" size=18"> - - - 1 DB <input type=button value="Submit" onClick="writeBoxO" height=2> - - - - , 10 <ltd> <ltr> <lform> <lcenter> <ltable> <BR BR> <table border=O cellpadding=O ceUspacing=O width="600"> <tr> <td>&nbsp;<ltd> <td co~pan=2 align=right valign=top> <img src="newslett.gif' alt=AGN Financial Newsletter."width=470 height=83 border=O br> <b font sixe=+2>May 1998<1font Ib p> <ltd> <ltr> u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 Sheet 7 of 14 US 7,272,655 B2 <IT> <td valign="top"> <a href=http1Iwww.agnfin.comlindex.html" img src="home.gifl alt='IBack to home page." width= 120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http://www.agnfm.comlabout.html . img src="about.gir' alt=" About AGN."width=120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http://www.agnfm.comlassetmanagement.html" img src="assetgir alt="Asset management. n width= 120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http1Iwww.agnfin.com/contactus.html imgsrc=lIcontact.gif.atl=. Contact information." width= 120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href+http://www.agnfin.comlcriteria.html img src="criteria.giralt=Investment criteria."width= 120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http://www.agnfin.comlhowto.html . imgsrc=..howto.gir.ati= • Aboul the AGN financial newsletter."width=120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http://www.agnfin.comlsubscribe.html.. img src="subscribe.girat1="Subscribe to the newsletter." width=120 height=54 border=O /a br> <a href=http://www.agnfin.comldisclaimer.html..imgsrc=. disclosu.gir.atl=. Disclosure &disclaimer." width=120 height=54 border=O la br> <a href=http://www.agnfin.com/en_espanol.html..imgsrc=..en_espan.. gir.atl=. En Espano!." width=120 heighl=54 border-O la br> l1 ll <img src="dot.gif'width+ 135 height= 1border=O hspace=O vspace=O all="·11 br> <ltd> <ltd> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> <ltd> <td valign=lItop"> FIe LJI3 e • Web Client 7Jl • 26 Browser Software ~ ~ 28 ~ 132 134 / Distribution Software r- ~ = ~ rFJ ('D '? .... ~QO Web Page L-- N ------ 04 136 - - o o -....l ID Content I I --~-------------I Web Server 130 I 13 ~ Web Page 04 - rFJ =- ('D ('D ...... QO .... .... o .j;o. ~ill d rJl -....l N -....l N 0.., FIe 714 tit tit = N e • Web Client Browser Software Web Page 7Jl • 126 124 ~ ~ ~ 128 ~ ????? 132 = ~ 104 Distribution Software 134 rFJ ('D '? .... QO ~ N o o -....l 136- ID Content --~-------------I 130 =- ('D 1I Web Server rFJ a o .... .... \0 .j;o. 138~ Web Page 104 d rJl -....l N -....l N 0.., FIe 713 tit tit = N u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 US 7,272,655 B2 Sheet 10 of 14 ~ 0 ~ ..... 'to.. "+-. C/) c: 0 0"+-. c: "+-. c: C) () C) ~ - ::J .Q 0t: ...... o~ III c:::a c:::a ..... c: III 0- () .Q ~ '-.. III III ~"+-. '-.. III V) 0 Q.. '-.. 0 .(l '-.. III lI) ~ 0 ~ ~ C)'to.. co V) ~ tl> .Q ~ e • NEW SHEET 7Jl • ~ 138 ~ ~ ~ = ~ rFJ ('D '? .... ~CIO N o o ELECTRONIC CONTENT (E.G., TEXT, GRAPHICS, AUDIO, VIDEO, AND/OR EXECUTABLE PROGRAM FILES) NOTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS THAT COLLECT AND TRANSMIT NOTIFICATION INFORMATION -....l V 138b rFJ =.... .... o .... .... ('D ('D ..... 138c ~ .j;o. d rJl -....l N -....l N 0.., FIG 7D tit tit = N e • 7Jl • ~ 722 ~ 700 ~ N SUCCESSFUL TRANSMISSION? GY-. WAS ~ 705 NOTIFICATION ./' INFORMATION SUCCESSFULLY TRANSMITTED REVIOUSLY? Y = DENY ACCESS ~ 725 rFJ ('D '? .... STORE INDICATOR OF SUCCESSFUL TRANSMISSION QO ~ N o o -....l 730 PROMPT FOR PASSWORD' / 750 N 710 T ~ ./' COLLECT NOTIFICATION INFORMATION =- ('D 735 CORRECT PASSWORD ENTERED? rFJ "> N ~I TRANSMIT NOTIFICATION INFORMATION a .... o .... .... N .j;o. Y 715 ATTEMPT TO TRANSMIT NOTIFICATION INFORMATION ./' 740 755 GRANT ACCESS (E.G., DECOMPRESS AND DECRYPT ELECTRONIC CONTENT) T -<'j TRANSMIT NOTIFICATION INFORMATION 745 DENY ACCESS d rJl -....l N -....l N 0.., FIG 7E tit tit = N ~34 e • 7Jl • ~ ~ ~ ~ = ~ Receive Request v .... 40 rFJ ('D '? .... ~CIO N o o -....l Determine Electronic Content Corresponding fo ID -- 142 rFJ =..... .... .... .... ('D ('D (.H 0 .j;o. Transmit Determined Electronic Content ----- - - ---- -- ~ 44 d rJl -....l N -....l N 0.., FIe ~ tit tit = N u.s. Patent Sep.18,2007 Sheet 14 of 14 US 7,272,655 B2 --148 Network I r---160 151 152 _______ 162__ - Memory r--.----iProcessor Operating System 134_...__Distribution Software 136 __ fElectronic Content \ ( 164a US 7,272,655 B2 1 2 DELIVERING ELECTRONIC CONTENT 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 transmitted 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 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 manner 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 receive demographic data describing interested users, but also can determine which web-pages 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. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation of U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 09/231,714 filed Jan. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,515, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to delivering electronic content. 2. Related Art 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 URLs (universal resource locator) that identifies a web-site. A link can be programmed to transport a user to a link's associated URLs 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 banner) 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. 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 URLs (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. 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS 55 60 65 FIG. 1 is a screenshot of web-page that includes a banner, according to principles of the invention. 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, according to principles of the invention. FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a submission confirmation window, according to principles of the invention. FIG. 5 is a screenshot of an e-mail message including electronic content, according to principles of the invention. FIG. 6 is a listing of web-page instructions, according to principles of the invention. US 7,272,655 B2 3 4 FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams illustrating delivery of electronic content, according to principles of the invention. 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 principals of the invention. FIG. 8 is a flow chart of distribution software, according to principles of the invention. FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram of a computer system, according to principles of the invention. 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 formats. 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 form 106, the graphic image 112, the text control 108, and submit button 110. The instructions 104 include instructions 120 for transmitting collected information to the remote web-server for processing. As shown, the instructions 106 identify a program 122 at a remote web-server and specify values for different parameters 124a124c. 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 programming 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 form may be "001" while the I.D. for a car promotion form 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 into different webpages 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 information. This information can be hardcoded (as shown) or dynamically determined 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 information 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 information. Additionally, the instructions 106 can dynamically access a body of information stored, for example, on the user's computer, and then transmit that information 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 dynami- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 3, a web-page 104 viewed by a network browser (e.g., Netscape™ Navigator) uses text and graphics to present information to a user. As shown, the text and graphics include information related to a business enterprise. The web-page 104 also includes a form 106 that accepts user input. As shown, the form 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 information 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 information into the form (e.g., by typing information 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 URLS being displayed by the browser. The remote webserver uses the transmitted information to select and deliver electronic content (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video, and executable instructions) via e-mail. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 091199,150 entitled "Tracking Electronic Content" filed Nov. 24, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6, 751,670, describes an electronic content delivery system, and is incorporated by reference. Referring to FIG. 4, as shown, a user has entered a 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 information, 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 information, 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 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 US 7,272,655 B2 5 6 cally 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 FIG. 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. 7B, the web-page 104 includes instructions 106 for collecting and transmitting information to the remote server 132. When a user submits a request for electronic content (e.g., clicking the submit button 110), the information 124 collected from a user and/or system is transmitted to the remote web-server 132. As described above, the infonnation 124 includes an e-mail address and can include other infonnation such as an I.D. and/or the address of the site 126 producing the request 124. Referring to FIG. 7C, the remote web-server 132 includes a program 134 for processing the transmitted infonnation 124. The program 134 can be a CGI script or alternatively a Perl, Java, or c++ program. The remote web-server also stores electronic content 138 for transmission to a requesting user. The remote web-server 132 also may include a table 136 that stores the electronic content 138 that should be sent in response to an I.D. included received information. The remote web-server 132 selects and transmits the electronic content 138a via e-mail to the e-mail address specified in the received infonnation 124. The remote web-server 132 produces reports based on requests that indicate which addresses received content, which web-pages produced content requests, and demographic infonnation describing the user's requesting information. Thus, businesses can closely track their efforts at reaching users. The remote web-server 132 can store electronic content 138 corresponding to any number of different sets of instructions 106 (e.g., different fonns). Thus, a single web-server 132 can provide electronic content delivery for a large number of different businesses or organizations. Processing requests for content typically consumes considerable computational resources on the processing computer. In addition, storing the content 138 typically requires a large volume of non-volatile storage. By letting a remote web-server dedicated to processing requests handle delivery and storage of content, the computers associated with the various enterprises will not be slowed or otherwise burdened by the processing of requests during business hours. Referring to FIG. 7D, the electronic content 138 may include electronic content 138b such as text, graphics, audio, video, and/or executable files. Electronic content 138 may also include notification instructions 138c that may be executable instructions that collect and transmit notification information. The notification instructions 138c may be configured to control access to the electronic content 138b. Further, different electronic content may use different file formats. When executed, notification instructions 138c can determine whether a previous attempt to access the electronic content 138b resulted in success (e.g., successful transmission of notification information or receipt of an access granting message). The notification instructions 138c may interactively collect notification infonnation from a recipient. The notification instructions 138c may interac- tively collect notification infonnation from a recipient. The notification instructions 138c may also collect infonnation by querying the recipient's computer system. FIG. 7E is a flow diagram showing steps of processing the notification instructions, according to principles of the invention, starting at step 700. At step 705, a check is made whether notification infonnation was transmitted successfully previously. If successful, then the process continues at step 730. Otherwise, if the notification information has not been successfully transmitted, then at step 710, notification information may be collected. At step 715, an attempt to transmit the notification information may be made. At step 720, a check may be made to detennine if the transmission of notification infonnation was successful. If not successful, then at step 722, access is denied to the electronic content. If, however, the transmission of notification infonnation was successful, then at step 725, an indicator may be stored indicating successful transmission. At step 730, a prompt for a password may occur. At step 735, a check may be made whether a correct password was entered. If the password was not correctly entered then, at step 750, an attempt to transmit notification infonnation may occur. At step 755, access to electronic content may be denied. If, however, a correct password was entered, or, if prompted for, then at step 740, access may be granted to the electronic content (e.g., decompress and decrypt). At step 745, an attempt to transmit notification information may occur. Referring to FIG. 8, the program 134 running on the remote web-server 132 processes infonnation to select and e-mail electronic content to a specified e-mail address. After receiving a request for electronic content (140), the program 134 may repress transmission of information to a user's browser (e.g., for example by issuing an "echo status: 202 No Response" command). This command prevents a user's display from being altered. The program 134 can use the I.D. to determine which electronic content to send to a specified address (142). The program 134 can also analyze demographic data included in the received infonnation 124 to select electronic content for delivery. After selecting the electronic content, the program 134 can e-mail the determined content (144) to the e-mail address specified in the request 124. Referring to FIG. 9, a computer platfonn 146 includes a monitor 148, input devices such as a keyboard 150 and mouse 151, and a digital computer 152. The digital computer 152 includes memory 154, a processor 156, a mass storage device 164a (e.g., a hard disk) and a network connection 160 for transmitting and receiving data. The mass storage device 164a includes instructions for an operating system 162 (e.g., Windows™ 98), distribution software 134, and electronic content 138. These instructions can be stored in other computer readable mediums such as a floppy disk 164b, a CD-ROM drive 164c, or other hardware such as an EPROM 164d. In the course of operation, the stored instructions are transferred to memory 154 and the processor 156 for execution. The techniques described here are not limited to any particular hardware or software configuration. The techniques may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of the two. Preferably, the techniques are implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers that each include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and one or more output devices. Program code is applied to data entered using the input device to perfonn 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 US 7,272,655 B2 7 8 the functions described and to generate output infonnation. The output infonnation is applied to one or more output devices. Each program is preferably implemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage medium or device (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk or magnetic diskette) that is readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read by the computer to perfonn the procedures described in this document. The system may also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined mamler. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing comprises selecting the electronic content based on transmitted notification information. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification information includes at least one of: identification of the instructions that transmitted the notification infonnation, and identification of a computer that transmitted the notification infonnation. 17. A method of delivering electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: providing web-page instructions that induces a first computer to dynamically transmit an network address to a second computer in response to a request for data; processing the request at the second computer to select electronic content and transmitting the electronic content to the network address; and attempting to transmit notification infonnation from the network address when triggered by an accessing event, wherein the instructions include executable instructions to collect the notification information and the instructions are configured to selectively grant or deny access to the electronic content based on results of the attempt to transmit. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the network address identifies a user requesting the data. 19. A computer-implemented method of providing access to electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: displaying in a browser a web-page that includes a link corresponding to electronic content; dynamically transmitting, in response to a selection of the link, infonnation including a network address to a remote server; sending the electronic content from the remote server to the network address based on the transmitted information, wherein the electronic content contains executable instructions; and attempting to transmit notification infonnation when an attempt to access the electronic content occurs, wherein the executable instructions collect the notification information and is configured to selectively grant or deny access to the electronic content based on results of the attempt to transmit. 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the network address is an identifier associated with a selector of the link. 21. A computer program, disposed on computer readable medium, the computer program including instructions to cause execution of the steps for: displaying in a web page a link representing electronic content; dynamically transmitting, in response to selection of the link, infonnation including a network address to a remote server; sending electronic content from the remote server to the network address, the electronic content containing executable instructions; and attempting to transmit notification infonnation 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. 22. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the network address is a user Internet identifier. What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: providing instructions that causes a first computer to dynamically transmit a network address to a second computer in response to a request for data; processing the request for data at the second computer; transmitting the requested data to the network address; and attempting to transmit notification information across a network upon an attempt to access the requested data, wherein the instructions include executable instructions to collect the notification information and the instructions are configured to grant or deny access to the requested data based on the results of the attempt to transmit. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step for providing instructions comprises providing web-page instructions. 3. The method of clam 2, wherein the web-page instructions comprise HTML instructions. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructions comprise form instructions. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that query the computer for infonnation. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that receive user input. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises demographic information. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises system infonnation. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address identifies the first computer. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of presenting an invitation to request the data, prior to the providing step. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address comprises an identifier associated with a user using the first computer. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested data comprises at least one of text, graphics and audio infonnation. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested data comprises video information. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested data comprises executable instructions. 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 * * * * *

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