JP2003529813A - Virtual document organization system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) SUMMARY A system and method for managing virtual documents is disclosed. In this solution, a user database is set up on a networked computer. There are a number of virtual documents created by other networked computers. An attribute file having known header and field information is associated with these virtual documents. The virtual documents and their associated attribute files are transmitted from the other networked computer to the networked computer, which then classifies information from the virtual document based on the contents of the attribute file. And memorize.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

Related Applications The present invention claims priority from the following commonly assigned pending utility and provisional patent applications. Application Number Application Date 60 / 142,611 July 7, 1999 60 / 191,352 March 22, 2000 The above application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART A typical kitchen drawer includes, for example, a gift certificate (coupon), a product guarantee certificate, a sales receipt, a product instruction, a repair instruction, a discount ticket (rebate), a gift certificate, a product registration card, and an entertainment. Contains tickets, credit card statements, bank statements and prescriptions (recipe). Collectively, the general class of these types of documents can be referred to as "retail collateral." Paper documents are cumbersome and difficult to organize.

These retail accompanying documents are often electronically transmitted to users.
As with paper documents, organizing virtual documents is cumbersome and difficult to organize, as evidenced by most users' e-mail inboxes. Today, electronic organizers and contact managers are most commonly associated with individual users and are maintained in the user workplace on the user's personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), or local application server (LAS). ing. These Organizers and Contact Managers can
It manages a database that experts and individuals contact. The user manually forwards the folders that typical users receive between commercial and personal e-mail, given the volume of messages to forward the e-mail message from the inbox. Although configurable, a typical user's inbox looks much like a messy kitchen drawer. Therefore,
These organizers and contact managers are not well suited to maintain retail annexes of the type described above. This is because such important documents are usually lost in the messy "fog" of the inbox.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a gift certificate (coupon), a product warranty, a sales confirmation and a receipt,
Includes virtual documents such as product instructions, repair instructions, discount vouchers, gift certificates, product registration cards, entertainment tickets, credit card statements, bank statements, internet site usernames and passwords, and prescriptions.
Disclosed are systems and methods for distributing, collecting, and organizing Virtual Retail Annexes (VRCDs). These VRCDs can be sent via e-mail, banner ads (
Large headlines), interactive television, digital telephones, or other digital methods to serve Internet users or other network users, thus creating greater organizational challenges for consumers. The present invention addresses these issues with a web-based electronic document management system that organizes and integrates VRCDs in an internet-connected computer, as described below. As described below, this web-based electronic document management system can be accessed via a device such as a handheld / PDA device or a personal computer. Preferably,
The systems and methods described below organize the VRCD side by side with the customer's personal information and integrate the VRCD with that personal information.

The present invention addresses the centralized needs of consumers, Internet-connected merchants and content providers (eg, Yahoo, Excite and other portals), as described below. Consumers like discounts and coupons, organization, convenience and ease of use, but they need tools to organize, record and integrate VRCDs, ie advertisers target individuals. Need to compose messages to reach those consumers who are informed, and content providers need to be "deadlocked" to maximize the revenue from selling their email lists and banner ads. (stickiness) needs to be improved. The systems and methods described herein address the needs of these different groups.
More particularly, the systems and methods described herein provide advertiser / merchant messages to consumers by automatically organizing VRCDs for consumers for convenient and easy access by users at a later time. Make it easy to reach.

[0006] Preferably, the integrated internet or web-based organizer becomes an all important home page for consumers / users when connecting to the internet, interactive television, mobile phones or other modern networks. . This integrated home page containing both the virtual document and the user's personal data serves as the user's integrated personal information manager (i-PIM), which contains all user's personal data integrated with the VRCD. This i-PIM is P
Preferably it can be synchronized with or directly accessible to the user's mobile device such as a DA and cell phone. The system and method can also be integrated with a user / consumer calendar system to allow the user / consumer to view his contacts and calendars as well as receipts, instructions, bank and credit card statements, and consumption. It is preferable that one can refer to other things that one wishes to organize in one place.

A V with which the user has an organization button (hereinafter, VRC composition button) in the form of e-mail
The process is preferably disclosed by either receiving the RCD or clicking the VRCD for the first time with the banner ad enabled with the VRC Organize button. This prompts the user to maintain the web-based VRCD Organizer or register with the hosting entity. In Internet computers, the host preferably establishes individual databases. The individual database or user database is preferably a record in a large database. The user database, and preferably other records in the large database, each contain a number of categories in which the information from the VRCD requested by the consumer / user is stored. Also, consumers / users can
It is also possible that such a VRCD is automatically selected for the user based on the profile established by the user, without specifically requesting that it be sent to the database host.

An attribute file is preferably associated with each such VRCD to facilitate classification and storage of VRCD information. These attribute files preferably have defined field and header information, which attaches or associates the attribute files to, for example, a VRCD that is sent to a user or to a VRCD database host on behalf of the user. Supplied to a merchant or service provider. Merchant or service provider can
Preferably, it is attached to D, and the VRCD is then sent to the user via one of a number of different channels or to the user's individual database at the entity's website. When these VRCDs are sent to the VRCD web-based organizer's host for storage, the host knows from the attributes file how to classify the information from that VRCD. The information contained in the attribute file includes the merchant ID, merchant class, website URL, merchant address, map and e-mail information. More preferably, the merchant ID and promotion ID are the only information contained in the attribute file, and other merchant characteristics are:
It is preferably stored on the VRCD database web host and associated with its vendor.

User databases on host computers with internet connections are preferably associated with individual internet users / consumers, but such databases are affiliated users / consumers such as business or charity or civil society. It can also be specified as a group. Initial registration can be done directly at the host or administrator of the VRCD database computer, or via an affiliated internet-connected store or other site. The user / consumer can either use their existing email address, or have a new email address that is dedicated to receiving and requesting large numbers or targeted commercial virtual documents, for example. It is preferably specified. Users typically have more than one e-mail address, and thus users receive VRCD via different e-mail addresses. The user can provide these different e-mail addresses in the registration with the VRCD entity, so when the VRCD is sent to the VRCD entity from any of the user's e-mail addresses, the system will confirm it and They can be organized by a single user. Users often set multiple email addresses to receive multiple coupons, but coupons are typically offered to only one email address. The system implemented here has the advantage of confirming that more than one offer has been entered in the VRCD Organizer and preventing duplicate offers to the same VRCD Organizer per user.

Bulk e-mail or targeted e-mail with embedded VRCD
-For commercial solicitation by email, the VRCD database host or administrator may give the VRC to the merchant who received the opt-in permission from the consumer.
It is preferable to provide ownership header and field format information for the attribute file to be associated with D, then the VRCD is embedded in the email or banner ad invitation. The embedded VRCD preferably includes a consumer clicked VRCD Organizer button, and the VRCD is transmitted over the network to the VRCD database host. The information from the VRCD is then placed in the appropriate portion of the user database based on the information in the VRCD's affiliate attribute file. When information from such a VRCD is placed in a user database, the user / consumer who is the "owner" of that database can conveniently access the information at any time. This technique allows the advertiser to distribute the coupon VRCD via a large amount of email or banner ad.

Depending on how the system is configured, the VRCD can be sent directly to the VRCD database host for filtering and storage in the user database, or it can be sent to the user and optionally transferred to the VRCD database host. You can also do it. In either case, when the VRCD database arrives, the VRC
The D's are categorized by category, and the information from the VRCD is stored as a new record, the specified portion of the VRCD is stripped from the entire file and placed in the corresponding record field in the user database. The fields selected from the VRCD and placed in the database are:
It preferably includes a hyperlink to the merchant's home site, a hyperlink to the merchant's offer page, offer details, the merchant's address and phone number, the date, etc.

If the VRCD is associated with a banner ad, the consumer clicks the VRCD Organizer button in the banner ad of the coupon, and then the VRCD
Are transmitted over the network and placed in the appropriate part of the user database. When information from such a VRCD is placed in a user database, the user / consumer who is the "owner" of that database can conveniently access the information at any time. Banner ad click-through rates are substantially reduced. As a result, the rate at which the destination site can charge is reduced. Furthermore,
Banner ads often direct users from destination sites to advertisers, reducing "deadlocks." For consumers, clicking the banner ad, clicking through and billing the offer is not convenient, even if the consumer wants it. Provides a system that gives the user the convenience to click on the banner ad to claim the offer while staying at the destination site and then organize the offer in their personal VRCD organizer for subsequent amortization with the merchant By doing so, three parties, the consumer, the merchant and the destination site benefit. The user can later claim the offer at a convenient time, the merchant can make another sale, and the destination site can impose additional charges on its banner ad space.

The techniques described herein are easier than traditional e-commerce applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein allow manufacturers or service providers to provide click-links to virtual document product or service information or virtual document guarantees on their home page. For example,
The user purchases a portable music player and registers with the manufacturer. The manufacturer then emails the registration "Thanks" to the user in the form of a VRCD system, which can then be organized under instruction / warranty in the user's VRCD web-based organizer, And a manufacturer name summary with hyperlinks, hyperlinks to specific product instructions,
Provide hyperlinks to warranty information on manufacturer's website, warranty expiration date, customer care phone number, and email contact in list format. The virtual document instructions and guarantees can then be viewed within the user's i-PIM.

In some cases, one of the fields of the received VRCD is a hyperlink of the merchant or service provider the user has an account with. In this case,
It also preferably includes password and user fields for accessing a particular hyperlink connection site. Using this solution, when the user clicks on the hyperlink, or otherwise attempts to reach the website from within their personal VRCD database screen, the username and password are sent to the hyperlink connection site. Automatic transmission allows direct access to the merchant or service provider website from the user's personal VRCD database screen.

The VRCD Organizer is applicable to any medium for serving electronic documents. For example, interactive television and web-enabled phones are channels that can provide these virtual documents to consumers. Furthermore, "i-PIM" VR
The CD Organizer can also be accessed via these channels, in particular the Internet, interactive television, web-enabled phones and web-enabled PDAs, all allow users to access their web-based VRCD Organizer or I-PIM. It is a different means of enabling. Thus, in a portable handheld device, a consumer's VRCD can be accessed anytime, anywhere. When consumers need to check bank statements or instructions, they can use this VRCD with their web-enabled PDA.
All you have to do is access to. Although embodiments of the present invention have been summarized above, this merely illustrates some or the salient features of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, refer to the entire specification for other features and a full understanding of these embodiments. Further, these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention at all, and the scope of the present invention is limited by the claims.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION System Architecture FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an Internet client-server system capable of implementing a “Virtual Retail Associated Document (VRCD)” organizer system and method. . In this block diagram, a client machine 10 is provided, which is preferably a personal computer (PC), but may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) 15 or laptop 18. The client machines 10, 15, 18 are preferably provided with an internet browser application. A client machine operated by a user 19 typically connects to a VRCD database host 20 by a local internet service provider (ISP) 11 via a network 14, preferably the internet.

Within the VRCD database host 20, a local network 22 is provided with a router 24. The client's internet browser application typically communicates with the VRCD database host 20 via a web server 26, which may be a separate computer within the database host 20 or which constitutes a single database host 20. It may be an application executed in the computer. In the applications described below, the VRCD database host 20 preferably comprises a web server and associated software components, which may be a web server operating system (eg, Windows®, Linux, AI).
X); an IIS server used to serve HTML and ASP content and applications to client web browsers; a site server primarily used to serve users with personalized web content; index web content and provide users with Index server that provides website-specific search and query results; Web publishing server extension for deploying and publishing web content and applications from development and test environments; Site monitoring and management to monitor website traffic and content. Tools; and components for XML parsing. The VRCD database host environment also includes an application server 27, a database server 28, and a database 29 associated with the database server. The application server 27 preferably provides application component communication internally or externally to partner-based applications and / or FTP forwarding functions.

As shown in FIG. 1 and described in detail with reference to FIG. 2, the database server 28 preferably stores and retrieves data elements from and into its associated database 29, which is the database 29. It includes a user database 23 provided in the database 29. Referring again to FIG. 1, the network 14 includes “Virtual Retail Annex (VRC).
D) ”A number of exemplary partner sites for host administrators or servers are also connected. These exemplary partner sites include a portal partner site 30, an advertising partner site 31, and a distributor / manufacturer partner site 32. These partner sites are generally firewall 33, L
It comprises similar functional blocks including an AN / WAN data network 34, an Ethernet 35, a database repository 36 and their own web server 37. For these components, the partner must have at least V
It is preferable to have their own internet connectivity that allows access to the RCD database host 20 and preferably also to the user 19.

Portal partner 30 is preferably a common user destination for searching directories and other information. User 19 preferably enters the portal and, in the embodiments described herein, finds commercial content that is of interest to the user. This content includes gift certificates (coupons), product guarantees, sales receipts,
It is available to the user via virtual documents such as product instructions, repair instructions, discount vouchers, gift certificates, product registration cards, entertainment tickets, credit card statements, bank statements and prescriptions. These virtual documents are
Generally referred to herein as VRCD, and VRCD database host 2
0 organizes these VRCDs for the user based on the method described below.
In some cases, the user 19 is the user's client computer 10, 15,
Database host 20 via a connection between 18 and the host web server 26.
To access directly. However, given that many portals maintain personal information for users of those sites, the VRCD database host 20 acts as an application within the portal site 30 and stores the V
It is preferable to see if the RCD is actually stored within the portal application itself.

The advertising partner site 31 serves banner ads to many different destinations on the Internet or other electronic networks. A clickable VRCD is preferably embedded in these banner ads, and the VRCD is provided to the VRCD database host 20 in response to the user 19 clicking on one of these banner ads. The VRCD is preferably provided to the VRCD database host 20 via the electronic network 14 and populated in the appropriate portion of the user database 23 based on the attribute file associated with the VRCD. With further reference to the advertising partner site 31, the VRCD database host or administrator 20 receives opt-in permission from the consumer 19 in the case of commercial solicitation by mass or targeted e-mail. Alternatively, it is preferred to provide the advertiser site 31 that matches the consumer's profile with the ownership identification code embedded in the email invitation. The advertiser then receives a large amount e
-Standard coupons can be sent via email or banner ad. Depending on how the system is configured, the VRCD is either sent directly to the VRCD database host 20 and filtered and stored in the user database 23, or sent to the user 19 and optionally to the VRCD database host 20. May be forwarded.

Any of the solutions described above for portal partner site 30 and advertiser partner site 31 may be followed by a solution involving a merchant / distributor site. In fact, any of the above solutions can be applied to the type of web-connected partner based on that partner's unique needs. Applications other than traditional e-commerce applications can be facilitated by this system and method. For example, manufacturers / distributors / service providers can provide click-links on their homepage 32 to virtual document product or service information or virtual document assurance. Virtual documents such as product or service information or warranties can be sent to the user's i-PIM at the database host 20 so that the user can conveniently view them. In any of the above cases, upon reaching the VRCD database 29, various field information is stripped from the VRCD and VRCD 41 (not shown; FIG. 4).
(See FIG. 4) and are automatically categorized by category based on the attributes stored in an attribute file 40 (not shown; see FIG. 4) and automatically placed in the appropriate portion of the user database 23.

VRCD Organization Method This method will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in this figure, and also referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, process 30 begins with a user maintaining (31) a web-based VRCD Organizer or registering with an entity hosting it. Is preferred. The first registration is VRC
This can be done directly on the host 20 of the D database computer, or via an affiliated merchant or other site 30, 31, 32 with internet connection.

The user / consumer 19 may use an existing email address, or a new one dedicated to receiving and requesting large or targeted commercial emails, for example. An e-mail address is preferably specified. Since users often have more than one e-mail address, in the application described here, users often receive VRCD via their different e-mail addresses. The user can send these different e-mail addresses to the VRC
It can be given in the registration with the D entity, so that when the VRCD is forwarded from any of the user's e-mail addresses to the VRCD entity, the system will verify it and organize them with a single user. You can Users often set multiple email addresses to receive multiple coupons, but coupons are typically offered to only one email address. The system implemented here has the advantage of verifying that more than one offer has been entered in the VRCD Organizer and thus preventing duplicate offers to the same VRCD Organizer per user. In functional block 32, VRCD database host 20 preferably establishes a user database 23 in database 29 by database server 28. The user database 23 preferably comprises the records in the large database 29. The user database 23, and other records, preferably in a large database, each contain a number of categories in which the VRCD requested by the consumer / user can be stored. Also, consumers / users are
Is not specifically required to be stored in the user database 23 and such VRCDs may be selected based on the profile associated with that user / consumer 19.

With particular reference to block 32 of FIG. 3, an attribute file is preferably associated with each VRCD to facilitate filtering and storage of the VRCD.
The data structure of how these files are related and organized is shown in FIG. 4, which is described below. The attributes file (not shown; see FIG. 4) is provided to, for example, a merchant partner 30, 31, 32, which associates or associates the attributes file with the email sent to the user. At block 33, the user may request the host 20 to send a VRCD by responding to an email invitation or by clicking on a banner ad or other clickable graphic. When responding to an email invitation, it is preferred that the attribute file already exists, which will be attached to the user's email response. The e-mail reply can be sent directly to the host 20, or via one of the merchant sites 30, 31 or 32, which will record a "hit" and send the information. It can be transferred to the host 20. If the user responds by clicking the link, VRCD
Is preferably sent directly to the host 20 from the adaptable merchant site along with its associated attribute file (block 34).

At block 35, the host 20 classifies the VRCD based on the information in the attribute file and, in this same block, stores it in the appropriate user database 23 of the database 29 based on the filter links and classification by the attribute file information. , Thereby updating the user's integrated PIM or "I-PIM".
Thus, the i-PIM can be obtained for user access, and the user can optionally synchronize the PDA with the PIM at block 36 or interact directly with the web server 26 of the host 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the attribute file 4 associated with the VRCD data file 41
The information contained in 0 is the merchant ID 42, the offer or promotion ID 43,
It includes a user ID 44 or other attribute 45. Other attributes include merchant class, website URL, merchant address, map and e-mail information, but this additional information can be associated with a particular merchant ID at host 20 and integrated into the i-PIM there. Is preferred.

Also in this case, the VRCD is a gift certificate, a product warranty, a sales receipt, a product instruction, a repair instruction, a discount ticket, a gift certificate, a product registration card, an entertainment ticket, a credit card statement, a bank statement and a prescription. , And a user database on an Internet-connected host computer is preferably associated with an individual Internet user / consumer, the database is a collaborative user / consumer such as a business or charity or civil society. It can also be designated as a group of persons. Screen Display of VRCD Database Referring to FIG. 5, virtual coupons or “voupons” are particularly well suited to be organized and collected according to the embodiments described above. This figure is a view of the "coupon" portion of the user's personal database 23 as it appears on the display screen of the user's client PC 10. This particular screen 50 may be accessed directly from the database host web server 26, or it may be transparently integrated within the website of another entity, such as the portal website 30.

In one preferred solution, user 19 may save the “pizza” coupon in response to an email invitation from a pizza restaurant. Under this solution,
The pizza restaurant preferably e-mails the coupon with the promotion ID or coupon ID 43 to the user 19, which coupon ID 43 is given to the merchant by the database host 20. The user's client may automatically register this offer in the individual database 23, or Joe may "subscribe" the offer.
You can set it to do so only if you "accept". Under this application, the VRCD 41 is sent to the host 20 along with the associated attribute file 40, as the user's individual database 23 is preferably stored on another web-connected site 20. Promotion ID or coupon ID 4
If 3 is unique, then it is the only information that needs to be sent to host 20. Alternatively, other attribute information, such as merchant specific information, may be provided to host 20. The attributes that uniquely identify the user are also preferably included in the attributes file 40 to allow the VRCD to be specified in the appropriate individual user database 23.

Rather than transferring this information to the host 20 immediately, the VRCD is stored in the organizer associated with the client, and the web-based i-PIN at the host 20 is between the client device and the web host 20. It can be updated to include this information during the next synchronization. Still referring to FIG. 5, in this application, there is an ownership code embedded in the bulk e-mail to the user, including at least the promotion ID or coupon ID, which causes the system described herein to send the e-mail. It can be converted and stored automatically in the "Coupons: Restaurants" section of the user database 23. A detailed description of the screen 50 of FIG. 5 reveals that the highlighted tab at the top of the screen is the “Coupons” tab 52. Although not shown in the database format, the data in the box 51 of FIG. 5 is data stored in the “coupon: restaurant” section of the user database 23.

Another tab seen at the top of FIG. 5 is the “Instructions / Warranty” tab 53,
It includes a "discount" tab 54, an "account" tab 55, and a "travel" tab 56. This list of categories / tabs is not meant to be exhaustive or fixed. In other words, the database server 28 working with the application server 26 preferably operates to define new categories, eg, new categories that arise during use of the systems and methods described herein. Useful information shown on screen 50 includes restaurant name 57, offer details 58, offer expiration date 59, restaurant telephone number 60 and coupon code 61. The coupon code shown here may be the same as or derived from the coupon ID or promotion ID originally associated with the VRCD. As mentioned above, this may be the only information sent to the host 20 by the remote site 30, 31, 32 or the client 10 and the host 20.
May have a database of coupon codes that notify host 20 of restaurant 57, offer details 58, expiration date 59 and restaurant telephone number 60.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is an exemplary banner ad 62.
The pizza restaurant voupon can be clipped by a clickable link or button 63, as shown in this advertisement. In this case, the banner ad is shown as a banner ad right on the hosted website, but this clickable banner ad that uses Bopon is a merchant or advertiser who has a VRCD database hosting company 20. May be on any website as long as you are a partner of Bopons are preferably automatically organized by the database server 28 and stored in the user database 23 as described for the method shown in FIG.

By the clickable link 64 shown above the restaurant offer of FIG.
A set of coupon subcategories can be accessed. VRCDs (coupons, discounts, bills, etc.) are more than just this, as are the wider classes,
It's not just these narrow categories. In this example, shown within clickable link 64 is "View Restaurant, Music, Fashion, Grocery, and All." Also shown in FIG. 5 is a clickable link 6 to the personal information database.
5, 66 are also shown (calendar 65 and contacts 66). The integration of the personal information database and the VRCD information constitutes the web-based VRCD organizer or i-PIM described here.

FIG. 6 is a screen display for the user's web-based i-PIM “Coupon: Food” category. The screen shows the user's grocery manufacturer and grocery store coupons. As shown in this figure, consumers are preferably able to integrate their coupon preferred shopping list 67 with an online grocery store.
The online grocery store can be selected using drop-down list 68 or other known web design techniques that provide an item "selector".
The consumer uses the drop-down list 68 to select his online grocery store, and the VRCD database host then seamlessly connects the user to the affiliated online grocery store to allow the consumer's previous shopping. Search the list from an online grocery store. If the user is already at the affiliated online grocery website, the online grocery store preferably has access to the user's coupon preferred grocery list from the VRCD database host.

Once the user / consumer decides to connect online to the grocery store, he preferably connects to the affiliated online grocery store via pull-down list 68. The affiliated online grocery store then accesses the user's individual VRCD database 23 to retrieve his coupon list 51 and grocery list 67 and proceed with his shopping while the user is on the online grocery store site. Preferably. After the consumer has completed the shopping, the i-PIM Organizer may then use the coupons previously cut and collected in the user database 23 according to the item and brand or price preference selected for purchase from the grocery list 67. Match automatically. If the user has set the shopping list coupon preference to buy bread at a lower price without the brand preference, the i-PIM Organizer will automatically match the coupon with the bread brand and the database. Use the server application running on the server in your host to select the cheapest priced item (considering the coupon). When selecting a Pepsi for online purchase and having a brand coupon preference for soft drinks, the VRCD database organizer searches for only the Pepsi coupon matching the Pepsi brand purchase item, if any.

The next thing the consumer sees is the item selected in the grocery list 67 selected by the consumer's preference. The consumer accepts all the selected items or, if he does not like the particular brand selected, redeem the items individually and search for other coupons in the coupon organizer. After completing this stage,
Submit your purchase request. The online grocery store then contacts the user database 23 to amortize the matching coupons stored in the user's individual database. Also, by configuring the i-PIM with the user's online grocery store login name and password, the user's web-based i-P can automatically purchase groceries.
IM can also be set. By doing this, the i-PIM accepts the user's shopping list 67 and automatically logs in to the online grocery store's website via a pull-down menu selection 68 to determine the user's brand preference, item price and coupon. Collect or select items for purchase based on, and present those selections to the user in the i-PIM "Coupon: Grocery" screen described above. The user can then change or approve those selections, and the i-PIM can complete the online grocery store purchase based on the user's final selections.

FIG. 7 shows a screen 70 similar to that provided for “Coupon: Restaurant” 50. Tab 52 shown in FIG. 7 and having the same reference numbers as in FIGS. 5-6.
, 53, 54, 55, 56 and clickable links 65, 66 perform the same function as in those figures and also in the figures described below. Screen 70 contains information for instructions and warranties generally similar to the information in table 51 on screen 50 of FIG. As shown by the clickable link 71, the list of product instructions / warranties includes, but is not limited to, “equipment, electronics, and toys” herein. Given that there are no unique coupon IDs associated with these discounts, the question is how the VRCD information reaches the user database 23. One solution is to specify a unique number for each warranty or product instruction document, so that, like the unique coupon or promotion ID 43 (see FIG. 4),
All that is required is to send that information to the host 20 and identify all VRCDs. Alternatively,
All such details for identifying the product warranty or information sheet can also be sent to the host 20 from the partner website. One detail that is preferably included is the website where the actual text of the document is stored, or the actual text of the document may be stored in the user database 23.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot 72 of the “discount” category. Although the discount subcategories are not shown in this screenshot, the categories can be divided into subcategories based on the type of merchant or service provider associated with the discount. The database information shown here includes company, discount details, and discount expiration date. As with product warranty and product information, there are no coupons or promotion IDs that uniquely identify the elements shown here. As mentioned above,
You can specify a hidden thing, such as this ID, which is sent to host 20 to specify the information to be stored, or you can send a set of such information in its entirety each time. . FIG. 9 shows a screenshot 80 of the “account” category. The merchant and statement are shown in table 81 and stored in user database 23. This database 23 preferably also stores the actual contents of the account or the merchant's statement. In this way, the user database acts as a sort of "shoe box" for public record accounts and bank and credit card statements. Also in this case,
The "Accounts" category can be divided into subcategories accessible by click links on the page.

The record of each statement stored in the individual VRCD database 23 and displayed on the “Account” screen 80 is preferably provided with an internet hyperlink to the website of the merchant, bank or credit card company. . If the user's login name and password are given to the i-PIM, the user can either directly click on an online account with each company, or the i-PIM can directly access the merchant's website. Another exemplary screenshot is shown in FIG. This screenshot 90 is for the "Travel" category. The clickable link 92 shown provides the travel and hotel subcategories for this category. The information provided to the VRCD database host 20 is typically provided to this section by the VRCD provided to the database host 20 by airlines, travel agencies and online travel planning websites. The VRCD administrator gives these VRCD sources header and field formats so that the VRCD database host 20 can properly identify and parse the VRCD coming from these sources so that the sources are in the expected format. In contrast, their VRCD can be confirmed. In this way, for example, the VRCD database host 20 can confirm that the incoming file or message is a VRCD comparable to i-PIM. The database host may also be able to parse the fields from the incoming VRCD according to a predetermined format, and thus the relevant field information should be provided by the airline, travel agency or travel website VRCD data source. Can be stored in the user's individual database 23 based on

Thus, for example, when setting up a trip through an online booking travel website, the online travel agency sends a confirmation e-mail to the user's i-PIM,
Then, VRCD is attached to this confirmation e-mail, and i-
The PIM can retrieve such information as flight number, departure and arrival times, confirmation number and airline contact information. Similarly, hotel contact information and addresses, as well as maps, can be provided and stored in the user's individual database 23. This information is automatically parsed and classified in the appropriate subsection of the user's individual database 23.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary screenshot 100 of a contact manager for a user 19 web-based integrated PIM or i-PIM. This contact manager has "personal,""business," clickable links 102
And "commercial" subgroups are formed. Table 101 shows an exemplary set of information associated with each contact manager entry. The features shown in this embodiment are VRCD features in the i-PIM contact manager and other categories that also provide useful information to the calendar. For example, the table has entries 103, 104 for both airlines and pizza delivery companies. In one embodiment, these entries are “accounts”.
VRCD for another category, such as "Coupons" or "Travel", is completed when it also includes contact information for the account, coupon, or merchant or service provider associated with the trip. For example, the entry 103 shown for "Account" is automatically created upon receipt of the pizza coupon, thus forming a contact list entry with the address and phone number of the pizza delivery company.
As another example, entry 104 is automatically created upon receipt of a travel VRCD. Such integrated functionality assists the user in effectively maintaining or managing the user's resources.

FIG. 12 shows a screenshot 110 of the calendar function of i-PIM.
Here, along with the user's normal calendar, other calendar entries can be automatically generated upon receipt of the VRCD. This calendar is VR
Can be formed on a website where the CD host 20 acts as a host,
Thus, the user can go directly to the website and maintain their personal calendar. Software for online calendar is i
It can be formed on the PIM website server or by a calendar hosting service. Internet portals often act as calendar hosts, which are sometimes directly from their own site and sometimes special companies in online calendar software development and hosting, such as eCal, Inc. Through. An example of the features that can be provided via these online calendar services is US Pat. , 960,406.

It has been disclosed herein that such an online calendar can be automatically updated with a significant date based on the VRCD received and classified by the VRCD database host 20. For example, upon receipt of a coupon, the expiration date of the coupon can be automatically registered in the user's personal online calendar. The user is preferably able to set a certain threshold value for the coupon, for example $ 10, before entering the expiration date of the coupon in the online calendar. Other forms of VRCD that are received and classified often have significant dates associated with them, which are preferably automatically entered in the user's online calendar.

For example, it may be useful to automatically update an online calendar with a maintenance schedule when some form of product instruction VRCD is received. Products of this type are, for example, smoke detector battery replacement dates or vehicle maintenance schedules. By providing the product vendor with header and field information for such instruction VRCD, the VRCD database administrator can ensure that this information can be automatically parsed from the VRCD and updated to the user's online calendar. . Similarly, the expiration date of the discount can be automatically selected from the "Discount" VRCD and updated to the user's online calendar, and the account due date can be extracted from the "Account" VRCD to extract the user's online calendar. Can be filled in. In addition, certain VRCD header and field formats are
Flight departures and arrivals information can also be retrieved from the "travel" VRCD by supplying it to travel agencies and online travel planning sites.

Also, if the user's online calendar is maintained somewhere other than the VRCD database host 20 (ie, online calendar access is provided by a drop down menu on the i-PIM calendar page 110):
The VRCD Organizer can automatically update the user's calendar by receiving the username and password from the user and thereby accessing the online calendar. This username and password is preferably VRCD so that the user's online calendar can be accessed and updated.
The i-PIM Organizer can be programmed via one of the servers residing on the database host 20.

Although various methods have been described for implementation on a general purpose computer that is selectively activated or reconfigured by software, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these methods may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or more specialized devices. It will be clear that can be implemented in. Further, as used herein, "client" is to be broadly construed to mean a computer or component thereof that is directly or indirectly connected to or capable of connecting to a computer network, such as the Internet, in a known or later developed manner. I want to be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network in which a “Virtual Retail Associated Document (VRCD)” organizer can be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a VRCD organizer host environment for storing a VRCD in a user's personal database.

[Figure 3]   6 is a flow chart of a method by which a VRCD can be organized and distributed.

[Figure 4]   It is a data structure figure of VRCD and the attribute file merged with it.

FIG. 5 illustrates the “Coupon: Restaurant” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 6 illustrates the “Coupon: Grocery” portion of the user database as it would appear on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 7 illustrates the “instruction / guarantee” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 8 illustrates the “discount” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 9 illustrates the “account” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 10 illustrates the “Travel” portion of the user's personal database as it would appear on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 11 illustrates the “contact” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

FIG. 12 illustrates the “calendar” portion of the user's personal database as it appears on the user's client display screen.

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Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A method for managing a virtual document on behalf of a user by associating an attribute file with a given virtual document, the method comprising: a) establishing a user database with a set of categories on a networked computer; b) receiving at the networked computer at least one of the virtual documents and an associated attribute file, c) classifying the at least one virtual document based on the associated attribute file, and d) the above. Storing information from the at least one virtual document in one of the set of categories in a user database based on information in the attribute file. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the virtual documents is a gift certificate. 3. At least one of the virtual documents is a gift certificate, product warranty, sales receipt, product instruction, repair instruction, discount ticket, gift certificate, product registration card, entertainment ticket, credit card statement, bank statement. The method of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of a written form and a prescription form. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user database is associated with individual Internet users. 5. When requested by the individual Internet users,
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting one of the virtual documents from another networked computer to the networked computer. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the Internet user requests the virtual document from the other networked computer by clicking a banner ad on the other networked computer. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the Internet user requests the virtual document by clicking a button in the banner ad. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the Internet user requests the virtual document from the other networked computer by clicking a button in an e-mail received by the Internet user. . 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the Internet user requests the virtual document by establishing a favorite profile that includes categories of interest associated with the virtual document. 10. The method further comprising the step of storing at least one online website username and password on the networked computer and accessing the website protected by the online website username and password. The method according to 1. 11. The user database includes categories for grocery coupons, and further: a) providing a grocery coupon list to the server from the grocery coupon categories, and b) serving a grocery shopping website. Displayed to a client, the grocery shopping website includes an online grocery store selector for selecting from the grocery coupon list, the shopping list, and at least one group of online grocery stores. The method described in. 12. A) storing at least one online grocery website username on the networked computer to access the user's account at one of the online grocery stores, and b) shopping from a customer. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving a list, and c) automatically accessing at least one of the online grocery stores using the username, the shopping list and the grocery coupon list. The method described. 13. The automatic access further comprises automatically selecting a merchandise item based on a user-specified brand preference and price, and further, wherein the user selects the selected list of grocery items. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is submitted to and approved or modified for the selected list prior to final purchase. 14. A method of associating an attribute file with a virtual document to manage the virtual document on behalf of a user, comprising: a) establishing a user database having a set of categories, including coupon categories, on a networked computer. B) receiving at least one of the virtual documents and its associated attribute file at the networked computer, c) classifying the at least one virtual document based on the attribute file, and d) the user database. Storing at least information from the at least one virtual document in at least the coupon category based on information in the attribute file, e) supplying a coupon list from the coupon category to a server, and f) a shopping website as described above. Supply to server Displayed to the client, the shopping website includes a coupon list, a shopping list, and an online merchant selector for selecting from a group of at least one online merchant, and g) at least the group of online merchants. Store one of the user's usernames in the networked computer for one of: h) receive a shopping list from the customer; and i) use the username, the shopping list and the coupon list to store at least the A method comprising the step of automatically accessing one online merchant. 15. The step of automatically accessing further comprises automatically selecting an item based on a user-specified brand preference and price, and further, selecting the selected item list from the user. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is submitted to and is subject to approval or modification of the selected list prior to final purchase. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the merchant is a grocery store. 17. A database host for associating an attribute file with a given virtual document to manage the virtual document on behalf of a user, the database host being connected to a network, and a) a set. A user database having categories of: b) a network interface connected to the network and configured to receive electronic messages comprising the virtual document; and c) one of the virtual documents connected to the network interface. And a main server and associated software configured to classify the virtual document based on data provided in the associated attribute file of the virtual document, thereby parsing information elements from the virtual document. d) The user database and the above A database manager connected to the in-server, configured to receive the information parsed by the main server, and store the information in the user database category based on a purging command from the main server; A database host characterized by that. 18. The database host of claim 17, wherein the network interface, the main server and the database manager are all processors operating on a single server unit. 19. The gift certificate according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the virtual documents is a gift certificate.
Database host described in. 20. At least one of the virtual documents is a gift certificate, a product warranty,
18. The database host of claim 17, selected from the group consisting of sales receipts, product instructions, repair instructions, discount vouchers, gift certificates, product registration cards, entertainment tickets, credit card statements, bank statements and prescriptions. 21. The database host of claim 17, wherein the user database is associated with an individual Internet user. 22. The database host of claim 17, wherein the electronic message further includes user preference information from the user. 23. The database host of claim 22, wherein the user preference information includes a user name that the user uses to log in to a web-based application on at least one of the other networked computers. 24. The database host of claim 17, further comprising a web server connected to the main server and configured to display a web page accessible by the other networked computer. 25. The database host of claim 24, wherein the web server is a software process running on the same server unit as the main server. 26. The user database includes categories for grocery coupons, the database server is further configured to provide a grocery coupon list to the web server from the grocery coupon categories, and The web server is configured to provide a grocery shopping website for display to the client, the grocery shopping website selecting from a list of coupon offers, a shopping list, and at least one group of online grocery stores. The database host of claim 24, including an online grocery store selector for. 27. The electronic message further comprises user preference information from the user, the user preference information being at least one web-based food item on at least one of the other networked computers. Contains the username that the user uses to log in to the product application, and
The database host comprises a memory storing the username for accessing the web-based grocery application, and the web server further uses the username to access the web-based grocery application. 27. The database host of claim 26, wherein the database host is configured to automatically select a grocery item from an online grocery store based on the user name, the shopping list, and the coupon list. 28. A database host for associating an attribute file with a given virtual document to manage the virtual document on behalf of a user, the database host being connected to a network, and a) a coupon category. A user database having a set of categories comprising: b) a user database configured to provide a coupon list from said coupon categories; b) comprising said virtual document connected to said network and further from said user. A network interface configured to receive an electronic message comprising user preference information, the preference information being used by a user to log in to at least one online merchant in at least one of the other networked computers. But C) connected to the network interface, receiving one of the virtual documents, and classifying the virtual document based on data provided in the associated attribute file of the virtual document, and A main server and associated software configured to parse information elements from the virtual document by: d) receiving the information parsed by the main server, connected to the user database and the main server, and A database manager configured to store the information in the user database category based on purging instructions from the main server; e) a small number of the network interface, the main server and the database manager. A memory connected to at least one and operable to receive and store the user name received by the network interface; f) connected to the main server, the user database and the memory, the user database A web server configured to receive the coupon list from and to provide a shopping website for display to a client, the shopping website comprising the coupon list, the shopping list, and a group of at least one online merchant. Including an online merchant selector for selecting from, the web server further receives the username from the memory and using the username, the shopping list and the coupon list,
A database host configured to access the online merchant. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the web server is further configured to automatically select an item from the online merchant's online grocery store based on the user name, the shopping list and the coupon list. The listed database host. 30. A method for executing an online marketing campaign, comprising: a) providing, by a virtual document database host, a specified format for a virtual document and an attribute file to be associated with the virtual document to its affiliated online business partners, The specified format includes a virtual document provided to the user having a clickable button, the clickable button causing the virtual document and its associated attribute file to be sent to a virtual document database host, b) the virtual document database. The host receives the virtual document and its associated attribute file distributed by the affiliated online business partner, and c) receives the virtual document and attribute file, and clicks the clickable button. Associating with the email address of the individual who made the request, and d) storing the information from the virtual document in a user database based on the information contained in the attribute file associated with the virtual document. A method characterized by. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the specified format includes a promotional code that uniquely identifies a marketing campaign. 32. The specified format is from a group consisting of merchant name, merchant hyperlink, promotion offer summary, promotion offer summary with hyperlink to merchant's promotion page, promotion maturity date, and folder category. 31. The method of claim 30 including the information items of.