WO2001011442A2

WO2001011442A2 - System for dynamically integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and promotion incentives with feedback

Info

Publication number: WO2001011442A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/017147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Todd Schwartzfarb
Original assignee: Bigbroom. Com, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-08-06
Filing date: 2000-06-22
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: WO2001011442A3; AU5757500A

Abstract

A method for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and promotional incentives in an electronic communications system comprises the steps of: receiving in an electronic communications server an electronic communication for which a specified user is at least one of an intended recipient or an author (44); attaching to the electronic communication an advertisement in accordance with a predetermined set of preferences (64) as registered by the specific user (36); and, providing the electronic communication to a designated recipient and displaying the advertisement with the communication (68). The method can further comprise the step of recording feedback data relevant to the providing of the electronic communication to the designated recipient in an advertiser database associated with the specified user.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY INTEGRATING ELECTRONIC

COMMUNICATIONS, TARGETED ADVERTISING AND

PROMOTION INCENTIVES WITH FEEDBACK

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of electronic communications and more particularly

to a system and method for dynamically integrating electronic communications, targeted

advertising and promotional incentives with feedback.

Description of the Related Art

A goal of advertising as seen from the corporate viewpoint is to differentiate amongst

consumers and deliver advertisements to consumers which are tailored to the consumer's

individual tastes and preferences. In particular, targeted advertisements can be more effective

than "general purpose" advertisements because targeted advertisements include an inherent

relevance to the targeted consumer. In contrast, general purpose advertising wastes valuable

resources. By way of example, in the Internet context, general purpose banner

advertisements are large computer files, rich in graphics, and in consequence of their size,

become viewable only after a lengthy loading period. In addition, the problem of banner

advertising is compounded where the end user accesses the Internet through a traditional dial-

up connection. Hence, users are subjected to long download times for banner advertisements

having little or no relevance to the user. The general purpose banner advertisement not only

wastes the user's time, but communications bandwidth as well.

Merchants often engage in general purpose promotional marketing, a mechanism in

which promotional items including rebates, test market items, and contest prizes, for instance,

are distributed to potential customers in order to promote products offered for sale by the

merchant. Yet, general purpose promotional marketing, especially as implemented on the Internet, suffers from the same inefficiencies as general purpose banner advertising. Like the

general purpose banner advertisement, general purpose promotional marketing often reaches

the target audience at the expense of other, disinterested consumers. Like the general purpose

banner advertisement, general purpose promotional marketing on the Internet wastes both the

user's time and Internet bandwidth. Significantly, the advertiser cannot effectively judge the

effectiveness of the general purpose or targeted advertisement without sufficient feedback

from the consumer as to the advertisement's effect. Specifically, with general purpose banner

advertisements, the advertiser is deprived of feedback indicating whether a recipient has

viewed the advertisement. Moreover, consumers presented with an electronic advertisement

have little incentive to read future advertisements, particularly in view of the inherent

inefficiencies of Internet advertising. Thus, a need exists for the seamless, bandwidth-

efficient integration of targeted advertising and electronic communications which provides

for advertisement effectiveness feedback in addition to reading incentives directed to the

consumer.

Present systems fail to properly address the need for resource efficient, user specific

promotional marketing. For example, United States Patent 5,283,731 issued on February 1,

1994 to James E. Lalonde and Terry R. Dettmann for COMPUTER-BASED CLASSIFIED

AD SYSTEM AND METHOD discloses a general purpose classified advertisement system

for matching a classified "want" advertisement with buyers seeking the corresponding wares

offered for sale in the classified want advertisement. In particular, the Lalonde et al. patent

includes means for creating an advertising database having a plurality of advertisements,

means for receiving profile data describing an item sought from others through the system,

means for comparing the profile data to the advertisements, and means for generating text output data when matches are found. The Lalonde et al. invention, however, does not match

the classified advertisement with a buyer according to a user profile describing general user

product preferences. Rather, the subject invention matches a specific request for a specific

product with a specific product held for sale. The subject invention does not transmit

targeted advertising to the user according to general user advertising preferences. Moreover,

the subject invention does not integrate electronic communications with promotional

incentives.

Similarly, United States Patent 5,305,195 issued on April 19, 1994 to Arthur J.

Murphy for INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE TERMINALS fails

to directly and completely address the inefficiencies of general purpose advertising. The

Murphy patent discloses a general purpose advertising system which provides general

advertising information to college student users during the student's use of the terminal

connected to the system. The advertisements are stored on a central college campus

mainframe and are distributed to the student terminals intermittently. Significantly, the

advertisements are not tailored to particular preferences of each student. Rather, the student

merely receives general purpose advertising. Moreover, the Murphy system distributes

electronically stored video advertising messages, an advertising medium which inherently

consumes significant communications bandwidth. Notably, Murphy recognizes bandwidth

limitations of the college computer network observing that the disclosed system remains

technically viable only if the long lines feeding the central computer with each students

computer terminal have the necessary bandwidth to handle the video signals for display on

the terminal. Thus, the Murphy system remains susceptible to one of the inefficiencies of

general purpose advertising—inefficient use of communications bandwidth. Recent systems have attempted to integrate advertising and promotional marketing

with electronic communications. These systems, however, fail to provide efficient, targeted

advertising and promotional incentives integrated with electronic communications. In

addition, present systems do not provide the advertiser with appropriate feedback as to the

effectiveness of the integrated advertising and promotional incentives. For instance, the

inventive method disclosed in United States Patent 5,850,520 issued on December 15, 1998

to L. Joy Griebenow, Dale S. Howard and Kim Lenger for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR

ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION DISTRIBUTION INCLUDING RETURN RECEIPT

provides for the distribution of targeted advertising integrated with an electronic

communication. Specifically, the method allows for the electronic distribution of customized

publications, including customized advertising, to the consumer by electronically sending the

publication to the consumer's electronic email address. Notwithstanding, the Griebenow et

al. invention does not track the effect of the customized advertising. Moreover, the

Griebenow et al. system lacks a facility for rewarding the reader for interacting with the

customized advertising so as to encourage the user to read and propagate the customized

advertisements.

In contrast, United States Patent 5,791,991 issued on August 11, 1998 to Maynard E.

Small for INTERACTIVE CONSUMER PRODUCT PROMOTION METHOD includes a

facility for rewarding the reader for interacting with the customized advertising so as to

encourage the user to read and propagate the customized advertisements. The Small patent

discloses an interactive consumer product promotion method and match game in which a user

can engage in an Internet-based, interactive promotional contest. As a reward for winning,

the Maynard invention provides to the user rebates and coupons redeemable by the user towards the purchase of related consumer products. Still, the contest prizes offered by the

Maynard system remain independent from user advertising preferences inasmuch as the user

must select preferred advertising each time the user engages in the promotional contest.

Moreover, the inventive method integrates the promotional incentives with electronic

communications only to the extent that a coupon or rebate is generated in response to the

user's successful completion of a contest. Thus, Maynard discloses a general purpose

advertising system for distributing promotional incentives responsive to a user's participation

in a promotional contest. Conversely, the Maynard patent fails to disclose a method for

seamlessly integrating electronic communications with targeted advertising and promotional

incentives.

While some present methods provide customized advertising to the Internet user, no

one system or method, individually or in combination with one another, provides an efficient

and seamless integration of an electronic communication with targeted advertising and

promotional incentives while providing feedback to the advertiser with respect to the

advertisement's and incentive's effect. Hence, there remains a need for an efficient method

and system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and promotional

incentive with advertiser feedback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising

and promotional incentives with feedback in accordance with the inventive arrangement

satisfies the long felt need of the prior art by providing a complete integration between

electronic communications and targeted advertising. Moreover, the inventive arrangements

provide a method and system for merging the two unique functions of electronic communications and promotional marketing. The inventive arrangements have advantages

over all promotional advertising methods used to target users of electronic communications,

and provides a novel and nonobvious system and method for incorporating into electronic

communications targeted advertising and promotional incentives with feedback.

A method for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and

promotional incentives in an electronic communications system comprises the steps of:

receiving in a electronic communications server an electronic communication for which a

specified user is at least one of an intended recipient or an author; attaching to the electronic

communication an advertisement in accordance with a predetermined set of preferences as

registered by the specific user; and, providing the electronic communication to a designated

recipient and displaying the advertisement with the communication. The method can further

comprise the step of recording feedback data relevant to the providing of the electronic

communication to the designated recipient in an advertiser database associated with the

specified user.

Aside from targeted advertising, the advertisement attached to the electronic

communication can also include a promotional incentive. In addition, the promotional

incentive can be selected based upon a predetermined criteria. Moreover, the predetermined

criteria can be selected from the group consisting of at least one of the number of

communications sent by the specified user and the number of communications received by

the user. Finally, the promotional incentive can include a game piece.

The inventive method can further comprise the steps of: determining whether a

communication addressed to the specified user includes an existing advertisement prior to the

attaching step; and, replacing the existing advertisement with an advertisement in accordance with user preferences prior to displaying the communication to the user. Also, the method

can further comprise the steps of: determining whether a pattern of communications sent and

received by the user meets a fraud criteria; and, excluding the specified user from

participation in a promotion when the criteria are met.

A system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and

promotional incentives with feedback comprises: a communications server for transmitting

an electronic communication; a user database for storing user information relating to the

advertising and the promotional incentives; an advertiser database for storing advertisements

and promotional incentives associated with individual advertisers; an advertisement selector

for selecting the advertisements and the promotional incentives contained in the advertiser

database for integration with the electronic communication according to the user information

stored in the user database; an output generator for integrating the electronic communication

with the selected advertisements and the selected promotional incentives for transmission by

the communications server; and, an advertisement activity recorder for recording feedback

data relating to the user's transmission of the integrated electronic communication and for

storing the feedback data in the advertiser database.

The electronic communications server can be an electronic mail server for sending

and receiving electronic mail. The electronic mail server can further comprise a graphical

user interface for displaying the electronic mail. The graphical user interface can be a world-

wide web based interface. The system can further comprise a quantity processor for

qualifying the electronic communication for integration with the promotional advertisements

according to statistical communications data stored in the user database.

The user database of the inventive system can comprise: a user identification field for identifying each user authorized to access the integrated electronic communications system;

an advertiser selection field for associating each the user with a plurality of preferred

advertisers contained in the advertiser database; and, a plurality of log files for storing

feedback data associated with the user transmission, each log file containing statistics

corresponding to a single authorized user's advertising and promotional incentive statistics.

The advertisement selector of the inventive system can comprise: an ad selector for

selecting an advertisement contained in the advertiser database for integration with the

electronic communication. Significantly, the advertisement is selected according to user

preferences stored in the user database. The advertisement selector further comprises: a

reward processor for matching the selected advertisement with a promotional incentive

corresponding to the advertisement; and, means for recording the promotional incentive and

the selected advertisement in the user database. The reward processor of the inventive system

can comprise a random reward processor for randomly distributing winning promotional

incentives in accordance with threshold probabilities of receiving a winning promotional

incentive. The threshold probabilities are associated with the selected advertiser

corresponding to the selected promotional incentive. Furthermore, the threshold probabilities

are stored in the advertiser database.

The output generator of the inventive system can comprise: a tag generator for

forming a promotional tag for attachment to the electronic communication. Notably, the

promotional tag contains the selected advertisement, the matched promotional incentive and a

user identifier for identifying the authorized user associated with the promotional tag. The

tag generator comprises: a tag identifier for identifying a previously attached promotional tag

in the electronic communication; a tag removal module for removing the previously attached promotional tag from the electronic communication; and, a tag formation module for forming

a promotional tag containing the selected advertisement, the selected promotional incentive

and the user identifier. The output generator can further comprise a tag attachment module

for attaching the promotional tag to the electronic communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There are presently shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently

preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise

arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the interactive dynamic between the inventive

system, a group of advertisers, a group of authorized system users and external passive

participants.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system for integrating electronic communications,

targeted advertising and promotional incentives with feedback.

Fig. 3 shows a sample registration screen.

Figs. 4A - 4D illustrate sample integrated electronic communications produced by the

system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and promotional

incentive with feedback.

Figs. 5A and 5B, taken together, are a flow chart illustrating a method for integrating

electronic communications, targeted advertising and promotional incentives in an electronic

communications system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and

promotional incentives with feedback improves upon the ability of advertisers to target customers by providing a new format for advertisement customization. Fig. 1 illustrates the

interactive dynamic between the inventive system 1, a group of advertisers 3, a group of

authorized system users 2 and external passive participants residing on the Internet 4. In the

preferred embodiment, each authorized user 2 registers advertisement preferences with the

system 1. Literally, the authorized user 2 chooses which types of advertisements the

authorized user 2 prefers to read and which advertisements the authorized user 2 prefers to

exclude. Each authorized user 2 is motivated to reveal these preferences through an

incentives program consisting of rebates, rewards or points, useful to redeem a promotional

prize.

In the preferred embodiment, authorized users 2 participate through the use of an

electronic mail account through which electronic messages can be sent and received. Each

authorized user 2 can receive the preferred advertising content as a targeted advertisement

and promotional incentive integrated with and attached to the authorized user's 2 electronic

messages. As compensation for participating in the system 1, the advertising content can

further include a promotional coupon. In particular, the promotional coupon can be a game

piece which can enable the authorized user 2 to claim a promotional prize, for instance

currency, merchandise, and reward points. Thus, the authorized user 2 provides advertisers 3

with a more efficient method of reaching their targeted consumer with efficient advertising, in

exchange for a promotional incentive.

targeted advertising and promotional incentives with feedback. In the preferred embodiment,

each authorized user 2 interacts with electronic communications server 10. In the preferred

embodiment, electronic communications server 10 is an electronic mail server used to send electronic messages through the Internet 4 using the SMTP protocol and to receive electronic

messages from the Internet 4 using the POP3 protocol. The authorized user 2 can

communicate with the electronic communications server 10 through any number of electronic

mail management programs communicating with the electronic communications server 10

through the Internet 4. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the authorized user

2 could communicate with the electronic communications server 10 though a dial-up

connection or through a private computer communications network. Moreover, the electronic

communications server 10 need not be limited to sending and receiving electronic mail using

the SMTP and POP3 protocols, respectively. Rather, the electronic communications server

10 can send and receive electronic mail using any suitable messaging standard including

simple file sharing, for instance NFS or Novell Simple Message Format (SMF).

Initially, each authorized user 2 registers using registration system 27. During the

registration process, the authorized user 2 provides to the system 1 advertising preferences.

The advertising preferences provided by authorized user 2 are stored in user database 11.

User database 11 can include an advertiser selection field 25 for each authorized user 2 for

storing advertisement preferences for each authorized user 2. User database 11 can further

include a user identification field 24 for identifying each authorized user 2 participating in the

system 1. Finally, the user database 11 can include a log file 26 for each authorized user 2 for

storing user feedback data associated with the authorized user's 2 participation in the

advertising system 1. Preferably, advertisements provided by each advertiser 3, in addition to

promotional incentive statistics, are stored in advertiser database 12.

The authorized user can participate in the system 1 , in accordance with the inventive

method shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, by sending and receiving electronic mail through electronic communications server 10. Having registered with the system 1 using registration

system 27, each authorized user 2 can send and receive electronic mail using the system 1.

Whether sending a message or receiving a message through the system 1 , a targeted

advertisement and promotional incentive can be attached to the end of each message before

the system 1 transmits the message to the message's intended destination. Before sending or

receiving an electronic message, system 1 can query the advertisement selector 13 for a

suitable advertisement for attachment to the electronic message. In particular, ad selector 17

can choose an advertisement according to user preferences stored in the authorized user's 2

advertiser selection field 25.

Preferably, reward processor 23 can choose when to reward the authorized user 2 for

participating in the system 1 according to a stored mathematical formula or other process. As

noted above, the reward can include a coupon for claiming a prize, or a game piece, the

collection of which can result in a future reward. Furthermore, one skilled in the art will

recognize that any method for choosing a reward can be suitable. For instance, in another

embodiment, the authorized user 2 can receive a reward according the number of messages

transmitted when that number exceeds a predetermined threshold. In yet another

embodiment, the authorized user 2 can receive points for each message transmitted for

redeeming a prize in the future. Hence, each electronic message is an opportunity for the

authorized user 2 to receive a reward chosen by the reward processor. In any case, the reward

can be included as part of the promotional incentive attached to the electronic message.

In the preferred embodiment, the system 1 can also include a quantity processor 14 for

preventing the abuse of the incentive system by an authorized user 2. Specifically, the

quantity processor 14 can track the number of messages to be transmitted by the authorized user 2. If the authorized user 2 attempts to send an excessive quantity of messages merely to

fraudulently collect reward points or other incentives, the quantity processor 14 can exclude

the messages from further advertising integration. In particular, the system 1 can store in the

user database 11 a threshold quantity of messages above which such quantity can be

considered excessive triggering the quantity processor's 14 exclusion routine.

System 1 preferably includes an output generator 15 for integrating the incoming or

outgoing message with both the advertisement chosen by the ad selector 17 and the incentive

chosen by the reward processor 23. Specifically, output generator 15 attaches both the

advertisement chosen by ad selector 17 and the incentive chosen by reward processor 23 to

the incoming or outgoing electronic message when the authorized user 2 either sends or

receives an electronic message, respectively.

The output generator 15 can include a tag generator 21 and tag attachment module 22.

Tag generator 21 preferably forms the promotional tag for attachment to the electronic

message at the end of the authorized user's 2 message. Tag generator 21 can include a tag

identifier 18, tag formation module 20 and tag removal module 19. Tag formation module 20

can form each tag by including the advertisement chosen by ad selector 17 and the incentive

chosen by reward processor 23. Tag attachment module 22 can integrate the composite

promotional advertisement formed by the tag formation module 20 with the electronic

message by attaching the tag to the end of the electronic communication to be transmitted by

the electronic communications system 10.

Where an external entity on the Internet 4 transmits an electronic message to the

electronic communications system 10 for ultimate receipt by an authorized user 2, tag

attachment module 22 preferably attaches a tag to the incoming message. Notwithstanding, unlike the treatment of an electronic message either sent by authorized user 2 or received by

authorized user 2 from a source external to system 1, in the case where an electronic message

has been sent from one authorized user 2 to another authorized user 2, tag identifier 18 can

parse the incoming message for an existing tag. Upon identification, the tag can be removed

by tag removal module 19 and replaced with the authorized user's 2 preferred advertising

content reflected in the tag formed by tag formation module 20. In contrast, where an

electronic communication sent by an authorized user 2 is destined for an external entity on

the Internet 4, the system 1 assumes that the intended recipient will share similar advertising

preferences as the authorized user 2. Thus, the tag is not removed where the electronic

message is sent by an authorized user 2 to an external user on the Internet 4.

Upon transmittal of the electronic message by electronic communications server 10,

activity recorder 16 can record the event in both the log file 26 associated with the authorized

user 2 and the advertiser database 12. Significantly, the activity recorder 16 provides

feedback to the advertiser 3 of the authorized user's 2 advertisement reading and transmitting

habits. In addition, the authorized user's 2 participation in the system 1, as reflected in

statistical analysis tracked by the activity recorder 16, provides a foundation upon which the

authorized user 2 can be rewarded through incentives provided by the advertiser 3.

Fig. 3 shows a sample registration screen for interacting with the authorized user 2

during the registration process conducted by registration system 27. As shown in the figure,

the authorized user 2 can select existing companies for inclusion in the authorized user's 2

advertising preferences stored in the advertiser selection field 25. Moreover, the authorized

user 2 can choose to exclude certain advertisers from being integrated with the authorized

user's 2 electronic communications. Finally, so as to provide advertisers 3 with demographic feedback, the authorized user 2 can indicate personal interests during the registration process.

Ultimately, the information provided in the registration screen can be included in a cookie

stored on the client machine of the authorized user 2 for future reference by an information

clearing house server.

system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertisments and promotional

incentives with feedback. Fig. 4A shows a sample electronic mail message having a message

portion followed by the tag formed by tag generator 21. In this message, the authorized user

receives an "instant winner" incentive chosen by the reward processor 23. To redeem the

incentive, the authorized user 2 can click on the advertiser's uniform resource locator

provided in the tag. Alternatively, the authorized user 2 can provide the prize identification

number included in the tag to the reward processor 23. The reward processor 23 can

subsequently verify the prize by cross-referencing the supplied information with the

advertiser database 12 and transmit the reward to the authorized user 2. Similarly, Fig. 4B

illustrates a sample electronic mail message having a contest piece included in the tag. The

authorized user can accumulate attached prize pieces in subsequent electronic

communications. Specifically, the contest shown in Fig. 4B, a "spell-to-win" contest,

rewards the authorized user 2 when the authorized user 2 accumulates all letters needed to

spell the promotional word.

Fig. 4C illustrates a sample electronic message received by an authorized user 2 for

reading in an Internet Web-based browser graphical user interface. Significantly, tag 112 has

been added to the incoming electronic message 110 forming a composite message. Fig. 4D

shows an enlarged and isolated view of tag 1 12. Specifically, tag 112 is a "spell-to-win" contest piece. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that tag 112 includes authorized

user's 2 current progress in the particular spell-to-win contest, the cuπent progress having

been stored in user database 11. As shown in tag 112, authorized user 2 has collected the

letters "F", "R", "E" and "D". Thus, in order to spell "FREED VD" to win the prize,

authorized user 2 must collect the letters "E", "V" and "D".

targeted advertising and promotional incentives with an electronic communication in an

electronic communications system. In Fig. 5A, the inventive method begins in step 30 when

a user connects to the system 1. In decision step 32, the system 1 queries the user database 11

whether the user is a registered, authorized user 2. If the user is not registered, in step 34 the

system 1 can accept a user registration. Subsequently, the registration can be stored in user

database 11 in step 36. The now authorized user 2, in decision step 38, can choose to exit the

system 1 in step 40, or the authorized user 2 can log in to the system 1 in step 42. Likewise,

if the user had been recognized in decision step 32 as an authorized user 2, the authorized

user 2 can log in to the system 1 in step 42.

In the prefeπed method, having logged in to the system, in decision step 44 the

authorized user 2 chooses whether to read or send electronic mail. In the event the authorized

user 2 chooses to send electronic mail, in step 46 the system 1 allows the authorized user to

compose an electronic message. If in decision step 48 it is determined that the authorized

user 2 has chosen to view advertisements only from particular advertisers, the authorized

user's 2 preference having been stored in the user database 11, prior to sending the electronic

message to its intended destination, in step 50, output generator 15 preferably tags the

composed electronic message with a promotional advertisement chosen by the advertisement selector 13. Alternatively, if the user profile stored in user database 11 contains no

advertising preference, in step 52, the electronic message can be tagged with a default

advertisement chosen by the advertisement selector 13. In any event, having produced an

integrated electronic message, in step 54 the message can be sent to the intended recipient by

the electronic communications server 10.

If, in decision step 44, the authorized user 2 chose to read incoming electronic mail, in

step 60 the system 1 can display a list of received electronic messages to the authorized user.

Upon the authorized user's 2 selection of a particular electronic message for viewing, in

decision step 62, if it is determined that the authorized user 2 has chosen to view

advertisements only from particular advertisers, the authorized user's 2 preference having

been stored in the user database 11 , in step 64 output generator 15 preferably tags the

incoming electronic message with a promotional advertisement chosen by the advertisement

selector 13. Alternatively, if the user profile stored in user database 11 contains no

advertising preference, in step 52, the electronic message can be tagged in step 66 with a

default advertisement chosen by the advertisement selector 13. In either case, if the incoming

message already contains a tag, tag removal module 22 can remove the tag prior to tagging by

the tag formation module 20 and subsequent integration by the tag attachment module. In

any event, having produced an integrated electronic message, in step 68 the message can be

sent to an interface for viewing by the authorized user. 2.

Having either sent an electronic message in step 54, or viewed a received electronic

message in step 68, in decision step 70, the system 1 can determine if the authorized user 2 is

entitled to a reward redemption according to the incentive contained in the tag attached to the

received or sent electronic message. If, in decision step 70, the authorized user 2 is not entitled to a reward redemption, the authorized user 2, in decision step 72, can choose to exit

the system in exit block 74. Alternatively, following the path from decision block 72 to jump

circle A returning to decision step 44, the user can view or send another electronic message.

If, however, in decision step 70, the system 1 recognizes the authorized user's 2 entitlement

to a reward redemption, following the path leading to jump circle B, the system 1 further

processes the recognized reward.

Fig. 5B is a flow chart illustrating the method of processing incentive redemption in

the method for dynamically integrating electronic communications with promotional

advertising with feedback and incentive. Following the path leading from jump circle B, in

decision step 90, the system 1 first identifies the type of incentive contained in the tag of the

last read or sent electronic message. In the preferred embodiment, the incentive can be an

instant win incentive or a spell-to-win promotion. If the incentive is identified as an instant

win incentive, in step 92, the system 1 can accept a prize identification number contained in

the tag for verification. Similarly, if in decision step 90, a spell-to-win promotion is

recognized, in step 96 the system 1 can accept tags from various electronic messages having

the requisite letters for spelling the promotional word. In any case, in step 94, the prize

information, be it the prize identification number or the spell-to-win letters can be cross-

referenced with the authorized user's log file 26 to ensure a valid redemption. If, in decision

step 98, the prize is determined to be invalid based upon cross-reference step 94, the system 1

merely returns the authorized user 2 along the path leading to jump circle A leading back to

decision step 44. But, if the authorized user 2 has validly redeemed an incentive, in step 100,

the authorized user's entitlement to a prize can be recorded in the user database 11 for further

processing before returning to decision step 44 along the path leading to jump circle A. One advantage of the present invention is that the authorized user 2 can decrease the

viewing of low relevance advertisements. Currently, Internet users are bombarded with

advertisements of low relevance when browsing the Internet 4. Through the user of

registration system 27, the authorized user 2 can reveal advertising preferences and,

consequently, view targeted advertisements and promotional incentives of higher relevance.

Thus, the method provides for the seamless integration of electronic communications,

relevant targeted advertising and promotional incentives, while providing feedback to the

advertiser.

Claims

1. A method for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and

promotional incentives in an electronic communications system comprising the steps of:

receiving in a electronic communications server an electronic communication for

which a specified user is at least one of an intended recipient or an author;

attaching to said electronic communication an advertisement in accordance with a

predetermined set of preferences as registered by said specific user; and,

providing said electronic communication to a designated recipient and displaying said

advertisement with said communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording feedback

data relevant to said providing of said electronic communication to said designated recipient

in an advertiser database associated with said specified user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said advertisement further includes a

promotional incentive.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said promotional incentive is selected

based upon a predetermined criteria.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined criteria is selected from

the group consisting of at least one of the number of communications sent by said specified

user and the number of communications received by said user.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said promotional incentive includes a game

piece.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a communication addressed to said specified user includes an

existing advertisement prior to said attaching step; and,

replacing said existing advertisement with an advertisement in accordance with user

preferences prior to displaying said communication to said user.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a pattern of communications sent and received by said user

meets a fraud criteria; and,

excluding said specified user from participation in a promotion when said criteria are

met.

9. A system for integrating electronic communications, targeted advertising and

promotional incentives with feedback comprising:

a communications server for transmitting an electronic communication;

a user database for storing user information relating to said advertising and said

promotional incentives;

an advertiser database for storing advertisements and promotional incentives

associated with individual advertisers;

an advertisement selector for selecting said advertisements and said promotional incentives contained in said advertiser database for integration with said electronic

communication according to said user information stored in said user database;

an output generator for integrating said electronic communication with said selected

advertisements and said selected promotional incentives for transmission by said

communications server; and,

an advertisement activity recorder for recording feedback data relating to said user's

transmission of said integrated electronic communication and for storing said feedback data

in said advertiser database.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a quantity processor for qualifying said

electronic communication for integration with said promotional advertisements according to

statistical communications data stored in said user database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said user database comprises:

a user identification field for identifying each user authorized to access said integrated

electronic communications system;

an advertiser selection field for associating each said user with a plurality of preferred

advertisers contained in said advertiser database; and,

a plurality of log files for storing said feedback data associated with said user

transmission, each said log file containing statistics coπesponding to a single authorized

user's advertising and promotional incentive statistics.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said advertisement selector comprises: an ad selector for selecting an advertisement contained in said advertiser database for

integration with said electronic communication, said advertisement selected according to user

preferences stored in said user database;

a reward processor for matching said selected advertisement with a promotional

incentive coπesponding to said advertisement; and,

means for recording said promotional incentive and said selected advertisement in

said user database.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said output generator comprises:

a tag generator for forming a promotional tag for attachment to said electronic

communication, said promotional tag containing said selected advertisement, said matched

promotional incentive and a user identifier for identifying said authorized user associated

with said promotional tag; and,

a tag attachment module for attaching said promotional tag to said electronic

communication.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said reward processor comprises a random reward

processor for randomly distributing winning promotional incentives in accordance with

threshold probabilities of receiving a winning promotional incentive, wherein said threshold

probabilities are associated with said selected advertiser coπesponding to said selected

promotional incentive, and wherein said threshold probabilities are stored in said advertiser

database.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said tag generator comprises:

a tag identifier for identifying a previously attached promotional tag in said electronic

communication;

a tag removal module for removing said previously attached promotional tag from

said electronic communication; and,

a tag formation module for forming a promotional tag containing said selected

advertisement, said selected promotional incentive and said user identifier.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said electronic communications server is an electronic

mail server for sending and receiving electronic mail.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a graphical user interface for displaying

said electronic mail.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said graphical user interface is a world-wide web

based interface.