System and method for profiling listeners to improve content distribution and listener retention

Abstract

Listener data is gathered by obtaining first behavioral information from a user visiting a first website or mobile device using a first ID, obtaining second behavioral information from the user visiting a second website or mobile device that provides a different product from the first website using a second ID, correlating the first and second behavioral information to determine that they are that of a single user, associating the first ID with the second ID, and associating the first behavioral information with the second behavioral information. The method may use a device identifier for a device that accesses a streaming media site, and store information associated with the media site and the user's behavior. Credits can be assigned to the user based on the user's behavior, and promotions made available based on the user's behavior. The credits can then be accepted as tender for one or more of the promotions.

1 . A computer-implemented method of gathering data pertaining to an individual's behavior, comprising:
 obtaining first behavioral information from a single user when the user visits a first website and assigning a first user identifier to the single user, by executing first program instructions in a computer system;   obtaining second behavioral information from the single user when the user visits a second website that provides a different product from the first website and assigning a second user identifier to the user, by executing second program instructions in the computer system;   correlating the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information to determine that the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information are that of the single user, by executing third program instructions in the computer system;   associating the first user identifier with the second user identifier, by executing fourth program instructions in the computer system; and   associating the first behavioral information with the second behavioral information, by executing fifth program instructions in the computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning one or more listener profile classifications to the single user based on one of the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising selecting content from a pool of content based on the one or more listener profile classifications assigned to the single user and transmitting the selected content to a device associated with the single user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the selecting and transmitting is performed by a web based advertisement placement service provider. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the device is a smart phone and the content is advertising content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning credits to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information;   making promotions available to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information; and   accepting the credits as tender for one or more of the promotions.   
     
     
         7 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more processors which process program instructions;   a memory device connected to said one or more processors; and   program instructions residing in said memory device for gathering data pertaining to an individual's behavior by obtaining first behavioral information from a single user when the user visits a first website and assigning a first user identifier to the single user, obtaining second behavioral information from the single user when the user visits a second website that provides a different product from the first website and assigning a second user identifier to the user, correlating the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information to determine that the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information are that of the single user, associating the first user identifier with the second user identifier, and associating the first behavioral information with the second behavioral information.   
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein said program instructions further assign one or more listener profile classifications to the single user based on one of the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein said program instructions further select content from a pool of content based on the one or more listener profile classifications assigned to the single user and transmit the selected content to a device associated with the single user. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9  wherein the selecting and transmitting is performed by a web based advertisement placement service provider. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 9  wherein the device is a smart phone and the content is advertising content. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein said program instructions further assign credits to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information, make promotions available to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information, and accept the credits as tender for one or more of the promotions. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium; and   program instructions residing in said storage medium for gathering data pertaining to an individual's behavior by obtaining first behavioral information from a single user when the user visits a first website and assigning a first user identifier to the single user, obtaining second behavioral information from the single user when the user visits a second website that provides a different product from the first website and assigning a second user identifier to the user, correlating the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information to determine that the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information are that of the single user, associating the first user identifier with the second user identifier, and associating the first behavioral information with the second behavioral information.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  said program instructions further assign one or more listener profile classifications to the single user based on one of the first behavioral information and the second behavioral information. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein said program instructions further select content from a pool of content based on the one or more listener profile classifications assigned to the single user and transmit the selected content to a device associated with the single user. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the selecting and transmitting is performed by a web based advertisement placement service provider. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the device is a smart phone and the content is advertising content. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein said program instructions further assign credits to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information, make promotions available to the single user based on at least one of the first and second behavioral information, and accept the credits as tender for one or more of the promotions. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 using a device identifier to identify a user device that accesses a streaming media site, by executing first program instructions in a computer system;   storing information associated with the media site, by executing second program instructions in the computer system;   storing information associated with a behavior of a user of the user device, by executing third program instructions in the computer system;   assigning credits to the user based on the user's behavior, by executing fourth program instructions in the computer system;   making promotions available to the user based on the user's behavior, by executing fifth program instructions in the computer system; and   accepting the credits as tender for one or more of the promotions, by executing sixth program instructions in the computer system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 assigning one or more listener classifications to the user based on the stored behavior information; and 
 selecting content from a pool of content to be sent to the single user based on the one or more listener classifications.