Method, system and apparatus for effecting targeted access to anonymous users of a network

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for effecting targeted access to anonymous users of a network is provided. A second entity delineates parameters of an audience with heightened interest in an offering, and a first entity provides the second entity with access to an audience accordant with these parameters. Consumer data collected by a network connected appliance used by an appliance user is linked with an appliance user anonymous identifier, and communicated to the first entity. Using the parameters, the first entity analyzes the collected consumer data and aggregates the appliance user's anonymous identifier with anonymous identifiers of other appliance users, thereby generating an aggregate set of anonymous identifiers that point to members of the audience. This set is marked with an identification code that is communicated to the second entity that can be used by the second entity to gain access to the audience through the first entity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for effecting targeted access to anonymous users of a network, comprising:
 communicating to a computer processor unit at a first entity consumer data resulting from a user's use of a network connected appliance, the consumer data being linked with an appliance user anonymous identifier, wherein processing by the computer processor unit comprises:
 analyzing the consumer data by use of one or more delineated parameters, wherein said delineated parameters define an audience with heightened interest in an offering of a second entity; 
 aggregating in accordance with the results of the analysis the appliance user's anonymous identifier with a set of appliance user anonymous identifiers linked with the consumer data of other appliance users, such that each appliance user anonymous identifier included in the aggregate set points to an appliance user whose collected consumer data corresponds to at least one delineated parameter in common with the collected consumer data of the other appliance users whose anonymous identifiers are included in the aggregate set, generating an aggregate set of anonymous identifiers, each anonymous identifier in the aggregate set pointing to a member of the audience, wherein said audience includes the appliance user; 
 marking the aggregate set with an identification code; 
 communicating the identification code from the first entity to the second entity; and 
 providing the second entity with access to the audience through the first entity by use of the aggregate set identification code. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic network is the Internet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one delineated parameter used to analyze the consumer data is provided by the second entity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first entity communicates to the appliance user an offer available from the second entity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the appliance communicates with the first entity when the appliance user initiates communication with a website where a second entity offering is available. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first entity communicates the aggregate set identification code to the appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the appliance communicates the aggregate set identification code to the second entity while communicating with a website where a second entity offering is available, and the aggregate set identification code is used by the second entity to verify that the appliance user is a member of the audience. 
     
     
         8 . A system for effecting targeted access to anonymous users of a network, comprising:
 a computer at a first entity, the computer being comprised of:
 a data storage unit 
 a processor unit 
 a network communications interface; and 
 software stored on the data storage unit that control processes executed on the processor unit, wherein:
 the processor unit receives consumer data linked with an appliance user anonymous identifier resulting from the user's use of a network connected appliance, communicated to the processor unit through use of the network communications interface; 
 the processor unit analyzes the consumer data by the use of one or more delineated parameters, wherein said delineated parameters define an audience with heightened interest in an offering of the second entity; 
 the processor unit aggregates in accordance with the results of the analysis the appliance user's anonymous identifier with a set of appliance user anonymous identifiers linked with the consumer data of other appliance users, such that each appliance user anonymous identifier included in the aggregate set points to an appliance user whose collected consumer data corresponds to at least one delineated parameter in common with the collected consumer data of the other appliance users whose anonymous identifiers are included in the aggregate set, and generates an aggregate set of anonymous identifiers, each anonymous identifier in the aggregate set pointing to a member of the audience, wherein said audience includes the appliance user; 
 the processor unit marks the aggregate set with an identification code; 
 the processor unit communicates the identification code from the first entity to the second entity; and 
 the processor unit provides the second entity with access to the audience by use of the identification code. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the electronic network is the Internet. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first entity obtains at least one delineated parameter used to analyze the consumer data from the second entity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first entity communicates to the appliance user an offer available from the second entity. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the appliance communicates with the first entity when the appliance user initiates communication with a website where a second entity offering is available. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first entity communicates the aggregate set identification code to the appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the appliance communicates the aggregate set identification code to the second entity while communicating with a website where a second entity offering is available, and the second entity uses the aggregate set identification code to verify that the appliance user is a member of the audience. 
     
     
         15 . A network connected appliance for effecting targeted access to a user of the appliance, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a network communications interface; and   a computer program stored in said memory and executed on said processor wherein:
 the processor obtains authorization from the appliance user to collect and communicate the appliance user's consumer data to a first entity; 
 the processor generates an appliance user anonymous identifier; 
 the processor collects the appliance user's consumer data; 
 the processor links the generated appliance user anonymous identifier with the collected consumer data; 
 the processor communicates the consumer data and appliance user's anonymous identifier to the first entity by use of the network communications interface; 
 the processor receives an offer from a second entity communicated by the first entity by use of the network communications interface; and 
 the processor receives the identification code of an aggregate set of anonymous identifiers in which the appliance user's anonymous identifier is included from the first entity by use of the network communications interface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the electronic network is the Internet. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the computer program is downloaded from the first entity. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the processor encrypts the consumer data prior to the network communications interface communicating the consumer data and appliance user's anonymous identifier to the first entity. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the processor establishes a communication session with the first entity by use of the network communications interface and receives a communication from the first entity that includes the offer from the second entity. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 15  wherein the network communication interface sends a communication to the first entity when the appliance user initiates communication with a website of the second entity.