Granted Patent B1

US 7,343,375 · App. 10/790,465 · Granted Mar 11, 2008

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A computer implemented method of collecting, storing and processing usage data from a device, comprising:

collecting, storing and processing usage data from the device in accordance with a privacy policy by:

extracting the usage data from the device, wherein the usage data is associated with a customer identifier;

translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into a replacement identifier when the customer is an “opt-neutral” customer;

correlating the extracted usage data over a period of time using the customer identifier or replacement identifier; and

using the correlated usage data to understand the customer's preferences and thereby increase revenue;

wherein both the customer identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-in” customers, only the replacement identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-neutral” customers and neither the customer identifier nor the usage data are stored for “opt-out” customers; and

wherein the “opt-out” customers are those who specifically request that their usage data not be used, the “opt-in” customers are those who specifically allow use of their usage data and the “opt-neutral” customers are those who have stated no preference.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the translating step is performed only for extracted usage data associated with an “opt-neutral” customer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the translating step comprises creating the replacement identifier for the customer identifier from the extracted usage data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a translation function that produces a unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a translation function that produces a non-unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a one-way translation function that has an inverse function that is difficult to perform.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device sends the usage data along with a usage identifier that is independent of the customer identifier.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the translating step comprises translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into the replacement identifier using the usage identifier.

9. A computer implemented apparatus for collecting, storing and processing usage data from a device, comprising:

means for collecting, storing and processing usage data from the device in accordance with a privacy policy by:

extracting the usage data from the device, wherein the usage data is associated with a customer identifier;

translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into a replacement identifier when the customer is an “opt-neutral” customer;

correlating the extracted usage data over a period of time using the customer identifier or replacement identifier; and

using the correlated usage data to understand the customer's preferences and thereby increase revenue;

wherein both the customer identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-in” customers, only the replacement identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-neutral” customers and neither the customer identifier nor the usage data are stored for “opt-out” customers; and

wherein the “opt-out” customers are those who specifically request that their usage data not be used, the “opt-in” customers are those who specifically allow use of their usage data and the “opt-neutral” customers are those who have stated no preference.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the translating is performed only for extracted usage data associated with an “opt-neutral” customer.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the translating comprises creating the replacement identifier for the customer identifier from the extracted usage data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the translating comprises performing a translation function that produces a unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the translating comprises performing a translation function that produces a non-unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the translating comprises performing a one-way translation function that has an inverse function that is difficult to perform.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the device sends the usage data along with a usage identifier that is independent of the customer identifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the translating comprises translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into the replacement identifier using the usage identifier.

17. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program storage media storing instructions that, when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for collecting, storing and processing usage data from a device, comprising:

collecting, storing and processing usage data from the device in accordance with a privacy policy by:

extracting the usage data from the device, wherein the usage data is associated with a customer identifier;

translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into a replacement identifier when the customer is an “opt-neutral” customer;

correlating the extracted usage data over a period of time using the customer identifier or replacement identifier; and

wherein both the customer identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-in” customers, only the replacement identifier and the usage data are stored for “opt-neutral” customers and neither the customer identifier nor the usage data are stored for “opt-out” customers; and

wherein the “opt-out” customers are those who specifically request that their usage data not be used, the “opt-in” customers are those who specifically allow use of their usage data and the “opt-neutral” customers are those who have stated no preference.

18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the translating step is performed only for extracted usage data associated with an “opt-neutral” customer.

19. The article of claim 17 , wherein the translating step comprises creating the replacement identifier for the customer identifier from the extracted usage data.

20. The article of claim 17 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a translation function that produces a unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

21. The article of claim 17 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a translation function that produces a non-unique replacement identifier for every customer identifier.

22. The article of claim 17 , wherein the translating step comprises performing a one-way translation function that has an inverse function that is difficult to perform.

23. The article of claim 17 , wherein the device sends the usage data along with a usage identifier that is independent of the customer identifier.

24. The article of claim 23 , wherein the translating step comprises translating the customer identifier from the extracted usage data into the replacement identifier using the usage identifier.

Assignments (6)