{
  "patent_number": "US 5347632",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping",
  "original_title": "Reception system for an interactive computer network and method of operation",
  "summary": "Prodigy's 1994 patent outlines an interactive online system that delivered news, shopping, and banking to personal computers by breaking applications into 'objects' stored locally or remotely, and used user data for targeted ads.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a 'reception system' for an interactive computer network, designed to present 'partitioned applications' offering information and transactional services to users. The system includes 'input means' to receive user requests, 'storage means' to hold 'objects' (data and program instructions) needed for applications, and 'object processing means' to interpret these objects. If required objects are not stored locally, 'communication means' fetch them from the network. For example, a user requesting news might trigger the system to retrieve specific news article objects and display program instructions, some of which might be temporarily stored on their personal computer for faster access.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover interactive computer networks that do not use 'objects' with a prescribed structure for data and program instructions.",
    "Does not cover systems where all application logic and data reside entirely on the user's local computer without fetching 'objects' from a network.",
    "Does not cover networks that lack a mechanism for monitoring user characteristics to generate and display specific advertisements.",
    "Does not cover peer-to-peer networks, as it describes a 'reception system' within an 'interactive computer network' implying a client-server model.",
    "Does not cover systems where the 'reception system' is not capable of retaining 'objects' between requests for partitioned applications."
  ],
  "filed": "1989-07-28",
  "granted": "1994-09-13",
  "expires": "2011-09-13",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Prodigy Services Co",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/prodigy-services-co",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Alexander W. Bidwell",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/alexander-w-bidwell"
    },
    {
      "name": "Allan M. Wolf",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/allan-m-wolf"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mel Bellar",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mel-bellar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Francis C. Young",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/francis-c-young"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lawrence Abrahams",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/lawrence-abrahams"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael J. Silfen",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/michael-j-silfen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Duane Tiemann",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/duane-tiemann"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert Filepp",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/robert-filepp"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kenneth H. Appleman",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/kenneth-h-appleman"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sam Meo",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/sam-meo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael L. Gordon",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/michael-l-gordon"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert D. Cohen",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/robert-d-cohen"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 808,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "software",
    "ecommerce",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "An interactive computer system network enables a user to display desired information, such as news, financial and cultural information, and perform desired transactional services, such as banking and shopping, through any of a plurality of types of personal computers. User inputs are received by the personal computer and are translated into personal computer-independent data objects and executable code objects which are then processed by the network. These objects comprise partitioned applications required to process user inputs, portions of which are distributed and stored either locally within the personal computer or remotely in a host computer. User characteristics are monitored by the system in order to generate and display specific advertisements to the user based on individual usage characteristics and predetermined interests.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5347632/java-programming-language",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5347632/java-programming-language/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US5347632",
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}