# Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping > 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. - **Patent:** US 5347632 - **Original title:** Reception system for an interactive computer network and method of operation - **Owner:** Prodigy Services Co - **Granted:** 1994 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 808 - **Field:** telecommunications, software, ecommerce, consumer_electronics ## 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. ## The clever bit The innovation was in using 'partitioned applications' and 'objects' – small, self-contained units of data and code – that could be stored both locally on a user's computer and remotely on a 'host computer'. This allowed complex interactive services to run efficiently on less powerful personal computers by intelligently distributing the workload and data, retrieving only what was needed, when it was needed. ## Real-world examples 1. Prodigy online service (1990s) 2. Early online banking platforms 3. Early online shopping systems ## Why it matters This patent describes the core technology behind Prodigy, one of the earliest major consumer online services in the United States. It enabled users to access news, financial information, shopping, and banking from their personal computers before the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web. Prodigy pioneered many features, like targeted advertising based on user behavior, that are now common in modern online platforms. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US 5347632? Prodigy Services Co owns this patent, granted in 1994. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 5347632 cited by? This patent has been cited by 808 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent describes the core technology behind Prodigy, one of the earliest major consumer online services in the United States. It enabled users to access news, financial information, shopping, and banking from their personal computers before the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web. Prodigy pioneered many features, like targeted advertising based on user behavior, that are now common in modern online platforms. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover interactive computer networks that do not use 'objects' with a prescribed structure for data and program instructions. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5347632/java-programming-language **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US5347632 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Servers Combine Global and Local Content for Personalized Web Displays](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6122658/custom-localized-information-in-a-networked-server-for-display-to-an-end-user) — A 1997 Microsoft patent describing how a server can mix general content with specific local details to create a personalized experience for users based on their location or demographics. - [How Web Browsers Run Embedded Programs Inside Documents](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5838906/microsoft-internet-browser) — A 1994 invention that allowed web browsers to automatically launch and run external programs directly inside a webpage, enabling interactive content like 3D models or complex data viewers. - [How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8112476/amazon-ec2-elastic-compute-cloud) — A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly. - [How Websites Remember You Using Stored Data](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774670/http-cookie-browser-state) — Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation. - [How Early Mobile Devices Accessed the Internet Using Split Proxies](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5673322/system-and-method-for-providing-protocol-translation-and-filtering-to-access-the-world-wide-web-from-wireless-or-low-bandwidth-networks) — A 1996 system that made the early web usable on slow, unreliable wireless connections by using two 'proxy' servers to shrink and simplify data before sending it.