Patent ID: 7379980
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An Internet implemented method for providing information about a plurality of users to a plurality of requesters, the method comprising: storing information about the plurality of users in a database located on a cookie management system and associating information about the plurality of users with a plurality of keys; receiving a request at the cookie management system for information about a particular user of the plurality of users from a requestor over the Internet; receiving a key associated with the request at the cookie management system from the requestor over the Internet, wherein the key associated with the request is included in a cookie on a machine of the particular user; using the key associated with the request to retrieve information about the particular user from the database; and forwarding information about the particular user to the requestor over the Internet; wherein the requestor determines whether the cookie exists on the machine of the particular user, and wherein in response to determining that the cookie does exist on the machine of the particular user, the requestor directly obtains information about the particular user from the cookie management system, and in response to determining that the cookie does not exist on the machine of the particular user, the requestor: