Abstract:
A computerized methods and systems to create, control and manage restricted scope and closed internet interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks. The invention permits the protected network, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks to be connected to an open or previously established network, yet still remaining protected, secure and anonymous. Entrance into the protected interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks by the user is achieved through a protected network device, anonymous address code, anonymous access code and/or anonymous login information. As the user interacts with the digital elements within the protected interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks, a database of said interactions is created and used by the protected network provider in various ways, such as for user behavior information. No personal identifiable information is stored within interactive networks, subnetworks and/or sub-subnetworks and communication on said networks is unique, which inhibits and deters the targeting of the networks by cyber-criminals.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to computerized methods and systems to create, control and manage restricted scope and closed interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks which can be utilized in an array of situations, for example for unique anonymous consumer privacy, personal safety, anti-spam, anti-electronic crime and connectivity to a public or open network. In particular the invention relates to a system and method that provides for restricted scope and closed interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks that are anonymously accessed and provides a form of multi-platform digital media that is capable of anonymous user network data collection, unique communication and consumer behavior in relation to said network data collection. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    The use of networks, as they relate to the internet, are common in businesses, universities and government institutions. The use of networks provide a controlled setting for institutions to communicate and monitor their respective members. It is an important tool for any institution. One drawback to the use of an institution&#39;s network is the need for personal identifiable information in order to access the respective network. For example, users of networks, such as Facebook and Linkedin, invariably provide personal identifiable information in order to access the network. Likewise, a student at a university needs student identification in order to access their university&#39;s network. 
         [0003]    Recent awareness of mass collection of identifiable internet user data has prompted worldwide bodies of legislators, regulators and advocacy groups to request greater privacy and consumer protections, possibly through the creating of a “Digital Bill of Rights” for internet users. User&#39;s on a network face intrusive devices such as “Cookies”, “Web Beacons” or “Clear gifs” which create privacy concerns for users and legislators. 
         [0004]    The design of each network is particular to each institution and far from uniform. One theme among most networks&#39; designs is to collect as much as identifiable user data as possible in the hope of later monetizing of said data. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide system and method that can overcome the above-noted drawbacks. In addition, it is desirable to provide systems, methods and software for creating restricted scope and closed interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks that protect the network&#39;s users&#39; personal identifiable information and utilize said data anonymously. Furthermore, other desirable features include unique communication. Characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Systems and Methods to computerized methods and systems to create, control and manage restricted scope and closed interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks which can be used in a variety of ways and as specifically mentioned in Utility application Ser. No. 13/729,359 filed on Dec. 28, 2012, entitled GAME-BASED ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHOD. 
         [0006]    An open internet network provider and/or a pre-existing internet network provider can choose to connect their network to a restricted scope and closed interactive subnetworks and sub-subnetworks for multiple reasons. Alternatively, the creation of an independent restricted scope and closed internet network can also be created with the similar mechanism as said protected subnetworks and sub-subnetworks. The independent restricted scope and closed internet network can also be the parent to a protected subnetworks and sub-subnetworks. 
         [0007]    Access to said protected networks, subnetwork, and sub-subnetworks is highly restricted and controlled. The user and/or possessor can access said protected networks via a device, anonymous access code, anonymous address code and/or a user created anonymous username and password. The access to said devices and/or information is controlled by the protected network provider and/or pre-existing network provider. 
         [0008]    Access to said protected networks can occur in a variety of ways. For example, specific physical portals with access readers can be used to verify protected network devices via anonymous address codes and allow entrance into said protected networks. The access readers can deny or allow access based on instructions from the network provider. Alternatively, portals can be web-based in which the possessor and/or user enters an anonymous access code, anonymous address code and/or a user created anonymous username and password. 
         [0009]    Upon accessing said protected networks, the possessor and/or user is presented with multiple digital elements that the possessor and/or user can interact with. Digital elements are continuously updated and stored in digital element library database. Interactions are anonymously tracked and stored via the possessor and/or user&#39;s anonymous address code. These interactions and/or data exchanges are the basis of network provider&#39;s searches, grouping and potential targeting of the possessor and/or user. Under this invention, communication between the possessor and/or user and the network provider is highly protected and unique as explained below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an open primary network, a protected subnetwork and sub-subnetwork. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts access to a protected network. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a reader denying access to a protected network. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the process of searching a protected network for digital elements. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5 . depicts one embodiment of updating the digital element database with a new digital element search term. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6 . depicts one embodiment of a user&#39;s selection being updated to the user&#39;s database. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWING 
       [0016]    The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings in numerical order.
         100  open primary network     101  open primary network&#39;s server     102  open primary network&#39;s portal     103  open primary network&#39;s portal     104  open primary network&#39;s portal     105  primary user     106  sub-network device     107  anonymous address code     108  anonymous access code     109  protected subnetwork     110  protected subnetwork&#39;s server     111  protected subnetwork&#39;s portal     112  protected subnetwork&#39;s portal     113  protected subnetwork&#39;s portal     114  protected sub-subnetwork     115  protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s server     116  protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s portal     117  protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s portal     118  protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s portal     119  secondary user     120  anonymous address code     121  anonymous access code     122  user     123  protected network device     124  anonymous address code     125  anonymous access code     126  protected network     127  protected network&#39;s server     128  protected network&#39;s portal     129  protected network&#39;s portal     130  protected network&#39;s portal     131  protected network device     132  anonymous address code     133  anonymous access code     134  reader access signal     135  reader     136  reader communication signal     137  protected network database     138  protected network denial     139  protected network     140  protected network digital element search screen     141  digital element input     142  digital element input     143  protected network to be searched     144  protected network to be searched input     145  digital element library database     146  results of digital element search     147  protected network     148  search results via users&#39; address codes     149  network provider&#39;s digital element input screen     150  digital element     151  digital element input     152  digital element association terms     153  digital element association input     154  digital element association input     155  digital element association input     156  digital element library database     157  user protected network screen     158  user selection     159  digital element library database     160  digital element results     161  protected network database     162  users&#39; associated with digital elements     163  anonymous address code       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0081]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Additionally, although the invention is described below as being implemented commercially, it will be appreciated that the invention can also be used for communication and may alternatively incorporate in the invention. 
         [0082]    The present invention may be described in terms of functional diagrams and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional diagrams may be realized in many different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or software components configured to perform the various functions. For example, the present invention may employ various processors, sensors, memory elements, digital signaling processing elements, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Such general techniques are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in detail herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that the exemplary process illustrated may include additional or fewer steps or may be performed in the context of a larger processing scheme. The various methods presented in the drawings, figures, or the specification are not to be construed as limiting the order in which individual steps may be performed. It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0083]    Provided herein are methods and systems to create, control and manage restricted scope and closed interactive networks, subnetworks and sub-subnetworks. 
         [0084]    Turning now to the description, and with reference to  FIG. 1 , an illustration of an open network, a protected subnetwork and sub-subnetwork. The open primary network  100  can be embodied as any institutions&#39; pre-existing network, which has an open primary network server  101  and multiple network&#39;s portals  102 ,  103 ,  104 , which allows entrance into the open primary network  100 . Connected to the open primary network  100  is a protected subnetwork  109  and a protected sub-subnetwork  114 . In order to access the protected subnetwork  109 , the primary user  105  must obtain an anonymous access code  108 . The anonymous access code  108 , as illustrated in this embodiment, is contained on a subnetwork device  106 , and numerically represented. The subnetwork device  106  also contains an anonymous address code  107 , which is associated with the subnetwork device  106 , not the primary user  105 . After obtaining an anonymous access code  108 , the primary user  105  may input the anonymous access code  108  into any of the protected subnetwork&#39;s portals  111 ,  112 ,  113 . Upon acceptance of the anonymous access code  108  at a protected subnetwork&#39;s portal  111 ,  112 ,  113 , the protected subnetwork&#39;s server  110  will direct the primary user  105  to a user interfacing compartment within the protected subnetwork  109 . 
         [0085]    Further illustrated in  FIG. 1  is the ability of the primary user  105  to provide an anonymous address code  120  and an anonymous access code  121  to a secondary user  119  in order for the secondary user  119  to access the protected sub-subnetwork  114  via the protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s portals  116 ,  117 ,  118 . As stated above the secondary user  119  will be directed by the protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s server  115  to a user interfacing compartment within the protected sub-subnetwork  114 . In this illustration, the protected sub-subnetwork  114  is connected to the protected subnetwork  109 , which is connected to the primary network  100 . Moreover, the primary user  105  has the capability to provide multiple anonymous address codes and anonymous access codes to multiple secondary users. 
         [0086]    Not illustrated but claimed is the ability of the protected subnetwork&#39;s portals  111 ,  112 ,  113  or protected sub-subnetwork&#39;s portals  116 ,  117 ,  118  to be geographically placed physical portals in which the protected subnetwork&#39;s server  110  can be accessed at said physical portals. The physical portals may utilize a reading device used to verify the authenticity of a protected network device and allow access to the protected network. Likewise, it is possible that the protected subnetwork&#39;s portals  111 ,  112 ,  113  can be accessed at any location, web-based, via a user&#39;s mobile phone, tablet, computer or the like. Further, not illustrated but claimed is the anonymous access codes or anonymous address codes being represented alphanumerically, in any string of characters, a symbol, hologram or the like that is capable of being accepted at network&#39;s portals. 
         [0087]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the user  122  obtains a protected network device  123  that has an anonymous address code  124 , which is linked to the protected network device  123 , and anonymous access code  125  which is input by the user  122  into any of the protected network&#39;s portals  128 ,  129 ,  130 . Upon acceptance of the anonymous access code  125  the protected network&#39;s server  127  directs the user  122  to a user interfacing compartment within the protected network  126 . Illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is a protected network  126  that is not connected to another network. Further, not illustrated but claimed is the ability of the protected network  126  to be connected to protected subnetworks, protected sub-subnetworks and/or open networks. Moreover, not depicted but claimed is the use of the anonymous access code  125  as a one-time use code for the user to access a unique interactive compartment in which the user is prompted to create an anonymous username and password to enter the protected network thereafter. 
         [0088]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is one embodiment of the denial of entrance into a protected network. In this illustration, the protected network device  131  is equipped with an anonymous address code  132  and an anonymous access code  133 . The protected network device  131  is being read or scanned by the reader  135  via the reader access signal  134 , thereafter the reader communication signal  136  communicates with the protected network access database  137  in order to authenticate whether the protected network device  131  is authorized to access the protected network  139 . In this illustration, the protected network device  131  is denied access  138  to the protected network  139 . Not illustrated but claimed is the ability of the protected network provider to enter the protected network database  138  or stand alone reader  135  in order to: allow or not allow; receive or not receive; and/or transmit or not transmit the data and/or information to the protected network  139 . 
         [0089]    Depicted in  FIG. 4 , is one embodiment of searching a protected network for users interactions with digital elements on the protected network. Users of a protected network, protected subnetwork or protected sub-subnetwork will be presented with digital elements that the users may or may not interact with. A digital elements on a protected network, protected subnetwork or protected sub-subnetwork is a term of art of the computerized systems and methods that refers to any digital code, regardless of length, that conveys meaning in the traditional defined sense of the word “semantic” which is defined as relating to meaning in language or logic. 
         [0090]    Illustrated in  FIG. 4  is one embodiment of searching the protected network in which the protected network provider enters the protected network digital element search screen  140  and inputs the digital element to be searched in the digital element input  141 ,  142 . In this illustration two digital elements are being searched. The network provider has the option to choose what protected network to be searched  143  and can the input protected network to be searched  144 . Thereafter, the digital element library database  145  is searched for terms that correlate to the digital elements input  141 ,  142 , which provides results of correlated terms of the digital element search  146 . The results of the digital element search  146  are then searched within the protected network(s)  147  which provides a list of address codes  148  who interacted with the digital elements input  141 ,  142 . 
         [0091]    Not illustrated but claimed is the network provider&#39;s ability to not input a protected network to be searched  144 , in which the system will search all protected networks, protected subnetworks and protected sub-subnetworks for a single or multiple digital element. 
         [0092]    Illustrated in  FIG. 5 , is the process of updating the digital element library database  156  with a new digital element  150 , in which the protected network provider enters the network provider&#39;s digital element input screen  149  and inputs the digital element  150  in the digital element input  151  and the digital element association terms  152  in the digital element association input  153 ,  154 ,  155 . The digital element  150  and digital element association terms  152  are stored in the digital element library database  156 . The digital element  150  and the digital element association terms  152  can be among other things a word, term, image, 3-D image, hologram and/or anything capable of being input. 
         [0093]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the user has entered the user protected network screen  157  within the protected network and is presented with multiple digital elements. The user selects  158  a digital element for a comedy club and continues to interface with the user protected network screen  157 . Simultaneously, the user&#39;s selection  158  of a digital element, for example a comedy club, is searched within the digital element library database  159  to find other digital elements associated with the user&#39;s selection  158 , which results in associated digital element results  160 . Thereafter, said digital element results  160  are stored in the networks&#39; database  161  and if search is conducted of the protected network for the digital element  158  and/or associated digital element results a list of users associated with said digital elements  162  are presented with each anonymous address code  163 . 
         [0094]    Not illustrated but claimed is a method wherein in at least one search term or digital element, which is unique to the system, is inserted into each anonymous address code and/or communication code at the discretion of the network provider. Said method introduces an ad hoc method of making the anonymous address code and/or communication code for any communication within the system unique at a level of granularity wherein some and/or all of said communications can be unique. 
         [0095]    Not illustrated but claimed are search results that identify the first time the user interacted with the digital element(s) that was searched. The search results can also be displayed in a continuously updating graphical route map of the digital element(s) searched which represents the initial graphical location from all primary users to all associated secondary users that interacted with the searched digital element(s). The search results can also be depicted to show the most popular digital element among users of the protected network. 
         [0096]    Not illustrated but claimed are the systems and methods to group users of a protected network, subnetwork or sub-subnetwork in relation to the digital elements that they interact with while on the protected network. Users and/or digital address codes can be grouped in “tertiary groups” for advertising, messaging, marketing, polling, personal safety and cyber security among others. A “tertiary group” are users and/or digital address codes who interact with the same or similar digital elements at a specific network portal, physical or otherwise, and are marketed to through a specific advertising campaign with the results of the advertising campaign recorded. Users and/or digital address codes of the protected network, subnetwork or sub-subnetwork can also be ranked and placed in a hierarchical database based on the monetary value of the digital elements the users and/or digital address codes interact with. Based on the hierarchical database of users and/or digital address codes, the protected network provider can create “scalable value proposition lists” in which advertisers can target a limited number of users and/or digital address codes within the hierarchical database in order to determine the success rate of an advertising campaign and proceed to scale up successful advertising campaigns and discontinue unsuccessful advertising campaigns. Not illustrated but claimed is the applications of the systems and methods herein to private digital networks that are not internet networks.