US 8494904

Patent Analysis: US 8,494,904

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 8,494,904, including its key details and an overview of its independent claims.

Title: Method and stored program for accumulating descriptive profile data along with source information for use in targeting third-party advertisements

Assignee: Almondnet Inc.

Inventor: Roy Shkedi

Filing Date: August 14, 2012

Issue Date: July 23, 2013

Abstract: A method of accumulating descriptive profile data uses a databank that can be contacted by profile providers who contribute profile elements about an online visitor. The method includes keeping track of which profile provider contributed which elements, so that use of particular elements in targeting electronic third-party advertisements automatically can result in compensation.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

US Patent 8,494,904 has three independent claims: claim 1, claim 11, and claim 21. Below is a plain-language explanation of each.

Independent Claim 1: The Method

This claim outlines an automated method for collecting and managing online user profiles. In simple terms, it describes a computer system that receives bits of user information (a "partial profile") from various third-party websites that a person visits. A key aspect of this method is that when a website sends a piece of user information, it also sends its own identification. The system then adds this new information to an existing profile it believes belongs to the same person. Crucially, the system keeps a record of which website contributed which piece of information. This collected profile data is then used to target advertisements to that user.

Independent Claim 11: The Computer System

This claim essentially covers the physical and programmed computer system that carries out the method described in Claim 1. It details a system connected to a global network that is programmed to:

• Receive partial user profiles and the identity of the source from different third-party websites.
• Add this information to a larger, maintained user profile.
• Keep a record of the sources of the different pieces of profile data.
• Use this combined profile for the purpose of targeting third-party ads.

In essence, this claim protects the tangible and programmed infrastructure that performs the data collection and management process.

Independent Claim 21: The Data Storage Medium

This claim focuses on the software itself. It describes a tangible, non-transitory data storage medium (like a hard drive or other memory device) that contains the instructions for a processor to execute the method from Claim 1. This means the claim protects the actual code that, when run on a computer, performs the actions of receiving, storing, and organizing user profile data from various sources for ad targeting.

Litigation Search Results

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 identified the case ALMONDNET, INC. v. AMAZON.COM, INC., which is related to this patent. Further details about the specifics of this litigation would require a more in-depth search of court records. There is no other litigation information readily available for US patent 8,494,904 in the CAFC 2026 dockets.