Interactive computer system with self-publishing catalogue, advertiser notification, coupon processing and inbound polling

摘要

An interactive computer system (1010) provides electronic agents to represent the interests and needs of users of the system. The agents include information, stored in memory (1018), regarding the expressed interests, purchase histories, and demographic characteristics of the user. In one case, an agent will scan the database (1018) to select products of interest to the user and will compile and transmit to the user a catalogue of products, individualized to the user's interest. In another case, an agent will search for coupons, sales, discounts and the like which relate to products that are of interest to the user and automatically transmit the coupons, information and the like to the user. In another case, each of several polls has its own agent, screening incoming calls to identify callers that fit a predetermined demographic profile in order to achieve a statistically significant polling result.