The patent, for which Microsoft applied in 1996, is formally
described as relating to the "Customisation of network documents by
accessing customisation information on a server computer using
unique user identifiers".
But it goes on to explain that this covers the use of cookies to
store customisation options which may include a wide variety of
information such as, "a collection of [favourite site URLs], types
of news that the user wants to see, display information that
determines how the information is presented to the user, stock
ticker symbols for which the user wishes to receive stock quotes,
or the city for which the user wishes to receive a weather
report."
Last week, Microsoft was granted another patent that relates to
a feature on Microsoft's Instant Messaging products that lets users
know when another person is typing a message to them. The feature
can also be found on rival products from AOL and Yahoo!, but as yet
neither company has commented on the patent.
AOL also has a patent on Instant Messaging, granted in September
2002. Originally requested in 1997, AOL's patent appears to be much
wider, claiming to cover all IM applications. It has not attempted
to enforce its patent rights, according to media reports.
