E-mail software and method and system for distributing advertisements to client devices that have such e-mail software installed thereon
First Claim
1. A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network, comprising:
- effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network includes steps for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
77 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network, comprising:
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effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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22. The method as set forth in 18, wherein the user activity comprises any of the following user actions:
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movement of a mouse associated with the client device;
clicking of a mouse button associated with the mouse; and
movement of one or more keys of a keyboard associated with the client device.
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40. The method as set forth in 35, wherein the user activity comprises any of the following user actions:
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movement of a mouse associated with the client device;
clicking of a mouse button associated with the mouse; and
movement of one or more keys of a keyboard associated with the client device.
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51. A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network, comprising:
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effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system, wherein;
the method is implemented by software installed on the client device;
the advertisement distribution server system is controlled by a vendor of the software;
the communications network comprises the Internet; and
the ad display parameters include at least one of the following parameters;
the maximum time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed each time that it is displayed;
the maximum cumulative time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
the start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and
the end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed.
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Specification