Email-based advertising system
First Claim
1. A system for delivering email-based advertising to discrete users, comprising:
- (a) a first computer connected to a computer network, the first computer configured to transmit an email message;
(b) a second computer connected to the computer network, the second computer configured to receive the email message from the first computer, the second computer responsive to the email message, at least one of the first and second computers being configured to transmit identification data and optionally one or more email client objects; and
(c) at least one server in the computer network, the server configured to receive the identification data and optionally one or more of the email client objects, the server being responsive to the identification data and optionally one or more of the email client objects, by selecting an advertisement, the server configured to transmit the advertisement to the first or second computer, so that the second computer may display the advertisement in a text window of the email message.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for delivering email-based advertising between computer users including a first computer, a second computer, and a server in a distributed computer network where the first computer is configured to transmit an email message to a second computer. The email message comprises an affiliate I.D. number and optionally one or more email client objects. The affiliate I.D. number uniquely identifies a user of the first computer. The second computer is responsive to the email message, whereby the second computer is configured to transmit the affiliate I.D. number and optionally one or more of the email client objects to the server. The server is responsive to the affiliate I.D. number and optionally one or more of the email client objects, by selecting an appropriate advertisement. The server is configured to transmit the advertisement to the second computer where the second computer displays the advertisement in the text window of the email message.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for delivering email-based advertising to discrete users, comprising:
-
(a) a first computer connected to a computer network, the first computer configured to transmit an email message;
(b) a second computer connected to the computer network, the second computer configured to receive the email message from the first computer, the second computer responsive to the email message, at least one of the first and second computers being configured to transmit identification data and optionally one or more email client objects; and
(c) at least one server in the computer network, the server configured to receive the identification data and optionally one or more of the email client objects, the server being responsive to the identification data and optionally one or more of the email client objects, by selecting an advertisement, the server configured to transmit the advertisement to the first or second computer, so that the second computer may display the advertisement in a text window of the email message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
13. A method of delivering email-based advertising between a first computer and a second computer on a network, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) transmitting (by either the first computer or the second computer) identification data and optionally one or more email client objects to a server on the network;
(b) receiving in the server, the identification data and optionally one or more of the email client objects;
(c) selecting an advertisement by means of the server;
(d) transmitting the advertisement to the second computer; and
(e) embedding the advertisement in a text window of an email message, to be displayed on a screen of the second computer.
-
Specification