Method and apparatus for defeating a mechanism that blocks windows

• US 20030098883A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Claria Corporation
• Inventors: Gilbert, Charles, Pennell, Mark E., Primak, L. Scott
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0245 Filtering by information in the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/962 Operator interface for marketing or sales

Abstract

In one embodiment, a computer program blocks windows categorized as bad windows, while allowing windows categorized as good windows to be displayed. The computer program may categorize a window by consulting one or more lists. In one embodiment, a list may be updated from time to time to optimize the computer program and prevent program-obsolescence. Techniques for defeating a window-blocking mechanism are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer program detects if a window is of a type that offers a product to a user. If so, the computer program provides a separate window containing information regarding the product. In one embodiment, a computer program detects if a user has a need for the computer program. If so, the user is informed of the efficacy of the computer program, which is then offered to the user.

Claims

1. A method for defeating a window-blocking mechanism comprising:

detecting the presence of the window-blocking mechanism in a computer; and

disabling the window-blocking mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of disabling the window-blocking mechanism includes removing the window-blocking mechanism from the computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of disabling the window-blocking mechanism includes removing a component of the window-blocking mechanism from the computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of disabling the window-blocking mechanism includes altering a component of the window-blocking mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of disabling the window-blocking mechanism includes closing the window-blocking mechanism.

6. A method for displaying a window in a computer comprising:

launching a new window in a computer, the computer including a window-blocking mechanism; and

preventing the window from being blocked by the window-blocking mechanism.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the window is a browser window and the act of preventing the window from being blocked is performed while the computer is coupled to the Internet.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes incorporating a non-functional feature on the window.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional attribute.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional menu bar.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional tool bar.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional field.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional login field.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-functional feature includes a non-functional password field.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes repeatedly manipulating a characteristic of the window.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the act of repeatedly manipulating a characteristic of the window includes repeatedly turning ON a visibility attribute of the window.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the act of repeatedly manipulating a characteristic of the window includes repeatedly positioning the window in a screen location viewable by a user.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes delaying the launching of the window.

19. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes using a part of a domain name in a URL of the window, wherein the window is not served from a server computer corresponding to the domain name.

20. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes intercepting an event to close the window and then hiding the window from a user'"'"'s view.

21. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes momentarily changing a status bar of a browser to reflect a URL of the window.

22. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes inputting keystroke combinations into a browser.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes triggering mouse events.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes setting the title bar of the window.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes using a single web server computer having a rotating list of messages to serve the window.

26. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes serving the window from a secure domain.

27. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes altering a list of the window-blocking mechanism.

28. The method of claim 6 wherein the act of preventing the window from being blocked includes making the window not responsive to a browser application programming interface (API).

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the act of making the window not responsive to a browser API includes setting an attribute of a browser control embedded in the window.

30. A computer memory comprising:

computer-readable program code for launching a new window, the new window destined to display content from a remotely located server computer; and

computer-readable program code for preventing the window from being blocked by a window-blocking computer program.

31. The computer memory of claim 30 wherein the window includes a browser window.

32. The computer memory of claim 30 wherein the window includes a dialog box.

33. The computer memory of claim 30 wherein the window-blocking computer program blocks pop-ups.

34. A method for allowing a message to be displayed in a client computer that includes a window-blocking computer program, the method including the act of displaying the message in a main browser window for a period of time in-between navigations.