Method of Automatically Controlling the Display of a Webpage on a Device

• US 20100211459A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Langley, Robert Seeman
• Original Assignee: Peter Langley, Robert Seeman
• Inventors: Seeman, Robert, Langley, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/676,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.460
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0262 during computer stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

In this invention, if an end-user has not interacted with a displayed webpage (the “Original”) displayed on a device for more than a defined time (i.e. a period of inactivity, called the “Delay”), then the device browser is automatically forwarded or pointed to a replacement webpage (the “Destination”) designated by the user or a third party. Hence, the Original will no longer remain displayed, long after it has been read, but will dynamically forward to a new Destination.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the display of a webpage on a device, in which the device is displaying an original webpage, the method including the steps of, if the end-user of the device has not interacted with the original webpage for a defined time or delay:

(a) replacing the original webpage automatically with a new, replacement webpage;

(b) automatically causing a signal to be sent to a computer server that tracks events as part of a payment or billing related process.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the device is caused to automatically download the replacement webpage from a remote web server after the defined time period of non-interaction.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the displayed webpage itself automatically changes, within the same browser window, from the original to the replacement webpage.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the end-user can hit the “

back”

browser instruction or link on the replacement webpage to return to the original webpage.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the original webpage includes sponsored links and the replacement webpage is associated with one of those sponsored links.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the replacement webpage is associated with the sponsored link that has paid to be featured on the replacement webpage.

7. The method of claim 5 in which the replacement webpage is associated with the sponsored link that has paid to be the replacement webpage.

8. The method of any preceding claim 1 in which computer code recognized by a web-browser measures inactivity time to enable the forwarding to the destination web site after the delay.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the original website installs the code on their web server.

10. The method of claim 1 in which a timer measuring the delay is reset or temporarily halted upon any evidence of end-user interaction with the original webpage.

11. The method of claim 1 in which there is tracking of one or more of the following parameters as part of a process related to billing the entity controlling the replacement webpage:

(a) the amount and timing of payment or payments;

(b) the number of times the replacement web site replaces the original web site;

(c) the revenue that the entity controlling the replacement web site makes from either sales, either directly or indirectly through PPI ads, PPA ads or PPC ads.

12. The method of claim 1 in which there is tracking of one or more of the following parameters as part of a process related to payment to an entity controlling the original webpage:

(a) the period over which the forward to the replacement webpage is enabled;

(b) the delay time selected by the advertiser or other entity controlling the replacement webpage;

(c) bidding between competing advertisers;

(d) how many webpages are actually forwarded to the replacement webpage;

(e) the revenue that the entity controlling the replacement web site makes from either sales, either directly or indirectly through PPI ads, PPA ads or PPC ads.

19. The method of claim 1 in which the destination webpage is a frame within the original webpage.

20. The method of claim 1 in which a higher value associated with the original web page implies a shorter time before the destination webpage appears.

21. The method of claim 1 in which the replacement webpage appears only for non-subscription services.

22. The method of claim 1 in which the replacement webpage is defined or selected in advance by the user.

23. The method of claim 1 in which the replacement webpage is a search engine webpage.

13-18. -18. (canceled)

24-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A computing device adapted to display a webpage, in which the device displays an original webpage, and, if the end-user of the device has not interacted with the original webpage for a defined time or delay, the device is adapted to:

(a) replace the original webpage automatically with a new, replacement webpage;

(b) automatically cause a signal to be sent to a computer server that tracks events as part of a payment or billing related process.

29. A computer server that a computer server that tracks events as part of a payment or billing related process, the server receiving a signal from a computing device adapted to display a webpage, in which the device displays an original webpage, and, if the end-user of the device has not interacted with the original webpage for a defined time or delay, the computing device is adapted to:

(a) replace the original webpage automatically with a new, replacement webpage;

(b) automatically cause a signal to be sent to the computer server that tracks events as part of a payment or billing related process;

and in which the computer server tracks of one or more of the following parameters as part of a process related to billing the entity controlling the replacement webpage;

(a) the amount and timing of payment or payments;

(b) the number of times the replacement web site replaces the original web site;

(c) the revenue that the entity controlling the replacement web site makes from either sales, either directly or indirectly through PPI ads, PPA ads or PPC ads.

30. The computer server of claim 29 which tracks of one or more of the following parameters as part of a process related to payment to an entity controlling the original webpage:

(a) the period over which the forward to the replacement webpage is enabled;

(b) the delay time selected by the advertiser or other entity controlling the replacement webpage;

(c) bidding between competing advertisers;

(d) how many webpages are actually forwarded to the replacement webpage;

(e) the revenue that the entity controlling the replacement web site makes from either sales, either directly or indirectly through PPI ads, PPA ads or PPC ads.