System for delivering and simultaneously displaying primary and secondary information, and for displaying only the secondary information during interstitial space

• US 6,011,537 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CXT Systems, Inc. (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Slotznick
• Inventors: Slotznick, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/014,345
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/116, 345/112, 345/113, 345/114, 345/117, 345/118, 345/119, 345/120, 345/121, 345/127, 345/133, 345/356, 345/357, 345/328, 345/329, 345/333, 345/334, 345/335 , 345/340, 345/348, 345/342, 345/345, 345/343
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is provided of displaying information at a display of a local user computer. The information includes primary information representing information requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information. The primary information is retrieved from a first information memory device, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the primary information is available for display. The secondary information is retrieved from a second information memory device. The primary and secondary information are stored in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer, such as the cache memory. A display controller causes the primary information to be displayed simultaneously with a portion of the secondary information on the user'"'"'s display. When the user requests retrieval of subsequent primary information, a full display of the secondary information replaces the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information. The subsequently requested primary information is displayed after receipt thereof. The full display of secondary information is shown for a predetermined period of time, or may be held on the display by a user command. The user may also directly request a display of the full secondary information without requiring retrieval of subsequent primary information. The system may be implemented in an Internet environment wherein the primary and secondary information are retrieved from one or more remote websites. The portion of secondary information displayed which is simultaneously displayed with the primary information may be a thumbnail, keyhole or banner image of the full secondary information. The secondary information may be static, dynamic or user interactive.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information at a display of a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the method comprising:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from a first information memory device, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the primary information is available for display;

(b) retrieving secondary information from a second information memory device;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on the user'"'"'s display;

(e) requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information;

(f) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) displaying the subsequently requested information after receipt thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the secondary information includes a partial screen file of image information and a related full screen file of image information, wherein step (d) includes displaying the partial screen file of image information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image, and step (f) includes displaying the related full screen file of image information in place of the primary information and partial screen file during the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the secondary information is interactive secondary information, the method further including:

(h) interacting with the partial screen file of image information prior to step (e); and

(i) forming the contents of the related full screen file of image information based upon user interaction with the partial screen file of image information.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the partial screen file is a banner image.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

(h) initiating a timer when step (e) begins; and

(i) deleting the full display of the secondary information when the timer reaches a predetermined time.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

(j) initiating a hold function to hold the secondary information on the display after the timer reaches the predetermined time.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) includes displaying a thumbnail image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) includes displaying a keyhole image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the secondary information is an advertisement.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the subsequent primary information is processed or rendered initial primary information, step (e) is the initiation of the processing or rendering of the initial primary information, and step (f) occurs during the processing or rendering of the initial primary information.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the user'"'"'s computer includes a filter for selectively blocking the display of secondary information in step (f), the method further comprising:

(h) detecting the request for retrieval of subsequent primary information, and using the filter to prevent step (f) from occurring upon detection thereof.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (c) includes storing the primary and secondary information in cache memory of the user'"'"'s computer.

13. A method of displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the method comprising:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the requested primary information is available for display;

(b) sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device;

(e) requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(f) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) displaying at least the subsequently requested primary information after receipt thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the one or more remote sources are a plurality of websites, and step (a) includes requesting retrieval of the primary information from a first website and requesting retrieval of the secondary information from another website.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

(h) embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve the secondary information from one or more other websites.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

(h) embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve programming code from another website for processing and controlling the display of the secondary information.

17. A method of displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the method comprising:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(b) sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device; and

(e) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information upon user request of the full secondary information.

18. A computer readable medium whose contents cause information to be displayed at a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, by performing the steps of:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from a first information memory device, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the primary information is available for display;

(b) retrieving secondary information from a second information memory device;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on the user'"'"'s display;

(e) requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information;

(f) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) displaying the subsequently requested information after receipt thereof.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein the secondary information includes a partial screen file of image information and a related full screen file of image information, wherein step (d) includes displaying the partial screen file of image information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image, and step (f) includes displaying the related full screen file of image information in place of the primary information and partial screen file during the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19 wherein the secondary information is interactive secondary information, the computer readable medium further performing the steps of:

(h) interacting with the partial screen file of image information prior to step (e); and

(i) forming the contents of the related full screen file of image information based upon user interaction with the partial screen file of image information.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 19 wherein the partial screen file is a banner image.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 further performing the steps of:

(h) initiating a timer when step (e) begins; and

(i) deleting the full display of the secondary information when the timer reaches a predetermined time.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 22 further performing the steps of:

(j) initiating a hold function to hold the secondary information on the display after the timer reaches the predetermined time.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein step (d) includes displaying a thumbnail image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein step (d) includes displaying a keyhole image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein the secondary information is an advertisement.

27. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein the subsequent primary information is processed or rendered initial primary information, step (e) is the initiation of the processing or rendering of the initial primary information, and step (f) occurs during the processing or rendering of the initial primary information.

28. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein the user'"'"'s computer includes a filter for selectively blocking the display of secondary information in step (f), the computer readable medium further performing the steps of:

(h) detecting the request for retrieval of subsequent primary information, and using the filter to prevent step (f) from occurring upon detection thereof.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 wherein step (c) includes storing the primary and secondary information in cache memory of the user'"'"'s computer.

30. The computer readable medium of displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the computer readable medium further performing the steps of:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the requested primary information is available for display;

(b) sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device;

(e) requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(f) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) displaying at least the subsequently requested primary information after receipt thereof.

31. The computer readable medium according to claim 30 wherein the one or more remote sources are a plurality of websites, and step (a) includes requesting retrieval of the primary information from a first website and requesting retrieval of the secondary information from another website.

32. The computer readable medium according to claim 31 further performing the step of:

(h) embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve the secondary information from one or more other websites.

33. The computer readable medium according to claim 31 further performing the step of:

(h) embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve programming code from another website for processing and controlling the display of the secondary information.

34. The computer readable medium of displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the computer readable medium further performing the steps of:

(a) requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(b) sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) storing the primary and secondary information in a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer;

(d) simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device; and

(e) displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information upon user request of the full secondary information.

35. An apparatus for displaying information at a display of a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for requesting retrieval of primary information from a first information memory device, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the primary information is available for display;

(b) means for retrieving secondary information from a second information memory device;

(c) a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer for storing the primary and secondary information therein;

(d) means for simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on the user'"'"'s display;

(e) means for requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information;

(f) means for displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) means for displaying the subsequently requested information after receipt thereof.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the secondary information includes a partial screen file of image information and a related full screen file of image information, wherein the means for simultaneously displaying displays the partial screen file of image information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image, and the means for displaying a full display displays the related full screen file of image information in place of the primary information and partial screen file during the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the secondary information is interactive secondary information, the apparatus further including:

(h) means for interacting with the partial screen file of image information prior to requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information; and

(i) means for forming the contents of the related full screen file of image information based upon user interaction with the partial screen file of image information.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the partial screen file is a banner image.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising:

(h) means for initiating a timer upon initiation of a request for retrieval of primary information; and

(i) means for deleting the full display of the secondary information when the timer reaches a predetermined time.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39 further comprising:

(j) means for initiating a hold function to hold the secondary information on the display after the timer reaches the predetermined time.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying displays a thumbnail image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

42. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying displays a keyhole image of the secondary information as the portion of secondary information which is simultaneously displayed with the primary image.

43. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the secondary information is an advertisement.

44. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the subsequent primary information is processed or rendered initial primary information, the request for retrieval of subsequent primary information is the initiation of the processing or rendering of the initial primary information, and the displaying of a full display of secondary information in place of the primary information occurs during the processing or rendering of the initial primary information.

45. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the user'"'"'s computer includes a filter for selectively blocking the display of secondary information in place of the primary information, the apparatus further comprising:

(h) means for detecting the request for retrieval of subsequent primary information, the filter being used to prevent displaying of the full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information from occurring upon detection thereof.

46. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer is cache memory.

47. An apparatus for displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the requested primary information is available for display;

(b) means for sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer for storing the primary and secondary information;

(d) means for simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device;

(e) means for requesting retrieval of subsequent primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(f) means for displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information; and

(g) means for displaying at least the subsequently requested primary information after receipt thereof.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the one or more remote sources are a plurality of websites, and the means for requesting retrieval of primary information requests retrieval of the primary information from a first website and requests retrieval of the secondary information from another website.

49. The apparatus according to claim 48 further comprising:

(h) means for embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve the secondary information from one or more other websites.

50. The apparatus according to claim 48 further comprising:

(h) means for embedding call commands in primary information to retrieve programming code from another website for processing and controlling the display of the secondary information.

51. An apparatus for displaying information retrieved from one or more remote sources at a display of a local user computer, the information including primary information representing information content requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information, the primary and secondary information being stored at one or more of the remote sources, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for requesting retrieval of primary information from one or more of the remote sources;

(b) means for sending the requested primary information along with secondary information, the secondary information being retrieved from at least one of the remote sources;

(c) a local storage device of the user'"'"'s computer for storing the primary and secondary information;

(d) means for simultaneously displaying the primary information and a portion of the secondary information on a display, the display being connected to the storage device; and

(e) means for displaying a full display of the secondary information in place of the primary information upon user request of the full secondary information.