Method and apparatus for a site-sensitive interactive chat network
First Claim
1. A site-sensitive service system in a wide-area network (WAN), comprising:
- an enhanced browser extension executing on at least a first and second client platform and accessing the WAN;
a service-control server in the WAN; and
an ad server connected to the WAN;
wherein the enhanced browser extension opens a first communication link to a first WAN-connected site and at least a second communication link to the service-control server, and reports the address of the first WAN-connected site to the service-control server, and wherein the service-control server, recognizing that the client platforms are accessing the same WAN-connected site, enables a chat session between the at least first and second client platforms, and wherein the service-control server also selects ad information based on association of the URL of the Wan-connected site and ad characteristics, and streams the information to the at least first and second client platforms.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a site-sensitive Internet service system enhanced client browsers report URLs to an Internet-connected service-control server, which informs clients of other clients visiting common URLs, and organizes and enables chat sessions among simultaneous visitors to common Internet sites. In some cases the server activity, including chat sessions is transparent to hosts of the WEB sites visited. In others the WEB sites, through cooperation with the service-control server, control information streaming to clients, including chat sessions. Information streamed may include banner ads enabled as hyperlinks. In a further embodiment the service-control server maintains and reports statistics based on site visitation reported by clients.
346 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A site-sensitive service system in a wide-area network (WAN), comprising:
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an enhanced browser extension executing on at least a first and second client platform and accessing the WAN;
a service-control server in the WAN; and
an ad server connected to the WAN;
wherein the enhanced browser extension opens a first communication link to a first WAN-connected site and at least a second communication link to the service-control server, and reports the address of the first WAN-connected site to the service-control server, and wherein the service-control server, recognizing that the client platforms are accessing the same WAN-connected site, enables a chat session between the at least first and second client platforms, and wherein the service-control server also selects ad information based on association of the URL of the Wan-connected site and ad characteristics, and streams the information to the at least first and second client platforms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing selected information by a service-control server to client platforms in a wide-area-network (WAN), comprising steps of:
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(a) reporting browsing destinations to the service-control server by enhanced browser extensions executing on at least a first and second client platform;
(b) listing in the service-control server client platforms accessing common WAN destinations;
(c) streaming information to the at least first and second client platforms based on the lists of client platforms accessing the common destinations; and
(d) streaming ads to the at least first and second client platforms based on the lists of client platforms accessing the common destinations and association of URL'"'"'s and ad characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A enhanced Internet browser application, comprising:
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a first capability for accessing an Internet-connected WEB page through a URL, and for displaying the WEB page;
a second capability for opening an additional communication link to a service-control server, and for reporting the URL of the WEB page to the service-control server;
a capability for receiving and selectively displaying information streamed from the service-control server based on the URL reported; and
a capability of receiving and selectively displaying ads selected by a service-control server based on association of URL'"'"'s and ad content, and streamed by the service control server. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A service-control server on the Internet, comprising:
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a capability for logging URLs visited by multiple clients, and grouping clients by active URL site visitation;
a capability for streaming information to clients based on the active URL sites logged; and
a capability for selecting ads based on association of active URL'"'"'s logged and ad characteristics, and streaming the ads to client platforms. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A browser plug-in for an Internet browser application, comprising:
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a first capability for opening, in addition to any communication links established by a browser using the plug-in, an additional communication link to a service-control server, and for reporting the URL of any WEB page accessed by the using browser to the service-control server;
a second capability for receiving and selectively displaying information streamed from the service-control server based on the URL reported; and
a capability of receiving and selectively displaying ads selected by a service-control server based on association of URL'"'"'s and ad content and streamed by the service control server. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification