System for displaying two independent images received from network

• US 6,639,608 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InterQ Inc.
• Original Assignee: InterQ Inc.
• Inventors: Itakura, Yuichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/117,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 345/719, 345/738, 345/793, 345/854, 345/866, 345/744, 345/739, 345/748, 345/749, 709/203, 709/218, 709/217, 709/224, 709/232, 709/310
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An information providing system, which transmits a passive image.such as an advertisement while providing a requested image. The passive image and the requested image, for example, information from the Internet 9, are transmitted from the information provider 4 to the terminal 1 and displayed separately on the display 8. The whole passive image is displayed in the front of the display 8.

Claims

1. A terminal for displaying user-selected images and for forced display of images from a network, the terminal comprising

a communication interface for establishing a communication line to a gateway controlled by an information provider

a display

a display controller for requesting and receiving a first image and a second image through the communication interface from the network, for placing the second image in a queue, and for displaying the first image and the second image in separate and distinct display areas, the display controller including

means for establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line

means for receiving the first image from the information provider using the first TCP/IP link

means for establishing a second TCP/IP link on the conmmunication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification

means for receiving the second image through the second TCP/IP link

a transmission request counter, the transmission request controller for incrementing a count value when the terminal requests the second image and for decrementing the count value when the second image has been displayed

a display timer for measuring a predetermined time for displaying the second image

wherein the first image is designated and supplied to the display according to a request of a user of the terminal

wherein the second image is automatically supplied to the terminal.

2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the display controller displays the second image in the front of the display.

3. The terminal of claim 2 wherein the display controller displays the whole second image within the display.

15. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the display areas are two windows.

16. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the display areas are two areas of a single window, wherein the display area in which the first image is displayed is scrollable and the display area in which the second image is displayed is not scrollable.

4. A recording medium storing a program for operating a terminal having a display and a communication interface for connecting to a gateway controlled by an information provider, the program comprising

means for causing the terminal to establish a communication line and connect to the information provider through the communication interface

means for accepting a designation of a user of the terminal of a first image to display on the terminal

means for causing the terminal to transmit a request for the first image through the communication line

means for establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line

means for causing the terminal to receive the first image using the first TCP/IP link

means for establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification

means for causing the terminal to receive a second image through the second TCP/IP link, wherein the second image is automatically supplied to the terminal

means for causing the terminal to receive the second image aqueue

means for placing the second image in the queue

means for displaying the first image in a first display area of the display

means for displaying the second image in a second display area of the display

a transmission request counter for incrementing a count value when the terminal requests the second image and for decrementing the count value when the second image has been displayed

a display timer for measuring a predetermined time for displaying the second image

wherein the second display area is separate and distinct from the first display area.

5. The recording medium of claim 4 wherein the program further comprises display control means for having the first image and the second image be displayed in different windows.

6. The recording medium of claim 4 wherein the program comprises

detecting means for detecting whether or not the display state is normal, a normal display state being a display state in which the entire second image is displayed on the front-most surface of the display area and within an allowed area of the display

means for having the communication between the terminal and the network be disconnected when the detecting means detects that the display state is not normal.

7. A terminal having a display and a communication interface for connecting the terminal through a communication line to a gateway of an information provider, the terminal comprising

means for accepting a designation of a user of the terminal of a first image to display on the terminal

means for transmitting a request for the first image through the communication line

means for establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line

means for receiving the first image using the first TCP/IP link

means for establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification

means for receiving a second image through the second TCP/IP link, wherein the second image is automatically supplied to the terminal

a queue

means for placing the second image in the queue

means for displaying the first image in a first display area of the display

means for displaying the second image in a second display area of the display

a transmission request counter for incrementing a count value when the terminal requests the second image and for decrementing the count value when the second image has been displayed

a display timer for measuring a predetermined time for displaying the second image

wherein the second display area is separate and distinct from the first display area.

8. A method of operating a terminal, the terminal comprising a display which allows multiple windows as part of a graphical user interface, each window comprising a separate and distinct display area having independent control, the terminal communicating with a computer network, the method comprising

establishing a communication line from the terminal to the computer network

establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line

activating a browser program

opening a browser window on the display

making requests of servers on the computer network on behalf of a user of the browser program for first images, wherein the first images are designated and supplied according to a request of a user of the terminal

receiving the first images from the servers using the first TCP/IP link

displaying the first images in the browser window

establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification the second link identification being different from the first link identification

opening a second window on the display, wherein the second window cannot be hidden by the browser window

requesting that a server on the computer network send a second image automatically supplied to the terminal

incrementing a count value when the terminal requests the second image

receiving the second image through the second TCP/TP link

placing the second image in a queue

displaying the second image in the second window

decrementing the count value when the second image has been displayed

measuring a predetermined time for displaying the second image.

9. The method of operating a terminal of claim 8 wherein the second image is selected by an information provider.

10. The method of operating a terminal of claim 8 wherein the terminal communicates with the computer network via a communication line, the method further comprising closing the communication line if the second window is closed.

11. A method of operating a terminal, the terminal comprising a display which allows multiple windows as part of a graphical user interface, each window comprising a separate and distinct display area having independent control, the terminal communicating with a computer network, the method comprising

establishing a communication line from the terminal to the computer network

establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line

activating a browser program

the browser program opening a first window on the display for displaying first images,

wherein the first images are designated and supplied according to a request of a user of the terminal

making requests of servers on the computer network for the first images

receiving the first images from the servers using the first TCRP/IP link

displaying the first images in the first window

establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification the second link identification being different from the first link identification

automatically opening a second window on the display for displaying second images automatically supplied to the terminal, wherein the second window is displayed in front of the first window

requesting that a given server on the computer network send a one of the second images

incrementing a count value when the terminal requests the one of the second images

receiving the requested second image through the second TCP/IP link

placing the requested second image in a queue

displaying the requested second image in the second window

decrementing the count value when the requested second image has been displayed

measuring a predetermined time for displaying the requested second image

receiving a user input to close the second window

closing the second window.

12. The method of operating a terminal of claim 11 wherein the second image is selected by an information provider.

13. The method of operating a terminal of claim 11 further comprising keeping the second window in the front of the display.

14. The method of operating a terminal of claim 11 wherein the terminal communicates with the computer network via a communication line, the method further comprising closing the communication line if the second window is closed.