Method and apparatus for maximizing an advertising effect using a control unit to detect if advertisement is being displayed and suspending a function if advertisement is not displayed

• US 6,834,352 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Kum-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUJILLO, JAMES K
• Application Number:
  US09/735,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/323, 713/324, 709/218, 709/223, 709/227, 705/1, 705/14, 370/260, 370/352, 710/260
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

A computer includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, an input unit, a monitor, an advertisement presenting program for presenting an advertisement on the monitor, and a controlling unit for detecting whether the advertisement presenting program is in operation. The controlling unit suspends at least one function of the central processing unit when the advertisement present program is not in operation. With this configuration, an advertising effect can be maximized because advertisements can be presented while computers are used off-line.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit, said central processing unit performing functions including receiving data, processing data, and outputting data;

a memory storing information of said computer;

a display unit displaying varying visual images to a user, said display unit being coupled to said computer;

said memory storing an advertisement presenting program for presenting an advertisement on said display unit, said advertisement presenting program automatically commencing operation after said computer is booted up and suspending operation in response to an action by the user;

a control unit detecting when said advertisement presenting program is operating, said control unit suspending at least one of said functions of said central processing unit when operation of said advertisement present program is suspended;

a system management interrupt generator periodically generating interrupt signals during operation of said central processing unit; and

said memory storing a system management mode program, said system management mode program checking when said advertisement presenting program is operating in response to said interrupt signals;

wherein said advertisement presenting program outputs a data value if said advertisement presenting program is operating when said interrupt signals are generated;

wherein said advertisement presenting program outputs said data value to an interface of said memory;

wherein said system management mode program periodically checks said data value when said interrupt signals are generated; and

wherein said system management mode program clears said data value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said memory including a read only memory basic input output system and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory, said interface of said memory being provided in one selected from among said read only memory basic input output system and said complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory.

3. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit, said central processing unit performing functions including receiving data, processing data, and outputting data;

a memory storing information of said computer;

a display unit displaying varying visual images to a user, said display unit being coupled to said computer;

said memory storing an advertisement presenting program for presenting an advertisement on said display unit, said advertisement presenting program automatically commencing operation after said computer is booted up and suspending operation in response to an action by the user;

a control unit detecting when said advertisement presenting program is operating, said control unit suspending at least one of said functions of said central processing unit when operation of said advertisement present program is suspended;

a system management interrupt generator periodically generating interrupt signals during operation of said central processing unit;

said memory storing a system management mode program, said system management mode program checking when said advertisement presenting program is operating in response to said interrupt signals; and

said memory including a read only memory basic input output system, said system management mode program being stored in said read only memory basic input output system.

4. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit, said central processing unit performing functions including receiving data, processing data, and outputting data;

a memory storing information of said computer;

a display unit displaying varying visual images to a user, said display unit being coupled to said computer;

said memory storing an advertisement presenting program for presenting an advertisement on said display unit, said advertisement presenting program automatically commencing operation after said computer is booted up and suspending operation in response to an action by the user;

a control unit detecting when said advertisement presenting program is operating, said control unit suspending at least one of said functions of said central processing unit when operation of said advertisement present program is suspended; and

said control unit cutting off power supplied to said central processing unit to perform said suspending of said at least one of said functions of said central processing unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, said memory including an auxiliary storage unit storing said advertisement presenting program and storing an application program.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a first control unit having an input port, said first control unit performing functions including receiving data and outputting data;

an input unit inputting information to said input port of said first control unit;

a memory storing an advertisement presenting program;

a display unit displaying at least one advertisement to a user in accordance with said advertisement presenting program, said advertisement presenting program automatically commencing operation after said apparatus is turned on and suspending operation in response to an action by the user;

a second control unit detecting when said advertisement presenting program is operating, said second control unit suspending at least one of said functions of said first control unit when operation of said advertisement present program is suspended;

a system management interrupt generator periodically generating interrupt signals during operation of said first control unit; and

said memory storing a system management mode program, said system management mode program checking when said advertisement presenting program is operating in response to said interrupt signals;

wherein said advertisement presenting program outputs a data value if said advertisement presenting program is operating when said interrupt signals are generated;

wherein said advertisement presenting program outputs said data value to an interface of said memory, said system management mode program periodically checking said data value when said interrupt signals are generated; and

wherein said system management mode program clears said data value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said memory including a read only memory basic input output system and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory, said interface of said memory being provided in one selected from among said read only memory basic input output system and said complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, said second control unit cutting off power supplied to said first control unit to perform said suspending of said at least one of said functions of said first control unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, said memory including an auxiliary storage unit storing said advertisement presenting program and storing an application program.

10. A method, comprising:

automatically displaying at least one advertisement on a display monitor to a user when a first control unit is activated and not displaying said at least one advertisement in response to an action by the user, said first control unit performing functions including receiving data and outputting data;

checking periodically to detect if said at least one advertisement is being displayed on said monitor when said first control unit is operating; and

stopping at least one of said functions of said first control unit when said at least one advertisement is not being displayed on said monitor;

wherein said stopping of said at least one of said functions of said first control unit includes cutting off power being supplied to said first control unit.

11. The method of claim 10, said checking further comprising:

periodically generating system management interrupt signals;

writing a data value to indicate that said at least one advertisement is being displayed whenever said system management interrupt signals are generated, said writing of said data value corresponding to writing said data value to an interface of a memory; and

periodically detecting said data value in accordance with said system management interrupt signals, and clearing said data value.

12. A program storage device, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of maximizing an advertising effort, the method comprising:

automatically displaying at least one advertisement on a display monitor to a user when a first control unit is activated and not displaying said at least one advertisement in response to an action by the user, said first control unit performing functions including receiving data and outputting data;

checking periodically to detect if said at least one advertisement is being displayed on said monitor when said first control unit is operating; and

stopping at least one of said functions of said first control unit when said at least one advertisement is not being displayed on said monitor;

wherein the stopping of the at least one of the functions of the first control unit includes cutting off power being supplied to the first control unit.

13. The program storage device of claim 12, the step of checking further comprising:

periodically generating system management interrupt signals;

writing a data value to indicate that said at least one advertisement is being displayed whenever said system management interrupt signals are generated, said writing of said data value corresponding to writing said data value to an interface of a memory; and

periodically detecting said data value in accordance with said system management interrupt signals, and clearing said data value.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit, said central processing unit adapted to perform functions including receiving data, processing data, and outputting data;

a memory adapted to store information of said computer;

a display unit adapted to display varying visual images to a user, said display unit being coupled to said computer;

said memory adapted to store an advertisement presenting program to present an advertisement on said display unit, said advertisement presenting program automatically commencing operation after said computer is booted up and suspending operation in response to an action by the user;

a control unit adapted to detect when said advertisement presenting program is in operation, said control unit adapted to suspend at least one of said functions of said central processing unit when operation of said advertisement present program has been suspended;

an input unit; and

an input port of said central processing unit, said input unit being connected to said input port of said central processing unit, said control unit adapted to disable said input port of said central processing unit to perform said suspending of said at least one of said functions of said central processing unit.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a first control unit having an input port, said first control unit adapted to perform functions including receiving data and outputting data;

an input unit adapted to input information to said input port of said first control unit;

a memory adapted to store an advertisement presenting program;

a display unit adapted to display at least one advertisement to a user in accordance with said advertisement presenting program, said advertisement presenting program adapted to automatically commence operation after said apparatus is turned on and to suspend operation in response to an action by the user; and

a second control unit adapted to detect when said advertisement presenting program is operating, said second control unit adapted to suspend at least one of said functions of said first control unit when operation of said advertisement present program has been suspended;

said second control unit adapted to disable said input port of said first control unit to perform said suspending of said at least one of said functions of said first control unit.

16. A method, comprising:

automatically displaying at least one advertisement on a display monitor to a user when a first control unit is activated and not ceasing to display said at least one advertisement in response to an action by the user, said first control unit performing functions including receiving data and outputting data;

checking periodically to detect if said at least one advertisement is being displayed on said monitor when said first control unit is operating; and

stopping at least one of said functions of said first control unit when said at least one advertisement has ceased to be displayed on said monitor;

said stopping of said at least one of said functions of said first control unit including disabling an input port of said first control unit.

17. A program storage device, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of maximizing an advertising effort, the method comprising:

automatically displaying at least one advertisement on a display monitor to a user when a first control unit is activated and ceasing to display said at least one advertisement in response to an action by the user, said first control unit performing functions including receiving data and outputting data;

checking periodically to detect if said at least one advertisement is being displayed on said monitor when said first control unit is operating; and

stopping at least one of said functions of said first control unit when said at least one advertisement has ceased to be displayed on said monitor;

the stopping of the at least one of the functions of the first control unit including disabling an input port of the first control unit.