Multiple destination banners

• US 7,028,268 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Direct Business Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Direct Business Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Conley, Ralph F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US09/594,955
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207, 709/218, 709/220, 709/221, 705/14
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention provides software, methods, and computer systems for displaying banner ads with a set of navigation options presented to an end-user, such as a customer or consumer, who selects or clicks on the displayed banner ad. The navigation options include URLs on a network to which the end-user computer is connectable. The invention includes software, systems, and methods for allowing the publisher to define and update the set of options. The invention includes software, systems, and methods for recording display event statistics for the banner ad whether the end-user is viewing the banner ad either off-line or on-line. The invention also includes a means for targeting and sending messages across the network to end-users.

Claims

1. Banner software stored in computer readable medium comprising:

a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer,

said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and

at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on a network to which end-user computer is connectable.

2. Software as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for monitoring end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, a means for maintaining a local event statistics database of said end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, and a means of transmitting information in said local event statistics database to a server computer on said network.

3. Software as claimed in claim 2 wherein said local event statistics database includes number of times said banner was accessed by the end-user.

4. Software as claimed in claim 3 wherein said local event statistics database further includes URLs on a network to which end-user computer has been directed through a choice from said menu of navigation options.

5. Software as claimed in claim 2 further comprising nested menus in said menu of navigation options.

6. Software as claimed in claim 2 further comprising cascading menus in said menu of navigation options.

7. Software as claimed in claim 1 wherein said options further include one or more addresses to files stored on fixed storage means for fixedly storing files on the end-user computer.

8. Software as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fixed storage means include hard drives and CD-ROM drives.

9. Software as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for detecting a network connection and executing a transaction with a network server to determine if at least one of said banner and said navigation options should be updated.

10. Software as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a means for updating said banner and said navigation options.

11. Software as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a means for monitoring end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, a means for maintaining a local event statistics database of said end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, and a means of transmitting information in said local event statistics database to a server on said network.

12. Software as claimed in claim 11 wherein said local event statistics database includes number of times said banner was accessed by the end-user.

13. Software as claimed in claim 12 wherein said local event statistics database further includes URLs on a network to which end-user computer has been directed through a choice from said menu of navigation options.

14. Software as claimed in claim 13 wherein said options further include one or more addresses to files stored on fixed storage means for fixedly storing files on the end-user computer.

15. Software as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fixed storage means include hard drives and CD-ROM drives.

16. Software as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a means for updating said banner and said navigation options.

17. Software as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a means for monitoring end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, a means for maintaining a local event statistics database of said end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, and a means of transmitting information in said local event statistics database to a server on said network.

18. Software as claimed in claim 17 wherein said local event statistics database includes number of times said banner was accessed by the end-user.

19. Software as claimed in claim 18 wherein said local event statistics database further includes URLs on a network to which end-user computer has been directed through a choice from said menu of navigation options.

20. Software as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a banner updating means for allowing a publisher to change said navigation options.

21. Software as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a means for monitoring end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, a means for maintaining a local event statistics database of said end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, and a means of transmitting information in said local event statistics database to a server on said network.

22. Software as claimed in claim 21 wherein said local event statistics database includes number of times said banner was accessed by the end-user.

23. Software as claimed in claim 22 wherein said local event statistics database further includes URLs on a network to which end-user computer has been directed through a choice from said menu of navigation options.

24. Software as claimed in claim 23 further comprising nested menus in said menu of navigation options.

25. Software as claimed in claim 23 wherein said options further include one or more addresses to files stored on fixed storage means for fixedly storing files on the end-user computer.

26. Software as claimed in claim 25 wherein said fixed storage means include hard drives and CD-ROM drives.

27. Software as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a means for detecting a network connection and executing a transaction with a network server to determine if at least one of said banner and said navigation options should be updated.

28. Publishing software for producing and changing banner software for displaying banners, said publishing software stored in a server computer accessible via a network, said publishing software comprising:

a means for selecting navigation options for the banner software, wherein the banner software is in machine readable format having a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer, said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on a network to which the end-user computer is connectable, and

a means for storing the banner software for distribution to the end-user computer.

29. Software as claimed in claim 28 wherein said options further include one or more addresses to files stored on fixed storage means for fixedly storing files on the end-user computer.

30. Software as claimed in claim 29 wherein said options further include one or more E-mail addresses to send E-mail.

31. Software as claimed in claim 28 further comprising a banner selection means for selecting a banner image file for the banner display means to display as the banner.

32. Software as claimed in claim 28 further comprising an installation means for installing the banner software in an application.

33. Software as claimed in claim 28 further comprising an updating means for changing the banner software in an application.

34. Software as claimed in claim 33 further comprising an alerting means for alerting the end-user that the banner software has been changed on the end-user computer.

35. Software as claimed in claim 34 wherein said alerting means alters appearance of an icon on a screen of the end-user computer that invokes the banner software when the icon is clicked upon.

36. Messaging software for producing and sending a message that appear of the screen of end-user computers that have banner software installed on the end-user computers, said messaging software stored in a server computer accessible via a network, said messaging software comprising:

a means for inputting the message to be transmitted to and displayed on the end-user computers,

said banner software is in machine readable format having a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer,

said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on a network to which the end-user computer is connectable, and

a means for displaying the message when the banner is displayed on a screen on an end-user computer.

37. Software as claimed in claim 36 further comprising an alerting means for alerting the end-user that the message has been sent to the end-user computer.

38. Software as claimed in claim 37 wherein said alerting means alters appearance of an icon on a screen of the end-user computer.

39. Software as claimed in claim 37 wherein said alerting means causes a button to be displayed or alters appearance of the button on a screen of the end-user computer.

40. Publishing software for producing and changing banner software, said publishing software stored in a server computer accessible via a network, said publishing software comprising:

a template means for selecting navigation options for the banner software, wherein the banner software is in machine readable format having a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer, said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on a network to which the end-user computer is connectable,

a means for storing the banner software on the server computer, and

a means for distributing the banner software from the server computer to said end-user computer.

41. A banner display system comprising:

at least one end-user computer connectable to a network,

banner software stored on said end-user computer in machine readable format,

said banner software comprising;

a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer,

said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and

at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on said network to which end-user computer is connectable.

42. A system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a means for monitoring end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, a means for maintaining a local event statistics database of said end-user'"'"'s behavior regarding accessing said banner, and a means of transmitting information in said local event statistics database to a server on said network.

43. A system as claimed in claim 42 wherein said local event statistics database includes number of times said banner was accessed by the end-user.

44. A system as claimed in claim 43 wherein said local event statistics database further includes URLs on a network to which end-user computer has been directed through a choice from said menu of navigation options.

45. A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said options further include one or more addresses to files stored on fixed storage means for fixedly storing files on said end-user computer.

46. A system as claimed in claim 45 wherein said fixed storage means include hard drives and CD-ROM drives.

47. A system as claimed in claim 45 further comprising a means for detecting a network connection and executing a transaction with a network server to determine if at least one of said banner and said navigation options should be updated.

48. A system as claimed in claim 47 further comprising a means for updating said banner and said navigation options with updates sent to said end-user computer from said server.

49. A banner display publishing system comprising:

a publishing server connected to a network,

publishing software operably running on said server,

said publishing software operable for producing and changing banner software that is used to display banners,

said publishing software comprising;

a means for selecting navigation options for the banner software, wherein the banner software is in machine readable format having a banner display means for displaying a banner on a screen on an end-user computer, said banner display means having a menu display means for presenting a menu of navigation options when an end-user clicks on said banner, and at least a portion of said navigation options are URLs on said network to which said end-user computer is connectable; and

a means for storing said banner software on said server, and

a means for distributing said banner software to said end-user computer.

50. A system as claimed in claim 49 further comprising a means for detecting a network connection and executing a transaction with a network server to determine if at least one of said banner and said navigation options should be updated.

51. A system as claimed in claim 50 further comprising a means for updating said banner and said navigation options with updates sent to said end-user computer from said server.

52. A system as claimed in claim 51 further comprising messaging software operable on said server computer for producing and sending a message that appears on the screen of end-user computers having said banner software installed and a means for displaying said message when said banner is displayed on a screen on an end-user computer.

53. A system as claimed in claim 52 further comprising an alerting means for alerting the end-user that the message has been sent to the end-user computer.

54. A system as claimed in claim 53 wherein said alerting means alters appearance of an icon on a screen of the end-user computer.

55. A system as claimed in claim 54 wherein said alerting means causes a button to be displayed or alters appearance of the button on a screen of the end-user computer.