Customizable web filler for alleviation of network latency and delay
First Claim
1. A method of alleviating problems associated with delays in accessing data on a network, comprising:
- (a) accessing data on a network from a client computer;
(b) identifying when a sufficient delay occurs during the accessing step, wherein the identifying step is performed by a server computer connected to the client computer via the network; and
(c) presenting filler contents on the client computer during the identified sufficient delay.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for alleviating problems of long latency or delay periods on the Internet through the presentation of filler content that keeps the user occupied. The cause and extent of the latency or delay may be identified either at a client or server computer and then communicated to the client computer to trigger the presentation of the filler content on the client computer. The filler content may comprise text data, graphics data, audio data, audiovisual data, or other data as desired, and provides just enough distraction to keep the user occupied, while retaining him/her for the completion of the session, transaction, or activity. The filler content may be provided by either a server computer or a client computer, and may be selected automatically by the server computer or the client computer or may be selected manually by the user so that it can be customized based on his/her taste for filler contents. The filler content could also be selected based on predetermined criteria, such as the context of the user'"'"'s session, transaction, or activity, the data being accessed, etc.
20 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of alleviating problems associated with delays in accessing data on a network, comprising:
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(a) accessing data on a network from a client computer; (b) identifying when a sufficient delay occurs during the accessing step, wherein the identifying step is performed by a server computer connected to the client computer via the network; and (c) presenting filler contents on the client computer during the identified sufficient delay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for alleviating problems associated with delays in accessing data on a network, comprising:
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(a) a client computer connected to the network; (b) a browser, executed by the client computer, for accessing data on the network; and (c) a filler engine, executed by the client computer, for presenting filler contents on the client computer when a sufficient delay is identified in the accessing of the data on the network, wherein identification of the sufficient delay is performed by a server computer connected to the client computer via the network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions that are executable by the computer to perform method steps for alleviating problems associated with delays in accessing data on a network, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing data on a network from a client computer; (b) identifying when a sufficient delay occurs during the accessing step, wherein the identifying step is performed by a server computer connected to the client computer via the network; and (c) presenting filler contents on the client computer during the identified sufficient delay. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification