Apparatus and accompanying methods for network distribution and interstitial rendering of information objects to client computers
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for use in rendering an information object in response to a first web page containing an embedded code, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
a memory connected to the processor and storing both computer executable instructions and the first web page, the first web page having a plurality of computer readable instructions representing page content and the embedded code; and
an output device operative in conjunction with the processor;
wherein the processor, in response to the executable instructions and as a result of executing the code through a web browser, downloads and then executes an agent under control of the browser, wherein the agent, once executing;
downloads, from a specified server and while the computer renders the first web page to a user through the output device, at least one file which is to be subsequently employed, by the processor, to render an information object, the information object being distinct from the first web page and selected by the specified server;
monitors a click-stream produced by the user to detect a user navigation event signifying a user action to transition from the first web page to a next successive web page and which signifies a start of a next interstitial interval; and
in response to the user navigation event, suspends further downloading of files and processes the one file so as to render the information object through the output device to the user during the interval; and
wherein neither the code nor the first web page references the information object or said at least one file, specifies a location of the object itself or said at least one file or contains any content from the object or said at least one file such that use of the code eliminates a need to include content for the information object or said at least one file or an address of the object or said at least one file within the first web page, when the first web page is stored or rendered, thereby substantially decoupling the object and said at least one file from the first web page itself.
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Abstract
A technique for implementing in a networked client-server environment, e.g., the Internet, network-distributed advertising in which advertisements are downloaded, from an advertising server to a browser executing at a client computer, in a manner transparent to a user situated at the browser, subsequently displayed, by that browser and on an interstitial basis, in response to a click-stream generated by the user to move from one web page to the next.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in rendering an information object in response to a first web page containing an embedded code, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing both computer executable instructions and the first web page, the first web page having a plurality of computer readable instructions representing page content and the embedded code; and an output device operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the processor, in response to the executable instructions and as a result of executing the code through a web browser, downloads and then executes an agent under control of the browser, wherein the agent, once executing; downloads, from a specified server and while the computer renders the first web page to a user through the output device, at least one file which is to be subsequently employed, by the processor, to render an information object, the information object being distinct from the first web page and selected by the specified server; monitors a click-stream produced by the user to detect a user navigation event signifying a user action to transition from the first web page to a next successive web page and which signifies a start of a next interstitial interval; and in response to the user navigation event, suspends further downloading of files and processes the one file so as to render the information object through the output device to the user during the interval; and wherein neither the code nor the first web page references the information object or said at least one file, specifies a location of the object itself or said at least one file or contains any content from the object or said at least one file such that use of the code eliminates a need to include content for the information object or said at least one file or an address of the object or said at least one file within the first web page, when the first web page is stored or rendered, thereby substantially decoupling the object and said at least one file from the first web page itself. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for use in rendering, through a computer, an information object in response to a first web page containing embedded code, the computer having a processor, a memory connected to the processor and storing both computer executable instructions and the first web page, the first web page having a plurality of computer readable instructions representing page content and the embedded code, and an output device operative in conjunction with the processor, wherein the method comprises the steps, performed by the processor and in response to the executable instructions and as a result of executing the code through a web browser, of:
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downloading and then executing an agent under control of the browser, wherein the method further comprises the steps, performed by the agent, of; downloading, from a specified server and while the computer renders the first web page to a user through the output device, at least one file which is to be subsequently employed, by the processor, to render an information object, the information object being distinct from the first web page and selected by the specified server; monitoring a click-stream produced by the user to detect a user navigation event signifying a user action to transition from the first web page to a next successive web page and which signifies a start of a next interstitial interval; and in response to the user navigation event, suspending further downloading of files and processing the one file so as to render the information object through the output device to the user during the interval; and wherein neither the code nor the first web page references the information object or said at least one file, specifies a location of the object itself or said at least one file or contains any content from the object or said at least one file such that use of the code eliminates a need to include content for the information object or said at least one file or an address of the object or said at least one file within the first web page, when the first web page is stored or rendered, thereby substantially decoupling the object and said at least one file from the first web page itself. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification