Targeted network video download interface
First Claim
1. A method of providing a user computer with access to files of a network, the method comprising:
- establishing a communication link from the user computer to an access control system of the network, wherein establishing a communication link includes;
receiving user identification information,verifying demographic information for the identified user stored at the access control system and providing the communication link,collecting demographic information from the user computer in an initial registration and access operation, storing the demographic information at the access control system and identifying it with the registered user, and providing the communication link, andotherwise terminating the communication link and denying network access;
launching a viewer program that controls a status of the communication link;
detecting times when the user is not actively sending or receiving data from the network, and downloading ad files from the network to the user computer during such times, such that the viewer program maintains a pool of ad files at the user computer for display and performs ad pool management tasks;
periodically opening a viewer program window in which a next ad file from the ad file pool is displayed;
hiding the viewer program window after a predetermined number of ad files from the ad file pool have been played and keeping the viewer program window hidden for a predetermined quiet interval;
managing the ad file pool so as to keep track of the number of times each ad file in the ad file pool has been viewed and determine when each ad file in the ad file pool should no longer be viewed;
determining ad impression viewing data corresponding to the number of times each ad file in the ad file pool has been viewed;
determining click through data corresponding to network addresses visited by the user during the viewing of an ad file;
reporting the ad impression viewing data to the access control system;
preparing a Demographic Report that summarizes the reported ad impression viewing data for multiple computer users over a current time period;
comparing an ad file having an associated demographic profile with demographic data for each of multiple registered users and identifying those registered users having demographic information that matches the demographic profile for the ad file;
identifying a time period over which the ad file should be played;
adding the ad file to a playlist for each registered computer user if the ad file is matched to the computer user demographic information and if the identified time period is available for the computer user; and
decreasing an available ad file impression number for each identified and matched computer user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system provides a user with free Internet network access, in which an access control system sends video advertising files to a user who gains access to the Internet through a network connection that includes a viewer program that operates independently of the user'"'"'s browser and e-mail programs. The viewer receives ads from the access control system and manages an ad pool that collects multiple video advertising files. Video advertising files are downloaded when the user is not actively using the bandwidth of the Internet connection to download Internet content of the user'"'"'s choosing. The viewer program periodically opens a viewer window, which opens on top of any other open windows, and in which a video ad from the ad pool is displayed. When one or more video ads are finished, the viewer window is hidden or made an inactive window for a quiet interval. At the conclusion of the quiet interval, the viewer window is activated and the next ad in the ad pool is displayed. The viewer program cycles through existing ads in the ad pool until a new ad is received from the access server. The viewer program manages the ad pool such that the oldest ad is discarded when a new ad is received, and such that each ad is displayed or viewed in order of download for the average time it takes to download an ad in the ad pool. This ensures that ad viewing can continuously cycle through the ad pool with the minimum of repetition, and with no interruption to the user'"'"'s Internet experience.
163 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing a user computer with access to files of a network, the method comprising:
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establishing a communication link from the user computer to an access control system of the network, wherein establishing a communication link includes; receiving user identification information, verifying demographic information for the identified user stored at the access control system and providing the communication link, collecting demographic information from the user computer in an initial registration and access operation, storing the demographic information at the access control system and identifying it with the registered user, and providing the communication link, and otherwise terminating the communication link and denying network access; launching a viewer program that controls a status of the communication link; detecting times when the user is not actively sending or receiving data from the network, and downloading ad files from the network to the user computer during such times, such that the viewer program maintains a pool of ad files at the user computer for display and performs ad pool management tasks; periodically opening a viewer program window in which a next ad file from the ad file pool is displayed; hiding the viewer program window after a predetermined number of ad files from the ad file pool have been played and keeping the viewer program window hidden for a predetermined quiet interval; managing the ad file pool so as to keep track of the number of times each ad file in the ad file pool has been viewed and determine when each ad file in the ad file pool should no longer be viewed; determining ad impression viewing data corresponding to the number of times each ad file in the ad file pool has been viewed; determining click through data corresponding to network addresses visited by the user during the viewing of an ad file; reporting the ad impression viewing data to the access control system; preparing a Demographic Report that summarizes the reported ad impression viewing data for multiple computer users over a current time period; comparing an ad file having an associated demographic profile with demographic data for each of multiple registered users and identifying those registered users having demographic information that matches the demographic profile for the ad file; identifying a time period over which the ad file should be played; adding the ad file to a playlist for each registered computer user if the ad file is matched to the computer user demographic information and if the identified time period is available for the computer user; and decreasing an available ad file impression number for each identified and matched computer user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification