Method and apparatus for providing content to users
First Claim
1. In a wide area network comprising a provider computer connected to a user computer, a method for presenting unsolicited data on the user computer in connection with user-requested content, wherein the unsolicited data and the user-requested content are configured for presentation in separate windows on the user computer, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for the user-requested content from the user computer;
sending the user-requested content to the user computer by the wide area network, configured for presentation in a first window; and
sending program instructions for controlling presentation of the unsolicited data on the user computer in response to the request for the user-requested content, wherein the program instructions are configured to automatically execute after being received by the user computer, and comprise instructions for presenting the unsolicited data in a second, newly-created window behind the first window so that the unsolicited data is at least substantially obscured by the first window and is contained in a page separate from the user-requested content.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a method and apparatus for presenting unsolicited data to users without interrupting the user'"'"'s activities, wherein the presentation of the unsolicited data is monitored and is available for review by the user at the user'"'"'s convenience. Embodiments of the invention comprise a content and display manager, wherein the content and display manager include a display monitor, a content delivery system and a content controller. The display monitor selects the display of content to the users, in part, by reviewing a marker which defines the last time that content was displayed to the user and the type of content displayed. The content delivery system transmits a content window to a user computer via the controller. The controller controls the downloading of the content and initially displays the content window in front of a first browser window position and then displays the content window behind the first browser window.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a wide area network comprising a provider computer connected to a user computer, a method for presenting unsolicited data on the user computer in connection with user-requested content, wherein the unsolicited data and the user-requested content are configured for presentation in separate windows on the user computer, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for the user-requested content from the user computer; sending the user-requested content to the user computer by the wide area network, configured for presentation in a first window; and sending program instructions for controlling presentation of the unsolicited data on the user computer in response to the request for the user-requested content, wherein the program instructions are configured to automatically execute after being received by the user computer, and comprise instructions for presenting the unsolicited data in a second, newly-created window behind the first window so that the unsolicited data is at least substantially obscured by the first window and is contained in a page separate from the user-requested content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for presenting unsolicited data over a wide area network to a user, wherein the user operates a browser in a user computer connected to the wide area network, the system comprising:
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a server computer adapted for connecting to the wide area network; content data for presentation in a first window of the browser on the user computer in response to a request for the content data from the user, the content data stored in a memory of the server computer; a window controller application in a memory of the server computer, the window controller application configured to be sent to the user in response to the request for the content data and to automatically execute after being received by the user computer, comprising instructions for presenting unsolicited data in a second, newly-created window behind the first window so that the unsolicited data is at least substantially obscured by the first window and is contained in a page separate from the content data; and a server application in a memory of the server computer, comprising instructions for receiving the request for the content data from the user, sending the content data to the user computer, sending the window controller application to the user computer, and selecting the unsolicited data for sending to the user computer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In a wide area network, a method of presenting unsolicited data on a desktop portion of a user computer, comprising:
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receiving a request from a user computer for user-requested data; transmitting said user-requested data to said user computer; instructing the user computer to display said user-requested data in a first window in a visible display area of said user computer; transmitting unsolicited data to said user computer in response to receiving said request for said user-requested data; and instructing the user computer to place said unsolicited data in a second, newly-created window behind said first window, wherein said unsolicited data is in a page separate from and at least substantially obscured by said first window, and cannot be viewed in its entirety unless a user of said user computer subsequently performs a window-controlling action that is not initiated using any portion of said user-requested data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification