Method for distributing advertisements to client devices using an obscured ad monitoring function
First Claim
1. A method for use on a client device that is configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, comprising:
- downloading advertisements from the remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions;
storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device;
effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device;
determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display; and
generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad,wherein;
advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement;
the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters; and
the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements the following parameters;
a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs;
a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and
an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network instantiates a communications function that effects an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements identified in a playlist(s) generated by at least one playlist server, via the advertisement download communication link, at the selected advertisement download times, an advertisement storage function for storing the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for use on a client device that is configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, comprising:
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downloading advertisements from the remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions; storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device; determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display; and generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad, wherein; advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement; the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters; and the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements the following parameters; a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs; a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer readable instructions for use on a client device that is configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, wherein the stored computer readable instructions are configured to cause the client device to perform operations comprising:
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downloading advertisements from the remote source during one or more advertisement download sessions; storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device; determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display; and generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad condition, wherein; advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement; the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters; and the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements, the following parameters; a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs; a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A client device configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, comprising:
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a display; means for downloading advertisements from the remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions; means for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; means for effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on the display; means for determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display; and means for generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad, wherein; advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement; the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters; and the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements, the following parameters; a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs; a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed; a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification