E-mall software and method and system for distributing advertisements to client devices that have such e-mail software installed thereon
First Claim
1. A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, comprising:
- means for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
means for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
means for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
means for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
means for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, includes a first device for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, a second device for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, a third device for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, a fourth device for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and a fifth device for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
113 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, comprising:
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means for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
means for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
means for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
means for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
means for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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22. The client device as set forth in 18, wherein the user activity comprises any of the following user actions:
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movement of a mouse associated with the client device;
clicking of a mouse button associated with the mouse; and
movement of one or more keys of a keyboard associated with the client device.
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40. The client device as set forth in 35, wherein the user activity comprises any of the following user actions:
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movement of a mouse associated with the client device;
clicking of a mouse button associated with the mouse; and
movement of one or more keys of a keyboard associated with the client device.
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51. A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, comprising:
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means for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times;
means for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links;
means for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link;
means for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device; and
means for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system, wherein;
each means element comprises respective functions of software installed on the client device;
the communications network comprises the Internet; and
the ad display parameters include at least one of the following parameters;
the maximum time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed each time that it is displayed;
the maximum cumulative time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
the start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed; and
the end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed.
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Specification