METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AUDIO ADVERTISEMENTS IN A COMPUTER NETWORK

• US 20090287569A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hoshiko LLC (Raoul Management LLC)
• Inventors: Bugg, Steven Christopher, Shuster, Brian Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.530
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing audio advertisements in a computer network enables Web sites to deliver audio advertisements that cannot be bypassed by a visitor. More particularly, an advertising or sponsoring Web site receives a request from at least one user for delivery of a user-selected Web page associated with the Web site. The Web site selects at least one audio advertisement from a plurality of audio advertisements for delivery to the user in conjunction with the user-selected Web page. The Web site then delivers the audio advertisement to the user via the network in a format that precludes the user from controlling the manner of playback of the audio advertisement.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A system comprising:

a server having a computer memory, the memory holding instructions that, when executed by the server, cause the server to perform;

receiving a request from a client web browser for a web page; and

serving, in addition to the web page, at least one audio file contained in a hidden web object, in response to the request, wherein the hidden web object is configured to maintain a connection between the server and the client web browser regardless of whether or not the web page is open on the client web browser, thereby preventing the client from bypassing playback of any portion of said audio file by closing the web page.

34. The system of claim 33, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform selecting the at least one audio file from a plurality of audio files for delivery to the client, in response to the request.

35. The system of claim 33, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform configuring the hidden web object to be a hidden frame.

36. The system of claim 33, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform configuring the hidden web object to be a passive pop-up window.

37. The system of claim 33, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform delivering software code to the client to enable the client to request further web content while the audio file is playing on the client.

38. The system of claim 33, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform delivering software code to the client to enable the client to request further web content while the audio file is playing on the client, the software code responsive to shortcut commands to automatically retrieve a web page.

39. The system of claim 33, further comprising a database operatively associated with the server, the database holding topical measurements of information interests for individuals.

40. The system of claim 39, the memory holding further instructions to cause the computer to perform selecting the audio file from a plurality of audio files based on determining which audio file best matches the topical measurements of information interests for an identified individual.

41. A method comprising:

receiving, using a server, a request from a client web browser for a web page; and

serving at least one audio file contained in a hidden web object from the server in response to the request, wherein the hidden web object is configured to maintain a connection between the server and the client web browser regardless of whether or not the web page is open on the client web browser, thereby preventing the client from bypassing playback of any portion of said audio file by closing the web page.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising serving the web page to the client with the hidden web object.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising selecting the at least one audio file from a plurality of audio files for delivery to the client, in response to the request for the web page.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising serving the hidden web object comprising a hidden frame.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising serving the hidden web object comprising a passive pop-up window.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising delivering software code to the client to enable the client to request further web content while the audio file is playing on the client.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising delivering software code to the client to enable the client to request further web content while the audio file is playing on the client, the software code responsive to shortcut commands to automatically retrieve predetermined a web page.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising storing topical measurements of information interests for individuals in a database operatively associated with the server.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising selecting the audio file from a plurality of audio files based on determining which audio file best matches the topical measurements of information interests for an identified individual.