Network gaming system

• US 6,183,366 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Beneficial Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sheldon Goldberg
• Inventors: Goldberg, Sheldon F., Van Antwerp, John
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/105,401
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/26, 463/27, 463/42, 273/236, 273/237
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

The present invention is an information service and advertising providing system for presenting interactive information services together with interactive advertising on a communications network such as the Internet and LANs. The information service may be a game played interactively on the network while advertising is communicated between users and an advertising network node. However, other interactive services, such as are available on the Internet, are also accessible for concurrent use with advertising presentations. Advertising or promotionals may be selectively presented to users by comparing archived user profiles with demographic profiles of desired users. User responses to advertising may be used for evaluating advertising effectiveness such as for test or microtarget marketing. Compensation to users for viewing advertising may also be provided. For instance, users may be provided with subsidized Internet access for receiving advertising while concurrently interacting with an Internet service. Users may also be provided with various games and/or game tournaments via interactive network communications. Thus, users may respond to advertising while being entertained (e.g., via games), or while interacting with another network service.

Claims

1. An apparatus for presenting one of products and services while providing an interactive informational service on a network, comprising:

an advertising selector for determining, for each of a plurality of users, a corresponding advertising presentation, from a plurality of advertising presentations, to present to the user at a corresponding node of the network, wherein each of at least some presentations of said corresponding advertising presentations is unrequested and is used for presenting information about at least one of a product and a service;

a service providing computational system for providing a first of the users with a requested corresponding instance of the informational service, wherein the instance includes a plurality of user interactions, via the network, with the service providing computational system;

a combiner for obtaining combined data, wherein said combined data is a result of combining said corresponding advertising presentation with data for displaying at least a portion of said corresponding instance, said corresponding advertising presentation including at least one network link for identifying another presentation related to said corresponding advertising presentation, said network link associated with a corresponding one or more locations on a display of said corresponding advertising presentation, wherein a user input indicative of at least one of said locations activates said network link for presenting said another presentation;

wherein said service providing computational system provides substantially a same informational content regardless of which of said advertising presentations are combined therewith;

a network interface for (a) and (b) following;

(a) transmitting, via the network, said combined data to the first user for display during user interactions with said corresponding instance;

(b) receiving, from the first user, one or more user data items indicative of an action in response to said combined data being presented;

one or more user response processing modules for one or more of;

evaluating an effectiveness of said corresponding presentation, and obtaining another one of said advertising presentations for providing to said combiner, said processing modules receiving said one or more user data items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said interactive informational service includes a playing of a game, wherein a portion of the network used for communications between said service providing computational system and the first user includes a portion of the Internet, and further including a means for generating a value determined using said user data, wherein said value is provided to a party requesting a first of said advertising presentations be presented to the users accessing the Internet.

3. A method of playing a game, comprising:

generating electronic game tokens for playing the game, said game tokens played in instances of the game to affect outcomes of the instances;

receiving player identification data prior to at least a first player playing the game, wherein said identification data is used to identify information related to the first player in subsequent instances of the game;

first playing a first instance of the game interactively with the first player and a substantially electronic game playing module, wherein said game playing module plays a first sequence of said game tokens;

second playing a second instance of the game interactively with a second player and said game playing module, wherein said first and second game instances overlap in time, and wherein said game playing module plays a second sequence of game tokens when playing said second instance of the game;

wherein said first and second sequences have at least different game tokens in at least one identical game token position, in each of said first and second sequences; and

presenting to the first player, during said first instance, an advertisement capable of changing to a different advertising presentation when the first player responds to said advertisement, wherein said change to said different advertising presentation does not change an availability to subsequently perform game plays of said first instance.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein one or more of:

(a) said token representations are useful for playing one or more of the following games;

blackjack, poker, pia gow, craps, and roulette; and

(b) said game tokens include token representations of one or more of;

cards, and dice.

5. A method of viewing a presentation related to one of a product and a service while playing a game on a network, comprising:

communicating with a server network node that provides network access to one or more games capable of being played using communications on said network;

playing one of said games using communications between a first user node and said server network node;

presenting a first presentation at said first user node, wherein said first presentation is presented between two plays of the game and wherein said first presentation is capable of being replaced by a different second presentation without changing a play of the game;

detecting an action in response to said first presentation;

transmitting a data item indicative of said action to a second network node not contacted for the playing of the game with the user;

conducting a network communication between the user and the second network node, in response to said data item, for information related to the purchase of at least one of;

a product and a service.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further including, in response to said step of detecting, a step of identifying a network address of the second network node without the user inputting the network address.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of identifying includes activating a hyperlink.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, further including a step of subsidizing the user'"'"'s access to said network.

9. A method of advertising on the Internet, comprising:

activating by an Internet accessible user node, an instance of an interactive service available at a first Internet accessible node via a first Internet connection;

first presenting a first presentation, via the Internet, to a user at said user node, during Internet interactions between the user and the service, wherein said first presentation identifies at least one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service; and

wherein said first presentation is;

unrequested by the user, and substantially unrelated to a performance of the service by the user;

transmitting data, via an Internet communication, indicative of an action by the user in response to said step of first presenting;

receiving, via the Internet, a second presentation for presenting to the user, wherein said second presentation is determined using said data, said second presentation also identifying one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service; and

second presenting to the user said second presentation during the first Internet connection.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of activating the service includes providing an Internet transmission to a second Internet accessible node, wherein said second Internet accessible node performs at least said first presenting step;

and

said second Internet accessible node includes an Internet website that at least one of;

(a) provides said first Internet connection;

(b) provides an offer to subsidize said first Internet connection;

(c) stores information on said first Internet accessible node for use in a second Internet connection different from said first Internet connection; and

(d) stores information related to the user for selecting an advertising presentation for presenting to the user.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the service is one or more of:

(a) a game; and

(b) substantially any service available on the Internet through an Internet service provider by which the user accesses the Internet, such that when the user connects to the Internet, said Internet service provider provides a communication to a predetermined website that subsequently transmits said first presentation to said user node.

12. A method for providing advertising related information while playing a game on a communications network, comprising:

contacting a game playing network node by a user at a user network node;

initiating an instance of the game by the user at the user network node, wherein the instance includes a plurality of user plays;

first receiving one or more advertising related presentations by the user for presentation during a playing of the instance of the game, wherein for at least a duration of time between a pair of some of the user plays, a first of said one or more advertising presentations is presented at the user network node, wherein said first advertising related presentation was not presented to the user during the instance of the game between a different pair of some two of the user plays, wherein at least one of said advertising related presentations is interactive and has network node identifying information for accessing an additional network node different from said game playing network node, said additional network node having an additional presentation responsive to a user input to said at least one advertising related presentation;

transmitting for said at least one advertising related presentation, user response data to said additional network node, wherein said user response data is related to one or more responses by the user to said at least one advertising related presentation;

second receiving by the user network node another advertising related presentation providing additional information about a product or service advertised in said at least one advertising related presentation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one or more of:

(a) said at least one advertising related presentation includes a hyperlink for said network node identifying information; and

(b) said first advertising related presentation and said at least one advertising related presentation are identical.

14. A method of advertising on the Internet, comprising:

for each of one or more users accessing the Internet, the following steps are performed;

first transmitting, from the user, an Internet request for contacting a providing node of the Internet, said providing node provides access to one or more display presentations for a service with which the user desires to interact, wherein said request has associated therewith an Internet address for contacting the providing node, and wherein said interactive service is interactive via the Internet with the user;

first receiving, via the providing node, said one or more display presentations for presenting on at least a portion of a display of a user node by which the user accesses the Internet;

first presenting, by the user node, overlapping with a display of at least one of the display presentations, a first one or more advertising presentations for providing information related to one or more of a product and a service, wherein said first one or more advertising presentations are received via the Internet in response to Internet transmissions by the providing node, and displayed on at least a portion of said display;

second presenting, by the user node over time, one or more additional advertising presentations, each said additional advertising presentation for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein each of at least most of said additional advertising presentations is;

(a) received via the Internet in response to Internet transmissions by the providing node, and (b) displayed on at least a portion of said display without the user providing an input subsequent to said steps of first transmitting, first receiving and first presenting to which said one or more additional advertising presentations are responsively provided;

second transmitting, via the Internet, data indicative of an action by the user in response to one of said first and said additional advertising presentations, wherein said data is transmitted;

(a) from said user node, and (b) to a destination node of the Internet, said destination node identified at said user node by destination Internet link information used for transmitting said data;

second receiving, via the Internet, another presentation for presenting to the user at said user node, wherein said another presentation is responsive to said action by the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more of:

(a) said step of second presenting includes periodically transmitting via the Internet one of said additional advertising presentations to said user node;

(b) said step of second presenting includes forcing a display of at least one of said additional advertising presentations to be exposed on said display;

(c) said forced display is in exchange for subsidizing a cost related to accessing the Internet, wherein said subsidizing the cost related to accessing the Internet includes one of;

a subsidy of an Internet access charge, and free access to the Internet;

(d) said first advertising presentations is one of;

(i) received from the providing node as part of the at least one display presentation, and (ii) received from an Internet site providing for the forced exposure of said first advertising presentations on said display;

(e) said destination Internet link information includes a hyperlink for accessing said destination Internet node;

(f) said destination Internet node is an Internet site for a sponsor of said advertising presentation to which said action by the user is responsive; and

(g) said display presentations are related to a game, and said providing node includes an Internet web site for determining at least one play of said game.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said providing node is not said destination node, and said destination Internet link information is not indicative of said providing node being said destination node.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more of:

(a) at least one of said steps of first and second presenting is in response to a communication;

(i) from said providing node connecting the user to the Internet, and (ii) to some Internet node so that said some Internet node transmits one or more of;

said first advertising presentations, and said additional advertising presentations to the user node;

(b) said step of second receiving includes receiving further information related to the product or service of the advertising presentation for which said action by the user is a response;

(c) further including a step of third presenting said another presentation on said Internet user node, wherein at least a portion of said display maintains a graphical format displayed prior to said step of third presenting.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of second presenting includes presenting at least one of said additional advertising presentations overlapping with a display of at least one of said display presentations.

19. A method of advertising on the Internet, comprising:

for each of one or more users accessing the Internet, the following steps are performed;

receiving, at an Internet providing node and from a user node by which the user accesses the Internet, an Internet request for one or more display presentations of an interactive service, wherein said request has associated therewith an Internet address for contacting the providing node, and wherein said interactive service is interactive via the Internet between said providing node and the user;

transmitting to the user node, in response to said Internet request (a) and (b) following;

(a) said one or more display presentations of said service for presenting on at least a portion of a display for the user node, and

(b) one or more advertising presentations, wherein a first of said advertising presentations is also displayed on at least a portion of said display with at least one of said display presentations;

wherein, over time, one or more additional of said advertising presentations are presented on at least a portion of said display without the user providing an input having a corresponding next response that presents said one or more additional advertising presentations;

wherein at least one of said first and said additional advertising presentations is capable of responding to an action by the user by transmitting, via the Internet, data indicative of said action to a destination Internet node, wherein said destination node is identified by destination Internet link information, provided in said step of transmitting, for contacting said destination node with said data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein one or more of:

(a) said step of second presenting includes periodically transmitting via the Internet one of said additional advertising presentations to said user node;

(b) said step of second presenting includes forcing a display of at least one of said additional advertising presentations to be exposed on said display;

(c) said display presentations are related to a game;

(d) said first advertising presentations is one of (i) and (ii);

(i) received from the providing node as part of the at least one display presentation, and

(ii) received from an Internet site providing for the forced exposure of said first advertising presentation on said display;

(e) said forced exposure of said first advertising presentation is in exchange for subsidizing a cost related to accessing the Internet, wherein said subsidizing the cost related to accessing the Internet includes one of;

a subsidy of an Internet access charge, and free access to the Internet;

(f) said providing node is an Internet website;

(g) at least one of said steps of first and second presenting are in response to a communication;

(i) from an Internet service provider connecting the user to the Internet, and

(ii) to some Internet node so that said some Internet node transmits one or more of;

said first advertising presentation, and said additional advertising presentations to the user node;

(h) said destination Internet link is used for providing a hyperlink for accessing said destination Internet node;

(i) further including a step of third presenting said another presentation on said Internet user node, wherein at least a portion of said display maintains a graphical format displayed prior to said step of third presenting;

(j) said destination Internet node is an Internet site for a sponsor of said at least one advertising presentation to which said action by the user is responsive; and

(k) further including a step of the user registering at the providing node prior to receiving said one or more presentations.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more of:

(a) said step of second presenting includes periodically transmitting one of said additional advertising presentations to said network user node;

(b) said step of second presenting includes forcing a display of at least one of said additional advertising presentations to be exposed on said display;

(c) at least a portion of said network used in one of said steps first and second receiving and first and second transmitting includes the Internet;

(d) at least a portion of said network used in one of said steps first and second receiving and first and second transmitting communicates using TCP/IP as a network protocol;

(e) said network providing node and said some network node are at a same Internet site;

(f) said Internet site provides Internet communications via the network to said network user node so that the user can play an interactive game using the Internet communications;

(g) said step of first receiving includes interacting with an Internet informational service accessible from the network providing node when said interactive display presentations are displayed at said network user node;

(h) said step of second receiving includes receiving further information related to the product or service of the advertising presentation for which said action by the user is a response;

(i) said network address includes Internet addressing information for use in routing the request through the Internet to said network providing node;

(j) said step of second presenting includes presenting at least one of said additional advertising presentations concurrently with at least one of said interactive display presentations;

(k) said at least one interactive display presentation includes an output from a game instance;

(l) said destination network address is used by a hyperlink for accessing said destination network node;

(m) further including a step of third presenting said another presentation on said network user node, wherein at least a portion of said display maintains a graphical format displayed prior to said step of third presenting;

(n) said destination network node is an Internet site for a sponsor of said advertising presentation to which said action by the user is responsive;

(o) said destination network node is an Internet site identical to one of;

said network providing node, and said some network node.

21. A method of advertising on a network, comprising:

for each of one or more users accessing the network, the following steps are performed;

first transmitting, from the user, a corresponding request for accessing a providing node of the network, said providing node provides one or more interactive display presentations, wherein said request has associated therewith a network address for identifying the providing node;

first receiving, from the providing node via the network, said one or more interactive display presentations for presenting on at least a portion of a display of a user node by which the user accesses the network, and wherein said interactive display presentations are interactive, via the network, between the user and said providing node;

first presenting, by the user node, concurrently with at least one of the interactive display presentations, a first advertising presentation for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein said first advertising presentation is received via the network from some node of the network, and displayed on at least a portion of said display;

second presenting, by the user node over time, one or more additional advertising presentations, each said additional advertising presentation for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein each of at least most of said additional advertising presentations is;

(a) received via the network from said some node, and

(b) displayed on at least a portion of said display without the user providing an input that causes said additional advertising presentation to be displayed;

second transmitting, via the network, data indicative of an action by the user in response to one of said first and said additional advertising presentations, wherein said data is transmitted;

(i) from said user node, and

(ii) to a destination node of the network, said destination node identified at said user node by a destination network address used for transmitting said data;

second receiving, via the network, another presentation for presenting to the user at said user node, wherein said another presentation is responsive to said step of second transmitting.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of said steps of first and second presenting is in response to a communication:

(a) from an Internet service provider connecting the user to the network, and (b) to said some network node so that said some network node transmits one or more of;

said first advertising presentation, and said additional advertising presentations to the network user node.

24. A method for providing advertising related information while playing a game on the Internet, comprising:

contacting a game playing Internet site by a user at a user Internet station;

transmitting user identification information prior to the user playing an instance of the game, wherein said user identification information is used to identify additional personal information related to the user for use during at least one subsequent instance of the game;

initiating said at least one instance of the game by the user at the user Internet station, wherein said at least one instance includes a plurality of user plays;

first receiving, by the user, one or more advertising related presentations for presentation during a playing of said at least one instance of the game, wherein at least one of said advertising related presentations accesses Internet site identifying information for contacting an additional Internet site different from said game playing Internet site, said additional Internet site having an additional presentation responsive to input by the user to said at least one advertising related presentation;

transmitting, for said at least one advertising related presentation, user response data to said additional Internet site, wherein said user response data is indicative of one or more inputs by the user to said at least one advertising related presentation; and

second receiving, by the user Internet station, another advertising related presentation providing additional information about a product or service advertised in said at least one advertising related presentation.

25. A method of advertising on the Internet, comprising:

for each of one or more users accessing the Internet, the following steps are performed;

providing, by the user, information for a subsidized Internet access from an Internet service provider;

connecting, by the user, to the Internet via said Internet service provider;

first receiving, from a first Internet site via the Internet, a first transmission of one or more advertising presentations for presenting on at least a portion of a display of a user node by which the user accesses the Internet, wherein said first transmission is in response to first said step of connecting;

first presenting, by the user node, concurrently with at least one of the advertising presentations, a collection of one or more Internet presentations from one or more Internet sites different from said first Internet site;

second receiving, by the user node over time, one or more additional advertising transmissions for presenting to the user concurrently with said collection of Internet presentations, each said additional advertising transmission for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein each of at least most of said additional advertising transmissions is;

(a) received via the Internet from said first Internet site, and (b) displayed on at least a portion of said display independently of the user providing a corresponding request to said first Internet site;

second transmitting, via the Internet, data indicative of an action by the user in response to a presentation of one of said first and said additional advertising transmissions, wherein said data is transmitted;

(a) from said user node, and (b) to a destination node of the Internet, said destination node identified at said user node by destination Internet link information used for transmitting said data;

second receiving, via the Internet, another presentation for presenting to the user at said user node, wherein said another presentation is responsive to said action by the user.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said Internet service provider and said first Internet site have a same Internet address.

27. A method for providing advertising related information while playing a game on a communications network, comprising:

performing the following substeps (A1) through (A2) for each of a plurality of users;

(A1) providing, in response to a request on the communications network by the user, access to an instance of the game for playing by the user, wherein the instance includes a plurality of user plays;

(A2) transmitting one or more advertising related presentations to the user for presentation during a playing of the instance of the game, wherein for at least a duration of time between a pair of some of the user plays, a first of said one or more advertising related presentations is presented to the user, wherein said first advertising related presentation was not presented to the user during the instance of the game between a different pair of some two of the user plays, and wherein for at least one of said advertising related presentations, (a) and (b) following hold;

(a) said at least one advertising related presentation has associated therewith network linking information identifying a corresponding one of a plurality of nodes connected to the communications network, said network linking information being identical for transmissions of said at least one advertising related presentation for at least most of the users; and

(b) said at least one advertising related presentation is capable of providing a responsive transmission for transmitting on the communications network, corresponding data related to one or more responses by the user to said at least one advertising related presentation;

providing advertising related information to a first advertiser for said at least one advertising related presentation, wherein said advertising related information is obtained using said corresponding data for said at least one advertising presentation.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said step of transmitting occurs during at least a portion of a presentation of the instance of the game, and said network linking information is used in providing a hyperlink to said corresponding node.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27, further including a step of determining a perceived effectiveness of said at least one advertising related presentation using said corresponding data received from said responses from at least some of the one or more users.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said perceived effectiveness of said at least one advertising related presentation includes one or more of the following:

(a) a measurement related to a number of the users to which said at least one advertising related presentation is displayed,

(b) a measurement related to a number of times said at least one advertising related presentation is displayed to some of the users,

(c) a measurement related to a number of favorable responses by the users to said at least one advertising related presentation, and

(d) a measurement related to a number of promotionals provided to the users, said promotionals related to at least one product or service of said at least one advertising related presentation.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, further including a step of charging the first advertiser using at least one of said measurement (a) through (d) of claim 30.

32. A method as claimed in claim 27, further including a step of obtaining a first amount of information from the user prior to said step of transmitting.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said step of obtaining includes one of:

receiving registration information at an Internet web site, and personal information about the user.

34. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein one of said advertising related presentations includes information related to one of:

one or more products, one or more services, and information for influencing the user.

35. A method as claimed in claim 27, further including a step of determining a measurement related to a number of times to which the users provide a response to one of said advertising related presentations, wherein said response requests additional information.

36. A method as claimed in claim 27, further includes one or more of the following steps:

(a) comparing a first measurement indicative of an interest by the one or more users in one of said advertising related presentations with a second measurement of an interest by the one or more users in a second advertising related presentation of said advertising related presentations for determining an effectiveness of said one advertising related presentation in comparison to at least an effectiveness of said second advertising related presentation;

(b) determining a characterization of the users that are responsive to said one advertising related presentation; and

(c) determining a measurement for said one advertising related presentation, wherein the measurement relates to a length of time said one advertising related presentation is displayed to the one or more users.

37. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said one or more responses by the user include an answer to at least one question presented to the user.

38. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said step of initiating includes providing the user with an option to play one of:

blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat, and pai gow.

39. A method as claimed in claim 27, further including the steps of generating card representations for playing the game;

first requesting, by a first of the one or more users, a first collection of one or more of said card representations when playing a first instance of the game by the first user;

initializing a second instance of the game with a second of the users for playing said second instance of the game;

second requesting, by the second user, a second collection of one or more of said generated card representations, wherein said first and second steps of requesting overlap in time.

40. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said game includes at least one of the following attributes:

(a) an element of chance;

(b) a total number of possible game plays is capable of being determined before playing the game; and

(c) there is an opponent to at least one of the users.

41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said opponent deals a playing token to the one user.

42. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said network overlaps with one of an Internet network, an interactive cable television network, and a local area network.

43. A method for providing product or service information while playing a game using a communications network, comprising:

performing the following substeps (A1) through (A3) for each of a plurality of users;

(A1) receiving, at a first network site, a communications network request from the user to play a corresponding instance of the game, wherein the corresponding instance includes a plurality of user plays, wherein for each of at least some of game play network transmissions to the user for said plays, said transmission is dependent upon a most recent previous network transmission from the user, and at least some of said game play transmissions have different visual displays for different users;

(A2) providing for presentation to the user, at a second network site, one or more presentations for presentation during a playing of the corresponding instance of the game, wherein between some two of the user plays there is one of said one or more presentations presented to the user, wherein said presentations are for relating information about one or more purchasable products or services, or for receiving information from the user about purchasable products or services;

wherein said step of providing includes the following substep (A3);

(A3) transmitting, to the second network site, at least one of said presentations having a capability for (i) and (ii) following;

(i) receiving data, wherein said data is related to one or more responses by the user to said at least one presentation presented to the user, and (ii) transmitting, in response to an action by the user, said data on the communications network to a predetermined network site, using a network identity for the predetermined network site available at the second network site, wherein said network identity does not identify said first network site as said predetermined network site;

wherein said data is used for selecting a second presentation for presenting for presenting to the user during said corresponding game instance.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein there is a pair of user plays wherein said one or more presentations are not presented.

45. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said game includes an element of chance.

46. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said game includes a total number of possible game plays that is capable of being determined before playing the game.

47. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein for said game there is at least one opponent to at least one of the users.

48. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein said at least one opponent deals a playing token to the user.

49. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said communications network overlaps with one or more of an Internet network, an interactive cable television network, and a local area network.

50. A method as claimed in claim 43, further including a step of obtaining a first amount of information from the user prior to said step of providing, wherein said step of obtaining includes registering at an Internet web site.

51. A method as claimed in claim 43, said step of providing includes a step of matching the user with said at least one presentation by comparing user supplied information with information supplied by an advertiser of said at least one presentation.

52. A method as claimed in claim 51, wherein said step of matching includes comparing information obtained from the user with a demographic profile for determining said second presentation to be provided to the user.

53. A method as claimed in claim 43, further including a step of ceasing to transmit a first of said presentations to the user, and ceasing to transmit a particular category of presentations of said presentations to the user.

54. The method of claim 43, further including for each of users, the steps of:

receiving at said first network site transmitted plays of said corresponding game instance played by the user; and

transmitting responses to said received plays, wherein for each of at least most of the users having overlapping corresponding game instances, said responses of each are transmitted free of any game synchronization constrains with at least most of the other users.

55. A method for providing information regarding products or services while playing a game using a network, comprising:

(A1) providing, at a network site on said network, access to a plurality of presentations for presenting to a plurality of users, wherein at least some of said presentations have corresponding network linking information for identifying a corresponding site on the network, and each of said at least some presentations provide;

(a) information about one or more purchasable products or services, and (b) a capability for receiving a corresponding response from the user related to the one or more purchasable products or services;

performing the following substeps (A2) and (A3) for each of some of the users;

(A2) receiving a request for playing an instance of the game by the user using the network;

(A3) transmitting, via the network, a particular one of said at least some presentations to the user for presentation between some two user plays of the game instance, wherein said particular presentation also has a capability to transmit data indicative of a said corresponding response by the user to said corresponding site on the network identified by said corresponding network linking information;

wherein said data, once received at said corresponding site, is used for one of;

evaluating an effectiveness of at least one of said presentations, determining another presentation for transmitting to the user, providing a product, and providing a service.

56. A method as claimed in claim 55, further including a step of receiving said data at said corresponding site during the instance of the game.

57. A method as claimed in claim 55, further including a step of providing, to a first of said users, supplemental information related to a compensation to the first user for providing one or more of said responses.

58. A method as claimed in claim 55, wherein said network overlaps with one of an Internet network, an interactive cable television network, and a local area network.

59. A method as claimed in claim 55, wherein at least one of said responses includes obtaining some of the following information related to the user:

a name, an address, an e-mail address, an age, a financial status, an educational level, a marital status, a size of household, a number of children, an amount of recreational time, personal tastes, and a sex.

60. A method as claimed in claim 55, further including a step of storing information related to one of:

whether one of said plurality of presentations has been presented to a first of the one or more users, and a time when said one presentation was presented to the first user.

61. An apparatus for playing a game using the Internet, and providing a presentation related to at least one of a product and a service during the game, comprising:

a game playing engine, accessible via a first Internet site, said engine capable of playing a game with each of a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users at a corresponding Internet accessible station, wherein communications on the Internet are used;

a controller for controlling network game play transmissions to the Internet accessible stations, wherein between some two plays at a first of the Internet stations during a playing of the game with a first of the users, at least one presentation of a plurality of presentations is presented using presentation information transmitted by said controller via the Internet, and wherein said presentation information includes;

(a) advertising information concerning at least one of;

a corresponding product and a corresponding service, (b) Internet linking information identifying an additional presentation to be obtained from a second Internet site, (c) a capability for allowing said at least one presentation to receive one or more data items related to one or more actions by the first user directed to said at least one presentation, and (d) a capability to transmit, upon activation of said Internet linking information by the first user, said one or more data items to said second Internet site;

wherein one or more user response processing modules at the second Internet site uses data obtained from said one or more data items for at least one of;

evaluating an effectiveness of said at least one presentation, determining another of the presentations for transmitting to the first user, providing a product to the first user, providing a service to the first user, purchasing the corresponding product by the first user, and purchasing the corresponding service by the first user.

62. An apparatus as claimed to claim 61, wherein said game is a game of chance.

63. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein a total number of possible game plays of said game is capable of being determined before playing the game.

64. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said game is a game having an opponent.

65. An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein said opponent plays the game interactively with the user.

66. An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein said opponent is another player.

67. An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein said opponent deals a game playing token to the user.

68. An apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein said game is interactive between the user and said game playing engine.

69. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, further including:

a profile repository for storing one or more demographic profiles, each said demographic profile describing a corresponding group of one or more game playing users, including the first user, for presenting, via the network, one or more presentations used for identifying products or services.

70. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein at least one of said demographic profiles includes data for identifying said corresponding group according to one or more of:

an age, sex, financial status, location of residence, education, marital status, estimated amount of recreation time, personal tastes and habits, size of household, number of children, and user network interaction categorizations.

71. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, further including one or more modules for categorizing the first user according to data indicative of network interactions by the first user, wherein said indicative data includes one of:

a characterization of network sites accessed by the first user, one or more types of advertising for which the first user requests additional information and a risk tolerance of the first user.

72. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein, for the first user, said one or more user data items are used to enhance a user profile for the user within a user data repository.

73. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said network uses one of an Internet connection, an interactive cable television connection, and an intranet connection.

74. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said at least one presentation includes one or more questions for the first user.

75. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein some of said one or more data items are determined using one of:

(a) a detection of an activation of a hyperlink by the first user; and

(b) a determination of a length of time that one of the presentations is visible to the user.

76. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, further including:

a means for combining said at least one presentation with a game play by the game playing engine into a combined output; and

a means for transmitting through the Internet, said combined output to the first Internet station.

77. An apparatus as claimed in claim 76, wherein said means for combining includes a means for specifying said combined response in a hypertext markup language.

78. An apparatus as claimed in claim 76, wherein said means for transmitting includes a World Wide Web server for accessing the Internet.

79. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein one or more said data items for the first user includes user information related to one or more of:

an age, sex, financial status, location of residence, education, marital status, estimated amount of recreational time, personal tastes and habits, size of household, number of children, and user network interaction categorizations.

80. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said controller includes a selector engine for comparing a desired user profile with data provided by the users via the Internet.

81. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said game playing engine includes a game controller for playing one or more of blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and pai gow.

82. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said game playing engine includes a wager accounting module for determining an acceptability of a user requested wager.

83. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein said first Internet station includes a network browser for communicating with the Internet site for playing the game.

84. An apparatus as claimed in claim 83, further including:

a presentation receiving module operatively connected to said network browser at the first Internet station, said presentation receiving module for receiving an unrequested presentation not combined with any game playing response by the game playing engine.

85. An apparatus as claimed in claim 84, wherein said presentation receiving module includes a daemon for detecting said unrequested presentation.

86. An apparatus as claimed in claim 85, further including:

an advertiser repository including data related to a measurement of a preference of the first user for one of said presentations, and an advertised item;

wherein said advertiser repository is accessible for transmitting said at least one presentation to the first Internet station.

87. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

said at least one presentation provides for conducting a transaction for a purchase of an advertised item presented at the first Internet station.

88. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein:

said first Internet station accesses the Internet via an Internet service provider;

wherein said service provider is a casino.

89. A method of presenting at least one of a product and a service while playing one or more games on a network, comprising:

for each of a plurality of users the following steps (A1) through (A3) are performed;

(A1) first determining, in response to a network request by the user, a particular presentation, from a plurality of presentations, to present to the user at a corresponding user node of the network, wherein said presentations are used for presenting information about at least one of a product and a service, and said particular presentation includes addressing information for a destination site of the network for receiving user responses to said particular presentation;

(A2) playing, with the user, a corresponding instance of one of the games, wherein the instance includes one or more user plays and wherein for each of at least most of the users playing the game concurrently, a different display of tokens for the game is presented from that displayed to most other users;

(A3) first presenting to the user during the playing of a portion of the corresponding instance, said particular presentation via the network;

wherein a data item indicative of an action in response to said particular presentation is transmitted to said destination site wherein said data item is used for one of;

evaluating an effectiveness of said particular presentation, selecting another presentation for presenting to the user, providing a product, providing a service to the user, purchasing a product, purchasing a service, and providing information for influencing the user on a predetermined issue.

90. A method as claimed in claim 89, further including:

second determining for the user a different presentation, from the plurality of presentations, to present to the user at the corresponding user node of the network;

second presenting to the user during a different portion of the corresponding instance, said different presentation.

91. A method as claimed in claim 89, wherein the corresponding instance played by the user is played according to a predetermined set of rules indicating how an instance of the game is to be played.

92. A method as claimed in claim 89, wherein the corresponding instance played by the user is an instance of a game of chance.

93. A method as claimed in claim 89, wherein a total number of possible distinct game plays of the corresponding instance played by the user is capable of being determined before playing the game instance.

94. A method as claimed in claim 89, wherein said instance is an instance of a game having an opponent.

95. A method as claimed in claim 94, wherein said opponent plays the instance of the game interactively with the user.

96. A method as claimed in claim 94, wherein said opponent is another user.

97. A method as claimed in claim 94, wherein said opponent deals a playing token to the user.

98. A method of viewing a presentation related to one of a product and a service while playing a game on a network, comprising:

accessing the network by a first user via a first network service provider, and by a second user via a different second network service provider;

communicating by each of the first and second users with a network site that provides network access to one or more games capable of being played using communications on said network, wherein each of said first and second users use a common network address for communicating with said network site;

playing a first instance of one of said games using communications between said first user and said network site;

presenting a first presentation to the first user, wherein said first presentation is displayed between some two plays of the instance and wherein said first presentation provides information about a product or service;

replacing said first presentation by a second presentation for display to the first user between a different two plays of the first instance of the game, wherein said second presentation provides information about a product or service;

detecting an action by the first user in response to one of said first presentation and said second presentation;

transmitting one or more data items indicative of said action to a particular network site corresponding said one presentation;

receiving another presentation for presenting to the first user during a playing of the game instance, said another presentation responsive to said step of transmitting.

99. A method as claimed in claim 98, wherein said network site is said particular network site.

100. A method as claimed in claim 98, wherein a reversing of an ordering of display of said first and second presentations does not affect a playing of said first game instance.

101. A method of viewing a presentation related to one of a product and a service while playing a game on a network, comprising:

providing access to the network via a first user node;

communicating with a second network node that provides network access to one or more games capable of being played using communications on said network;

transmitting game plays, via the network, between said first user node and said second network node for one of said games;

presenting a first advertising presentation to said first user node, wherein said first advertising presentation is presented during a first instance of the game and wherein said first advertising presentation is capable of being replaced by a different second advertising presentation;

detecting an action in response to said first advertising presentation by said first user node during the first instance of the game;

first transmitting a data item indicative of said action on said network;

second transmitting to said first user node, another advertising presentation, wherein said another advertising presentation is determined using said data item.

102. A method as claimed in claim 101, wherein said first presentation is capable of being replaced by said second presentation in the game instance and the game instance is capable of being played in an identical manner regardless of which of said first and second presentations is presented.

103. The method as claimed in claim 101, wherein one or more of (a), (b) and (c) following:

(a) said step of presenting includes presenting said second advertising presentation in a different game instance from said first instance, wherein an outcome of said first instance of the game is substantially unrelated to which advertising presentation of a plurality of advertising presentations is presented as said first advertising presentation in said step of presenting;

(b) said step of second transmitting includes selecting said another advertising presentation by at least one of (i) and (ii) following;

(i) accessing stored data indicative of network communications by the first user prior to said step of first transmitting; and

(ii) determining whether the first user qualifies to receive a particular advertising presentation as said another advertising presentation;

(c) said step of first transmitting includes transmitting said data items to one of;

said second network node, and another network node for determining said another advertising presentation.

104. A method of viewing a presentation related to one of a product and a service while playing a game on a network, comprising:

communicating with a server network node that provides network access to one or more games capable of being played using communications on said network;

playing one of said games using communications between a first user node and said server network node;

presenting a first presentation at said first user node, wherein said first presentation is presented between two plays of the game and wherein said first presentation is capable of being replaced by a different second presentation without changing a play of the game;

detecting an action in response to said first presentation;

transmitting a data item indicative of said action to a second network node;

providing, in response to said data item, information related to the purchase of at least one of a product and a service.

105. A method of presenting an Internet presentation, comprising:

providing a first presentation, via the Internet, to a user Internet accessible node;

activating, in response to an Internet request by the user via an Internet connection to the user Internet accessible node, an instance of a first Internet service, wherein said first presentation is presented at least during an interval between Internet transmissions for two user inputs to the instance of the first service, and said first presentation is not presented in response to an Internet input by the user, during said Internet connection, and wherein said first presentation provides information relating to at least one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service;

receiving data, via a communication on the Internet, indicative of an action by the user in response to said first presentation being presented to the user, wherein said communication uses an Internet address, available at the user Internet accessible node, for determining a destination of said data;

determining a second presentation for presenting to the user, wherein said second presentation is determined using said data, said second presentation also providing information relating to one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service;

transmitting to the user, via the Internet, said second presentation for presenting to the user during said Internet connection.

106. A method as claimed in claim 105, wherein said first service includes the capability of playing one or more games on the Internet, and said activation is an instance of playing one of the games interactively with the first Internet accessible node.

107. A method as claimed in claim 106, wherein said game has predetermined rules of how the game is played and at least one of the following attributes:

(a) an element of chance;

(b) a total number of game plays is capable of being determined before playing the game; and

(c) there is an opponent to at least one player of said game.

108. A method as claimed in claim 105, further including a step of determining one of:

a number of times the first presentation is presented, a number of positive responses to the first presentation, and a number of purchasable products or purchasable services sold using the first presentation.

109. A method as claimed in claim 105, wherein the communication between the first Internet accessible node and the second Internet accessible node uses a TCP/IP protocol.

110. A method as claimed in claim 105, further including a step of generating a value from said data, wherein said value is provided to a party requesting said first presentation be presented to users accessing the Internet.

111. A method as claimed in claim 110, wherein said step of generating includes determining one of:

a number of times the first presentation is presented, a number of positive responses to the first presentation, and a number of purchasable products or purchasable services sold via the first presentation.

112. A method of providing a presentation to each of one or more users of a communications network, comprising:

performing for each of the one or more users, steps (A1) through (A3) following;

(A1) providing access to a network server node for allowing network access to a network service, wherein said network server node presents one or more interactive service presentations to each user;

(a) during an activation of the network service from a network client node via the network, and (b) substantially asynchronously from most other users, said interactive service presentations providing interactive communications between the user and said network server node via the network;

(A2) presenting concurrently with the interactive service presentations at the network client node, a first advertising presentation for providing information related to one of a purchasable product and a purchasable service, wherein said first advertising presentation is transmitted during the activation of the network service, and said first advertising presentation is capable of being replaced by a different, second advertising presentation for presenting during the activation of the network service, and wherein at least one of said service presentations for presenting on the network client node is determined without regard to which one of said first and second advertising presentations are also transmitted to the user for concurrent presentation;

(A3) receiving data, via a communication on the network, indicative of an action by the user in response to said step of presenting; and

evaluating, using said data, an effectiveness of at least one of said first and second advertising presentations.

113. A method as claimed in claim 112, wherein the activation includes playing an instance of a game.

114. A method as claimed in claim 113, wherein at least some of said service presentations concurrently presented with said first advertising presentation include data indicative of a game play for said instance of the game.

115. A method as claimed in claim 112, wherein said step of evaluating includes determining one of:

a measurement related to positive responses to said first advertising presentation by the one or more users, a measurement related to negative responses to said first advertising presentation, a comparison of a measurement of an effectiveness of said first advertising presentation with measurement of an effectiveness of another advertising presentation, a measurement related to a number of a saleable product or saleable service sold to the users interacting with the network service, and a measurement related to a number of promotionals of a saleable product or saleable service requested by the users interacting with the network service.

119. A method as claimed in claim 115, wherein said step of activating includes providing access to a game playing engine during the activation of the network service.

116. A method of providing a presentation on a network, comprising:

activating, in response to a request by a user, a service accessible from a first node of the network, wherein one or more interactive service presentations are presented to the user during an activation of the service by a network user node from which the user accesses the network, at least some of said interactive service presentations transmits communications on the network between said first node and said user node;

presenting concurrently with the service presentations at the user node, a first advertising presentation for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein said first advertising presentation is transmitted on the network for display during the activation of the service, and a display of said first advertising presentation is capable of being replaced by a display of a different, second advertising presentation during the activation of said service, wherein at least one of said service presentations, for presenting on the user node, is determined without regard to which one of said first and second advertising presentations is presented concurrently to the user with the at least one service presentation;

wherein said first advertising presentation includes network link data that includes a network identifier identifying another presentation at a second node of the network different from said first node, and wherein said first advertising presentation is activated for requesting said another presentation by the user providing an input related to a position of a display of said first advertising presentation.

117. A method as claimed in claim 116, wherein said second network node is said network server node.

118. A method as claimed in claim 116, wherein said step of presenting includes transmitting on one of:

the Internet, a cable network and a local area network.

120. A method of providing a presentation on a network, comprising:

activating a network service accessible from a first network node via the network, wherein one or more interactive service presentations are presented to a user during an activation of the network service by a network user node from which the user accesses the network;

inputting, by the user, service related information during a presentation of the service presentations for transmitting said information, via the network, to said first network node during the activation of the network service;

presenting concurrently with the service presentations at the network user node, a first presentation for providing information related to one of a product and a service, wherein said first presentation is transmitted for display during the activation of the network service, and a display of said first presentation is replaced by a different, second presentation during the activation of said network service substantially independently of any user input, wherein at least one of said service presentations for presenting on the network user node is determined without regard to which one of said first and second presentations is presented concurrently with the at least one service presentation to the user;

wherein said first advertising presentation includes network link data that includes a network identifier identifying another presentation;

activating, by the user, said first presentation for requesting said another presentation, wherein the user provides an input related to a position of a display of said first advertising presentation;

presenting said another presentation at the network user node;

providing product or service purchasing data to said another presentation; and

receiving the product or service in response to said step of providing.

121. A method of providing information regarding products or services on the Internet, comprising:

transmitting, via the Internet, from a first Internet accessible node, first information for storing at a second Internet accessible node, wherein said first information is capable of being utilized in subsequent Internet communications between the first Internet accessible node and the second Internet accessible node;

wherein for each of a plurality of subsequent different Internet connections by the second Internet accessible node, the following steps (a) and (b) are performed during the subsequent different Internet connection;

(a) receiving, via the Internet, at the first Internet accessible node, second information from said second Internet accessible node, said second information indicative of at least a presence of said first information;

(b) causing, via one or more Internet transmissions from said first Internet accessible node, one or more of a plurality of presentations to be transmitted to said second Internet accessible node when a presence of said first information is detected on said second Internet accessible node;

wherein the following (i) through (iii) occur during at least one of said subsequent different Internet connections;

(i) an instance of said one or more of the presentations are transmitted during an activation of a desired Internet service accessible via said first Internet accessible node, wherein said activation is activated by a user at the second Internet accessible node for substantially immediate interaction therewith,

(ii) a display of at least a first of said instance presentations is replaced by a display of a different second of said instance presentations, and

(iii) substantially all outputs from the activation of the desired Internet service, in response to Internet transmissions from the second Internet accessible node related to the activation, are determined without regard to which of said instance presentations is displayed at the second Internet accessible node.

122. A method as claimed in claim 121, wherein the activation includes a playing of a game, wherein said game is played according to a predetermined set of rules, and said game is at least one of:

a game of chance, a game having an opponent, and a game having a total number of possible distinct game plays that is capable of being determined before playing the game.

123. A method as claimed in claim 121, wherein:

(a) the first Internet accessible node is one of (i) and (ii) following;

(i) an Internet service provider for the user, and (ii) a website contacted by an Internet service provider for the user when the Internet service provider is used by the user for connecting to the Internet,

(b) the second Internet accessible node is used by a user in accessing the Internet, and

(c) said presentations include advertisements of products and services.

124. A method as claimed in claim 123, further including a step of registering, via the Internet, the user at the first Internet accessible node, wherein user identification data for identifying the user is stored in a data storage that is accessible, on demand, by a process that services Internet requests via the first Internet accessible node.

125. A method as claimed in claim 124, wherein when the user accesses the desired Internet service via the first Internet accessible node, said step of causing includes presenting at least a first of said presentations concurrently with a display for the desired Internet service, wherein said first presentation advertises a product or service.

126. A method as claimed in claim 121, wherein said first information includes an encoding of a program for receiving unrequested transmissions of said one or more presentations at the second Internet accessible node.

127. A method as claimed in claim 126, wherein said second information includes a status indicative of an activation of said program.

128. A method as claimed in claim 121, wherein said step of receiving includes verifying, using said second information at the first Internet accessible node, that said first information has a predetermined configuration.

129. A method for providing product or service information while playing a game, comprising:

performing the following substeps (A1) through (A4) for each of one or more users;

(A1) initiating an instance of the game for playing by the user, wherein the instance includes a plurality of user plays, wherein said instance uses transmissions on a communications network;

(A2) presenting over time a plurality of presentations to the user during a playing of the instance of the game, wherein said presentations are presented independently of user input, and wherein said presentations are for relating information about one or more purchasable products or services, or for receiving information from the user about purchasable products or services;

(A3) transmitting data by the communications network from the user to a site on the communications network, wherein said data is related to one or more responses by the user to at least one of said presentations presented to the user; and

(A4) receiving from said network site, a second of said presentations for presenting to the user, wherein said second presentation is determined using said data.

130. A method for providing information regarding products or services while playing a game using a network, comprising:

performing the following substeps (A1) through (A3) for each of one or more users;

(A1) providing, at a network site on said network, access to a plurality of presentations for presenting to the user, wherein said presentations provide at least one of;

(a) information about one or more purchasable products or services and (b) a capability for receiving a response from the user related to one or more purchasable products or services;

(A2) initiating an instance of the game for playing by the user using the network;

(A3) causing a display, using transmissions via the network, of one or more of said presentations to the user during a playing of the game instance, wherein there is at least one corresponding presentation of said presentations displayed to the user to which the user is able to enter a response, said response including an input by the user for activating a hyperlink on a display of said corresponding presentation, wherein said hyperlink, when identified by user input, activates a display of an additional presentation;

receiving, via said network, data related to one or more of the responses by the users to said hyperlinked additional presentations; and

using said data from said one or more users for one of;

evaluating an effectiveness of at least one of said presentations, determining another of said presentations for transmitting to the user, providing a product to the user, providing a service to the user, and charging an advertiser of one of said presentations.

131. A method of providing a presentation on a network, comprising:

activating a network service accessible at a first network node, via the network, wherein one or more interactive service presentations are presented to a user during an activation of the network service by a network user node from which the user accesses the network, and an interactive content is provided by at least one of said service presentations, said content concerning the service;

receiving, at the first network node and during the activation of the network service, network transmissions from the user node for one or more interactions between the user and said interactive service presentations concerning said interactive content;

responding, by the first network node, to at least one of said network transmissions prior to receiving some next one of said network transmissions from the user;

determining a particular one of a plurality of advertising presentations wherein said advertising presentations are used for presenting to the user information about at least one of a product and a service, and wherein said particular presentation includes network link data for identifying another presentation related to said particular presentation, said network link data associated with a corresponding one or more positions on a display of said particular presentation;

providing, for display concurrently with a display of at least some said interactive content of the service presentations at the network user node, said particular advertising presentation, wherein a display of said particular advertising presentation is activated for providing said another presentation to the user when the user provides an input identifying one of said one or more positions on a display of said particular presentation, and wherein said interactive content is substantially unaffected by which of said advertising presentations is identified in said step of determining as said particular presentation.

132. A method as claimed in claim 131, wherein said step of activating includes one of:

(a) activating an instance of a game as at least a portion of the network service, and

(b) accessing a first Internet site as said first network node, wherein a second Internet site different from said first Internet site performs said step of providing.

133. An apparatus for providing product or service information to one or more users while each user is playing a game on a communications network, comprising:

means for playing, with each user, a corresponding instance of the game, wherein the corresponding instance includes a plurality of user plays transmitted on the communications network;

means for determining one or more presentations to present to each user during a playing of the corresponding instance of the game, wherein between some two of the user plays by the user there is one of said one or more presentations presented to the user, wherein said presentations are transmitted to the user via the communications network, and wherein said presentations are for relating information about one or more purchasable products or services, or for receiving information from the user about purchasable products or services;

means for receiving data transmitted by the communications network by at least one of the users, wherein said data transmitted by the at least one user is related to one or more responses by the user to at least one of said presentations presented to the user; and

means for selecting a second of said presentations for transmitting to the at least one user, wherein said means for selecting uses said data for determining said second presentation.