Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Computer network monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2004-07-13
Thompson, Marc D. (Department: 2144)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Computer network monitoring
C709S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06763379
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a system, apparatus and method for monitoring a user's activities, and displaying content to the users on a wide area network with minimal disruption in the user's activity. More specifically, embodiments of the invention direct and display content to users on inactive windows so as to reduce disruption of the user's activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wide area networks, such as the World Wide Web (“WWW”) or the Internet, have become increasingly popular modalities for the advertisement of products or to present unsolicited content to users. Indeed, much like broadcast medium, for example, radio and television, advertisers sponsor content in exchange for the right to present unsolicited content to users, such as, for example, an advertisement. Indeed, advertisers sponsor most of the content on the WWW. The sponsorship provided by the advertiser supports the host providers and facilitates free hosting for individual users.
In exchange for free content support, and therefore, free hosting of individual web sites, advertisers desire to display their advertisements as frequently as possible. Current advertising on the WWW is typically in the form of a small banner or a pop-up window. The banner advertisements are usually placed at the top or bottom of the page. The banner itself is usually insufficient in its advertising message to the consumer. As such, to review the banner advertisement, the user must click on the banner and load the advertisement.
The pop-up window is another form of advertisement. Pop-up advertisements open when a new browser window is opened, wherein the pop-up advertisement appears in front of the user's primary window. As with the banner advertisements, the user must click on the advertisement to view the advertisement.
As evinced above, current advertisement methods require some affirmative action on from the user. Further, current advertising methods are intrusive and interrupt the user's activities. Indeed, unlike broadcast medium, wherein the advertisements are placed in between the content of the main programming, advertisements on the WWW, which can be displayed at any time, are usually displayed over, or with, the content that the user is viewing, and require affirmative action by the user. As most users do not desire to be interrupted in their activities, most users avoid reviewing the advertisements. Indeed, some users avoid sites with highly intrusive advertisements.
A need in the industry exists for a modality of presenting unsolicited content to users wherein the user is not required to affirmatively respond to view the content. A further need exists for a modality of displaying unsolicited content wherein the presentation of the content does not interrupt the user's activities, but rather, occurs during a disruption in the user's review of desired content.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a system, apparatus and method for monitoring a user's activities and displaying and presenting unsolicited content to users, wherein the user is not required to affirmatively respond in order to review the content. Furthermore, embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a method for presenting unsolicited content such that the presentation of the content does not disrupt the user's review of other content that the user has chosen to review. Other method and apparatus for accomplishing similar objectives are disclosed in the co-pending application Ser. No. 09/419,698, filed by the inventor hereof on Oct. 14, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments of the instant invention include a monitoring system
30
comprising an activity monitor
32
and a content transfer and display means
34
, wherein the activity monitor
30
comprises an event identifier
36
and a timer
38
. The monitoring system
30
monitors user activities, identifies trigger events, measures the elapsed time of inactivity of the user and initiates the presentation of unsolicited data, or content, to the user computer
12
. In general, the monitoring system
30
identifies trigger events and measures the elapsed time between trigger events. If the elapsed time between the trigger events exceeds a predefined time period the monitoring system
30
causes unsolicited data to be presented on the user computer
12
.
A feature of preferred embodiments of the invention is an activity monitor. An advantage to this feature is that the activity of the user can be monitored to determine whether the user has suspended his activities. A further advantage of this feature is that the user can be presented with unsolicited content during the period of suspended activities.
Another feature of preferred embodiments of this invention is that the unsolicited data is presented in its full format to the user. An advantage to this feature is that the user is not required to affirmatively access the data to review the data.
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Ideaflood, Inc.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Thompson Marc D.
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