System and method for distributing data over a communications network
AssigneeWebTV Networks, Inc.
InventorsALAN COHN, TIMO BRUCK, STEPHEN G. PERLMAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for distributing and presenting data such as advertisements from a host server to a browsing device through a communications network. The method involves preloading data from the host server to the browsing device though the communications network, storing the data in the browsing device, detecting a second period of idle time in browsing device operation, and presenting the data through the browsing device upon detection of the second period of idle time.
Claims39
A method of delivering data from a host server to a browsing device through a communications network, the method comprising steps of:
- detecting a first period of idle time in browsing device operation;
- preloading data from the host server to the browsing device though the communications network upon detecting the first period of idle time;
- storing the data in the browsing device;
- detecting a second period of idle time in browsing device operation;
- and
- presenting the data through the browsing device upon detecting the second period of idle time.
A system for distributing data to a user of a communications network, the system comprising:
- a host server;
- and
- a browsing device including a display device, the browsing device being connectable to the host server through the communications network;
- wherein the host server and the browsing device are collectively configured to establish a connection between the browsing device and the host server upon detection of a first period of idle time in browsing device operation and to preload data from the host server to the browsing device through the communications network;
- and
- wherein the browsing device is configured to present the data upon detection of a second period of idle time in browsing device operation, and to cease to present the data upon detection of a determined browsing device event.
A method of distributing data over a communications network from a host server to a browser program on a browsing device and displaying the data to a user while the browsing device transitions between displaying a current web page and a destination web page, the method comprising steps of:
- detecting a period of network communications inactivity in the browsing device;
- preloading the data from the host server to the browsing device upon detection of the period of network communications inactivity, and interrupting preloading the data where the browser program on the browsing device initiates other network communications;
- storing the data in memory of the browsing device;
- providing a transition page including a format to display the data;
- storing the transition page in memory of the browsing device;
- displaying a current web page on the browsing device;
- receiving a user command at the browsing device to download a destination web page;
- downloading the destination web page to the browsing device;
- determining that a minimum period of time has elapsed since a most recent display of the data;
- displaying the transition page on the browsing device;
- displaying the data on the browsing device according to the format of the transition page;
- detecting completion of the step of downloading the destination web page;
- interrupting display of the data and the transition page upon detecting completion of the step of downloading;
- displaying the destination web page on the browsing device;
- recording presentation time of the data at the browsing device;
- and
- when the presentation time meets or exceeds a predetermined amount of presentation time required for an impression, reporting a completed impression for the data from the browsing device to the host server.
A system for distributing data from a host server to a user of a browsing device over a communications network and displaying the data while the browsing device is transitioning from a current web page to a destination web page, the system comprising:
- a host server connectable to a communications network;
- a browsing device, including a display device and a memory, the browsing device being connectable to the communications network and configured to communicate with the host server through the communications network;
- a browser program executable on the browsing device, the browser program being configured to provide a graphical user interface on the display device of the browsing device for displaying the contents of remotely accessed files, and being configured to detect a period of temporary inactivity in network communications of the browsing device, and request the data from the host server upon detecting the period of temporary inactivity;
- wherein the host server is configured to select and transmit the data to the browsing device upon request from the browsing device;
- wherein the browsing device is configured to interrupt transmission of the data from the host server upon initiation of other network communications by the browsing device;
- and
- wherein the browsing device is configured to display a transition page containing the data after displaying the current web page and before displaying the destination web page, until completion of the download of the destination web page.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.