Apparatus and method for advertising in a multimedia environment

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus to insert unavoidable audiovisual advertisements for content providers such as radio station streamcasters. When a person clicks on content provider's website to receive free content, the user must first pass through an audiovisual advertisement. If the user attempts to evade the commercial by minimizing the browser or alt-tab, then the advertisement stops and the user returns to the previous page. Subsequent advertisements require the user to watch the entire commercial before continuing with requested content. Once the commercial(s) finish, the user can access content requested and minimize the browser or alt-tab without interrupting content request. By requiring users pass through a gateway commercial, and making the terms of watching the commercial more strict, the present invention creates high value, homogeneous advertising units.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.