System and method for dynamically extending the capabilities of an application for enhancing a user's web browsing experience
OwnerNicholas C. Skrepetosinventor
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Abstract
A system utilizes an extensible architecture for extending the functionality of an application for enhancing a web browser's experience. The application prevents unwanted advertising and so called “adware” software that launches and/or displays advertising as part of its use on a computing device. As new methods for launching, activating, and running these unwanted advertisements and advertising applications are conceived, the extensible architecture allows the application for preventing these unwanted elements to be dynamically updated to further prevent the new methods.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for dynamically extending an application stored on a computing device for blocking unwanted advertisements, comprising:
- querying a central database to identify any available dynamic extensions for the application;
- downloading any dynamic extensions to the computing device that have not been previously downloaded;
- and
- updating the application to include further advertisement blocking functionality provided by any downloaded dynamic extensions.
A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
- querying a central database to identify any available dynamic extensions for an advertisement blocking application stored on a computing device;
- determining whether any available dynamic extensions have been previously downloaded to the computing device;
- downloading any dynamic extensions to the computing device that have not been previously downloaded;
- and
- updating the advertisement blocking application to reflect further advertisement blocking functionality provided by any downloaded dynamic extensions.
A system for dynamically extending an advertisement blocking application that is stored on a computing device, comprising:
- a dynamic extension that is downloadable to the computing device via a network, wherein the dynamic extension comprises information for extending the functionality of the advertisement blocking application;
- and
- a central database that is configured to store the dynamic extension when generated, wherein the dynamic extension is generated according to an extension update process comprising:
- monitoring a network browsing session for any newly discovered methods of advertising;
- recording attributes of a newly discovered method for advertising when the newly discovered method for advertising is encountered;
- and
- transmitting the attributes to the central database such that the dynamic extension is generated in response to the attributes of the newly discovered method for advertising.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.