Method and apparatus for displaying messages in computer systems

A method of displaying messages in a computer, the method comprising:

• delivering a first message content to a computer over a computer network, the message content being delivered to the computer based on web sites visited by an end-user;
• displaying the first message content in a first presentation vehicle in the computer, the first presentation vehicle being configured to allow invocation of a configuration panel for allowing the end-user to control how message contents are presented in the computer by entering a preference setting;
• and
• using the preference setting to determine how to display a second message content received in the computer.

A method of displaying messages in a computer, the method comprising:

• delivering a first message content to a computer over a computer network, the message content being delivered to the computer based on web sites visited by an end-user;
• displaying the message content in a first presentation vehicle in the computer;
• providing a configuration panel to allow the end-user to enter a preference setting that controls how message contents are presented in the computer;
• providing a second message content to the computer, the second message content being provided based on the preference setting and on web sites visited by the end-user;
• and
• displaying the second message content in a second presentation vehicle.