US 6,148,332 A · Mandatory message display and reporting system

Abstract

A client software component for a personal computer (PC) interacts with a server of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to require messages, such as advertisements, to be displayed in a particular manner on a display screen of the PC for interaction with a user and reporting user activity. As long as a valid communication connection between the PC and the ISP exists, the PC is forced to display a particular message in a particular fashion. A user will not be allowed to minimize the message, close the message, or hide the message behind other windows on the PC display screen. The messages will also be interactive so that users are able to get more information related to a particular message, such as by automatically browsing to an associated location on the World Wide Web of the Internet. Information related to interaction with the user is also tracked and communicated back to the ISP for storage and reporting. The user is also able to designate message selection criteria, such as expressing an interest in seeing certain types of advertisements.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for displaying, on an Internet client, messages stored on an Internet server, said method comprising steps of:

determining whether an active communication connection exists between the Internet client and the Internet server;
transmitting messages stored on the Internet server for display on the Internet client responsive to determining that an active communication connection exists between the Internet client and the Internet server;
displaying on the Internet client the messages received from the Internet server as long as the active communication connection exists between the Internet client and the Internet server.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mandatory message display and reporting system

Life of this patent

Mandatory message display and reporting system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19