Method, apparatus and system for directing access to content on a computer network

In a computer network system comprising a plurality of recipient computers having browsers capable of displaying content pages within a frameset, wherein individual ones of the browsers have at least one page-unloading function operable without activation of a link in a displayed content page to unload a displayed content page of a frameset, a method for apparently modifying operation of the at least one page-unloading function of a browser displaying a first content page, thereby displaying a predetermined second content page upon activation of the at least one page-unloading function, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for a first content page from a recipient computer over the network;
• transferring the first content page to the recipient computer after said receiving step;
• transferring a first control page and a second control page to the recipient computer with the first content page;
• transferring a frameset to the recipient computer with the first content page, the frameset page specifying a frameset comprising at least two frames, a display frame for displaying the first content page, and a control frame for loading the first control page and the second control page in sequence, whereby activation of the at least one page-unloading function of the browser unloads the second control page and loads the first control page, activating a page-loading function on the first control page to cause the recipient computer to request a second content page for the display frame;
• receiving a request for the second content page from a recipient computer after the third transferring step;
• and
• transferring the second content page to the recipient computer after the second receiving step.

In a computer network comprising a plurality of recipient computers having browsers capable of displaying content pages, wherein individual ones of the browsers have at least one page-unloading function operable without activation of a link in a displayed content page to unload a displayed content page, a method for apparently modifying operation of the at least one page-unloading function of a browser displaying a first content page, thereby displaying a predetermined second content page upon activation of the at least one page-unloading function, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for a first content page from a recipient computer over the network;
• transferring the first content page to the recipient computer after said receiving step, wherein the first content page is formatted for display on the recipient computer and wherein the first content page includes an unloaded function configured to execute upon activation of the at least one page-unloaded function of the browser without the selection of any link displayed on the first content page, whereby the unload function causes the recipient computer to request a second content page;
• receiving a request for the second content page from a recipient computer after the second transferring step;
• and
• transferring the second content page to the recipient computer after the second receiving step.

For a computer network comprising a plurality of recipient computers having browsers capable of displaying content pages within a frameset, wherein individual ones of the browsers have at least one frame-unloading function operable without activation of a link in a displayed content page to unload a frameset associated with the displayed content page, a system for apparently modifying operation of the at least one frameset-unloading function of a browser, thereby displaying a predetermined second content page upon activation of the at lest one frameset-unloading function, comprising:

• a provider computer adapted to connect to a computer network, said provider computer operable to serve information to a recipient computer upon request therefrom;
• a memory connected to said provider computer;
• a first content page stored in the memory, the first content page formatted for display in at least one frame of a display on a recipient computer;
• and
• a frameset page for the first content page stored in the memory, the frameset page specifying a frameset comprising at least one frame for displaying the first content page, wherein the frame set page includes program instructions for an unload function configured to execute upon activation of the at least one frameset-unloading function of the browser without the selection of any link on the first content page, whereby the unload function is configured to cause the recipient computer to request a second content page.

For a computer network comprising a plurality of recipient computers having browsers capable of displaying content pages within a frameset, wherein individual ones of the browsers have at least one page-unloading function operable without activation of a link in a displayed content page to unload a displayed content page, a system for apparently modifying operation of the at least one page-loading function of a browser, thereby displaying a predetermined second content page upon activation of the at least one page-loading function, comprising:

• a provider computer adapted to connect to a computer network, said provider computer operable to serve information to a recipient computer upon request therefrom;
• a memory connected to said provider computer;
• a first content page stored in the memory, the first content page formatted for display in at least one frame of a display on a recipient computer;
• a first control page and a second control page stored in the memory;
• and
• a frameset page stored in the memory for the first content page, the first control page, and the second control page, the frameset page specifying a frameset comprising at least two frames, a display frame for displaying the first content page, and a control frame for loading the first control page and the second control page in sequence, whereby activation of the at least one page-unloading function of the browser unloads the second control page and loads the first control page, activating a page-loading function of program instructions on the first control page to cause the recipient computer to request a second content page for the display frame.