Method for distributing advertisements to client devices using an obscured ad monitoring function

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer readable instructions for use on a client device that is configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, wherein the stored computer readable instructions are configured to cause the client device to perform operations comprising:

• downloading advertisements from the remote source during one or more advertisement download sessions;
• storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device;
• effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device;
• determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display;
• and
• generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad condition,
• wherein:
• advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement;
• the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters;
• and
• the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements, the following parameters:
• a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs;
• a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
• the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
• a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed;
• and
• an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed.

A client device configured for communications with a remote source of advertisements via a communications network, comprising:

• a display;
• means for downloading advertisements from the remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions;
• means for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device;
• means for effecting display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on the display;
• means for determining whether an obscured ad condition has occurred via an obscured ad monitor function which determines if the at least selected ones of the stored advertisements is both on the display and uncovered and wherein the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display;
• and
• means for generating an obscured ad nag display distinct from the advertisement currently being displayed via an obscured ad nag function in response to detection of the obscured ad condition, wherein the obscured ad nag display notifies the user of the obscured ad,
• wherein:
• advertisements comprise advertisement files each of which includes an advertisement and a plurality of ad display parameters associated with that advertisement;
• the advertisement display function displays the stored advertisement according to the ad display parameters;
• and
• the ad display parameters include, for each of the plurality of stored advertisements, the following parameters:
• a maximum face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed wherein the face time comprises a time period during which a prescribed minimum level of user activity occurs;
• a maximum cumulative face time that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
• the maximum number of times per day that the associated advertisement is to be displayed;
• a start date/time before which the associated advertisement should not be displayed;
• and
• an end date/time after which the associated advertisement should not be displayed.