Abstract:
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source via a communications network instantiates an ad download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, via the communications network, over one or more advertisement download sessions, and an ad fetch timer function that limits each advertisement download session to a prescribed maximum time duration.
Abstract:
An advertisement distribution system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices via a communications network includes at least one ad server that stores the advertisements to be distributed to the client devices, each advertisement being stored in a storage location designated by a source address, and at least one playlist server that receives a playlist request from each of the client devices, and that transmits a playlist response in response to each received playlist request. Moreover, the playlist response transmitted to each client device includes at least one playlist that identifies advertisements to be downloaded by that client device.
Abstract:
A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network includes steps for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
Abstract:
A playlist server system for supplying a playlist response to a client device which exchanges information with an information server system and which receives ads from an ad server over a communications network, includes a playlist response generation device for generating a playlist response identifying a plurality of selected ads to be presented by the client device, and a first communications device that effects a playlist response send communications link with the client device via the communications network over which the playlist response is transmitted to the client device, wherein the information server system and the playlist server are independently controlled.
Abstract:
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source via a communications network instantiates an ad download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, via the communications network, over one or more advertisement download sessions, and an ad fetch timer function that limits each advertisement download session to a prescribed maximum time duration.
Abstract:
A system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices each of which is configured for communications via a communications network preferably includes an advertisement distribution facility that communicates with each of the client devices over the communications network. Most preferably, each of the client devices downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution facility, and displays at least selected ones of the downloaded advertisements. The advertisement distribution facility includes an auditing function that transmits a send audit data request to a subset of the client devices at prescribed client audit intervals, which send audit data request includes a request that the receiving client device transmit ad-related statistical data to the advertisement distribution facility.
Abstract:
A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, includes a first device for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, a second device for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, a third device for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, a fourth device for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and a fifth device for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.
Abstract:
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network instantiates a communications function that effects an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system via the communications network, an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, an advertisement storage function for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of one or more selected ones of the stored advertisements. Moreover, the software includes at least three operating modes, including a first operating mode in which the advertisement download function is activated, a second operating mode in which the advertisement download function is not activated, and a third operating mode in which the advertisement download function is not activated. Furthermore, the software reveals a first set of features when operating in either the first or third operating mode, and reveals a second set of features when operating in the second operating mode. Advantageously, the number of features in the first set of features is greater than the number of features in the second set of features.
Abstract:
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network provides a first communications function that effects an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, a second communications function that effects a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, an advertisement storage function for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of a least selected ones of the stored advertisements.
Abstract:
Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network instantiates a playlist request function that generates a playlist request, and that transmits the playlist request to at least one playlist server, via the communications network, a playlist response handling function that receives and processes a playlist response transmitted to the client device by the at least one playlist server in response to the playlist request, wherein the playlist response includes a playlist(s) that identifies advertisements to be downloaded, an ad download function that downloads the advertisements identified in the playlist(s) from at least one remote source, via the communications network, an advertisement storage function for storing the download advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device.