U.S. patent application number 09/838927 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for system and method for providing a dynamic content window within a windows-based content manifestation environment provided in a browser.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIMPLE.COM. Invention is credited to Harman, Seth, Pasquali, Sandro.
Application Number | 20020049637 09/838927 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22954494 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020049637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harman, Seth ; et
al. |
April 25, 2002 |
System and method for providing a dynamic content window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided in a
browser
Abstract
A system for providing a dynamic shopping cart window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser includes a server system configured to transmit a
software system and data related to a shopping list from a shopping
list content source via an electronic data network. A Web browser
client is provided operating within a data processing system that
is coupled to said server system via the electronic data network
and having a content manifestation environment. The Web browser
client is operative to receive said software system and said data
via said server system to process said software system and said
data to produce a controllable shopping cart window object within
said content manifestation environment of said Web browser client.
The controllable shopping cart window object is configured to
dynamically manifest therein the shopping list received from the
shopping list content source in accordance with said data.
Inventors: |
Harman, Seth; (Toronto,
CA) ; Pasquali, Sandro; (Toronto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP LLP
Suite 2800
725 South Figueroa
Los Angeles
CA
90017-5406
US
|
Assignee: |
SIMPLE.COM
|
Family ID: |
22954494 |
Appl. No.: |
09/838927 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09838927 |
Apr 19, 2001 |
|
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09252076 |
Feb 18, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/188 20130101;
G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 30/0277 20130101; G06Q 30/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing a dynamic shopping cart window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: a server system configured to transmit a
software system and data related to a shopping list from a shopping
list content source via an electronic data network; and a Web
browser client operating within a data processing system that is
coupled to said server system via the electronic data network and
having a content manifestation environment, said Web browser client
operative to receive said software system and said data via said
server system, to process said software system and said data to
produce a moveable shopping cart window object within said content
manifestation environment of said Web browser client, said moveable
shopping cart window object configured to dynamically manifest
therein the shopping list received from the shopping list content
source in accordance with said data.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
shopping cart window object within said content manifestation
environment.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shopping list
includes at least one of an item and a price.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the moveable shopping
cart window object is updated according to changes in the shopping
list.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the moveable shopping
cart window object includes at least one of a reset button, a
checkout button, and a delete button.
7. A method for providing a dynamic shopping cart window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: from a server system, transmitting a
software system and data related to a shopping list from a shopping
list content source via an electronic data network; at a Web
browser client operating within a data processing system that is
coupled to said server system via the electronic data network,
receiving said software system; processing said software system and
said data to produce a moveable shopping cart window object within
a content manifestation environment provided by said Web browser;
and dynamically manifesting said shopping list within said moveable
shopping cart window object in accordance with said data.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
shopping cart window object within said content manifestation
environment.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the shopping list
includes at least one of an item and a price.
11. The method according to claim 7, further including updating the
moveable shopping cart window object according to changes in the
shopping list.
12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the moveable shopping
cart window object includes at least one of a reset button, a
checkout button, and a delete button.
13. A system for providing a dynamic shopping cart window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: a server system configured to transmit a
software system and data related to a shopping list from a shopping
list content source via an electronic data network; and a Web
browser client operating within a data processing system that is
coupled to said server system via the electronic data network and
having a content manifestation environment, said Web browser client
operative to receive said software system and said data via said
server system, to process said software system and said data to
produce a controllable shopping cart window object within said
content manifestation environment of said Web browser client, said
controllable shopping cart window object configured to dynamically
manifest therein the shopping list received from the shopping list
content source in accordance with said data.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
shopping cart window object within said content manifestation
environment.
15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the shopping list
includes at least one of an item and a price.
17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controllable
shopping cart window object is updated according to changes in the
shopping list.
18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controllable
shopping cart window object is adapted to perform at least one of
moving, resizing, maximizing, and minimizing within said content
manifestation environment.
19. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controllable
shopping cart window object includes at least one of a reset
button, a checkout button, and a delete button.
20. A method for providing a dynamic shopping cart window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: from a server system, transmitting a
software system and data related to a shopping list from a shopping
list content source via an electronic data network; at a Web
browser client operating within a data processing system that is
coupled to said server system via the electronic data network,
receiving said software system; processing said software system and
said data to produce a controllable shopping cart window object
within a content manifestation environment provided by said Web
browser; and dynamically manifesting said shopping list within said
controllable shopping cart window object in accordance with said
data.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
shopping cart window object within said content manifestation
environment.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the shopping list
includes at least one of an item and a price.
24. The method according to claim 20, further including updating
the controllable shopping cart window object according to changes
in the shopping list.
25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the controllable
shopping cart window object is adapted to perform at least one of
moving, resizing, maximizing, and minimizing within said content
manifestation environment.
26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the controllable
shopping cart window object includes at least one of a reset
button, a checkout button, and a delete button.
27. A system for providing a dynamic television window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: a server system configured to transmit a
software system and data related to an audio-visual program from an
audio-visual program content source via an electronic data network;
and a Web browser client operating within a data processing system
that is coupled to said server system via the electronic data
network and having a content manifestation environment, said Web
browser client operative to receive said software system and said
data via said server system, to process said software system and
said data to produce a moveable television window object within
said content manifestation environment of said Web browser client,
said moveable television window object configured to dynamically
manifest therein the audio-visual program received from the
audio-visual program content source in accordance with said
data.
28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
television window object within said content manifestation
environment.
29. The system according to claim 27, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the audio-visual
program includes full-motion video content and audio content.
31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the moveable
television window object includes at least one of a volume control,
a channel selector, a play button, a rewind button, a stop button,
and a fast-forward button.
32. A method for providing a dynamic television window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: from a server system, transmitting a
software system and data related to an audiovisual program from an
audio-visual program content source via an electronic data network;
at a Web browser client operating within a data processing system
that is coupled to said server system via the electronic data
network, receiving said software system; processing said software
system and said data to produce a moveable television window object
within a content manifestation environment provided by said Web
browser; and dynamically manifesting said audio-visual program
within said moveable television window object in accordance with
said data.
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
television window object within said content manifestation
environment.
34. The method according to claim 32, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the audio-visual
program includes full-motion video content and audio content.
36. The method according to claim 32, wherein the moveable
television window object includes at least one of a volume control,
a channel selector, a play button, a rewind button, a stop button,
and a fast-forward button.
37. A system for providing a dynamic television window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: a server system configured to transmit a
software system and data related to an audio-visual program from an
audio-visual program content source via an electronic data network;
and a Web browser client operating within a data processing system
that is coupled to said server system via the electronic data
network and having a content manifestation environment, said Web
browser client operative to receive said software system and said
data via said server system, to process said software system and
said data to produce a controllable television window object within
said content manifestation environment of said Web browser client,
said controllable television window object configured to
dynamically manifest therein the audio-visual program received from
the audio-visual program content source in accordance with said
data.
38. The system according to claim 37, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
television window object within said content manifestation
environment.
39. The system according to claim 37, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
40. The system according to claim 37, wherein the audio-visual
program includes full-motion video content and audio content.
41. The system according to claim 37, wherein the controllable
television window object is adapted to perform at least one of
moving, resizing, maximizing, and minimizing within said content
manifestation environment.
42. The system according to claim 37, wherein the controllable
television window object includes at least one of a volume control,
a channel selector, a play button, a rewind button, a stop button,
and a fast-forward button.
43. A method for providing a dynamic television window within a
windows-based content manifestation environment provided within a
Web browser, comprising: from a server system, transmitting a
software system and data related to an audiovisual program from an
audio-visual program content source via an electronic data network;
at a Web browser client operating within a data processing system
that is coupled to said server system via the electronic data
network, receiving said software system; processing said software
system and said data to produce a controllable television window
object within a content manifestation environment provided by said
Web browser; and dynamically manifesting said audio-visual program
within said controllable television window object in accordance
with said data.
44. The method according to claim 43, wherein said software system
includes instructions related to the size and placement of said
television window object within said content manifestation
environment.
45. The method according to claim 43, wherein said electronic data
network is an Internet.
46. The method according to claim 43, wherein the audio-visual
program includes full-motion video content and audio content.
47. The method according to claim 43, wherein the controllable
television window object is adapted to perform at least one of
moving, resizing, maximizing, and minimizing within said content
manifestation environment.
48. The method according to claim 43, wherein the controllable
television window object includes at least one of a volume control,
a channel selector, a play button, a rewind button, a stop button,
and a fast-forward button.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/252,076, filed Feb. 18, 1999, now U.S. Pat.
No. ______.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to systems and methods that
are used to distribute and manifest content, such as advertising
content, received via the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). More
particularly, the present invention relates to the dynamic
manifestation of a shopping list or a television program within a
window object maintained within a WWW browser environment.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) have significantly
impacted the way people receive information, purchase goods and
services, and generally communicate. The Internet and WWW have
facilitated whole content delivery industries that provide
up-to-the-minute delivery (and sale) of information such as news,
weather, sports scores, horoscopes, stock and securities
information, advertising, etc. Many companies have recognized the
great "gold-rush" nature of the Internet and have been quick to
establish Web sites where people (a.k.a. "network surfers") can
visit to purchase books online, to receive specialized content such
as investment and other reports, and to subscribe to content
delivery services such as "electronic" newspapers and magazines.
Despite the widespread use and acceptance of the Internet and the
WWW, many industry analysts and insiders insist that our society
has only begun to realize the advantages of publicly accessible
network technologies and predict that our lives will only be
further impacted by increased uses of the "Net".
[0006] Many companies have been quick to adopt the Internet and WWW
as fertile ground to sell goods and services to network users. For
example, many companies place "banner advertisements" on Web pages
to entice network users to purchase related goods and services. In
many cases, such banner ads are simple rectangular screen objects
(e.g., one that has dimensions of 468 picture elements (pixels) by
60 pixels as defined by the Internet Advertising Bureau (Canada)
(IAB) banner ad standards) that contain text or graphics and,
possibly, animated graphics that are loaded or pushed to a network
user's Web browser for loading and static display thereby.
Additionally, Java-based banner ads have been used to enhance
advertising content. Once loaded, however, such advertising banners
will appear on a network user's screen and, in particular, within a
content manifestation environment maintained by a running WWW
browser software package so long as the user remains on or at a
particular Web site. And, since banner ads are loaded as screen
objects within a Web site window, they remain static until either a
new Web site is loaded or a browser reload/refresh operation occurs
at the behest of the network user.
[0007] Banner ads often are associated with hypertext links that
allow network users to surf to an advertiser's or sponsor's Web
site to receive additional information about advertised goods and
services. For example, many online brokerage houses (e.g.,
www.etrade.com) sponsor banner ads such as at Yahoo.com's financial
Web site to entice network users and, especially, those interested
in stocks, bonds, and securities, to surf to a particular Web site
to become online securities traders (and customers). Despite their
static nature, banner ads have proven to be quite effective at
routing traffic to advertiser's Web sites to promote the sale of
goods and services online. In fact, banner ads as advertising and
marketing tools have driven wide use and development of the
Internet and WWW as a place for commerce. In fact, advertising via
banner ads continues to be one of very few profitable ways to
entice and engage in electronic commerce.
[0008] Despite their widespread use as tools to drive electronic
commerce on the Internet and WWW, banner ads and other similar
advertising and marketing mechanisms are not without their
problems. For example, in addition to the fact that banner ads are
statically displayed once loaded by a Web browser, banner ads and
other similar marketing tools do not allow different and dynamic
marketing content to be displayed within a browser window. That is,
a banner ad usually contains mere graphic image(s) (e.g., one that
may contain animated graphics) which is associated with a single
hypertext link ("hyperlink"). Such a banner ad cannot dynamically
display content such as marketing and advertising content that is
to be received via a network connection after an initial container
Web site page load.
[0009] Furthermore, in addition to the technical infirmities
associated with modem banner ads, the same do not facilitate
dynamic, rich advertising that network users have become used to in
other media forums and which can deliver the most "bang for the
buck" in terms of providing the highest possible sales return
related to a particular marketing and promotion investment. For
example, current banner ads do not come close to the richness of
television or radio advertisements that allow full-motion video,
audio, etc. Accordingly, although network bandwidth capabilities do
not currently allow the push of content like television ads, that
same bandwidth is not being effectively deployed to facilitate
richer, more effective network advertising.
[0010] Thus, there exists a need to provide new and improved
systems and methods to facilitate dynamic display of advertising
and marketing content. Such systems and methods must allow
effective and efficient deployment of advertising banners and
corresponding content streams without requiring Internet and WWW
infrastructures and standards to change. And, to be viable, network
users must be able to receive new and improved advertising and
marketing content that facilitate greater sales in relation to
spent advertising dollars.
[0011] Moreover, there exists a need to provide a system and method
to facilitate display of a customer shopping list during online
shopping. Conventional methods and systems do not readily provide
the display of the selections made by the customer while the
customer is shopping online. Rather, the customer typically is
required to "click" away from the shopping Web page to go to a
separate Web page to view the customer's shopping selections, and
then return to the shopping Web page to continue shopping.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a screen image that depicts structural aspects of
the present invention and, in particular, a window module
configured to dynamically manifest advertising and marketing
content therein within a windows-based content manifestation
environment provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing environment in
which a client computing system is coupled to a server system and
which is configured to run a WWW browser client which manifests a
window module that can dynamically manifest advertising and
marketing content in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3A is a flowchart that illustrates a process for
generating an advertising window module and for dynamically
manifesting advertising and marketing content therein in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3B is the conclusion of the flowchart started in FIG.
3A;
[0016] FIG. 4A illustrates a screen image displaying a floating
shopping cart according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4B illustrates a close-up view of the floating shopping
cart in FIG. 4A according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5A illustrates a screen image displaying a floating
television window object according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 5B illustrates a close-up view of the floating
television window object in FIG. 5A according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The present invention is now discussed in detail with
reference to the drawing figures that were briefly described above.
Unless otherwise specified, like parts, systems, and processes are
referred to with like reference numerals.
Glossary
[0021] The following terms may be used within the instant patent
document to illustrate and define the novel features of the present
invention. Accordingly, reference should be had to this Glossary
for definitions of terms that are used to provide enabling
disclosure related to the present invention's systems and methods
for facilitating a windows-based content manifestation environment
within a WWW browser and a dedicated advertising, shopping list,
and television program content window module therein.
[0022] The terms that are capitalized below bear the following
meanings.
[0023] Content is any form of digital data stream that may be
supplied or sent to a computing system such as a personal computer.
In the context of the present invention, content includes
advertising information, shopping list information, and television
program information that may take the form of a data stream of
video, audio, etc. Any media format that may be used to deliver
active, dynamic content to a computer screen and other peripheral
devices (e.g., sound systems, etc.) may be considered content in
the context of the present invention.
[0024] The WWW is the World Wide Web and its associated protocols
and related technologies which may be accessed via the
Internet.
[0025] A WWW browser client is a software application that is
operative to receive and process content to produce a corresponding
output (e.g., to manifest text and images within a browser window
displayed on a monitor device, etc.).
[0026] An Electronic Data Network is any type of network
environment from which at least one coupled computer or computing
system, including Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) enabled
devices (such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular
telephones, etc.), is configured to receive content such as HTML
and related WWW content and to process the same to produce an
appropriate output. An exemplary electronic data network is the
Internet along with the WWW.
[0027] A window object is a Module or a Layer.
[0028] A Layer is a WWW browser content display section produced
within a content manifestation environment (CME) including, but not
limited to, any object within an HTML document that may be scaled,
dragged, or otherwise operated upon such as an IMG object, a SPAN
object, a DIV object, a form element, etc. and which may be
associated with program logic such as within a script, etc. A layer
has its own properties including, but not limited to, a name, etc.
within an HTML rendition model such as those defined by DHTML
standards. Additionally, a layer acts independently of other
content within a particular HTML document.
[0029] A CME is a controllable WWW browser content display window
provided by a WWW browser in a conventional computer system, or in
a WAP-enabled device, etc. For example, a CME is viewed as a
dynamic window in which WWW content is normally displayed.
[0030] A Module (also referred to herein as a Window Module) is a
layer having (1) a control section, and (2) a related content
display section which may be manifested within a CME. A module may
be recursively referenced in that a particular module provided in
accordance with the present invention may include other modules. In
other words, the present invention makes it possible to have window
objects within window objects. The control section of a module may
contain a name associated with the module, one or more module
sizing icons, etc.
[0031] A DMOD is a draggable module much like a draggable type
window provided within an operating system environment.
[0032] A TMOD is a tiled module much like a tiled type window
provided within an operating system environment.
[0033] A Fixed Screen Region or FSR is an area of a screen
environment such as within a CME in which content may flow based on
Module operations, Java applet control, etc.
[0034] A Fixed Layer or FL is a layer having the same behavior as a
FSR.
[0035] A Content Manifestation Layer or CML is a pop-up type layer
much like a pop-up dialog box that can manifest content based on
operations occurring within a Module (e.g., hyper-link traversal
and/or occurrence of another event, etc.).
[0036] Module Controls or MCs control objects such as objects
associated with screen icons that react to events (e.g., mouse
clicks, mouse-overs, double-clicks, etc.) and which control
attributes of a module (e.g., minimization, maximization, closure,
resizing, etc.). The icons associated with such control objects
will appear in a control section of a module.
[0037] The terms "dynamic manifestation" and "dynamic display"
refer to the rendition of content such as advertising and marketing
content received via an electronic data network such as the
Internet and WWW within a window module provided in accordance with
the present invention. For example, dynamic manifestation includes
the display of a full motion video stream received from an ad
content source (URL) within a window module in accordance with the
present invention.
[0038] The aforementioned and defined terms may be made plural in
the text found below (e.g., "DMODs"). Such terms may only be
referred to in documentation incorporated by reference herein.
A Windows Based Content Manifestation Environment (CME)
[0039] The present invention utilizes technology which has been
described and disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/234,297, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on
Jan. 21, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Structural Aspects of the Present Invention
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 1, depicted therein is a screen image
that illustrates structural aspects of the present invention and,
in particular, a window module configured to dynamically manifest
advertising and marketing content, shopping list information, and
television program information therein within a windows-based
content manifestation environment provided in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] In particular, screen image 100 depicts a WWW browser client
CME 101 that has been instructed in accordance with the present
invention to manifest a windows-based environment in which content
may displayed or otherwise manifested in window modules provided in
accordance with the present invention. Such window modules may be
generated and manipulated in accordance with the structural and
functional aspects defined in the above referenced co-pending U.S.
patent application.
[0042] In CME 101, a series of window modules 102, 104, 106, 108,
110, and 112 in the form of DMODs have been provided to facilitate
manifestation of content such as news, email, chat, search, etc.
The creation of such window modules will be readily apparent after
reviewing the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent
application.
[0043] In CME 101, a special window module 114 has been provided in
the form of a DMOD to facilitate dynamic manifestation of
advertising and marketing content, shopping list content, and
television program content that may be received by a WWW browser
client (running on a personal data processing system, for example)
via a network connection, etc. Window module 114 has been defined
to have a control section that includes a title (e.g., "SPONSORS")
and a set of control icons. Such structural aspects along with
their corresponding operational features related to window module
114 are fully described in the above-referenced co-pending U.S.
patent application.
[0044] The content that may be manifested within window module 114
may include any type of content including live video streams, audio
feeds, etc. Such content is manifested, for example, in a
manifestation area 116 of window module 114.
[0045] Unlike banner advertisements, window module 114 may be used
to manifest advertising and marketing content, shopping list
content, and television program content in a dynamic way and,
possibly, from a variety of content sources each having an
associated uniform resource locator (URL). Accordingly, so long as
a network user remains at a particular Web site (e.g., one that
provides for a windows-based content manifestation
environmentWWW.WINDOWSWEBSITE.COM) and/or just a dynamic ad window
in accordance with the present invention, a dynamic advertising
content, shopping list, or television program window may be
displayed to manifest content such as from a variety of advertisers
and sponsors, broadcasters, providers, merchants, etc.
[0046] As the present invention now provides a dynamic Web-based
advertising and shopping vehicle that is different from the use of
conventional banner advertisements, a whole new way of generating
advertising revenue, as well as online shopping, is realized. That
is, in contrast to conventional banner advertisement revenue
paradigms that call for cost per impression pricing, the present
invention and its provision of a dynamic advertising content window
now allow for the generation of advertising revenue according to
paradigms used for television and other media forums. For example,
advertisers who would normally pay for banner advertisement
impressions may now place ads that are rich in content and that
exist for periods of time much like television commercials and the
like. Accordingly, advertising and marketing firms may now derive
advertising revenue for "air time" of particular dynamic content
advertisements.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 2, depicted therein is a is a block
diagram of a computing environment in which a client computing
system is coupled to a server system and which is configured to run
a WWW browser client that manifests a window module that can
dynamically manifest advertising and marketing content in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0048] In environment 200, a client computing system such as a
personal data processing system or computer 202 is coupled to a
server system 210 via an electronic data network such as the
Internet and WWW, an intranet or other network computing
environment. The dashed line separating client data processing
system 202 and server system 210 is intended to merely illustrate
the transmission of data from a server type data processing system
and the receipt of that data by a client type data processing
system.
[0049] Server data processing system 210 is coupled directly or
indirectly (e.g., via a network connection) to advertising and
marketing content sources 212 through 214. Such sources may be
computing platforms and networks that serve advertising content
upon request for the same from a WWW browser client in accordance
with the present invention. For example, an ad content source like
or similar to ad content source 212 may serve a video stream that
will appear as a full motion video and audio commercial (e.g., much
like a television commercial) within an advertising content window
provided within a WWW browser CME in accordance with the present
invention.
[0050] Client data processing system 202 includes a data storage
facility 204, a processor arrangement having one or more processing
units, and input/output facilities to facilitate network
communications such as TCP/IP protocol based communications (e.g.,
a modem, a network interface card, etc.). Input/output facilities
208 also include content manifestation peripherals including, but
not limited to, a monitor for visual display, a set of speakers for
audible manifestation, a printer for hard-copy output, etc. The
structural arrangement of the component parts of client data
processing system 202 will be immediately understood by those
skilled in the art of computer design.
[0051] Data storage facility 204 (e.g., local hard disk drives,
etc.) store a network client and/or WWW browser client software
package/application that may be executed within client data
processing system. Such a network client/WWW browser client
software package/application may be the INTERNET EXPLORER (TM),
which is manufactured and marketed by MICROSOFT CORPORATION. Such a
network client/WWW browser client software package/application will
be instructed in accordance with a software system received from
server system 210 to facilitate a windows-based content
manifestation environment within a WWW browser type content
manifestation environment window. Additionally, such a network
client/WWW browser client software package/application will receive
data related to at least one advertising and marketing content
source from server data processing system 210 (e.g., at least one
URL which points to ad content sources such as ad content sources
212 through 214). Alternatively, such data received from server
system 210 may include ad content.
Operational Aspects of the Present Invention
[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, depicted therein is a
flowchart that illustrates a process for generating an advertising
window module within a WWW browser and for dynamically manifesting
advertising and marketing content, shopping list content, or
television program content therein in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] In particular, processing and operations start at step S3-1
and immediately proceed to step S3-2. At step S3-2 a client data
processing system loads and runs a WWW browser client software
package/application or other network client.
[0054] Next, at step S3-3, a network connection is initiated by the
client data processing system (e.g., a dial-up networking
connection via a modem, etc.).
[0055] Next, at step S3-4, a network user causes the running WWW
browser or other network client to access a URL or a windows based
web site (e.g., URL--www.windows_website.com and one that points to
server side systems).
[0056] Next, at step S3-5, a software system is downloaded from
server side systems to the client data processing system. Such a
software system facilitates a windows based CME within a WWW
browser and is discussed in detail in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/234,297, filed Jan. 21, 1999, which has
been incorporated herein by reference.
[0057] Next, at step S3-6, the downloaded software system causes
the WWW browser client to manifest a windows-based web site in a
browser CME.
[0058] Processing and operations proceed at the top of FIG. 3B to
which reference is now made.
[0059] At step S3-7, at least one window module object (e.g.,
window module 114) is generated within a WWW browser client CME and
is specified as an advertising, marketing, and sponsor type window
module in which advertising content may be dynamically manifested
in accordance with the present invention.
[0060] Next, at step S3-8, the ad/sponsor window module may
dynamically manifest an ad content stream received from an ad
content source. And, there may be subsequent server queries on a
continuous basis, for example, to facilitate the manifestation of
different and multiple commercials from various sponsors while a
windows-based Web site is viewable in the WWW browser CME.
[0061] Processing and operations end at step S3-9.
[0062] It should be noted that although a singular advertising
content window has been shown and described relative to a WWW
browser CME, the present invention is not so limited. To the
contrary any number of ad window modules may be deployed to
dynamically manifest advertising content.
[0063] Furthermore, although the present invention certainly
contemplates generation of one or more advertising content window
modules within a windows-based CME of a WWW browser client, the
present invention is not so limited. In fact, the present invention
also contemplates the use of the disclosed technologies on
conventional type Web sites to offer any number of windows-like
dynamic advertising content manifestation. Such technologies will
now allow web site providers to offer richer content manifestation
environments. The present invention now provides a new way of
generating online based advertising revenue. That is, in addition
to simple banner ad impression revenue, advertisers and advertising
entities may now charge for advertising content display much like
the way television ads are charged. In particular, advertisers and
advertising entities may now charge for timed "spots" such as
thirty second ads during certain time periods (e.g., a thirty
second spot during a peak network use period when most relevant
consumers are visiting a particular Web site, etc.).
[0064] FIG. 4A illustrates a screen image displaying a floating
shopping cart according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 4B illustrates a close-up view of the floating shopping
cart in FIG. 4A according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Within the CME 401 illustrated in FIG. 4A, there are
also a number of window modules 402, 404, 406. The floating
shopping cart 414 is also a window module (window object) (similar
to the window module 114 discussed above) within the CME 401. The
floating shopping cart 414 may be utilized with any number of the
online merchants and Web sites available today who are offering
products and/or services. The floating shopping cart 414 is adapted
so that while a user adds/deletes items to his or her shopping
list, or even "drags and drops" an icon on the CME 401 representing
an item into the floating shopping cart 414, the floating shopping
cart 414 displays the user's choices, preferably in real time. The
floating shopping cart 414 allows the user to continually keep
track of the products/services selected by the user in the user's
shopping list. The floating shopping cart 414 preferably displays
HTML content in its manifestation area 416, but, any suitable
programming content may be utilized. The shopping list is
preferably data (such as in the form of a computer-readable file)
representative of the selections made by the user with respect to
the products/services to be purchased. The user shopping list is
preferably stored on a server system 210 (see FIG. 2), in a
shopping list content source, such as a computer storage medium
like a hard disk drive, optical disk, database, etc., that is
capable of storing computer-readable files of the shopping
list.
[0065] For example, the user may be shopping for DVDs and books,
and the user finds a DVD that the user is interested in purchasing.
The user clicks the "Add to Shopping Cart" button (or equivalent)
on the Web page corresponding to the DVD the user is interested in,
and the floating shopping cart 414 appears within the CME 401 of
the Web browser, preferably listing the title 430 of the selection
and its price 440 (see FIG. 4B). As illustrated in the example of
FIG. 4B, the user has selected three DVDs and one book in the
user's floating shopping cart 414. Preferably a "delete" button 420
is placed next to each item in the floating shopping cart 414 so as
to allow the user to remove any item from the floating shopping
cart 414 at any time. Additionally, if the "drag and drop" concept
is utilized, then, an icon in the floating shopping cart 414 may be
"dragged and dropped" from the floating shopping cart 414 in order
to remove it. Accordingly, as products/services are added or
deleted from the user's shopping list, for example, by clicking
"add" or "delete" buttons, or from "dragging and dropping" icons
into or from the floating shopping cart 414, the floating shopping
cart 414 dynamically updates its content to display the current
status of the user's shopping list. Preferably, the floating
shopping cart 414 includes other information, such as the subtotal
of the products/services in the user's shopping list, the
applicable tax, shipping costs, total cost, etc. Accordingly, as
the products/services are added or deleted from the user's shopping
list, corresponding information such as the total cost, taxes,
subtotals, shipping costs, etc. are preferably dynamically updated
as well reflecting the current status of the user's shopping
list.
[0066] By utilizing the floating shopping cart 414 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the user/customer is able to
observe and manipulate (i.e., add/delete) the items in the user's
shopping list all while navigating from Web page to Web page, even
when the user is browsing or shopping, in order to obtain the
status of the user's shopping list. Moreover, the floating shopping
cart 414 preferably includes a "reset" button 450 (or equivalent)
so as to clear out the user's shopping list, and a "check out"
button 460 (or equivalent) so that the user's shopping list in the
floating shopping cart 414 may be finalized and the order
confirmed. The floating shopping cart 414 is preferably any
combination of being moveable, resizable, maximized, and minimized
within the CME 401.
[0067] FIG. 5A illustrates a screen image displaying a floating
television window object according to an embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 5B illustrates a close-up view of the floating
television window object in FIG. 5A according to an embodiment of
the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the floating
television 514, similar to the window module 114 discussed above,
is a window module (window object) residing within the CME 501 of a
Web browser. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the manifestation area 516
of the floating television 514 preferably includes a channel
selector 530 to allow a user to select different types of
audio-visual programming (e.g., news, sports, weather,
entertainment, music, Discovery channel, Nickelodeon, etc.); a
control box 520 having operation buttons such as play, stop,
rewind, and fast-forward, volume control, and a time scroll bar;
and a video display box 540 to display full-motion video of a
television program. Preferably, the accompanying audio feed is
provided corresponding to the full-motion video by speakers of the
host computer system. However, it is possible that for a particular
television program, audio may not be available. The audio-visual
program is preferably stored on a server system 210 (see FIG. 2),
in an audio-visual content source.
[0068] The floating television 514 window object according to an
embodiment of the present invention may be adapted to display the
transmission of digital or analog television programming,
telecasts, cable-casts, etc., over the Internet in substantially
real time, or as a retransmission/rebroadcast. In addition to just
television programs, movies, commercials, advertisements, etc.,
having audio-visual content may be displayed utilizing the floating
television 514. The floating television 514 may occupy a part of
the CME 501 so that the user may be performing other computing
tasks, particularly on the Internet, while still being able to
watch an audio-visual program at the same time on the same display
monitor. The floating television 514 is preferably any combination
of being moveable, resizable, maximized, and minimized within the
CME 501.
[0069] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such
modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all
changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *
References