JP2003524230A - Email software and method and system for distributing advertisements to client devices - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide e-mail software for distributing advertisements to client devices, and a method and system therefor SOLUTION: Software used on a client device configured to communicate with at least one remote source over a communication network installs the software on the client device and generates a distributor identifier identifying a distributor that has delivered the software. And an advertisement download function for downloading advertisements from at least one remote source through a communication network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Caution Regarding Copyright) A part of the disclosure of this patent document includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of either the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records. However, in other cases, all rights are reserved.

[0002]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic mail (“email”) software and systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to advertiser-supported email software that delivers advertisements to client computers that have the advertiser-supported email software installed.

[0003]

[Prior art]

This patent application is based on provisional patent application No. 60 / 169,622 (filed on Dec. 12.8). This provisional patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Electronic mail (“email”) has become a widely used communication form in recent years. In general, email works as follows. E-mail software is equipped to communicate with a number of other client devices over a communication network,
A configured client computer (eg, personal computer (PC))
) To install. Access to the communication network is provided by a communication network service provider (eg, an Internet service provider (ISP) and / or a private network service provider). With their communication network service providers, users establish one or more email accounts. Each of the accounts is identified by a particular email address (eg [president@whitehouse.gov]).
Email software (eg, an email client) allows a user of a client device to compose an email message, send it to another client device over a communications network, and receive it from another client device over a communications network. Can read email messages. Users can send email messages to multiple recipients at the same time, and this feature is sometimes referred to as using mailing lists or bulk mailing in extreme cases. A typical email client is POP3 (Post Office Protocol).
Version 3), SMTP (Mail Transfer Prot)
ocol), IMAP4 (Internet Mail Access Pro)
tocol Version 4) and / or MIME (Multipu)
rpose Internet Mail Extensions) are supported.

Each email service provider of each ISP and each private network
Independently operates and manages an email communication system (or simply "email system"). These independently operated e-mail systems are two-way store-and-forward communication systems, which are interconnected via the Internet. Each e
Mail systems typically include multiple email servers to store, forward, route, or simply make incoming and outgoing email messages available to users / addressees. Different email systems are operated and managed by different management organizations. With the advent of the Internet, users have become a single system with both incoming and outgoing email servers (or server clusters) and outgoing email servers (or clusters) (ie both incoming and outgoing email servers under the control of a single organization). ) Is not limited to. Most e-mail other than private e-mail systems such as AOL and JUNO
The mail client is configured to receive e-mail from a first organization managed incoming e-mail server (cluster) and a second organization managed outgoing e-mail server (cluster) (ie, separate organizations). it can. The most common email users download and upload from each server operated by a single organization.

Generally, when a user sends an email message or reads a received message (the operation occurs automatically according to a defined procedure), the email software is activated. Upon startup, the email software performs the following functions. * Call a defined communication mechanism (eg dial-up modem, ISDN connection, DSL or ADSL connection) and establish a connection or communication session with the host ISP or email service provider via the defined communication link. * Electronically send (e.g. via an SMTP server) all email messages that one wishes to send to an email server system operated by an ISP or email service provider. * Receives all incoming email messages sent to the client device by the host ISP or email service provider (eg POP3 or IM).
Via the AP4 server). * Store all received email messages in a defined memory location in the client device (eg either in the email client or in the default location established by the user-selected location setting).

[0007] Typical email software is registered trademark EUDRA PRO ^R and E
UDORA LIGHT ^R (hereinafter, generally referred to as the "Eudora") under, are sold by the current assignee QUALCOMM INCORPORATED, is the e-mail software available on the market. Generally EUDORA PRO
Email software provides users with a "full feature set"
A LIGHT provides a "reduced feature set" that is a subset of the "full feature set". The EUDORA PRO email software (previous version referred to as "EP4" in the text) requires a user fee (or user agent burden) and can be considered "payware." On the other hand, EUDORA LIGHT
The email software is provided to registered users free of charge and can be considered "Freeware". Each client device that has installed all versions of Eudora can be considered an "Eudora Client." In fact, there are too many Eudora clients.

The current assignor, QUALCOMM INCORPORATED, has recently announced a new version of EUDORA email software for the general public, Eudora Adwa.
Re (hereinafter simply referred to as "Adware") has been released. This new version A
dware is included (ie, an integral part) in the new Eudora software product, which includes the Eudora payware and freeware versions cited above. The advantage is the Adware Pro of Eudora Pro®
A version can be activated or switched in either an automatic mode according to defined criteria or conditions, or a manual mode according to specified user actions (eg registration, payment, selection, etc.). This new version of Eudora Adware and the multi-mode Eudora email software product contain the same features,
At the request of the current assignee, the "full feature set" offered in Eudora's payware version is now available to users free of charge, which allocates the advertiser's advertising payment body to its clients. Made by
This effectively shifts the source of spending / income from users to advertisers. Therefore, this new Eudora software product can be considered as "advertiser backed" or "advertiser backed" or simply "sponsored" software.

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and email service providers charge users a flat monthly fee, while some providers charge based on usage (eg, surcharge for online hours above a specified time). Some impose a fixed fee. However, there are a large number of users who want to have a basic email service but do not need internet access or want to pay. In response to the demands of this market segment, a few companies offer free email services to users / subscribers who agree to receive advertisements with the email messages they receive.

According to related documents, the first company to propose and provide such a free email service was FreeMark Communications (ak.a.
"Product View Interactive"). FreMark's system and method for providing free e-mail services is disclosed in PCT published patent application WO 96/24213 and is invented by Mark G.
oldschmitt and Robert A. Young US application number 08 /
It has a priority date of 1995.2.1 based on 382,118. This PCT
Published patent applications are specifically referred to herein. In short, this free email system allows advertisers to fund subsidies and add their additives (eg, GIF (graphical interchange f) to email messages sent to subscribers.
ads) as an image file additive). The advertisement was stored on the subscriber's computer and the received email message was displayed while the subscriber read offline. FreeMa in some of its promotional materials
rk called the attached advertisement a "stamp". In FreeMark's material, each message received by a subscriber was represented as a stamped envelope, which was an advertisement.

Thereafter, Juno Online Service, L. et al. P. (Hereafter, simply
JUNO ”) introduced a free email service. A system and method for providing JUNO's free email service is described in US Pat. No. 5,809,242 (Ma).
rsh et al., dated 1998.12.8), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Using the private JUNO email service,
When connecting to a private JUNO e-mail server system to send and receive e-mail messages, many advertisements are downloaded to the subscriber and the advertisements stored locally on the subscriber's computer are e-mailed to the subscriber offline. When creating or reading a mail message (ie J previously installed on the subscriber computer)
(When starting up the email software of UNO). The locally stored advertisements are displayed under the control of the display scheduler of the subscriber computer, to which advertisements can be dynamically cycled or changed. As a result, a continuous change display of the advertisement provided to the subscriber is performed. Various other aspects and features of the private JUNO email system are described in US Pat. No. 5,838,790 (McAulif).
f. issued on Nov. 17, 1998), and US Pat. No. 5,848.
, 397 (issued Marsh et al., Dated 1998.12.8), both of which patents are specifically incorporated herein.

Using both FreeMark and JUNO private free email systems, both advertising and email messages are sent to a single email system (eg, JU).
NO stores both on a single unique server, but that server is stored in the user's assigned (configured) when the user first signs up for the service and the email system's Delivered to subscribers at the direction of a common control entity controlling all parts. Although this is a desirable system architecture for providing free email services, it is independent of advertiser-supported email software for email systems (ie, not tied to a particular private email service provider and not a public standard (eg, POP3). , SMTP, IMAP4, etc.)) is not suitable for a system intended for distribution. Moreover, the free email system architecture is not suitable for many people who have multiple email accounts (eg, business and personal email accounts). As described above, the present invention provides a system and method for delivering advertisements to Eudora clients to generate advertising revenue by delivering full-featured versions of Eudora's email software to end users widely and free of charge. It was intended. Further, the present invention was intended to provide common and email system independent email software (ie, not bound to any particular private email service or service provider).

Accordingly, the present invention has developed a novel multi-mode Eudora email software product. This software is Payware
Has devised a new system and method for delivering advertisements to clients, including Freeware (Freeware) and Adware (Adware), and also equipped with this new software product. As will become apparent below, the purpose and architecture of this new system is fundamentally different from the private FreeMark and JUNO email systems. In this regard, the multimode Eudora e
The mail software product, and the new system and method for delivering advertisements to clients equipped with this new software product, encompass a number of different inventions, which will be apparent from the following disclosure and the description cited therein.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

From the foregoing description, there is still a need in the art for an assisted email client that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings. The present invention was directed to overcoming the shortcomings and deficiencies of the currently available technologies and meeting the needs in the art.

In one of its aspects, the present invention includes email software that incorporates an automatic advertisement download feature for the purpose of supporting a full-featured email software product (eg, a "freeware" version of the email software product). To the user), which automatically downloads the advertisement and displays it when the email software is launched, in which case the email software is independent of the email system. Preferably the email software is a common standalone product (
That is, it works by connecting to virtually any email service provider or email system) and has open standards-compliant services. The present invention also includes systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have email software installed.

According to one aspect, the present invention comprises an email client for sending and receiving email messages to and from at least one of a plurality of email servers operated by respective email operators, wherein the email is provided. The client receives at least one advertisement from an advertisement server operated by a management organization different from the management organization that operates one or more email systems.

According to another aspect, the invention implements an email client that receives and sends email messages from at least one of a plurality of email servers operated by respective email operators. Equipped with a recording medium storing email client software, the email client here automatically receives advertisements from an advertisement server operating independently of the email server.

According to yet another aspect, the invention includes a method of operating an email client, which is provided by an ad server operator and is compatible with a plurality of independently operated email servers. , Including methods to comply with open email standards. Preferably, the method comprises periodically sending and receiving at least one email from the selected one of the email servers, receiving advertisements from the advertisement server operator on a regular basis, and further providing instructions provided by the advertisement server operator. Display the ad received in response.

In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises an email system that includes an incoming email server for storing incoming email messages addressed to multiple users and an outgoing email message generated by the user. A sending server for sending and routing an e-mail server, an advertising server that operates an e-mail server independently, and a plurality of e-mail clients operated by respective users. Preferably, each email client checks each email message stored on the receiving email server, sends all outgoing email messages stored on the email client to the sending email server, and When the mail client is online, download the advertisement to use from the ad server.

In one aspect, the invention provides software for use with a client device configured to communicate with at least one remote source through a communication network, the software installing the software on the client device. Exemplarily comprises a custom installer function for generating a distributor identifier for identifying a distributor who has distributed software, and an advertisement downloading function for downloading an advertisement from at least one remote source through a communication network.

In another aspect, the invention provides software for use on a client device configured to communicate with a plurality of other client devices over a communication network. Preferably, the software installs the software on a client device and a custom installer function for generating a distributor identifier identifying a distributor who has distributed the software, and at least one.
An ad download function for downloading ads from one remote source over a communications network, an email composing function that allows a user of a client device to compose an email message, and a user for downloading email messages over a communications network to other users. An e-mail sending function that allows the user to send to a client device, and a user can e-mail from another client device through the communication network.
An e-mail reception function that enables reception of a mail message is provided as an example.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides software for use with a client device configured to communicate over a communications network, the software installing the software on the client device and distributing the software to the distributor. A custom installer function for generating a distributor identifier identifying the playlist request, a playlist request function for generating a playlist request including the distributor identifier, and transmitting the playlist request to at least one playlist server through the communication network. A playlist response processing function for receiving and processing a playlist response sent in response to at least one playlist server to a client device; and one or more advertisement downloads. An ad download function for downloading at least one of the ads identified in the playlist from at least one remote source over a communication network during a session and storing the downloaded ad in a storage medium associated with the client device. And an advertisement display function for displaying at least a selected advertisement among the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, wherein the playlist response identifies an advertisement to be downloaded. Including playlists to play.

Many other features, aspects, uses, applications, advantages, modifications, changes and alternative embodiments of the foregoing inventive concept will become apparent from the following technical description. This technical description forms an integral part of the present application for all purposes. Furthermore, additional inventive concepts not described above are disclosed in this technical description and are intended to be included in this application.

Further, the particular items used in the foregoing and the following description of the present invention are defined as follows.

[Table 1]

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and various other features and aspects of the present invention will be readily understood with reference to the above description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar numbers are used throughout.

Specific embodiments and exemplary applications will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose other advantageous teachings of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize other modifications, uses and embodiments within the scope and additional fields of which the invention is of significant utility.

Referring now to the specific drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system configuration 10 suitable for carrying out the functions according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Although the exemplary embodiments are generally described with respect to emails in which a large number of users compose, send, receive, and read email messages, the invention is not so limited. For example, the present invention is applicable to personal digital assistants (PDAs) that also incorporate specialized software for receiving stock prices over wireless networks as well. Therefore, the principles of the present invention should not be viewed as merely limited to email systems. The principles of the present invention are used for online services where providers, eg, program providers, want to make their software available to users using various payment options for a central set of software features.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a plurality of client computers 1.
00a, 100b ,. ． ． , 100n, where n is any positive integer. Preferably, each of the client computers, generally designated 100, may be either a workstation or a personal computer executing a client program according to the present invention. Typically, the client computers 100a, 100b ,. ． ． , 100n can advantageously be connected via a network 200, eg the Internet, to a plurality of servers 301 to 304, which will be described in more detail below. Apart from that, the network 20
0 is a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)
), The Internet, or a wireless network, or some combination thereof. It will be appreciated that FIG. 1 shows a typical non-limiting system, where the number of clients may be connected to any number of servers.

FIG. 2 shows the client computers 100a, 100b ,. ．
． , 100n of a typical client computer hardware configuration is shown in more detail. In an exemplary embodiment, the client computer 100a
Includes a central processing unit 209 that executes computer programs (including client programs according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention) and manages and controls the operation of client computer 100a. A storage device 205, such as a floppy disk drive, is coupled to central processing unit 209 to read and write data and computer programs to and from a removable storage medium, such as a floppy disk. The storage device 206 coupled to the central processing unit 209 also includes a mechanism for storing computer programs and data. The storage device 206 is preferably a hard disk having a high storage capacity. The dynamic memory device 207 such as a RAM is the central processing unit 20.
It is also connected to 9. Note that storage devices 205 and 206 and dynamic memory devices are non-limiting examples of memory as the term was previously defined. The client computer 100a includes typical input / output devices such as a keyboard 203, a mouse 204, a monitor 208, and a communication device 201, for example.
The communication device may be a modem, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface card, or the like.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the client computers 100a, 100b ,. ．
． Each of 100n is a server, for example, 301 to 30 via the network 200.
4 can be selectively communicated with. Computer system 10 shown in FIG.
Then, each of the servers performs a dedicated function. Typically, the server 301 performs a registration function, ie, receives registration information (as described in more detail below) from each client computer, and the server 302 uses a playlist (PlayL).
ist) from the client computers 100a, 100b ,. ． ． 100n, the server 303 supplies the advertisement specified in the playlist, and the server 304
Acts as a traditional email system server system, ie input e
It has a mail server and an output email server. It should be mentioned that only the servers 301 and 302 actually need to be under the direct control of the software provider, for example in the preferred embodiment Qualcomm. However, the server 303 may also advantageously be under the control of the software provider. It should also be mentioned that software references should not be construed as limited to disk-based software. Whether these instructions are read from dynamic instructions or stored as firmware in a read only memory (ROM) or other form of such device, the term "software" refers to the instructions executed by the processor. It should be widely interpreted.

According to one aspect of the invention, the “software” is advantageously a single binary (per client device) file containing software that can be used by all users, for example Eudora software. Can be supplied. This binary file operates in one of three major modes of operation: Payware (Freeware), Freeware (Freeware), and Adware (Adware). In the payware mode of operation, the user has to pay the software provider to use the software. Freeware is all free to use, but has less functionality than either payware or adware. The payware user attests to payment of his fee by the registration code that the software provider provides to this user at the time of payment of the fee. This code self-verifies and contains sufficient data to identify which version is entitled to the user. It should be noted that users of the Eudora payware version are entitled to all versions of Eudora that occur during the calendar year after payment of the user's fees. The software preferably periodically polls a given site, eg, a site owned by Qualcomm, Inc., to determine if updates to the software are available. If an update is available,
This software advantageously provides the user with a small web page of options to get software updates as described in more detail below.

It is noted that adware has all the features of payware, but does not require payment of money from the user. The need for adware is to display and view advertisements that users download from the software provider's site and / or one or more sites specified by the software provider. It is also noted that the initial state of software is adware.

In an exemplary embodiment, each client computer downloads ads from the ad server 303 without interruption and without requiring significant bandwidth, as described in more detail below. Moreover, the advertisements can advantageously be displayed without significantly compromising the use of the software, eg Eudora. 3A and 3B show advertisements integrated into the main screen of typical Eudora email software.

Some of the terminology used in describing the features of the exemplary embodiments of the invention and the novel features is set forth above. Additional terminology that facilitates a full understanding of the present invention with Eudora software is immediately provided below.

[Table 2]

As mentioned above, “software” is advantageously software that can be installed (if necessary) and used by all users (eg Eudor).
It can be supplied as a single binary file containing a software. This binary file operates in one of three main modes of operation: payware, freeware and adware. The installation of the software program and the operation of various functions according to the present invention will now be described in more detail while the state diagram refers to some user state states and transitions between these user state states. To do. The following conventions are followed in the flow diagram.

The raised gray square is the conceptual name for the button in the dialog.・ Menu items are attached to some routes. These items can be used to bring out the window directly without waiting for nag. -In principle, any dialog or nag can be canceled, leaving the user back to the initial state. WEB Page cannot change user state or generate more dialogs. Therefore, all web pages are returned to the user's original state.

With respect to the conventions given above, the Eudora email software will be described next while transitioning state when a version of the software is installed by one of the new, old and EP4 users. Figure 4
Refer to. It is noted that software providers do not offer users the option of paying for the full feature set or receiving software with a reduced feature set of the intro dialog. Software providers may use these dialog boxes, for example, similar to the dialog box shown in FIG. 4B, as well as the fact that the user may obtain these other versions of the software feature set by performing a help menu. Option, but the software defaults to the Adware version.

The path taken by the EP4 user and box purchaser shown in FIG. 4A deserves some exertion. The code generator referred to in FIG. 4A advantageously uses E
It is exemplified by a binary file installer module that is not found in the udora email program itself. 3. The software of the user When using the x> 4.3 update function, the software searches for a copy of EP4, and upon finding a copy of the software, the code generator allows the user to generate a registration code file. If the user is running the installer out of the box, the installer allows registration code generation without first looking for a copy of EP4. It should be mentioned that the registration code file so generated is special in that Eudora contains a line indicating "Registration Required: Yes". Eud
The ora email focuses on this line of text, unregistering the user,
Then constantly blame the user for registering the software. Once the user has registered, the same registration code will be retransmitted to the user and the Eudora email software will implicitly receive (since the registration code is the same as the current code) a request to register the flag with the email software. produce.

FIG. 5 shows a state flow chart of a process in which an Adware User (adware user) becomes a registered adware user. In the exemplary case shown, the registration process is performed by the client computer 100, which is connected to each other via a network 200.
It requires a dialogue between a and the registration server 301. In FIG. 5, the adware user shown in FIG. 4A registers with the software provider by some other mechanism. For example, an advertising user may wish to subscribe to the “Help” pull-down menu, available from the toolbar shown at the top of FIG. 3A and selecting payment and registration options as shown in FIG. , You may simply launch this menu. Alternatively, the adware user may receive a Nag box, or Nag dialog box, generated by the software at a given time, as described in more detail below. Finally, the advertising user registers via email, ie is generated by the server 301, and the email server 3
The registration code sent by 04 to the client computer 100a may be received.

As shown in FIG. 6, the payment and registration window allows the advertising user to register the adware, pay the software, enumerate all available versions to the user, and provide demographic information. Provides several select buttons to customize or modify the ad stream by, enter the subscription code, and downgrade to the reduced feature set offered to the Freeware User (freeware user). User is a Registered Adware User
(Registered adware user), Registered Freeware User
It should be mentioned (registered freeware users), and that the registration code can be entered to be one of the registered payware. See FIG. It can be seen that the software operates according to the same state flow diagram for registered adware, except registered adware is not subject to registration Nag.

The software provider can advantageously use the registration scheme with a self-validating registration code so that the database does not need to verify the registration. The algorithm for verification aims to meet some competing constraints, i.e. it should be safe, even easier to implement and not overly annoying to the user. Is. The Eudora email will check its registration code on startup for verification. If the registration code is invalid, the user should be considered unregistered. If the user is a paid mode user, this is
Includes a switch for sponsor mode that the user should be alerted using a dialog box (not shown). This alert is followed by a machine that re-enters the code. The required inputs to generate a registration code are:

[Table 3]

It will be appreciated that multiple registration code algorithms can be advantageously used in generating the self-validating registration code. In essence, the software provider takes the inputs listed above, sum-checks these inputs, mixes these inputs (including registered names), and sum-checks together according to any of a variety of algorithms.
Encode this result as a 6-bit number string. It can be seen that the encoding and bit mixing can be inverted, and then the sum check along with the registration name can be used to verify the validity of the registration code.

The software provider is Freeware (Freeware) (Eudora).
It should be noted that separate registration codes are stored for the lite software mode, adware (sponsor) software mode and Payware (Eudora pro) software mode. Receiving the registration code for one mode of operation means that the registration code for the other mode should be destroyed.

Once the registration mode is generated, the user somehow manages to enter the valid registration code as E.
You must enter it in the dora email client. This can be done in one of three ways.

Manual. The user can type or paste the value into the input code dialog box. See FIG.

Windows (registered trademark) (Windows (registered trademark)) registration. Upon starting Eudora, the software will register with the Windows registration code (eg software \
Find Qualcomm \ Eudora \ check, first name, last name, registration code). If these selections are detected and valid, this value should be copied and placed in the selection register or lookup table of the email client.

Registration code file. On Eudora startup, the software typically looks for a file in the application software folder named "RegCode.dat". If these choices are detected and valid, this value is
It should be copied and placed in the email client's selection register or associated lookup table.

Depending on the software provider, the MIME part in special cases is Eudora.
It should also be mentioned that you can email to an email client. This MIME
The user receiving the copy is automatically required to verify and enter the information. The user can also perform the attachment again later. Special content format attribute ("
The registration code ") is required to activate this MIME part.
Email cannot send these.

The format of the MIME part (and the registration code file) is that of a text file that contains an RFC822 header style field. This format is application / vnd. Eudora. Data registered MIME
Has a format. This field is included in this MIME part.

[Table 4]

It should be noted that the Eudora File Format field must be indicated. The other fields listed above may or may not be shown.

From the above description, the registration code emailed to the user should be verified prior to the user. To be used, the registration code must meet the following tests.

Validity-Invalid registration code should be ignored. Directness-The mailed field of the registration code should contain the address for one of the user's personalities or be in the user's "to me" nickname. • Adaptability-new registration codes should not automatically ignore existing valid registration codes. The only exception to this process is that the payware mode registration code should ignore the freeware or adware registration code, and the payware mode registration code that is the same as the user's existing pay mode is "Eudor".
a Requirement Registration "can be used to disable Nag.

Once it has been determined that the registration code meets the above tests, the user should be required to receive the code. Figure 1 shows a typical receiving diabox.
0.

As indicated above, the registration code self-verifies because one part is a function of the other. However, there is another meaning of "verification" to be considered: whether the registration code is "valid" for use with a particular version of Eudora. This can be done by comparing the ExpMonth of the registration code with the BuildMonth field that the software provider makes to the application (where it cannot be overwritten by plugins, settings, etc.). If the ExpMonth and BuildMonth match, the registration is considered valid by the email client.

FIG. 6 shows a state flow diagram of a process in which a freeware user can become a registered free user. It can be seen that the state flow diagrams of FIGS. 5 and 12 are similar in many respects. However, according to the state flow diagram of FIG. 12, the additional Nag dialog box, ie the so-called Functional Nag dialog box shown in FIG. 13, is a free user and a registered free user of the enhanced functionality available to adware and payware users. Can remind both. For freeware users and registered freeware users, it can be seen that registered freeware users do not receive the registration Nag dialog box. The state flow diagram shown in FIG. 12 is the state flow diagram used for adware users (FIG. 5), except that the freeware user is given the option to try all the features rather than enter its demographic information. It turns out that they are very similar.

It should also be mentioned at this point that all users receive update Nag dialog boxes (not shown) at predetermined intervals. Eudora checks the update page once a week during the email session. If the update page changes
I am constantly accused of updating the udora email software. Even if the page has not changed, the user is constantly blamed for a 30-day schedule to check for updates to ensure that the user has the latest software version. See the state flow diagram of FIG. Update Nag provides users with a version that any user is entitled to upgrade (if any). See FIG. 15. Nag itself is an HT with a link to the user downloaded version of the Eudora email software.
It is an ML document.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary state flow diagram of the process in which a box user can be a paid user, ie a payware user. It can be seen that the Nag that the software provider specifically indicates to the box user is the registered Nag. Once the box user is registered, the box user is converted into a regular paid user. However, since the payment date for the box user is set to a specific value by the software provider, the software provider will receive it at the time when the box user receives an update from the software provider, for example to allow the user to move forward freely. It should be mentioned which version of software can be controlled.

Introducing the concept of constant blaming, this is a convenient point for discussing the various functions of constant blaming performed in the software according to the invention. Two major issues are (1) how software providers constantly blame users, and (2) when software providers constantly blame users.

Ideally, Nag Windows is modeless Windows. The user
You can use the closed box to close Windows, or exit Windows by doing one of the user's action items, or drift Windows whenever it is in the user's windows list. Windows Nag Windows differs slightly in operation from Mac OSNag Windows, described below. Nag Windows is floating Windows. That is, software providers probably expect users to leave Nag Windows in a fairly short order. However, it can be seen that Nag Windows does not stop the background task from running.

It should be mentioned that there is at most one different form of Nag Windows each at a time. The same different forms of old Windows are advantageously recycled. That is, if the given Nag Windows is still open at the next time causing the user to be constantly blamed, it will be reused and returned to the top of the window stack. Since all Nag available to the user should be available to the user by selection from the help menu, such a manual Nag call does not reset the Nag timer, but if the user so wishes, the Nag Windows It should also be mentioned that a user who accidentally evacuates one of them can deliberately blames himself.

Preferably, Nag is opened on top of all other windows, eg "T
Automatically opened Windows, which include "ip of Day" and other dialog boxes, and exclude other Nag Windows, can be manually
g Always placed on top of opened windows until you move the window over the opened windows. Due to execution constraints of the Windows version of Eudora email software, the only windows that can obscure Nag are other floating windows. It can be seen that this is mainly due to the requirement that the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child windows should be maximizable. It should be mentioned that it is a standard Windows interface used by many commonly used Windows applications and utilities such as Windows Program Manager and Windows File Manager. That is, the MDI interface is also part of the Common User Access (CUA) standard set by IBM. Depending on the application that complies with each MDI, you will be able to edit text, manage databases, or open child windows for file-specific tasks such as those that work with spreadsheets to show some of the possible tasks. You can

FIG. 18 illustrates a Mac OS version of Eudo according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a flow chart for the Nag window in ra. In FIG. 18, the software now shows the in-mailbox as indicated by the symbol (I), or time (I). The Eudora email then blames the user constantly, placing Nag on the mailbox, as indicated by the symbol (2). Arrives at some "fresh meat" mailboxes. Usually this opens at the top. However, since there is a "new" Nag displayed by the software, i.e. software that the user did not manually send after any, instead the "fresh meat" is as indicated by the symbol (3). Open under Nag. The user manually moves the fresh meat to the front, as indicated by the symbol (4). After this, if the mail arrives at more meats, Nag is no longer new and more meats have the symbol (5).
It can be opened at the top by conventional methods as indicated by.

Deploying Nag Windows in either of the Windows environments is generally fairly straightforward. Nag Windows, until the user closes this window,
Simply float outside the MDI box on top of other floating windows. An exception to this rule is the Update Nag, which behaves like a Mac OSNag window, assuming the user assumes that all Macintosh diagrams are done inside the MDI box.
Is. In particular, note that this indicates that updated Nag may be maximized in a Windows environment.

Although the basic concept of the Nag schedule was introduced above, Nag in this regard
A more detailed discussion of schedules facilitates an understanding of certain aspects and functions of software according to exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention. In Eudora electronic software, each schedule is a set of numbers that indicates the number of days (except the last) since a given date (Nag based). Software providers must ensure that they do not lose track of the last time users are constantly blamed (last delay). Note that both Nag base and final Nag should be tracked separately for each type of Nag. Software providers should not mix values for registered Nag and updated Nag, for example. The last number in the Nag schedule is the repeat interval. Once all the other Nags are exhausted, the user is constantly blamed after the last days.

The best way to understand the Nag schedule is to consider it as a timeline, as shown in FIG. This particular time line is [0
, 4, 9, 12, 3]. Note that at 15 and 18 days Nag has a repeating interval of (3 days) due to the last number of Nag. Thus, in FIG. 19, if there are Nag days that are greater than the last Nag and less than or equal to the current day, the user should be constantly blamed. If two or more Nag days have passed, the user will still be whispered only once.

It should be mentioned that once the Nag window is opened, the last Nag is reset to the current day. It should also be mentioned that the last Nag interval of 0 indicates that Nag does not occur any more after the defined period has expired. Eud
Advantages of the ora electronic software include software subroutines that determine if any Nags are, of course, at application startup and completion of each mail check. For the latter case, the software checks the modification date of the update page once every week during the mail check. If the update page has been modified during the past week, the software provider will download the update information during the mail check and constantly blame the user for updating their software, eg the Eudora email software. See FIG. 15.
Finally, if the user's state changes such that the open Nag is no longer relevant, this N
Note that ag is closed and is no longer displayed.

The discussion above briefly touches on various issues related to advertising. More specifically, the main client issues, including advertising, are how software displays ads, when software displays ads, how software gets ads, and how software providers get demographic information. , How to transmit, or how the software provider verifies that the advertisement is actually displayed.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, the main window of the Eudora email software shows a roughly square ad and three ad buttons in opposite corners of the main window. It should be noted that a particular approximately square ad is 144 pixels high by 128 pixels wide. That is, the software is 144 pixels x 1
Accepts ads that are around 44 pixels. It can be seen that the area of the window available for use by the mailbox is reduced by almost 30%. However, it can also be seen that the content area remains untouched. FIG. 3 shows another main window in which a small graphic or placard is used, for example in the lower right corner, to show that the main window is guaranteed.

It can be seen that the actual information that the software provider can receive from the advertiser is relatively simple. 15K for a standard ad as shown in the lower left corner of FIG. 3A
An advertisement that is not more than 144 pixels in height and 144 pixels in width or more is composed of an image file, for example, a GIF file, a PNG file, a JPEG file, or the like. Preferably, this image file uses a web-safe color palette. This palette, which sometimes refers to browser-safe palettes, contains only 216 of the 256 possible colors that can be defined by 8 bits. The remaining 40 colors change on Mac and PC. By removing 40 variable colors, this palette is optimized for cross-platform use. In addition, the image file advantageously contains a single uniform resource name (
URN). Each advertiser also specifies the desired scheduling information for the advertisement, as described in more detail below. In order to facilitate the transmission of the advertisement to the software provider Qualcomm, the advertiser uses the HTM advertisement.
You may wrap with L. This allows the software provider to include the ad parameters as META tags in the HTML page, so that the software provider can advantageously use the HTML wrapped ads to specify link addresses and the like.

In addition, toolbar icons, which are also required in GIF format,
It is actually supplied to the client in a composite format and converted into a standard icon. Further, although the exact width may vary at runtime, the placard for the freeware version sponsor shown in Figure 3B should be only 31 pixels high and about 88 pixels wide. is there.

When a user clicks on an ad, it should be mentioned here that the software provider typically directs the user to the software provider click-through counter and then redirects the user's browser to the listed links for the ad. Is.
The click-through counter may advantageously be one of the software's servers, for example one of the servers 302 and 303. This means that the software provider has a U, which includes the server name, some tracking information, and the final destination URN.
It turns out that the RN is configured and then the server needs to redirect the user's browser to the destination URN.

One complication arises if the user is offline at the time the clickthrough is attempted. If the user is offline, some possible actions by the software are possible. For example, the software can initiate an online session. Alternatively, software can simply use the link history mechanism to flag links. See FIG. 12 which shows the windows / menus that the software holds as well as the history list held mostly by the browser.
If the ad is clicked while the software is offline, the software advantageously adds the link to the link history window and flags this link so that the user knows what he wants, but the previous I was unable to visit this site during the email session.

Further, the software may advantageously be configured to allow the user's browser to respond to clickthroughs. Some browsers have their own elaborate ability to handle offline conditions, and software providers should not take into account the idea that a user may rely on this ability. Alternatively, the software, when online, may allow transmission of the link to the browser for subsequent processing by the browser. That is, the software may allow the user to inform the software provider that the next time he is online, he will send a link to his browser.

In summary, software providers recommend that the following standards for all ads, typically and in a non-limiting manner, be provided by the advertiser.

No larger than 144 × 144 pixels. 14 smaller ads
It is centered in a 4x144 window and surrounded by a standard frame color. -GIF or JPEG. Software providers can advantageously
You can convert an IF to a Photoshop (PNG) file, but this is transparent. Software providers are currently using PN for Photoshop's Gamma Bug
I cannot receive G advertisements directly.・ Not larger than 15K. This reduces the credit cost of the bandwidth required to send the advertisement as well as the user bandwidth. -Non-animation. This is an integral part of the "non-disruptive" message for the user aspect of the exemplary embodiment of the invention. A single URN with at most 900 characters. There is a questionable limit of 1K of URN size. By limiting the customer's URN to 900 characters, the software provider can annotate the URN and still stay within the 1K limit. A user friendly title string with at most 31 characters. This string is displayed in the link window and should be something that the user is concerned with. This 216-color palette is optimized for the user in the 256-color system as described above.

It should be mentioned that the toolbar, ie the button in the upper right corner of FIG. 3A, has the same requirements as a standard ad except for the following:

Both 16 × 16 and 32 × 32 required. These are the sizes provided by the client and the software needs both of these sizes.・ Only GIF. This software does not render JPEG images in the toolbar.

Regarding the co-branded spot ad shown in the lower right corner of FIG. 3B, this spot ad has the same conditions as a standard ad except for the following:

[0080]   -It is not larger than 95 pixels wide x 31 pixels high.   ・ Only GIF.

One complication with the ad placement shown in FIG. 3A that the user may hide the ad from view by placing a small window over the ad is relatively straightforward. Advantageously, the user performs a check to determine that the ad is both on-screen and unobscured. If the screen state does not meet both of these criteria, the software will tell the user to either not obscure the ad or automatically rearrange the windows so that the ad is obscured. Say If the user insists on obscuring the advertisement for a predetermined amount of time, the software will automatically go into freeware mode.

One of the main reasons to provide adware versions of software such as Eudora electronic programs is to provide a mechanism by which advertisers can get the cost assistance of software, so Eu
The dora user makes sure to see the advertisement in fact. Stated another way, displaying advertisements on the screen of client computer 100a while the user is in another room, for example, does not justify the cost of the advertisement for the advertiser. For this reason, the software includes features that allow the user to measure the actual time they spend in front of the computer while there is an advertisement.

Since there are no fixation devices for certain types of decisive eyes, the best thing the software does to measure the user's attention is the client computer 100a.
To monitor the user input to and thus to be in front of the display device 208. Assuming that the main input devices to the client computer 100a are the mouse 204 and the keyboard 203, the email client will operate both the mouse and keyboard by the user when the adware version of Eudora's email client is at the forefront. And periodically return a report of this activity to, for example, the software provider. In other words, if the mouse moves significantly, if the mouse button state changes, or if a key is pressed or released, the user is considered "present and explained". In addition, the period before and after such an event is considered the "face time" for the advertisement.

In the typical case of software according to the invention, the software measures this period and calls the total length of this period kFaceInterval. It doesn't have to be very accurate about this value, for example a 60 second kFaceI starting with a user event.
nterval is used in the typical non-limiting case mentioned.

Explaining the format of the advertisements displayed by the software, a detailed discussion of the methodologies that the advertisements may get to actually display is then presented. A common methodology for getting ads to display is to connect to the Qualcomm site and download ads to your local cache during email checking or some other time when the software detects a live network connection. It will be appreciated that the act of downloading the ad may be a trigger to bill the advertiser to avoid the need to collect billing information from individual clients. On the contrary, JUN
A dedicated system, such as the dedicated system provided by O, uploads ad display data to a designated email server whenever a user accesses his email account for any reason.

In order to make a reasonable decision on how to download an ad, the software provider needs to have some idea of what impact the ad download will have on the user. To access this impact, software providers must make assumptions about what the typical Eudora user habits are and what advertisements are the same regarding transmission characteristics (must collect information). Not). Part of the adware process is to add means to the software client so that the software provider can start answering these questions intelligently, rather than by guesswork. However, we must start with some basic assumptions. For example, FIG. 21A is a table listing assumptions used in determining the impact of advertisement transmissions on email program operation. FIG. 21B is a table listing bandwidth requirements on a subscriber base for the number of new advertisements downloaded daily to a subscriber. The meaning of these calculations is as follows. Assuming this purpose is an average turn of ads, for example 3 days, the top row of the table shown in FIG. 21B is the row used by the software provider. The worst case, or maximum bandwidth scenario, is to rotate, for example, 25 ads per day. These values are highlighted in the table of Figure 21B.

To determine what advertisements should be presented to a particular user class as well as transmitting certain advertisement parameters, software providers advantageously use playlists. To do. Playlists, by their very nature,
It is a list of URNs that retrieve the actual advertisement as well as a set of attribute value pairs based on each advertisement. The exact format of the playlist is described in more detail and briefly.
The playlist specifies the set of all ads the client should have, along with the parameters to display these ads, as described immediately below. It should be noted that advertisements may appear in playlists but are not planned (or even all) for a long time. The presence of such an advertisement in the playlist causes the client to retrieve the advertisement from the client's storage for future display. The general requirements for a playlist are:

1) A request for a playlist contains information to assist the playlist server in determining what advertisement needs to retrieve a copy of Eudora. 2) It can also include parameters for Eudora as a whole, including the ability to modify how often new playlists check. 3) A playlist can specify whether all older playlists should be exchanged or simply merged with older playlists. It should be mentioned that if the software provider chooses to use a more web-like advertising model, for example one that uses a spinning ad pool, the merge feature allows such a model.

Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 22 and FIG. 1, which are state flow diagrams of a typical advertisement retrieval process according to the present invention. First of all, the client computer 100a
The client software running on the playlist server, eg, ad
s. Eudora. bind to com. Client software, eg E
The udora software provides the payment server 302 with the basic client information and playlist IDs that the client software currently has installed. ads. Eudora. com server, the current playlist is still valid, and the client software has a different payment server, such as another server 302 '.
To re-command to send to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTI
P), or respond directly to the new playlist from playlist server 302. See FIG. 22. When a new playlist is received from the playlist server 302, the client software compares the new playlist with its current set of ads and displays ads that are not resident in the email client's ad cache on the ad server, eg, FIG. Starting from the advertisement server 303 shown in FIG. 3, according to the URN included in the playlist.

Advantageously, the client software performs a new playlist check every 3 days. It should be mentioned that the 3 day interval between playlist checks is arbitrary and can only be used in the exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention under discussion. It should also be mentioned that the advertisements are preferably retrieved as needed to possibly fill the playlist for a large number of mail checks. Further, the advertisement retrieval process is limited to one minute per email check regardless of the task of either the email client software or the client computer 100a. One minute later, the client software is
Separate from 3. This often means that the email client software does not fill the playlist when the ad retrieval operation is terminated. This software utilizes the available ads while the rest of the ads are downloaded.

In addition, the software provider advantageously has ads. Eudora
． A plurality of servers equivalent to the com server 303 may be provided. It can be seen that these servers serve extra advertisements to all of the users of a company that is informed by some Eudora user communities, for example one ISP. Stated another way, ISs that provide supplementary services such as local and long distance telephone access.
P may want to cross-promote these services against its own customer base. Therefore, the ISP advantageously undertakes such localized propulsion. The ISP brand adware email client is coupled to an ad server 303 ″ maintained by the ISP at this distance.

Given the set of available ads, the software still needs to choose which ad to display next. This proves to be a very exciting thing in the web advertising industry where a number of choices are reportedly made to maximize the interests of the advertiser. In particular, ads that generate a better user response are preferred because such ads generate extra revenue, ie such ads are often tied to the content of the web page on which they are displayed. However, it is unlikely that either the software provider or the client software can benefit significantly from the ad scheduling algorithms currently implemented on the ad service. This is due in part to the fact that the advertisements displayed by the email client software are separated from the displayed content, that is, neither the software provider nor the client software is dependent on the content of any particular advertisement the user is viewing Unknowingly, in part due to the fact that email software requests ads in batches for later display rather than in real time.

As mentioned above, playlists provide certain global inputs to the ad scheduling algorithm, including the parameters listed in the table immediately below.

[Table 5]

In addition, each playlist ad entry related to ad scheduling is detailed in the table below.

[Table 6]

There are some values calculated by the software provider that are also inputs to the scheduling algorithm. These global values are listed in the table below.

[Table 7]

The software also keeps track of these values and reports them to the software provider on a per-advertisement basis.

[Table 8]

Advantageously, the software provider implements three main states of the ad scheduler: normal state, expired state, and replay state. Under normal conditions, the electronic client software advantageously shows normal ads and reveals the details of the ads. It turns out that whatever actually happens is to charge the majority of the advertising displayed in the email client. On the other hand, if the email client software shows enough regular ads to meet the allotted face time quota, and the ad cache contains one or more expired ads, then the expired status is To be selected. In the rerun state, the email client software
Both the regular ad quota and the expired ad have been exhausted, ie the email client software is now showing the regular ad again, but the software provider does not charge for this ad.

It is noted that the software provider may advantageously provide different IPSs, different IPSs that label or brand copies of Eudora distributed by the publisher, etc., customer installers for the publisher, etc. Should be.
The software provider then credits these distributors for the percentage of advertising revenue generated by the client software distributed by these distributors. It will be appreciated that these credits may be offset by mutual promotion activities associated with each brand version of the adware email client for the reasons described above.

Given the discussion just presented, a more detailed description of various aspects of exemplary email client software in accordance with the present invention will now be provided.

As mentioned above, playlists are one way to control the retrieval and display of advertisements in software, such as the Eudora email client. The main advantages associated with playlists are the separation of advertising parameters from advertising images that do not require user registration or a centralized user database, the isolation of Eudora clients from detailed knowledge of the image server, and centralized server intelligence for ad distribution. Is. Therefore, it can be seen that the playlist is an extremely flexible object. Typically, a playlist is an abstract U that selects its own advertisement for how the Eudora client behaves.
A degree of control can be exercised that varies from simply specifying the exact set of advertisements that Eudora performs to simply transmit the RN. When playlists are used for their greatest advantage, they give software providers a powerful tool in controlling the display of advertisements in software such as Eudora.
If the playlist is then considered irrelevant, the playlist estimates the cost of one extra simple network connection per day for the software provider.

Client computer 10 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 22.
0a connects to the playlist server 302 (which may be redirected to a different server 302 ') via the network 200. Next, the playlist server 30
2 returns the playlist to the client computer 100a via the network 200. The computer's electronic client software then retrieves the advertisement specified in the playlist.

The playlist request sent by the Eudora Client to the Playlist Server to initiate the ad retrieval process is a simple burst of binary code. A playlist request is a block of Extensible Markup Language (XML) code used to provide the server 302 with sufficient information to form or select an appropriate new playlist for the user. The playlist request information is shown in the table below.

[Table 9]

It can be seen that not all of these parameters can be actively used at the same time. That is, some are shown to support certain modes of operation (see below) and are not used in other modes. Each playlist is MD5 checked and summed. RFC1321- "http://www.face.org"
/ Rfcs / rfc1321. See "MD5 Message Digest Algorithm" in html. The playlist server 302 preferably ignores requests that fail the total check verification.

After the client makes a playlist request, the server 302 responds with a playlist response. The playlist response is split into two main parts: the general client behavior for an ad, the client information part that updates the rate at which the ad changes and the new playlist itself that describes the ad that the client should retrieve. It should be mentioned that the playlist server, eg server 302, may also return an empty response, which means that the email client should continue with the advertisements already in its path. Every playlist response is summed in MD5 just as a playlist request is summed. The MD5 digest is encoded in hexadecimal and placed in the "total check" header of the playlist response. Advantageously, the email client ignores playlists that fail the total check verification.

Before describing the portion of the playlist response, email clients will sometimes be confused for old client bags, server bags, etc. due to lack of better terminology. Sometimes old data, which is taken over even by updated clients, is too cluttered to properly functioning systems. Although the client can be programmed to detect this condition, it is preferable to leave a task to the server, eg error detection. Thus, if the server detects that the client has been "confused", the playlist server 302 will just respond to a single command reset. Strictly to the reset command, no client information should follow and no playlist should follow. Upon receiving the reset command, the client discards its accumulated ad database and records, including playlists, face time history, ad history, ad cache, etc. Everything is reset to the initial state that the email client software had before the adware software was run for the very first time. The link history is exempted from the reset command both for practical reasons and to appear to the user as such. The only other item of advertising data that reset does not affect is the ad failure counter, which should be held across resets. The client then has no playlist and makes another request to the playlist server for the required playlist.

The client information part updates various client parameters. This parameter is listed directly below.

[Table 10]

From the above, it can be seen that the client information part is an effective function of the playlist. The client information portion allows the software provider to control the application in a global manner, including a smooth transition from one advertising model to another. If this is the only advantage that the software provider can get from the playlist, then the software provider alone is worth doing the playlist execution.

As mentioned above, the playlist response is split into two main parts: the new playlist itself, which describes the client information that updates the general client behavior and the advertisements that the client should retrieve. The new playlist itself is
It has one global value, PlayListID. This ID is an ID value that the client returns to the playlist server the next time the client computer 100a connects to the playlist server 302. This playlist ID can advantageously be included in the playlist request or uploaded separately to the playlist server in a myriad of forms, eg as cookies. Each ad may have multiple parameters, although all of the multiple parameters may not be used in conjunction with a few single ads, and some of the multiple parameters may never be used. This parameter includes the scheduling parameters detailed above and advertising information, including the information listed below.

[Table 11]

It should be noted that the term Uniform Resource Name (URN) refers to a comprehensive set of all names / addresses that are short strings that point to resources available over the Internet. Thus, it includes both the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which is a subset of the URN scheme, and the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), which is another subset of the URL, with explicit instructions on how to access a particular resource on the Internet. . It will be appreciated that the URL and URI subsets may overlap. It will also be appreciated that the terms URN, URL, and URI can be used interchangeably, advantageously. That is, which term is used in its broadest sense means addressing the named resource.

It has been mentioned that over time, not all parameters can be used at once. Playlists are flexible enough to provide multiple advertising models.
Playlists do not significantly hinder some advertising models, other advertising models where playlists are useful but not central, and where playlists are marginally useful and important to other advertising models. The use of playlists does not lean the software provider into any particular advertising model. That is, playlists can be advantageously used to serve any advertising model the software provider chooses. Indeed, if a software provider decides to switch between advertising models, playlists allow the software provider to switch mid-stream of the advertising model. In the following,
Some advertising models are described with respect to Figures 31A and 31B in an effort to show how playlists are used for each advertising model. It can be seen that this shows the absolute neutrality of the advertising model playlist concept.

FIG. 31A shows the advertising model associated with ongoing advertising, while FIG. 31B shows the parameters associated with the short-lived advertising model. One thing to mention here is how a few of the parameters from any of this part appear on the chart. By changing just five parameters, the advantage is that
It can be seen that adware moves between these two separate advertising models. This parameter is either used or not, regardless of the advertising model. For example, a software provider may implement post-advertising white space in any model, and a software provider may avoid post-advertising white space in any model. Most of the parameters are this it-ju
It belongs to the range of the st-doesn't-matter category.

With respect to the short-lived advertising model, it can be seen that software providers receive a large number of advertisements either from a large number of advertisers or only a few advertisers. Advertising lasts for many days. Ads are exhausted and discarded relatively quickly.
Playlists are further used in this model. Each time the client has fewer ads, the client requests another playlist that describes a few more ads to mix with the client's existing ads. If the ad exceeds the ad's allotted time, the ad is discarded. In this advertising model, the playlist server actually serves to carry only the parameters for advertising. However, this is acceptable, as this parameter has to be somehow transmitted in the end.

Suppose a software provider wants to mix ad models, for example, to mix long-lived and short-lived ads. How this condition is dealt with depends on stoichiometry. The cache has the most ongoing ads and a few
When filled with, or in the future, short-lived advertisements, software providers can simply increase reInterval and use the playlist as in the ongoing advertising model. In other words, software providers simply
Select 3 random ads to be given to each playlist, and select a few more random ads to be given to the next playlist the client will retrieve the next day. On the other hand, the cache contains only most short-lived ads and a few persistent ads. One playlist enumerates continuing ads as described above. The remaining face time is filled using the short-lived advertising playlist.

The discussion above shows how playlists can be used to provide significantly different advertising models. The reason playlists can do this is
The playlist is only on an extra level of server control and is between Eudora and its ads.

Given the importance of advertising to adware email software, one of the major concerns of software providers is "what happens if adware does not receive ads". For example, a user or ISP may block the flow of advertisements to Eudora by simply using a firewall or other means. Alternatively, the user may simply delete the advertisement or playlist (or both), eg, randomly or periodically from the user's computer. When this happens, the user has no ads to display, ie, the user gets a full-featured version of Eudora without seeing the ads or paying a fee. This overcomes one important aspect of typical software according to the present invention. On the other hand, the user may have a hardware or software problem or other problem that prevents the user from retrieving the ad, or the ad server of the software provider may even be down for several reasons.

Software providers distinguish between these two states by a simple question, asking if the user is sending or receiving mail. If the answer is yes, the software provider assumes that ad blocking is something the software provider needs to work on. The way that software providers address this issue is for a growing series of ad failure Nags.
These last for two weeks or until the software receives the advertisement. Every two days the software receives an ad and the software decrements the ad failure Nag timer by one day. If the timer reaches the set value, the software displays an apology to the user, reverts to the freeware version, and marks the user's software as owned by the untrusted user. If the advertising user is connected at the time the user attempts to return to the adware, the untrustworthy user is only allowed to return to the adware. See Figures 32-34. In the unlikely event that software providers decide to discard Eudora, Eudor is ad-free
If you want to use a, the software provider simply publishes the permanent registration code.

Apart from that, the email client advantageously includes some more highly complex functions that determine that an ad failure condition requires the use of the ad failure Nag described above. For example, the client device can identify an ad download failure condition if the corresponding ad download function is not available for download within a predetermined time period. In addition, the corresponding advertisement display feature may advertise at a predetermined time, eg, a new playlist received from the playlist server and / or a time specified in the current playlist stored for use by the email client device. Is not displayed, the email client device can identify the advertisement display failure state. Either state calls the ad failure Nag function described above.

One thing the software provider needs to know is that the advertisements they are thinking are actually being displayed, so as often as the advertisements are, and as long as the software provider is displaying the advertisements. It is to confirm that it is displayed for a while. This proves to be crucial to maintaining credibility for advertisers. A typical accounting inspection method includes the following functions.

Hold a rotation log of advertisement display. This log repeats once a week. If the ad is displayed, if the ad is removed, in addition to other events such as Eudora's cumulative face time, cumulative execution time, etc., if the ad is clicked, then the log records the ad-related event.

Randomly ask the user for permission to transmit logs. Every 1 out of every 100 users every month asks for the user's permission to log back to the software provider. If allowed, the log will be formatted in ASCII,
Placed in an output message and queued. If the user is given the opportunity to examine, cancel the log collection if the user so desires. See FIG. 35.

Supply pastry to the selected user. In addition to random transmission of logs, software providers also randomly ask certain users for their permission to inspect transactions with the server in detail. This allows software providers to correlate client and server behaviors.

Other details of the instrumentation applicable to typical Eudora email client software are provided in FIGS.

For example, the various state flow diagrams shown in FIGS. 5, 12, 14, 16 and 17 illustrate multiple web pages, eg, one of a software provider server.
One, for example, referred to an HTML page that can be accessed and retrieved from the registration server 301. See FIG. Next, the general purpose of these pages and the URN that the software uses to access these pages is described in more detail below.

It has been found to be helpful to the client to provide the server with information that assists the user by either assisting the server to orient the user in the proper position or by pre-filling certain items in a web page based format. . This is the function of the inquiry part of the URN. The elements that may be entered in the inquiry section are listed below. It is noted that the inquiry part is divided into two groups. The first group is
Great care should be taken in transmitting items only when appropriate, including items that are considered to be directed to an individual. The second group includes items that are not considered sensitive to privacy.

[Table 12]

[0125]

[Table 13]

[0126]   Generally, all non-advertising URNs of software providers begin.

Http://jump.eudora.com/jump.cgi?action=whatever "action" determines what function the user wants to perform. The software provider then adds various other query parts to the URN according to the chart shown in FIG. 40, which are appropriately% escaped, ie separated by a percentage (%) or ampersand (&) sign. . A brief discussion of each type of web page referenced in Figure 40 is provided directly below.

[Table 14]

To describe the client side of the entire system shown in FIG. 1, we turn now to the server side of the system. However, this network is well known in the art and will not be detailed.

In particular, a playlist server (PLS) or Servlet, an applet that responds to playlist requests is detailed below. PLS is a server-side program that services HTTP requests and returns HTTP responses. Each request spawns a different thread and the data format of the communication between the client and PLS is XML encoded in the exemplary embodiment. PLS advantageously uses the following Java
This can be illustrated by using the a (registered trademark) package.

[Table 15]

When the Servlet doPost method is invoked, what follows is a description of the PLS task flow. See FIG. 41. PLS parses the XML request and forms an object that represents the client update request. Data access is S
It can be seen that this is done using AX. P to record client requests
The LS stores the client request information in a so-called client update table (not shown).
Remember.

It will be appreciated that playlist requests can be received from multiple emails resident on a client computer, which is typically shown as 100n during a given day. Same SQL
If the statement is issued repeatedly, it may prove more efficient to use the create statement rather than generate a new statement in response to the query. In logging operations, software providers may advantageously use the following semantics to avoid iterative statement generation:

PreparedStatement ps = conn.prepareStatement (“INSERT INTO ClientUpdat
e (date, userAgent, PlayListed, Y) values (?,?,?,?, ..) ”); When generating a new playlist, Servlet can advantageously use SQ
It should be mentioned that both L-query and programming filtering can be used. It can also be seen that these processes are synchronized when accessing the database to prevent conflicts. Suitable pseudo code for generating a playlist is shown in Figures 42A and 42B. First of the pseudo code in FIG. 42A
Block creates an ad listing. It can be seen that the ad listing generated by the first block of pseudo code is active and holds all image ads that can be served within a given time frame. Second pseudo code listing in FIG. 42A.
Block calculates the time needed to be served advertisements. The third block of pseudo code shown in FIG. 42B determines additional advertisements that can be used to fill available face time. In other words, the email client software will automatically fill the available time for expired ads if there is time left to fill, i.e. not in the ad history, and even in the goal show time left. Find the right expired ad.

When generating XML, it is often useful to generate comments, process instructions, etc. The Package XP Writer provides output XML code, a set of methods for creating a particular type of node in a file. The following is a short list of methods PLS uses in generating XML output.

[0134]   · Start element-start tag   • End Element-Close current start tag as end tag or empty element.

• Attributes add attributes to tag name value pair format • Comments write comments PLS is a playlist that holds information generated in response to the requirements of two tables, the client information section and playlist general information. A general response table and a playlist specific response holding an entry part are stored. PLS is advantageously
It can be seen that the create statement API can be used to optimize performance in response to queries.

Referring again to FIG. 41, this figure advantageously shows a class diagram that describes the display and rendering of playlists as well as playlist responses. This class diagram includes iterative XML write method calls, ie, these method calls are used by PLS to generate XML tags associated with a playlist.

Referring now to FIG. 43, this figure is grouped into a playlist Ser.
3 illustrates a major playlist Servlet class defining a vlet. More specifically, the playlist request class handles the request and then maps the XML request to the client update object, while the playlist response class handles this response and sends the client update response to the client. Write back. Furthermore, the playlist generation class is used to generate a playlist
The manager class handles the database connection pool. Additional details are readily apparent from Figure 43.

It is clear from FIG. 44 that all store operations using the database can advantageously be threaded. As mentioned above, all operations related to the database are MM. Run the MySQL package.

In summary, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a playlist response to a client device that exchanges information with an information server system over a communication network to dedicate a general purpose computer by storing advertisements. Includes software that converts to a playlist server. More specifically, the software is adapted to generate a playlist response that identifies a plurality of selected advertisements displayed by the client device, and a playlist response generation function and the client device via the communication network where the playlist response is transmitted to the client device. 6 illustrates a first communication function that completes a playlist response transmission communication link with, where the information server system and the playlist server are separately controlled. The playlist dictates the presentation, eg display, of the advertisement on the client device, eg an email client, but the advertisement is advantageously provided to the client device in any number of ways in this embodiment. It can be seen that it may be retrieved by the client device. In this exemplary embodiment, the playlist request preferably includes an identifier and advertisement presentation instructions. The corresponding Uniform Resource Name (URN) is included but may be omitted.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a general purpose computer for exchanging a playlist response with an information server system for information, and a dedicated playlist for receiving an advertisement from an advertisement server via a communication network. Includes software to convert to a server. The software advantageously uses a playlist response generation function that generates a playlist response that identifies a plurality of selected advertisements displayed by the client device, and a communications network through which the playlist response is transmitted to the client device. A first communication function for establishing a playlist response transmission communication link with the client device. Preferably, the information server system and the playlist server are controlled separately. It will be appreciated that this exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention contemplates a particular communication channel between the client device and a dedicated ad server (system) for serving playlist-defined ads. . The playlist request used by this exemplary embodiment includes both the name and URN for the advertisement included in the new playlist, as well as information that directs the client device's behavior regarding the display of advertisements and / or advertisement display capabilities. including.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a general purpose computer dedicated to exchanging playlist responses with an information server system for receiving advertisements from an advertisement server via a communication network. A playlist response generation function that converts to a playlist server, generates a playlist response that identifies multiple selected advertisements displayed by the client device, and a playlist request parser function that extracts selection information from the playlist request. A playlist generation function that receives the output of a database driver function that generates a playlist for inclusion in a playlist response that identifies multiple selected advertisements displayed by the client device in response to receiving the playlist request; Providing selection information to the playlist response generation function, which A selection information supply function for initiating a playlist generation function, and a first communication providing a playlist response transmission communication link with the client device via a communication network through which the playlist response is transmitted to the client device. And a second communication function for performing a playlist request reception function with a client device via a communication network, the information server system and the playlist server are separately controlled.

Preferably, the playlist request parser is an extensible markup language (XML) parser that verifies the eligibility of the playlist request and a post-verify playlist request by an XML parser that generates an object. And a database driver function that receives an object forming a query from the object and applies the query to the playlist server database.

It should be noted that the playlist response generation function is typically initiated by receipt of a playlist request containing the name of the current playlist used by the client device supplying the playlist request. . Although each of a number of client devices connected to the information server generates a playlist request, this particular aspect of the invention, the discussion of playlist servers, is understood in terms of a system that includes only one client device. Is the best. For example, the actual implementation of an email client device is intended for use with thousands of client devices.

The playlist request is advantageously made by the client device when presenting, eg displaying, information regarding the playlist currently executing on the client device and the advertisement stored by the client device. A user data field for storing data regarding the progress.

Typical of the information that can be provided to the playlist server via a playlist request,
The non-limiting list includes: a first user data field that identifies the current playlist; a second user data field that identifies user demographic data; and a third user data field that identifies user / client device activity data. A user data field, a fourth user data field identifying the usage history of the client device, a fifth user data field identifying each software running on the client device, a respective operating system of the client device A sixth user data field that identifies: a seventh user data field that identifies the amount of time the user has used the client device over a predetermined time interval; and a stored advertisement that remains to be displayed by the client device. Required for An eighth user data field identifying the amount of time displayed; a ninth user data field identifying the total amount of time that the advertisement has been displayed by the client device during a predetermined time interval; a display screen associated with the client device; First to identify dimensions
A zero user data field, and-a list of advertisement identifiers corresponding to the advertisements displayed at the given most recent time interval.

Advantageously, the playlist request parsing function extracts the selection information from the playlist request and controls the playlist server in generating the selection information and other information, for example a playlist response. You can use the information provided by the entity. It will be appreciated that the playlist request may include all or a subset of the information just listed. That is, the playlist request parsing function is
Extract the information contained in at least one of the user data fields. In any case, receipt of the playlist request by the playlist server initiates the generation of a playlist response.

In response to the playlist request, the generate playlist response function generates one of the action command and the playlist response. With respect to the former, the playlist response generation function can advantageously generate an activation command in response to receiving a confusion playlist request. This can generally be viewed as an error code that instructs the client device to send a new playlist request. The action command may include an associated error message that may be displayed to the user by the client device. Alternatively, the action command may cause the client device to delete all of the advertisements received and / or stored by the client device in response to the command issued to the playlist server by the entity controlling the playlist server. . In other words, there are times when a software provider may want to flash existing ads. That is, the playlist server, eg, the entity controlling the software provider, sends a command to the playlist server.
Respond to any particular playlist request of all playlist requests to the flash command, eg, a playlist request generated by a particular software version. A detailed debate follows regarding the latter.

As mentioned above, the playlist response advantageously presents client information, ie how the client device, eg a PDA device, selects advertisements, ie an advertisement that continues to be received by the client device during the time, That is, it includes both information about what to display and a new playlist. For example, a selection parameter included in the client information can switch the client device between a continuous display mode for displaying advertisements and a short-lived display mode. The client information typically: controls the repeat rate of advertisements displayed by the client device; specifies the periodicity with which the client device generates playlist requests; Can establish a minimum time separation of: • A specification that dictates how the client device should display each of the advertisements.

For example, if the advertisements available to the client device include both current advertisements (paid advertisements) and expired advertisements (free advertisements), the client information may be updated before the client device displays the expired advertisements. Contains the minimum time to display an ad. This client information may also establish the maximum time a client device is allowed to display a revocation advertisement. In any case, the playlist response advantageously causes the client device to either concatenate the new playlist to the current playlist or discard the current playlist for the new playlist. It may include a command or a selection parameter for instructing the. The commands or selection parameters controlling the client device operational aspects are executed upon receipt of the playlist response over the communication link made.

The new playlist included in the playlist response includes a name for each of the selected advertisements and the corresponding Uniform Resource Name (URN). The URN may be in one of the ad server's locations that redirects the client device to the respective named ad storage location of the ad server or other storage location for each named ad. I can respond. Alternatively, the URN specifies the location of the ad server that redirects the client device to the ad storage location located on the ad server for each named advertisement. In addition to the name and URN of each of the select ads, the new playlist may also include information identifying the ad type, ie, a postage stamp ad, a toolbar ad, or a placard ad for each of the respective select ads. In particular, this point should be mentioned.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, the playlist server exemplified by the software stored on the server computer is advantageously written in Extensible Markup Language (XML), ie code. It should be noted that it responds to the encrypted playlist request. Those skilled in the art of XML-generated documents will appreciate that these documents, eg, playlist requests, may advantageously have an associated document format definition (DTD). To optimize system performance, the playlist server should have an available DTD, ie the DTD available for the playlist request parser. DT
There are several options to ensure that D is available to the playlist server. First of all, the DTD for each different type of client device, such as an email device or PDA, is stored by the playlist server. In this case, the playlist request need only include the DTD tag that identifies the particular DTD used by the playlist request parser. Second, DT
D can advantageously be embedded in the playlist request. In both cases, both the playlist server and the client device implicitly have the same D
Use TD.

It should be noted that software providers should take measures for advertising security. There are actually two security issues to consider. One is whether or not the client gets a valid advertisement (this is called client security), and the second is whether or not the valid client takes out the advertisement (this is called server security).

The importance of client security is relatively small. If a given person tricks Eudora into displaying some advertisements other than those transmitted by the software provider, that is probably not a big deal. This cannot be said to be a problem if one or more clients start doing it. That is, however, a carefully worded license agreement should prevent behaviors that cause this particular problem, at least at large sites. However, in order to avoid trivial attacks, playlists and advertisements are advantageously MD5 (or other mechanism).
The total inspection can be done at, and the total inspection will be recorded in the playlist. The client may then total check the playlists and advertisements using the same confidential source and compare the total check with the total check for the playlist. If the client is unable to get the proper advertisement, this is considered an obstacle to getting the advertisement anyway.

Server-side security is potentially a very big problem. Software providers want to charge advertisers for their advertisements based on their understanding that the users of the software provider are actually seeing the advertisements they are charging. To ensure this, the software provider should make sure that it is actually Eudora that is downloading the ad, and that some dangerous steps have not been written to retrieve a large number of ads. Why do some people worry about getting ads? Software providers cannot take into account the motivation of amateur hackers "because they can", but the real issue is advertising revenue, or advertising incentives. There is a very significant financial incentive to this third party to generate a large number of ad retrievals, because each ad retrieval can generate revenue for the third party. Therefore, the software provider will prevent (and / or
(Or detection) is absolutely necessary. If such a retrieval might be in violation of the contract the software provider had with the distributor,
These withdrawals constitute a form of fraud.

Advantageously, there are several different schemes for fraud detection that can be implemented, for example, in software running on the advertising server 303. Whatever method the software provider ultimately uses to detect fraud, if fraud occurs, it is also important to detect fraud.

Authentication is easily understood. That is, the program that retrieves the advertisement is Eudor
If it cannot prove to be a valid copy of a, the software provider will be alerted to possible fraud. However, authentication poses a challenge to yourself,
It may be impossible or impractical or unnecessary.

While statistical analysis has some significant advantages, it also has significant drawbacks. The advantage is that there is no execution time on either the client or the server, which is the least work on the client (and therefore not vulnerable to disassembly at all), that is, everything can be easily modified by the software provider. Includes retroactively added capabilities that can be done "after this fact" while evaluating. Disadvantages of statistical analysis include that statistical analysis is by no means completely certain and that software providers cannot collect appropriate statistical values and the like.

Listed below is a list of parameters or statistics that a software provider may collect or calculate.

[Table 16]

Given the raw data available from monitoring the parameters listed above, the following is a typical, non-exhaustive list of possible statistics that can be generated.

[Table 17]

One of the issues that software providers must be very aware of is the protection of their privacy, that is, they generally advertise based on information provided to the software provider without the user's knowledge. I don't want to receive it.
There is a subset of the paranoid user community, which is extremely vocal against even collecting the most bland information, especially all forms of information. Even relatively legitimate mechanisms such as serial numbers are considered something that is completely avoided. Software serial numbers may seem like a trifle to software providers,
There are users who oppose this type of "tagging" and software providers should be aware of such users. To the maximum extent possible, software providers should employ confidential information policies that include the following provisions:

Obtaining Permission-Before the Software Provider collects or transmits any data that may identify the User or transmits it to the Advertiser, the Software Provider shall give the User a fully stated permission (see FIG. 35). Or you should get permission close to what was stated clearly enough. The term "sufficiently stated" is used to indicate that a software provider may include a special privacy warning on a web page where a user registers a software program such as Eudora. Here, the user has made an explicit act of providing the data to the software provider. That is, in itself, a well-stated permit should not be required. On the other hand, a valid user argues that the software provider does not know that the user has provided information to the software provider, and even if the information appears to be relatively obvious to the software provider, there is sufficient clarity there. Effort should be made to identify the extent to which the stated permit may be requested.

Data Separation-Whenever possible, software providers should keep payment information independent of registration information, and both types of information should be kept independent of demographic information etc. While software providers may highly recommend correlating databases, software providers face significant potential hardship when the databases are actually correlated. Furthermore, software providers should still have a separate database, as software providers can still serve very targeted advertisements without database correlation.

User Verifiability-Whenever possible, the protection established by the software provider should be verifiable with a packet sniffer by the end user. The software provider may even encourage activities to observe the behavior of the software, eg the behavior of Eudora. One is that "software providers do not give advertisers your personal data." That is to say that the user can verify that this is the case.

Strong public and private participation-Software providers need to be clear and public to their privacy policies, and software providers must
Internally respect this policy. If a software provider simply views privacy as something that the software provider must do and avoids a negative scope of comment, the software provider can't do it well and ends up in trouble.

In summary, the present invention provides a "first full feature set" version (ie, a "payware version") that is activated when a software product is paid for by a user, and a user subsidizes the software product. A "second full feature set" version that is activated if you agree to receive advertisements served to client devices to make money (eg, by either fraud or a well-stated contract) (Ie, the "adware" version) and the "reduced feature set" version that is run if the software product is not paid (ie, the "freeware" version) and the "second full feature set" version is not run Three different "complete" versions, including and (or " Mode ”), including multi-mode software products, eg email versions. The present invention also encompasses systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have such multi-mode software installed. It can be seen that the first and second full feature sets are the same for email support features. It can also be seen that the second full feature set includes playlist and ad retrieval and display features not present in the first full feature set.

Further, the invention further includes the aforementioned multi-mode software, wherein the multi-mode software detects a predetermined condition (eg, monitored user activity level, and / or a predetermined number or more). There are also few downloaded ads, ie when "adware" based on the "untrustworthy user" criteria
It includes a mode switch function that automatically switches from a version to a "freeware" version. The present invention also includes systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have such multi-mode software installed.

The present invention further includes multi-mode software as described above, wherein the multi-mode software is a client device within a predetermined "advertisement failure condition", eg, less than a predetermined number of predetermined times. From "adware" versions to "freeware" in detecting the occurrence of advertisements received and / or displayed by
A mode-switching feature that automatically switches to a version, and monitors "time since last Nag", and monitors "time since last Nag" and / or accumulated ad download / display statistics or information An "Advertisement Nag" function that generates an "Advertisement Nag" according to a "Nag schedule" that is dynamically changed based on The present invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this multi-mode software product installed.

[0168] In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a greater number of the software described above, wherein the multi-mode software depends on the current mode of the software product currently running, and lastly. Of the Nag is generated, and / or accumulated ad download / display statistics or information, and / or other types of Nag based on the monitored condition. For example, different types of Nag include “registered Nag”, “payware Nag”, “adware Nag”, “updated Nag”, and “advertising obstacle Nag”. The present invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to a plurality of client devices that have this other mode software product installed.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an automatic ad download feature that automatically downloads the ads that are displayed when the software is run, and a user activity level that is monitored and monitored by the monitored user. Based on activity level (eg "individual")
And / or a software product (e.g., email software) that incorporates control functionality to control the display of download advertisements on the client device (based on "cumulative" advertisement display parameters). The present invention also includes systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple devices that have this software installed.

The present invention also includes an email software product that incorporates a control function to automatically download advertisements from a remote server system that is separate from the email server system and independent of the email server system, as well as this email. Systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to client devices that have software products installed. In particular, this system manages and processes the delivery of advertisements,
Remote from the controlling entity (eg, the assignee, an entity operated by Qualcomm, Inc.) that controls and controls the email service system that provides the email service to any particular client device that has this email software product installed. , And an ad server system controlled by a control entity that is independent of this entity. Therefore, JUN
In proper contrast to the O online service system, according to this aspect of the invention, the ad server system and the electronic server system are operated independently, ie under the control of separate and independent control entities.

Advantageously, the present invention provides an automatic ad file download feature that automatically downloads an ad from a remote server system to a client device on which the software product is installed, and the following ad (for each ad): Parameters, ie, the maximum ad display time, or face time, for any given display of this particular ad, the maximum total / cumulative ad display time, or face time, for this particular ad Downloads that include various combinations and sub-combinations of the maximum number of hours to display an ad, the date / time before which this particular ad should not continue, and the date / time after which this particular ad should not continue Client device download based on the advertising parameters contained in the advertising file. It also includes software products, such as e-mail software, that incorporate a control function to locally control the display of the word advertisement. The present invention also encompasses systems and methods for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed.

The present invention provides an advertisement server source in which playlists and designated advertisements are stored from a remote server system (eg, a playlist server system) that designates advertisements for retrieval by a client device on which a software product is installed. It also includes a software product, such as email software, that incorporates an automatic ad download feature that retrieves the address (eg, URN), retrieves the advertisement specified in the retrieved playlist, and stores the retrieved advertisement on the client device. I understand. The present invention installs a software product and, in response to a playlist request containing a client playlist identifier from a particular client, the client playlist identified by the client playlist identifier and the current playlist stored on the playlist server. Of the ad server in which the new playlist and the specified new ad are stored, which are compared with (optionally customized to this particular client device) and specify that new ads should be retrieved by the client device. Further included are systems and methods for delivering advertisements to client devices, including a playlist server (or playlist server system) that sends the source address back to the client device.

[0173] Optionally, the aforementioned automatic advertisement download function of the software product installed on the client device may include an advertisement currently stored on the client device, eg, all servers or playlists in an advertisement not specified in the current playlist. Server-specified ads can be deleted (discarded); and / or the aforementioned automatic ad download feature of software products installed on client devices can merge new playlists with current client playlists. The present invention is based on Eudor
It also covers some changes and details of performing this new playlist / advertising process used in the adware scheme.

Further, the invention encompasses a software product, eg, email software, that incorporates a customer installer that identifies the particular software product vendor who sells this software product. The present invention automatically distributes advertisements from a remote server system to a client device in which a software product is installed and an automatic advertisement download function, and distributes the advertising revenue that a software product seller receives from an advertisement to specific software product sellers. Software software, such as email software, that incorporates a customer installer that identifies the particular software product vendor who sells this software product for the purpose of facilitating The invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed,
Therein, the system receives the software product vendor ID information from the client device and uses the software product vendor ID information to distribute the revenue that the software product vendor receives from the advertiser to the particular software product vendor. It includes a centralized control function that makes it easy. Alternatively, or in addition, a software product ID for each software product sold by the software seller may be provided, for example, based on a serial number or reference code associated with each copy of the software product (eg, cross-reference and / or correlation table). Identify) central database function is available.

In addition, the present invention provides an automatic advertisement download function that automatically downloads advertisements from a remote server system to a client device that has a software product installed, and a built-in "time limit" for each particular advertisement download session. Deadman timer ", for example, a client device is a" deadman timer "
Disconnected from the remote server system upon expiration of the time limit imposed by
Include software products, such as e-mail, that incorporate control functions that utilize. The present invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed.

The present invention has an automatic advertisement download function for automatically downloading an advertisement from a remote server system to a client device in which a software product is installed, and an instrumentation / accounting audit module having various new functions, for example, an advertisement. Characterized as a software product, eg, email software, that has a rotating log of relevant statistics and / or has an instrumentation and accounting audit module that performs user-authorized random and / or statistically based advertising effectiveness accounting audits. I also know that I can do it. The present invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed, wherein the system is in a random or statistical manner, for example, It includes a centralized control function for obtaining advertisement-related statistical information from selected client devices for the purpose of monitoring the integrity and / or effectiveness of the advertisement distribution system.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an automatic advertisement download function that automatically downloads advertisements from a remote server system to a client device on which a software product is installed, as well as a link that the user has previously visited, for example, and for each. A "link history" feature that allows you to revisit previously viewed advertisements by providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a link history window that lists the advertisements that were previously displayed to the user along with some status information. Include software products, such as email software. Preferably, the user can select the ads listed in the link history window for display by, for example, single-clicking on the appropriate ad link, for example by double-clicking on the appropriate ad link, link history A mechanism is provided that allows you to visit the source website for any given ad listed in the window. The present invention also includes a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed.

In addition, the present invention monitors "time since last Nag" and "continuously" prompts the user according to a "Nag schedule" that changes dynamically based on the monitored "time since last Nag". Includes software products that incorporate "blame""Nag", such as email software.

Finally, the present invention incorporates a download function that downloads a separate file portion (eg, an advertisement file, eg, a separate file portion of a GIF file) representing a single image during a separate communication session with a remote server. Includes software products such as email software. The invention further encompasses a system (and method) for automatically delivering advertisements to multiple client devices that have this software product installed.

Although this preferred embodiment of the present invention has been detailed above, numerous changes and / or modifications of the basic inventive concept as taught herein and which may be apparent to those skilled in the art are attached. It should be clearly understood that it still lies within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a high-level computer including a plurality of client devices connected to a plurality of independently operated server devices via a network, the computer system being suitable for performing various functions according to the present invention. It is a system diagram.

2 is a representative high level client device diagram of the client device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3A and 3B illustrate another and non-limiting placement of an advertisement on a main navigation screen of a typical email software application according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows that the software versions are new user, old user, and EP4.
The state transition in the case of being installed by the user is shown. FIG. 4B shows a dialog box associated with the state flow diagram shown in FIG. 4A.

[Figure 5]   6 illustrates a typical state flow diagram of a process in which an advertising user becomes a registered advertising user.

[Figure 6]   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

[Figure 7]   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

[Figure 8]   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

[Figure 9]   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

[Figure 10]   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

FIG. 11   6 shows some dialog boxes related to FIG.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary state flow diagram of a process in which a free user may become a registered free user.

[Fig. 13]   13 shows an additional dialog box associated with FIG.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary state flow diagram of a process in which all users are aware of updating software according to the present invention.

FIG. 15   7 illustrates a typical dialog box corresponding to an updated Nag.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary dialog box of a process in which a box user can become a paid user.

FIG. 17   6 illustrates an exemplary state flow diagram of a process in which a paid user becomes an unpaid user.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary Nag window display timeline for a Mac OS of Eudora email software according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a Nag schedule used by the software according to the invention.

FIG. 20A is a simulated screen capture of a link history window used in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 20B is a dialog box reminding the user that the email client according to the present invention is offline.

FIG. 21A illustrates the assumptions used in determining the impact of advertising transmission of email program operations. FIG. 21B is a table listing bandwidth requirements in terms of subscriber base versus the number of new advertisements downloaded each day.

FIG. 22   6 is a state flow diagram of an exemplary advertisement retrieval process according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 collectively shows an algorithm for controlling advertisement scheduling of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 31A illustrates parameter variations for other modes of advertising display possible in an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 31B illustrates parameter variations for other modes of advertising display possible in an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an additional dialog box that can be advantageously generated by email client software according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 33 illustrates an additional dialog box that can be advantageously generated by email client software according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 34 illustrates an additional dialog box that can be advantageously generated by email client software according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 35 illustrates an exemplary dialog box associated with auditing operation of adware software according to the present invention.

FIG. 36   List useful parameters for auditing software performance.

FIG. 37   List useful parameters for auditing software performance.

FIG. 38   List useful parameters for auditing software performance.

FIG. 39   List useful parameters for auditing software performance.

FIG. 40 is a table summarizing the functionality of multiple web pages that may be useful with an exemplary email system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a class diagram showing mapping of XML code to objects and task flows when another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention operates according to the doPost methodology.

42A collectively configures a pseudo-code listing that can be used by the server 302 of FIG. 1 in generating a PlayList according to the present invention. 42B collectively comprises a pseudo code listing that can be used by the server 302 of FIG. 1 in generating a PlayList according to the present invention.

43 is another class diagram showing request and write processing between the server shown in FIG. 1 and at least one of the client computers. FIG.

FIG. 44   5 illustrates database access according to another aspect of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... System configuration, 100A-100N ... Client computer, 20
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication device, 205 ... Storage device, 206 ... Storage device, 207 ... Dynamic memory device, 208 ... Monitor, 209 ... Central processing unit, 301-304 ... Server

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (31) Priority claim number 09 / 609,123 (32) Priority date June 30, 2000 (June 30, 2000) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (31) Priority claim number 09 / 668,331 (32) Priority date September 22, 2000 (September 22, 2000) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, C A, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM , DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, K E, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS , LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, R U, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM , TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Antonio, Franklin Pee             United States California             92014 Del Mar, Cordoba Cove             2765 (72) Inventor Donner, Stephen             United States Illinois State 61801             Lubana, Montclair Road 7 (72) Inventor Norenberg, John W             United States California             92131 San Diego, Fig Tsuri             Street 12343 (72) Inventor Berg, Jeffrey Kay             United States California             92064 Poway, Aboritos Dora             Eve 13967 (72) Inventors Ogdon, Benjamin Pee             United States California             92014 Del Mar, Fifteenth             Street 482 (72) Inventor Beckley, Jeffrey Dee             United States California             92064 Poway, Oak Stand Ro             Code 15696 (72) Inventor Byrd, Alan             United States California             92129 San Diego, Butano Way               13757 (72) Inventor Boyd, John Dee             United States California             92122 San Diego, Via Rapids             4934 (72) Inventor Pariah, John S             United States California             92122 San Diego, Porte de Pa             Lumas 4090 (72) Inventor Rhodes, William Jay             United States California             92126 San Diego, Eridanus Ko             Red 11441 (72) Inventor Ross, David Jay             United States California             92014 San Diego, Sweet E             ー, Carmel Valley Road 2262 (72) Inventor Daziaku, Matthew Jay             United States California             92129 San Diego, Ridley Law             Do 13544 F term (reference) 5B085 BA06 BE07 BG02 BG03 BG07

Claims (63)

[Claims] 1. Software used in a client device configured to communicate with at least one remote source over a communication network, the distributor identifier identifying the distributor that installed the software on the client device and distributed the software. Software having a custom installer function to generate and an advertisement download function to download an advertisement from at least one remote source through a communication network. 2. The software of claim 1, wherein the ad download feature downloads ads during one or more ad download sessions. 3. The software of claim 2, wherein each ad download session is limited to a defined maximum time period. 4. An advertisement storage function of storing the downloaded advertisement in a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function of displaying at least a selected advertisement of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device. The software of claim 1, further comprising: 5. The software of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote source includes multiple ad servers. 6. The software of claim 1, wherein the software is funded by revenue that can be based on downloaded advertisements. 7. The software of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote source comprises at least one ad server. 8. The software of claim 1, wherein the software is email software. 9. The software of claim 2, wherein the ad download function includes an ad fetch timer function that limits each ad download session to a defined maximum time period. 10. The software according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is the Internet. 11. The client information transmission function of transmitting a distributor identifier to a defined server for use in allocating advertising revenue that can be based on software distributed by the distributor. Software. 12. The software of claim 11, wherein the defined server is associated with at least one remote source. 13. The software of claim 12, wherein the at least one remote source comprises multiple ad servers. 14. The software of claim 13, wherein the plurality of advertisement servers are controlled by a software creator. 15. The distributor identifier is defined to be manipulated by the software producer for use in allocating advertising revenue that the software producer may be based on copies of the software delivered by the distributor. The software according to claim 1, further comprising a client information transmission function for transmitting to a server. 16. The software of claim 1, wherein the distributor is an internet service provider. 17. The software of claim 1, wherein the distributor is an email service provider. 18. Software for use on a client device configured to communicate with a plurality of other client devices over a communication network, wherein the distributor installs the software on the client device and identifies the distributor that distributed the software. A custom installer function that generates an identifier, an ad download function that downloads an ad from at least one remote source through a communication network, and an email composition function that allows a user of the client device to compose an email message, An email sending feature that allows the user to send email messages to other client devices over the communications network, as well as other clients through the communications network. Software and a e-mail receiving function to receive the e-mail message from the cement system. 19. The software of claim 18, wherein the ad download feature downloads ads during one or more ad download sessions. 20. The software of claim 19, wherein each ad download session is limited to a defined maximum time period. 21. An advertisement storage function of storing the downloaded advertisement in a storage medium related to the client device, and an advertisement display function of displaying at least a selected advertisement among the stored advertisements on a display related to the client device. 19. The software of claim 18, further comprising: 22. The software of claim 18, wherein the at least one remote source includes multiple ad servers. 23. The software of claim 18, wherein the software is funded by revenue that can be based on downloaded advertisements. 24. The software of claim 18, wherein the at least one remote source comprises at least one ad server. 25. The software of claim 19, wherein the ad download feature includes an ad fetch timer feature that limits each ad download session to a defined maximum time period. 26. The communication network is the Internet.
Software listed. 27. The method of claim 18, further comprising a client information transmission function for transmitting a distributor identifier to a defined server for use in allocating advertising revenue that may be based on software distributed by the distributor. Software. 28. The software of claim 27, wherein the defined server is associated with at least one remote source. 29. The software of claim 28, wherein the at least one remote source comprises multiple ad servers. 30. The software of claim 29, wherein the plurality of ad servers are controlled by a software producer. 31. A Distributor Identifier is provided that is manipulated by a software producer for use in allocating advertising revenue that the software producer may base on copies of the software delivered by the distributor. 19. The software according to claim 18, further comprising a client information transmission function for transmitting to a server. 32. The software of claim 18, wherein the distributor is an internet service provider. 33. The software of claim 18, wherein the distributor is an email service provider. 34. Software for use in a client device configured to communicate over a communication network, the custom installer function installing the software on the client device and generating a distributor identifier identifying a distributor that has distributed the software. A playlist request function for generating a playlist request including a distributor identifier and transmitting the playlist request to at least one playlist server through a communication network, and a client device by the at least one playlist server in response to the playlist request. A playlist response processing function that receives and processes the transmitted playlist responses, and through the communication network between one or more ad download sessions. An ad download function for downloading at least one of the ads identified in the playlist from at least one remote source; an ad storage function for storing the downloaded ad in a storage medium associated with the client device; An advertisement display function for displaying at least a selected advertisement among the displayed advertisements on a display associated with the client device, wherein the playlist response includes a playlist that identifies the advertisement to be downloaded. 35. The software of claim 34, wherein the playlist includes a list of advertisement identifiers that each identify an advertisement to be downloaded. 36. The software of claim 35, wherein the playlist further comprises a list of source addresses from which each of the advertisements to be downloaded can be fetched. 37. The software of claim 34, wherein the at least one remote source comprises at least one ad server, each ad server storing at least one ad to be downloaded. 38. The software of claim 34, wherein the software is funded by revenue that can be based on downloaded advertisements. 39. The software of claim 37, wherein the at least one ad server comprises a plurality of ad servers, each ad server storing at least one ad to be downloaded. 40. The at least one playlist server is controlled by a software vendor, the at least one ad server comprises a plurality of ad servers, each ad server to be delivered to a client of the software vendor. 38. The software of claim 37, which stores one or more advertisements, at least one of the plurality of advertisement servers being controlled by a software vendor. 41. The at least one playlist server is controlled by a software vendor, the at least one ad server comprises a plurality of ad servers, each ad server being delivered to a client of the software vendor. 38. One or more advertisements are stored, at least one of the plurality of ad servers being controlled by an entity other than the software vendor, which authorizes the software vendor and its clients to access the ad server. Software. 42. At least one remote source includes a plurality of ad servers, each ad server storing one or more ads to be downloaded, each ad being stored in a storage location specified in the URI. The software according to claim 34. 43. The software of claim 42, wherein the playlist includes an advertisement identifier and a list of corresponding URIs that each identify an advertisement to be downloaded, and a corresponding storage location from which each advertisement can be fetched. 44. The software of claim 43, wherein the playlist request function sends playlist requests to at least one playlist server at defined playlist check intervals. 45. The software of claim 34, wherein the playlist request function sends playlist requests to at least one playlist server at defined playlist check intervals. 46. The software of claim 44, wherein the playlist check interval and the ad download session are individually scheduled. 47. The software of claim 45, wherein the playlist check interval and the ad download session are individually scheduled. 48. The software of claim 34, wherein each ad download session is limited to a defined maximum time period. 49. The software of claim 3, wherein the software is email software.
4. The software described in 4. 50. The software of claim 48, wherein the ad download feature includes an ad fetch timer feature that limits each ad download session to a defined maximum time period. 51. The communication network is the Internet.
Software listed. 52. The at least one playlist server is controlled by a software author, the at least one ad server comprises a plurality of ad servers, each ad server being delivered to a client of the software author. 38. The software of claim 37, which stores one or more advertisements to be stored, wherein at least one of the plurality of advertisement servers is controlled by the software author. 53. The at least one playlist server is controlled by a software author, the at least one ad server comprises a plurality of ad servers, each ad server being delivered to a client of the software author. One or more advertisements to be stored, and at least one of the plurality of advertisement servers is not the creator of the software,
38. The software of claim 37, controlled by an entity that authorizes the software producer and its clients to access the ad server. 54. The software of claim 53, wherein the entities other than the software producer include a software distributor. 55. The software of claim 34, wherein the distributor is an internet service provider. 56. The software of claim 34, wherein the distributor is an email service provider. 57. The software of claim 34, wherein the distributor identifier is used in allocating advertising revenue that can be based on software distributed by the distributor. 58. An advertisement storage function for storing a downloaded advertisement in a storage medium associated with the client device, and at least a selected advertisement of the stored advertisements is associated with the client device when the client device is offline. The software according to claim 1, further comprising an advertisement display function for displaying on a display. 59. An advertisement storage function for storing a downloaded advertisement in a storage medium associated with the client device, and at least a selected advertisement of the stored advertisements is associated with the client device when the client device is offline. 19. The software according to claim 18, further comprising an advertisement display function of displaying on a display. 60. The advertisement display function displays at least a selected advertisement among the stored advertisements when the client device is offline.
4. The software described in 4. 61. An advertisement storage feature for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device and at least a selection of the stored advertisements while the user is composing and / or reading an email message. The software according to claim 1, further comprising an advertisement display function of displaying the advertisement on a display related to the client device. 62. An advertisement storage feature for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device and at least a selection of the stored advertisements while the user is composing and / or reading the email message. 19. The software according to claim 18, further comprising an advertisement display function of displaying the generated advertisement on a display related to the client device. 63. The software of claim 34, wherein the advertisement display function displays at least selected advertisements of stored advertisements while a user is composing or reading an email message.