Patent ID: 7020690
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of displaying advertisements to a user of an online service using a client application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the user using the local device for accessing an online server associated with the online service and providing interaction with the online service, the method comprising the steps of: the client application activating; the client application establishing a communication channel from the local device to the online server; a browser application activating; the client application causing at least one advertisement to be displayed on the output device of the local device; the client application monitoring the user's interaction with the local device with respect to the client application and thereby detecting whether the user is interacting with the online service, wherein interaction is manipulating the input device; if the user has not interacted with the local device with respect to the client application for a predetermined amount of time, the client application causing a dialog to be displayed on the output device of the local device, wherein the dialog notifies the user that the user has been inactive with respect to the online service, and wherein a display associated with a resource locator is displayed in the dialog; wherein the display of at least one advertisement operates in accordance with a first play list, the first play list comprising at least one ad object, each ad object comprising a resource locator for a given advertisement, a resource locator for a click-through associated with the given advertisement, and at least one display attribute for the given advertisement, the first play list further specifying an order in which the advertisements identified in the play list are to be displayed; the client application pausing the play list if the user has not interacted with the local device with respect to the client application for the predetermined amount of time.