Abstract:
A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling the use of an appointment-based electronic ad that restricts or grants access to electronic advertising content based upon an appointed time frame. Access to the restricted advertised content is restricted based upon whether a user is attempting to access the restricted advertised content via an appropriate appointment-based electronic ad and during the appropriate time frame. Furthermore, the system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium enables the storage, retrieval, sharing, and manipulation of appointment-based electronic ads by an individual user in order to increase the likelihood of their use.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/764, 906, filed Apr. 21, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/172,222, filed Apr. 24, 2009 and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/257,837, filed Nov. 3, 2009. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/433,907, filed Jan. 18, 2011. Each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety, for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally pertains to processing electronic advertising content and/or other media on an electronic network in order to improve electronic commerce. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Advertising on the Internet involves placing an electronic advertisement, herein referred to as an “electronic ad,” on a Web page or along other digital content in the hope that a consumer will see it. Advertising on the Internet involves an enormous market that has been growing steadily since 1995. Massive sums of money have been spent on advertising on the Internet, including tracking the performance of electronic ads and targeting advertisements to particular audiences using technologies referred to as “targeting technologies.” 
         [0004]    An electronic ad includes electronic advertising content and this content is distinct from other forms of electronic content distributed via the Internet. Electronic advertising content is created by a commercial entity in order to drive usage and/or sales of a good or service, herein collectively referred to as “product.” It is not merely content associated with a product, but rather is distributed specifically to generate a benefit (typically a monetary one) for the producer or supplier of the product. For example, an independent review of a product is not electronic advertising content, whereas advertising text distributed by the product manufacturer is electronic advertising content. Additionally, electronic advertising content is subject to advertising laws and regulations, such as truth-in-advertising laws. 
         [0005]    An electronic ad may be created so that its distribution may be tracked and evaluated. For example, an electronic ad may include computer code that enables an advertiser to ascertain how many times it has been viewed (e.g., how many “impressions” or “clicks”). Electronic ad tracking may be conducted for financial purposes. For example, an ad provider may charge for ad distribution on a per viewing basis. An advertiser may be responsible for paying the ad provider each time the ad is viewed or fee for a particular amount of viewings. 
         [0006]    Generally, electronic advertising works in the following way: a Web site publisher designates space on its Web site as available for advertising. An ad provider provides the publisher with a computer code to be implanted in this ad space. An ad provider is an entity that distributes electronic ads via a network (e.g., the Internet) on behalf of an advertiser, usually for a fee, such as Google AdSense, Yahoo, and the like. An advertiser is an entity wishing to promote a good, service, or the like. When an individual visits a particular page of that publisher&#39;s Web site via his web browser, the page is generated per the publisher&#39;s source code, while the electronic ad is generated in the ad space per the ad provider&#39;s code. The electronic advertising content is retrieved from the ad provider&#39;s ad server and fills the ad space on the Web page. The ad server maintains electronic advertising content, typically configured by the ad provider on behalf of an advertiser. Each time a visitor visits a Web page, a new set of electronic ads may be displayed because the site publisher may have business relationships with more than one ad provider or because the same ad provider may choose a different set of electronic ads to show on the Web page. Furthermore, the electronic ad code itself may specify various ads to be shown in the ad space and the ad displayed may vary per the user&#39;s particular visit to the Web page. A user may select an electronic ad, such as by clicking it, and his web browser typically is directed to present a landing page associated with the advertiser. The landing page is typically the advertiser&#39;s main Web page. For example, a user selecting an electronic ad for a dating service will be presented with the dating service&#39;s home page. When a user clicks on an electronic ad, his attention to his previous task is interrupted. With the browser navigating to the ad&#39;s landing page, the user&#39;s attention is diverted. 
         [0007]    As systems evolve to allow for the time-shifting of electronic ads and the storage of electronic ads by users for later engagement, new opportunities arise for new advertising possibilities. 
         [0008]    Advertisers aim to obtain the full attention of users on the product being presented via an electronic ad and, as such, advertisers need one or more engagement mechanisms to do so. 
         [0009]    Therefore, an engagement mechanism is needed to engage consumers interested in an advertised product. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present invention addresses the aforementioned needs by providing a system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling the use of an appointment-based electronic ad that restricts or grants access to advertised content based upon an appointed time frame. Access to the restricted advertised content is restricted based upon whether a user is attempting to access the restricted advertised content via an appropriate appointment-based electronic ad and during the appropriate time frame. Furthermore, the present invention enables the storage, retrieval, sharing, and manipulation of appointment-based electronic ads by an individual user in order to increase the likelihood of their use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention may be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a general architecture overview of an embodiment of a personal advertisement storage system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a personal advertisement storage system server; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for accessing a stored electronic advertisement from an ad server; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for accessing a stored electronic advertisement from an ad server via a personal advertisement storage system server; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for accessing a stored electronic advertisement from a personal advertisement storage system server; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for storing an electronic advertisement at a personal advertisement storage system server; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for storing an electronic advertisement via an ad server; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic embodiment of an electronic appointment ad; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9 . illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for accessing electronic advertising content via an electronic appointment ad. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Various embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person with ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0022]    The present invention is described herein mainly in terms of an individual accessing the Internet, such as via a personal computer, a mobile phone, a personal electronic assistant, or a multipurpose mobile device (e.g., an iPhone, a Blackberry, etc.). This is not to be construed as limiting as the present invention may be applicable to any electronic network accessible to a user via a network-appropriate device. For example, the present invention may be applied to broadcast networks (e.g., cable, satellite, etc.), mobile networks, interactive television systems, kiosk systems, and any technologies that enable the electronic display of advertisements. 
         [0023]    Personal Advertisement Storage Network (PASS) 
         [0024]    As illustrated by  FIG. 1 , the present invention pertains to personal advertisement storage system (PASS)  100 . PASS  100  components are herein referenced 
         [0000]    as “systems,” “servers,” “services,” “mechanisms,” etc., but this is not to be construed as limiting and it is to be understood that each component may include the necessary hardware, firmware, and/or software to enable functionality and the processing, storing, communicating and/or receiving of data. For example, a component may include one or more computer processors, computer servers, data stores, electronic components, storage mediums, memory, etc. Although only a single instance of each component is depicted, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as limiting. Furthermore, although each component is depicted and described herein as separate, this is not to be construed as limiting, and components may be combined per implementation. For example, PASS server  108  and ad server  106  may be combined into one component and/or be maintained by the same entity or affiliated entities. PASS  100  may include one or more ad servers  106 , PASS servers  108 , and Web site publishers  102 . Ad server  106  may be maintained by an ad entity, which may be an organization or individual that distributes electronic ads and its ad server  106  may maintain its electronic advertising content. For example, an ad entity may be an ad provider (e.g., Google AdSense), an advertising agency, an individual advertiser, a newspaper (e.g., with classified ads), or the like. PASS  100  may also comprise one or more social networking Web services  114  and/or one or more authentication services  116 . A user may interact with PASS  100  via access mechanism  110  and access mechanism  110  may enable the user to access data from ad server  106  or PASS server  108 . Access mechanism  110  may be a combination of software and hardware configured to enable the viewing and the inputting of information by the user. For example, a user may access PASS  100  by loading a Web page on his personal computer via a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, or through his mobile device via its browsing application. Additionally, a user may access PASS  100  via other properly equipped devices, such as televisions, kiosks, or other presentation systems. Furthermore, PASS  100  may be accessible via various embodiments of access mechanism  110  and a user may employ any combination of these device types. For example, a user may store an electronic ad via his mobile phone and later access it via his television. The components of the system may interact with one another via network  104 , which may be an applicable electronic network, such as the Internet or a mobile network. 
         [0025]    The term “electronic ad” is not to be construed as limiting and may pertain to electronic data associated with an advertisement in various forms as would be appropriate to the related system component. For example, in relation to ad server  106 , PASS server  108 , Web site publisher  102 , or social networking Web service  114 , an electronic ad (e.g., electronic ad  112 A, electronic ad  112 B, electronic ad  112 D, and electronic ad  112 E, respectively) may pertain to a data record and/or computer code. In relation to access mechanism  110 , an electronic ad (e.g., electronic ad  112 C) may pertain to a visual representation of an advertisement along with other data, such as a link. An electronic ad may include a video, an image, textual data, or any other advertising mechanism. An electronic ad may include data indicative of a particular item for sale, such as an item offered at eBay.com, Amazon.com, or the like. 
         [0026]    PASS Link 
         [0027]    To participate in PASS  100 , an ad entity may embed a PASS link in an electronic ad when creating it (i.e., electronic ad  112 A). The PASS link may encode information about electronic ad  112 A and the URL of PASS Server  108 . An ad entity may also modify existing ads to include a PASS link. The PASS link may be configured to be displayed as a PASS icon in proximity to the actual electronic advertising content. The PASS link may be computer code, such as JavaScript code, an HTML link, or similar mechanism, to instruct access mechanism  110  to perform a certain set of operations other than what may be construed as a click-through. Once an electronic ad includes a PASS link, it may be considered “PASS-enabled” and may enable the electronic ad to be stored with minimal manual human action. In one embodiment, as will be described below, a PASS-enabled electronic ad enables the electronic advertising content to be associated with the user at ad server  106  instead of, or in addition to, be stored in association with user at PASS server  108 . 
         [0028]    After the inclusion of a PASS link in electronic ad  112 A, electronic ad  112 A is enabled for storage if a user so chooses and may be distributed via standard methods. For example, when accessing a Web page, access mechanism  110  may display electronic ad  112 A as electronic ad  112 C by requesting the necessary data from ad server  106  and formatting it accordingly. In an alternative implementation, access mechanism  110  may retrieve the ad data via PASS server  108  (i.e., from electronic ad  112 B). For example, the ad request may be sent directly to PASS server  108  instead of to ad server  106 . PASS server  108  may retrieve the electronic ad  112 A from ad server  106 , configure it via configuration mechanism  214  to include the necessary PASS link information and, optionally, other user interface elements, and then distribute the PASS-enabled electronic ad  112 B to access mechanism  110 , which may display it as electronic ad  112 C. Because PASS server  108  may carry out the embedding of PASS link, this implementation may necessitate no additional effort on the part of an ad entity. In another embodiment, Web site publisher  102  may configure a Web page to enable the inclusion of a PASS link in an electronic ad  112 D it displays. For example, Web publisher  102  may enable the ad slots of its Web page to configure displayed electronic ads  112 D as PASS-enabled electronic ads automatically by way of configuring its ad slots to capture the electronic ad served by ad server  106  and to provide user-interface elements within the ad slot or elsewhere to allow for the transmission and storage of the electronic ad; that is, to allow for PASS link information to be associated with the electronic ad served into the ad slot by ad server  106 . In another embodiment, access mechanism  110  may be enabled to embed a PASS link in an electronic ad it displays (i.e., electronic ad  112 C). For example, access mechanism  110  may detect the presence of one or more ad slots on a Web page it is presenting and may be configured to display the associated electronic ads  112 C as PASS-enabled electronic ads automatically. In one embodiment, access mechanism  110  may be enabled to configure electronic ads  112 C as PASS-enabled via a browser extension or “add-on.” 
         [0029]    Stored Electronic Ad 
         [0030]    As illustrated by  FIG. 2 , PASS server  108  may include one or more databases  210  that securely maintain electronic ads  208  stored by users so that these ads may be accessed at a later time. Storing an electronic ad may involve storing data related to the ad in database  210  in such a way that a user may view the stored electronic ad  208  as it was originally presented. For example, if an electronic ad includes a video involving a product offer, the user may store this electronic ad and later view the video when accessing the stored ad. PASS server  108  may transmit ad usage data to ad server  106  so that it may determine how many times the stored electronic ad  208  has been viewed. A user&#39;s use of an electronic ad is described as “viewing,” but this is not to be construed as limiting. “Viewing” of an electronic ad as used herein pertains to an ad impression, a user clicking on the electronic ad, and the like. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, a stored electronic ad  208  may include one or more of tracking information associated with the electronic ad, such as the referral location (e.g., information about the Web site at which the user viewed the electronic ad) and its Uniform Resource Location (URL). In order to avoid possible formatting and display problems, the entire code associated with the electronic ad may be retrieved from ad server  106  and included with stored electronic ad  208 . 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, a stored electronic ad  208  need not include one or more of the aforementioned elements. When PASS server  108  receives an indication that a user wishes to store an electronic ad, ad identification mechanism  220  may establish an ad identifier for the ad and this ad identifier may be included with the stored electronic ad  208 . For example, ad identification mechanism  220  may assign it an alphanumeric identifier. By assigning an ad identifier, PASS server  108  does not need to store all information associated with the electronic ad, some of which may be proprietary to the ad entity. Not storing the entire electronic ad information may reduce the burden of PASS server  108  and may allow ad server  106  to maintain complete control over the ad entity&#39;s electronic ads. In one scenario, the stored electronic ad  208  only includes the ad identifier. Alternatively, the ad entity may generate an ad identifier for its electronic content. When publishing an electronic ad, the ad entity may assign it an ad identifier, include it in an embedded PASS link, and publish the ad identifier (i.e., via the PASS link) in association with the electronic ad. The ad identifier may be transmitted to PASS server  108  when the user indicates he wishes to store the associated electronic ad (e.g., by clicking the PASS icon). In an alternative embodiment, the ad entity may register an ad identifier with PASS server  108  when it publishes an electronic ad so that PASS server  108  may maintain a searchable registry of storable electronic ads. 
         [0033]    If an ad identifier, rather than the complete ad code, is employed for storage, one or more processes may be employed by PASS server  108  to present the stored electronic ad  208  via access mechanism  110 . An ad identifier may serve as a reference for ad retrieval data within PASS server  108 . Once a particular stored ad is selected for viewing, the PASS server  108  may locate ad retrieval data, such as a computer code, associated with its ad identifier. In one embodiment, PASS server  108  may share the ad identifier with ad server  106  so that ad server  106  may associate it with the appropriate ad in its own records. This may assist in determining the appropriate electronic advertising content at ad server  106  when user wishes to view the stored electronic ad  208 . 
         [0034]    As described herein, unless explicitly noted, a stored electronic ad may pertain to any of the aforementioned embodiments. 
         [0035]    User Data 
         [0036]    Database  210  may also maintain a user accounts  206  for each user. Although electronic ads are described herein as being stored in a user account  206 , this is not to be construed as limiting. In one embodiment, rather than being stored in a particular user account  206 , an electronic ad may be maintained separately at PASS server  108 , but may be associated with a user account  206  via a user identifier or similar mechanism. For example, electronic ads may be associated with an individual&#39;s email address, username, identification code, or the like. A user account  206  also may include a user profile  202  which may include credential information (e.g., username and password), personal information, demographic data, financial account data, and the like. Database  210  may also maintain a relationship record  204  which may include data pertaining to how particular users and ad entities are related to other users and ad entities. For example, relationship record  204  may indicate which users an individual has listed as friends or which users have stored ads for a particular ad entity. PASS server  108  may also include communication mechanism  218  which may enable PASS server  108  to interact with other entities attached to network  104 , such as ad server  106  and access mechanism  110 . PASS server  108  may, in addition to, or instead of a relationship record  204 , include a social network mechanism  224 , such as an application programming interface (API), thereby enabling interaction with a social networking Web service  114 , such as Facebook. One or more elements of relationship information and user profile data may be stored in association with the user&#39;s social network account in addition to, or instead of, being associated with a user account  206  at PASS server  108 . 
         [0037]    Electronic Ad Storing 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for storing an electronic ad at PASS  108 . As a user interacts with a Web page, he may be presented with a PASS-enabled electronic ad. If the user wishes to save the electronic ad for later viewing, he may select the PASS icon, such as by clicking it with a mouse. In an alternate embodiment, when the electronic ad is selected, an electronic form may become visible, overlaid on the electronic ad, presenting the user with two options: go to the ad landing page or to store the electronic ad such that there is no further distraction from the current Internet activity of the user. For example, when a user sees an electronic ad on a Web site, he may bring his mouse pointer over the ad and an overlay may be shown on the ad with a clickable prompt stating “go there now” and another clickable prompt stating “save for later.” The user may click “save for later,” and JavaScript code associated with the PASS-enabled electronic ad may be executed by access mechanism  110 , causing a message to be sent to PASS server  108  with encoded ad information. PASS server  108  may receive PASS link information (e.g., the URL and encoded ad information and/or the ad identifier) (step  602 ). Authentication module  226  may determine if the user has been authenticated (step  604 ). If so, authentication module  226  analyzes the user&#39;s credentials in order to associate the electronic ad with the appropriate user account  206 , thereby storing it (step  606 ). As aforementioned, when a user opts to store an electronic ad, ad identification mechanism  220  may associate an ad identifier with the stored electronic ad  208 . Ad identification mechanism  208  may generate the ad identifier or, if an ad identifier was included with the received PASS link information, ad identification mechanism  208  may use it. In one embodiment, PASS server  108  may communicate the ad identifier to ad server  106 , which may in turn associate the ad identifier with the electronic ad in its own database. This may be unnecessary if the ad entity has already associated an ad identifier with the electronic ad. Any known method may be employed to authenticate the user and identify his user account  206 . For example, a user&#39;s credentials may be a tracking cookie or a username and password. In one embodiment, if the user has not been authenticated, he may be prompted to do so upon initiating electronic ad storage. Alternatively, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , to avoid burdening the user with authentication processes at the time of storage, PASS server  108  may transmit a unique identifier to access mechanism  110 , such as a cookie or similar mechanism (step  608 ). PASS server  108  may then store the received PASS link information temporarily in association with the unique identifier (step  610 ). When PASS server  108  subsequently receives a request for access to the stored electronic ad  208  from access mechanism  110  (step  612 ), authentication module  226  may again determine if the user has been authenticated (step  614 ). If so, the stored electronic ad  208  may be presented (step  622 ). If the user has not been authenticated, authentication module  226  may prompt the user for authentication credentials and the user may be authenticated (step  616 ). PASS server  108  may then receive one or more unique identifiers previously provided to access mechanism  110  (step  618 ), store the associated electronic ads  208  in association with the appropriate user account  206  (step  620 ), and present the stored electronic ad  208  (step  622 ). Alternatively, rather than requiring the user to ever actively authenticate himself, PASS server  108  may utilize the unique identifiers received from access mechanism  110  completely for the storage, retrieval, and presentation of a stored electronic ad  208 . 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, PASS  100  may include authentication service  116  and authentication service  116  may authenticate users on behalf of PASS server  108 , rather than PASS server  108  itself. In one embodiment, a user may store an electronic ad in association with one or more of his PASS user account  206  and his social network Web service  114  account by way of social network mechanism  224 . Social network Web service  114  may handle user authentication instead of, or in addition to, PASS server  108  or authentication service  114 . In one embodiment, PASS server  108  interfaces with Facebook, Google, and/or other popular social networks, such that for the majority of users for the majority of the time, no prompting of user credentials is necessary when the user is already logged into one of those other services using access mechanism  110 . 
         [0040]    In one scenario, a software application may ease use of PASS  100 . For example, an “add-on” for a web browser and/or a Web service may enable functionality that eases the storage of electronic ads to PASS server  108 , allowing a user to store one or more electronic ads displayed to the appropriate user account  206 . The electronic ads still may be shown as the user employs access mechanism  110  or they may be suppressed until the user accesses PASS server  108  to view them. 
         [0041]    Electronic Ad Sharing 
         [0042]    PASS  100  may also enable various viral marketing methods, such as the sharing of stored electronic ads. A user may be enabled to share a stored electronic ad  208  with other individuals. This may be done through PASS server  108  (i.e., from one PASS user to another) or PASS server  108  may interact with another service, such as a social networking Web service  114  (e.g., Facebook.com, MySpace.com, etc.), so that a user may share a stored electronic ad  208  with other users of the social networking Web service  114 . As aforementioned, social network mechanism  224  may enable PASS server  108 , and in turn the user, to view, store, and share electronic ads via a social networking Web service  114 . In one embodiment, PASS server  108  itself may serve as a social networking Web service and users may see which stored electronic ads  208  other users have shared. Alternatively, a user may be enabled to share a stored electronic ad  208  via email, such as by emailing a link to the stored ad. A user may be required to have authorization by another user to be privy to shared electronic ads. For example, an individual&#39;s shared, stored electronic ads  208  may only be visible to other users the individual has indicated are friends. To encourage users to share stored electronic ads  208 , an ad entity or the PASS service provider may compensate a user for sharing. A user may be required to share a minimum amount before being compensated and/or a user may be limited to sharing a maximum number for a particular period (e.g., 100 ads per month). Once a user has shared a stored electronic ad  208 , it may be associated with both initial user and the recipient. A first user who shares an ad that is subsequently deleted by a recipient second user may get negative points which when accumulated may indicate that the first user is abusing the sharing mechanism and should be blocked or have her ability to share ads limited. This feedback mechanism is important to reduce the spam effect. 
         [0043]    Viewing and Managing Stored Electronic Ads 
         [0044]    After an electronic ad has been stored in association with user account  206 , the user may access PASS server  108  to view it. An electronic ad may be considered stored in (i.e., associated with) an individual&#39;s user account  206  if the individual stored it, if another PASS user shared it with the individual, or if the individual&#39;s profile settings allow PASS server  108  to store the electronic ad in his user account  206  automatically. Viewing interface  216  may enable the presentation of the stored electronic ads regardless of who stored the ad or may present only electronic ads stored by a certain set of users. For example, thumbnail images representative of stored electronic ads may be presented. While a user may have a personal set of stored electronic ads (e.g., those he has stored or those he has received via sharing), he may also be able to access the stored electronic ads of other users. A user may be allowed to designate which of his stored electronic ads are public and which are private. 
         [0045]    The user may access PASS server  108  in various manners. For example, a user may access PASS server  108  by accessing a Web site, using a keyboard combination, or by right clicking on a PASS icon displayed on an electronic ad, thereby accessing a menu with a link to access PASS server  108 . Once PASS server  108  is accessed, the user may provide credentials. Alternatively, a user need not identify himself to view electronic ads stored publicly. When accessing PASS server  108 , the user may be redirected to a PASS Web site or the user may remain at his current Web site and view the stored electronic ads  208  in an existing ad slot at the current Web page, on a pop-up screen, as an overlay on the current Web page, or the like. As aforementioned, PASS server  108  may interact with social networking Web service  114  and, as such, a user may be enabled to view, share, and manage stored electronic ads  208  via an interface at social networking Web service  114 . Stored electronic ads  208  may be presented in the order in which they were stored, for example, displaying the first stored ad at the top or bottom of a list. In one implementation, participating ad entities may affect the presentation order of stored electronic ads  208 . For example, an ad provider or advertiser may compensate the PASS service provider in order to have its ad presented advantageously. Additionally, the user may be enabled to sort his stored electronic ads  208  as he wishes, such as by date saved, title, and the like. 
         [0046]    The user may select a stored electronic ad  208  to view it. Selecting a stored electronic ad  208  may load the ad per the stored data. The user need not log into or have access to the Web page where the ad was originally displayed as pertinent information and/or an ad identifier has been recorded at PASS server  108 . The particulars of presenting a stored electronic ad  208  may vary per implementation. The viewing of a stored electronic ad  208  may be similar to the initial viewing of the electronic ad  112 D at a Web page. When a user views a Web page, Web site publisher  102  may request the electronic advertising content (e.g., electronic ad  112 A) from ad server  106  and may present it in an appropriate space on the Web page (i.e., an “ad slot”). In one scenario, the requested advertising content may be relayed through PASS server  108 , such as if the content has not been PASS-enabled by ad server  106 , so that it may be PASS-enabled by PASS server  108 . When a user accesses PASS server  108  to view a stored electronic ad  208 , PASS server  108  may serve as a publisher and present the stored electronic ad in a similar fashion, such as by requesting the electronic advertising content from ad server  106 . 
         [0047]    As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the user may employ access mechanism  110  to access PASS server  108  to view a stored electronic ad  208  (step  302 ). Access mechanism  110  may receive computer code which may include the original ad server ad code (or code sufficiently similar) (step  304 ) and may employ it to access the ad server  106  (step  306 ). Access mechanism  110  may then receive the appropriate electronic advertising content from ad server  106  (step  308 ) and present the electronic ad to the user (step  310 ). In one scenario, PASS server  108  may provide access mechanism  110  with the same ad code used at the Web page from which the user stored the electronic ad  208 , thereby functioning in a fashion similar to the originating Web page. For example, the retrieved computer code may indicate the stored electronic ad is provided by the Google ad server and the user&#39;s web browser may access the Google ad server to retrieve it. An ad identifier previously assigned to the stored electronic ad  208  by ad identification mechanism  220  may be used to assist with this process. The computer code provided to access mechanism  110  may include the ad identifier and access mechanism  110  may relay this to ad server  106  so that ad server  106  may employ it to locate the appropriate electronic advertising content in its records. 
         [0048]    As illustrated by  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, when access mechanism  110  accesses PASS server  108  (step  402 ), it may receive computer code that instructs access mechanism  110  to access PASS server  108  itself (step  404 ). When access mechanism  110  accesses PASS server  108  per this code (step  406 ), it may wait as PASS server  108  accesses ad server  106  to retrieve the electronic advertising content (step  408 ). Once PASS server  108  has retrieved the necessary content, access mechanism  110  may receive it (step  410 ) and present the electronic ad to the user (step  412 ). For example, when access mechanism  110  accesses the stored electronic ad  208 , the received computer code (e.g., HTML snippet data) may include a link (e.g., a URL) to PASS server  108 , rather than ad server  106 , and PASS server  108  may then employ the computer code to determine the proper ad server  106  from which to receive the electronic ad. An ad identifier may assist with this process as well. For example, the computer code sent to access mechanism  110  from PASS server  108  may include the ad identifier and PASS server  108  may employ this to determine the proper ad server  106 . In one embodiment, if ad server  106  has also associated the ad identifier with the electronic ad in its own records, PASS server  108  may employ relay the ad identifier to ad server  106  in order to assist in the retrieval of the necessary electronic advertising content. In one scenario, PASS server  108  only transmits the ad identifier to ad server  106  for electronic ad retrieval. Because the electronic advertising content passes through PASS server  108 , PASS server  108  may be enabled to modify the stored electronic ad. 
         [0049]    As illustrated by  FIG. 5 , in another embodiment, if the stored electronic ad  208  includes all the necessary electronic advertising content, ad server  106  need not be accessed by access mechanism  110  or PASS server  108 . When access mechanism  110  accesses PASS server  108  (step  502 ), it may receive computer code that instructs access mechanism  110  to access PASS server  108  itself (step  504 ). An ad identifier may be used to assist in locating the proper stored electronic ad. When access mechanism  110  accesses PASS server  108  per this code (step  506 ), access mechanism  110  may receive the electronic advertising content (step  508 ) and present the electronic ad to the user (step  510 ). For example, PASS server  108  may pre-generate the code (e.g., HTML) so that access mechanism  110  may display the electronic ad based solely on the rendering instructions PASS server  108  provides access mechanism  110 . 
         [0050]    Stored electronic ads may be optimized upon presentation to increase overall advertising effectiveness. As aforementioned, because the request to view the stored electronic ad  208  involves PASS server  108 , PASS server  108  may be enabled to modify the stored electronic ad  208  when it is displayed. Ads from one advertising entity or from a set of advertising entities may be optimized such that each ad is more attractive to the user or the set of ads together are more attractive to the user. The advertising entity need not rely on ad server  106  to enhance the stored electronic ad  208 . For example, if the user has stored an ad for a chair and an ad for a table, PASS server  108  may retrieve and display a bonus ad for a set of dishes, a table cloth, or a discount for buying both the table and the chairs. PASS server  108  may display such ad combinations even if the ads are from different advertising entities. An advertising entity associated with an electronic ad may pay the PASS service provider a fee so that an additional electronic ad is presented whenever a particular electronic ad is presented. If a second advertising entity is paying for this service, the second advertising entity may request to have his electronic ad presented more prominently than the ad of the first advertising entity. 
         [0051]    Ads stored at the PASS server  108  may be associated with one or more categories. For example, an electronic ad for beer may be categorized as “beer,” “drink,” and/or “alcohol.” When a user accesses his user account  206 , his stored ads may be displayed as grouped by category. Ad categorization may be handled by the ad entity, the user, a PASS service provider, categorization mechanism  212 , or a combination thereof. For example, an ad entity may associate data with an ad that indicates one or more proper PASS categories. The user may log into his user account  206  and categorize his stored ads as he wishes. For example, a user may “tag” the stored beer ad as “funny” or “beer.” Categorization mechanism  212  may categorize ads based on information provided by ad entities and/or users, or it may analyze ad content and categorize electronic ads appropriately. 
         [0052]    Electronic Ad Storing and Viewing Via an Ad Server 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, when a PASS-enabled electronic ad is displayed via access mechanism  110 , data may be relayed through ad server  106 . By relaying such data through ad sever  106 , ad server  106  may log which electronic ads have been stored at PASS server  108  in addition to recording whether an electronic ad has been viewed. 
         [0054]    As depicted by  FIG. 7 , a PASS-enabled electronic ad may be configured to associate an electronic ad with the user at ad server  106  instead of, or in addition to, storing it at PASS server  108 . In such an embodiment, a PASS-enabled electronic ad may be associated with access mechanism  110  at ad server  106  via the use of a unique identifier (e.g., a cookie). A user may employ access mechanism  110  to view a Web page maintained by Web site publisher  102  and Web site publisher  102  may retrieve one more electronic ads from ad server  106  to present to the user. When a user views a PASS-enabled electronic ad he would like to view later, he may indicate this, and ad server  106  may receive PASS link information (step  702 ). In one scenario, the PASS-enabled electronic ad may provide the user with an interface so that he may specify when he would like to view the electronic ad. For example, a user may be presented with a drop down menu and he may select whether he wishes to view the electronic ad in an hour, a day, at specific date and/or time, or the like. After receiving PASS link information, ad server  106  may associate a unique identifier with access mechanism  110  and with the appropriate electronic advertising content in its own database, thereby associating it with access mechanism  110  (step  704 ). Ad server  106  may associate the unique with access mechanism by transmitting it to access mechanism  110  when the user indicates he wishes to view the electronic ad later or ad server  106  may employ a unique identifier already present at access mechanism  110 . For example, ad server  106  may automatically transmit a tracking cookie to access mechanism  110  when it accesses a Web site containing its electronic ads, regardless of whether the user has opted to view an electronic ad later. An electronic ad associated with access mechanism  110  in this fashion may be presented to the user whenever access mechanism  110  accesses a Web site configured to display electronic ads from ad server  106 , regardless of whether the Web site publisher  102  is the same as the Web site publisher  102  involved in the initial display of the electronic ad. When access mechanism  110  subsequently accesses a Web page, ad server  106  may receive a request for electronic advertising content from the Web site publisher  102  and this request may include one or more unique identifiers associated with access mechanism  110  (step  706 ). Ad server  106  may determine if a received unique identifier corresponds with a unique identifier associated an electronic ads (step  708 ). If not, ad server  106  may provide any electronic ad deemed appropriate (step  710 ). If ad server  106  determines that an electronic ad is associated with access mechanism  110  via a unique identifier, it may provide the corresponding electronic ad (step  712 ). Ad server  106  may acquire data regarding which electronic ads interest the user in addition to increasing the chances that the user will view the electronic ad at one point. This particular electronic ad procedure allows a user to indicate interest in an electronic ad and delay its viewing without the need to access PASS server  108 . One may view this procedure as enabling a user to indicate he would like to be reminded of the electronic ad at subsequent, more convenient time. This procedure requires less action on the part of the user, as he need not take explicit action to view the electronic ad later. That is, he may be presented with the electronic ad when he subsequently accesses one of a plurality of Web sites and need not access PASS server  108 . 
         [0055]    The aforementioned process need not involve PASS server  108  and therefore PASS server  108  may be omitted in such an implementation. In another embodiment, when ad server  108  receives an indication that user wishes to view an electronic ad later, in addition to associating a unique identifier with the electronic ad and access mechanism  110 , ad server  110  may transmit this unique identifier to PASS server  108 . PASS server  108  may store the unique identifier in a temporary record. If access mechanism  110  later accesses PASS server  108 , PASS server  108  may obtain one or more unique identifiers from access mechanism  110 , determine if it has stored any electronic ads in association with the received unique identifiers and store them in association the appropriate user account  206 . Depending upon the embodiment, PASS server  108  may store all of the necessary electronic advertising content or may store data sufficient to retrieve the electronic advertising content from ad server  106  (e.g., an ad identifier). As previously described, PASS server  108  may serve as the publisher and present the stored electronic ad  208  via access mechanism  110 . 
         [0056]    Accounting for Electronic Ad Storage, Viewing, and Actions 
         [0057]    PASS server  108  may interact with the ad server  106 , and another authorized third-party, to enable proper tracking of stored electronic ads, click-through rate, and any associated payment (e.g., royalties, etc.). For example, PASS server  108  may share viewing data with the account manager of an ad agency or a third-party analytics server that charts and creates further statistics from the data. PASS server  108  may record each viewing of a stored electronic ad in a viewing log. This functionality may be enabled by an accounting mechanism, such as an API, to which any ad server  106  from a participating advertising serving network may connect. Electronic ads may operate via various budgeting schemes and, therefore, specific accounting processes may be necessary in order to ensure accurate accounting of an electronic ad stored and/or shared via PASS  100 . The accounting process employed may be associated with the method of electronic ad storage and/or display. If the presentation of a stored electronic ad  208  is handled in a fashion similar to an electronic ad displayed at a Web page (i.e., the electronic advertising content is retrieved from ad server  106 ), as illustrated by  FIG. 3 , ad server  106  may treat the viewing of a stored electronic ad  208  in the same manner as an ad presented on a standard Web page. If all of the data necessary for displaying a stored electronic ad  208  has been stored at PASS server  108 , as discussed in relation to  FIG. 5 , access mechanism  110  may interface solely with PASS server  108  to display a stored electronic ad  208 , and therefore PASS server  108  may maintain a viewing log for a stored electronic ad  208  and relay this viewing data to ad server  106 , instantly, periodically, or the like. If the display of the stored electronic ad  208  requires PASS server  108  to serve as an intermediary between access mechanism  110  and ad sever  106 , as depicted by  FIG. 4 , one or more of PASS server  108  and ad server  106  may track the viewing of a stored electronic ads  208 . 
         [0058]    PASS server  108  may enable the analysis of stored electronic ads  208  in order to ascertain ad usage, such as viewings (e.g., “impressions,” “clicks,” etc.). In particular, PASS sever  108  may determine which electronic ads have been stored and/or shared but have not yet been viewed by the associated user(s). As such, PASS server  108  may provide an ad entity with data indicative of pending ad viewings. The ad entity may employ this data to determine how much interest there is in a particular electronic ad and whether his current budget for the electronic ad is sufficient. Unlike current processes, the analysis of unviewed electronic ads provides an ad entity with concrete data reflective of how many individuals are interested in viewing its electronic ads. For example, if an ad entity has allotted for 200 viewings of a particular electronic ad and the ad server  106  indicates that the electronic ad has been viewed 95 times total (via PASS  100  and perhaps other sources), and the analysis of PASS server  108  indicates that its database  210  has 150 potential viewings of the electronic ad, the ad entity may ascertain that its budget might be exceeded by at least 45 viewings. The ad entity may then take appropriate action, such as by increasing its budget for that electronic ad. If the ad entity does not wish to increase its budget to match demand, the ad might be removed from ad server  106  before certain users have had an opportunity to view it. In this case, a user may be notified that the stored electronic ad  208  is no longer available. The user may be informed of this when he attempts to view the stored electronic ad  208  and/or PASS server  108  may notify him via personal information held in his user account  206  (e.g., via an email sent to the user&#39;s registered email address). 
         [0059]    Although a user may utilize PASS  100  simply for pleasure, he may also be encouraged to participate through various incentive methods, the particulars of which may be stored in one or more incentive records  222 . Incentive controller  228  may manage such incentives and track data pertaining to their use. In one embodiment, an incentive for the user may or may not be activated based upon actions he does or does not perform. The user may register one or more financial accounts in association with his user account  206  and may receive financial benefits. For example, an ad entity may compensate the user for displaying its electronic ad advantageously on his PASS display. Alternatively, an ad entity may compensate the user when the user accepts an ad entity&#39;s promotion, provides information to the ad entity, provides a recognized benefit to the ad entity, or the like. PASS  100  may facilitate immediate and scheduled transactions using information stored in user account  206  (e.g., financial information, personal information, and/or other information) and the user may be compensated by receiving a monetary payment into a registered financial account. Alternatively, the user may receive other benefits, such as a discount on an advertised product. 
         [0060]    Aggregate Information Analysis 
         [0061]    PASS  100  may also enable the display and analysis of aggregate information. For example, PASS server  108  may display to users and/or ad entities aggregate statistics and information regarding electronic ads stored for various groups of users or for all users. Aggregate information may also be used to affect how stored electronic ads are displayed to users. For example, electronic ads may be displayed in order of popularity, such as by the number of users who have stored the ad or the number of viewings of an electronic ad. Additionally, PASS  100  may enable incentives based on group decisions (herein referred to as “group incentives”). An individual user may receive an incentive, such as a discount or other special benefit, dependent upon whether a certain number of other users performed one or more actions. Incentive controller  228  may associate a redemption code with the user&#39;s user account  206  once the user has performed the necessary action, thereby associating users that are participating in the group incentive. The redemption code may be included in data received when an electronic ad is stored or incentive controller  228  may generate the redemption code. In one scenario, a user need only store the electronic ad in order to participate in the group incentive and receive the redemption code. Alternatively, a user may indicate he desires to participate in a group incentive by clicking a previously stored electronic ad. Alternatively, a redemption code associated with a user account  206  may only be activated once the user has performed a more involved action (e.g., purchased the necessary product) in addition to storing the electronic ad. For example, if a stored electronic ad pertains to a chair and if 10,000 chairs are purchased, each user that has stored the relevant electronic ad may receive a 10% refund. The refund may be credited to a user&#39;s registered financial account. In such a scenario, a user may have to indicate to the retailer at the time of purchase that he is a PASS user, such as providing his PASS username or a PASS membership number. The retailer may in turn relay this information to PASS server  108 , which may then determine if the redemption code is associated with the appropriate user account  206  and, if so, incentive controller  228  may activate the redemption code. Alternatively, the user may receive a completion code after performing the required action (e.g., on a sales receipt), may access his user account  206  and enter the completion code, thereby activating the redemption code. Group incentive data may be shared with external entities, such as ad entities, so that they may analyze it and determine the quantity of users that have the redemption code associated with their user accounts  206 . 
         [0062]    In one scenario, a user may request electronic ads from other PASS users or from participating ad entities. For example, the user may access a PASS Web page and enter a query into a search field to determine if any electronic ads stored within the PASS server  108  meet his criteria. For example, a user interested in leasing a vehicle may request ads that provide leasing discounts (e.g., the user may search for a “car lease discount”). The user may then be presented with a result set listing any relevant electronic ads that have been stored by users. PASS server  108  may also relay the query to ad server  106  to determine if ad server  106  has any relevant ads stored within its records and, if so, PASS server  108  may retrieve the relevant ads and display them to the user. Due to the benefits of the ability to request ads, a user may be required to compensate the PASS service provider, other users (e.g., those who stored the requested ad), or ad entities (e.g., those who issued the requested ad). An ad entity or the PASS service provider may compensate a user for sharing ads. 
         [0063]    Appointment Ads 
         [0064]    One or more components of PASS  100  may enable an electronic appointment ad (herein “appointment ad”). An appointment ad may be an electronic ad that is associated with restricted electronic advertising content, such as information and/or an incentive, that is only available during an appointed time frame, such as during a certain time of day, on a certain date, on a particular day of the week, etc. 
         [0065]      FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic embodiment of appointment ad  802 . The components of appointment ad  802  illustrated are logical components and it is to be understood they may be implemented in various fashions, such as computer code, programming, etc. Appointment ad  802  may include ad reference data  808  which may include an ad reference by which ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  may identify appointment ad  802 . Appointment ad  802  may also include status indication data  804  which may enable appointment ad to indicate whether it is active or inactive. Appointment ad  802  may be considered active during an appointed time frame in which appointment ad  802  is enabled to allow access to restricted electronic advertising content. Appointment ad  802  may be considered inactive when it is not enabled to allow access to restricted electronic advertising content. Appointment specification data  806  which interact with ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108 , etc. to determine whether the current time is within the appointed time frame and enable to appointment ad  802  to display an appropriate status. For example, appointment specification data  806  may enable appointment ad  802  to display a timer counting down to the appointed time, an active and/or inactive icon, appropriate text regarding whether it is active, etc. 
         [0066]    Appointment ad  802  may include data that enables it to provide access to restricted electronic advertising content via ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  when appointment ad  802  is active. For example, appointment ad  802  may include incentive data  810 , key URL data  812 , voucher data  814 , digital payload data  816 , etc., and these may be employed by access mechanism  110 , ad server  106 , Web site publisher  102 , PASS server  108  etc. to provide a user with access to the restricted electronic advertising content. Incentive data  810  may reference an incentive record  222  and managed by an incentive controller  228  and/or may reference incentive data maintained by ad server  106 . 
         [0067]    When appointment ad  802  is selected while active, access mechanism  110  may display (e.g., via click-thru) the restricted electronic advertising content indicated by the key URL data  812 , such a promotional landing page. Key URL data  812  may reference a key URL that is secret or not publicly known. The restricted electronic advertising content referenced by the key URL may be only presented during the appointed time frame. If accessible at another time, other content may load, such as a landing page instructing a user to use appointment ad  802 , explaining that the content is not available, etc. Because the key URL may only be accessible via appointment ad  802 , users may be purposefully hindered from accessing the landing page from sources other appointment ad  802 . Access to the key URL may be restricted to a limited number of accesses (e.g., one access) and the number of accesses may be determined by session tracking, tracking cookies, etc. The key URL may be designed so that it may not be easily copied and/or shared. An element of the key URL may be randomly generated by ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  when appointment ad  802  is active. In one scenario, the key URL, or an element of it, may be purged from access mechanism  110  after a user has accessed the restricted electronic advertising content. Additionally, or alternatively, to prevent a user from accessing the key URL directly (e.g., entering the key URL in the address bar of a web browser), the landing page associated with the key URL may require a user provide a code included in appointment ad  802  to access the restricted electronic advertising content. For example, appointment ad  802  may read “enter the code word “WINNER” to receive your 50% off!” and the landing page associated with the key URL may include an input field in which the user may enter this code. 
         [0068]    If the restricted electronic advertising content includes a voucher indicated by voucher data  814 , the voucher may be electronic or printable and the user may present it to a participating vendor in order to redeem the associated incentive. 
         [0069]    Appointment ad  802  may also be associated with unrestricted electronic advertising content that may be presented if appointment ad  802  is selected while inactive. For example, appointment ad  802  may include landing page data  808  (e.g., a URL) that indicates a public Web page associated with an advertised product. The landing page may inform the user of when the restricted electronic advertising content will be available, that it is no longer available, advertise another product, etc. 
         [0070]      FIG. 9 . illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for accessing electronic advertising content via an appointment ad. When a user selects an appointment ad, ad server  106  and/or PASS sever  108  may receive an indication of the selection (step  902 ) and may determine if the appointment ad is active (step  904 ). Ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  may employ an ad reference associated with the selected appointment ad to access electronic ad data stored at ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  and determine whether the user&#39;s selection of the appointment ad has occurred during the appointed time frame. 
         [0071]    If the appointment ad has been selected while the appointment ad is inactive, the appointment ad may enable the presentation of unrestricted electronic advertising content indicated by the stored electronic ad data (step  906 ). An inactive appointment ad may display electronic advertising content outside of the specified time frame, but may do so in a limited fashion (e.g., not provide full details of an incentive, not allow access to a promotional landing page, etc.). While inactive, the appointment ad may serve as a placeholder and/or reminder that a particular promotion is upcoming or has already occurred and/or may direct users to a landing page (e.g., as indicated by landing page data  808 ) that may provide information about a promoted product. For example, if a user selects the appointment ad outside of the appointed time frame, nothing may happen, the appointment ad may present a message reminding the user that the promotion is not active yet, the user may be presented with an associated landing page, but not be given access to a restricted promotion, etc. 
         [0072]    If the appointment ad is active, the user may be presented with restricted electronic advertising content indicated by the stored electronic ad data (step  908 ). The restricted electronic advertising content may be displayed via access mechanism  110  navigating to a new electronic location or the display of the appointment ad may change to present the restricted electronic advertising content. In one embodiment, instead of, or in addition to, the user selecting the appointment ad while it is active to access the restricted content, the appointment ad may be configured to display the restricted electronic advertising content at the appointed time without the user selecting it. 
         [0073]    To account and track views of appointment ads, ad server  106  and/or PASS server  108  may not track views except when an appointment ad is viewed while active or may account for active and inactive viewings differently. 
         [0074]    As an appointment ad is an electronic ad, one or more components of PASS  100  may be used to enable the storing, sharing, viewing, management, accounting, and analysis of appointment ads, as previously described. As user may configure his user account  206  so that PASS server  108  notifies him of an ad&#39;s appointed time frame. For example, a user may opt to receive an email or text message notification when an appointment ad is about to become active. When a user accesses a stored electronic appointment ad  802  outside of its active time frame, he may only view the electronic advertising content that is available during this inactive time. When the user accesses the stored appointment ad  803  during its active time, he may interact with it as an active ad. For example, a user may select the stored appointment ad  802  and be presented with electronic advertising content only available during this time frame, be taken to the promotional landing page, etc. If presentation of the stored appointment ad  802  is handled in a fashion similar to an electronic ad displayed at a Web page, ad server  106  may treat the viewing in the same manner as an ad presented on a standard Web page (e.g., only allowing access to the landing page during the appointed time frame, only tracking the viewing if it is during the appointed time frame, etc.). If all of the data necessary for displaying the stored appointment ad  802  has been stored at PASS server  108 , PASS server  108  may restrict viewing to the appointed time frame and may maintain a viewing log for viewings of the ad only during the appointed time frame. If the display of the stored appointment ad  802  requires PASS server  108  to serve as an intermediary between access mechanism  110  and ad sever  106 , one or more of PASS server  108  and ad server  106  may restrict and track the viewing during the appointed time frame. 
         [0075]    As aforementioned, although the present invention has been described mainly in terms of Internet usage, this is not to be construed as limiting. For example, PASS  100  may be employed via an interactive television system or mobile network. A PASS icon may be displayed when a television ad is presented and the user may employ the “select” button on his television remote to store the ad to his user account  206 . Alternatively, without a PASS icon, another indicator or no indicator may be used. The user may later use the interactive television to access his user account  206  and view the ad. Within a mobile network, the PASS icon may be displayed graphically with an advertisement or as text and the user may select the icon or text for storage of the electronic ad. An electronic ad may have an audio indicator instead of or in addition to a visual icon. Voice commands may be used for interacting with the electronic ad. For example, the user may speak “save the ad” into a microphone to have the electronic ad stored to his user account  206 . 
         [0076]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by a review of the preceding detailed description. Although a number of salient features of the present invention have been described above, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosed invention. Therefore, the description should not be considered to be exclusive of these other embodiments. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.