Abstract:
In a method of displaying advertising and communicating computer operation during a wait period, a plurality of images is displayed during the wait period in a predetermined sequence as part of an animation that indicates that the wait period is proceeding. Advertising information is integrated with the plurality of images.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to computer displays and, more specifically, to a method of displaying an indication of computer operation during computer download wait periods. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Computer wait periods a increasingly common. Examples of such periods include the amount of time expended during a data download (such as a site access on the global computer network), storage access time and time expended by a computer during complex operations. During such wait periods, the user is often concerned that the computer is malfunctioning and that it is not actually performing any operations. 
     To alleviate the user&#39;s concern, many computers display an indication that the computer is currently executing an operation that requires a wait period. Such an indication may be something as simple as an iconic representation of an hour glass displayed on the user&#39;s computer screen. More complicated systems give the user an idea of the amount of time remaining in the wait period. For example, many computers display a blue bar that changes in length in proportion to the amount of the period that has already passed during a data download. 
     Other than an indication of the time remaining in the wait period, no useful information is conveyed by such systems. Therefore, during the wait periods represented by such systems, the user often stares blankly at the screen while waiting for the wait period to end. Given that the user is also a consumer, current systems do not make use of the valuable attention of the user that could otherwise be directed to advertising information. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a system that makes greater use of the user&#39;s attention during computer wait periods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is a method of displaying advertising and communicating computer operation during a wait period. During a wait period, a plurality of images is displayed in a predetermined sequence as part of an animation that indicates that the wait period is proceeding. Advertising information is integrated with the plurality of images. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a period of time, having a beginning and an end, that is required to complete a wait period is determined. A plurality of images is displayed in a predetermined sequence during the wait period. The plurality of images includes a first image and a last image. The images are displayed as part of an animation that symbolically represents the amount of time remaining in the period of time at any given time during the wait period. The first image is displayed contemporaneously with the beginning of the period of time and the last image is displayed contemporaneously with the end of the period of time. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, during the wait period, a plurality of sounds is output in a predetermined sequence during the wait period. The plurality of sounds includes a first sound and a last sound, and they are output as part of an audible message that symbolically represents the amount of time remaining in the period of time at any given time during the wait period. The first sound is output contemporaneously with the beginning of the period of time and the last sound is output contemporaneously with the end of the period of time. The plurality of sounds include advertising information. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first example of a sequence of images in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second example of a sequence of images. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a third example of a sequence of images. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth example of a sequence of images. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the general sequence of steps executed in one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing one method of synchronizing an animation with a wait period in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a first example of a sequence of images  100   a-f  that form an animation that is displayed during a computer wait time includes a plurality of picture elements  102   a-f  that change over time. The picture element  102   a  of the first image  100   a  could symbolically represent an item (e.g., a image of a product being advertised) as it appears at the beginning of a process, with each successive representation of picture elements  102   b-g  representing a successive stage in the process until the end of the process, which would be represented by picture element  102   f . For example, if the images  100   a-f  form an animation that represent the popping of pop corn, then the picture element could include a changing portion  106   a-f  that, in successive frames, represents an expanding pop corn container. The first image  100   a  would be displayed at the beginning of the wait period and the last image  100   f  would be displayed at the end of the wait period. The images  100   a-f  could also include text  108   a-f  that would indicate the amount of time remaining in the wait period. The picture elements  102   a-f  would also include advertising information, such as a product-related slogan  104 , integrated therein. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, in a second example of a sequence of images  202   a-d , the picture element  206  could a simple image, such as that of a clock wherein movement of the hands of the clock represent the passing of time. In this example, the advertising information  204  could be displayed in a part of the image  202   a-d  other than in the picture element  206 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of sounds  304   a-h  could be output by the computer in combination with the images  302   a-h . The sounds could be generated from a digitized copy of, for example, an advertising jingle. In this example, the amount of time passing and the amount of time remaining in the wait period could be indicated by the image  302   a-h , the plurality of sounds  304   a-h , or both. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of images  402   a-h  could be provided with information such as a global computer network address  404  to the advertiser&#39;s network site. Such an address  404  could be in the form of static text, or it could be in the form of a hypertext link. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the steps  500  executed by the computer to display the images during the wait period begin when a wait period, such as a data download, is detected  502 . The method of detection depends on the protocol for the type of wait period commencing (e.g., a global computer network download) and the method of detection is generally known in the art for each type of protocol. The computer determines  504  the amount of time that will be required to complete the wait period and then loads  506  a sequence of images stored in memory. Again, the method required for this determination depends on the protocol of the system causing the wait period and is generally known to the art for each protocol. In one embodiment, an image sequence controller, of the type that is typical for computer-generated video, is adjusted  508  so that the images of the animation are evenly displayed during the wait period. In another embodiment, images are sequenced at a fixed rate, with the final image remaining on the screen until the end of the wait period. 
     At this point, the computer displays  510  the first image in the image sequence and then performs a test  512  to determine if the wait period (e.g., download) is complete. If the answer to test  512  is “No,” then execution returns to display  510  the next image from the image sequence. If the answer to test  512  is “Yes,” then the computer displays  514  the last image from the sequence and then clears  516  the image from the screen, allowing normal use of the computer thereafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, one embodiment of the steps performed by the image sequence controller  600  starts by setting a variable, T c , equal to an estimate of the amount of time required for the wait period. Typically, this estimate is included in most computer communication protocols, or it may easily be determined therefrom, as is generally known in the art. The computer sets  604  a variable, N, equal to the number of images in the animation (which could be stored in a memory location with the image data for each animation) and determines  606  the amount of time that each image should be displayed, T i , as being equal to T c  divided by N. The system then sets  608  a counter, C, equal to zero and sets  610  an image number variable, IN, equal to zero. The system performs a test  612  to determine if the image number IN is greater than the total number of images. If the answer to this test  612  is “Yes” then no images remain in the sequence to be displayed and execution exits this routine. On the other hand, if the answer to this test  612  is “No,” then the system displays  614  the image having an image number corresponding to the current value of IN and the system increments  616  the counter C. Next, the system determines  618  if the value in the counter is greater that the time per image, T i . If the answer to this test  618  is “No,” then the current image should continue to be displayed and execution returns to the display current image operation  614 . If the answer to test  618  is “Yes,” then the current image has been displayed long enough, the image number IN is incremented  620 , the counter is reset  622  and execution returns to test  612  to determine if the last image has been displayed. 
     Although the images disclosed above represent items, the images could also symbolically represent or otherwise relate to a product. For example, if one were advertising milk, the animation could include representations of a cow, or even a company logo. Furthermore, text or symbols could be used to represent the product being advertised. The invention could also be applied to the advertising of a service by showing a representation of actions relating to the service (e.g., a delivery service could show images of a delivery truck going from a starting point to an ending point). 
     The system could employ several different animations and could be caused to show a different animation during each successive wait period, so that the same animation is not shown twice in a row. This approach offers the advantage of reducing the likelihood that the user will become bored with the animations after several successive wait periods. 
     The figures referred to herein include examples of embodiments of the invention that contain depictions that may resemble trademarks or trade names. It is the intention of the inventor that such depictions represent only the idea of such an identifier being used in association with the embodiment, and that such depictions do not resemble any actual trademarks or trade names. Any resemblance of any of the depictions in the figures to any actual trademark or trade name is completely unintentional and merely coincidental. Therefore, none of the depictions in the figures should be interpreted as showing any affiliation with any actual source of goods or services. 
     The above described embodiments are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.