International Business Machines Corporation

James A Galambos

Robert Filepp

Kenneth H Appleman

Alexander W Bidwell

Allan M Wolf

Sam Meo

Mel Bellar

Duane E Tiemann

Francis C Young

Michael L Gordon

Michael J Silfen

Lawrence Abrahams

Aldo R Dalsass

Robert D Cohen

A method for presenting advertising in an interactive service provided on a computer network, the service featuring applications which include pre-created, interactive text/graphic sessions is described. The method features steps for presenting advertising concurrently with service applications at the user terminal configured as a reception system. In accordance with the method, the advertising is structured in a manner comparable to the service applications enabling the applications to be presented at a first portion of a display associated with the reception system and the advertising presented at a second portion. Further, steps are provided for storing and managing advertising at the user reception system so that advertising can be pre-fetched from the network and staged anticipation of being called for presentation. This minimizes the potential for communication line interference between application and advertising traffic and makes the advertising available reception system so as not to delay presentation of the service applications. Yet further the method features steps for individualizing the advertising supplied to enhance potential user interest by providing advertising based on a characterization of the user as defined by the users interaction with the service, demographics and geographical location. Yet additionally, advertising is provided with transactional facilities so that users can interact with it.

Method for presenting advertising in an interactive service

A method for locating application records in an interactive-service database is described. The method features steps for creating multiple search tables which represent subsets of the database to be interrogated; for example the applications of an interactive service. In accord with the method, steps are provided for arranging the tables with keyword, record locators, indexed to record identifiers. Additionally, the method includes steps for providing each table with a unique coding and steps for generating table codes at the user reception system in response to a query for a database record entered with a variety of search strategies; as for example, character string searching approximating the record sought, alphabetized record searching, subject matter category searching and personalized record searching, among others. Further, the method includes steps for comparing the table code generated with available table codes for the database to select a table suited for the query. Thereafter, the appropriate table is presented at the reception system so the table keywords can be reviewed and a desired record selected and presented.

Method for locating application records in an interactive-services database

A method for presenting applications in an interactive service featuring steps for generating screen displays of the service applications at the reception systems of the respective users. Steps are provided for generating the application displays as screens having a plurality of partitions, the partitions being constructed from reusable elements. In accord with the method, the screens include at least a first partition at which an application may be presented and a second, concurrently displayed partition including command functions for managing the display. The method further includes steps for providing command functions that facilitate random navigation to new applications with a variety of different procedures which the user can choose from. In (preferred) one form, the functions are presented as a command bar located at the bottom of the screen. Further, the method includes steps for opening and closing windows on the display to enable presentation of additional data relating to the presented applications. Still further, the method includes steps for providing additional partitions for concurrently displaying other applications, which may include advertising.

Method for presenting applications in an interactive service

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Westport, CT, United States of America

James A Galambos