Novaweb Technologies, Inc.

Leo Chien Chang

Baldev Krishan

Ronald G Lambert

Apparatus and methods are provided for subsidizing Internet access through advertising using a &ldquo;portal provider&rdquo; that supplies a &ldquo;mini-portal&rdquo; to the users of selected Internet service providers (ISPs). The mini-portal includes communications hardware, for connecting to the Internet, and display software, for displaying advertisements or other messages from local non-volatile storage during idle time, such as when the user's computer is connecting to the Internet. Advertisers are sold access to display their advertisements through the display software, and the revenue thus generated may be used to subsidize providing the mini-portal and Internet access fees. A validation mechanism is provided wherein a validation server operated by the portal provider sends data to the mini-portal that helps keep the advertisements current, and gives the portal provider an ongoing role in providing advertisements to mini-portal users.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Leo Chien Chang