Patent US6216112B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6216112B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for software distribution and compensation with replenishable advertisements
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1998-05-27
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Granted: 2001-04-10
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Expires: 2018-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for offering and distributing software wherein advertisements are incorporated into the software product, wherein author compensation is based on advertisement generated revenues. In accordance with the features of this invention, the advertisements are loaded into the Random Access Memory of the computer whenever the software is invoked and are displayed before the software can be used. Moreover, advertisements are periodically refreshed by automatically accessing computer servers on the Internet and downloading and installing the advertisements on the computer's hard disk and usage records which can be used for author compensation are uploaded to the server. Computer users are given the option of disabling the advertisements by paying for the software.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Fuller
- 👤 Joel A. Pugh
- 👤 Douglas E. Neel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0217; G06Q30/0283; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for distributing computer software data wherein compensation for the authors and owners of said software data is based upon the viewing an advertisement, the method comprising: coupling said advertisement to said software data, said coupling requiring the user to view the advertisement before using said software data; installing said software data and said advertisement to a computer's memory; recording usage data into a file list for subsequent transmission to a computer server; periodically accessing said computer server via a network and downloading a new advertisement from said server; periodically posting said usage data to said server for storage for purposes of compensation; displaying the advertisement on said computer's monitor before the software data can be accessed by the computer user, said software data being unable to run on said computer unless advertisements are first displayed on said computer's monitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for distributing computer software data wherein compensation for the authors and owners of said software data is based upon the viewing an advertisement, the method comprising: coupling said advertisement to said software data, said coupling requiring the user to view the advertisement before using said software data; installing said software data and said advertisement to a computer's memory; recording usage data into a file list for subsequent transmission to a computer server; periodically accessing said computer server via a network and downloading a new advertisement from said server; periodically posting said usage data to said server for storage for purposes of compensation; displaying the advertisement on said computer's monitor before the software data can be accessed by the computer user, said software data being unable to run on said computer unless advertisements are first displayed on said computer's monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 comprising installing said software data and said advertisement onto said computer's hard disk memory from a portable data storage medium such as a floppy disk or a compact disk ROM (CD ROM).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling said advertisement to said software data as said software data is being downloaded by said computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said computer server comprises means for selecting said advertisement to couple to said software data based on data available to said computer server.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said advertisement includes software routines for enabling said advertisement to be displayed and additional software and data for the advertisement's content.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 comprising disabling said advertisements if said computer user transmits billing payment data to said computer server in order to purchase said software program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said software data includes a computer application program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said software data and said advertisement are stored on said computer's hard drive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said advertisements are interactive advertisements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 comprising transmitting said user responses to said interactive advertisements to said computer server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 comprising storing said user responses to said interactive advertisements until such time as the user chooses to access the Internet and then transmitting said user responses to said computer server.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for distributing computer software data coupled to at least one advertisement, the apparatus comprising: a first storage means for storing said software data for distribution to consumers; telecommunications means to download said software data and said at least one advertisement to a computer; a first module for requiring the computer to play the at least one advertisement before at least a portion of the software data can be accessed: and a second module for posting information identifying the accessed portion of software data for purposes of compensation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for distributing computer software data coupled to at least one advertisement, the apparatus comprising: a first storage means for storing said software data for distribution to consumers; telecommunications means to download said software data and said at least one advertisement to a computer; a first module for requiring the computer to play the at least one advertisement before at least a portion of the software data can be accessed: and a second module for posting information identifying the accessed portion of software data for purposes of compensation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a plug-in unit and an Internet browser program, said plug-in unit residing within said browser program, wherein said plug-in unit for regulating a periodic downloading of new advertisements from said first storage means and transmitting the usage data to said first storage means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for distributing computer software data by using advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesale sales, the method comprising: coupling said advertisements to said software data; installing said software data and said advertisements to a computer's memory; coupling requiring a user to view the advertising before the user is able to utilize the software data; recording usage data to a file list for subsequent transmission to an Internet server; and posting the usage data to the Internet server for the purposes of compensation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for distributing computer software data by using advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesale sales, the method comprising: coupling said advertisements to said software data; installing said software data and said advertisements to a computer's memory; coupling requiring a user to view the advertising before the user is able to utilize the software data; recording usage data to a file list for subsequent transmission to an Internet server; and posting the usage data to the Internet server for the purposes of compensation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for distributing computer software data by using advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesales sales, the method comprising: coupling said advertisements to said software data said coupling requiring the advertising to be played before the software data can be used; installing said software and said advertisements to a computer's storage; recording usage data to a file list for transmitting to an Internet server; and posting the usage data to the Internet server for the purposes of compensation.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for distributing computer software data by using advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesales sales, the method comprising: coupling said advertisements to said software data said coupling requiring the advertising to be played before the software data can be used; installing said software and said advertisements to a computer's storage; recording usage data to a file list for transmitting to an Internet server; and posting the usage data to the Internet server for the purposes of compensation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for distributing computer software programs and data wherein compensation for the authors and owners of said software and data is based upon the viewing of advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesale sales, the method comprising: Coupling said one or more advertisements to said software program; Installing said software program comprising said advertisements to a computer's hard disk; Loading said software program and said advertisements onto said computer's Random Access Memory (RAM) when the software program is invoked by a computer user; Recording usage data into a file list for subsequent transmission to a computer server; Loading a plug-in module into said RAM, said plug-in module regulating the downloading of said advertisements and transmitting of said usage data; Periodically accessing said computer server via the Internet and downloading said new advertisements from said server and installing said advertisements onto said hard disk of said computer; Periodically transmitting said usage data to said server for storage; Displaying the advertisement on said computer's monitor before software is activated for use by the computer user, said software for said program unable to run on said computer unless advertisements first displayed on said computer's monitor; Accessing said software program and said advertisements by said computer via the Internet; and Posting said software by uploading said software onto said server and registering the said posting of said software so advertisers will know the identity of the author for purposes of compensation.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for distributing computer software programs and data wherein compensation for the authors and owners of said software and data is based upon the viewing of advertisements as an alternative to standard retail and wholesale sales, the method comprising: Coupling said one or more advertisements to said software program; Installing said software program comprising said advertisements to a computer's hard disk; Loading said software program and said advertisements onto said computer's Random Access Memory (RAM) when the software program is invoked by a computer user; Recording usage data into a file list for subsequent transmission to a computer server; Loading a plug-in module into said RAM, said plug-in module regulating the downloading of said advertisements and transmitting of said usage data; Periodically accessing said computer server via the Internet and downloading said new advertisements from said server and installing said advertisements onto said hard disk of said computer; Periodically transmitting said usage data to said server for storage; Displaying the advertisement on said computer's monitor before software is activated for use by the computer user, said software for said program unable to run on said computer unless advertisements first displayed on said computer's monitor; Accessing said software program and said advertisements by said computer via the Internet; and Posting said software by uploading said software onto said server and registering the said posting of said software so advertisers will know the identity of the author for purposes of compensation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-04-09 | 2004-10-09 | 2005-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-09 | 2008-10-09 | 2009-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-09 | 2012-10-09 | 2013-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |