patent on computer screen advertising

Here is the abstract and claim (there is only one) for the patent on integrating commercial advertisements with computer software displays. (See the patents column in the New York Times, April 8, 1994, p. D4.)

Brian Kahin
<kahin[_at_]hulaw1.harvard.edu>

U.S. Patent No. 5105184

"Methods for displaying and integrating commercial advertisements

       with computer software"

Abstract:

Commercial advertisements of small (30), medium (35) or full page
(39) size to be integrated with different screen types (19) which
will result in a change from screen before the advertisements
(10) to screen after the advertisements (18). Also, the sequence
of different size screens will be integrated. These advertisements may, maynot, or only partially integrated in the first screen (20) second screen (22), third screen (24), menu screen (26), or last screen (28). In addition, a commercial advertisement of an appropriate size (30) may be integrated with different screens at different locations on the screen. Furthermore, a directory advertisement accessable by menu (40) or other input devices to display various commercial advertisements.

Inventor(s): Pirani; Noorali

             San Diego  CA  
             Ekedal; David
             Carlsbad  CA  

US Class:   340-721     

Issue Date: 4/14/1992

App. Date: 11/9/1989

US References:

04674040 19870600 Barker et al.                    340 734      N
04763356 19880800 Day, Jr. et al.                  340 734      N
04782463 19881100 Sanders et al.                                N
04868552 19890900 Chang                            340 734      N
04907086 19900300 Truong                           340 734      N

Primary Examiner: Jeffery A. Brier

....

Claims:

Based on the information provided in the previous pages, we claim:

1. A small to a full screen commercial advertisement is to be integrated with different types of screens generated by a computer software; and such commercial advertisement is to be integrated by modifying and/or inserting in a data entry, user interface, menu, prompt, help, edit, report, maintenance, error, action, game, sign on and off, and/or other similar screens in such software, wherein said small to a full screen commercial advertisement is to be placed in the different parts of a computer software so that such commercial advertisement becomes an integral part of such software, and yet does not interfere with or alter the original function of such software, and is not necessary for the computer software to function.