Responding to end-user request for information in a computer network

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method to be performed in a client computer includes the acts of sending a request for information from a client computer to a first server computer accessible over a computer network, receiving in the client computer a first response to the request for information, and receiving in the client computer a second response to the request for information. The first server computer may include a search engine and the first response may be a search result from the search engine. The second response may be a search result presented by a message delivery program resident in the client computer. The second response may include a message content that relates to a keyword employed by the end-user in the request for information. Because the keyword represents the end-user's interest in a topic, the chance of the end-user being interested in the message content is increased.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A method of data communication between a client computer and a server computer, the method comprising: 
 sending a message unit from the server computer to the client computer, the message unit comprising a message content, a vehicle field indicating a presentation vehicle for displaying the message content, an expiration date indicating a time period the message unit is valid, a local field indicating whether a keyword for a search request is to be evaluated against a local include list only, and a search field indicating whether or not the message unit is related to a search request, wherein the message unit is responsive to a search request transmitted from the client computer to the server computer.