System for replacing a cursor image in connection with displaying advertising content

Abstract

A system for displaying advertising content includes a client computer having a display device, a processor, a network interface, and a graphical user interface including a cursor. The client computer is arranged to receive advertising content data from a remote computer via the network interface. The advertising content data includes cursor display data for displaying a promotional image. The processor is coupled to the display device and modifies the cursor in accordance with the promotional image in response to a predetermined event. The promotional image may include elements such as animation, a satellite image, a sprite image, promotional text, and a combination thereof.

1 . A system for displaying advertising content, comprising:
 a client computer including a display device, a processor, and a network interface, the client computer having a graphical user interface including a cursor,   the client computer arranged to receive advertising content data from a remote computer via the network interface, the advertising content data including cursor display data for at least one promotional image;   wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the display device and modifies the cursor in accordance with the at least one promotional image in response to a predetermined event.   
     
     
         2 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event is detection of a cursor location corresponding to a specified location on the display device. 
     
     
         3 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event corresponds to a calendared event. 
     
     
         4 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event corresponds to displaying content from a specified website on at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         5 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event includes a specified cursor trajectory path. 
     
     
         6 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event includes a velocity of cursor movement. 
     
     
         7 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the client computer further comprises a pointing device to alter the cursor location having at least one user button, and wherein the predetermined event includes activation of the at least one user button. 
     
     
         8 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event includes a dormant delay duration of the cursor. 
     
     
         9 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor display data further includes a satellite image associated with the promotional image. 
     
     
         10 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 8 , wherein the satellite image is displayed at a specified offset from the promotional image. 
     
     
         11 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor display data includes a sprite image, and wherein movement of the sprite image is related to movement of the cursor. 
     
     
         11 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor display data includes animation. 
     
     
         12 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 1 , wherein the advertising content further comprises audio content. 
     
     
         13 . A system for displaying advertising content, comprising:
 a client computer including a display device, a processor, and a network interface, the client computer having a graphical user interface including a cursor,   the client computer arranged to receive advertising content data from a remote computer via the network interface, the advertising content data including cursor display data for at least one promotional image;   wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the display device and modifies the cursor in accordance with the at least one promotional image; and   the processor storing usage data for the at least one promotional image.   
     
     
         14 . The system for displaying advertising content of  claim 13 , further comprising the processor being configured to transmit the usage data to a remote computer via the network interface device. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the usage data includes exposure time for the at least one promotional image. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the usage data further comprises data related to the context in which the at least one promotional image is displayed. 
     
     
         17 . An advertising system comprising:
 a content server computer, the content server computer being operably coupled to a computer network and transmitting advertising content to at least one remote computer using the computer network, the advertising content including at least one cursor display instruction operable on a remote computer to alter the appearance of a cursor to a promotional image; and   a usage data computer, the usage data computer being operably coupled to the computer network, the usage data computer receiving data regarding cursor information on the at least one remote computer.   
     
     
         18 . The advertising system of  claim 17 , wherein the usage data includes exposure time for a promotional image displayed on the at least one remote computer. 
     
     
         19 . The advertising system of  claim 17 , wherein the usage data further comprises data related to the context in which the promotional image is displayed. 
     
     
         20 . The advertising system of  claim 17 , wherein the promotional image includes at least one of an animation, a satellite image, a sprite image, and promotional text.