Method of providing error-specific advertisement display

Abstract

Methods for providing an error-specific advertisement at a client computer are implemented in a computer system, and include providing an error-specific advertisement at a client computer. The methods also include determining that an error has occurred, identifying an advertisement for a product or a service relating to resolution of the error and/or generating an error message. The error message may include the advertisement and information regarding the error.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing an error-specific advertisement at a client computer, comprising:
 determining that an error has occurred;   identifying an advertisement for a product or a service relating to resolution of the error; and   generating an error message, the error message including the advertisement and information regarding the error.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying at least two advertisements for a product or a service relating to resolution of the error; and   generating a ranking for the at least two advertisements, wherein the advertisement having the highest ranking is the first listed advertisement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining a location of the client computer; and   assigning a higher ranking to the advertisement having a point of purchase location closest to the location of the client computer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement includes an option to purchase the product or service online. 
     
     
         5 . A method of providing an error-specific advertisement, comprising:
 identifying a characteristic of an error that has occurred;   identifying an advertisement for a product or a service relating to the identified characteristic; and   generating an error message, the error message including the advertisement and information regarding the error.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 identifying at least two advertisements for a product or a service relating to the identified characteristic; and   generating a ranking for the at least two advertisements, wherein the ranking depends on one or more of user feedback information, user profile information and location of the client computer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 listing the at least two advertisements in the error message, wherein the advertisement having the highest ranking is the first listed advertisement.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 accepting a user selection of the advertisement; and   connecting the client computer to an online chat service provider.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 displaying a dialogue box, the dialogue box including the error message.