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 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cursor control computer program storable on a computer readable medium, the program comprising:
 program code configured for execution on a user computer that causes the user computer to perform the operations of:   receive cursor data from at least one remote computer, display a user movable cursor on a user display; and   in response to an event on the user computer, use the cursor data received from the remote computer to modify the user movable cursor on the user display from a first display configuration to a second display configuration, with the second display configuration providing information provided by the at least one remote computer for some duration before restoration of the first display configuration.   
     
     
         22 . The program of  claim 21  wherein the cursor data further comprises cursor display code. 
     
     
         23 . The program of  claim 21  wherein the cursor data further comprises cursor display instructions. 
     
     
         24 . The program of  claim 23  wherein the cursor display instructions further comprise an HTML page. 
     
     
         25 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the program code is further configured for execution on the user computer to cause the user computer to transmit cursor data to at least one remote computer. 
     
     
         26 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the cursor data files further comprise cursor image data and cursor display data, with at least a portion of both the cursor image data and the cursor display code being stored locally in the user computer. 
     
     
         27 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the program code is further configured for execution on the user computer to cause the user computer to transmit a request to at least one remote computer to transmit information stored on the remote computer to the user computer. 
     
     
         28 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the cursor data further comprise an advertisement for goods or services. 
     
     
         29 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the program code comprises browser application responsive to execute instructions using parameters contained at least in part in cursor data. 
     
     
         30 . A cursor control computer program storable on a computer readable medium, the program comprising:
 program code configured for execution on a user computer that cause the user computer to perform the operations of: receive cursor data from at least one remote computer; display a user movable cursor on a user display; and in response to a request to at least one remote computer initiated by the user computer, using cursor data received from the at least one computer to modify the user movable cursor on the user display from a first display configuration to a second display configuration, with the second display configuration providing information provided by at least one remote computer for some duration before restoration of the first display configuration.   
     
     
         31 . The program of  claim 30  wherein the cursor data further comprise cursor display code. 
     
     
         32 . The program of  claim 30  wherein the cursor data further comprise cursor display instructions. 
     
     
         33 . The program of  claim 22  wherein the cursor display instructions further comprise an HTML page. 
     
     
         34 . The program of  claim 30 , wherein the program code is further configured for execution on the user computer to cause the user computer to transmit cursor data to at least one remote computer. 
     
     
         35 . The program of  claim 30 , wherein the cursor data further comprise cursor image data and cursor display data, with at least a portion of both the cursor image data and the cursor display code are disposed locally in the user computer. 
     
     
         36 . The program of  claim 30 , wherein the program code is further configured for execution on the user computer to cause the user computer to transmit a request to at least one remote computer to transmit information stored on the remote computer to the user computer. 
     
     
         37 . The program of  claim 30 , wherein cursor data further comprise an advertisement for goods or services. 
     
     
         38 . The program of  claim 30 , wherein the program code comprises browser application responsive to execute instructions using parameters contained at least in part in cursor data.