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 method comprising the steps:
 executing first program code on a user computer to request and receive specified content information and specific cursor related images from at least one remote server, the specified content information comprising information to be displayed and at least one cursor display instruction, with cursor display instruction controlling presentation of the specified content information;   executing second program code on the user computer to recognize the cursor display instruction in connection with processing the information to be displayed; and   executing third program code on the user computer to execute cursor display code in response to the cursor display instruction, the third program code displaying specific cursor related images and at least a portion of the specified content information.   
     
     
         22 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , wherein the at least one remote server is a prespecified server, and the first program code requests and receives specified content information and specific cursor related images from the prespecified server. 
     
     
         23 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , wherein the at least one remote server is a prespecified server, and further comprising program code retrieving cursor display code from a prespecified server. 
     
     
         24 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , further comprising, by execution of program code, determining whether cursor display instructions were transmitted by a remote server that is an authorized server. 
     
     
         25 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , further comprising, by execution of program code, transmitting statistical information to at least one remote server to provide information relating to the usage of specific cursor related images. 
     
     
         26 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , further including specific cursor related images reverting back to original appearances after a prespecified duration. 
     
     
         27 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , further including:
 receiving and storing cursor related images in permanent memory; and   displaying the stored cursor related images in response to a request initiated during execution of the first program code.   
     
     
         28 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , further including displaying specific cursor related images received and cached in local memory in response to a request initiated during execution of the first program code. 
     
     
         29 . The cursor control computer method of claim  1 , wherein, by execution of the third program code, immediately displaying specific cursor related images received in response to a request initiated during execution of the first program code. 
     
     
         30 . A cursor control computer method comprising the steps:
 executing first program code on a user computer to request and receive specified content information and specific cursor related images from at least one remote server, the specified content information comprising information cached in local memory for display during an occasion of user interaction, and at least one cursor display instruction to control presentation of the specified content information;   executing second program code operable on the user computer to recognize the cursor display instruction in connection with processing the information to be displayed; and   executing third program code operable to execute cursor display code in response to the cursor display instruction, the third program code acting during this occasion of user interaction to display specific cursor related images and at least a portion of the specified content information.   
     
     
         31 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , wherein executing the first program code includes requesting and receiving specified content information and specific cursor related images from a prespecified remote server. 
     
     
         32 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , further including retrieving the cursor display code from a prespecified remote server by execution of program code on the user computer. 
     
     
         33 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , further including determining whether cursor display instructions were transmitted by an authorized remote server by execution of program code on the user computer. 
     
     
         34 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , transmitting statistical information to at least one remote server to provide information relating to the usage of specific cursor related images by execution of program code on the user computer. 
     
     
         35 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , further including specific cursor related images reverting back to original appearances after a prespecified duration. 
     
     
         36 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , further including providing audio information corresponding to a display of specific cursor related images by execution of program code on the user computer. 
     
     
         37 . The cursor control computer method of claim  10 , further including providing animated images corresponding to the display of specific cursor related images by execution of program code on the user computer.