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 system, comprising:
 a user computer supporting first program code operable 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 to control presentation of the specified content information;   second program code operable by the user computer to recognize the cursor display instruction in connection with processing the information to be displayed; and   third program code operable on the user computer to execute cursor display code in response to the cursor display instruction, the third program code acting to display specific cursor related images and at least a portion of the specified content information.   
     
     
         22 . The cursor control computer of system  claim 21 , 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 system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one remote server is a prespecified server, and further comprising program code operable to retrieve cursor display code from a prespecified server. 
     
     
         24 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one remote server is an authorized server, and further comprising program code operable to determine whether cursor display instructions were transmitted by the authorized server. 
     
     
         25 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising program code operable to transmit 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 system of  claim 21 , wherein the third program code is further operable on the user computer to revert specific cursor related images back to original appearances after a prespecified duration. 
     
     
         27 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the third program code is operable to display specific cursor related images received and stored in permanent memory in response to a request initiated during execution of the first program code. 
     
     
         28 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the third program code is operable to display 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 system of  claim 21 , wherein the third program code is operable to immediately display specific cursor related images received in response to a request initiated during execution of the first program code. 
     
     
         30 . A cursor control computer system comprising:
 a user computer supporting first program code operable 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 of the user computer for display during an occasion of user interaction with the user computer, and at least one cursor display instruction to control presentation of the specified content information;   second program code operable on the user computer to recognize the cursor display instruction in connection with processing the information to be displayed; and   third program code operable to execute cursor display code in response to the cursor display instruction, the third program code operable during the 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 system of  claim 30 , wherein the first program code is operable on the user computer to request and receive specified content information and specific cursor related images from a prespecified remote server. 
     
     
         32 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , further comprising program code operable on the user computer to retrieve cursor display code from a prespecified remote server. 
     
     
         33 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , further comprising program code operable on the user computer to determine whether cursor display instructions were transmitted by a remote server that is an authorized server. 
     
     
         34 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , further comprising program code operable on the user computer to transmit statistical information to at least one remote server to provide information relating to the usage of specific cursor related images. 
     
     
         35 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the third program code is further operable to revert specific cursor related images back to original appearances after a prespecified duration. 
     
     
         36 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , wherein program code is further operable to provide audio information corresponding to display of specific cursor related images. 
     
     
         37 . The cursor control computer system of  claim 30 , wherein program code is further operable on the user computer to provide animated images corresponding to display of specific cursor related images.