WO2001097049A1

WO2001097049A1 - Split frame interstitial document display

Info

Publication number: WO2001097049A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/018876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Britton K. Bigelow; Wilford J. Mclean
Original assignee: Internet Media Placement Company Incorporated
Priority date: 2000-06-13
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2001-12-20
Also published as: AU2001275471A1

Abstract

A method for displaying an information document (242) on a screen of a computer coupled with a network while waiting for display of a primary document on the computer includes requesting the primary document (180). The computer screen is divided into a first and second primary frame. The second primary frame is divided into a first and secondary frame. The initial primary document is requested and downloaded into the second secondary frame. An information document is requested by the computer from a base server (212). The information document is dowmload and visually displayed on the screen in first primary frame. The information document is displayed during a time period in which at least a portion of the primary document is being downloaded into the second secondary frame. Upon exiting the information document, the primary document is drawn up from memory and displayed on the screen of the computer.

Description

SPLIT FRAME INTERSTITIAL DOCUMENT DISPLAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and systems for use in browsing on a network such as the Internet and, more specifically, methods and systems whereby an information document, such as an advertisement, is displayed on a computer screen during a time period in which a requested document, such as a web page, is being downloaded and formatted for display on the computer screen. 2. Present State of the Art

Networks are used to facilitate communication between computers. For example, a local area network (LAN) facilitates communication between computers within a relatively small defined area such as within a building. A wide area network (WAN) facilitates communication between any number of computers over a geographically widespread area. The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks which facilitates communication between computers on a global scale.

Operation of the Internet is, in part facilitated by browsers and servers. A browser is a software program that is loaded on the computer and enables the computer to access and display Internet documents, also referred to as web pages, and to access files and software related to those documents. Servers are administrative computers that form a part of the Internet. The servers receive and process commands from the user or client computers. For example, should an individual sitting at a client computer wish to access a web page, the user would access the browser and type in or otherwise select the address of the desired web page, such address begin referred to as a URL. The browser would then transmit the request over a wire or wireless connection to a corresponding server. In turn, the server would retrieve and download the requested web page to the client computer for display on the screen thereof. LANs and WANs operate in a similar manner. One of the shortcomings of operating on the Internet is the time delay between when a web page is requested and when it is fully downloaded and displayed on the computer screen. That is, based on the processing capability of the client computer and the size and format of the requested web page, a user may have to wait what is considered an annoying and unproductive time period as the web page is downloaded and formatted for display on the screen. Although processing capabilities of computers are increasing, web pages are simultaneously becoming more complex, thereby slowing their downloading and formatting.

It is also appreciated that many web sites obtain revenue by posting advertising, such as banners and other types of notices, on their web page. Such advertising, however, has limited effect. This is because once the web page is accessed the user is typically more interested in the substance of the web page than the banners or other notices associated therewith.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is the ability to effectively use the time period during which a document on a network is being requested and downloaded. With regard to the Internet, what is needed is the ability to display advertisements or other notices during the time period in which a web page is being requested, downloaded, and formatted for display.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides methods and systems whereby an information document, such as an advertisement, is displayed on a computer screen during the time period in which a requested document, such as a web page, is being downloaded and formatted for display on the computer screen.

For use of the inventive system and method on the Internet, a user browsing the Internet on a computer requests a web page such as by either typing in the URL or selecting a corresponding link. As the HTML of the requested web page begins to be downloaded to the computer, a script tag located within the HTML makes a determination of whether an information document has just been shown. If not, the script tag divides the screen of the computer into a first upper frame and a first lower frame. The second lower frame is configured to occupy approximately the bottom 10% of the area of the computer screen.

The first lower frame then requests an instruction document from a base server which in turn divides the first lower frame into a second upper frame and a second lower frame. The second lower frame is configured to occupy approximately the bottom 10% of the first lower frame. As such, the second lower frame occupies approximately the bottom 1% of the total screen area. The second upper frame displays a blank white page. The second lower frame again requests the original web page which in turn is downloaded into the second lower frame. Since the second lower frame occupies such a minimal area of the screen, however, the second web page is downloaded, formatted, and displayed within the second web page in a manner that makes the web page substantially invisible to the user. That is, the web page is displayed either off of the visible portion of the screen or it is seen as a thin black line. Concurrent with the downloading and display of the web page in the second lower frame, the first upper frame requests the information document from the base server. The information document is thus downloaded and displayed in the first upper frame during the time in which the web page is being downloaded in the second lower frame. The information document typically comprises a simple advertisement or other notice which can be quickly downloaded and displayed.

The information document also typically displays a plurality of selectable links such as an exit link, pause link, or more information link. Each of the selectable links is assigned a unique numerical value. The information document is set to run for a defined time period such as between five to fifteen seconds. If the information document is not already exited as a result of the exit link being selected, the information document and the divided frames are closed upon termination of the defined time period. Upon exiting the information document, the numerical values corresponding to each of the selectable links that were selected during the display of the information document are summed to obtain a sum value. The sum value is then downloaded back to the base server. The numerical values for the selectable links are chosen such that a determination can be made as to which of the selectable links were selected based solely upon the sum value.

Once the summed value is returned to the base server, the base server sends a redirect message back to the computer instructing the computer to again request the web page. The redirect message adds a suffix tag to the URL of the requested web page. As a result of the suffix tag, the script tag located within the HTML of the web page, as discussed above, confirms that the information document has already been displayed. As a result, the browser recalls the web page from memory where it is then fully displayed on the screen of the computer. Although the above system is described as being used in association with the

Internet, it can also be used in association with local area networks and wide area networks. Furthermore, the information document can be used to display any type of information. The inventive methods and systems enable the effective use of the time during which a web page is requested and downloaded. This time is valuable in that it is often dead time for the user and thus no other distractions are present. Accordingly, in one embodiment where the system displays an advertisement as the information document, the advertisement is more effective in that the user is not distracted by the information of the requested web page which has not yet been displayed.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a system that provides a suitable operating environment for the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the computer shown in Figure 1 being coupled by a network with a client server and a base server;

Figures 3A and 3B are flow charts showing the method of operation of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an elevated front view of a display screen of the computer shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an elevated front view of the display screen shown in Figure 4 having an information document displayed thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally relates to methods and systems whereby an information document, such as an advertisement, is displayed on a computer screen during the time period in which a requested document, such as a web page, is being downloaded and formatted for display on the computer screen. More specifically, in response to a browser requesting downloading of a specific web page from a client server, a remote base server facilitates automatic downloading and display of an information document on the screen of the requesting computer. Once the information document has been displayed for a defined time period, the information document is removed from the screen and the requested web page is displayed. Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD- ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired computer- executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, such a connection is also properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations. The term "computer" as used herein is broadly intended to include personal computers, hand-held devices such as personal information managers (PIM), multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The term "computer" also includes distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Depicted in Figure 1 is one example of a system for implementing the invention. The system includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer 120. Computer 120 includes a processing unit 121, a system memory 122, and a system bus 123 that couples various system components including the system memory 122 to the processing unit 121. The system bus 123 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory includes read only memory (ROM) 124 and random access memory (RAM) 125. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 126, containing the basic routines that help transfer, information between elements within the computer 120, such as during start-up, may be stored in ROM 124.

The computer 120 may also include a magnetic hard disk drive 127 for reading from and writing to a magnetic hard disk, not shown, a magnetic disk drive 128 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 129, and an optical disk drive 130 for reading from or writing to removable optical disk 131 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. The magnetic hard disk drive 127, magnetic disk drive 128, and optical disk drive 130 are connected to the system bus 123 by a hard disk drive interface 132, a magnetic disk drive-interface 133, and an optical drive interface 134, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 120. Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a magnetic hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 129 and a removable optical disk 131, other types of computer readable media for storing data can be used, including magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk 129, optical disk 131, ROM 124 or RAM 125, including an operating system 135, one or more application programs 136, other program modules 137, and program data 138. A user may enter commands and information into the computer 120 through keyboard 140, pointing device 142, or other input devices (not shown), such as a microphone, joy stick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 121 through a serial port interface 146 coupled to system bus 123. Alternatively, the input devices may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 147 or another display device is also connected to system bus 123 via an interface, such as video adapter 148. Monitor 147 has a screen 160. In addition to monitor 147, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.

The computer 120 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 149. Remote computer 149 may be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 120, although only a memory storage device 150 has been illustrated in Figure 1. The logical connections depicted in Figure 1 include a local area network (LAN) 151 and a wide area network (WAN) 152 that are presented here by way of example and not limitation. Such networking environments are commonplace in office-wide or enterprise-wide computer networks, Intranets and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 120 is connected to the local network 151 through a network interface or adapter 153. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 120 typically includes a modem 154 or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network 152, such as the Internet. The modem 154, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 123 via the serial port interface 146. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 120, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

Depicted in Figure 2, computer 120 is loaded with a browser 170, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER or NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR, and is selectively coupled in electrical communication with a network 172. Network 172 can comprise either LAN 151 or WAN 152. In the embodiment depicted, network 172 includes a client server 174 and a base server 176. Servers 174 and 176 can comprise conventional Internet servers or other types of computers as previously discussed herein. Browser 170 is configured to enable computer 120 to access and communicate with servers 174 and 176.

Depicted in Figures 3A and 3B is a flow chart outlining the general operating blocks of one embodiment of the inventive methods and systems. Initially, in block 180 a user located at computer 120 requests a primary document located on client server 174 by way of browser 170. For ease in illustration, the primary document will be referenced hereinafter as a "web page" which is written in hypertext markup language ("HTML"). In alternative embodiments, it is appreciated that the primary document can comprise information in any form such as sound, video, graphics, text, tables, data, and the like and combinations thereof and that the primary document can be written in any computer language. The web page can be requested in any conventional method such as by typing in the URL or simply activating a "link" from a currently displayed web page. The request for the web page is designated by arrow 182 in Figure 2. In response to the request, client server 174 begins to download the HTML of the requested web page into the memory of computer 120. The memory is typically active RAM 125 although any form or type of memory can be used. This initial downloading is designated by arrow 184 in Figure 2 and block 186 in Figure 3.

Written within the HTML of the requested web page is a script tag. The script tag is typically written within the first few lines of the HTML and more preferably between the head and body of the HTML of the requested web page. The script tag can be written in Javascript or any other language. Different browsers download and process HTML text in different ways. For example, some browsers download all of the HTML text first and then go back to the first line of the text and being processing the commands. Other browsers process the commands of the HTML text as it is being downloaded. In either case, because the script tag is placed within the first few lines of the HTML text of the requested web page, browser 170 processes the script tag before substantially any of the HTML text is formatted or files within the text, i.e., graphic files, are downloaded. Initially, in decision block 188 of Figure 3 A, the script tag looks to determine whether an information document from base server 178 has just been shown, i.e., processed, on computer 120. As discussed later in greater detail, this is accomplished by browser 170 reading the URL transmitted by client server 12 to determine whether the URL includes a predefined suffix tag or token. If the suffix tag is not found, the information document, discussed below, has not just been shown.

If the information document has not just been shown, the script tag in block 190 writes an HTML first frame set which includes two frame tags. As depicted in Figure 4, the two frame tags split screen 160 of monitor 147 into a first upper frame 192 and a first lower frame 194. For reasons discussed below in greater detail, first upper frame 192 is set to occupy the maximum area of of screen 160. For example, in one embodiment, first upper frame is set to occupy 90% of the available area of screen 160 of monitor 147. This 90% occupancy is a maximum parameter provided by conventional browsers.

First lower frame 194 is located vertically below first upper frame 192 and is set to occupy the remaining 10% of screen 160. In practice, the space occupied by first upper frame 192 can vary over a range. For example, first upper frame can be set to occupy the area of screen 160 in a range between about 80% to about 99%. Furthermore, screen proportions can also be reversed so that first lower frame 194 covers a larger area than first upper frame 192. In yet another embodiment, the frame tags can be configured to split the frame vertically. In this embodiment, the frame corresponding to one side of screen 160 would be larger than the frame of the opposing side of screen 160. In block 196 first lower frame 194 requests a first instruction document located at base server 176. In response, base server 176 in block 202 downloads the first instruction document which includes an HTML second frame set having two frame tags. The two frame tags of the first instruction document split first lower frame 194 into a second upper frame 198 and a second lower frame 200. Second upper frame 198 is set to occupy the maximum space of first lower frame 194. For example, second upper frame 198 can be set to occupy 90% of first lower frame 194. Second lower frame 200, located vertically below second upper frame 198, is set to occupy the remaining 10% of first lower frame 194. As a result, second lower frame 200 occupies only the bottom 1% of the total available area of screen 160. As discussed above with regard to the first frame split, frames 198 and 200 can be split in different percentages and positioned at different locations.

In block 204 second upper frame 198 requests a second instruction document from base server 176. In turn, the second instruction document in block 206 is downloaded instructing second upper frame 198 to display a blank white page. In block 208, second lower frame 200 adds the above discussed suffix tag to the end of the URL of the original web page, i.e. primary document, and requests the newly formed URL. For example, the URL of the web page may be "www.webpage.com/." The suffix tag may be any designation followed by a "?". For example, the suffix tag can be "?xsuffixx." As a result, the newly formed URL would be "www.webpage.com/7xsuffixxJ Characters followed by a "?" in a URL are not considered by the browser to be part of the address and thus the same original web page is requested. As a result of the added suffix tag, the requested web page in block 210 is now downloaded, processed so as to be displayed in second lower frame 200, and stored in memory. However, as a result of second lower frame 200 only occupying the bottom 1% of screen 160, the requested web page is virtually invisible as it is downloaded. That is, the requested web page will either be displayed below the viewable portion of screen 160 or will appear as an obscure thin black line at the very bottom of screen 160.

One of the unique features of the present invention is this ability to download the web page so that it is substantially invisible on screen 160. By adjusting the frame sets as discussed above, it is appreciated that second lower frame 200 can be within a range of sizes relative to screen 160 and still be substantially invisible. For example, second lower frame 200 typically occupies a percentage of screen 160 which is typically less than about 7%, preferable less than about 4%, and more preferably less than about 2%. It is also appreciated that the frame into which the web page is downloaded can be located at the top of screen 160 or on either side of screen 160. Likewise, since the web page is displayed as a thin black line, it is appreciated that the frame into which the web page is downloaded can be located at any desired location within screen 160. The position of the frame can be set by selectively choosing the sizes of the frame sets.

Furthermore, although the above examples illustrates the formation of second lower frame 200 by splitting screen 160 twice, it is appreciated that depending on the capabilities of the browser, the frame in which the web page is downloaded can be formed after a single frame split or after three or more frame splits. Typically, the more frame splits, the smaller the frame can be made into which the web page is downloaded. Concurrent with the downloading of the web page in block 210, first upper frame 160 in block 212 instructs browser 170 to request the URL for the above mentioned information document. The information document is located at base server 176 and corresponds to the requested web page. The request is depicted by arrow 214 in Figure 2.

In block 218, the information document is downloaded and displayed in first upper frame 160. This process is represented by arrow 216 in Figure 2. In one embodiment, the information document is displayed in the form of a web page. In alternative embodiment, the information document can come in any form and be displayed in any form. For example, the information document can include sound, video, graphics, text, tables, data, and the like and combinations thereof and can be written in any computer language. Content examples for the information document include advertisements, notices such as copyright or warring ^' notices, license agreement, contract agreement, surveys, and the like. The information document typically comprises a simple document that can be quickly downloaded and displayed.

In one embodiment, a single information document is located at the URL. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of discrete information documents, such as four or more, can be stored at the designated URL. The information documents can then be randomly or systematically selected for downloading and display on screen 160 of computer 120. That is, different information documents can be cycled through as different requests are made to base server 176.

Embedded within the HTML of the information document is timer program which operates to display the information document for a set time period. For example, the information document is typically set to display for a time period in a range between about 5 seconds to about 25 seconds with about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds being more preferred. During this display period, the requested web page is being downloaded and formatted within second lower frame 200. As depicted in Figure 5, in one embodiment the displayed portion 220 of the information document can have various selectable links 222 or instruction commands to facilitate interaction with the viewer. For example, selectable links 222 can include an exit link 224, a pause link 226 and a more information link 228. Also embedded within the HTML of the information document is a program that records the activity of selectable links 222. The program operates by assigning each selectable link 222 a numerical value. For example, selectable links 222 can be assigned the following values: Exit link = 1

Pause link = 3

More Info link= 5 As discussed below in greater detail, upon exiting the information document, the recording program sums together the numerical values for each of the selectable links 222 that were selected to obtain a sum value.

In decision block 230 of Figure 3B, browser 170 process the selection of selectable links 222. For example, if more information link 228 is selected, in block 232 the timer program is paused and browser 170 links to and downloads a new web page providing further information relating to the displayed content of the information document. For example, if the information document is an advertisement, browser 170 links to a new web page further discussing the advertised product or service. The new web page may or may not be located at base server 176. By returning from the new web page to displayed portion 220 of the information document, exit link 224 can be selected to remove the displayed information object.

In block 234 by selecting pause link 226 the timer program is paused and the user can then select either exit link 224 or more information link 228 at leisure. In block 236 by selecting exit link 224 or by doing nothing so that the timer program expires, the frame sets are broken resulting in removal of the information document from screen 160. Concurrently, the recording program adds up the numerical values corresponding to the selectable links that were selected to obtain a sum value as mentioned above. For example, if more information link 228 was selected followed by exit link 224, the recording program obtains and records a sum value of 6. The numerical values for the selectable links 222 are chosen such that a determination can be made as to which of the selectable links 222 were selected based solely upon the sum value. For example, the only combination for a sum value of 6 is the selection of links 228 and 224. The sum value can thus be used to assess the effectiveness and interaction with display portion 220 of the information document. In block 238 the recorded sum value is sent to and stored at base server 176.

Base server 176 then sends in block 240 a standard HTTP redirect message back to browser 170 instructing browser 170 to again request the original web page from client server 12. The URL provided in the redirect message includes the suffix tag as previously discussed. As a result of the redirect message, blocks 180 and 186 of Figure 3 A as previously discussed are repeated.

As decision block 188 is repeated, the script tag now determines that as a result of the presence of the suffix tag, the information document has just been shown. Accordingly, the first frame set is not created. Rather, browser 170 under its normal operating procedure searches the active memory to determine whether the entire web page is already in memory. Since the web page is already in memory based on prior block 210, in block 242 browser 170 simply calls up and displays the previously downloaded and formatted web page. As such, it is not necessary for browser 170 to completely download and reformat the client web page a second time.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. For example, although the above embodiment is discussed with reference to computer 120 operating between client server 174 and base server 176, in alternative embodiments all of the required documents can be located at a single server or can be located at three or more servers. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A method for displaying an information document on the screen of a computer coupled with a network as a primary document is being downloaded to the computer, the method comprising:

(a) requesting the primary document over the network by way of the computer;

(b) dividing the screen of the computer into a first frame and a second frame;

(c) downloading the primary document into the second frame; and

(d) requesting the information document over the network by way of the computer, the information document being downloaded and visually displayed on the screen in the first frame during a time period in which at least a portion of the primary document is being downloaded into the second frame.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the act of requesting the primary document includes the primary document being located at a client server; and

(b) the act of requesting the information document includes the information document being located at a base server which is separate from the client server.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein: (a) the act of requesting the primary document includes the primary document being located at a client server; and

(b) the act of requesting the information document includes the information document also being located at the client server.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of requesting the primary document includes the primary document being a web page located on a global computer network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of downloading the primary document includes the primary document being downloaded into the second frame such that the primary document is substantially invisible on the screen.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of downloading the primary document includes the primary document being downloaded into the second frame such that the primary document occupies an area of about 4% or less than the visible area of the screen.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of requesting the information document includes the information document being an advertisement.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the act of displaying the information document for a time period of less than about 15 seconds.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

(a) forming the screen back into a single frame upon completion of the display of the information document; and

(b) displaying the primary document on the screen of the computer.

10. A method for displaying an information document on the screen of a computer coupled with a network while waiting for display of a primary document on the computer, the method comprising:

(a) requesting the primary document by way of the computer, the primary document being located at a client server; (b) in response to at least partial downloading of the primary document onto the computer dividing the screen of the computer into a first primary frame and a second primary frame, the second primary frame being smaller than the first primary frame;

(c) dividing the second primary frame into a first secondary frame and a second secondary frame, the second secondary frame being smaller than the first secondary frame;

(d) downloading the primary document into the second secondary frame; and

(e) requesting an information document by way of the computer, the information document being located at a base server, the information document being downloaded and visually displayed on the screen in the first primary frame.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of dividing the screen of the computer into a first primary frame and a second primary frame includes the first primary frame being vertically disposed above the second primary frame.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of dividing the second primary frame into a first secondary frame and a second secondary frame includes the first secondary frame being vertically disposed above the second primary frame.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of downloading the primary document includes the primary document being downloaded into the second secondary frame such that the primary document occupies an area of about 4% or less than the visible area of the screen.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the act of requesting the information document includes the information document being an advertisement.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the information document is displayed during a time period in which at least a portion of the primary document is being downloaded into the second secondary frame.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the act of displaying the information document for a time period of less than about 15 seconds.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the acts of:

(a) forming the screen back into a single frame upon termination of the time period during which the information document is displayed; and (b) displaying the primary document on the screen of the computer.

18. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

(a) wherein the information document has a plurality of selectable links, each selectable link being assigned a unique numerical value;

(b) in response to exiting the information document, adding together the numerical value for each selectable link selected during the display of the information document to obtain a sum value; and

(c) downloading the sum value to the base server.

19. A method for tracking the selection of selectable graphics on a displayed information document comprising: (a) requesting over a network an information document by way of a computer having a screen, the information document being located at a server;

(b) displaying the information document on the screen of the computer, the information document having a plurality of selectable links, each selectable link being assigned a unique numerical value;

(c) in response to exiting the information document, adding together the numerical value for each selectable link selected during the display of the information document to obtain a sum value; and (d) downloading the sum value to the server.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the act of displaying the information document on the screen includes the information object being an advertisement.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the unique numerical values are selected such that it can be determined which of the selectable links were selected based solely on the sum value.

22. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the acts comprising:

(a) requesting over a network an information document by way of a computer having a screen, the information document being located at a server;

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the unique numerical values are selected such that it can be determined which of the selectable links were selected based solely on the sum value.