Method and apparatus for providing audio advertisements in a computer network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing audio advertisements in a computer network enables Web sites to deliver audio advertisements that cannot be bypassed by a visitor. More particularly, an advertising or sponsoring Web site receives a request from at least one user for delivery of a user-selected Web page associated with the Web site. The Web site selects at least one audio advertisement from a plurality of audio advertisements for delivery to the user in conjunction with the user-selected Web page. The Web site then delivers the audio advertisement to the user via the network in a format that precludes the user from controlling the manner of playback of the audio advertisement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing advertising in a computer network, comprising: 
 receiving a request from at least one user for delivery of a user-selected Web page associated with a Web site;    selecting at least one audio advertisement from a plurality of audio advertisements for delivery to said at least one user in conjunction with said user-selected Web page; and    delivering said at least one audio advertisement to said at least one user via said network in a format that precludes said at least one user from controlling manner of playback of said audio advertisement.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering software code to said at least one user that enables said user to link to another Web site during delivery of said audio advertisement.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising enabling said at least one user to use any of a plurality of input devices to signal a desire to link to said other Web site.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cross-promoting participating Web sites within said computer network.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compensating an advertiser according to a total number of said audio advertisements delivered to said at least one user.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing credits to said advertiser for delivery of said audio advertisements.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising permitting exchange of said credits for delivery of other audio advertisements.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a database of tendency data corresponding to said at least one user.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising weighting said tendency data in accordance with predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising generating query strings according to said tendency data stored within said database.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising generating secondary query strings utilizing a query string database in conjunction with said tendency data.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting one of said plurality of audio advertisements for said at least one user in accordance with said tendency data.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivering step further comprises downloading said at least one audio advertisement onto a computer operated by said at least one user.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein downloading step further comprises downloading said at least one audio advertisement concurrently with downloading of other types of data onto said computer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said downloading step is completed regardless of whether said at least one user has left said user-selected Web page.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivering step further comprises determining if a sufficient amount of said at least one audio advertisement has been delivered as to begin playing of said at least one audio advertisement.  
     
     
         17 . A system for providing advertisements in a computer network, comprising: 
 a server connected to said computer network and having an audio advertisement application executing in association with said server to provide the functions of: 
 receiving a request from at least one user for delivery of a user-selected Web page associated with a Web site;  
 selecting at least one audio advertisement from a plurality of audio advertisements for delivery to said at least one user in conjunction with said user-selected Web page; and  
 delivering said at least one audio advertisement to said at least one user via said network in a format that precludes said at least one user from controlling manner of playback of said audio advertisement.  
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said application further comprises the function of delivering software code to said at least one user that enables said user to link to another Web site during delivery of said audio advertisement.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said application further comprises the function of enabling said at least one user to use any of a plurality of input devices to signal a desire to link to said other Web site.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said application further comprises the function of cross-promoting participating Web sites within said computer network.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said application further comprises the function of compensating an advertiser according to a total number of said audio advertisements delivered to said at least one user.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said application further comprises the function of providing credits to said advertiser for delivery of said audio advertisements.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said application further comprises the function of permitting exchange of said credits for delivery of other audio advertisements.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a database of tendency data corresponding to said at least one user.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said application further comprises the function of weighting said tendency data in accordance with predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said application further comprises the function of generating query strings according to said tendency data.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said application further comprises the function of generating secondary query strings utilizing a query string database in conjunction with said tendency data.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said selecting function further comprises selecting one of said plurality of audio advertisements for said at least one user in accordance with said tendency data.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said delivering function further comprises downloading said at least one audio advertisement onto a computer operated by said at least one user.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein downloading function further comprises downloading said at least one audio advertisement concurrently with downloading of other types of data onto said computer.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said downloading function is completed regardless of whether said at least one user has left said user-selected Web page.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said delivering function further comprises determining if a sufficient amount of said at least one audio advertisement has been delivered as to begin playing of said at least one audio advertisement.