(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0122864A1
`Jenne et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jul. 3, 2003
`
`US 2003O122864A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`DISPLAYING COMMERCIAL MESSAGES
`DURING A USER WAITING TIME
`(76) Inventors: John Erven Jenne, Houston, TX (US);
`Sompong Paul Olarig, Pleasanton, CA
`(US)
`Correspondence Address:
`AllES' HAUER & FELD
`SUTE 1900 SOUTH
`HOUSTON, TX 77002 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`(22) Filed:
`
`10/038,674
`Dec. 31, 2001
`e a--9
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. .................................................... G09G 5/00
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 345/738
`
`57
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A computer System is adapted to display commercial mes
`Sages during a user waiting time. Display of the commercial
`messages is controlled by Basic Input/Output System
`(BIOS) code during boot-up time and is controlled by a
`commercial messaging application once the computer Sys
`tem may be under control of the operating System. A
`non-volatile memory containing the commercial messages
`may be updated Securely through the Internet. Examples of
`user waiting times include Software installation time, Screen
`Saver time, download time for a large Set of files, Virus
`Scanning time, entry time for a lower power mode and
`wake-up time from the low power mode.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`POWERUP&
`CPUEECUTESBIOS
`
`BOSDISPLAYS
`ADVERSEMENT
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`BOSEEUTION
`CONTINUES
`WAITSOMEFIXEDTIME
`
`BOS
`COMPLETED
`
`Y
`OSOADS
`
`
`
`
`
`3O
`
`35
`
`OSBOOTADVERTISERENT
`GRAPHICDISPLAYED
`
`OSBOOTCOMPETED
`
`AUTO-OADCOMMERCIAL
`MESSAGEAPPLICATION
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`NERNET
`CONNECTION
`
`Y
`
`TRACKSER
`INTERNE
`NFORMATION
`
`
`
`65
`
`REQUESTUSER
`ADVERTISEMENT
`PREFERENCES
`
`RECEIVE USER
`ADWERTISEMENT
`PREFERENCES
`
`75
`
`CHECK FORUPDATES
`ADDOWNLOAD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Y 10
`
`ADWERTISEMENT
`psy EVENT
`
`DISABLE
`ADERISEMENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SELECOSAVE
`SERIEE
`
`SELECT TODEEE
`SERIEE
`
`
`
`DELEEAVERSEMEN
`
`EX-1005
`US Patent 10,789,393
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 3, 2003. Sheet 1 of 2
`
`US 2003/0122864 A1
`- 10
`
`
`
`
`
`POWER UP&
`CPUEXECUTES BIOS
`
`BIOSDISPLAYS
`ADVERSEMENT
`
`15
`
`
`
`2 O
`
`25
`
`BIOS EXECUTION
`CONTINUES
`WAITSOME FIXEDTIME
`
`BIOS
`COMPLETED
`
`Y
`OSOADS
`
`3O
`
`35
`
`40
`
`OSBOOT ADVERTISEMENT
`GRAPHC DISPLAYED
`
`OS BOOT COMPLETED
`
`AUTO-LOAD COMMERCIAL
`MESSAGEAPPLICATION
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`N
`INTERNET
`NEg)
`
`TRACKUSER
`INTERNE
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`65
`
`REQUESTUSER
`ADVERTISEMENT
`PREFERENCES
`
`RECEIVE USER
`ADVERTISEMENT
`PREFERENCES
`
`CHECK FORUPDATES
`AND DOWNLOAD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`N
`
`
`
`
`
`ADVERTISEMENT
`psy EVENT
`Y
`
`REMy USER
`
`85
`
`90
`SELECTODSABLE
`syRISEE
`
`100
`
`DISABLE
`ADVERTISEMENT
`
`
`
`SELECTOENABLE
`by RISEE,
`Y
`ENABLE ADVERTISEMENT
`
`DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENT
`
`97
`
`1
`
`110
`N
`
`
`
`SELECT TO SAVE
`SEREME
`
`SAVE ADVERTISEMENT
`
`120
`
`SELECT TO DELETE
`ityERSEME
`
`DELETE ADVERTISEMENT
`
`F.G. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 3, 2003 Sheet 2 of 2
`
`OOOOh
`
`2O2
`TIME WEIGHT
`
`204
`FREOUENCY WEIGHT
`
`ADWERTISEMENT
`208
`210
`TIME WEIGHT
`FREnUENyweight
`
`1000
`
`ADWERTISEMENT
`214
`216
`TIME WEIGHT
`IFREnUEncy weight
`
`US 2003/0122864 A1
`y
`
`2OO
`
`2O6
`
`212
`
`ADWERTISEMENT
`
`218
`
`FIG. 2
`
`500-N
`
`505
`
`MICROPROCESSOR
`
`^
`
`WEBSITE
`
`525
`
`f
`f
`I
`I
`|
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HARD DRIVE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FCOMMERCIAL-535
`1 MESSAGE BIOS
`CODE
`FCOMMERCIAL-540
`|
`MESSAGE
`APPLICATION
`------------
`
`INTERNET
`BROWSER
`COMMERCIAL 1660
`MESSAGES
`
`- - - - - - - -
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US 2003/O122864 A1
`
`Jul. 3, 2003
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING
`COMMERCIAL MESSAGES DURING A USER
`WAITING TIME
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0001. Not Applicable.
`
`STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`0002) Not Applicable.
`
`REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHEAPPENDIX
`0003) Not Applicable.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0004) 1. Field of the Invention
`0005 The present invention generally relates to computer
`displays of commercial messages and more particularly to
`displaying commercial messages during a user waiting time
`when using the computer.
`0006 2. Description of the Related Art
`0007) A personal computer (PC)-based system software
`generally has two main components: The Basic Input/Output
`System (BIOS) and the operating system (OS). The BIOS is
`actually a Series of complex programs that are Stored in the
`ROM (Read Only Memory) that come with the computer.
`When a computer is powered-on or re-booted, the processor
`reads from a fixed memory address. This fixed memory
`address typically points to a flash memory device that Stores
`BIOS. The BIOS provides three important functions:
`0008 1. The BIOS contains the Power On Self Test
`(POST), which executes automatically every time
`the computer is turned on. The POST checks out
`various hardware components of the computer,
`including the memory, in order to find any computer
`hardware and peripheral problems before using the
`PC.
`0009 2. The BIOS contains special programs called
`device drivers that provide a set of Standard inter
`faces to the various hardware devices. A device
`driver operates at the level of the hardware. Gener
`ally speaking, device driverS Save the programmers
`time from having to understand the characteristics of
`the various hardware devices.
`0010) 3. The BIOS also provides a collection of
`useful Services Such as interrupts. However, with
`only a few exceptions, most of the Services are used
`by the operating System.
`Historically, for servers with relatively large num
`0.011
`ber of devices (I/O and memory), the POST time takes
`several minutes to complete. The POST time is expected to
`become worse for the coming generations of PCS and
`Servers. For example, the Itanium processor-based Systems
`are expected to use boot-up time that is much longer than the
`Pentium-based machines. This is primarily due to the fact
`that the Itanium processors contain considerably more tran
`Sistors and perform many more Self tests on Systems because
`of many enhanced capabilities introduced in the new pro
`
`ceSSors. Other examples of factors that contribute to increase
`in the boot-up time include: number of drives to be mapped,
`number of independent BATCH files to be executed, and the
`number and type of drivers for the attached peripherals
`0012. During a computer boot-up time or a wake-up time
`from a low-power mode, the computer user is forced to Sit
`and wait. Other common user waiting periods include, for
`example, a virus Scan period. Currently, during the user
`waiting time, a computer manufacturer typically displays its
`manufacturer logo and/or results from System tests. Such
`information provides little value to the user or the manu
`facturer.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0013 Commercial messages are displayed on a computer
`display during the user waiting time, like booting, waking up
`from Sleep mode or, Similar events. In the illustrated tech
`nique, the commercial messages Stored in a non-volatile
`memory location are Selected and displayed during the user
`waiting time. Each message may be assigned a time weight
`and a frequency weight. A processor is associated with a
`computer display, a non-volatile memory having commer
`cial messages, a commercial message application, an adver
`tisement BIOS code, and an Internet web browser. The
`commercial messages in the non-volatile memory may be
`Securely updated through the Internet using a password.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`0014) Abetter understanding of the present invention can
`be obtained when the following detailed description of some
`embodiments is considered in conjunction with the follow
`ing drawings in which:
`0015 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an exemplary technique of
`displaying a commercial message on a computer display.
`0016 FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary system of
`assigning duration and frequency of displaying commercial
`messages on a computer display using the technique of FIG.
`1.
`0017 FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a computer
`System for displaying a commercial message on a video
`display for implementing the exemplary technique of FIG.
`1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0018 Internet sites generate revenue by placing adver
`tisements on their websites. Revenue is generated from fees
`for placing the advertisements and from referral. Advertise
`ments have traditionally been displayed through webservers
`when a user is on the Internet. A user may find Such
`advertisements of no value or may be directed to other
`advertisements through links, which may or may not lead the
`user to any valuable information. In the process of browsing
`around the user may lose track of the original Site to which
`he may never return. In other Scenarios, pop-up banners
`appear that distract the user and are necessarily of an
`intrusive nature. However, if advertisements were based on
`user's interest determined by the user inputs Stored in a user
`profile, the likelihood of viewing those advertisements is
`greatly enhanced. Moreover, the commercial message dis
`
`

`

`US 2003/O122864 A1
`
`Jul. 3, 2003
`
`play during a user waiting period only is non-intrusive and,
`thus, the illustrated technique effectively uses a captive
`audience for revenue enhancement for computer manufac
`turers through commercial messages and entertainment.
`0.019
`Advertising could generate additional revenue for
`the computer manufacturer. Instead of displaying the con
`ventional Status results during the user's idle or waiting
`period, advertisements for online Shopping, Internet Service
`Providers (ISPs), magazines, automobiles, computer Ser
`vices, computer hardware or Software updates etc. could be
`displayed. The following discussion relates, in general, to
`commercial messages in a broad Sense, however, when
`appropriate, the term advertisement is used for illustrative
`examples and refers generally to other commercial messages
`as well.
`0020. A Software application could track users’ prefer
`ences or favorite subjects. This information could be used to
`download advertisements from the computer manufacturers
`or manufacturer's authorized websites that are tailored to the
`users interests. By adapting the advertisements to the user,
`the likelihood that the user will seek more information about
`the product or Services is improved. This efficiency increases
`the advertisement revenue due to referrals.
`0021. If the advertisements were simply displayed with a
`Software application, the computer user could uninstall or
`delete the commercial message application. A user, however,
`is highly unlikely to uninstall critical utilities like Virus Scan,
`file downloads and Software installation utilities during
`whose execution the user faces unavoidable waiting periods.
`During Such periods the user is a captive audience for useful
`and entertaining commercial messages. Techniques illus
`trated herein enable computer manufacturers to display
`advertisements during System boot-up, when waking up
`from the Sleep mode, or other waiting periods like during a
`Virus Scan, Screen Saver, long file downloads, Software
`installation or Scan Disk. By using a flash read-only memory
`(ROM) or other suitable memory, the advertisements could
`be updated regularly. This would generate an advertisement
`revenue Stream from every computer Sold with this feature.
`0022 Besides generating revenue, the user may be enter
`tained during boot-up, the wake-up period or other waiting
`times. Instead of the traditional manufacturer logo or test
`Status, the users get to See an informative advertisement
`tailored to their interests. By entertaining the user, the
`boot-up or wake-up delay does not seem to be as long, thus
`improving customer Satisfaction. Besides advertisements,
`other information could be displayed Such as announce
`ments, useful productivity tips, utility enhancements and
`computer upgrades. By mixing the content displayed, it
`increases the likelihood of keeping the users attention. The
`user may sit through an advertisement if the user knows that
`there is going to be a useful tip or information afterwards.
`Other techniques to maintain the user interest can be used to
`make the user wait time entertaining, productive and rev
`enue enhancing.
`0023 The aspects above are described in more detail with
`reference to the figures. Turning to FIG. 1, an exemplary
`technique 10 for displaying a commercial message on a
`display device of a computer during the user waiting time is
`illustrated. In block 15, when the computer power is turned
`on, the microprocessor 505 of a computer 500 executes the
`commercial message BIOS 535 residing in memory 520 (see
`
`FIG. 3). In block 20, a commercial message application 540
`executes and begins displaying advertisements Stored in the
`memory 520. The user waiting period is boot-up time in this
`instance. In block 25, the BIOS execution continues to
`perform its normal functions, and waits Some fixed period of
`time. In block 30, the BIOS checks to determine if the BIOS
`execution has been completed. If the BIOS execution has not
`completed, the control returns to block 20 where the BIOS
`continues to display the advertisement. If the BIOS execu
`tion has completed, the operating System (OS) loading is
`initiated in block 35. In block 40, during the OS boot,
`advertisements are again displayed. It is to be noted that up
`to this point, advertisement display has been under the
`control of the BIOS. After the BIOS has completed its tasks,
`control of the computer 500 is transferred to the OS. In block
`45, when the OS boot is completed, a commercial message
`application is automatically loaded in block 50. A commer
`cial message application 540 may operate in the background
`with respect to the OS. The power-down mode or sleep
`mode may be designed to be preferably compliant with any
`Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification
`(ACPI) as co-developed by Compaq, Intel, Microsoft, Phoe
`nix, and Toshiba. An ACPI specification establishes indus
`try-standard interfaces for OS-directed configuration and
`power management of computers. The commercial message
`application 540 can be designed to detect an ACPI wake-up
`event from a sleep mode and initiate advertisements on the
`display 510. Likewise, the application 540 is designed to
`recognize when the wake-up period is complete and to
`return control to the OS.
`0024.
`In block 50, the commercial message application
`50 checks to see if the computer system 500 is connected to
`the Internet. If no Internet connection exists, the commercial
`message application 50 checks to see if it is an advertisement
`display event in block 80. If not, the control remains in block
`80. If yes, the control is transferred to block 85 to check if
`the computer 500 user is a premium user. A premium user is
`one who might have paid an additional premium to be able
`to exercise control over advertisement display. The manu
`facturer may track the premium user Status by tracking the
`computer Serial number or by imbedding a unique code in
`the memory 200 (FIG.2). If the user is a premium user, the
`control from block 85 is transferred to block 90 where the
`premium user is provided an option to disable the adver
`tisement. If the premium user elects to disable the adver
`tisement, the control transfers to block 100 where the
`advertisement feature is disabled. However, if the premium
`user elects not to disable the advertisement feature, the user
`is provided a choice to enable the advertisement as shown in
`block 95. If the premium user elects to enable the adver
`tisement in block 97, the advertisement feature is enabled
`and the control is transferred to block 105 and the adver
`tisements are displayed. On Some occasions, the premium
`user or other user may find an advertisement interesting and
`may want to Save it on a hard drive or a floppy drive for
`future use or transfer to another location. That user is given
`an option to save the advertisement as shown in block 110.
`If the user elects to Save a particular advertisement, that
`advertisement is saved as shown in block 115. Thus the user
`Selectively Saves the commercial messages and can later
`Selectively play or transfer the Saved messages. If the user
`elects not to Save the particular advertisement, the control is
`returned to block 120. If the user is a premium user, in block
`120, the user is provided with a choice of deleting a
`
`

`

`US 2003/O122864 A1
`
`Jul. 3, 2003
`
`particular advertisement. If that premium user elects to
`delete the particular advertisement, Such advertisement is
`deleted in block 125 and the control is transferred to block
`55. If the user is not a premium user, or if a premium user
`elects to enable the advertisement, the control is transferred
`to block 105 to display the advertisement.
`0.025
`Returning back to block 55, if an Internet connec
`tion to the system 500 exists, the user may occasionally
`request to provide advertisement preferences as shown in
`block 70. By requesting for user preferences the commercial
`message application 550 builds by asking questions or
`accepting Specific user requests, and Stores the user profile,
`and as discussed later, updates the profile periodically or
`continuously. One exemplary technique of detecting
`whether the computer is connected to the Internet is illus
`trated in a co-assigned patent application entitled "DIGITAL
`FEEDBACK DISPLAY PANEL AND SUPPORTING
`SOFTWARE FOR ACOMPUTER USER,” U.S. application
`Ser. No. 09/478,153, filed Jan. 5, 2000. In Such event, the
`commercial message application receives user advertise
`ment preferences in block 75. After receiving user adver
`tisement preferences, the application in block 65 checks for
`advertisement updates and downloads advertisements
`according to those user preferences from the Internet. The
`computer manufacturer may also check for updates and
`downloads in block 65 via a manufacturer password that
`only the manufacturer or its authorized agent possesses. One
`exemplary technique of Secure remote downloading of data
`to a flash ROM of a computer is illustrated in co-assigned
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,284, entitled “METHOD AND APPA
`RATUS FOR REMOTE ROM FLASHING AND SECU
`RITY MANAGEMENT FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM,”
`issued Apr. 24, 2001. In an embodiment, the computer
`manufacturer can Securely access the memory 520 through
`the Internet by presenting a password residing therein. The
`password may be used by the computer manufacturer or its
`authorized agent for Securely updating the memory 520. AS
`an alternative to block 70, the control from block 55 may
`transfer to block 60 where the commercial message appli
`cation 540 tracks the user Internet information, like the user
`preferences and update the user profile. The commercial
`message application 50 accordingly checks for an updates
`and securely downloads from the Internet. In block 80, the
`commercial message application checks whether there is an
`advertisement display event, like the computer going into a
`Sleep mode, waking up from a sleep mode, initiation of a
`Virus Scan, initiation of a Screen Saver, initiation of download
`of a large file, initiation of a Software installation, or other
`Such events where the user may encounter an idle time or
`wait period. If Such an event occurs, the application 50
`begins an advertisement display in block 105.
`0.026 Now referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodi
`ment of the System of assigning duration and frequency of
`displaying commercial messages on the computer display
`510 is illustrated. The FIG. 2 illustrates a non-volatile
`memory 200, for example a flash read only memory (ROM),
`or NVRAM. Note that advertisements can be of fixed time
`or variable time size. An advertisement 206 in memory
`block 0000h is preceded by a memory block 202 indicating
`the time weight and the memory block 204 indicating the
`frequency weight for the advertisement 206. Similarly,
`advertisement 220 in memory block 1000h has a time
`weight 208 and frequency weight 210. A third example
`advertisement 218 stored in memory block 2000h has a time
`weight 214 and a frequency weight 216. Any number of the
`Suitable criteria for displaying advertisements may be used
`to display the advertisements in memory 2000. For example,
`
`advertisements 206, 212, and 218 may each be assigned a
`time weight equal to their corresponding duration, however,
`their frequency weight may be assigned according to the
`revenue generating capacity, or revenue received for each
`advertisement message. In one embodiment, the advertise
`ments 206, 212, and 218 may be sequentially displayed or
`randomly Sequenced with the corresponding frequency
`weights 204, 210, and 216, one possible objective being to
`maximize the revenue while including free educational
`information like computer productively tips and other useful
`attractive information while maintaining user interest.
`Again, the time weight and the frequency weight are con
`trolled by the manufacturer or its authorized agent through
`a password that can be used via the Internet.
`0027. With reference to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodi
`ment of a computer system 500 for displaying a commercial
`message on a computer display 510 during the user waiting
`time is illustrated. The computer system 500 includes a
`microprocessor or microcontroller 505 coupled to the dis
`play device 510 and also coupled a memory 520. The display
`device 510 may, for example, be a desktop monitor or other
`Video display that is commercially available. The micropro
`cessor 505, for example, may be an Intel Pentium processor,
`an AMD processor, future Itanium models of processors or
`any other suitable processor. The memory 520 includes an
`advertisement message BIOS code 535, an Internet or web
`browser 545, for example Internet Explorer or Netscape, a
`commercial message application 540, and commercial mes
`sages 550. The BIOS code 535 controls display 540 of
`messages during the boot-up waiting period and the com
`mercial message application 540, controls display of mes
`sages under control of the OS. The memory 520 may be
`non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) or a flash
`ROM. The Internet browser 545 can be connected with the
`Internet 525 by the user, and the user can access a website
`530 through the Internet 525. The memory 520 stores and
`provides the commercial messages. Alternatively, when the
`computer 500 displays messages while under control of the
`OS, the commercial messages may be stored and played
`from a hard drive 560. The commercial messages display is
`non-intrusive to the user's normal activities because the
`commercial message application 540 detects the user wait
`ing period and only then elects to display commercial
`messages during Such user waiting period. The term “com
`puter as used herein includes information appliances with
`a Subset of computing functions associated with a general
`purpose computer.
`0028. The foregoing disclosure and description of the
`various embodiments are illustrative and explanatory
`thereof, and various changes in the components, circuit
`elements, circuit configurations, and Signal connections, as
`well as in the details of the illustrated circuitry and con
`Struction and method of operation may be made without
`departing from the Spirit and Scope of the invention.
`
`We claim:
`1. A method of displaying a commercial message on a
`display device of a computer during a user waiting time, the
`method comprising the Steps of
`Selecting the commercial message from a non-volatile
`memory; and
`displaying the Selected commercial message on the dis
`play device during the user waiting time.
`2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the commercial
`message comprises an advertisement message.
`
`

`

`US 2003/O122864 A1
`
`Jul. 3, 2003
`
`3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the commercial
`message comprises productivity enhancement tips for the
`computer.
`4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the Step of Selecting
`the commercial message further comprises the Steps of:
`tracking Internet information associated with the com
`puter; and
`choosing the commercial message to download to the
`non-volatile memory from a website based on the
`Internet information.
`5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a computer boot time.
`6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a computer wake-up time from a low power
`mode.
`7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a computer Screen Saver time.
`8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a virus-Scan time of a storage medium of the
`computer.
`9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the commercial
`message is displayed for a duration according to a time
`weight assigned to the commercial message.
`10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the commercial
`message is repeated according to a frequency weight
`assigned to the commercial message.
`11. A computer System for displaying a commercial
`message on a display device during a user waiting time, the
`computer System comprising:
`a display device;
`a processor coupled to the display device; and
`a memory coupled to the processor and containing code
`adapted to display the commercial message during the
`user waiting time.
`12. The computer System as in claim 11, wherein the
`memory comprises a flash read-only memory (ROM).
`13. The computer system as in claim 11, wherein the
`memory comprises a hard drive.
`
`14. The computer System as in claim 11, wherein the
`memory is updated with the commercial message from the
`Internet when the computer is connected to a website.
`15. The computer system as in claim 11, wherein the code
`comprises Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) code.
`16. The computer System as in claim 11, wherein the code
`comprises a commercial messaging application.
`17. The computer System as in claim 11, wherein display
`ing the commercial message in the memory is Selectively
`disabled.
`18. The computer system as in claim 11, wherein deletion
`of the commercial message in the memory is Selectively
`enabled.
`19. The computer system as in claim 11, wherein display
`of the commercial message is Selectively disabled.
`20. The computer system as in claim 11, wherein the
`commercial message is Selectively Saved for future display
`on the display device.
`21. The computer System as in claim 11, wherein the type
`of commercial message is user Selectable.
`22. A non-intrusive computer-based System for displaying
`commercial messages, the System comprising:
`a means for detecting a user waiting time of a computer;
`and
`a means for Selecting a commercial message to display on
`the computer during the user waiting time.
`23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a boot time of the computer.
`24. The System of claim 22, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a wake-up time from a low-power mode of the
`computer.
`25. The system of claim 22, wherein the user waiting time
`comprises a virus-Scan time of a storage medium of the
`computer.
`26. The system of claim 22, wherein the commercial
`message comprises an advertisement message.
`
`