Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices each of which is configured for communications via a communications network, which system includes an advertisement distribution facility that communicates with each of the client devices over the communications network, via a respective advertisement download communication link. Preferably, each of the client devices downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution facility via the respective advertisement download communication link, and each of the client devices communicates with a data communications service provider over the communications network via a respective data communications link that is separate from the respective advertisement download communication link.

Abstract: Software for use on a client device, which is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, provides an installer function for installing the software on the client device, a communications function that effects a send e-mail communication link between the client device and an e-mail service provider server system via the communications network whenever the user desires to send e-mail messages a receive e-mail communication link between the client device and the e-mail service provider system whenever the user desires to check for received e-mail messages; and an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system via the communications system, at selected advertisement download times.

Abstract: A system and method for generating random numbers in a wireless communication network is presented. The noise present in the signal received by a wireless receiver is extracted to form random numbers. Wireless transmitters typically are identified by a synchronization signal. In acquiring the synchronization signal, a wireless receiver generates a plurality of psuedorandom sequences, despreads an incoming signal, integrates the resulting signal, and performs an energy computation to calculate an energy measure. One or more energy measures are collected in a pool of bits, and the bits are hashed to extract random numbers.

Abstract: A playlist server system for supplying a playlist response to a client device which exchanges information with an information server system and which receives ads from an ad server over a communications network, including a playlist response generating device for generating a playlist response identifying a plurality of selected ads to be presented by the client device, and a first communications device for establishing a playlist response send communications link with the client device via the communications network over which the playlist response is transmitted to the client device, wherein the information server system and the playlist server are independently controlled.

Abstract: An advertisement distribution system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices via a communications network includes at least one ad server that stores the advertisements to be distributed to the client devices, each advertisement being stored in a storage location designated by a source address, and at least one playlist server that receives a playlist request from each of the client devices, and that transmits a playlist response in response to each received playlist request. Moreover, the playlist response transmitted to each client device includes at least one playlist that identifies advertisements to be downloaded by that client device.

Abstract: A system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices each of which is configured for communications via a communications network preferably includes an advertisement distribution facility that communicates with each of the client devices over the communications network. Most preferably, each of the client devices downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution facility, and displays at least selected ones of the downloaded advertisements. The advertisement distribution facility includes an auditing function that transmits a send audit data request to a subset of the client devices at prescribed client audit intervals, which send audit data request includes a request that the receiving client device transmit ad-related statistical data to the advertisement distribution facility.

Abstract: A method for operating a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network includes steps for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertisement distribution server system.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an advertisement distribution system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices via a communications network, which system includes at least one ad server that stores the advertisements to be distributed to the client devices, each advertisement being stored in a storage location designated by a source address, and at least one playlist server that provides at least one playlist for each client device. Preferably, the at least one playlist provided for each client device identifies advertisements to be downloaded by that client device.

Abstract: A playlist server system for supplying a playlist response to a client device which exchanges information with an information server system and which receives ads from an ad server over a communications network, includes a playlist response generation device for generating a playlist response identifying a plurality of selected ads to be presented by the client device, and a first communications device that effects a playlist response send communications link with the client device via the communications network over which the playlist response is transmitted to the client device, wherein the information server system and the playlist server are independently controlled.

Abstract: A client device that is configured for communications with a multiplicity of other client devices via a communications network, includes a first device for effecting an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system, via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, a second device for effecting a data communication link with a data communications service provider, via the communications network, wherein the advertisement download communication link and the data communication link are separate communication links, a third device for downloading advertisements from the advertisement distribution server system via the advertisement download communication link, a fourth device for storing downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and a fifth device for displaying at least selected ones of the stored advertisements, in accordance with ad display parameters prescribed by the advertise