Abstract: A sports training device comprising a handle of a sporting implement with a flexible, elastic band attached at one end at or proximate to one end of the handle. The opposite end of the band comprises a clip, loop, hook, or other fastening device, or combination thereof. The size, weight, and general configuration of the handle varies depending on the sport, and is generally intended to simulate the user holding the corresponding sporting equipment (e.g., baseball bat, softball bat, golf club, tennis racquet, hockey stick, lacrosse stick, cricket bat, and the like). During use, the band is attached to a relatively stable and fixed object, and the user performs the swing against the resistance created by the elastic band.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for accelerating network communications. The method may be implemented on a server computer or other computing device. The method may exist as a software program and may be stored on a storage medium. The method may include receiving a request, forwarding the request to a server, receiving a response from the server, and reviewing the response to determine whether the response includes a native expiration. When the response does not include the native expiration, a calculated expiration for the response may be computed. The calculated expiration may be inserted into the response creating an amended response. The amended response may be forwarded to the client. When the response includes the native expiration, the response may be forwarded to the client. The amended response may be stored and provided to other requesters.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application also receives match lists from the online service provider. The match lists include information about advertisements to be played when the user performs certain actions. The client application also displays a wide variety of sponsorship information in connection with the online service. The sponsorship information is displayed in hypertext format. The client application provides the user with information related to a sponsor when the user clicks on hypertext associated with the sponsor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for accelerating network communications. The method may be implemented on a server computer or other computing device. The method may exist as a software program and may be stored on a storage medium. The method may include receiving a request, forwarding the request to a server, receiving a response from the server, and reviewing the response to determine whether the response includes a native expiration. When the response does not include the native expiration, a calculated expiration for the response may be computed. The calculated expiration may be inserted into the response creating an amended response. The amended response may be forwarded to the client. When the response includes the native expiration, the response may be forwarded to the client. The amended response may be stored and provided to other requesters.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for accelerating network communications. The method may be implemented on a server computer or other computing device. The method may exist as a software program and may be stored on a storage medium. The method may include receiving a request, forwarding the request to a server, receiving a response from the server, and reviewing the response to determine whether the response includes a native expiration. When the response does not include the native expiration, a calculated expiration for the response may be computed. The calculated expiration may be inserted into the response creating an amended response. The amended response may be forwarded to the client. When the response includes the native expiration, the response may be forwarded to the client. The amended response may be stored and provided to other requesters.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. In conjunction with the client application displaying advertisements, the client application and an online service provider server also track and record the occurrence of hardware and software errors and malfunctions that occur in relation to the provision of the online service. The types of errors may include errors in a communication channel from a local device to an online service provider server, data access errors, and any other errors that may occur in the operation of software and hardware, such as software crashes and the incorrect display of advertisements.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application monitors the user's interaction with respect to the online service, and preferably with respect to the client application. The client application notifies the user if the user has not interacted with the online service for a predetermined time span. The client application also displays an exit window prior to termination of an online session. The exit window includes advertisements that are targeted toward the user.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application also receives match lists from the online service provider. The match lists include information about advertisements to be played when the user performs certain actions. The client application also displays a wide variety of sponsorship information in connection with the online service. The sponsorship information is displayed in hypertext format. The client application provides the user with information related to a sponsor when the user clicks on hypertext associated with the sponsor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a client application for enabling access to an online service that displays advertisements while the user is accessing the online service and/or the Internet or other network. The client application may receive play lists from the online service provider. The play lists may include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application may display advertisements continuously while the user is connected to and/or using the online service and/or the Internet or other network.

Abstract: A customized Internet access client user interface is described. A template defines the basic layout of the user interface, and is typically stored at the local device and changed only for a major user interface upgrade. The template has various slots designated for receiving program components, which are made up of program objects and corresponding program resources. Each time a local device establishes a session with the server, the server sends the program objects and resources to the local device with rules assigning the components to appropriate slots within the template. Both the program objects and the corresponding program resources are selected by the server based in part upon profile data associated with the local device or with individual user's of the local device. Some profile data is supplied by the user, and may include user preferences, demographics, and other personal data.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application also receives match lists from the online service provider. The match lists include information about advertisements to be played when the user performs certain actions. The client application provides the user with the ability to cycle back through previously displayed advertisements, and to cycle forward. The client application displays advertisements continuously while the user is connected to and/or using the online service, and also displays advertisements during the delay between when the client application is activated and when the user can actually use the online service.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. In conjunction with the client application displaying advertisements, the client application and an online service provider server also track and record the occurrence of hardware and software errors and malfunctions that occur in relation to the provision of the online service. The types of errors may include errors in a communication channel from a local device to an online service provider server, data access errors, and any other errors that may occur in the operation of software and hardware, such as software crashes and the incorrect display of advertisements.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. The client application displays advertisements continuously within a dedicated client window while the user is connected to and/or using the online service. The client application preferably records informational data related to the user. When the user clicks-on an advertisement, the client application and an online server forward the user's informational data to the advertisement's sponsor. The sponsor uses the information to provide the user with customized information related to the advertisement.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a client application for enabling access to an online service and displaying advertisements while the user is accessing the online service. The client application receives play lists from the online service provider. The play lists include information about advertisements to be played and the order of play. In conjunction with the client application displaying advertisements, the client application and an online service provider server also track and record the occurrence of hardware and software errors and malfunctions that occur in relation to the provision of the online service. The types of errors may include errors in a communication channel from a local device to an online service provider server, data access errors, and any other errors that may occur in the operation of software and hardware, such as software crashes and the incorrect display of advertisements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the on-line activities of an on-line user are disclosed. Information regarding the user's activities are used as a basis for targeting advertisements to the user. Monitoring is performed by a client monitoring application, which performs monitoring without intruding on the user's activities. In monitoring, URLs in the address bar of the browser application are obtained by the client monitoring application, or the stream of URLs transmitted by the browser application are obtained by the client monitoring application, or information in displayed web pages is obtained by the client monitoring application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the on-line activities of an on-line user are disclosed. Information regarding the user's activities are used as a basis for targeting advertisements to the user. Monitoring is performed by a client monitoring application, which performs monitoring without intruding on the user's activities. In monitoring, URLs in the address bar of the browser application are obtained by the client monitoring application, or the stream of URLs transmitted by the browser application are obtained by the client monitoring application, or information in displayed web pages is obtained by the client monitoring application.