Importance

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Abstract

A system is provided of displaying information at a display of a local user computer. The information includes primary information representing information requested by a user and secondary information representing additional information. The primary information is retrieved from a first information memory device, wherein there is a delay period between the request time and the time in which the primary information is available for display. The secondary information is retrieved from a second information memory device. The primary and secondary information are stored in a local storage device of the user's computer, such as the cache memory. A display controller causes the primary information to be displayed simultaneously with a portion of the secondary information on the user's display. When the user requests retrieval of subsequent primary information, a full display of the secondary information replaces the primary information in at least a portion of the delay time which occurs during retrieval of the subsequent primary information. The subsequently requested primary information is displayed after receipt thereof. The full display of secondary information is shown for a predetermined period of time, or may be held on the display by a user command. The user may also directly request a display of the full secondary information without requiring retrieval of subsequent primary information. The system may be implemented in an Internet environment wherein the primary and secondary information are retrieved from one or more remote websites. The portion of secondary information displayed which is simultaneously displayed with the primary information may be a thumbnail, keyhole or banner image of the full secondary information. The secondary information may be static, dynamic or user interactive.

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First Claim