Apparatus and method for distributing and displaying information over a computer network

• US 20040215776A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gotrek Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Gotrek Pty Limited
• Inventors: Tam, Che Fai David
• Application Number:
  US10/169,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215776A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of distributing information over a computer network and displaying or playing the information, involving: transmitting the information from a server to a computer of a user via the network while the user is accessing the network; and subsequently displaying or playing the information at one or more predetermined times. The present invention provides a method of controlling the distribution of information over a computer network, involving: transmitting the information from a server to a computer of a user via the network; and creating a user profile containing usage information pertaining to that user concerning the information transmitted to the user, and personal information pertaining to the user; and storing identification information identifying the user with the profile on the user computer but not on the server.

Claims

1. A method of distributing information over a computer network and displaying or playing the information, involving:

transmitting said information in any otherwise unused bandwidth from a server to a user computer via said network while said user is accessing said network, including transmitting at least a portion of said information while said user is actively accessing said network; and

subsequently displaying or playing said information at one or more predetermined times.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network is the internet or the world wide web.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information is transmitted to said user computer while said user is actively accessing said network at a low transmission rate so that user access speed is not unduly reduced.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, including continuing transmitting said information during periods of idle time within said accessing of said network.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, including opening one or more new windows on a screen of said user computer, and displaying or playing said information in said one or more windows.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said one or more windows are neither closable nor concealable by said user while said user computer remains in operation.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein one or more of said one or more windows includes a plurality of portions for displaying or playing different types of information contained within a piece of information.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, including:

creating a profile of said user on said user computer;

transmitting at least a portion of said profile to said server;

comparing said portion of said profile with characterizing data for each piece of information stored on or accessible by said server, in order to establish matches between said portion of said profile and said characterizing data; and

transmitting to said user computer only those pieces of information for which a match has been established between said portion of said profile and the characterizing data pertaining to that piece of information.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including encrypting said portion of said profile before its transmission to said server.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, including:

creating a profile of said user on said user computer;

transmitting said information to said user computer together with characterizing data for each piece of information;

comparing said characterizing data for each piece of information and said portion of said user profile, in order to establish matches between said portion of said profile and said characterizing data; and

displaying or playing on said user computer only those pieces of information for which a match has been established between said portion of said profile and the characterizing data pertaining to that piece of information.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, including scheduling the displaying or playing of said information according to said portion of said profile.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, including transmitting said information in encrypted form to said user computer.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, including logging the transmission to said user of said information, or the displaying or playing of said information by said user, or both the transmission to said user of said information and the displaying or playing of said information by said user.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said logging is onto said user computer or onto said server or onto both said user computer and said server.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user computer is one of a plurality of comparable user computers of respective users, each able to receive information via said network from said server.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, including creating a user profile for each of said respective users on the respective user computer of each of said users, whereby each of said users can be treated independently of any other of said users.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said user computer is operable by multiple users, each of said users having a respective account on or access rights to said user computer.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, including treating each of said users, though sharing said user computer, as separate from all others of said users.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of said users has a separate profile, and for each user the selection of information for transmission or display is independent of any other of said users.

20. An apparatus for distributing information over a computer network and displaying or playing the information, having computer program portions loadable onto and executable by said server and said user computer for performing the method as claimed in claim 1.

21. A method as claimed in claim 1, involving:

creating a user profile containing usage information pertaining to that user concerning the information transmitted to said user, and personal information pertaining to said user; and

storing identification information identifying said user with said profile on said user computer but not on said server.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said identification information is a part of said profile.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, including storing said profile on said server if said profile does not include said identification information or, if said profile includes said identification information, storing said profile except for said identification information on said server.

24. An apparatus for controlling the distribution of information over a computer network, having computer program portions loadable onto and executable by said server and said user computer for performing the method as claimed in claim 21.