Information device

• US 20070124418A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Application Number:
  US11/506,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modem for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modem stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

Claims

1. A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device comprising:

a modem for establishing communication sessions with said remote server,

a memory coupled to said modem for storing the obtained information, and

a display coupled to said memory for displaying the stored information;

wherein the device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

2. The device according to claim 1 being configured for hanging on a wall.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the modem is a dial-up modem, and wherein the device further comprising a telephone connection means coupled to said dial-up modem for connecting to the PSTN for connecting to the remote server.

4. The device according to claim 3 further comprising an off-hook detector coupled to said telephone connection means, and wherein the device postpone the communication upon off-hook state detection.

5. The device according to claim 3 further comprising means for detecting the state of other device sharing the same telephone connection switching to off-hook state, and wherein the device terminate its communication upon detection of such a state.

6. The device according to claim 3 further being integrated with another appliance comprising PSTN connection means.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the appliance is selected out of telephone set, answering machine and facsimile machine.

8. The device according to claim 3 further being powered from the telephone connection.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the modem is a cellular modem for connecting for connecting to the remote server using a cellular network.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the device is attachable to a cellular telephone set, and wherein the device communicate using the cellular telephone set connected thereto.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the device further comprises a cellular telephone set charger, operative to charge a cellular telephone set connected thereto.

12. The device according to claim 9 further integrated within a cellular telephone set.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the modem is one out of xDSL modem and cable modem.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device connects using the Internet.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the remote server information is organized as web-site, and the device communicate with the web site URL.

16. The device according to claim 1 wherein the display is housed within a separate device.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the display is television set.

18. The device according to claim 16 wherein the information to be displayed is multiplexed with other video channels.

19. The device according to claim 1 adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote server.

20. The device according to claim 1 adapted to communicate with multiple remote servers for obtaining selected (distinct) information for each remote server.

21. A system for obtaining information to a users sites from a remote site, the system comprising one or more user sites and one or more remote sites, and wherein:

a user site comprises means for communicating to the remote side, obtaining information therefrom and displaying the information;

a remote site comprises means for storing information, communicating to the user side and transmitting information thereto;

and wherein a user site and a remote site periodically and automatically communicates with each other for transmitting information from the remote site to the user site.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the communication uses PSTN.

23. The system according to claim 21 wherein the communication uses a cellular network.

24. The system according to claim 21 wherein the communication uses the Internet.

25. The system according to claim 21 adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote site.

26. The system according to claim 21 adapted to allow one or more user sites to communicate with multiple remote sites for obtaining selected (distinct) information for each remote site.

27. For use with an information device comprising a communication unit, information storage unit and display unit, a method for obtaining information from a remote location, the method comprising:

communicating with the remote location;

receiving information therefrom;

storing the received information; and

displaying the received information;

wherein the above steps are performed automatically and periodically.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the communication uses PSTN.

29. The method according to claim 27 wherein the communication uses a cellular network.

30. The method according to claim 27 wherein the communication uses the Internet.

31. The method according to claim 27 adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote site.

32. The method according to claim 27 adapted to allow one or more user sites to communicate with multiple remote sites for obtaining selected information for each remote site.

33. An information repository for providing information to an information device comprising a communication unit, an information storage unit and a display unit, so as to allow the information device automatically and periodically to communicate with a remote location for receiving, storing and displaying information therefrom.

34. A method for providing information to an information device comprising a communication unit, an information storage unit and a display unit, so as to allow the information device automatically and periodically to communicate with a remote location for receiving, storing and displaying information therefrom uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, said method comprising:

storing said information,

automatically and periodically connecting to the information device, and

uploading the information to the information device.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising offering a toll-free number for communication by the information device.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the communication uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, further comprising providing a distinct charged telephone number used.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the communication uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, and the information device is provided by said telephone network operator.

38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of providing the information.

39. The method according to claim 34, wherein the information is provided for free.

40. The method according to claim 34, wherein the information comprises advertisements.

41. The method according to claim 34, wherein the charging for the system operation is selected from:

one time charge;

flat subscription fee;

per the number of communication made;

per the cumulative communication time;

per type of information received;

any combination of the above.

42. The method according to claim 34, wherein the information device is offered as part of ISP services.

43. The method according to claim 34, wherein the information device is offered as part of information services.