Software and Method That Enables Selection of One of A Plurality of Online Service Providers

• US 20080235106A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TMI Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Twintech E.U.
• Inventors: REISMAN, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/18 Address timing or clocking circuits; Address control signal generation or management, e.g. for row address strobe [RAS] or column address strobe [CAS] signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A novel electronic information transport component can be incorporated in a wide range of electronic information products, for example magazine collections, to automate the mass distribution of updates, such as current issues, from a remote server to a wide user base having a diversity of computer stations. Advantages of economy, immediacy and ease of use are provided. Extensions of the invention permit automated electronic catalog shopping with order placement and, optionally, order confirmation. A server-based update distribution service is also provided. In addition, an offline web browser system, with hyperlink redirection capabilities, a novel recorded music product with automated update capabilities and an Internet charging mechanism are provided.

Claims

1. A method for updating an information object stored at a client, comprising:

(a) receiving a fetch object from a server;

(b) logging the received fetch object in a received fetch object log;

(c) comparing the received fetch object log to a fetch object request list; and

(d) integrating the received fetch object into the existing information object, whereby the integration allows for seamless use of the received fetch object at the client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) after receiving the fetch object from the server, placing the received fetch object in a receive buffer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) import processing the received fetch object.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(g) sorting the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(h) reordering the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein step (f) comprises

relocating the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

7. A method for updating an information object stored on a first server, comprising:

(a) receiving a fetch object from second server;

(b) logging the received fetch object in a received fetch object log;

(c) comparing the received fetch object log to a fetch object request list; and

(d) integrating the received fetch object into the existing information object to allow for seamless use of the received fetch object at the first server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

placing the received fetch object in a receive buffer.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

import processing the received fetch object.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sorting the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reordering the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

relocating the received fetch object according to at least one of a time label and content.

13. A method for accessing a remote server function object stored on one or more servers from a first server, comprising:

(a) locating a remote server function listed on a remote server function object list on the first server;

(b) identifying the one or more remote servers corresponding to the remote server function object listed on the remote server function list;

(c) polling the identified one or more remote servers to access the remote server function object;

(d) receiving a fetch object from the one or more remote servers, each of the fetch objects corresponding to a portion of the remote server function object;

(e) logging the one or more received fetch objects in a received fetch object log;

(f) comparing the received fetch object log to a remote server function object request list; and

(g) integrating the one or more received fetch objects into the remote server function object to allow for seamless use of the received remote server function object at the first server.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(h) identifying the one or more remote servers corresponding to the remote server function object from a hash list.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the hash list is itself located on a remote server.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the hash list is comprised of one or more hash lists located on a plurality of remote servers.

17. A method for accessing a remote server function output object stored on one or more servers from a first server, comprising:

(a) locating a remote server function listed on a remote server function object list on the first server;

(b) identifying the one or more remote servers corresponding to the remote server function object listed on the remote server function list;

(c) posting data on the identified one or more remote servers;

(d) processing the data at the one or more remote servers in accordance with the remote server function object;

(e) storing the processed data in one or more fetch objects at the one or more remote servers;

(f) receiving the one or more fetch objects from the one or more remote servers;

(g) logging the one or more received fetch objects in a received fetch object log;

(h) comparing the one or more received fetch objects in the received fetch object log to a remote server function output object request list; and

(i) assimilating the one or more received fetch objects into the remote server function output object.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(h) identifying the one or more remote servers corresponding to the remote server function object from a hash list.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the hash list is itself located on a remote server.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the hash list is comprised of one or more hash lists located on a plurality of remote servers.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote server function is comprised of one or more executable code objects.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote server function is comprised of one or more of at least one of an audio object and a video object.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one of an audio object and a video object comprise at least one of audio and video control functions.

24. A method for updating a database management object stored on a client, comprising:

(a) receiving a fetch object from a server;

(b) logging the received fetch object in a received fetch object log;

(c) comparing the received fetch object log to a fetch object request list; and

(d) integrating the received fetch object into the existing database management object to allow for seamless use of the received fetch object at the client.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of fetch object request lists.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

integrating the received fetch object request list.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a fetch-send protocol layer as part of the received fetch object.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

integrating the fetch-send protocol layer into an existing fetch-send protocol layer in the existing database management object, allowing for seamless use of the received fetch-send protocol layer.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

integrating the fetch-send protocol layer into an existing fetch-send protocol layer recursively.

30. A method for automatically building a web package, comprising:

(a) selecting content;

(b) retrieving selected content from a plurality of network based content providers; and

(c) assembling the retrieved content into a web package.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein step (a) comprises selecting the content at a user station.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein step (a) is performed by a web aggregator.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein step (a) comprises a selection made by a server log function.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein step (b) further comprises searching multiple web pages from diverse locations using a selection tool.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the searching selection tool comprises one or more of a web crawler function, a web spider function, and a server log retrieval (cookie) function.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein step (b) comprises searching a plurality of web packages using a selection tool.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the searching selection tool comprises one or more of a web crawler function, a web spider function, and a server log retrieval (cookie) function.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein step (a) further comprises searching a plurality of aggregators of web packages using a selection tool.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the searching selection tool comprises one or more of a web crawler function, a web spider function, and a server log retrieval (cookie) function.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein step (c) further comprises one or more of sorting the retrieved content, reordering the retrieved content, and relocating the retrieved content.

41. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) automatically.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein step (b) comprises retrieving selected content from a plurality of previously visited network based content providers.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein step (d) is automatically determined by one or more of a schedule, a client poll, and a server poll.

44. A method for caching a web package, comprising:

(a) logging a plurality of URLs associated with a content retrieval search;

(b) assembling the plurality of URLs associated with the content retrieval search;

(c) organizing the plurality of URLs and a plurality of document objects associated with the plurality of URLs into a directed database tree; and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c).

45. The method of claim 44, wherein step (a) comprises one or more of (1) retrieving URLs from a server log, (2) searching for and retrieving URLs from a plurality of web pages, (3) searching for and retrieving URLs from a plurality of web packages, and (4) searching for and retrieving URLs from an aggregator of web packages.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein step (c) comprises connecting the plurality of URLs and the plurality of document objects by hyperlinks.

47. A method for constructing a web package cache manager, comprising:

(a) storing a plurality of document objects in a dynamic directed database tree comprising a plurality of URLs associated with the plurality of document objects;

(b) sorting the plurality of document objects in the dynamic directed database tree;

(c) reordering the plurality of document objects in the dynamic directed database tree;

(d) relocating a portion of the plurality of document objects in the dynamic directed database tree; and

(e) retrieving a portion of the plurality of document objects from the dynamic directed database tree.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the plurality of document objects comprise web pages, software, fetch-send protocols, and client and server documents and data.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising, performing steps (a)-(e) automatically and repeatedly according to a schedule.

50. The method of claim 47, further comprising, performing steps (a)-(e) in response to at least one of a client poll and a server poll.

51. The method of claim 47, further comprising, performing steps (a)-(e) on at least one of a user selected portion of the dynamic directed database tree and a server selected portion of the dynamic directed database tree.

52. A method to dynamically update an information object in a web package, comprising:

(a) receiving update data from a server at a user station;

(b) integrating the update data into the information object; and

(c) displaying the update data while continuously displaying the information object data not updated.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

receiving the update data from the server automatically and on a schedule.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

receiving the update data from the server in responding to one of a user poll and a server poll.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

receiving the update data from the server automatically in responding to data input by a user.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

responding to data input by a user entered by a user into a form at the user station.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

responding to data input into one of an HTML form and an XML form.

58. A method for dynamically updating an information object in a web package at a user station and a server, comprising:

(a) exchanging an update object between the user station and the server;

(b) integrating an update object into an information object at the user station and the server;

(c) sorting a plurality of integrated information objects at the user station and the server;

(d) reordering the plurality of integrated information objects at the user station and the server; and

(e) relocating the plurality of integrated information objects at the user station and the server.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

exchanging an update object using a bidirectional fetch-send protocol at both the user station and the server to accommodate a web package at the user station and a web package the server.

60. A method for ordering one or more of a product and a service, comprising:

(a) verifying a user ID at a remote server;

(b) verifying a user supplied password at the remote server;

(c) extracting routing information for the product or service order from the verified user ID; and

(d) fulfilling the product or service order.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

verifying the user ID and password at a remote function server.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

verifying a user ID and password at a remote proxy server.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

extracting the routing information from a hash list.

64. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

fulfilling the product or service order by dynamically updating an information object in a web package.

65. A method for ordering one or more of a product and a service, comprising:

(a) capturing a user'"'"'s charge card information and a shipping address at a server; and

(b) creating a header for a dynamic electronic order form using the user'"'"'s charge card information and the shipping address.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

capturing the user'"'"'s charge card information at a proxy server.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

capturing the user'"'"'s charge card information using an encryption/decryption code and key.

68. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

dynamically updating an information object in a web package.

69. A method for updating an email package at a client, comprising:

(a) sending a new updated email object to a client; and

(b) integrating the new updated email object into an information object.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

sending the new updated email object in response to a server poll.

71. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

sending the new updated email object in response to a client poll.

72. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

integrating the new updated email object by dynamically updating an information object in a web package.

73. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

integrating the new updated email object automatically and seamlessly.

74. A method for updating an email package at a client, comprising:

(a) sending an updated email object to an unread email information object at a client; and

(b) integrating the updated email object into the unread information object.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising:

integrating the updated email object by dynamically updating an information object in a web package.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising:

integrating the updated email object automatically and seamlessly.

77. A method for providing for a multimedia station at a client, comprising:

(a) accessing a plurality of local media sources from the multimedia station;

(b) searching for content; and

(c) providing for autoplay capabilities for the content.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

accessing CD-ROMs, DVDs, and hard disks.

79. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

searching for content on one or more of;

web pages, web packages, web aggregators, aggregators of web pages, and the local media sources.

80. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

providing for autoplay capabilities using a plurality of software functions.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

using a plurality of software functions comprising one or more of;

an audio player object, a video player object, an actuator object, a play object, and a play list object.

82. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

using the plurality of software functions, wherein the plurality of software functions are downloadable from one or more servers to the client.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

downloading the plurality of software functions from a plurality of servers and routing the plurality of software functions through a plurality of servers and clients to the client.

84. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

downloading portions of the plurality of software functions from a plurality of servers to the client.

85. The methods of claim 81, further comprising:

routing the portions of the plurality of software functions from the plurality of servers through the plurality of clients to the client according to the playlist.

86. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

routing the plurality of software functions according to a hash list.

87. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

downloading the plurality of software functions in response to one of a client poll and a server poll.

88. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

downloading the plurality of software functions automatically according to a schedule.

89. A method for exchanging information objects and update information objects between a user and a server, comprising:

(a) exchanging information objects and update information objects between the user and the server using a fetch-send protocol;

(b) identifying the fetch-send protocol itself as an information object; and

(c) updating the fetch-send protocol information object itself with the fetch-send protocol.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

updating the fetch-send protocol information object itself recursively and seamlessly.

91. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

updating the fetch-send protocol information object itself automatically and repeatedly.

92. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

updating the fetch-send protocol information object itself in response to a server poll.

93. A method for exchanging information objects and update information objects between a one or more users and one or more servers, comprising:

(a) exchanging information objects and update information objects between at least one user and at least one server using a fetch-send protocol;

(b) identifying the fetch-send protocol itself as an information object; and

(c) updating the fetch-send protocol information object itself with the fetch-send protocol.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

(d) receiving one or more protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server;

(e) storing the received one or more protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server; and

(f) selecting one of the received protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server to enable communication between the at least one user and at least one server.

95. A method for exchanging information objects and update information objects between a one or more users and one or more servers, comprising:

(a) exchanging information objects and update information objects between at least one user and at least one server using a network protocol;

(b) identifying the network protocol itself as an information object; and

(c) updating network protocol information object.

96. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

(d) receiving one or more protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server;

(e) storing the received one or more protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server; and

(f) selecting one of the received protocol plug-ins at the at least one user and at least one server to enable routing of information objects between the at least one user and at least one server.

97. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

(g) updating the multiple plug-in information objects automatically and seamlessly with a plug-in update object.

98. A method for providing a list to control exchanging a plurality of information objects and a plurality of information update objects between a user and a server, comprising:

(a) storing the list on at least one or more user stations and servers;

(b) transmitting a fetch-send protocol to all user stations and servers that are identified by the list; and

(c) forwarding the list to all the user stations and servers that are identified by the list.