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System and method for distributing data over a communications network for display during start-up

  • US 6,317,791 B1
  • Filed: 09/08/1998
  • Issued: 11/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a computer network including a plurality of servers logically connected to one another and to a plurality of client systems, and wherein at least some of the client systems are comprised of a conventional television monitor and an electronic unit for controlling connection to one or more of the servers for browsing and downloading for display at the television monitor content from a host server, a method of delivering data from a connected host server to a client system, the method comprising the steps for:

  • detecting an extended period of nonuse of the client system, wherein the extended period of nonuse includes either (i) a specific time period identified by a user of the connected client system, or (ii) an extended time during which the client system has not been used to browse the network;

    establishing contact, automatically and without user intervention, between the client system and the host server during the extended period of nonuse;

    preloading data selected by the host server to the client system in response to information communicated by the client system which identified data already cached at the client system;

    storing the data in the client system;

    detecting a start-up operation of the client system; and

    presenting the data at the client system during the start-up operation.

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