INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An information and advertising distribution system, comprising:
- a data server for storing and updating a database of information items and advertisements, at least a subset of said information items having an associated information category;
a plurality of workstations remotely located from said data server for use by a corresponding set of subscribers;
each workstation including;
a display device;
a communication interface for establishing a communication connection with said data server and for receiving at least a subset of said information items and advertisements in said data server'"'"'s database;
local memory for storing the in(information items and advertisements received from said data server;
an information administrator that establishes communication with said data server from time to time so as to update the information items and advertisements stored in said local memory with at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored by said data server; and
an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In summary, the present invention is an information and advertising distribution system. A data server stores and updates a database of information items and advertisements. The information items and advertisements are each categorized so that each has an associated information category. Workstations remotely located from the data server each include a display device, a communication interface for receiving at least a subset of the information items and advertisements in the data server'"'"'s database and local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from the data server. An information administrator In each workstation establishes communication with the data server from time to time so as to update the information, items and advertisements stored In local memory with at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored by the data server. An information display controller in each workstation displays on the workstation'"'"'s display device at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored in local memory when the workstation meets predefined idleness criteria. At least a subset of the workstations include a profiler for storing subscriber profile data. The subscriber profile data represents subscriber information viewing preferences, indicating information categories for which the subscriber does and does not want to view information items. The information display controller includes a filter for excluding from the information items displayed on the display device those information items inconsistent with the subscriber profile data.
120 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An information and advertising distribution system, comprising:
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a data server for storing and updating a database of information items and advertisements, at least a subset of said information items having an associated information category;
a plurality of workstations remotely located from said data server for use by a corresponding set of subscribers;
each workstation including;
a display device;
a communication interface for establishing a communication connection with said data server and for receiving at least a subset of said information items and advertisements in said data server'"'"'s database;
local memory for storing the in(information items and advertisements received from said data server;
an information administrator that establishes communication with said data server from time to time so as to update the information items and advertisements stored in said local memory with at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored by said data server; and
an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An information and advertising distribution system, comprising:
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a data server for storing and updating a database of information items and advertisements, at least a subset of said information items having an associated information category;
a plurality of workstations remotely located from said data server for use by a corresponding set of subscribers;
each workstation including;
a display device;
a communication interface for establishing a communication connection with said data server and for receiving at least a subset of said information items and advertisements in said data server'"'"'s database;
local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from said data server, an information administrator that updates the information items and advertisements stored in said local memory from time to time with at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored by said data server, and an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria.
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14. An information and advertising display system, comprising:
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a display device;
local memory for storing information items and advertisements;
a plurality of display scripts, each display script for controlling display of at least one information item in conjunction with display of at least one advertisement; and
an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria;
wherein said information display controller displays on said display device, in successive time periods, said information items stored in said local memory in conjunction with advertisements stored in said local memory, utilizing successive ones of said display scripts stored in said local memory during said successive time periods.
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Specification