System for transporting information objects between a user station and multiple remote sources based upon user modifiable object manifest stored in the user station

• US 6,125,388 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TMI Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richard R. Reisman
• Inventors: Reisman, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TANH Q
• Application Number:
  US08/982,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 345/333, 345/331, 345/356, 375/257, 379/45, 379/112, 395/712, 395/500.46, 395/701, 395/702, 395/703, 395/710, 364/134, 370/407, 370/420, 380/4, 380/24, 380/49, 428/142, 705/27, 705/35, 705/37, 707/1, 707/3, 707/8, 707/10, 707/100, 707/101, 707/103, 707/104, 707/200, 707/201, 707/203, 707/204, 707/205, 707/206, 707/303, 707/305, 709/101, 709/104, 709/201, 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 709/218, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 709/231, 709/236, 709/246, 709/250, 709/300, 709/303, 709/219, 711/111, 711/133, 711/152, 711/203, 712/28
• US Class Current: 709/218
• 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.

Claims

1. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest, and

wherein the higher level software entity comprises a viewer for at least one content type available on the communications network, the content type being selected from the group consisting of multimedia formats, video formats, sound formats and hypertext markup language ("HTML").

2. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest,

wherein the higher level software entity comprises a viewer for at least one content type available on the communications network, the content type being selected from the group consisting of multimedia formats, video formats, sound formats and hypertext markup language ("HTML"), and

wherein the communications network is the Internet.

3. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

i) the communications network is a broadcast network comprising multiple user stations each provided with the information transporter;

ii) at least one of the remote sources broadcasts a data stream across the network for receipt by the user stations;

iii) the object manifest at each user station defines data stream content elements for receipt by the user station; and

iv) a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest.

4. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one remote source has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and specifying user station identification information;

iii) each user station repeatedly receives objects transported by the at least one remote source; and

iv) a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest.

5. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one remote source has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and specifying user station identification information;

iii) each user station repeatedly receives objects transported by the at least one remote source;

iv) a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest; and

v) the object manifest received at the remote source specifies user-desired content and the information objects transported by the remote source to the user station are selected according to the user-desired content specification.

6. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one remote source has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and specifying user station identification information;

iii) each user station repeatedly receives objects transported by the at least one remote source;

iv) a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest;

v) the object manifest received at the remote source specifies user-desired content and the information objects transported by the remote source to the user station are selected according to the user-desired content specification; and

vi) the user-desired content specification comprises a generic or an alias name to request a latest installment, version or update.

7. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one of the remote sources has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and specifying user station identification information;

iii) each object manifest contains user-specified information object selections; and

iv) each user station transporter is scheduled to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the at least one of the remote sources and fetch information objects meeting the user-specified information object selections.

8. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one of the remote sources has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and comprising user-specified information object selections; and

iii) each user station transporter can fetch or receive a response object from the one of the remote sources providing the user-specified information object selections; and

iv) a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest.

9. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest, and

wherein the information transporter is embedded in a containing information product, the transporter functionality being activatable via the information product.

10. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest,

wherein the information transporter is embedded in a containing information product, the transporter functionality being activatable via the information product, and

wherein the containing information product is selected from the group consisting of self-updated software products, self-updating database products, CD-ROM resident products, online hybrid products, Internet access products, offline Internet access products, mobile Internet access products, short-session Internet access products, or intelligent appliance products.

11. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest, and

wherein the transport control module specifies object processing actions required to integrate an object into one of an application and an information product on the user station subsequent to transport.

12. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest, and

wherein the manifest list is mobile and transportable in the transport session, moving in a predetermined direction between the source station and the user station to request at least one information object to be sent in the other direction between the source station and the user station.

13. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

the transport control module uses an object manifest comprising at least one of a send object list, and a fetch object list, and

the user station includes a user interface provided by a vendor associated with the source, and

the object manifest is created under control of the user interface from choices supplied by the vendor.

14. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest;

the user station is capable of executing multiple communications protocols;

the transport control module is responsive to a protocol selection code; and

the send object list comprises one or more object list elements selected from the group consisting of object action codes specifying source station actions required, object names, object sizes and response object size.

15. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest;

the transport control module is responsive to a completed object manifest having codes to convey the status of the transport operation or to provide for transport of additional information objects, or both; and

for a send operation in which an information object is transported from the user station to the source, the completed object manifest comprises one or more manifest elements selected from the group consisting of send object additional information, object acceptance codes returned by the source, time of object acceptance codes, response object names and a completion status code to terminate the send operation and return control.

16. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest;

the transport control module is responsive to a completed object manifest having codes to convey the status of the transport operation or to provide for transport of additional information objects, or both;

for a send operation in which an information object is transported from the user station to the source, the completed object manifest comprises one or more manifest elements selected from the group consisting of send object additional information, object acceptance codes returned by the source, time of object acceptance codes, response object names and a completion status code to terminate the send operation and return control; and

the completed object manifest further comprises polling indicator codes enabling polling of the user station by the source for readiness to perform additional transport operations.

17. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest

the transport control module is responsive to a completed object manifest having codes to convey the status of the transport operation or to provide for transport of additional information objects, or both;

for a send operation in which an information object is transported from the user station to the source, the completed object manifest comprises one or more manifest elements selected from the group consisting of send object additional information, object acceptance codes returned by the source, time of object acceptance codes, response object names and a completion status code to terminate the send operation and return control; and

the completed object manifest further comprises scheduled update indicator codes enabling scheduled fetching of updates by the user station from the source.

18. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest, and

wherein;

the transport control module comprises a transport software component embeddable in a vendor-provided information product;

the vendor provides update objects from a selected source; and

the transport software component is separately suppliable to multiple vendors of respective information products.

19. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a communications module which effects the fetching or sending of information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and persistent storage at the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) an object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported;

wherein;

a higher level software entity can be invoked to modify the object manifest;

the transport control module comprises a transport software component embeddable in a vendor-provided information product;

the vendor provides update objects from a selected source;

the transport software component is separately suppliable to multiple vendors of respective information products; and

the transport software component further comprises a vendor-related user interface permitting specification of transport objects in the object manifest.

20. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and a remote information object source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network and wherein the method comprises:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote information object source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest; and

(c) scheduling the transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote information object source and transport information objects,

wherein;

the communications network is a broadcast network comprising multiple user stations each provided with the information transporter; and

the remote information object source broadcasts a data stream across the network for receipt by the user stations, the method further comprising;

(d) receiving at each user station data stream content elements defined by specifications in the object manifest.

21. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and a remote information object source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network and wherein the method comprises:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote information object source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source, address in accordance with the object manifest; and

(c) scheduling the transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote information object source and transport information objects,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the remote information object source, the method further comprising;

(d) sending to the remote information object source from each user station an object manifest specifying user station identification information; and

(e) repeatedly transporting information objects to each user station from the remote information object source.

22. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and a remote information object source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network and wherein the method comprises:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote information object source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest; and

(c) scheduling the transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote information object source and transport information objects,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the remote information object source, the method further comprising;

(d) sending to the remote information object source from each user station an object manifest specifying user station identification information; and

(e) repeatedly transporting information objects to each user station from the remote information object source,

wherein the object manifest received at the remote information object source specifies user-desired content with a generic or an alias name and wherein the method further comprises;

(f) the remote information object source sending to the user station the latest installment, version or update information objects selected according to the generic or alias name.

23. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and an information object remote source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network, the method comprising:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing an information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter, the object manifest at each user station contains source-originated information object specifications and each user station is a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the remote source and wherein the method further comprises;

(c) scheduling each transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote source and transport information objects meeting the source-originated specifications.

24. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and an information object remote source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network, the method comprising:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the remote source, the method further comprising;

(c) sending to the remote source, from each user station, the object manifest comprising user-specified information object selections; and

(d) scheduling each transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote source and transport information objects meeting the user specifications.

25. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and an information object remote source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network, the method comprising:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by at least one of the remote sources, the method further comprising;

c) fetching a features directory listings features available at the remote source from the remote source to each user station;

d) building, at each user station, an object manifest containing selected feature entries obtained from the fetched features directory; and

e) scheduling each user station transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote source and transport information objects specified by the selected features entries in the object manifest.

26. A method of controlling transport of information objects between persistent storage at a user station and a remote information object source on a communications network using an information transporter comprising a communications module for sending and receiving information objects on the network and wherein the method comprises:

(a) communicating object transport specifications, including a source address for the remote information object source, between the information transporter and a higher level software entity employing an object manifest listing at least one information object to be transported;

(b) activating the communications module to transport the at least one information object to or from the source address, in accordance with the object manifest; and

(c) scheduling the transporter to communicate repeatedly and automatically with the remote information object source and transport information objects,

wherein the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the remote source, the method further comprising;

(d) sending to the remote source, from each user station, an object manifest comprising user specified information object selections; and

(e) using each user station transporter to fetch or receive a response object from the remote source providing the user-specified information object selection.

27. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a separable communications module which selectively fetches or transports information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls the transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) a user-modifiable object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network is a broadcast network comprising multiple user stations each provided with the information transporter;

ii) the at least one of the remote sources broadcasts a data stream across the network for receipt by the user stations; and

iii) the object manifest at each user station defines data stream content elements for receipt by the user station.

28. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a separable communications module which selectively fetches or transports information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls the transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) a user-modifiable object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one remote source has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and specifying user station identification information; and

iii) each user station repeatedly receives objects transported by the at least one remote source.

29. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a separable communications module which selectively fetches or transports information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls the transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) a user-modifiable object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

i) the communications network comprises a group of user stations each provided with the information transporter and each being a client station of an information object distribution service provided by the at least one of the remote sources;

ii) the at least one of the remote sources has, for each user station, an object manifest received across the network from the user station and comprising user-specified information object selections; and

iii) each user station transporter can fetch or receive a response object from the one of the remote sources providing the user-specified information object selections.

30. An automated electronic information transporter located at a user station for controlling transport of information objects on a communications network providing access to multiple remote sources, the information transporter comprising:

(a) a separable communications module which selectively fetches or transports information objects across the network between at least one of the remote sources and the user station; and

(b) a transport control module which controls the transport of the information objects in accordance with;

i) a source address for the at least one remote source; and

ii) a user-modifiable object manifest specifying at least one information object to be transported,

wherein;

the information transporter is embedded in a containing information product; and

the information transporter functionality can be activated during operation of the information product.