Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-03
2001-08-21
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C701S066000, C701S066000, C709S203000, C709S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278449
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to the customizing of information for retrieval over a computer network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The advent of computer networks and the increasing amount of information that is available over these networks has given rise to a growing number of computer network users. Traditionally, the users gain access to computer networks through mainframe or desktop computers. However, in order to meet the varying needs of individual users, many alternative systems for accessing computer networks have been developed. For example, devices commonly known as “palm-top computers”, which are not much bigger than cellular telephones, often come with internet access capability.
However, with the advent of these alternative access devices, in order to provide them at a low cost, and having a small overall size, the computing power of these devices has been reduced, and may be far less than is currently available on a fully operable desktop computer. Additionally, data transfer rates for portable devices, which may be wireless, may be substantially lower than that achievable through a direct access line as in a local area network, T1 line to the internet, or other direct modem connection. This reduced computing capability and reduced data transfer rate resulting in increased access time often results in extensive time periods waiting for information to be transmitted to or from such an alternative access device, and also renders the transmission or receipt of superfluous information, which is not necessary for the user, extremely undesirable.
Accordingly, designers of network access systems must consider how their systems will accommodate varying users and user access devices. That is, designers must consider how to gather and present network information given a user's needs and the capabilities of the user's access device. In one example, designers must consider how internet information—which is most commonly provided in the form of “web pages”—can be efficiently retrieved and displayed to meet a particular user's needs.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for determining information to be transmitted over a computer network so as to optimize the transmission process.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for formatting information received from various information sources for view by a user on a display apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a network access system to allow users to customize the format and display of retrieved network information.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus which allows users to specify the information to be received from the internet, and the manner in which this information will be displayed on a highly portable internet access device.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, the improved information collection and dissemination apparatus and method is provided for obtaining information from various input sources, configuring this information in accordance with a predefined user format, and transmitting the information to a remote location. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus may collect information from various web pages from the worldwide web internet, configure this various information in accordance with a predefined user configuration file, defined by a particular user, and transmit the configured various information to a highly portable internet access device. The configuration file is created by the user and is stored in a centralized database server. This configuration file specifies the information the user would like to retrieve from the network and how that information is to be displayed. Such a configuration file may be generated by a user using the highly portable internet access device, or more preferably through a general, commercially available product which allows access to the internet and a particular website dedicated for the design of such configuration files.
When a user attempts to retrieve information from the network, the system server of the network responds to the user's request by uploading one or more request servicing software modules. The requesting user is then identified, and a predetermined user configuration file corresponding to the user making the request is loaded from the database server. The information requested by the user is formatted in accordance with the user's configuration file, and forwarded to the user's access device for display.
By providing network users with a simplified manner for designating a personalized information retrieval scheme, the invention allows each user to tailor the retrieval of information to the user's personal needs and to the capabilities of the user's network access device, thereby decreasing the time necessary for a user to obtain wanted information while reducing the amount of received, unwanted information.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such step, or as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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Sugiarto Basuki Afandi
Zhou Joe Zexuan
Bayerl Raymond J.
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Kessler Gordon
Sony Corporation
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