Patent ID: 6141333
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A method of providing information to a plurality of user terminals by use of a first table having a first plurality of subtables each identified with one of a plurality of rates of service and a second table having a second plurality of subtables each identified with one of the plurality of rates of service, comprising the steps of:requesting information identified by one of a plurality of information identifiers by one of the plurality of user terminals from a central computer via service provider equipment;adding identification of the one of the plurality of user terminals to one of the first plurality of subtables of the first table containing identifications of other ones of the plurality of user terminals that also requested the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers being stored within the central computer;adding the identification of the one of the plurality of user terminals to one of the second plurality of subtables of the second table upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers not being stored within the central computer;requesting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers from information provider equipment by the central computer upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers not being stored within the central computer and storing the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers within the central computer upon receipt of the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers;scanning periodically the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table to determine if predefined times have elapsed for transmitting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers to ones of the plurality of user terminals whose identifications are in the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table; andbroadcast transmitting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers to ones of the plurality of user terminals whose identifications are in the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table.