Patent ID: 8463848
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of transmitting a plurality of data units, in succession, via a computer network, to at least one end-user, the method comprising: a. providing at least one server comprising a first computer system including b. permitting the at least one end-user to use at least one end-user device in a network with the server, each end-user device comprising a second computer system including c. enabling said server's signals to reach said end-user device, enabling said end-user device's signals to reach the server, and thereby enabling two-way communication between the server and the end-user device via said network communication protocol; d. storing at least one controlled-channel file on the server, with each controlled-channel file comprising a structured document file written in a markup language, and including (i) the first of said data units to be transmitted via the controlled-channel file and (ii) at least one of an embedded polling script and a link to said polling script; e. permitting said end-user to cause said end-user device to download said controlled-channel file and its associated polling script and thereafter providing for the end-user device (i) to display, play, or otherwise process said first data unit and (ii) to execute said polling script; f. providing for each end-user device, as prompted by execution of said polling script, to poll the server repeatedly, to ascertain if the controlled-channel file has been altered on the server; g. enabling a controller to alter each controlled-channel file on the server so that the controlled-channel file reflects altered or additional data to be transmitted to the end-user; h. providing for said controller to alter each controlled-channel file on the server so that each altered controlled-channel file comprises a next data unit to be transmitted via the controlled-channel file; i. permitting the end-user device, as prompted by its execution of the polling script, and upon its next polling of the server, (i) to download from the server the next data unit from the altered controlled-channel file corresponding to the controlled-channel file previously downloaded by the end-user device, and then (ii) to display, play, or otherwise process the next data unit; and j. repeating the steps h through i until all data units to be transmitted and received have been transmitted and received.