Patent ID: 6317780
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
In a computer network including a plurality of servers logically connected to one another and to a plurality of client systems, and wherein at least some of the client systems are comprised of a conventional television monitor and an electronic unit for controlling connection to one or more of the servers for browsing and downloading content from a host server for display at the television monitor, a method of delivering data from a connected host server to a client system, the method comprising the steps of:detecting a first period of idle time of the client system during which the client system has not been used to browse the network;establishing contact between the client system and the host server during the first period of idle time;preloading data selected by the host server to the client system in response to information communicated by the client system which identifies data already cached at the client system;storing the data in the client system;detecting a second period of idle time at the client system;presenting the data at the client system upon detecting the second period of idle time; andreporting to the host server that the data has been presented at the client system.