Abstract:
A method of downloading web content which downloads and stores web content at scheduled times. The method includes the steps of determining a number of web content addresses and corresponding download times, and downloading and storing web content at the web content addresses at the download times by the kiosk, before the kiosk displays any of the web content.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a method of downloading web content to a network kiosk in advance.  
           [0002]    Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the Internet server web sites.  
           [0003]    Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages and other web-delivered content from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.  
           [0004]    One problem with current global network service is bandwidth limitations. Bandwidth generally varies by type of connection, network usage levels, and time of day. Service problems are complicated by the fact that web pages differ in amount of content and web content differs in size. For example, a typical web page contains text, graphic images, and pointers or hypertext links to other web pages or content. However, web content may motion video files, which due to their size take significantly longer to download, even over high-speed or “T” series lines.  
           [0005]    Various general methods of downloading web content are available today. Web browser software applications typically have the ability to store previously downloaded web content in temporary or cache files so that the same content need not be downloaded again the next time the web content is accessed. However, such methods are intended for general purpose operation and thus do not completely serve the needs of retailers. In particular, retailers do not want customers to walk away from their kiosks because web content is arriving to slowly.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a downloading method which relies on configuration information suited to the needs of retailers. It would also be desirable to provide a downloading method which can be configured by time of day.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method of downloading web content to a network kiosk in advance is provided.  
           [0008]    The method includes the steps of determining a number of web content addresses and corresponding download times, and downloading and storing web content at the web content addresses at the download times by the kiosk, before the kiosk displays any of the web content.  
           [0009]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method of downloading web content to a network kiosk in advance.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to download web content at scheduled times, before the kiosk displays any of the web content.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to download web content at scheduled times, during a period of low kiosk usage. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transaction processing system including a network kiosk;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a depiction of a download configuration file; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the content downloading method of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Turning now to FIG. 1, transaction system  10  includes kiosk  12 , in-store server  13 , and global network  14 . Kiosk  12  is preferably located within a transaction establishment, such as a retail store, or transaction environment, such as a shopping mall. Kiosk  12  may include an NCR 7401 computer.  
         [0017]    Kiosk  12  primarily includes processor  16 , touch screen  18 , memory  20 , and storage medium  22 . Kiosk  12  may additionally include a number of peripherals, including magnetic strip reader (MSR)  24 , printer  26 , and scanner  28 .  
         [0018]    To assist with execution of certain tasks performed by kiosk  12 , kiosk  12  includes a built-in time keeping device, commonly referred to as a system clock, which is synchronized with current time, in order to automatically execute the tasks at their scheduled times.  
         [0019]    Processor  16  controls operation of kiosk  12  and executes web browser software  32 , content download software  34 , and web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0020]    Web browser software  32  allows an operator to access information and purchase products from retailers through global network  14 , which preferably includes World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) servers. Web browser software  32  may include commercially-available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “−k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menubars to prevent operator access to those functions.  
         [0021]    Web browser software  32  retrieves and displays web pages  44  from in-store server  13  and/or global network  14 . Global network  14  includes a plurality of interconnected servers. Web pages  44  include web pages which display information about products and services offered by the kiosk owner as well as other web pages. Web pages  44  assist operators to find information about products sold by the kiosk owner and to complete purchases of such products. For this purpose, web pages  34  may include a start or “home” page which operates as a default page from which operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using kiosk  12 . Web pages  44  may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language.  
         [0022]    Content download software  34  downloads web content at scheduled times, including dates and times of day. Date and time of day information for each instance of web content may be coded into content download software  34  or listed in download configuration file  38  to allow a kiosk owner to control operation. Preferably, web content is downloaded during days and times of day when kiosk usage is low. Kiosk  12  stores download configuration file  38  in storage medium  20 .  
         [0023]    In-store server  13  may also execute content download software  34 , particularly if server  13  is managing delivery of web content to kiosk  12 . Server  13  may store its own download configuration file  38  in storage medium  19 .  
         [0024]    Web wrapper software  36  provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software  36  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, other applications, the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk  12  to reboot.  
         [0025]    Touch screen  18  includes display  40  and input device  42 . Display  40  and input device  42  may also be separate units. Input device  42  may record personal information from an operator.  
         [0026]    Memory  20  is used by processor  16  to store executed program information, including web wrapper software information.  
         [0027]    MSR  24  reads loyalty, credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of cards carried by an operator. MSR  24  may record personal information from an operator.  
         [0028]    Printer  26  prints information from web wrapper software  32 , including information on web pages  44  from network  14 . For example, printer  26  may print information relevant to a transaction completed by an operator using kiosk  12 .  
         [0029]    Scanner  28  reads bar codes on products to obtain product identification numbers. Kiosk  12  queries a transaction server with the identification numbers to obtain information about the product and displays the information.  
         [0030]    Turning now to FIG. 2, download configuration file  38  includes entries ADDRESS, DESCRIPTION, DATE, and TIME.  
         [0031]    Entry ADDRESS identifies a particular address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for web content to be downloaded. Address information for kiosk-accessible web sites is obtained manually and inserted by the kiosk owner into download configuration file  38 .  
         [0032]    Entry DESCRIPTION describes the content to be downloaded, to assist a kiosk owner with management of web content. Content may include text, graphic images, video images, scripts, and other types of content.  
         [0033]    Entry DATE identifies days on which the content is to be downloaded.  
         [0034]    Entry TIME identifies times of day at which the content is to be downloaded. The download time is preferably a time when more bandwidth is available, such as late at night, or may be when kiosk  12  is not in use.  
         [0035]    Configuration file  38  includes a minimum number of records, since errors would be likely in a comprehensive list of all web content. Use of configuration file  38  especially facilitates downloading of large media files.  
         [0036]    In more detail, content download software  34  reads each record in download configuration file  38  to determine whether content must be downloaded and whether time information correspond to current dates and times of day information. Content download software  34  may be configured for scheduled downloading of web content in accordance with date and time of day information in download configuration file  38 . Content download software  34  may be configured for manual downloading of web content in accordance with operator selections from download configuration file  38 . Web browser software  32  obtains downloaded web content from storage medium  20  in a known manner before looking to global network  14 .  
         [0037]    Turning now to FIG. 3, the method of the present invention is illustrated beginning with START  60 .  
         [0038]    In step  62 , content download software  34  reads a record in download configuration file  38 .  
         [0039]    In step  64 , content download software  34  determines the date entry in the record.  
         [0040]    In step  66 , content download software  34  compares the date to a current date from the system clock. If the current date does not meet the date criteria, operation proceeds to step  78  to read the next address record. Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  68 .  
         [0041]    In step  68 , content download software  34  determines the time of day entry in the record.  
         [0042]    In step  70 , content download software  34  compares the time of day to a current time of day from the system clock. If the current time of day does not meet the time criteria, operation proceeds to step  78  to read the next address record. Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  72 .  
         [0043]    In step  72 , content download software  34  determines an address in the record.  
         [0044]    In step  74 , content download software  34  contacts the downloading server or web site in global network  14  where the information is located using the address.  
         [0045]    In step  76 , content download software  34  downloads the content and stores the content in storage medium  20  (or  19 ).  
         [0046]    In step  78 , content download software  34  determines whether the record is the last record. If so, operation ends at step  80 . Otherwise, operation returns to step  62 .  
         [0047]    Advantageously, content download software  34  facilitates having web content available in advance of display of corresponding web pages. Web browser software  32  obtains downloaded web content from storage medium  20  in a known manner before looking to global network  14 . For example, web browser software  32  records a selection of an address of a web page, reads web content identified in the web page which is located in storage medium  20 , and displays the web page with the web content located in storage medium  20 .  
         [0048]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.