Abstract:
An intermediate server, or kiosk controller, serves as an agent between content servers and kiosk computers. A control program loaded on the intermediate server directs the intermediate server to retrieve content data from various content servers on a network. The particular content to be retrieved is specified in a run list composed of location codes. The intermediate server then automatically transmits the content to the kiosks in the sequential order specified by the run list. The kiosks&#39; screen displays are consistently refreshed based on the transmitted content. In a specific embodiment, a kiosk controller is connected via the Internet to various web servers. The kiosk controller retrieves web pages from the various web servers. The kiosk controller modifies all links contained within the web pages to point to the kiosk computer. The kiosk controller then sends the modified web pages to kiosks running browser programs.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/839,237, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,104, entitled “Server-Based Host Monitor,” filed on Apr. 28, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/840,325, entitled “Server-Based Browser Monitor,” filed on Apr. 28, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for retrieving information from a site on a network and providing that information to one or more computers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, computer networks have grown very popular with computer users for communicating and exchanging information. Such networks allow personal computer users to connect with each other, either directly or through a central communication point, and to exchange information by using a protocol common to each personal computer in each network. The term “Internet” has been adopted to describe the publicly available network to which virtually every personal computer in the world has access. Recent improvements in the software available for accessing and searching make the Internet a very popular source of information which can even be utilized by novices to computer technology. 
     Computers communicate on internet or intranet networks using a common set of standards for exchanging data known as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”). To initiate communication on a network, a user, known as a “client” contacts another computer on the network, known as the “server” or “host,” by using various publicly available software programs. In private networks, such as corporate or business “intranets,” a network protocol is usually used which allows a security system or “firewall” to keep internal data from leaving the intranet. In public networks such as the Internet, these programs use various protocols to organize information in a manner which allows the user to locate and access files of interest to the user. For instance, some files are organized by a hierarchical menu system known as the “gopher.” A user can search the Internet by linking from an Internet site of interest or by entering the uniform resource locator (“URL”) of the file on the gopher server which the user wants to review. 
     The most popular and user-friendly protocol for organizing information on the Internet has become the World Wide Web (the “WWW” or “Web”). The Web links information by associating items of interest to each other with a common TCP/IP known as the hyper text transfer protocol (“HTTP”). A Web user searches the Web by starting at the user&#39;s “home page,” which is created and operated with hypertext markup language (“HTML”). From the home page, the Web user searches out and retrieves information by using “web browser” software. Web browsers allow a Web user to transfer images and texts from files of interest to the user&#39;s computer. Web browsers operate by allowing a Web user to identify a “Web link” of interest on a Web page and then execute the Web link to transfer the computer data associated with the Web link from the host computer containing that data to the Web user&#39;s computer. Web links perform this transfer of computer data by communicating the URL of the desired file to the host. 
     Businesses have responded to the available market of Internet users by creating a large number of Web pages which users can review. These Web pages carry a vast amount of information about businesses and the services and goods offered by businesses. Internet users can contact business through the Web pages to gain additional information about the business and, in some cases, can actually order goods and services through the Internet. Thus, the Internet has served as a beneficial means for informing the public about available goods and services and allowing businesses to advertise regarding the goods and services offered by them. 
     Accordingly, both Internet users and businesses would benefit from a system or method which increases the accessibility of the information which businesses place on the Internet. However, increased usage of a business&#39;s Web page requires the business to make capital investments to improve the number of Internet users who can simultaneously access the business&#39;s Web page. Further, a business gains little from advertising its Web page in hopes that an Internet user will visit the Web page as opposed to just advertising the business&#39;s goods and services outright. 
     Some systems do exist which facilitate the ability of a computer user to visit a variety of Internet sites in a preset or random order. For example, the Point Cast software program allows a computer user to specify a variety of information categories and sources and then directs the user&#39;s computer to display advertisements and/or snippets of the specified information categories and sources using PointCast&#39;s proprietary data formats, in an order controlled and biased by the PointCast software program. In some cases, the user can click on the advertisement or snippet while it is displayed and the program will connect the user to related content on a Web site via a separate browser program. Thus, in its passive mode, the PointCast user can only view partial-screen advertisements and snippets rather than full-screen Web content. Further, an advertiser has no direct control over the presentation of their advertisement or snippet as this is controlled by the PointCast software. Further, PointCast does not give an advertiser a full screen, but only a portion of a screen. Further, a user must download and install the PointCast software program on his system after which the PointCast software determines the format and order of information displayed. This arrangement makes the PointCast software program impractical for use as a commercial advertising tool controlled by an advertiser. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, a need has arisen for an apparatus or method to allow a user of a network to sequentially receive and review information from network sites. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for sending data from network sites to a computer by sending the data through an intermediate server. 
     More specifically, the present invention allows an intermediate server to receive content data from a content server or sequence of content data from a plurality of content servers, and then send the content data through the network to a kiosk computer or a plurality of kiosk computers. A control program loaded on the intermediate server may operationally direct the intermediate server to retrieve content data from a plurality of content servers according to a run list that stores the location code or domain name of each content server. The control program may include instructions that direct the intermediate server to modify the content data to point back to the intermediate server, allowing the intermediate server to monitor the use of the kiosk computer. When the content servers are interfaced with the World Wide Web, advertisers can use the advanced graphics of the Web to provide attractive advertising with tremendous flexibility. 
     The present invention provides an important technical advantage by allowing a receiver or kiosk computer to passively receive content data from a sequence of content servers without directly contacting the content servers. Further, the kiosk computer can receive content data without requiring any special software or hardware other than that required to access the network, such as a Web browser for accessing the Web. Further, the intermediate server can provide the content data to a plurality of kiosk computers even though the intermediate server only contacts the content server once, thereby allowing the content user to increase the access to the content data without increasing the capabilities of the content server. Further, advertisers can maintain direct control over their advertisements by simply updating the network or Web site which the intermediate server contacts. Thus, an advertiser can provide full-screen flexible advertising which can fully inform the public about the advertiser&#39;s products by leading to additional Web sites. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like referenced numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention interfaced with the Internet; and 
     FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention used on the Internet and also on an intranet. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the figures, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
     The present invention uses an intermediate server as an agent between a content server or sequence of content servers and a kiosk computer or plurality of kiosk computers. A control program loaded on the intermediate server directs it to retrieve content data from one or more content servers through an interface such as a network. A network is any means of transmitting data between computers and generally entails the use of a common protocol. The control program directs the intermediate server to reference a run list of location codes, such as URL&#39;s, to determine which content data to retrieve and then facilitates the transmission of the content data to one or more kiosk computers where the content is rendered and presented on a computer screen for a predetermined period of time. When the content data comprises screen data, meaning data used in order for the kiosk computer to render a particular screen display, then the kiosk computer becomes a tool by which businesses can promote the use of their Web pages. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted as being interfaced with the Internet  40  by using the protocol of the World Wide Web. The term “Internet” as used herein refers to any network to which the public has access. Generally, a computer user can interface with the Internet through any telephone line or equivalent means of communication if the user&#39;s computer can implement TCP\IP or any other network compatible protocol. 
     An intermediate server  50  is interfaced with the Internet  40 . Typically, computers that are interfaced a network as a server have a processor to operate the interface to the network and at least one local storage device. The interface itself is typically accomplished through a modem, although other means are available, such as ISDN or the high speed trunk lines which form part of the Internet. 
     In one embodiment, the intermediate server has a processor with at least the capability of an Intel 386 processor, which is the minimum capability generally required to efficiently run the Web&#39;s HTTP protocol. The intermediate server interfaces with the network through a modem, although any interface having the ability to receive input from at least two clients will suffice. The memory of this embodiment includes local RAM memory adequate to operate the HTTP protocol and a local storage device  60  such as a disk storage device having enough memory to store at least one Web page, although an equal amount of RAM memory will also work. A run list local storage device  65  is interfaced with intermediate server  50  and with advertiser input  30  and administrator input  35 . This interface can occur through a direct connection as depicted or through an interface, such as a Web browser, of an administrator or advertiser with intermediate server  50  through the Internet  40 . Alternatively, any single storage device of adequate size may be manipulated to perform the functions of local storage device  60  and run list storage device  65 . 
     A content server  80  interfaces with intermediate server  50  through the Internet  40 . Content server  80  provides content data such as screen data which allows a computer to display information on a computer monitor screen. For instance, the content data can be an HTML Web page that a content data identification code location such as a URL stores. Any server which intermediate server  50  accesses by a network may act as a content server for the present invention. This means that content server  80  includes at least one interface, the ability to use a protocol common to intermediate server  50 , and some data of interest stored in an accessible memory storage device at an identifiable location, such as a Web page stored in HTML at a URL. 
     Kiosk computer  90  interfaces with Internet  40 , thereby giving it access to intermediate server  50 . Kiosk computer  90  includes at least one network interface such as a modem and the ability to use a protocol common to the protocol that intermediate server  50  uses, such as HTTP. Kiosk computer  90  need not include advanced capabilities but, in the preferred embodiment, only requires the ability to receive content data and render the content data in a usable format on kiosk monitor screen  95 . Thus, kiosk computer  90  may be an inexpensive, simple Web TV, a primitive processor, or a complex device. In alternative embodiments, kiosk computer  90  interfaces with input devices such as a keyboard, mouse or credit card swipe which allows a user of kiosk computer  90  to interact through the Internet  40  with intermediate server  50 , with content server  80 , or with other servers accessible on the Internet  40 . In yet another embodiment, an individual user or intranet can access intermediate server  50  to receive and render content data in a screen saver mode. 
     Advertiser input  30  and administrator input  35  interface with run list storage device  65  either through a direct input or with a Web browser through Internet  40  and intermediate server  50 . Advertiser input  30  allows advertisers to identify a set of URL&#39;s representing content server data which the advertisers would like displayed on certain kiosk computers or a certain kiosk group, including the pause time for each display on each kiosk computer or group. Administrator input  35  allows an administrator of the system to manage logical kiosk groups and URL run lists, and to track system usage for billing purposes and kiosk usage. 
     FIG. 1 depicts steps  1 - 10  to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment of intermediate server  50  as an apparatus for sharing content data between content server  80  and kiosk computer  90 . At step  1 , an advertiser submits identification information such as URLs for the content data which the advertiser would like to have sent to kiosk computer  90 . The advertiser can submit this list through an interface with the Internet or by any means which allows the administrator of the system to input the identification codes into the run list storage device  65 . At step  2 , the administrator identifies kiosks such as kiosk  90  and provides a run list of content data for each kiosk to receive, such as a list of URLs for a given set of content data. The administrator further provides a pause time for each set of content data to be displayed on each kiosk computer. 
     At step  3 , kiosk computer  90  accesses intermediate server  50  with a standard Web browser and provides kiosk identification information. Kiosk computer  90  may access intermediate server  50  by a kiosk user setting up the kiosk or may have the location name of intermediate server  50  programmed in a boot-up routine which directs kiosk computer  90  to automatically access intermediate server  50 . 
     At step  4 , an associative control program directs the intermediate server  50  to correlate the kiosk identification information to a kiosk group and retrieves the run list of desired content data for the kiosk computer associated with the kiosk identification information. 
     At step  5 , the control program directs intermediate server  50  to retrieve the content data associated with the first content data identification code in the run list. In the preferred embodiment, as shown at step  6 , intermediate server  50  uses a Web browser to retrieve an HTML Web page from a URL on content server  80  through the interface with the Internet  40 . However, other ways of identifying and receiving content data of interest may be used. 
     At step  7 , the control program directs intermediate server  50  to modify the content data and store the content data on local storage device  60 . In one embodiment, the content data comprises a Web page having Web links and associated graphics. Intermediate server  50  may modify the content data by replacing the Web links with modified Web links. The modified Web links comprise the original Web links appended to the location code of intermediate server  50 . In this way, if a user of a kiosk computer receives and activates a modified Web link, the modified Web link will direct the user&#39;s computer to contact intermediate server  50 , which will then use the appended Web link to retrieve the associated content data. Alternatively, the intermediate server can present unmodified Web links for the kiosk user to activate. 
     At step  8 , a re-direct program loaded on intermediate server  50  directs it to create and send a modified content data identification code to kiosk computer  90 . The modified content data identification code comprises the original code appended to the location code of intermediate server  50 . 
     At step  9 , a Web browser on kiosk computer  90  receives the re-direct code and accordingly requests the HTML data stored at step  7 . In alternative embodiments, the re-direct program can use other means of identifying appropriate content data and sending that content data to kiosk computer  90 . However, by using a Web browser, kiosk computer  90  can request HTML data using a typical Web browser and without any system-specific software. 
     At steps  10  and  11 , intermediate server  50  provides kiosk computer  90  with the modified content data and with standard HTTP client pull instructions to direct kiosk computer  90  to the sequential URL or other identification from the run list. The client pull instructions include a pause time to define the period of time which kiosk computer  90  will display content data on kiosk monitor screen  95 , and also includes the sequential content data identification code such as the next URL in the run list. At step  12  after the pause time has expired, the Web browser of kiosk computer  90  requests the sequential content data identification code of the client pull instructions. Intermediate server  50  then goes back to step  5  to retrieve the content data correlated with the sequential content identification code. In this manner, intermediate server  50  proceeds through the predetermined sequence of content identification codes initially retrieved from run list storage device  65 . A loop of requested content data is created and continued until interrupted by a user input or otherwise. In one embodiment, the intermediate server  50  stores content data in local storage, such as local cache, and provides the stored data to subsequent URL requests from kiosk computers. In this way, intermediate server  50  can reduce the number of contacts made over the Internet  40  with content server  80 , and can provide data to kiosk computer  90  with little delay. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. An intermediate server  150  is interfaced to intranet  140 . Intranet  140  has limited access and is protected by a security system firewall  200  which prevents unauthorized access to intranet  140 . Content server  180  and kiosk computers  191  and  192  are interfaced to intranet  140 . An advertiser input  130  submits a run list to intermediate server  50 , and an administrator input  135  creates kiosk groups and correlates the groups to an appropriate run list stored in run list local storage device  165 . For instance, kiosk computer  193  and kiosk computer  194  are grouped in a kiosk group that receives content data specified by a first run list. Kiosk computer  191  and kiosk computer  192  belong to a kiosk group that receives content data according to a second run list. Thus, the control program on intermediate server  150  directs it to retrieve content data according to the first and second run lists and send the content data to the first and second kiosk groups, respectively. 
     FIG. 2 also depicts intermediate server  50  as interfacing with Internet  40  and content server  80  as set forth in FIG.  1 . As described in the intranet, intermediate server  50  provides content data to a first kiosk group comprising a plurality of kiosk computers depicted as kiosk computer  93  and kiosk computer  94 . Intermediate sever  50  also provides content data to a second kiosk group according to a second run list, the second kiosk group comprising kiosk computer  91  and kiosk computer  92 . Intermediate servers  50  and  150  provide content data to a plurality of kiosk computers in the same way that a Web page can be accessed by a plurality of computers. However, firewall  200  prevents kiosk computers outside the firewall from receiving content data from the intranet. Thus, intermediate server  150  can only service kiosks behind the firewall  200 , such as kiosk  191 ; however, intermediate server  50  can service kiosks that reside on both sides of firewall  200  as long as kiosks behind firewall  200  have access to Internet  40 . 
     In operation, the present invention allows kiosk computers located in public places to receive and display content data stored on the Internet sites of selected businesses. The kiosk computer displays the content data in a sequential manner until a user makes an input into the kiosk computer. For instance, if a traveler passing through an airport sees a product of interest on a kiosk computer displaying the home page of ABC Company, the user can select a Web link to ABC Company to receive additional information about the product of interest. The user can navigate the Internet to related Web sites using the modified Web links. Each activation of a modified Web link points to the intermediate server, which retrieves the requested content data and modifies the data before passing the data to the kiosk computer. After the user stops making inputs to the kiosk computer for a given time, the kiosk computer returns to the run list to display the sequential content data according to the run list of its kiosk group. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a corporation can treat computers interfaced with its intranet as kiosks, and flash corporate news items. Essentially, the content data acts as a screen saver which the corporate user can deactivate to use his computer for other purposes. Similarly, an Internet user could use the present invention as both a screen saver and a means of discovering new Internet sites. 
     The present invention allows a business to effectively use a Web site to advertise goods and services and to provide a vast supply of information to potential customers without a significant capital investment. The advertiser can maintain complete control over the screen rendered on kiosk computers, and can thus update advertisements on a real time basis. Further, the present invention can turn individual computers located in residences, businesses or behind corporate firewalls into kiosks by providing a screen saver service that both informs the public about information available on the Web and gets an advertiser&#39;s message out. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.