Patent ID: 7124174

Claim:
A data exchange system, comprising: a plurality of communication units; and a control center including: a control node; and a transceiver operable to receive requests for update data, query a database for update data in response to requests for update data from said communication units, and transmit a signal carrying said update data, said transceiver being further operable to periodically transmit update data to said communication units without receiving requests for update data; wherein each said communication unit includes: a memory having graphical data stored therein; a transceiver operable to transmit a request for update data to said control center and to receive said signal carrying said update data from said control center; a processor coupled to a display to interpret said signal and to associate said received update data within said signal with stored graphical data accessible by said processor from said memory; a plurality of controls wherein each said control includes properties identifying a type of said control and any other controls said control may need to use in order to operate, and wherein said received update data and said graphical data are displayed on said display by said processor according to said controls; and a control manager that interacts with said control node of said control center to facilitate request and reception of the update data, wherein said control manager administers said controls and includes a property listing said controls recognized by said control manager.