Method and apparatus for obtaining and presenting WEB summaries to users

Abstract

A portal server includes a software agent configured to do summary searches for subscribers based on Internet destinations provided by the subscribers, to retrieve information from such destinations based on pre-programmed site information, and to download the summary information to the subscriber. The destinations and the nature of the information to be retrieved is pre-programmed. There is further a configuration and intitiation interface for a subscriber to set up and start a summary search. In some cases the summary searches are configured for individual clients as templates stored and retrieved at the Internet-connected server. Also in some cases retrieved information is immediately sent to the subscriber, and in other situations such information is saved at the portal to be retrieved by a subscriber at a later time. In preferred embodiments of the invention autologins are accomplished for a subscriber at Internet destinations by use of pre-stored configuration information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An Internet Portal, comprising: 
 an Internet-connected server; and    a portal software executing on the server, including a summary software agent;    wherein the Portal maintains a list of Internet destinations specific for a subscriber, and the summary software agent accesses the Internet destinations, retrieves information according to pre-programmed criteria, and summarizes the retrieved information for delivery to the subscriber.    
     
     
         2 . The Portal of    claim 1    further comprising a configuration and intitiation interface for a subscriber to set up and start a summary search.  
     
     
         3 . The Portal of    claim 1    wherein the summary searches are configured for individual clients as templates stored and retrieved at the Internet-connected server.  
     
     
         4 . The Portal of    claim 1    wherein information retrieved in a summary search is stored to be retrieved by the subscriber.  
     
     
         5 . The Portal of    claim 1    wherein information retrieved in a summary search is downloaded immediately to the subscriber.  
     
     
         6 . The Portal of    claim 1    wherein autologins are performed for the subscriber at each Internet site according to a data stored for the subscriber at the Portal.  
     
     
         7 . In an Internet Portal system, a method for providing summaries of information at WEB sites, URLs for which are maintained for individual subscribers, the method comprising steps of: 
 (a) configuring a summary software agent executable on the Portal to access the URLs;    (b) retrieving information from individual ones of the WEB sites accessed according to pre-programmed criteria specific to each subscriber;    and    (c) providing the information to the subscriber.    
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7    further comprising a step for the subscriber to configure and intitiate, via a configuration and initiation interface, a summary search.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 7    wherein the summary searches are configured for individual clients as templates stored and retrieved at the Internet-connected server.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 7    wherein information retrieved in a summary search is stored to be retrieved by the subscriber.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 7    wherein information retrieved in a summary search is downloaded immediately to the subscriber.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 7    wherein autologins are performed for the subscriber at each Internet site according to a data stored for the subscriber at the Portal.