Information and advertising distribution system and method

Abstract

In summary, the present invention is an information and advertising distribution system. A data server stores and updates a database of information items and advertisements. The information items and advertisements are each categorized so that each has an associated information category. Workstations remotely located from the data server each include a display device, a communication interface for receiving at least a subset of the information items and advertisements in the data server's database and local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from the data server. An information administrator In each workstation establishes communication with the data server from time to time so as to update the information, items and advertisements stored In local memory with at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored by the data server. An information display controller in each workstation displays on the workstation's display device at least a subset of the information items and advertisements stored in local memory when the workstation meets predefined idleness criteria. At least a subset of the workstations include a profiler for storing subscriber profile data. The subscriber profile data represents subscriber information viewing preferences, indicating information categories for which the subscriber does and does not want to view information items. The information display controller includes a filter for excluding from the information items displayed on the display device those information items inconsistent with the subscriber profile data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information and advertising distribution system, comprising: 
 a data server for storing and updating a database of information items and advertisements, at least a subset of said information items having an associated information category;    a plurality of workstations remotely located from said data server for use by a corresponding set of subscribers; each workstation including: 
 a display device;  
 a communication interface for establishing a communication connection with said data server and for receiving at least a subset of said information items and advertisements in said data server's database;  
 local memory for storing the in(information items and advertisements received from said data server;  
 an information administrator that establishes communication with said data server from time to time so as to update the information items and advertisements stored in said local memory with at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored by said data server; and  
 an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria.  
   
     
     
         2 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said information display controller also displays said information items and advertisements on said display device upon request by one of said subscribers using said workstation.  
     
     
         3 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said data server includes means for receiving new information, for updating said information items stored by said data server with new information items corresponding to said new information and for deleting older ones of said stored information items;    said information administrator in at least a subset of said workstations Includes a scheduler that prompts said information administrator to download said information items from said data server so as to update the information items stored in those workstations' local memory more often than said information administrator downloads said advertisements from said data server so as to update the advertisements stored in those workstations' local memory.    
     
     
         4 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 at least a subset of said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    at least a subset of said workstations include a profiler for storing subscriber profile data, said subscriber profile data including data representing subscriber information viewing preferences for viewing information items associated with various ones of said defined set of information categories; and    said information display controller includes a filter for excluding from the information items displayed on said display device those of said information items inconsistent with said subscriber information viewing preferences.    
     
     
         5 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 at least a subset of said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    at least a subset of said workstations include a profiler for storing subscriber profile data, said subscriber profile data including data representing subscriber information viewing preferences for viewing information items associated with various ones of said defined set of information categories; and    said information administrator includes a filter for excluding from the information items stored in said local memory those of said information items inconsistent with said subscriber information viewing preferences.    
     
     
         6 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 at least a subset of said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    said information display controller displays on said display device, in successive time periods, ones of said information items stored in said local memory associated with successively selected ones of said information categories.    
     
     
         7 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said local memory of each said workstation stores a plurality of display scripts, each display script for controlling display of at least one information item in conjunction with display of at least one advertisement; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, in successive time periods, said information items stored in said local memory in conjunction with advertisements stored in said local memory, utilizing successive ones of said display scripts stored in said local memory during said successive time periods.    
     
     
         8 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein 
 at least a subset of said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    at least a subset of said advertisements stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, during each of at least a subset of said successive time periods, ones of said information items and advertisements associated with a same one of said defined set of information categories.    
     
     
         9 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein 
 said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith an information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    said advertisements stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, during each said successive time period, at least one of said locally stored advertisements and ones of the locally stored information items associated with a selected one of said defined set of information categories, wherein said selected one of said defined set of information categories changes during successive time periods.    
     
     
         10 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said data server stores a set of display scripts, each display script for controlling display of at least one information item in conjunction with display of at least one advertisement;    said local memory of each said workstation stores at least a subset of said display scripts;    said information administrator updates the display scripts stored in said local memory with at least a subset of said display scripts stored by said data server; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, in successive time periods, said information items stored in said local memory in conjunction with advertisements stored in said local memory, utilizing successive ones of said display scripts stored in said local memory during said successive time periods.    
     
     
         11 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein 
 at least a subset of said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    at least a subset of said advertisements stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, during each of at least a subset of said successive time periods, ones of said information items and advertisements associated with a same one of said defined set of information categories.    
     
     
         12 . The information and advertising distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein 
 said information items stored in said local memory and in said data server each. have associated therewith an information category selected from a defined set of information categories;    said advertisements stored in said local memory and in said data server each have associated therewith at least one information category selected from a defined set of information categories; and    said information display controller displays on said display device, during each said successive time period, at least one of said locally stored advertisements and ones of the locally stored information items associated with a selected one of said defined set of information categories, wherein said selected one of said defined set of information categories changes during successive time periods.    
     
     
         13 . An information and advertising distribution system, comprising: 
 a data server for storing and updating a database of information items and advertisements, at least a subset of said information items having an associated information category;    a plurality of workstations remotely located from said data server for use by a corresponding set of subscribers; each workstation including: 
 a display device;  
 a communication interface for establishing a communication connection with said data server and for receiving at least a subset of said information items and advertisements in said data server's database;  
 local memory for storing the information items and advertisements received from said data server,  
 an information administrator that updates the information items and advertisements stored in said local memory from time to time with at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored by said data server, and  
 an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria.  
   
     
     
         14 . An information and advertising display system, comprising: 
 a display device;    local memory for storing information items and advertisements;    a plurality of display scripts, each display script for controlling display of at least one information item in conjunction with display of at least one advertisement; and    an information display controller for displaying on said display device at least a subset of said information items and advertisements stored in said local memory when said workstation meets predefined idleness criteria;    wherein said information display controller displays on said display device, in successive time periods, said information items stored in said local memory in conjunction with advertisements stored in said local memory, utilizing successive ones of said display scripts stored in said local memory during said successive time periods.