Method and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network are disclosed. A computer connected to a computer network is provided to host a database. The computer is configured receive a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network. The computer then may accept and store input from the user in a database. The computer may then electronically publish the user input by making information stored in the database freely accessible on the computer network.

1 . A method of electronically publishing information on a computer network comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network;    accepting and storing input from the user in a database;    electronically publishing said stored user input by making information stored in said database freely accessible on the computer network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the act of password-protecting said user input.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the act of allowing said user to update said user input after providing said password.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the act of receiving a request from a user to view said information over said network.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the act of retrieving the information to be viewed from said database.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including the act of transforming said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including the act of serving said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network comprising: 
 a computer connected to the computer network hosting a database configured to: 
 receive a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network;  
 accept and store input from the user in a database; and  
 electronically publish said stored user input by making information stored in said database freely accessible on the computer network.  
   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said computer being further configured to password-protect said user input.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , said computer being further configured to allow said user to update said user input after providing said password.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said computer being further configured to receive a request from a user to view said information over said network.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said computer being further configured to retrieve the information to be viewed from said database.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said computer being further configured to transform said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , said computer being further configured to serve said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network comprising: 
 means for receiving a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network;    means for accepting and storing input from the user in a database; and    means for electronically publishing said stored user input by making information stored in said database freely accessible on the computer network.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising means for password-protecting said user input.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising means for allowing said user to update said user input after providing said password.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising means for receiving a request from a user to view said information over said network.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising means for retrieving the information to be viewed from said database.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising means for transforming said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising means for serving said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.