Systems and methods for packaging and distributing information

Abstract

A system ( 190 ) provides information to multiple subscribers ( 105 - 125 ). The system ( 190 ) receives requests for different types of information from the subscribers ( 105 - 125 ) and stores rules for delivering the requested information. The system ( 190 ) gathers information from multiple information sources ( 145 - 155 ), packages at least some of the gathered information into customized bundles according to the received requests and the stored rules, and delivers the customized bundles to the subscribers ( 105 - 125 ) according to the stored rules.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . An agent located between a subscriber device and a plurality of information providers, comprising: 
 a memory to store information that indicates a type of data desired by the subscriber device and rules that indicate a manner in which the desired data is to be delivered to the subscriber device, the rules including at least one of whether the subscriber device will accept less or more than the desired data, a time or times when the desired data should be delivered, or a form in which the desired data should be delivered; and    a processor, coupled to the memory, to:    aggregate data from the plurality of information providers,    package a subset of the aggregated data, as packaged data, based on the stored information that indicates a type of data desired by the subscriber device, and    deliver the packaged data to the subscriber device based on the stored rules that indicate a manner in which the desired data is to be delivered to the subscriber device.    
     
     
         3 . The agent of  claim 2 , wherein the desired data includes at least one of audio data, video data, or textual data.  
     
     
         4 . The agent of  claim 2 , wherein when aggregating data, the processor is configured to at least one of listen for a broadcast stream, receive a transmission, or access a web page.  
     
     
         5 . The agent of  claim 2 , wherein when packaging a subset of the aggregated data, the processor is configured to include more data than desired by the subscriber device in the packaged data.  
     
     
         6 . The agent of  claim 2 , where when packaging a subset of the aggregated data, the processor is configured to include less data than desired by the subscriber device in the packaged data.  
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising: 
 means for storing information that indicates types of data desired by a plurality of subscriber devices;    means for storing rules that indicate a manner in which the desired data is to be presented to the subscriber devices, the rules including at least one of whether the subscriber devices will accept less or more than the desired data or a time or times when the desired data should be presented;    means for aggregating data from a plurality of information providers;    means for packaging subsets of the aggregated data, as packaged data, based on the stored information that indicates types of data desired by the subscriber devices; and    means for presenting the packaged data based on the stored rules that indicate a manner in which the desired data is to be presented to the subscriber devices.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 means for receiving requests from the subscriber devices indicating the types of data desired by the subscriber devices; and    wherein the packaged data satisfies the requests of a plurality of the subscriber devices.    
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising: 
 storing data that indicates a type of information desired by a subscriber device;    storing a rule that indicates a manner in which the desired information is to be delivered to the subscriber device, the rule including a form in which the desired information should be presented;    obtaining information from a plurality of information providers;    packaging a subset of the obtained information, as packaged information, based on the stored data that indicates a type of information desired by the subscriber device; and    presenting the packaged data based on the stored rule that indicates a manner in which the desired information is to be delivered to the subscriber device.    
     
     
         10 . An automated method for providing data, comprising: 
 storing information associated with a subscriber that indicates a type of data desired by the subscriber;    storing rules associated with the subscriber that indicate how to present the desired data;    gathering data from a plurality of information providers;    identifying at least some of the gathered data, as identified data, based on the information associated with the subscriber; and    presenting the identified data based on the rules associated with the subscriber.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired data includes at least one of audio data, video data, or textual data.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein gathering data includes at least one of: 
 listening for a broadcast stream,    receiving a transmission, or    accessing a web page.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identifying at least some of the gathered data includes identifying more data than desired by the subscriber device as the identified data.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , where identifying at least some of the gathered data includes identifying less data than desired by the subscriber device as the identified data.  
     
     
         15 . A system for providing audio or video information, comprising: 
 a memory to store data associated with a subscriber that indicates a type of audio or video information desired by the subscriber, and a rule associated with the subscriber that indicates how to provide the desired audio or video information to the subscriber; and    a processor, coupled to the memory, to:    obtain streaming audio or video information from a plurality of information providers,    identify at least some of the obtained audio or video information, as identified information, based on the stored data associated with the subscriber, and    provide the identified audio or video information to the subscriber based on the stored rule associated with the subscriber.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein when obtaining streaming audio or video information, the processor is configured to listen for a broadcast stream.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein when identifying at least some of the obtained audio or video information, the processor is configured to identify more audio or video information than desired by the subscriber as the identified information.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein when identifying at least some of the obtained audio or video information, the processor is configured to identify less audio or video information than desired by the subscriber as the identified information.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to package the identified information into a customized bundle according to the stored data associated with the subscriber.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request from the subscriber indicating the type of audio or video information desired by the subscriber.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to package the identified information into a customized bundle that satisfies requests from a plurality of subscribers.