Information device

Abstract

A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modern for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modern stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

1 . A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device comprising: 
 a modem for establishing communication sessions with said remote server,    a memory coupled to said modem for storing the obtained information, and    a display coupled to said memory for displaying the stored information;    wherein the device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  being configured for hanging on a wall.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the modem is a dial-up modem, and wherein the device further comprising a telephone connection means coupled to said dial-up modem for connecting to the PSTN for connecting to the remote server.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 3  further comprising an off-hook detector coupled to said telephone connection means, and wherein the device postpone the communication upon off-hook state detection.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 3  further comprising means for detecting the state of other device sharing the same telephone connection switching to off-hook state, and wherein the device terminate its communication upon detection of such a state.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 3  further being integrated with another appliance comprising PSTN connection means.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein the appliance is selected out of telephone set, answering machine and facsimile machine.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 3  further being powered from the telephone connection.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the modem is a cellular modem for connecting for connecting to the remote server using a cellular network.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the device is attachable to a cellular telephone set, and wherein the device communicate using the cellular telephone set connected thereto.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein the device further comprises a cellular telephone set charger, operative to charge a cellular telephone set connected thereto.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 9  further integrated within a cellular telephone set.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the modem is one out of xDSL modem and cable modem.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the device connects using the Internet.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the remote server information is organized as web-site, and the device communicate with the web site URL.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the display is housed within a separate device.  
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein the display is television set.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein the information to be displayed is multiplexed with other video channels.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 1  adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote server.  
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 1  adapted to communicate with multiple remote servers for obtaining selected (distinct) information for each remote server.  
   
   
       21 . A system for obtaining information to a users sites from a remote site, the system comprising one or more user sites and one or more remote sites, and wherein: 
 a user site comprises means for communicating to the remote side, obtaining information therefrom and displaying the information;    a remote site comprises means for storing information, communicating to the user side and transmitting information thereto;    and wherein a user site and a remote site periodically and automatically communicates with each other for transmitting information from the remote site to the user site.    
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 21  wherein the communication uses PSTN.  
   
   
       23 . The system according to  claim 21  wherein the communication uses a cellular network.  
   
   
       24 . The system according to  claim 21  wherein the communication uses the Internet.  
   
   
       25 . The system according to  claim 21  adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote site.  
   
   
       26 . The system according to  claim 21  adapted to allow one or more user sites to communicate with multiple remote sites for obtaining selected (distinct) information for each remote site.  
   
   
       27 . For use with an information device comprising a communication unit, information storage unit and display unit, a method for obtaining information from a remote location, the method comprising: 
 communicating with the remote location;    receiving information therefrom;    storing the received information; and    displaying the received information;    wherein the above steps are performed automatically and periodically.    
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the communication uses PSTN.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the communication uses a cellular network.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the communication uses the Internet.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 27  adapted to transmit identification information for obtaining personalized information from the remote site.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 27  adapted to allow one or more user sites to communicate with multiple remote sites for obtaining selected information for each remote site.  
   
   
       33 . An information repository for providing information to an information device comprising a communication unit, an information storage unit and a display unit, so as to allow the information device automatically and periodically to communicate with a remote location for receiving, storing and displaying information therefrom.  
   
   
       34 . A method for providing information to an information device comprising a communication unit, an information storage unit and a display unit, so as to allow the information device automatically and periodically to communicate with a remote location for receiving, storing and displaying information therefrom uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, said method comprising: 
 storing said information,    automatically and periodically connecting to the information device, and    uploading the information to the information device.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising offering a toll-free number for communication by the information device.  
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the communication uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, further comprising providing a distinct charged telephone number used.  
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the communication uses a telephone network out of landline and cellular networks, and the information device is provided by said telephone network operator.  
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising the step of providing the information.  
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the information is provided for free.  
   
   
       40 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the information comprises advertisements.  
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the charging for the system operation is selected from: 
 one time charge;    flat subscription fee;    per the number of communication made;    per the cumulative communication time;    per type of information received;    any combination of the above.    
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the information device is offered as part of ISP services.  
   
   
       43 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the information device is offered as part of information services.