Serving signals

Abstract

Output signals are served from a serving device to a plurality of browsing devices connected to a network. The output signals represent commands executable by each browsable device so as to display viewable data in accordance with specified page formatting. Requests from browsing clients are identified which contain information relating to the data itself and the display format for the data. The data is read and processed so as to combine a representation of the viewable data with executable instructions. The signals are then supplied to requesting browsing devices, after effectively being assembled as a real time on-line process.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method of generating output data at a server for the distribution of data to one or more browsing devices connected to said server over a network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for viewable data from a requesting browsing device, wherein the request includes a user identifier;    reading text/graphics data in response to said received request;    combining said text/graphics data with a set of formatting instructions selected in response to said user identifier to produce output data, wherein a plurality of possible sets of format instructions are available that differ from one another by positioning one or more portions of the text/graphics data at different locations on a page displayed at a browsing device; and    transmitting the output data to said requesting browsing device.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , further including the steps of: 
 maintaining a user database containing information relating to user preferences, and    reading user preference information from said user database in response to said user identifier,    wherein said set of formatting instructions is selected in response to said user preference information.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said request additionally includes a format identifier and wherein said set of formatting instructions is selected in response to said user identifier and said format identifier.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said text/graphics data is stored in at least one database.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said sets of formatting instructions are stored in a database.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein each of said sets of formatting instructions comprises at least one function.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein each of said sets of formatting instructions comprises an HTML template.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said request includes a checksum.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said request is a URL.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said output data is in HTML.  
     
     
         31 . A method of generating output data at a server for the distribution of data to one or more browsing devices connected to said server over a network, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a user database containing information relating to user preferences;    receiving a request for viewable data from a requesting browsing device, wherein the request includes a user identifier;    reading text/graphics data in response to said received request;    reading user preference information from said user database in response to said user identifier;    combining said text/graphics data with a set of formatting instructions selected in response to said user preference information to produce output data, wherein a plurality of possible sets of format instructions are available that differ from one another by positioning one or more portions of the text/graphics data at different locations on a page displayed at a browsing device; and    transmitting the output data to said requesting browsing device.    
     
     
         32 . Apparatus for the distribution of data to one or more browsing devices connected to said apparatus over a network, comprising a processor, storage, memory and a network connection, wherein said processor is configured to perform the steps of: 
 receiving a request for viewable data from a requesting browsing device, wherein the request includes a user identifier;    reading text/graphics data in response to said received request;    combining said text/graphics data with a set of formatting instructions selected in response to said user identifier to produce output data, wherein a plurality of possible sets of format instructions are available that differ from one another by positioning one or more portions of the text/graphics data at different locations on a page displayed at a browsing device; and    transmitting the output data to said requesting browsing device.    
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , further including the steps of: 
 maintaining a user database containing information relating to user preferences, and    reading user preference information from said user database in response to said user identifier,    wherein said set of formatting instructions is selected in response to said user preference information.    
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said request additionally includes a format identifier and wherein said set of formatting instructions is selected in response to said user identifier and said format identifier.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said text/graphics data is stored in at least one database.  
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said sets of formatting instructions are stored in a database.  
     
     
         37  Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein each of said sets of formatting instructions comprises at least one function.  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein each of said sets of formatting instructions comprises an HTML template.  
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said request includes a checksum.  
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said request is a URL.  
     
     
         41 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said output data is in HTML.  
     
     
         42 . Apparatus for the distribution of data to one or more browsing devices connected to said apparatus over a network, comprising a processor, storage, memory and a network connection, wherein said processor is configured to perform the steps of: 
 maintaining a user database containing information relating to user preferences;    receiving a request for viewable data from a requesting browsing device, wherein the request includes a user identifier;    reading text/graphics data in response to said received request;    reading user preference information from said user database in response to said user identifier;    combining said text/graphics data with a set of formatting instructions selected in response to said user preference information to produce output data, wherein a plurality of possible sets of format instructions are available that differ from one another by positioning one or more portions of the text/graphics data at different locations on a page displayed at a browsing device; and    transmitting the output data to said requesting browsing device.