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 o-line process.

1 . A method of transmitting information over a network to a browsing device, wherein said information is divided into information types and for some of said information types a higher charge is made, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for information from said browsing device, wherein said request includes a user identifier;    maintaining user preferences indicating a preferred information type for each of a plurality of users;    reading said user preferences to identify a specific information type in response to said user identifier;    returning information to said browsing device, wherein said returned information is of said specific information type; and    submitting charges based on said specific information type.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said user preferences additionally indicate at least one topic of interest.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said topic of interest relates to goods for sale.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said topic of interest relates to categories of news.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of maintaining a history of usage for each of said users and wherein said user preferences are obtained from said history of usage.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request is in the form of an HTTP request.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said request is a URL.  
     
     
         9 . A method of transmitting information over a network to a browsing device, wherein said information is divided into information types and for some of said information types a higher charge is made, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for information from a browsing device, wherein said request is in the form of an HTTP request and includes a user identifier and a format identifier;    maintaining user preferences indicating a preferred information type for each of a plurality of users;    reading said user preferences to identify a specific information type in response to said user identifier;    returning information to said browsing device, wherein said returned information is of said specific information type; and    submitting charges based on said specific information type.    
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for transmitting information over a network, comprising a processor, storage and a network connection, wherein 
 said information is divided into information types and for some of said information types a higher charge is made, and    said processor is configured to:    receive a request for information from a browsing device via said network connection, wherein said request includes a user identifier;    maintain user preferences indicating a preferred information type for each of a plurality of users;    read said user preferences to identify a specific information type in response to said user identifier;    return information to said browsing device, wherein said returned information is of said specific information type; and    submit charges based on said specific information type.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said user preferences additionally indicate at least one topic of interest.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said topic of interest relates to goods for sale.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said topic of interest relates to categories of news.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , further including the step of maintaining a history of usage for each of sad users and wherein said user preferences are obtained from said history of usage.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said request is in the form of an HTTP request.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said request is a URL.