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 responding to an HTTP request, comprising the steps of: 
 processing said request so as to determine whether the request satisfies an acceptable structure; and    processing data elements contained within said request if it is determined that said structure is acceptable.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request satisfies an acceptable structure if each of said data elements satisfies an established format.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said data elements identifies data that is required in response to said request.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said data elements identifies the type of formatting required to data supplied in response to said request.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said data elements comprises information relating to a user.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said data elements is a check sum.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said request does not satisfy an acceptable structure if the check sum is invalid.  
     
     
         9 . A method of responding to a request, wherein said request is in the form of a URL and includes at least one data element, comprising the steps of: 
 processing said request so as to determine whether the data element is placed within an established format; and    processing said data element if it is determined that said data element is placed within an established format.    
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for responding to an HTTP request, comprising a processor configured to: 
 process said request so as to determine whether the request satisfies an acceptable structure; and    process data elements contained within said request if it is determined that said structure is acceptable.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said request satisfies an acceptable structure if each of said data elements is placed within an established format.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said data elements identifies data that is required in response to said request.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said data elements identifies the type of formatting required to data supplied in response to said request.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said data elements comprises information relating to a user.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said data elements is a check sum.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said request does not satisfy an acceptable structure if the check sum is invalid.