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 serving data to users over a network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving requests for data from a user;    identifying a condition to the effect that said user is interested in a specified product;    generating output data for serving to said user in the form of an advertisement offering a discount for the purchase of said specified product.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said condition is identified by detecting that said user has viewed output data relating to said product for a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining a history of usage for said user, and wherein said condition is identified by analysing said history of usage to identify a product of interest to said user.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said step of analysing said history of usage comprises the step of analysing the information provided by the viewable data requested by said user.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said history of usage includes preferences selected by said user.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said requests are HTTP requests.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said requests are in the form of URLs.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said requests include a user identifier.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advertisement includes an offer to sell a limited edition.  
     
     
         10 . A method of serving data to users over a network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving HTTP requests for data from a user, wherein said requests include a user identifier;    identifying a condition to the effect that said user is interested in a specified product;    generating output data for serving to said user in the form of an advertisement offering a discount for the purchase of said specified product.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for serving data to users over a network, comprising a processor and a network connection, wherein the processor is configured to: 
 receive requests for data from a user via said network connection;    identify a condition to the effect that said user is interested in a specified product;    generate output data in the form of an advertisement offering a discount for the purchase of said specified product; and    transmit said output data to said user via said network connection.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said condition is identified by detecting that said user has viewed output data relating to said product for a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of maintaining a history of usage for said user, and wherein said condition is identified by analysing said history of usage to identify a product of interest to said user.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of analysing said history of usage comprises the step of analysing the information provided by the viewable data requested by said user.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said history of usage includes preferences selected by said user.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said requests are HTTP requests.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said requests are in the form of URLs.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 1   1 , wherein said requests include a user identifier.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said advertisement includes an offer to sell a limited edition.