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 over a network from a server to a plurality of users, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a store of user accounts;    receiving a request for data from a user via said network, wherein a user account is required to give the user access to said data;    identifying a no-account condition wherein the user cannot be identified from the store of user accounts; and    calling routines at said server to create a new account for said user while said user is online.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting output data representing said requested data to said requesting user.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method further includes the steps of requesting personal details from said user and adding said details to the account.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said personal details include details of a credit card.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said store of user accounts is a database.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining a database of history of usage for each of said users.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request further includes a user identifier, and said step of identifying a no-account condition comprises the step of identifying a condition wherein the user identifier is not available from the store of user accounts.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request is an HTTP request.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.  
     
     
         11 . A method of serving data over a network from a server to a plurality of users, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a store of user accounts;    receiving a request for data via said network, wherein a user account is required to give the user access to said data, said request comprising a user identifier;    identifying a no-account condition wherein the user identifier is not available from the store; and    calling routines at said server to create a new account for said user while said user is online, comprising requesting credit card details from said user.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for serving data over a network to a plurality of browsing users, comprising a processor, storage, memory and a network connection, wherein said processor is configured to: 
 maintain a store of user accounts in said storage;    receive a request for data from a user via said network connection, wherein a user account is required to give the user access to said data;    identify a no-account condition wherein the user cannot be identified from the store of user accounts; and    create a new account for said user while said user is online.    
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured to transmit output data representing said specified data to said requesting user.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured to request personal details from said user and add said details to the account.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said personal details include details of a credit card.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said store of user accounts is a database.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured to maintain a database of history of usage for each of said users.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said request further includes a user identifier, and said step of identifying a no-account condition comprises the step of identifying a condition wherein the user identifier is not available from the store of user accounts.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said request is an HTTP request.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.