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 a browsing device over a network, including the steps of: 
 maintaining user data indicating the age of each user;    receiving a request for specified data from said browsing device, wherein said request includes a user identifier;    selecting information appropriate for said user in response to said request by determining from said user data whether the user is a child or an adult based on said user identifier; and    returning output data to said browsing device, wherein said output data includes said selected information.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the vocabulary used in said selected information depends upon said determination.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of hyperlinks in said output data depends upon said determination.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said user data is stored in a database.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request is an HTTP request.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said information relates to news stories.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selection of information is additionally in response to editorial control.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said user data additionally contains an indication of a topic of interest.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.  
     
     
         11 . A method of serving data to a browsing device over a network, including the steps of: 
 maintaining user data indicating the age of each user;    receiving a request for specified data from said browsing device, wherein said request is an HTTP request and includes a user identifier;    selecting information appropriate for said user in response to said request by determining from said user data whether the user is a child or an adult based on said user identifier; and    returning output data to said browsing device, wherein said output data includes said selected information.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for serving data over a network, comprising a processor, storage, memory and a network connection, wherein said processor is configured to: 
 maintain user data indicating the age of each user;    receive a request for specified data via said network connection, wherein said request includes a user identifier;    select information appropriate for said user in response to said request by determining from said user data whether the user is a child or an adult based on said user identifier; and    return output data via said network connection, wherein said output data includes said selected information.    
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the vocabulary used in said selected information depends upon said determination.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the number of hyperlinks in said output data depends upon said determination.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said user data is stored in a database.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said request is an HTTP request.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said information relates to news stories.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said selection of information is additionally in response to editorial control.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said user data additionally contains an indication of a topic of interest.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said request further includes a format identifier.