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 to a browsing device, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request from a browsing device over said network, said request including an identification;    storing a history of usage;    supplying information back to said browsing device, wherein said information includes requested information, and special information identified in response to said identification and said history of usage.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said requested information is in the form of a web page and said special information is supplied to a specified region within said web page.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said identification identifies a user.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said history of usage is stored in a database.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said history of usage relates to a plurality of users.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said database further includes preferences selected by said users.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said history of usage is analysed to identify topics of interest to a user.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said special information relates to a limited edition.  
     
     
         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 to a browsing device, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request from a browsing device over said network said request including an identification;    storing a history of usage; and    supplying a web page back to said browsing device; wherein    special information based on said identification and said history of usage is supplied to a specified region within said web page.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for serving data over a network, comprising a processor, storage, and a network connection, wherein the processor is configured to: 
 receive a request from a browsing device via said network connection, said request including an identification;    store a history of usage in said storage;    supply information back to said browsing device, wherein said information includes requested information, and special information identified in response to said identification and said history of usage.    
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said identification identifies a user.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said history of usage takes the form of a database.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said history of usage relates to a plurality of users.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said database further includes preferences selected by said users.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said history of usage is analysed to identify topics of interest to a user.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said special information relates to a limited edition.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said request is an HTTP request.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said request is in the form of a URL.