초록 ▼

A novel electronic information transport component can be incorporated in a wide range of electronic information products, for example magazine collections, to automate the mass distribution of updates, such as current issues, from a remote server to a wide user base having a diversity of computer s

A novel electronic information transport component can be incorporated in a wide range of electronic information products, for example magazine collections, to automate the mass distribution of updates, such as current issues, from a remote server to a wide user base having a diversity of computer stations. Advantages of economy, immediacy and ease of use are provided. Extensions of the invention permit automated electronic catalog shopping with order placement and, optionally, order confirmation. A server-based update distribution service is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

A computer-implemented information transport software component embeddable in a vendor-provided containing information product, the transport component being separately suppliable to one or more vendors of multiple containing electronic information products for use with any one of said multiple cont

A computer-implemented information transport software component embeddable in a vendor-provided containing information product, the transport component being separately suppliable to one or more vendors of multiple containing electronic information products for use with any one of said multiple containing electronic information products, the information transport component being intended for mass distribution of electronic information file objects to users of a diversity of uncoordinated communications equipped computer stations by enabling said users to fetch a manifest-listed electronic information file object from an object source specified with said information product to a user\s computer station, in an on-line manifest-based transport operation proceeding in unattended mode after activation, said information transport software component being adaptable to and controllable by each of said multiple containing information product to have a user interface in said information product for activation of unattended transport of the information file object from the remote object source to the user\s computer station, said user\s station being entered into a real time, closed-ended, client-server communication as a client with said remote object source via a communications network lacking a network file system, said information transport software component comprising: a user interface within said containing information product for allowing said activation of unattended transport by said user, and to provide said user, in said information product, information transport functions with a desired look and feel unconstrained by said information transport component; means for referencing a manifest list to identify an object to be transported; means for establishing call connection to said remote object source, wherein said establishment of call connection comprises login and a handshake process between a user protocol and a source protocol, wherein said user communications protocol is specified in a user communications module of said information transport component, and specifies user station functions of said unattended object transport including a remote object source address, wherein said source communications protocol is specified in a source communication module of said remote object source, and specifies source functions of said information file object transport, said user communications protocol being cooperative with and known to said source communications protocol to effect said unattended object transport automatically after initiation at said user station, and wherein object parameters selected from the group consisting of file name, file names, file size, file location, file content and file format are specified in said user communications protocol and said source communications protocol; means for fetching of an electronic information file object in accordance with an object list in said manifest; means for disconnecting from said remote object source upon completion of said fetching of said information file object, wherein said disconnecting comprises acknowledging of receipt of said information file object and logout; and means for automatically integrating of said fetched information file object into said containing information product, wherein said integrating comprises decompressing and unpacking of said fetched information file object if necessary, storing said information file object in a designated location within said user\s station, enabling importation of said information file object by said containing information product, returning control to said containing information product to allow the user to use the fetched information file object within said containing information product; wherein said information transport component comprises a high-level functional interface permitting said information product to remain unaware of and uninvolved in the technical and operational details of the communications process, and wherein said information transport component is seamlessly embedded in said containing information product.