초록 ▼

Interconnecting a central computer to Internet service providers (ISPs) via normal Internet interconnections to directly provide Internet service to Internet users. The central computer is responsive to requests from Internet users received via an ISP to transfer the web page to the user via a satel

Interconnecting a central computer to Internet service providers (ISPs) via normal Internet interconnections to directly provide Internet service to Internet users. The central computer is responsive to requests from Internet users received via an ISP to transfer the web page to the user via a satellite connection to the user's PC. The central computer maintains a cache of frequently requested web pages each identified by a universal resource locator (URL). If the user is requesting one of the cached web pages, this web page is immediately transmitted to the user. If the central computer does not have the web page cached, the central computer makes a request to the appropriate web server, obtains the requested web page, and transfers the requested web page to the user. Further, utilizing statistical data gathered based on time of day and day of the week, the central computer automatically caches certain web pages. The central computer provides tiers of service with each tier guaranteeing a maximum amount of time before the Internet user will receive the requested data via a satellite. The central computer utilizes the tiers of service to pool requests for web pages until the maximum amount of time is approached for that tier. When the maximum amount of time is approached, the central computer broadcasts the requested web page to all Internet users requesting that web page simultaneously.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of providing information to a plurality of user terminals by use of a first table having a first plurality of subtables each identified with one of a plurality of rates of service and a second table having a second plurality of subtables each identified with one

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of providing information to a plurality of user terminals by use of a first table having a first plurality of subtables each identified with one of a plurality of rates of service and a second table having a second plurality of subtables each identified with one of the plurality of rates of service, comprising the steps of:requesting information identified by one of a plurality of information identifiers by one of the plurality of user terminals from a central computer via service provider equipment;adding identification of the one of the plurality of user terminals to one of the first plurality of subtables of the first table containing identifications of other ones of the plurality of user terminals that also requested the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers being stored within the central computer;adding the identification of the one of the plurality of user terminals to one of the second plurality of subtables of the second table upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers not being stored within the central computer;requesting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers from information provider equipment by the central computer upon the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers not being stored within the central computer and storing the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers within the central computer upon receipt of the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers;scanning periodically the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table to determine if predefined times have elapsed for transmitting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers to ones of the plurality of user terminals whose identifications are in the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table; andbroadcast transmitting the information identified by the one of the plurality of information identifiers to ones of the plurality of user terminals whose identifications are in the ones of the plurality of subtables of the first table.