초록 ▼

An electronic information appraisal agent which operates within an electronic information distribution system and includes an electronic information server having multiple electronic information units. Requests for electronic information are transferred from the appraisal agent to an electronic info

An electronic information appraisal agent which operates within an electronic information distribution system and includes an electronic information server having multiple electronic information units. Requests for electronic information are transferred from the appraisal agent to an electronic information server, which compares the contents of the server to a set of search criteria. In one embodiment, the server returns a set of electronic information to the appraisal agent which matches the search criteria. In another embodiment, the server returns information indicating whether the search criteria matched any information in the server. In one embodiment, the electronic information distribution system also includes a metering server which is coupled to the electronic information server and the client system. The metering server allows multiple client systems to receive electronic information units from the electronic information server.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In an electronic information distribution system, a method comprising:obtaining, on behalf of a user, electronic information from an electronic information server based on user preference information corresponding to the user;providing at least a portion of the obtained e

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In an electronic information distribution system, a method comprising:obtaining, on behalf of a user, electronic information from an electronic information server based on user preference information corresponding to the user;providing at least a portion of the obtained electronic information to a consumer consumption device for consumption by the user;repeating the obtaining and providing to obtain new electronic information which has been updated since the previously obtained electronic information; andordering the at least a portion of the obtained electronic information according to the user preference information prior to providing the at least a portion of the obtained electronic information to the consumer consumption device.