System for providing content, management, and interactivity for thin client devices

Abstract

A system is provided for delivering Internet and digital content to a variety of thin client devices. A web portal for accessing and selecting content is used in conjunction with graphical user interfaces on a personal computer for setting up and controlling the content channels. The user interfaces, scheduling, and communication management are controlled by a system control software application running on a local server with an Internet connection. A high speed local area network provides for streaming content from the Internet or local server to thin client devices. A digital audio playback device is connected to the local server via the local area network connection and decodes streamed audio files, and converts them into analog audio signals for input into a conventional stereo. Digital content is streamed automatically from the local server to another Internet playback device, based on end user content preferences and schedule selections.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 199,638, filed Apr. 25, 2000, entitled System for Presenting Data and Content from the Internet on Client Devices; and No. 60 / 268,434, filed Feb. 12, 2001, entitled System for Delivering Content to Client Devices.[0002] A system is disclosed for providing user specified channels for moving content from the Internet and local storage device to one or more networked devices for access by end users. More specifically, content and data is delivered to a variety of devices via a caching gateway device and a local area network. Software residing on a PC or PC in combination with a storage gateway device provides content distribution, management, and interaction functions.DEFINITIONS[0003] Web, world wide web, and Internet are used here interchangeably, and are defined as the sum total of all connected computers on the planet, the connection being via standardized digital communications protocols, such as TCP...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Installing Ethernet cable is impractical for a majority of end-users, therefore a number of no-new-wires technologies have been introduced.

The Ceiva Picture Frame is a costly item due to the fact that it includes a large LCD, and also because it must include enough memory to store the digital images.

Many wireless cellular phones now provide "wireless web" limited browsing capability.

The slow data-rates provided by these products, as well as limited display area and awkward methods of user interaction, have resulted in slow adoption rates, and signals that users increasingly demand rich media experiences that can only be supported by broadband data-rates.

The AvantGo system does not provide for rich media experiences as the Palm Pilot is limited in its processing power and Palm Pilot does not leverage the processing power of the personal computer.

However, a simple calculation will show that pure video-on-demand cannot be supported by the bandwidth available on the existing networks, due to the high data-rates required to transport high-quality video and audio in real-time.

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