GB2401214A - Generating or updating data in a network - Google Patents

Abstract

A network-connected apparatus <B>101</B> is provided for generating and distributing data <B>605</B>, <B>606</B>, <B>607</B> in a network environment <B>102</B>, having processing means <B>212</B>, storage means <B>216</B>, memory means <B>215</B>, network connecting means <B>221</B>, display means <B>209</B> and user input means <B>210</B>, <B>211</B>. The storage means stores a browser application <B>602</B>, stored in memory means and processed by processing means at runtime (<B>403</B>), whereby in response to connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus <B>104</B> storing a serving module <B>2003</B> across the network, a multifunctional module <B>603</B> is received in memory means. The browser application <B>602</B> is configured by the multifunctional module <B>603</B> for locally generating data as contact data <B>605</B>, message data <B>606</B> or web page data <B>607</B> or a combination thereof by means of user input means <B>210</B>, <B>211</B>. The generated data is remotely processed (<B>1906</B>) at the remote network-connected apparatus <B>104</B>. The web page data <B>607</B> is preferably processed into a HTML document <B>608</B>. The processed data is remotely stored (<B>2004</B>, <B>2101</B>) at the remote network-connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed (<B>1907</B>) across said network <B>102</B>.

Description

Generating Data in a Network

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a network-connected apparatus for generating data to be shared across said network and a method thereof.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a network-connected apparatus for generating data both locally and remotely, wherein said data is subsequently distributed to a plurality of other network- connected devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous techniques are known with which to create data for the subsequent distribution thereof across networks, such as Local Area Networks (LAN)or the Internet. A typical example of data created for distribution over the internet is a Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) document containing instructions which, when processed by a conventional internet browser application, generates what is colloquially referred to as a "web page". Depending upon the intended purpose of such distributed data, many other types of similar documents may be created, such as Active Server Pages (ASP) or Dynamic Hypertext Mark-up Language (DHTML) documents, which are well known to those skilled in the art of creating web pages.

In order to create such data, the specialist skills of such skilled persons, who are usually referred to us "web designers", are most often required which, depending upon the number of web pages to be generated À 2356-01-GB À . À À . . . for a particular "website", can become nontrivial. A portion of the total cost to the website commissioner traditionally offsets a portion of the acquisition, licensing and maintenance cost of specialists, web page creation applications to said web designer. An example of such a specialist application is DreamWeaverm licensed by the MacroMedia_ Corporation.

Another example of data created for distribution includes persons or companies contact details, for instance names, addresses, telephone numbers, email address or a combination thereof. Numerous devices configured with processing means, storage means and input means are 0 known to the layman with which to create such data by means of inputting alphanumerical data via said input means, then store said data in said storage means. In order to process said input alphanumerical data and subsequently store said data, any of said devices again requires one or a plurality of specialist applications, for instance such as Microsoft() Outlook() licensed by the MicrosoftO Corporation of Redmond, California if said device is a processing system known as a personal computer.

The subsequent distribution of said data may take many forms.

According to the known prior art, the distribution of contact data stored therein may include the synchronization and/or upload of said data to a personal computer as described above, for instance in order to backup said contact data, if the device is a portable processing system such as a Portable Personal Computer, also known as a laptop or palmtop PC, or a Personal Digital Assistant, or even a portable device configured with wireless communication means, such as a 3G mobile telephone handset.

Another form of distributing the above contact data may include 2866-4181-GB 4. . . . C À À . . mass-sending one or a plurality of messages, such as a conventional email, to all or a selection of the stored email addresses described above, for instance in order to notify recipients of promotional offers or any other type of personalized communication. Regardless of its form, such data distribution again traditionally requires specialist applications, the complexity of which determines the extent to which specialist skills are required for the operation thereof. Indeed, whilst "backing up" distribution techniques are well known to those skilled in the particular art of data exchange between connected devices, whether said backing up takes to place directly between a portable device and a personal computer or across a network, "mass-sending" data distribution often as not requires the parsing of contact data such as email address within a database-type application, whereby such an operation requires substantial processing capabilities and possibly extensive specialist skills when such passing is to be performed across a network upon a remotely-stored database.

Moreover, the "mass-messaging" type of data distribution traditionally requires a substantial amount of network bandwidth, whereby if said mass messaging involves sending thousand of emails to individual recipients across the internet, the corresponding bandwidth requirement far exceeds the respective nominal bandwidth of the above-described portable devices or a personal computer configured with a conventional ADSL or ISDN network connection.

Having regard to the extremely wide difference between the respective data processing and storage capacities of personal computers 2s and portable processing systems, processor-intensive data creation such 2166-B=1-GB . c À À as web page designing and/or data distribution, such as mass-messaging, remain the preserve of personal computers whilst portable devices are limited to the creation of contact details-type data, wherein any of said processing systems may subsequently receive and process said data when distributed as a web page or an email.

Thus, any person or company having existing contact details data and wanting to create data to be distributed as a website, then advertise this presence by means of mass-messaging potential website visitors via their respective contact data, such as emails, shall either invoke and bear 0 the respective costs of a plurality of specialist skills, or acquire the required specialist applications to be processed by a processing system having substantial processing and storage capacities and develop cross-functional skills therewith, or a combination thereof.

What is therefore required is a network-connected apparatus, which does not require particular specialist skills or expensive dedicated applications to operate, but with which to create data such as web pages or contact details and subsequently distribute said created data, for instance by means of mass-messaging thousands of recipients, irrespective of processing capability and wherein said data is stored remotely for any other network-connected device to access.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-connected apparatus for generating and distributing data in a as network environment, having processing means, storage means, memory . 2866-PI1-GB . . . . . . means, network connecting means, display means and user input means, wherein said storage means stores data processing instructions in the form of a browser application, stored in said memory means and processed by said processing means at runtime, whereby in response to connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network by means of said network connecting means, data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module are received in said memory means. Said browser application is configured by said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof by means of said user input means. Said generated data is remotely processed at said remote network-connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document. Said processed data is remotely stored at said remote network connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating and distributing data in a networked environment, including a browser application stored in memory means and processed by processing means at runtime, said method comprising the steps of connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in said memory means; configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for 2366-p:1-GB . . . . Àe ace, À À À locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; remotely processing said generated data at said remote network-connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network-connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is 0 provided a computer programmed for generating and distributing data in a network environment, having processing means, storage means, memory means, network connecting means, display means and user input means, wherein said storage means stores data processing instructions in the form of a browser application, which programs said computer at runtime to perform the steps of connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in said memory means; configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; remotely processing said generated data at said remote network-connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network-connected apparatus, wherefrom 2366-pJ01-GB . . . c À À he À a À À À À À À À pa. À À said processed data is distributed across said network.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for generating and distributing data in a network environment executable by a computer processing a browser application such that, when executing said instructions, said computer will perform the steps of connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in memory means; to configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; remotely processing said generated data at said remote network-connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network-connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 illustrates an environment of network-connected processing systems, including several servers and user terminals sharing data over said network; Figure 2 shows a user operating a user terminal shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 details a typical hardware architecture of a user terminal a 266.iQ1-GB a.* . a a a a. À a a Àa_ ma a a a À a a À a shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 summarises processing operations performed at any processing system shown in Figures 1 to 3 in order to establish a network connection with the environment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 summarises processing operations performed at any processing system shown in Figures 1 to 3 except said server, in order to create data for distribution over said network according to the present invention; Figure 6 details the contents of the memory of any one of the 0 processing systems shown in Figures 1 to 3 except said server, including an operating system, a browser application and modules; Figure 7 shows the default graphical user interface of the browser application shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 further details the operating step shown in Figure 5 according to which a user may create or edit contact data according to the present invention; Figure 9 shows the graphical user interface shown in Figure 7 configured to create or edit contact data as described in Figure 8; Figure 10 further details the operating step shown in Figure 5 according to which a user may create or edit a message according to the present invention; Figure 11 shows the graphical user interface shown in Figure 7 configured to create or edit contact data as described in Figure 10; Figure 12 further details the operating step shown in Figure 5 according to which a user may create or edit a web page according to the " Z366--GB 1 À 1 I l'- ale À À present invention, including a step of initializing a browser graphical user interface; Figure 13 further details the operating step shown in Figure 12 according to which a web page creating module initialises the browser graphical user interface; Figure 14 shows the graphical user interface shown in Figure 7 configured to create or edit a web page as described in Figures 12 and 13; Figure 15 shows the graphical user interface shown in Figure 14, in which a user creates data defining a web page; Figure 16 provides an example of an HTML script generated locally in real time by the web page creating module of the present invention and shown as a web page processed by the browser in Figure 15; Figure 17 further details the operating step shown in Figure 12 according to which a web page editing module initialises the browser graphical user interface; Figure 18 details the hardware components of the server shown in Figure 1, including a memory; Figure 19 details the processing steps according to which said server stores and processes data created at any of the processing systems shown in Figures 2 to 17, including a step of authenticating a user; Figure 20 details the contents of the memory shown in Figure 18 after performing the step of starting the processing of an application shown in Figure 19; Figure 21 illustrates the storing arrangement of remotely created data in the server of Figures 1 and 18 to 20 upon users uploading created 2760-r:01-GB . . À À . . . . À À À or edited data as described in Figures 8 to 17; Figure 22 further details the step of user authentication shown in Figures 5 and 19; Figure 23 further details the step of request processing shown in Figure 19; Figure 24 shows a user operating an alternative user terminal and a typical hardware architecture thereof; Written Description of the Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the previously identified drawings.

Figure 1 Data sharing applications distribute data amongst multiple users using a network of connected computers. An environment for connecting multiple users to whom data will be distributed is illustrated in Figure 1.

User terminal 101 is connected to the Internet 102 via Internet Service Provider (ISP) 103 and server 104 is also connected to the Internet 102 via internet service provider (ISP) 105. User terminal 106 is connected to the Internet 102 via an internet service providing server 107 and user terminal 108 is also connected wirelessly to the Internet via Internet service providing server (ISP) 109.

Each of said ISPs provide each individual user with a unique network address, e-mail account and other optional Internet facilities such as are ,]61-GB À À . . . . . . . . commonly provided to a user with an ISP account. Thus, there is provided the scope for any which one of the above processing systems 101, 104, 106, 108 to access data stored on any which one of said other networked terminals, including server 104 which is preferably configured according to the present invention. Said data is preferably configured for network distribution in the form of conventional data packets encoded according to a network protocol appropriate for distribution across the network, and decoded upon receipt. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said network protocol is TCP/IP.

to The user terminals sharing data such as shown in Figure 1 can include many types of devices equipped with processing and displaying means, the respective configurations of which can vary to a fairly large extent and respective examples of which are further detailed below.

Figure 2 User terminal 101 is further detailed in Figure 2, in which it is show operated by a user.

User 200 operates user terminal 101, which is a programmable computer 201 shown equipped with a drive 202 able to receive and read from- or write to an external medium. Examples of such external media may include a 3.5 inch floppy disk 203, a high-capacity Zip_ disk 204, a CD-ROM 205 or a DVD-ROM 206 and are well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, computer 201 may receive data, such as program instructions, via an appropriate medium by means of drive 202.

Data may also be received and transmitted over a network, such as the 2366R1,01-GB À 6 À 6 À À À À À À À Internet 102, by means of a network connection 208. Output data is displayed on a visual display unit 209 and manual input is received via a keyboard 210 and a mouse 211.

Figure 3 Typical hardware forming the main part of user terminal 201 is further detailed in Figure 3.

The system 201 includes a Pentium III_ central processing unit (CPU) 212 which fetches and executes instructions and manipulates data.

to Frequently-accessed instructions and data are stored in a high speed cache memory 213. The central processing unit 212 is connected to a system bus 214. This provides connectivity with a larger main memory 215, which requires significantly more time to access than the cache 213. The main memory 215 contains between two hundred and fifty-six and five hundred and twelve megabytes of dynamic random access memory. A hard disc drive (HOD) 216 provides non-volatile bulk storage of instructions and data.

A graphics card 217 receives graphics data from the CPU 212, along with graphics instructions. Similarly, a sound card 218 receives sound data from the CPU 212, along with sound processing instructions. CD-ROM reader 202 receives processing instructions and data from an external CD ROM medium. A serial bus interface 219 provides connectivity to peripherals such as mouse 211 and keyboard 210. A modem 220 provides connectivity to the Internet 102 via a telephone connection 208 to the user's ISP 103. Alternatively, a network card 221 provides connectivity to the 23661-GB À . . . À À À À À . À Internet 102 via an Ethernet connection 208 to a broadband modem (not shown) to said ISP 103.

The equipment shown in Figure 3 constitutes a personal computer of fairly standard type, such as an IBM PC compatible or Apple Macintosh, whether used as a network terminal or as a network server.

Figure 4 The operational steps according to which the user of any network connected terminal 101, 106 or 108 may connect to the networked to environment shown in Figure 1 are detailed in Figure 4.

At step 401, said user initially switches on any of said terminals. In accordance with conventional processing system initialization procedures, an operating system is then loaded at step 402, which will be described further below, such that said user may start a network browser application at the next step 403, which will also be described in further detail below.

Upon completing the starting step 403, the processing system powered at step 401 connects to its respective ISP, such as ISP 103 in the case of terminal 101, at step 404, whereby access is then obtained to any of the available resources across the network environment shown in Figure 1 at the next step 405.

Said available resources may include data and/or applications, which may be loaded into the user terminal from another terminal or server, such as server 104, across the network at step 406. Said resources may also include data and/or applications, which are locally stored and which user 200 distributes to said other terminal or server across the network at said 236P401-GB . . ... C C À . . ese e step 406.

Subsequently to the data and/or application perusing of step 406, a user may eventually terminate their connection to the network by logging off at step 407 and, if of no further use, closing the browser application started at step 402 at the next step 408, whereby the user terminal started at step 401 may be eventually switched off at the next step 409, thus also requiring the operating system to be unloaded at the previous step 408.

Figure 5 0 The operational step 406 according to which the user of any network connected terminal 101, 106 or 108 may create data to be subsequently distributed across the environment shown in Figure 1 according to the present invention are detailed in Figure 5.

Upon completing the network connection step 405, the processing system connects to server 104 at step 501 across the network environment shown in Figure 1 and a question is asked at step 502, as to whether the user wishes to log onto said server 104.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable for said user to log in onto server 104, for instance with using a conventional email-plus-password -based authentication method, such that the authority vested in said user required to create data to be stored at said server or edit created data already stored therein is authenticated and thus prevents unauthorized data storage and/or editing by a third unknown party. Accordingly, the question at step 502 is preferably answered positively, whereby a data creation and editing module is loaded from r3601-GB À À e À À. À À À À-e Àe. À À À

remote server 104 into the local main memory 215 of user terminal 101 at step 503.

Upon completing the loading step 503, any of user terminals 101, 106 or 108 is configured for locally generating contact data to be stored at server 104 or locally editing said stored contact data, at step 504.

Similarly, upon completing said loading step 503, any of user terminals 101, 106 or 108 is configured for locally generating data defining messages to be stored at server 104 and sent to contacts stored thereat, or locally editing said stored messages at step 505.

Likewise, upon completing said loading step 503, any of user terminals 101, 106 or 108 is configured for locally generating data defining web pages to be stored at server 104, or locally editing said web pages at step 506.

With reference to the question 502 there above, if said question 502 is answered negatively, the data creation and editing module is not loaded to configure the user terminal to create and/or edit data according to steps 503 to 506, whereby only the web pages already created and stored at server 104 may be loaded at step 507, according to conventional web page loading, processing and displaying methods. Thus, any user terminal operated by a user not having any authority to create contact data, messages or web pages subsequently stored at server 104 may nevertheless identify, load and browse conventional HTML web pages stored at server 104 as a result of a logged-in user having created such HTML web pages according to step 506.

, 2361-GB t À I a À Figure 6 The contents of the memory 215 of the network connected user terminals 101, 106 and 108 shown in Figures 1 to 4 are summarised in Figure 6 upon performing the server login step shown in Figure 5.

An operating system, including a basic BIOS is shown at 601, the purpose of which is to provide any of terminal 101, 106 and 108 with basic functionality, such as disk drive access for terminals equipped with disk drives, file handling and graphical user interfacing. Examples of basic functions include for instance access to files stored on hard disk drive 211 0 or a DVD/CD-ROM accessed by drive 202 and management thereof at terminal 101, and network connectivity with the Internet 102 and interpretation and processing of the input from the connected input means at terminal 101, 106 and 108 respectively. In the example, the respective operating system of terminal 101 is Windows 98= provided by the Microsoft corporation of Redmond, California, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the instructions according to the present invention may be easily adapted to function under different other known operating systems, such as later versions of the Windowsw operating system, e.g. Windows Millenium Editions, Windows 2000_ or Windows

XP _

A browser 602 includes instructions for accessing, processing and displaying web pages under various file formats, such as Java_ script, HTML, Dynamic HTML or Active Server Pages. Browser 602 also includes optional instructions as sub-applications for processing incoming data packets, that are usually stored in memory as an integral part of browser À 2366-P'01 -GB eq. :

602 but inactive until required by the processing performed at the browser.

Such sub-applications are known to those skilled in the art as plug-ins or applets, and are invoked when the format of data being processed by browser 602 differs from the above standard Internet file formats. A typical example of such plug-ins is a Shockwavem Player application licensed by the Macromediam Corporation, which processes the portion of distributed data defining a Flash animation embedded within the totality of distributed data defining a web page. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, browser 602 is Internet Explorer 6 licensed by the Microsoft 0 Corporation of Redmond, California.

A multifunctional module application is shown at 603, which processes user input data 604 input by means of keyboard 210 and/or mouse 211 in order to locally generate contact data 605, message data 606 or a web page document 607 generated as a Javam script according to the present invention, wherein said data 605, 606, and a HTML web page generated from Java m script 607 will eventually be remotely stored at server 104 for distribution. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said module 603 is a thin-client application comprising a Javaw script, HTML and Dynamic HTML instructions.

A thin-client application removes the requirement for most of the application rules to reside on the user terminal, as said rules are stored and processed at the server upon processing requests generated at said user terminal, but the main portion of said rules -hence having the most impact upon the size of said application- is traditionally its Graphical User Interface. The module of the present invention solves this problem by 365-01-GB eel' ' ' ' . a. . . configuring the graphical user interface of browser application 602 as its own graphical user interface.

Therefore, application 603 is very small, preferably less than 200 Kilobytes in size, and is downloaded from server 104 according to step 503.

Thus, with regard to the download time depending upon the bandwidth of the connection of the user terminal with the Internet 102 and server 104 connected thereto, the smaller application 603 is the less time it takes to load it at said step 503. Moreover, the smaller application 603 is, the less amount of random access memory 215 is required to store it.

0 Finally, memory 215 includes one or a plurality of HTML documents 608 processed by browser 602 for output to display 209, wherein at least one of said HTML documents 608 is a web page generated as a web page 607 by a user according to the present invention. For the purpose of not unnecessarily obscuring the present description, the following will focus upon the operation of user terminal 101, but it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that data creation according to the presentinvention may be performed on mobile devices 106,108 with substantially the same method.

Figure 7 The default graphical user interface (GUI) of the browsers application 602 started at step 502 is shown in Figure 7, wherein the "log in" question at step 502 is asked.

The visual display unit (VDU) 209 of network connected user terminal 101 is shown, having a main display showing the default GUI 701 of operating system 601. With reference to the description of the preferred c2366pcdo1B c c c c c c c À c c cc e c e À C C C À C C C C C C À c c c c c e c

C C C C C

operating 601, said operating system is multi-tasking and preferably displays the respective GUl's of applications processed concurrently as several overlapping windows, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, the GUI 702 of browser application 602 is shown as a window overlaid over a substantial portion of the GUI 701 of OS 601. Still in accordance with the description of the preferred operating system 601, said OS is configured with a user-operable pointer 703, which is preferably translatable over any portion of GUI 701 and application GUl's, including GUI 702, therein by means of imparting a 2 dimensional translating motion 0 to mouse 211.

Browser GUI 702 includes a first conventional menu toolbar 704, having a plurality of application function representations thereon, wherein said functions allow the user to invoke operating system functions within the context of the browser application 602. For instance, a first representation 705 defines a "file functions" menu which, when selected by the user by means of positioning the pointer 703 thereon with translating mouse 211 and subsequently effecting a mouse click, generates a conventional "dropdown" sub-menu configured with further representations of file management functions such as an "open file", "save" or "print" function representation. Menu toolbar 704 may thus include a plurality of further OS functions representations, such as a "view" representation 706, a "favourites" representation 707 a "window" representation 708 and a "help" representation 709, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art.

The task bar 704 and menus and "dropdown" sub menus thereof are a very as common design and traditionally implemented in the majority of applications e2366-Pe101B ee e À e e e e se e e e ce e cee e e e e e e e e e e ace e e e e processed within the context of a multi-tasking operating system, such as the windows-based operating system 601 of the preferred embodiment.

With the specific contexts of a browser application, such as browser 602, a second portion 710 of GUI 702 includes representations of application specific functions, i.e. browsing functions. A browser traditionally loads, processors and displays data distributed throughout the environment shown in Figure 1 as web pages sequentially, in a manner comparable to turning the pages of the book. Consequently, backward and forward navigation representations 711, 712 allow the user to respectively re-display web pages previously loaded in the reverse order in which they were first accessed by selecting representations 711 with pointer 703, then re-display said web pages in the order in which they were access by activating representation 712 with said pointer 703. Task bar 702 also includes an "abort load" representation 713 which, when activated by the user by means of pointer 703, instructs browser 602 to interrupt the current loading and/or processing of the data terminal 101 is currently attempting to retrieve from the network. A "home" representation 714 is provided which. When selected by the user by means of pointer 703, instructs browser 602 to load, process and display a default web page, known to those skilled in the art and the layman as the "home" page. Finally, task bar 710 includes a "search" representation 715 which, when selected by the user by means of pointer 703, instructs application 602 to access a conventional internet search engine with which to perform a distributed data search.

GUI 702 finally includes a URL address bar 716, which is configured to display a network address of the distributed data currently displayed, e2366-R101B e e e.

e.e c,. , ese À À wherein said address is known a Uniform Resource Locator. In the example, the URL address bar 716 displays the network address 717 of server 104 and, in accordance with the present description, upon connecting to server 104 according to step 503 data defining a first web page is locally loaded, processed and displayed in data display area 718 of GUI 702.

In accordance with the present description still, said web page invites the user of terminal 101 to log in by asking the question of step 502, wherein a portion 719 of said web page is configured with a data entry field, 0 which the user should preferably select with pointer 703 and in which said user should preferably input a string of ASCII characters by means of keyboard 210. The description of the GUI 702 of application 602 is here provided within the context of user terminal 101 by way of example only, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Figure 8 The step of creating and/or editing contact data for subsequent distribution shown in Figure 5 is further detailed in Figure 8.

Upon completing the module loading of step 503, a first question is asked at step 801 as to whether user 200 shall create contact data. If the question of step 801 is answered positively, said user 200 selects local contact data at step 802, as well as contact data formatting options. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said selection involves locating a contact data file stored in either hard disk drive 210 or main 7366-PJ01-. c. . À

À À À À À . À memory 215 if the user terminal is computer 201 or main memories 305, 405 of respectively, palmtop PC 108 and mobile phone 106, for instance by means of the file browsing function of operating system 601. Preferably, although not necessarily, said contact data file is formatted according to the CSV (comma-separated values) file format. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said contact data file is the "contacts" application data of any contact management application stored and processed at the user terminal, such as Outlook_ licensed by the Microsoft Corporation or Lotusw licensed by the Borland Corporation, whereby said application to automatically formats said contact data file as a CSV file. Irrespective of the format of said file, said contact data is preferably configured as ASCII characters.

At step 803, the data creating module 603 loaded at step 503 formats said selected contact data according to the user selection of step 802, i.e. said module uploads said data to server 104, wherein a small portion of the contents thereof are parsed for identifying respective portions of contact records (e.g. name, surname, phone number, e-mail etc. delimited by commas if the selected file is a CSV) in order to return a sample of formatted data to module 603 and display said selected, formatted sample data within the GUI 702.

Upon completing the selection 802 and formatting 803, user 200 may eventually confirm the uploading of said contact data to server 104 at step 804, whereby all of the contact data uploaded at step 803, which may contain thousands of individual records, is parsed and formatted at server 104 as previously described for inclusion in a user-specific contacts 7366-PJ01-. . . ce

À À À À À database, which will be further described below.

Alternatively, the question of step 801 is answered negatively whereby a second question is asked at step 805, as to whether the user shall edit contact data already stored at said server 104 after performing s steps 802 to 804. If the question of step 805 is answered positively, module 603 initially downloads the remote contact data at step 806 formatted according to step 803, whereby the data creating/editing module 603 subsequently displays said downloaded data at the next step 807. The user may then select appropriate portions of said formatted data within GUI 702 0 and edit said data, for instance by means of keyboard 210 and mouse 211, at step 808.

Upon completing the required editing performed according to steps 806 to 808, the user may then eventually confirm the uploading to server 104 of the edits performed upon remote contact data at step 809.

Alternatively, no editing is required and the question of step 805 is answered negatively, whereby the user may then create and/or send messages according to the present invention.

Figure 9 The graphical user interface 702 of the browser application 602 configured to the present invention is illustrated at Figure 9, wherein said GUI 702 is configured for creating or editing said contact data according to step 504.

Upon completing the module loading of step 503, GUI 702 is configured according to the present invention with three main 366-PJ01- - . . . . . representations 901, 902 and 903 respectively identifying the contact data creation and editing portion, the message creation and second portion and the web page creation and editing portion of module 603. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said representations are tabulated pages, which may be interactively selected by means of positioning user operable pointer 703 thereon and effecting a mouse click or a key input of keyboard 210. In accordance with the present description, the contacts tabulated page 901 is first generated at step 504.

Said contacts page 901 is configured with a first portion 904 listing 0 contact data as contact records 905 formatted and displayed therein according to either step 803 or step 807. Said contact display portion 904 is configured with a conventional scroll bar 906 having a slider 907, which is user-operable by means of positioning pointer 703 therein, effecting a mouse click and translating said slider within scroll bar 906. It is advantageous to configure portion 904 with scroll bar 906 when the total number of contact records 905 exceeds the displayable capacity of said portion 904.

Contacts page 901 is further configured with user-operable function "buttons" 908, 909 and 910. Upon user 200 activating "new" button 908 by means of pointer 703, the question of step 801 is answered positively, whereby steps 802 and 803 may be performed according to the present description. Upon user 200 selecting a contact record 905 by means of translating pointer 703 thereon, the respective portions of said contact record 905 formatted according to step 803 or 807 are generated within as type-specific portions of page 901. Such type-specific portions defining À .2366-R101 eGB À C . . À À À À À À . . portions of a contact record may for instance include a name field 911, a surname field 912, a phone number field 913, an address field 914, a company name field 915, an e-mail field 916 and a fax number field 917.

Upon user 200 selecting the "edit" button 909 by means of pointer 703, said user may edit any of the contact data displayed as ASCII characters in any of portions 911 to 917, for instance by means of inputting an alternative string of ASCII characters by means of keyboard 210.

Upon completing the creation or editing of contact data as hereinbefore described, user 200 may then confirm the uploading said 0 contact data to server 104 according to steps 804 or 809, by means of activating a "confirm" button 910 with pointer 703.

Figure 10 The processing step of creating and/or sending a message at a plurality of further user terminals connected to the network described in Figure 1 shown in Figure 5 is further detailed in Figure 10.

Upon answering question 805 negatively, control proceeds to step 505, wherein a first question is asked at step 1001 as to whether the user shall create a message, such as an e-mail or a fax. If the question of step 1001 is answered positively, for instance with user 200 selecting tabulated page 902 with pointer 703, the GUI 702 shown in Figure 9 is updated with the corresponding, tabulated messaging page 902, which will be further described hereinbelow. The user may then input a message at user terminal 101 at the next step 1002 by inputting said message as a string of ASCII characters via keyboard 21O, whereby the message creating module 2366-FlOl.-G' a a À ce as. À a a a 603 processes said string and displays it within the updated GUI at step 1003. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, module 603 also uploads said message to server 104 at said step 1003, wherein it is stored in a user-specific message database, which will be further described below.

At step 1004, another question is asked as to whether said user shall create another message. If the question of step 1004 is answered positively, the module reference for a block of data defining a message created according to steps 1002 and 1003 and stored in the message 0 database is incremented at step 1005 and a new message created in said database, whereby control is returned to step 1002, such that a new message may be input, uploaded and stored in said database with a respective module reference different from that of the initial message, and so on and so forth.

Alternatively, the question of step 1004 is answered negatively and control subsequently proceeds to a third question at step 1006, which is similarly asked if the questions of step 1001 and 1004 are answered negatively, as to whether the user shall edit message data already stored at server 1004. If the question of step 1006 is answered positively, the module 603 downloads message data from the database stored at server 104 at step 1006B, whereby control is returned to step 1002 such that user 200 may edit said message by editing the string(s) of ASCII characters thereof via keyboard 210. The message creating module 603 processes said updated string and displays it within the updated GUI at step 1003. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, module 603 also uploads 2366-101B . said edited message to server 104 at said step 1003, whereby it is updated in said user-specific message database.

Alternatively, the question of step 1006 is answered negatively and control subsequently proceeds to a fourth question at step 1007, as to whether user 200 shall distribute the data created according to steps 1002 to 1006B across the network environment shown in Figure 1, i.e. send the message to a plurality of user terminals. If the question of step 1007 is answered positively, the message creating module 603 downloads the remote contact data at step 1008 and subsequently displays said downloaded contact data at the next step 1009, wherein steps 1008 and 1009 are performed substantially as steps 806, 807 respectively. User 200 may then select one or a plurality of recipients for the message to be sent at step 1010, for instance by means of selecting the respective "e- mail address" or"fax" contact data portion of said recipients, which will be illustrated further below. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the selection of step 1010 includes user 200 locally inputting alphanumerical characters and effecting selections with pointer 703 in a portion of GUI 702 configured as an Active Server Page, wherein module 603 processes said user interaction into a SQL query script and uploads said script to server 104, whereby said query is performed upon the previously-described contacts database storing formatted contacts data as the selection of recipients for the message to be sent.

Upon completing the selection of step 1010, said selection is confirmed to server 104 at step 1011 such that server 104 may perform bulk- or masssending with the benefit of a much higher bandwidth than the '.2366-B101.CB al 8 1 e e 1 1 e e '. 8 8 1* ele e e 8 8 e 8 e À 8 8 À 8 8 e e e user terminal processing steps 1008 to 1011. Control is subsequently returned to the question of step 1001 and, eventually, the question of step 1007 is answered negatively, whereby the user may now create and/or edit one or a plurality of web pages according to the present invention at step 506.

Figure 11 The GUI 702 shown in Figures 7 and 9 is illustrated in Figure 11, wherein user 200 has selected the "messaging" tabulated page 902 with 0 pointer 703 in order to both create message and send it to a plurality of recipients.

With reference to the above description of tabulated page 901, "messaging" tabulated page 902 is configured with a plurality of distinct message-specific GUI portions. In the example, user 200 initially wishes to create a message to promote a new web page. User 200 preferably inputs a message sender identification in the "message from" GUI portion 1101, whereby recipients of the message may know who the sender is. Said user may then input a string of ASCII characters in a "message" GUI portion 1102 by means of keyboard 105, in a conventional manner. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a "URL" button 1103 may be activated by the user with pointer 703 in order to list the network address or addresses respectively pointing to said website, whereby the inclusion in said message of a user-selectable URL 1104 is facilitated.

Upon completing the message in GUI portion 1102, user 200 may optionally activate an "edit" button 1105 substantially similar to the 236.6-P1.0) -.GB C À À À À C À À C À C À Àc. ce. e À À À À À À C À C À À À functionality of "edit" button 909 to perform step 1006B. User 200 may alternatively activate a "new message" button 1106 to answer question 1004 positively, whereby data entry fields 1101, 1102 are initialised for the user to input new data.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention still, a portion 1107 of tabulated page 902 is configured as an Active Server Page with which to perform recipient selection according to steps 1007 to 1010, i.e. in which contact data uploaded by user 200 to server 104 at step 504 may be selected. Portion 1107 is configured by module 603 with alphanumerical 0 entry fields 1108, pointer-selectable logical Boolean operators 1109 and pointer-selectable database field designators 1110, wherein said designators 1110 relate to the respective headings in the contacts database created at step 504, such as names, addresses, e-mail addresses etc., i.e. defined portions of a contact record. In order to select recipients, user 200 locally inputs alphanumerical characters 1111 in fields 1108 and selects designators 1110 and Boolean operators 1109 with pointer 703, until such time as the selection and data input in portion 1107 defines the message recipients required by user 200 amongst the contacts stored in the contacts database. In the example, user 200 selects any contact whose name begins with "A", who is located either in the United Kingdom or the Untied States.

Module 603 processes the above user interaction into a SQL query script and uploads said script to server 104, whereby said query is performed upon the previously-described contacts database storing formatted contacts data as the selection of recipients for the message to be 2306- P:-GB À . C. ... . . . . . . . sent. Preferably, user 200activates the "confirm" button 1112 upon performing the selection described hereinabove according to step 1011, whereby upon processing the corresponding SQL query, server 104 returns a total count 1113 of selected recipients to module 603 for display in a portion 1114.

Figure 12 The processing step of creating or editing a web page shown in Figure 5 according to the present invention is further detailed in Figure 12.

Upon answering the question of step 1007 negatively, control proceeds to step 506, wherein a first question is asked at step 1201 as to whether the user shall create a web page. If the question of step 1201 is answered positively, the web page creating module 603 initialises the browser GUI 702 with web page creation icons at step 1202, which will be further described below.

At step 1203, user 200 may interact with said icons and provide creative user input data which is locally stored as a Java_ script document 607, which will be further described below, at step 1203. At step 1204, a second question is asked as to whether user 200 shall create another web page. If the question of step 1204 is answered positively, control proceeds to step 1205 to upload the Java_ script 607 to server 104 whereby it is processed into a HTML document 608, and then returned to step 1202 wherein browser GUI 702 is again initialised with web page creation icons such that user 200 may perform interaction therewith at step 1203 to generate a new Java_ script 607 and so on and so forth. Alternatively, the . 2366-P.103-GB question of step 1204 is answered negatively, such that user 200 may again upload the Javaw script document 607 generated at step 1203 to server 104 at step 1205, whereby it is processed into a HTML document 608, and then proceed to the next step 1206.

Thereafter, a question is asked at step 1206, which is also asked if the first question of step 1201 is answered negatively, as to whether the user shall edit a web page 608 previously stored at server 104 according to step 1205. If the question of step 1206 is answered positively, said previously stored HTML document 608 is downloaded from server 104 at step 1207 as a Java_ script 607. At step 1208, the web page editing module 603 initialises the browser GUI 702 with web editing icons, which are similar in function to the web page creation icons initialised at 1202, whereby browser 602 processes the HTML document stored at server 104 corresponding to the downloaded Java_ script and outputs the corresponding web page to display unit 209.

User 200 may then interactively select web editing icons and provide creative user input data which is processed by web page editing module 603 to update said locally-stored, downloaded Java_ script 607 at step 1209. At step 1210, a final question is asked as to whether the user shall edit another web page. If the question of step 1210 is answered positively, control is returned to step 1205 such that said updated Java_ script 607 may first be uploaded back to server 104, before another web page 608 may be downloaded as a Java_ script 607 and processed and displayed according to step 1208 and edited according to step 1209 and so on and so 2s forth. Alternatively, the question of step 1210 is answered negatively and ÀÀ , À --GO À . . À À . À À À À the editing is complete, whereby control is again returned to step 1205 in order to upload the now-edited HTML document 608 back to server 104, and the question of step 1206 is next answered negatively, whereby control proceeds to the next step 507.

Figure 13 The step of initializing the browser GUI 702 with web page creation icons is further detailed in Figure 13.

According to the present invention, module 603 is a Java w script 0 based thin client having web page creation functions which require initialising in order to perform step 506. Preferably, said web page creating functions generate syntax in a Javaw script 607 when invoked, wherein activating function-specific icons within initialised GUI 702 performs said function calls.

Consequently, at step 1301, a first Javaw script function Fn call is initialised as corresponding syntax to be generated when invoked in a Javaw script 607. For instance, if a "bold text" function is invoked by means of user 200 positioning pointer 703 over its corresponding icon, web page creating module 603 generates the following syntax in 607:<b> text</b>, wherein the "texts data corresponds to any string of ASCII characters input by user 200 by means of keyboard 210 to make bold on the web page.

At step 1302, web page creating module 603 generates an icon corresponding to the function initialised at step 1301 in the browser GUI 702 by looking-up its corresponding GIF image, locating said GIF image as within GUI 702 and displaying said GIF image. A question is subsequently À ' ' À Z:-Plil3-GB : : À À .e À : .e e:. À: :: e: À asked at step 1303, as to whether another function remains to be initialized.

If the question of step 1303 is answered positively, control is returned to step 1301 in order to initialise the next function in the function dependency list. Alternatively, the question of step 1303 is answered negatively and web page creating module 603 then generates a blank Java_ script 607 in memory 215.

Thereafter, web page creating module 603 uploads said blank Java_ script 607 to server 104, wherein it is processed into a HTML document 608, whereby the URL address of said HTML document 608 is to 0 be accessed by browser 602 for display in the web page display portion of browser 702 at step 1305.

Figure 14 The GUI 702 of browser application 602 configured for web page creation according to the present invention subsequently to user 200 selecting "web page" tabulated page 903, is shown in Figure 14.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, upon user 200 selecting tabulated page 903, tabulated pages 901, 902 and 903 are removed to improve clarity and Javaw script function icons are generated within a portion 1401 of said GUI 702. A non-exhaustive selection of web page creation or editing icons is shown within portion 1401 and includes a first DIV icon 1402 which, when selected with pointer 703, allows user 200 to draw quadrilateral shapes, also referred to as "boxes", anywhere within the web page display portion 1403 of GUI 702. Said web page display portion 1403 displays HTML data 608 input as Java_ script 607 by user À la366-F)al-GB a À a 8 À À a a.e À a. a À a a a À À a sea À interacting with said icons, wherein said Java_ script 607 is uploaded to server 104 then distributed and processed by browser 602 as said HTML data 608 in real time. Other examples of web page creation or editing icons include for instance a "border" creation icon 1404, an "insert text" icon 1405, an "insert JPEG image" icon 1406, a "insert GIF image" icon 1407.

Some further icons or icons may be provided in order to facilitate the formatting or arrangement of graphical or alphanumerical data input according to the selection of icons 1402 to 1407. Thus, formatting icon 1408 aligns any web page component selected with pointer 703 to the left to of the web page, formatting icon 1409 centres said components relative to the middle of said web page, formatting icon 1410 aligns said component relative to the right of said web page and formatting icon 1411 distributes said components evenly across the width of said web page. Further types of formatting icon may include a "font size" icon 1412 with which to modify the size of alphanumerical characters on the web page, a "colour" icon 1413 with which to similarly modify the colour of said alphanumerical characters or the colour of geometrical shapes created with icons 1402, 1404.

With reference to the browser application 602 of the preferred embodiment, which is Internet Explorer 6, "layer effect" icon 1414, 1415 are also provided with which to respectively superimpose any of said components and configure each of said components with a particular level of transparency, thus defining formatting data which only the browser 602 of choice can successfully process. Finally, a "save" button 1416 may be activated with pointer 703 in order for user 200 to perform step 1205.

2366-PJ9GB À À À À . . . . . . . . C À À . . . À À . À Figure 15 The GUI 702 shown in Figure 14 configured according to the present invention is again shown in Figure 15, wherein user 200 has created data 607 defining a web page 608 according to step 506, whereby said web page 608 may be distributed to other user terminals connected to the network environment shown in Figure 1.

In the example, user 200 creates a first generic block-level container (DIV) 1501 by firstly selecting the DIV icon 1402 with pointer 703, then positioning said pointer 703 at a first location 1502 of the blank web page 608 processed by browser 602 and displayed in portion 1403.Preferably, user 200 then effects a mouse click and translates pointer 703 to a second location 1504 of web page 608, wherein said locations 1502, 1504 define two diagonally-opposed corner of container 1501, the remaining two corners of which are computed by web creating module 603 with a simple, appropriate geometrical function.

User 200 then activates the text icon 1405 and, upon positioning pointer 703 within DIV 1501, then inputs a first string "ABC" string of ASCII characters 1505 and, upon effecting a return carriage operation, a second "defghi" string of ASCII characters 1506. In accordance with the description of the preferred embodiment thereabove, user 200 may choose to align said two strings of characters 1505, 1506 to the left of DIV 1501 with selecting formatting icon 1408.

In the example still, user 200 creates a second DIV 1507 with defining two diagonally-opposed corners 1508, 1509 thereof substantially À 2306-P I'GB C À ... . .

C

as hereinbefore described, in which an image should preferably be displayed. Consequently, user 200 translates pointer 703 onto any portion of DIV 1507, effects a mouse click, then selects GIF icon 1407, whereby said user 200 may now select an image formatted to the GIF image standard with browsing data files stored locally. Upon locating an appropriate GIF image 1510 by means of the file browsing functionality of OS 601 and effecting the selection thereof, said image 1510 is subsequently displayed within DIV 1507 as intended.

Having regard to the real-time characteristic of web page creation 0 and/or editing with the web creation and editing module 603 of the present invention, user 200 can interactively observe the HTML syntax generated from the above described interaction with icons and the providing of non HTML user input data therefor within GUI 702. Thus, upon user 200 again selecting the DIV icon 1402 and defining a first corner 1511 of a third DIV 1512, the respective edges of the quadrilateral container 1512 are continuously scaled in proportion to the length of the diagonal line 1513 extending between said first corner 1511 and the current corner 1514 defined by the current position of pointer 703.

Figure 16 An example of the HTML document 608 generated as a Java_ script 607 uploaded at server 104 is detailed in Figure 16, in which pseudo HTML syntax corresponding to the user interaction described in Figure 15 is shown. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the as example is syntaxically simplified for the purpose of description only and À À 2366-P431GB a a À À * À . e. À

does not purport to be exhaustive, nor limitative.

HTML syntax traditionally takes the form of an opening tag and a closing tag having variable data known to those skilled in the art as attributes located therebetween. Accordingly, a first function call is stated in document 607, which is subsequently closed at 1601 and defines all of the data and further function calls nested therein as an HTML document.

Optionally, a second function call is declared next and subsequently closed at 1602, which defines all of said further function calls and data thereof therebetween as components of the main web page 608.

0 In accordance with the description of Figure 15, the first nested function call is a DIV function call subsequently closed at 1603, which defines the block level container 1501. Immediately thereafter, variables respectively identifying the first corner 1501 and the second corner 1504 from which said container 1501 is computed are declared and, in the example, said variables include a two-dimensional, XY co-ordinates expressed in relation to the origin of an orthogonal reference coordinate system having its origin in the top-left corner of display area 1403.

All of the function calls and data thereof syntaxically located between DIV call 1501 and DIV end 1603 define data to be processed and displayed by browser 602 within block level container 1501. Thus, a first set of nested function calls define the first "ABC" string of characters 1505 and the formatting thereof, which includes aligning said string 1505 to the left of container 1501, configuring characters with a font size of twelve points and making said string 1505 bold. Similarly, a second set of nested function calls and data thereof also define the second string of ASCII characters À À 2386-8t-GB e a c

C C

sea a À a c sea 1506, which is formatted in a manner substantially identical to string 1505 but is not bold.

In accordance with the description of Figure 15 still, a second DIV function call is next inserted in HTML document 607 then closed at 1604 in order to define the second block level container 1507 configured with a GIF image therein. In a manner similar to the description of the syntax of DIV 1501 described thereabove, co-ordinates data 1508,1509 are first declared after opening DIV call 1507 and a first nested function call 1605 closed at 1606 specifies that the image data 1510 generated from the next function to call nested therebetween should be centred (by means of user 200 selecting formatting icon 1409 with pointer 703) within DIV 1507.

With reference to the real-time processing and interaction described in Figure 15, a third DIV function call is next inserted, which is closed at 1607 in order to create the third block level container 1512, having first corner co-ordinates 1511 declared therebetween and second corner co ordinates 1514, the respective X and Y values of which are derived from the position of pointer 703 within display area 1403 in relation to the origin of the reference co-ordinate system thereof, wherein said values are continuously updated in document 607 as user 200 translates said pointer 703.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, upon generating a Java_ script 607 to be processed into a HTML document 608 as described in Figure 16 at server 104, said script 607 is instead processed into a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) file which comprehensively defines creative styles applied by user 200 to any or all web page 23Pt6:GB ,. r À d 7 a a À . components, such as text, DlVs and their respective contents, and the formatting thereof. Said CSS file thus acts as a style template which, upon user 200 electing to create a plurality of web pages 208, may be uniformly applied to the respective components of each of said pages without having to painstakingly replicate icon selection and interaction therewith for each such new page. This alternative embodiment allows unskilled users such as the example user 200 to rapidly and very easily generate a website having multiple web pages having a uniform, cohesive style.

0 Figure 17 The step of initializing the browser GUI 702 with web page editing icons is further detailed in Figure 17.

Said initialising step is substantially similar to the previously described initialising step of Figure 13. At step 1701, a first Java_ script function Fn call is initialised as corresponding syntax to be generated when invoked in a HTML document, which is not a blank Java_ script 607 anymore but the Java_ script 607 downloaded from server 104 at step 1207.

At step 1702, web page editing module 603 generates an icon corresponding to the function initialised at step 1701 in the browser GUI 702 by looking-up its corresponding GIF image, locating said GIF image within GUI 702 and displaying said GIF image. A question is subsequently asked at step 1703, as to whether another function remains to be initialized.

If the question of step 1703 is answered positively, control is returned to step 1701 in order to initialise the next function in the function dependency 2C306C-P48'GB 4 C 1 C 1 1 1 C 1 1 À I e I c Cl. C C e e list. Alternatively, the question of step 1703 is answered negatively and web page editing module 603 then assigns the HTML document 608 stored at server 104 corresponding to said downloaded Java_ script 607 as the URL address to be accessed by browser 602 for display in the web page display portion of browser 702 at step 1704. Thereafter, a condition is set to append the respective syntax generated by any Java_ script function call to said downloaded Java_ script 607. Upon completing web page editing substantially as web page creating described in Figures 15 and 16, user may then upload said edited web page as the downloaded and now edited Java_ script 607 back to server 104 according to step 1205, for instance by means of activating "save" button 1416 with pointer 703.

Therefore, there is provided a network-connected apparatus, which does not require particular specialist skills or expensive dedicated applications to operate, but with which to create data such as web pages or contact details or messages and subsequently distribute said created data, for instance by means of mass-messaging thousands of recipients, irrespective of processing capability and wherein said data is stored remotely for any other network-connected device to access.

Figure 18 The components of server 104 are further detailed in Figure 18 and, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said components are based upon Intel() E7505 hub-based Chipset.

The system includes two Intel() Pentiumm Xeon_ DP central 2s processing units (CPU) 1801, 1802 running at three Gigahertz, which fetch 26-P;41.GB ' À À a and execute instructions and manipulate data with using Intel()'s Hyper Threading Technology via an Inters) E7505 533 Megahertz system bus 1803 providing connectivity with a Memory Controller Hub (MCH) 1804.

CPUs 1801, 1802 are configured with respective high-speed caches 1805, 1806 comprising at least five hundred and twelve kilobytes, which store frequently-accessed instructions and data to reduce fetching operations from a larger memory 1807 via MCH 1804. The MCH 1804 thus co- ordinates data flow with a larger, dual-channel double-data rate main memory 1807, which is between two and four gigabytes in data storage capacity and stores executable programs which, along with data, are received via said bus 1803 from a hard disk drive 1808 providing non volatile bulk storage of instructions and data via an InpuVOutput Controller Hub (ICH) 1809. Said ICH 1809 similarly provides connectivity to a DVD ROM re-writer 1810 and ZIP_ drive 1811, both of which read and write data and instructions from and to removable data storage media. Finally, ICH 1809 provides connectivity to USB 2.0 inpuVoutput sockets 1812, to which conventional keyboard and mouse are connected, all of which send local user input data to system 104.

A graphics card 1813 receives graphics data from CPUs 1801, 1802 along with graphics instructions via MCH 1804. Said graphics accelerator 1813 is preferably coupled to the MCH 1804 by means of a direct port 1814, such as the direct-attached advanced graphics port 8X (AGP 8X) promulgated by the Intel@) Corporation, the bandwidth of which exceeds the bandwidth of bus 1803. Preferably, the graphics card 1813 includes 2s substantial dedicated graphical processing capabilities, so that the CPUs 2366.P10'1-.GB ' ' . Be, .e 1801, 1802 are not burdened with computationally intensive tasks for which they are not optimised.

Network card 1815 provides connectivity to the Internet 102 by processing a plurality of communication protocols, for instance a communication protocol suitable to encode and send outgoing packets of data and receive and decode incoming packets of data over a T1 high bandwidth network connection. A sound card 1816 is optionally provided which receives sound data from the CPUs 1801, 1802 along with sound processing instructions, in a manner similar to graphics card 1813.

to Preferably, the sound card 1816 includes substantial dedicated digital sound processing capabilities, so that the CPUs 1801, 1802 are not burdened with computationally intensive tasks for which they are not optimised. Preferably, network card 1815 and sound card 1816 exchange data with CPUs 1801, 1802 over system bus 1803 by means of Intel(0's PCI- X controller hub 1817 administered by MCH 1804.

The equipment shown in Figure 2 constitutes a typical server comparable to a high-end IBM_ PC compatible.

Figure 19 The processing steps according to which network-connected server 104 receives, stores, processes and distribute data created at any of the processing systems shown in Figures 2 to 17 are detailed in Figure 19.

At step 1901, a server administrator initially switches on said server, which is thus electrically powered from the mains outlets. In accordance with conventional processing system initialization procedures, an operating 26104-GB À . . . . . system is then loaded, which will be described further below, such that said administrator may load a database, a browser and a serving module respectively configured according to the present invention at the next step 1902, which will also be described in further detail below. Upon completing the loading step 1902, the server processing system 104 powered at step 1901 connects to the network environment of Figure 1, whereby serving requests may be received and interpreted from client user terminals, such as terminals 101, 106 and 108 across said network environment at step 1903.

0 A question is asked at step 1904, as to whether a serving request received and interpreted at step 1903 is a request for user authentication, i.e. wherein user 200 has input a password in the data entry field 719 of GUI 702 in order to answer question 502 positively. If the question of step 1904 is answered positively, the serving module loaded at step 1902 attempts to match the remote password data input by said user 200 with corresponding password data stored in said database and, if successful, logs said user 200 in at step 1905, whereby the question of step 502 is answered positively at user terminal 101 (or 106 or 108). Alternatively, the question of step 1904 is answered negatively and control proceeds to the next step 1906, whereby said serving module processes said interpreted serving request and server 104 distributes (serves) the requested data to the requesting client user terminal across the network environment at step 1907.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if serving as module logs user 200 in as hereinbefore described, said user 200 may À À .; 26103-GB request and receive user-created portions of data stored at server 104, either as alphanumerical data in said database or as usercreated web pages stored in HOD 1808. Alternatively, if serving module does not log user 200 in as hereinbefore described, said user 200 may only request and receive user-created portions of data stored at server 104 as user-created web pages stored in HOD 1808. Thus, any user terminal operated by a user not having any authority to create contact data, messages or web pages subsequently stored at server 104 may nevertheless identify, load and browse conventional HTML web pages stored at server 104 as a result of a logged-in user having created such HTML web pages according to step 506 at said user terminal and steps 1803 to 1807 at server 104.

Upon completing the serving step 1907, a question is asked at step 1908, as to whether another serving request has been received and should be interpreted at step 1903. If the question of step 1904 is answered positively, control therefore returns to step 1903. Alternatively, the question of step 1908 is answered negatively and control proceeds to the next step 1909, wherein the server administrator may eventually terminate the serving module application loaded and started at step 1902, whereby the server started at step 1901 may be eventually switched off at the next step 1910, depending on the work flow of said administrator, for instance if said server 104 requires shutdown for essential maintenance.

Figure 20 The contents of main memory 1807 subsequently to performing the loading and starting step 1902 shown in Figure 19 are further detailed in 2 À ,, 2P; -GB Figure 20.

An operating system is shown at 2001 which comprises a reduced set of instructions for CPUs 1801, 1802 the purpose of which is to provide server 104 with basic functionality. Examples of basic functions include for instance access to files stored on hard disk drive 1808 or a DVD/CD- ROM accessed by drive 1810 or a ZlP(tm) disk accessed by drive 1811 and management thereof, network connectivity with the Internet 102, interpretation and processing of the input from the connected keyboard and mouse. In the example, the operating system is Windows XP(tm) provided by the Microsoft corporation of Redmond, California, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the instructions according to the present invention may be easily adapted to function under different other known operating systems, such as such as MacOS-X_ provided by the Apple Corporation of Cupertino, California or LINUX_, which is freely distributed.

s A browser 2002 includes instructions for accessing, processing and displaying web pages under various file formats, such as HTML, DHTML, ASP or PHP files. Browser 2002 also includes optional instructions as sub applications for processing incoming data packets, that are usually stored in memory as an integral part of browser 2002 but inactive until required by the processing performed at the browser. Such sub- applications are known to those skilled in the art as plug-ins or applets, and are invoked when the format of data being processed by browser 2002 differs from the above standard Internet file formats. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, browser 2002 is Internet Explorer 6 licensed by the Microsoft s Corporation of Redmond, California.

2 2 c,; 26104-GB A multifunctional module application is shown at 2003, which processes uploaded, remote user input data 605, 606, 607 in order to locally update a database 2004 with said contact data 605, message data 606 and respective references to user-created web pages 607, as well as generate corresponding static HTML pages in a user-specific portion of HOD 1808 according to the present invention, for the distribution thereof at step 1907. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said database 2004 is a SQL database.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention still, said module 603 is a thick-client application. A thick-client application removes the requirement for most of the application rules to reside on connected user terminals, as said rules are locally stored and processed at steps 1903 to 1908 at the server 104 in order to process remote serving requests generated at said user terminal.

Memory 1807 also includes module 2005, which is uploaded to client user terminals upon the respective users thereof successfully logging in at step 1905, whereby said logged-in user terminals download said module 2005 into their respective main memory as the multifunctional module 603.

Finally, at any given time during the processing cycle defined by steps 1903 to 1908, memory 1807 includes both incoming and outgoing data packets respectively including serving requests received from client user terminals at step 1903 and data distributed (served) to said client user terminals in reply to said serving requests according to step 1907.

2P;.GB " . . .e À À Figure 21 The storing of remotely created data shown in Figures 5 to 18 in the database 2004 and HOD 1808 at server 104 is illustrated in Figure 21.

The environment shown in Figure 21 describes how remotely created data 605, 606 and 607 is processed by serving module 2003 at server 104 in order to update the database 2004 stored in main memory 1807 and a portion 2101 of hard disk drive 1808, which is specifically configured to store HTML documents 607.

Preferably, SQL database 2004 includes a plurality of database tables having data therein, which is either indexed reference data used to facilitate data mining therein, or uploaded user data. Examples of database tables storing reference data include for instance a first global table 2102, which comprehensively stores referencing data for each user who may obtain login to server 104, thus storing user passwords, user account details, user main website address stored in portion 2101 and various other identifiers uniquely linking portions of the data stored in database 2004 to said user, such as contact data 605 and message data 606 specific to each such user. Another reference table is a web table 2103, the reference data of which indexes all of the HTML documents 607 stored in portion 2101 according to respective main user website addresses also stored in portion 2101, which are already referenced per respective user in global table 2102. Yet another reference table is a contacts table 2104, the reference data of which indexes all of the user-specific contact tables 2105 according to the users, who are already referenced per respective user in global table 2102.

À . . ' 2P;,GB Thus, examples of user-specific tables preferably include a user specific contact table and message table for each user who may obtain access to server 104, as respectively shown at 2105 and 2106, whereby the data stored therein is respectively contact data 605 and message data 606 uploaded by said user as described hereinbefore. Only a limited selection of tables have been described herein for the purpose of not unnecessarily obscuring the present description, but it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that SQL database 2004 may include hundreds or even thousands of reference tables and user-specific data

to tables.

Unlike network-connected database servers of the known prior art, however, server 104 also stores conventional HTML documents 607 in HOD portion 2101, wherein serving module 2003 in effect parses remotely created data uploaded by client user terminals to determine which type of data said uploaded data is and, thus, where said data should be stored.

According to the present invention, module 2003 therefore maintains a dynamic relationship 2107 between the SQL database 2004 and HDD portion 2101, within which each user having login access to server 104 is provided with a HTML document folder in which to store one or a plurality HTML documents 607, wherein said folder is made accessible to client user terminals that may login or not across the network environment shown in Figure 1.

Consequently, upon user 200 shown at 2108 creating contact data 605 at user terminal 101 and uploading said contact data to server 104 according to step 804, said contact data is appended to said contact table À 4; 64-P16bGB sea a 2105, wherein said table 2105 is referenced within contacts table 2104.

Similarly, upon user 200 shown at 2108 creating message data 606 at user terminal 101 and uploading said contact data to server 104 according to step 1006, said message data is appended to said message table 2106, wherein said table 2106 is referenced within a messages table similar in purpose to contacts table 2104.

However, upon user 200 shown at 2108 creating a Javaw script 607 at user terminal 101 and uploading said Javam script 607 to server 104 according to step 1205, the multifunctional module 2005 of the present invention processes said script into a HTML document 608, which is subsequently stored within portion 2101 as shown at 2109 but also referenced in database 2004 within Web table 2102 as shown at 2109.

Figure 22 The step of authenticating, or 'logging in' a remote user, shown in Figure 5 at any of user terminals 101, 106 and 108 and in Figure 19 at server 104, is further detailed in Figure 22.

At step 2201, the password uploaded by user 200 willing to log in to server 104 is assigned a client session identifier by module 2003 and, at step 2202, the global table 2102 is parsed by said module performing a SQL query in order to match said password to a user password stored therein. At step 2203, a question is asked as to whether said password exists in said table, e.g. whether user 200 has registered a password allowing access to database 2004 and the user data stored therein.

as If the question of step 2203 is answered positively, serving module À t a, ' i; 2364-P101GB

-

2003 uploads multifunctional module 203 to the client user terminal 101 of said user 200 at step 2204 and declares a condition at step 2205 that incoming data packets, e.g. serving requests, with the client session identifier assigned at step 2201 shall have full processing rights, i.e. full access to database 2004 and the user data store therein relating to the user identified in global table 2102 at step 2202.

Alternatively, the question of step 2203 is answered negatively, and control proceeds directly to step 2206, whereby serving module 2003 declares a condition that incoming data packets, e.g. serving requests, with 0 the client session identifier assigned at step 2201 shall not have full processing rights but may only be served data 607 stored in HDD portion 2101, i.e. HTML pages 608.

Figure 23 The operating steps according to which server 104 processes request data at step 1906 are further detailed in Figure 23.

A first question is asked at step 2301 as to whether the client request is an update. If the question of step 2301 is answered positively, a second question is asked at step 2302 as to whether the update request is for contact data 605. If the question of step 2302 is answered positively, at step 2303 the serving module 2003 checks the session ID of the client request for access to the database 2004, the multifunctional module 2005 parses the incoming CSV contact data file and inserts it into the user's contact database 2105.

Alternatively, if the question of step 2302 is answered negatively, a 3. . 26eP101-GB third question is asked at step 2304 as to whether the update request is for message data 606. If the question of step 2304 is answered positively, at step 2305 the serving module 2003 checks the session ID of the client request for access to the database 2004, the multifunctional module 2005 parses the incoming message data string and inserts it into the user's message database 2106.

Alternatively, if the question of step 2304 is answered negatively, a fourth question is asked at step 2306 as to whether the update request is for web page data 607, i.e. a Java_ script 607. If the question of step 2306 0 is answered positively, at step 2307 the serving module 2003 checks the session ID of the client request for access to the database 2004, the multifunctional module 2005 processes the incoming Java_ script 607 into an HTML document and stores it into the user's web page folder in storage portion 2101 as shown at 2109. Control proceeds directly to step 1907 in order to update the HTML document 608 displayed as 1503 at the client terminal for further generating and/or editing.

Alternatively, if the question of step 2306 is answered negatively, control proceeds to a fifth question asked at step 2308, which is also asked if the first question of step 2301 is answered negatively, as to whether the client request is a SQL query, i.e. a selection of message recipients performed according to steps 1010 and 1011. If the question of step 2308 is answered positively, at step 2309 the serving module 2003 checks the session ID of the client request for access to the database 2004 and the SQL database engine of database 2004 processes the query and provides multifunctional module 2005 with a message and a mailing list of e-mail À 366-101-GB . . . ' . À À À À addresses or facsimile numbers to which to address the message. Control proceeds directly to step 1907 in order to send the e-mails or faxes so processed.

Alternatively, if the question of step 2308 is answered negatively, control proceeds to a sixth and last question asked at step 2310 as to whether the client request is for access to the database, for instance in order to edit contact data, message data or web page data, or access to the HTML documents 608 stored in portion 2101. If the question of step 2310 is answered positively, at step 2309 the serving module 2003 checks the session ID of the client request for access to the database 2004 andthe multifunctional module 2005 authorises access to the requested data accordingly, whereby control proceeds to step 1907 for distributing said data.

Figure 24 In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the module 603 of the present invention is wirelessly downloaded from server 104 by a portable user terminal connected to the Internet 102 via an ISP providing a wireless connection, such as a GSM connection. Such a portable user terminal and typical hardware forming the main part thereof are shown in Figure 24.

User 2400 operates Palmtop Personal Computer 2401, which is also shown equipped with an antenna 2401 B through which incoming and outgoing wireless signals are transmitted. Palmtop PC 2401 is preferably able to process computer-readable instructions written in Hypertext Mark À À À , .366-101-GB À 2. À ' . À , . up Language (HTML) in an identical fashion to Personal Computer 201.

According to the known art, Palmtop PC 2401 is equipped with a processing capability and memory means.

The system includes a central processing unit (CPU) 2402 which fetches and executes instructions and manipulates data, wherein CPU 2402 is for instance an Intel_ Mobile Pentium 32-bit processor. The central processing unit 2402 is connected to a system bus 2403, and said bus 2403 provides connectivity with memory means 2404 and 2405. Memory means 2404 includes a Read-Only Memory of sixteen megabytes to configured as non-volatile bulk storage of instructions and data, in which basic processing functions performed by CPU 2402 are permanently stored, for instance a BIOS, an electrical charge management application and a network protocol with which to encode and decode voice and/or data signals received and transmitted wirelessly by means of a modem 2406.

Memory means 2405 includes a Random-Access Memory, in which processing functions performed by CPU 2402 and data processed therewith are temporarily stored whilst the device is powered up, for instance an operating system, an Internet browser, network-specific user data such as user identification, phone number, network provider data enabling device 2401 to connect to its ISP. Depending upon the manufacturer of the device, the main memory 2405 contains between thirty two and sixty-four megabytes of dynamic random access memory.

Optionally, main memory 2405 may be temporarily increased by the use of removable Random Access Memory support media inserted in device 2401 at 2407, such as Flashcards, which are well known to those skilled in the À À , À2.365101-GB 2e2 a'- '.' . art.

Output data is displayed on a Liquid Crystal Display unit 2408 and manual input is received via a keypad 2409, and possibly tactile input exerted onto LCD unit 2408 by a stylus 2410, depending upon the manufacturer of the device. A serial inpuVoutput interface 2411 thus provides connectivity to peripherals such as keypad 2409 and optionally tactile components of display 2408. A modem 2406 provides connectivity to the Internet 102 via a wireless telephone connection to the user's ISP. An audio processor 2412 processes voice or music data wirelessly received and pre-processed by CPU 2402 for output to the speaker(s) 2413 of device 2401. Finally, an electrical transformer 2414 modulates electrical power received from the mains or the on-board battery 2415 to power up the device.

The equipment shown in Figure 24 constitutes a mobile communication device, i.e. a palmtop PC of fairly standard architecture, the type of which can vary to a large extent, but which is a Sony VAIO in the

example.

Claims (37)

1. e66-P lO1-GB : : À e. e: ace e Claims 1. A network-connected apparatus

   for generating and distributing data in a network environment, having processing means, storage means, memory means, network connecting means, display means and user input means, wherein said storage means stores data processing instructions in the form of a browser application, stored in said memory means and processed by said processing means at runtime, whereby in response to connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus to storing a serving module across said network by means of said network connecting means, data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module are received in said memory means; said browser application is configured by said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data s or a combination thereof by means of said user input means; said generated data is remotely processed at said remote network connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and said processed data is remotely stored at said remote network connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.
2. 2. Network-connected apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 2s connecting to said remote network-connected apparatus includes providing À À 2366-R101-GB À ' ' ' ' - . . À:. À . À a password at said network-connected apparatus which is authenticated by said serving module.
3. 3. Network-connected apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said remote network-connected apparatus is a server.
4. 4. Network-connected apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said multifunctional module comprises processing instructions in the form of Javam script (JS), Hypertext Mark Up Language (HTML) and to Dynamic Hypertext Mark Up Language (D-HTML).
5. 5. Network-connected apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said multifunctional module is a thin client application.
6. 6. Network-connected apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said contact data is a comma-separated value (CSV) file.
7. 7. Network-connected apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said web page data is a Java_ script.
8. 8. Network-connected apparatus according to claims 1 or 7, wherein generating said web page data includes interacting by means of said user input means with icons displayed on said display means in order to generate web page components in real-time.

   À 2 À [366-F101-GB ' . . . . .
9. 9. Network-connected apparatus according to claim 1, wherein generating said message data further includes selecting message recipients amongst said processed contact data.
10. 10. Network-connected apparatus according to claim 9, wherein selecting said message recipients amongst said processed contact data includes building a database query within an Active Server Page, wherein logical operators are selected and recipient criteria input by means of said user input means.
11. 11. Network-connected apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said browser application is Internet Explorer_ 6 licensed by the Microsoft(l) Corporation of Redmond, California.
12. 12. A method of generating and distributing data in a networked environment, including a browser application stored in memory means and processed by processing means at runtime, said method comprising the steps of connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in said memory means; configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; À À . 2366-101-GB À ' ' ' ' ' ' . . . remotely processing said generated data at said remote network connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.
13. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein connecting to said 0 remote network-connected apparatus includes providing a password at said network-connected apparatus which is authenticated by said serving module.
14. 14. A method according to claims 12 or 13, wherein said multifunctional module comprises processing instructions in the form of Java_ script, Hypertext Mark Up Language and Dynamic Hypertext Mark Up Language.
15. 15. A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein said contact data is a comma-separated value (CSV) file.
16. 16. A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein said web page data is a Java w script.
17. 17. A method according to claims 12 or 16, wherein generating À ' À , À:36ti'4.101-GB À I: e.e.. À .: À À À À said web page data includes interacting by means of said user input means with icons displayed on said display means in order to generate web page components in real-time.
18. 18. A method according to claim 12, wherein generating said message data further includes selecting message recipients amongst said processed contact data.
19. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein selecting said 0 message recipients amongst said processed contact data includes building a database query within an Active Server Page, wherein logical operators are selected and recipient criteria input by means of said user input means.
20. 20. A method according to claim 12, wherein said browser application is Internet Explorer_ 6 licensed by the Microsoft() Corporation of Redmond, California.
21. 21. A computer programmed for generating and distributing data in a network environment, having processing means, storage means, memory means, network connecting means, display means and user input means, wherein said storage means stores data processing instructions in the form of a browser application, which programs said computer at runtime to perform the steps of: connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; À , '236601-GB receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in said memory means; configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; remotely processing said generated data at said remote network connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.
22. 22. A computer programmed according to claim 21, wherein connecting to said remote network-connected apparatus includes providing a password at said computer which is authenticated by said serving module.
23. 23. A computer programmed according to claims 21 or 22, wherein said multifunctional module comprises processing instructions in the form of Javam script (JS), Hypertext Mark Up Language (HTML) and Dynamic Hypertext Mark Up Language (D-HTML).
24. 24. A computer programmed according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein said contact data is a comma-separated value (CSV) file.

    e Àl,366-101-GB e e À # e # # À e e # e e e e
25. 25. A computer programmed according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein said web page data is a Java_ script.
26. 26. A computer programmed according to claims 21 or 25, wherein generating said web page data includes interacting by means of said user input means with icons displayed on said display means in order to generate web page components in real-time.

    0
27. 27. A computer programmed according to claim 21, wherein generating said message data further includes selecting message recipients amongst said processed contact data.
28. 28. A computer programmed according to claim 27, wherein selecting said message recipients amongst said processed contact data includes building a database query within an Active Server Page, wherein logical operators are selected and recipient criteria input by means of said user input means.
29. 29. A computer programmed according to claim 21, wherein said browser application is Internet Explorer_ 6 licensed by the Microsoft() Corporation of Redmond, California.
30. 30. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable as instructions for generating and distributing data in a network environment À33'P,101-GB . a, . . . executable by a computer processing a browser application such that, when executing said instructions, said computer will perform the steps of: connecting to a remote network-connected apparatus storing a serving module across said network environment; receiving data processing instructions in the form of a multifunctional module in memory means; configuring said browser application with said multifunctional module for locally generating data as contact data, message data or web page data or a combination thereof; -I remotely processing said generated data at said remote network connected apparatus, whereat said contact data and said message data are respectively appended to one or a plurality of databases and said web page data is processed into a Hypertext Mark Up Language document; and remotely storing said processed data at said remote network connected apparatus, wherefrom said processed data is distributed across said network.
31. 31. A computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein said multifunctional module comprises processing instructions in the form of Java_ script (JS), Hypertext Mark Up Language (HTML) and Dynamic Hypertext Mark Up Language (D-HTML).
32. 32. A computer-readable medium according to claims 30 or 31, wherein said contact data is a comma-separated value (CSV) file.

    À '' ,'?66-01-GB 2."'' "' a'
33. 33. A computer-readable medium according to claims 30 or 31, wherein said web page data is a Java_ script.
34. 34. A computer-readable medium according to claims 30 or 33, wherein generating said web page data includes interacting by means of said user input means with icons displayed on said display means in order to generate web page components in real-time.
35. 35. A computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein Jo generating said message data further includes selecting message recipients amongst said processed contact data.
36. 36. A computer-readable medium according to claim 35, wherein selecting said message recipients amongst said processed contact data s includes building a database query within an Active Server Page, wherein logical operators are selected and recipient criteria input by means of said user input means.
37. 37. A computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein said browser application is Internet Explorer_ 6 licensed by the Microsoft() Corporation of Redmond, California.