MXPA00010736A - Method of delivering information over a communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

A technique and apparatus for delivering information to a subscriber terminal (130) on a communication network. The information is simultaneously displayed without interfering with the reception and/or display of subscriber's selected data or program.

Description

Method of providing information about a communication network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the provision of information to the users of a communication network, more particularly to a technique for dynamically supplying information to each active user in the network without interfering with the reception and deployment of their data or programs selected from the network. In a typical communication network in which advertisements or other information is provided, such as a conventional cable television network system, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) and the Internet, the Ad supply interferes with the reception and / or deployment of the user's selected programs or data. In a cable television network and a conventional on-demand video distribution system, the messages are incorporated into the transmission of data streams representing the program selected by the user. That is, the transmission and / or deployment of the select program is interrupted by commercial breaks. On the Internet, the information is downloaded ("entered") into the user's terminal such that the display of the information entered interferes with the display of the user's selected data. That is, the information entered is located at the top of the data (for example, tables or data pages of a website) that is currently being displayed in the user's terminal. However, it is desirable to continuously display "entered" information, messages or advertisements simultaneously to the data or programs selected by the user where they do not interfere with each other and are simultaneously viewed by the user. Also, in a typical communication network, information such as advertisements are delivered to many users indiscriminately. This is a disadvantage for users because some users are subject to ads in which they have no interest. It is also disadvantageous for advertisers because advertisers have to pay to deliver the ads to a large audience of users including users who want to reach and users who have no interest in their ads.

«Rifeto». "». > fc.t? «.Ba, ¿.. .. s; í í 8i¡! Sá3 & ~? It is desirable for objective information, such as messages, advertisements, advertisements, etc., to be more likely to be interested in such information and to deliver that information to only those selected users. So far, techniques have been proposed for the selective distribution of messages over communication networks, such as a conventional cable television network and a conventional demand video system. In a cable television network, an addressable controller communicates with a plurality of user converters in the network. Each converter, for example a receiver receiving box, is assigned as a member of a group of primary messages and may also be assigned to one or more subgroups of messages. The messages are input to the addressable controller for subsequent transmission to a converter to be displayed on a television receiver connected to that converter. The network header labels the text message with data distribution defining at least one group of primary messages or subgroup of messages to receive the message. Several primary groups are used to segregate converters based on geographic areas or distribution axes, and subgroups are used to segregate users within particular interest groups. The tagged text messages are transmitted over the conventional cable television network together with signals transmitted from the network service providers on separate paths or channels. A particular converter determines if it is authorized to receive the tagged text message. If it is determined that this converter is authorized to receive the tagged text message, the converter immediately displays the tagged text message by blocking the signal transmitted on the selected channel (tuned) or on alphanumeric characters and / or graphics at the top of the program that is displayed on the user's television receiver. In a conventional demand video distribution system, a technique has been proposed in which commercial messages to be distributed over the network contain fixed information identifying categories of recipients of each message. A server, centrally located in the network, selectively labels commercial messages with the addresses of the users' converter, satisfying the categories of users. The commercial messages are inserted into the video signal associated with the selected program by a particular converter address (user) and transmitted over the network to receive and display by a television receiver connected to that converter address. The addressed converter receives and displays the commercials in its corresponding television receiver during the commercial breaks programmed during the program. The addresses are select by the server based on the information stored in the databases related to demographic information and others in relation to the user's house in comparison to the same information relative to the houses that are currently customers of the product or service that is the subject of the commercial . However, it is desirable to continuously display text messages or commercials throughout the program on the user's receiving television. The present invention proceeds on the desire for continuous display of simultaneous messages with the transmission of the program in which the transmission of the program and the messages do not interfere with each other and are simultaneously visible to the user. Also, it is desirable to update the demographic information based on the usual user visits, means of purchase and the like because the demographic information may be out of date. A customized information file is generated dynamically for each active user in the network according to the profile data corresponding to the user stored in a database. Each customized information file contains a plurality of information addresses, for example, messages, advertisements, advertisements, etc., are sent to the corresponding user. Each user terminal sequentially activates the display of the information located in the addresses found in its personalized information list.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a technique for delivering information to users in a communication network such that information and data selected by the user are simultaneously visible to the user.

* XáXhéh ^ * &? Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a technique as said, that additionally display the information without interfering with the reception and deployment of the selected data by the user. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a technique for labeling information to users who are more likely to be interested in a particular information and to provide that information to only those tagged (selected) users. Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the attached clauses.

Summary of the invention.

According to this invention, a processor apparatus connected to a communication network continuously displays a sequence of information received from a plurality of INFO sources simultaneously with selected data from at least one data provider in the network such that the sequence of information and the selected data is visible simultaneously by the user. Although the user may select data from one or more data providers, the user can not control the display of the information sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the information sequence is continuously displayed without interfering with the display of the selected data. According to another aspect of this invention, a sequence of information is only generated by each user according to the profile data of the user. A processing apparatus associated with the user continuously displays the information sequence simultaneously with the selected data of at least one provider in the network such that the sequence of information and selected data are simultaneously visible to the user. Although the user may select data from one or more data providers, the user can not control the display of the information sequence. or •- . . »T. * « . . . . . J. . ... ", preferably the sequence of information is continuously displayed on a portion of the monitor associated with the processing apparatus and the selected data is displayed on another portion of the monitor.

Brief description of the figures.

The following detailed description is given as an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention solely to them, and will be understood in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the incorporation of the present invention into a word wide web (Internet); Figure 2 is a block diagram representing a modality of a terminal of the Flg. 1 the three points of the monitor; Figure 3 is a block diagram representing a mode of an INFO window and a window of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the incorporation of the present invention into a cable television network; Figure 5 is a block diagram of a mode of a television receiver apparatus of the Flg. 4.; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of one mode of the INFO window and a program window of Fig. 5.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

The present invention is implemented by means of suitable communication devices and electronic components available. The invention finds an application available in virtually all commercial communication networks, including but not limited to air transmissions, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), Intranet, word wide web (Internet), systems of transmission of cable wiring and direct satellite transmission systems. In Fig. 1 a block diagram of a computer network specifically internet (word wide web) is illustrated, which incorporates the present invention. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) server 110, INFO120 servers, INFO 12 databases, a profile database 122, user terminals 130, data providers, such as an IBM 140 server and a 150 FORD server , a session use server 210, a name / password database 220, a session use database 230, a deployed INFO database 240, a chosen event server 250, a database of chosen event 260, a registration session server 270, a primary registration session database 280, a profile server 285 and an additional profile database 286 that are connected to each other from an Internet 100. It is appreciated that the Internet contemplated in the present invention is not limited to the Internet shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is only a representation of the Internet and it is appreciated that a large number of servers can be connected to the Internet. The user's individual terminal 130 includes a monitor 180 and an input apparatus 170 such as a keyboard, mouse or the like. Although not described in detail, it will be appreciated that the terminal may be a conventional computer, such as a ibm compatible personal computer (PC), a network computer, an Apple Macintosh computer or similar. The profile data represent the demographics of the user stored in the profile database 122. The profile data may include home address, business address, type of residence, income, gender, age group, frequency of use of cable or Internet, but is not limited to such. It is appreciated that the profile data can be provided by telephone to a representative of the Internet service provider, placed in the input device 170 of the user terminal 130, obtained in a form of a profile questionnaire completed by the user or by other comparable media. If the profile data is captured in the input gate 170 by the user, the user terminal 130 transmits the profile data to the ISP 110 server. The profile data can be encrypted and compressed before being transmitted to the ISP 110 server. < M «8ja¡ft¡fe¡aai .1. ,.

The ISP server 11 sends and stores the profile data received in the profile database 122. The ISP server 110 can also decrypt and decompress the profile data received before storing the profile data in the profile database 122 Also from time to time, additional demographic information may be required from the users and this additional demographic information may be stored with the profile data in the profile database 122 or separately in the additional database 286. IF the additional profile data is captured in the input device 170 by the user, the user terminal 130 transmits the additional data to the ISP server 110. The additional profile data can be encrypted and compressed before they are transmitted to the ISP server 110. The ISP server 110 sends and stores the additional profile data received in the additional profile database 286 or the database of profile 122. Alternatively, the ISP server 110 may send the additional profile data to the profile server 285 that decrypts and decompresses the additional profiles, and stores the additional profile data in the additional profile database 286. The INFO 120 servers continuously transmit information, such as announcements, news, messages, web pages, data packages, tickets, announcements, updates and similar, to form a sequence of information. Is appreciated that the information may comprise but not be limited to texts, motionless images, movies, video and audio components, or a combination thereof. This sequence of information is fed to the ISP 110 server for distribution to the users. It is appreciated that one of several INFO servers can represent web channels, for example travel channel, weather channel, etc. In such In 25 cases, the INFO 120 servers continuously transmit information related to travel or weather. It is also appreciated that each INFO 120 server can include an INFO 121 database where the information for distribution is stored. In such cases, each INFO 120 server retrieves the information from its respective INFO 121 database and transmits and retrieves it for the users in the network. Alternatively, the information sequence is selected for each user according to the user profile data which may also include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence of information is dynamically individually generated for each user. For example, if an advertiser chooses to tag their ads for men under 40 years of age with annual income exceeding $ 50000, then these ads could be distributed to only those users who meet these demographic requirements. It is appreciated that a part 5 of all the user profile data contains varied demographic information that can be used to generate the information sequence. Preferably, the ISP server 110 can retrieve a sequence of ID's from INFO or a sequence of addresses INFO from a list of the database 125 for distribution to users. The sequence of INFO IDs can contain a list of INFO IDs only identifying each information in the information sequence; the durations of INFO represent the length of time that each information is going to be displayed to the users, for example, to display the information for 30 seconds; and display the time ranges representing the time of day that each information will be displayed to the users, for example, display the information within 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Additionally, the INFO address sequence can contain a list of addresses indicating the location of each information in the INFO 120 servers, INFO durations, time ranges displayed. The ISP server 110 transmits the sequence of INFO ID's or addresses to the user's terminals 130 which store the received sequence in a storage device (not shown). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ISP server 110 can generate a customized and individualized sequence of INFO ID's or addresses for each user according to the user's profile data. That is, a sequence of INFO IDs or addresses are individually and dynamically generated for each user. It is appreciated that this sequence of INFO ID's or addresses may be pre-generated for each user during the peak hours and provided to the user's terminal 130 when connected to the ISP 110 server or dynamically generated by each user when the user's terminal is successfully connect to the ISP 110 server. This customized sequence of ID's from INFO or addresses is then transmitted to the user terminal associated with that user and to the session usage server 210 which stores the sequence received for that user in the session use database 230.

* - *, - The individual terminals of the user or processing apparatus 130 then read the information located in those addresses or correspond to the INFO IDs and display the information read as the information sequence for the duration of INFO specified during the deployment of time ranges. In other words, these addresses may represent URLs (uniform resource locators) or the like and the user terminal 130 reads the web pages of the INFO 120 servers corresponding to those URLs and displays them as a sequence of information from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For example, if a particular information has an INFO duration of 30 seconds, then each time this particular information is displayed during the deployment time period (range), and the information is displayed for 30 seconds. Also, the profile data may contain information relating to the user's time zone which can be used to generate the information sequence. For example if a particular information has a deployment time range of 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and the current time is 9:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time), then this information may not be provided to any user of the US in the Eastern time zone, but could be provided to users of the U.S. in the pacific weather zone. The individual user terminals 130, for example users authorized to the ISPs, are connected to the ISP server 110 by telephone lines 160, which can be constructed as ordinary telephone lines, ISDN lines, or Tl lines. It is appreciated that the user terminals 130 may be connected to the ISP server 110 by cables, which may be constructed as coaxial cables, optical fibers or a combination thereof. It is also appreciated that the connection between the ISP server 110 and each user terminal 130 can be a wireless connection. It is notable that only authorized users, for example authorized user terminals 130 are allowed to be connected to the ISP 110 server and unauthorized user terminals are Inhibited to display the sequence of information received from the INFO 120 servers. Each user is assigned to an Single server ID and a password, which are stored in the database name / password 220 or the like accessible by the ISP server 110. Alternatively, each user terminal 130 may be assigned to a unique user ID and a password. $ £ í & The user enters a user ID and password in the input device 170 to initiate a connection between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110. The user terminal 130 transmits the user ID and password to the ISP server 110 on the which sends them to the database name / password 220 for verification. Preferably, the user ID and the password are compressed and encrypted using compression and encryption techniques before transmitting it to the server 110. The database name / password 220 decrypts and decompresses the encrypted and compressed user ID and password before storing them . The database name / password 220 first determines whether the user ID corresponds to one of the stored user ID's. If a match for the user ID is found, then the database name / password 220 further determines whether the received password corresponds to the stored password associated with such user ID. If it is found to correspond also, then the user is determined as an authorized user, and the connection between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 is established. Additionally, the user terminal 130 is categorized as an authorized user terminal and the input information for that authorized user is generated and stored in the session use database 230 or the like. It is appreciated that the user terminal 130 may store the input information in a local storage device (not shown) before transmitting the input information to the session usage database. The input information can include a time of entry to the system and a date of entry into the system, but is not limited to such information. For example, the input information may additionally contain a location ID, information relating to the location of such user terminal 130. It is appreciated that the location ID may represent a postal code, a telephone number, a city name or code, a state or province name, or similar. Alternatively, the input information may be transmitted to the session usage server 210 which generates a session usage record from the input information and stores the session use record in the database 230. It is noted that the use record of session may not necessarily contain all the input information. Also, it is appreciated that the time of entry to the system and the date of entry into the system can be generated according to the clock of the network system, by which it ensures and uniforms the input information of the input terminals 130. The clock of the network system may reside in the ISP server 110 or some other server in the Internet 100. In accordance, the clock information of each user terminal does not overlap with the clock information of the network system, but each time the terminal 5 of the user marks the Information to be transmitted to the ISP 110 server based on the clock of the network system. That is, each user terminal 130 has a real time and virtual time based on the clock of the network system, and generates a virtual system entry time and a virtual entry database based on the network system clock. . However, if no correspondence is found for the user ID or password, then the user is determined to be an unauthorized user, and the connection is not established between the user terminal 130 and the ISP 110 server. user terminal 130 is categorized as an unauthorized user terminal. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the user also selects a telephone access number using the input device 170 to initialize a connection between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 using that telephone access number. It is contemplated that a telephone database 225 connected to the Internet 100 contains all the telephone access numbers that can be used. to connect to the ISP 110 server throughout the zip code and time zone that are associated with each dial-up number. Additionally, a pre-assigned postal code is stored for each telephone access number in the telephone database 225. Once the connection has been successfully established between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 using the telephone access number, the ISP server 110 requires the postal code information of the user terminal 130 of the database name / password 220. The received postal code is sent to the base of Telephone data 225 to determine if the received zip code is associated with the typed telephone access number. If it is determined that this postal code is associated with the selected telephone access number, then it is presumed that the user is entering from home and the received postal code is used as a postal code of location. However, if it is determined that the received postal code does not n »wrong < fcgfcA, «í, - * f .. is associated with the selected dial-up number, then it is presumed that the user enters from a remote location and the pre-assigned postal code associated with the selected dial-up number is used as the location zip code. It is appreciated that the telephone access number and the postal code of the user's location, and the time zone corresponding to the postal code of the user's location can also be used to generate the sequence of information for that user. For example, if a particular information has a deployment time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time is 9:00 PM Eastern (Eastern Standard Time), then this information may not be provided to anyone of US users. in the Eastern time zone, but could be provided to U.S. users in the Pacific and mountain areas. This will advantageously allow advertisers to tag their ads based on the user's geographic locations to consider regional preferences. That is, advertisers may want to use an ad for people on the East Coast and other ads for people on the West Coast. The authorized user enters a URL in the input device 170 to request a web page from the host server (or data provider) on the Internet 100. It is appreciated that each host server on the Internet is uniquely identified by a host server name which will be referred to hereinafter as a data provider ID. For example, to require a web page from the IBM 140 server on the Internet 100, the authorized user captures the following URL, "http://www.ibm.com", on the input device 170. The user's terminal 130 it feeds the required URL to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that the URLs received from the unauthorized user terminals are rejected by the ISP server 110 and not sent to the host server. This effectively inhibits the terminals of unauthorized users from deploying the web page from the host server. The ISP server 110 retransmits the requisition for a web page from the authorized user terminals 130 to the IBM 140 server via the Internet 100. In response to the requisition, the IBM 140 server supplies the requisition of the web page to the ISP 110 server. The ISP server 110 then retransmits the web page to the appropriate user terminal 130. 12: Í? ¡La 4,. ^ - feá-i »The user terminal 130 continuously displays on the monitor 180 the information sequence simultaneously with the web page received from the IBM 140 server via the ISP server 110. It is contemplated that the sequence of information and the required web page are displayed on the monitor 180 such that they are simultaneously visible to the user. Preferably, the display of the information sequence on the monitor 180 does not interfere with the display of the web page required. In such a scheme the sequence of information can be displayed in a first portion of the monitor 180 and the web page required in a second portion of the monitor 180. For simplicity, the two portions of the monitor 180 will be referred to hereinafter as the display window 190 and an INFO 200 window as illustrated in FIG. 2. In compliance, the sequence of information is displayed in the INFO 200 window and the page 200 is displayed in the display window 190. It is seen that each information in the sequence is displayed in the INFO 200 window for the assigned duration INFO, for example the first information can be displayed for 30 seconds, the second information for 15 seconds, etc. Alternatively, the monitor can be divided into three portions, nominally the display window 190, the INFO 200 window and a navigation window 290. The navigation window can include press buttons 291, channel buttons 292 to select preferred channels, location field 293, a GO button 294, a return button 295 to move to the previous web page, an advance button 296 to move to the next page, a house button 297 to retrieve the home page selected by the user, a button preferably 298 to enter, modify and update the user profile data and a logo button 299 to connect a pre-assigned web page. It is appreciated that more buttons provide different functions and features that can be incorporated into the navigation window 290. The user can use the preference button 298 to select attribute systems such as the preferred home page, the settings of displays, the settings of modem, memory or the like. Also the preference button 298 can be used to modify passwords, telephone access numbers or the like. The URL entered by the authorized user in the input device 170 to request a web page from the host server appears in the location field 293. 13 a * * *. 'ing ^ Instead of entering the full URL, the user can type an incomplete URL by simply typing the host name of the desired host server with or without the domain name, and pressing the GO button 294. The present invention contextually determines the remnants (or lost) components of the incomplete URL to form a complete URL. That is, if the user types "ibm.com" the user terminal 130 contextually determines the complete URL as "http // www.ibm.com" and supplies the complete URL to the ISP 110 server. However, if the user simply type "¡bm", then the user terminal 130 first determines the appropriate host server domain "ibm" and then contextually determines the full URL. It is notable that currently the following domains exist on the Internet for the United States: com, gov, edu, org, and net. For other cities these domains are followed by a city code, such as org.kr for Korea and org.de for Germany. It is also notable that the host servers are distributed among those various domains, thus, the user terminal 130 determines the appropriate domain based on the probability of distribution of the host servers in a particular domain. That is, the user terminal 130 determines the probability of finding the host server typed in these various domains and then selects the one that is most likely. If it is determined that the host servers do not reside in the domain, the user terminal 130 selects another domain having the next most likely one until the domain is found for the typed host server. Each voter button 291 corresponds to a component of the URL, such as "http //", "com", "net" and the like as shown in Fig. 2. Instead of simply entering the host name, the user you can enter the host name and press one or more voting buttons 291 for the missing components of the URL, and the user terminal 130 contextually determines the appropriate URL. For example, if users enter "ibm" and click the button ErrorIf the origin of the reference is not found, the user terminal 130 contextually determines the entire URL as "ErrorThe source of the reference is not found." for the IBM website. If the user presses the "gov" button and enters "rs", the user terminal 130 contextually determines the entire URL as ErrorIf the source of the reference is not found, for the IRS website. It is appreciated that the components of the URL do not 14!. & - »i.vi - ÍÁ í? Lb? SliA * - ^. I '. they need to be entered in their own sequence order. Without considering the order of the URL components to be entered, the present invention contextually determines the entire URL in its own sequential order. Also, the INFO 200 window may include unlinked regions 202 and 5 linked regions 201 such as "News Corporation", "Goods", "New Products" or "Order Now" as shown in Fig. 2. Each region linked 201 can bind to the host server (a data provider) on the Internet 100. The user can choose one of the linked regions 201 to receive additional information regarding news corporation, merchandise, new products or make an? Or order. example, if the user chooses the linked region 201 labeled "news corporation" in Fig. 2 the user terminal 130 will connect to the coca-cola news corporation website containing the information of the news corporation that will be displayed in the viewing window 190. Alternatively, if the subscriber chooses the linked region 201 labeled "news corporation", the user can receive this additional information via e-mail, fax, mail or similar. Preferably, the additional information displayed in the display window 190 may depend on the user's profile data. For example, if the user verifies in the linked region 201 labeled "new products" to receive additional information of the latest golf gloves the user terminal 130 may require the data of profile of the user to the profile database 122 to determine if the user is left or right. If it is determined that the user is left then only golf gloves for left people will be displayed in the viewing window 190. It is appreciated that the linked regions 201 are not limited to those illustrated by Fig. 2 and other linked regions are contemplated in FIG. present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, if the user chooses one of the regions 201 of the INFO 200 window, a sudden window, a lowered menu or the like may appear in the display window where the user may be required to answer a form of questionnaire or provide data required to receive the additional information. For example, the user may be required to provide an address 3rd of e-mail, a street address, a fax number or similar to receive additional information. It is appreciated that the user can provide an e-mail address of another person so that the other person can receive the additional information via e-mall.

^ ^ L-á Also, it is appreciated that the required data can be retrieved from the profile database 122 and displayed in the viewing window 190. The user can accept (confirm) this retrieved data or modify the data to provide information additional to another person. After the required data is entered or selected by the user, the user terminal 130 transmits the answered data in the questionnaire form to the ISP server 110. Preferably, the ISP server 110 transmits the questionnaire form answered or the required data to the profile server 285 for storing or updating the additional profile information in the profile database 286. Alternatively, the ISP server 110 retrieves the profile data associated with the user from the profile database 122 and transmits the form of the questionnaire answered from the beginning with the user ID and the profile data of the user to the profile server 285. The profile server 285 then stores or updates the user's additional information in the profile database 286. It is appreciated that this advantage allows the present invention to provide a mechanism for interactive communication between the user and the INFO provider. Also, other means of providing the required data are contemplated such as a radio button for exclusive selections, check boxes for multiple selections and the like. It is appreciated that although the user can not control the display of information sequence in the INFO 200 window of the monitor 180, the user may select another web page to display in the display window 190 by entering another URL such as "http: // ErrorThe source of the reference is not found. " in the input device 170. The display of the web page from the server IBM 140 in the display window 190 is replaced with the web page from the server FORD 150. That is, the required web page received from the server FORD 150 is now displayed in the display window 190 without affecting the display of the INFO 200 window. Alternatively, the content of the INFO 200 window, of each information in the information sequence, can be characterized as an unsolicited request for a web page (data) from one of the host servers, such as the IBM 140 server. In other words, the material displayed in the display window 190 represents web pages requested by the user, where the materials displayed in the INFO 200 window represent web pages not requested by the user. user. Essentially, without informing the user, the user terminal 130 automatically transmits a URL to require a web page to be displayed in the INFO 200 window from the host server. Preferably, the host servers can be divided into two groups, where each group of servers accepts only one type of requirements. That is, the first group of servers can accept only requisitions requested for web pages and the second group accepts only unsolicited requests for web pages. Any request requested for web pages from the second group of servers is denied and the display window 190 may display a message such as "unavailable requirement". When the connection between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 is determined to terminate, the ISP server 110 generates output information and stores the information in the session usage database 230. It is appreciated that the user terminal can storing the output information in the local storage device not shown before transmitting the output information to the session use database 230. The output information can compress the system output time and a system exit date , but is not limited to such information. Alternatively, each user terminal 130 may generate the output information if the connection between the user terminal 130 and the server 110 is terminated by the user. It is appreciated that each user terminal 130 can generate an exit time of the system and an exit date of the system using the virtual clock more than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform output information. Alternatively, the ISP server 110 transmits the output information to the session use server 210. The session use server 210 generates the session duration information as a function of the user's stored system entry date, the time of entry to the user's stored system, the date of departure of the received system and the received time of departure. The session usage server 210 updates the user's session usage record in response to the received system's output date, the received system's exit time and the session duration information, and stores the user's usage record. updated session in the database 17 t. . . ?.? , fa _.- ..,. r «. -. > . -. , i? . j session usfc 230. The updated user session usrecord can be used from the beginning with the profile data to select the sequence of user information. That is, the data generated from the current session for the user can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. It is notable that the current session involves the current user connection to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that the user terminal 130 may be disconnected from the ISP 110 server due to a connection failure, hardware and software problems, power output, etc. . Preferably, to take such disconnections into account, each user terminal 130 generates a whistling signal every determined time, for example every 5, 10, or 15 minutes, and transmits the whistling signal to the ISP 110 server. Whistle signal may include Information identifying the source of the whistling signal, such as the user's ID. The ISP server 110 sends the hiss signal to the session usdatabase 230. It is contemplated that the session usdatabase 230 stores information relative to the expected time of the next whistling signal for each user. When a user terminal 130 successfully connects to the ISP server 110, the session usdatabase 230 adjusts the expected time of the next whistle signal for that user to the current time plus a multiple number of the signal interval of the user. default whistle. That is, on the input information received from the user terminal 130, the session usdatabase 230 adjusts the expected time of the next whistling signal for that user. If a whistle signal is received substantially within the expected time from a user terminal 130, then the session use database 230 updates the expected time of the next whistling signal for that user. Preferably, the ISP server 110 can transmit the hiss signal to the session use server 210 which sends the hiss signal to the session use database 230 for processing and storing. However, if a whistling signal is not received substantially within the expected time from that user terminal 130, then the connection between the user terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 is presumed to be terminated. Preferably, the session use server 210 transmits a disconnect signal to the ISP server 110 to disconnect such user terminal 130. 18 of the ISP server 110. The session use server 210 also generates and transmits the output information for that user to the session use database 230 for stor It is appreciated that the disconnect signal and the output information can be generated by the ISP server 110 and transmitted to the session database for stor It is appreciated that for efficient transmission and securing of the hiss signal it can be encrypted and compressed using standard compression and encryption techniques before transmitting them to the ISP server 110. With such a scenario, the session use server 210 decrypts and decompresses the signal of whistle before updating the expected time of the next whistling signal. Since the information displayed to users can represent advertisements, it can be important to keep track of which advertisements are transmitted and displayed to users. This information can be used to directly determine the number of people who see a particular ad. It is appreciated that this is comparable to the Nielsen or Arbitran audience measurement scheme for television and radio, except that the present technique provides a more accurate and detailed measurement of the users' usual visits. That is, the present technique advantusly allows a more accurate demographic profile to be developed by each user, so it enables advertisers to selectively tag their ads with great accuracy. In accordance with each user, the present invention determines which information of the sequence of information was displayed for that user based on the duration of INFO and the user session stored usage record in the session use database 230. Specifically , the user session length information stored or the time of entry to the user system stored, the date of entry to the stored system, the time of exit of the stored system and the date of exit of the stored system from the record of use of session of the user can be used to determine what information was displayed on the terminal of the user 130. The result of this determination can be compiled as a list to provide a list of displayed information. This list of displayed information is then stored in a deployed INFO database 240 or the like. It is appreciated that this list of information displayed for each user can be a list of INFO IDs and INFO durations corresponding to the information that was displayed for that user. The list of information displayed for each user can additionally contain the user's ID and information regarding the deployment date and the deployment time that a particular information in that list of information displayed was displayed for that user. It is appreciated that the deployment date and the deployment time information can be taken from the INFO durations and the user's session usage stored record in the session usage database 230, namely the entry time. to the system of the user, date of entry to the system, time of exit of the system and date of exit of the system. The list of information displayed for each user may also contain information relating to the location of the user terminal 130, namely the location ID. Alternatively, the list of information displayed for each user can be transmitted to the session usage server 210 which generates an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in that list of deployment information and stores the INFO record displayed in the base of INFO data displayed 240. It is appreciated that the session usage server 210 may not necessarily use all the information contained in the list of deployment information to generate the displayed INFO record. Also, the user's displayed INFO record can be used from the beginning with the user's profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. That is, the information displayed for the user in his current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. Furthermore, for each displayed information, the present invention keeps track of all linked regions 201 selected (or chosen) for each user during the deployment of that information to provide a linked region ID. This information can be used to determine the interests of the user in a particular product, company, channel or similar, providing more accurate information of the user's usual visits. This information can also be used to develop an ad tagging strategy, where advertisers can determine which users are most likely to be interested in receiving such information. It is appreciated that since each linked region 201 is connected to a particular host server, each linked region ID may represent a host server ID (or a selected data provider ID). If it is determined that at least one linked region 201 has been selected by a user, the user terminal 130 associated with such user generates and transmits a selected event reporting packet to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that the user terminal 130 may be storing the chosen event report packet in the local storage device (not shown) before transmitting the chosen event report packet to the ISP 110 server. The selected event report packet may contain the user ID of the terminal of the event. user 130, the displayed information of the displayed INFO ID, the selected provider ID data corresponding to the selected linked region 201, the date and time information was displayed on the user terminal 130 to provide the deployment date and time of deploying the displayed information, and the location ID defining the location of the user terminal 130. It is appreciated that the user terminal 130 may generate at the deployment date and the deployment time using the virtual clock more than its clock internal to ensure uniform and accurate information. It is also appreciated that the chosen event report packet can be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to the ISP 110 server for efficiency and security purposes. The ISP server 110 sends and stores the chosen event report packet received in the selected event database 260. Alternatively, the ISP server 110 can send the chosen event report packet to the chosen event server 250 which decrypts and decompresses the chosen event report package, and generates the chosen event record. The chosen event record is then stored in the chosen event database 260. It is appreciated that the chosen event server 250 may not necessarily use all the information in the chosen event report packet to generate the event report log chosen one. Also, the user's chosen event record can be used from the beginning with the user profile data to select the sequence of user information. That is, the information selected by the user in his current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session.

In addition, it can be advantageous to keep track of the websites (host servers) visited by the user to develop a more accurate profile for each user. So, it enables advertisers to better select their target audience (users) for their promotions, ads and the like. In accordance, for each user, the present invention determines all the selected host servers because that user stores the ID's data of the providers in the primary session record database 180 it is appreciated that each time a web page is requested (data) is successfully retrieved from the host server and displayed in the viewer window 190, the user terminal 130 associated with that user can generate and transmit a session registration packet to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that the user terminal 130 can storing the session registration packet in the local storage device (not shown) before transmitting the session registration packet to the ISP server 110. The session registration packet may contain the user ID of the user terminal 130, the ID of the data provider of the host server selected by the user, the date and time in which the required web page was displayed and n the user terminal 130 to provide the deployment date and the deployment time of the required web page, and the location ID defining the location of the user terminal 130. It is also appreciated that the user terminal 130 can generate the deployment date and deployment time using the virtual clock more than its internal clock to ensure uniform and accurate information. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the session registration packet can be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to the ISP server 110. The ISP server 110 sends and stores the session registration packet received in the primary session database 280. Alternatively, the ISP server 110 may send the session registration packet to the session registration server 270 that decrypts and decompresses the received session registration packet, and generates a primary data deployment record. The record of displayed primary data is then stored in the primary session database 280. Also, the session registration server 270 can retrieve the profile data from the profile database 122 using the user ID and additionally generate a record of secondary deployment data replacing the user's ID information in the primary data record displayed with the profile data information associated with the user's ID. The record of displayed secondary data is then stored in the secondary session database 281. That is, the session registration server 270 can combine information from different databases to generate a personalized record. For example, a record can be created to provide the usual visits of users belonging to a particular demographic group such as single women under the age of 30 with annual incomes exceeding $ 100,000 living in Florida. It is appreciated that the session registration server 270 may not necessarily use all the information in the session registration packet to generate the primary and secondary data records. In addition, the record of the user's displayed data can be used from the beginning with the user profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. That is, the website visited by the user in his current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. In FIG. 4, a block diagram of the cable television network incorporating the present invention is illustrated. The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 may include in a converter receiver, a television receiver, a video recorder or other conventional apparatus typically used to receive and cause the display of television images. A transmission station 300 transmits broadcast signals to a satellite 310 (e.g., a satellite transmission or communication). These transmission signals are retransmitted to the network header 320 arranged in individual service areas, each of which may contain an antenna for receiving the transmission signals, a reception amplifier, a source image input portion (if any). necessary), a modulator to modulate the received transmission signals, and a multiplexer to multiplex the output of the modulator before its output to the transmission line. The individual homes 330, for example, users of the cable television system are connected to a simple network header 320 by a cable 340, which may be constructed as a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, or a combination thereof. For simplicity, the network header 320 that a particular home 330 (or a particular television receiver apparatus) connects will be referred to hereinafter as the associated network header 320. The cable 340 is connected in the form of a tree or in the form of star. It is appreciated that the individual homes 330 can be connected to the network header 320 via wireless connection, satellite connection or the like. A user of the cable television system (home 330) is provided with a processing device such as a television receiving apparatus 350, which contains a tuner 390 for continuously tuning the channel information by transmitting the information sequence and selectively tuning to a desired transmission channel. It is appreciated that the tuner 390 can comprise multiple tuners such that a tuner can be used to tune the desired transmission channel and other tuners can be used to tune the information channels. The received transmission signals constituting the program received from the transmitting station 300 are fed to the monitor 370 (Fig. 5) where it is displayed to the observer (for example members of the user's family). It will be appreciated that the monitor 370 includes the usual video processing circuitry normally provided in a television or high definition television (HDTV) receiver apparatus to allow a television image (and accompanying audio information) to be displayed to the viewer. The cable television network in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the cable television network illustrated in Fig. 4. For example, a plurality of program providers (e.g. data providers) can transmit programs and a plurality of INFO 360 servers can transmit information such as advertisements and the like to satellite 310. A cable station can be interposed between satellite 310 and network headends 320 to receive the signals transmitted from satellite 310 and broadcast those signals to the headends of network by means of fiber optic cables. Each network header is connected to the homes of authorized users using coaxial cables or fiber optic cables. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a video image communication system such as a television conferencing system, a satellite communication system or the like. The transmission signal generated in the network header 320 contains a plurality of transmission channels (eg data providers) that are encoded for example using inter-frame prediction coding techniques. 24 «Í 1 * * j * *. I i of compensated movement. Highly efficient encoders are used in the network header 320 (not shown) in accordance with the MPEG (moving image expert group) or MPEG2 systems that have been adopted by the ISO (international organization for standardization). The encoded transmission signals may be multiplexed by time division in a packet, which is modulated, for example, using a PSK modulation technique. In FIG. 5, the television receiver apparatus 350 may be included in a converter receiver, television receiver or other conventional apparatus typically used to receive and cause the display of television images. An input device 450 is adapted to receive input from the user. For example, the input device 450 can be used by the user to answer a questionnaire for the cable provider system, to require modification to the existing service such as adding or deleting a more expensive channel. A remote control unit 440 is adapted to transmit conventional control signals to the television receiver apparatus to control various functions such as channel selection, volume control, brightness contrast, color adjustments, etc. Such control signals can be transmitted by infrared transmission; and in the event that the remote control unit includes an IR transmitter (not shown) and the television receiving apparatus includes a remote IR receiver 430. Alternatively, the remote control unit 440 and the IR remote receiver 430 may be omitted and the control signals mentioned above can be generated simply by operating the corresponding controls directly on the television receiver apparatus (for example the channel selector 420, a volume adjustment button, an image control button and the like). The control signals, if received by the remote receiver IR 430 or generated by the control elements provided directly in the television receiver apparatus, such as a channel selector 420, are coupled to the microprocessor 410 which controls the operation of the tuner 390 to tune to a television channel received at the tuner input. For example, the microprocessor can control the tuner 390 to tune to a particular transmission frequency over which a television program is transmitted. Alternatively, the microprocessor 410 can control the tuner 390 to tune to a particular digital channel (as in direct satellite transmission) over which a television program is transmitted. The video signals that constitute the transmission of a television program on the select channel are supplied to the monitor 370 where it is displayed to the user. It is appreciated that the monitor 370 includes the usual video processing circuitry normally provided by the providers in the television receiver apparatus to allow the television image (and the accompanying audio information) to be displayed to the viewer. The operation is typical of a television receiver. Although not described in detail, it will be appreciated that the microprocessor may be a conventional microprocessor, such as a relatively inexpensive, small eight-bit controller or a powerful, high-speed microprocessor such as a "486" microprocessor or a Pentium microprocessor manufactured by Intel Corp. Returning to Fig. 4, each network header 320 may also include a database 325, where the database representing the user's demography is stored. As we established with respect to the Internet, the profile data may include home address, work address, type of residence, income, gender, age group, frequency of use of the Internet or cable, but is not limited to such. The profile data can be fed via telephone to a representative of the cable television system, entered into the input device 450 of the television receiver apparatus 350, obtained in a questionnaire form answered by the user or by other comparable means. If the profile data is entered into the input device 450 by the user, the television receiver apparatus 350 transmits the profile data to the network header 320 via the cable 340 or a dedicated channel or a data link 341. it appreciates that the profile data can be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to the associated network header 320. The network header 320 decrypts and decompresses the received profile data and sends the decompressed and decrypted profile data to the database of profile 325 for storage. Alternatively, the decrypted and decompressed profile data may be stored in a central profile database (not shown) which is accessible via network header 320. Also, from time to time, additional demographic information may be required. to the users and this 26 ^^^ - ¿feJ ».-, .. a ^ additional demographic information can be stored with the profile data in the profile database 325 or separately in the additional profile database 326. If the data Additional profile data are entered into the input device 450 5 by the user, the television receiver apparatus 350 transmits the additional profile data to the associated network header 320. The additional profile data can be encrypted and compressed before its transmission to the television receiver apparatus 350. The network header 320 decrypts and decompresses the additional profile data, and stores the additional profile data in the additional profile database 326 or in the profile database 325. Excluding the information channel, each transmission channel contains a plurality of programs that are coded such that only authorized users of the cable television system can receive the transmitted programs. gone. The information channel contains a plurality of information, such as announcements, news, messages, advertising updates and the like, which are continuously transmitted to the users of the cable television system to form a sequence of information. The information may include but is not limited to texts, motionless images, moving images, audio and video components, or a combination thereof. It is appreciated that numerous information channels of information can be multiplexed and distributed to users. The coding technique usually depends on each channel. In accordance with the present invention, the information channel can receive a plurality of information from the INFO 360 servers, each INFO server can include a storage device 365 or the like. The information to be transmitted in the information channel first retrieved from the respective storage device 365 and supplies the information channel for distribution to the users. Alternatively, the information sequence is selected by each user according to the user profile data which may include the additional profile data. That is, the sequence of information is individually and dynamically generated for each user. For example, if an advertiser targets your ad for single women under 30 years of age with an annual income exceeding $ 50000, then those ads could be distributed to only those users who satisfy 27 those demographic requirements. As we established with respect to the Internet, a part of all user profile data contains varied user information that can be used to generate the sequence of information. As we established with respect to the Internet, for each information in the sequence, the respective storage device 365 may contain in the duration INFO representing the length of time that the information will be displayed to the users, for example the display of information by the user. seconds; and the deployment time range representing the time of day that the information will be displayed to the users, for example displaying the information within 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In compliance, each INFO 360 server can transmit only that information satisfying the requirements of the time range of information deployment as a part of the sequence of information for a particular user. The sequence of information is selected for each user based on the profile data the user and the time range of information display. In other words, the microprocessor 41 (Fig. 5) controls the tuner 390 (Fig. 5) to tune to a particular INFO channel to receive the sequence of information selected for that user. It is appreciated that each user can be categorized into groups based on the user's profile data and each INFO channel is associated with a particular group. As well, the profile data may contain information relating to the time zone of the user that can be used to generate the information sequence. For example, if a particular information has a deployment time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time is 9:00 PM Eastern (Eastern Standard Time), then this information should not be provided to any user in the Eastern time zone, but it should be provided to users in mountain areas and the Pacific. Preferably, as we established with respect to the ISP server 110 (Fig. 1) the associated network header 320 can retrieve a sequence of INFO IDs from a list in the INFO database 327 for distribution to the users. The sequence of INFO IDs can contain a list of INFO IDs only identifying each information in the information sequence; the durations of INFO represent the length of time of each information to be displayed for the users; and the deployment time ranges represent the time of day of each information to be 28 ^ ^ ** ^ displayed to users. The associated network header 320 can transmit the sequence of ID's of INFO to the television receiver apparatus 350 which stores the received sequence in the local storage device 415 (Fig. 5). According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the associated network header 320 can generate a sequence of ID? s of INFO personalized and individualized for each user according to the profile data of the user which may include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence of INFO IDs is dynamic and individually generated by each user. It is appreciated that this sequence of ID's of INFO may be pre-generated for each user outside the peak hours and provide the user's television receiver apparatus 350 when it is "on" or dynamically generated for each user as a part of a process. "input" for example when the television receiver "turns on" to connect to the cable network. This sequence of personalized INFO IDs is then transmitted to the associated television receiver apparatus 350. with that user. The television receiver apparatus 350 stores the received sequence and ID's of INFO in the local storage device 415 (Fig. 5). The microprocessor 410 (Fig. 5) of the television receiver apparatus 350 may require information corresponding to the INFO IDs stored on the dedicated channel or the data link 341 from the associated network header 320 for that Television receiver apparatus 350. It is appreciated that the information requirement may include more than one INFO ID and the user ID of the television receiving apparatus 350. The associated network header 320 sends the requisition to the INFO 360 server which retrieves the requisite information corresponding to the INFO ID of the storage device 365. The information required is then transmitted to the header of associated network 320 for distribution of the requisition to the television receiver apparatus 350. The associated network header 320 transmits the required information to the television receiver apparatus 350 via the dedicated channel or data link 341. The microprocessor 410 stores the required information in the local storage device 415 and supplies the required information to the monitor 370 for to be displayed to the user. It is appreciated that the microprocessor 410 may require and store forward information from the network header 320 in the device 29 ¿¿^ ¿¿¿¿¿¿s_ s_ local storage 415 such that the information to be displayed is always available from the local storage device 415. Alternatively, the associated network header 320 can retrieve a sequence of channel ID 's of the INFO 327 list database for distribution to users. The sequence of channel IDs can contain a list of channel IDs only by identifying the channel information where the information can be retrieved from the associated network header 320 and the INFO durations represent the time duration of the recoverable information. in each channel of information corresponding to the channel ID's to be displayed to the users. The associated network header 320 can transmit the sequence of the channel ID 'for the television receiver apparatus 350 which stores the received sequence in a local storage device 415 (Fig.5). In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the associated network header 320 can generate a personalized and individualized sequence of channel ID's for each user according to the user's profile data that can include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence of channel IDs is generated dynamically and individually for each user. It is appreciated that this sequence of channel ID's may be pre-generated for each user outside peak hours and provided to the user's television receiver apparatus 350 when it is "on" or dynamically generated for each user as part of an "entry" process., for example when the television receiver "turns on" to connect to the cable network. This personalized sequence of channel IDs is then transmitted to the television receiver apparatus 350 associated with that user and to the session use server 510 which stores the sequence received for that user in the session usage database 515. The apparatus television receiver 350 stores the received sequence of the channel ID 's in local storage device 415 (Fig. 5). The microprocessor 410 of the television receiver apparatus 350 can control the tuner 390 (Fig. 5) to tune to the corresponding information channels to store the channel ID's to receive the selected information for that user. This is the tuner 390 sequentially tunes the channel information corresponding to each channel ID stored for the duration of INFO specified for that channel information. i £. It is noted that only those authorized users, for example authorized television receivers 350, are allowed to be connected to the head of network 320 and the apparatus of unauthorized television receivers 350 are inhibited to display the sequence of information received from the INFO 360 servers and the programs that are received in the transmission channels. As described with respect to the Internet, the input information is generated when the authorized television receivers 350"turn on" to receive programs from the associated network header 320 (or connect to the associated header 320). The input information is stored in the database or use session 515 or similar. The input information may include the time of entry and the date of entry to the system, but is not limited to such information. For example, the input information may additionally contain a location ID, information relating to the location of that television receiving apparatus 350. It is appreciated that the location ID may represent a postal code, a number telephone, a name or city code, a state or province name, or similar. Alternatively, the input information may be transmitted to the session use server 510 which generates the session usage record from the input information and stores the session usage record in the user database of session 515. It is appreciated that the session usage record may not necessarily contain all the input information. Also, it is appreciated that the time of entry to the system and the date of entry into the system can be generated according to a network clock system, by which it ensures uniform and accurate input information from the television receiving apparatus 350. network clock system may reside in the network header 320 or some other server of the satellite 310. In compliance the The clock information of each television receiver apparatus 350 is not superimposed with the information of the network clock system, but each television receiver apparatus 350 sets the information to be transmitted to the associated network header 320 based on the clock system. of network. That is, each television receiver apparatus 350 has a real time and a virtual time based on the clock of the network system, and generates a hours of entry to the virtual system and a virtual entry date based on the network system clock. It is appreciated that the postal code and the user's time zone can also be used to generate a sequence of information for that 31 j ^ Manhía. user. For example, if a particular information has a deployment time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time is 9:00 PM Eastern (Eastern Standard Time), then this information would not be provided to any user in the Eastern area of the US, but may be provided to US users of the mountains and the Pacific areas. It is appreciated that users of U.S. from the Eastern time zone will receive the information having a range of time display from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This will advantageously allow advertisers to tag their ads based on the user's geographical location to consider regional preferences. That is, advertisers may want to use an ad for people on the east coast and another ad for people on the west coast. It is also appreciated that the time zone and the display time range can be used to ensure that a particular advertisement is displayed to all users of U.S. only from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The authorized users select (require) a program to be viewed by the selection of the desired transmission channel using the remote control unit 440 or the selector channel 420 in the television receiver apparatus 350. In response the microprocessor 410 controls the tuner 390 to tune a particular transmission channel or transmission frequency over which the required program is transmitted. The video signals constituting the transmission of the program on the selected transmission channel are supplied to the monitor 370 where they are continuously displayed simultaneously with the information sequence. As we established with respect to the Internet, the sequence of information and the required program are displayed on the monitor 370 such that they are simultaneously visible to the user. Preferably, the display of the sequence of information in the monitor 370 does not interfere with the deployment of the required program. In such a scheme, the sequence of information may be displayed on a first portion of the monitor 370 and the program required on a second portion of the monitor 370. For simplicity, the two portions of the monitor 370 will be referred to hereafter as a viewing window or 371 and an INFO window 372 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In accordance with the information sequence is displayed in the window INFO 372 and the required program is displayed in the programming window 371. Se 32 t * X & < & amp; A, * appreciates that each information in the sequence is displayed in the INFO 372 window for the assigned INFO duration, for example, the first information can be displayed for 30 seconds, the second information for 15 seconds, etc. . As we established with respect to the Internet, the INFO window 372 can include unlinked regions 374 and linked regions 373 such as "previous programs", "merchandise", "new products" or "order now" as shown in figure 6. Each linked region 373 may be linked to an INFO 360 server or a transmitting station 310 (a data provider) of the satellite 310. The user may choose one of the linked regions 373 to provide for new programs, receive additional information relating to goods and services. new products or to place an order. For example, if the user chooses the linked region 373 labeled "provide programs" in Fig. 6 the television receiving apparatus 350 will tune to a transmission channel or INFO channel to display the program and receive it on that channel in the 371. In addition, the INFO 372 window can display a program that can currently be received in the transmission channel such as channel 10 and the user can tune to channel 10 simply by choosing in the deployment of that program. This is the linked region 373 can be connected to the microprocessor 410 of the television receiver apparatus 350 to control the tuner 390 to select the channel currently transmitting the program displayed in the INFO window 372. Preferably, as described for the Internet, the additional information displayed in the programming window 371 may depend on the user's profile data. It is appreciated that the linked regions 373 are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 6 and other linked regions are contemplated in the present invention. Alternatively, if the user chooses the linked region 373 labeled "intended programs", a sudden window may be displayed in the programming window 371 where the user may be required to complete a questionnaire or to provide an e-mail address, address of home, fax number or similar to receive a complementary copy of a video containing the program or a promotional program. It is appreciated that the required data can be retrieved from the database 1222 and displayed in the programming window 371. The user can accept (confirm) this retrieved data or modify the data so as to provide additional information to another person. After the required data is entered or selected by the user, the television receiver apparatus 350 transmits the required data to the recl head 320 via the link data 341. Preferably, the associated network header 320 stores or updates the network header 320. Additional user profile information in the additional database 286 according to the questionnaire answered or the required data. Alternatively, the server 110 retrieves the profile data associated with the user from the profile database 326, and stores or updates the additional profile information in the profile database 326 according to the questionnaire answered or the required data, the ID of the user and the profile data of the user. It is appreciated that this advantageously allows the present invention to provide a mechanism for interactive communication between the user and the INFO provider. Also, other means for providing the required data are contemplated such as radio button for exclusive selections, check boxes for multiple selections and the like. It is appreciated that although the user can not control the display of the information sequence of the INFO window 372 of the monitor 370, the user can select another program to be displayed in the programming window 371 by selecting another transmission channel using the remote control unit 440 or the channel selector 420. 20 Alternatively, of the contents of the INFO 372 window, each information in the information sequence can be characterized as an unsolicited request for a program (data) from one of the transmitting stations. In other words, the programs displayed in the programming window 371 represent the requested programs required by the user, where the materials (programs) displayed in the INFO 372 window represent unsolicited programs not required by the user. Essentially, without informing the user, the television receiver apparatus 350 automatically tunes to the transmission channel to be displayed in the INFO window 372. Preferably, the transmission channels (or transmission stations) may be divided into two groups, where the tuner 390 is operable to tune to the first group of transmission channels in response to the requested request and the second group of transmission channels in response to requests. 34 - ** z * ~ * e ~ & . 1 t .t i. unsolicited That is, the microprocessor 410 does not allow the tuner 390 to tune to the second group of transmission channels in response to a control signal from the remote control unit 440 or the channel selector 420. Any requested request for programs of the second group of channels transmission is 5 denied and the programming window 371 can display a message such as "channel unavailable". When the television receiving apparatus 350 determines to be disconnected from the network header 320, the associated network header 320 generates the output information and stores the information in the session use database 515. As we stated with respect to the Internet , the output information may include the time of departure from the system and the date of departure from the system, but is not limited to such information. Alternatively, each television receiver apparatus 350, namely the microprocessor 410, can generate the output information if the user disconnects. to the television receiver apparatus 350. It is appreciated that each television receiver apparatus 350 can generate the system output time and system exit date by using the virtual clock more than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform output information. Alternatively, the network header 320 transmits the output information to the Session use server 510. Similar to the session usage server 210 in FIG. 1, the session use server 510 generates the session duration information based on the stored entry date, the entry time user system stored, the received system's exit date and the system's exit time received. The Session Usage Server 510 updates the session usage record of the The user in response to the received system exit date, the received system exit time and the Session Duration Information, and stores the updated session usage record in the session use database 515. The registration User's updated usage can be used from the beginning with the user's profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. That is, the data generated from the current session for the user can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. It is noted that the current session assumes the connection of the current user to the network header 320.

It is appreciated that the television receiver apparatus 350 may be disconnected from the network header 320 due to connection failures, hardware and software problems, power failures etc. Preferably, to take these disconnections into account, each television receiving apparatus 350 generates a whistling signal in each predetermined interval, for example 5, 10 or 15 minutes and transmits the whistling signal to the associated network header 320. It is appreciated that the whistling signal may include identifying information of the source of the whistling signal such as the user ID and the channel ID indicating the user's select channel. The associated network header 320 sends the hiss signal to the session usage database 515. It is contemplated that the session usage database 515 stores information relative to the expected time of the next whistling signal for each user. When the television receiver "turns on" to connect to the network header 320, the session usage database 515 adjusts the expected time of the near whistle signal for that user to the current time plus a multiple number of the range of the predetermined hiss signal. That is, on the input information received from the television receiving apparatus 350, the session use database 515 adjusts the expected time of the next whistle signal for that user. If a whistling signal is received substantially within the expected time of the television receiving apparatus 350 (the microprocessor 410), then the database 515 updates the expected time of the next whistling signal for that user. Preferably, the associated network header 320 can transmit the hiss signal to the session use server 510 which sends the hiss signal to the session usage database 515 for processing and storage. However, if a whistling signal is not received substantially within the expected time from that television receiving apparatus 350, then the television receiving apparatus 350 is presumed to be disconnected from the network header 320. Preferably, the server using the session 510 transmits a disconnect signal to the network header 320 to disconnect that television receiver apparatus 350 from its network header 320. The session use server 510 also generates and transmits the output information for that user to the base station. 515 session usage data for storage.

As we established for the Internet, it is appreciated for transmission and security efficiency the whistle signal can be encrypted and compressed using standard encryption and compression techniques before being transmitted to the associated network header 320. In such a scenario, the Session Usage Server 510 decrypts and decompresses the hiss signal before updating the expected time of the next whistling signal. As we established with respect to the Internet, since the information displayed to users can represent advertisements, it may be important to keep track of which advertisements were transmitted and displayed to users. This information can be used to directly determine the number of people who saw a particular nuncio. It is appreciated that this is comparable to the Nielsen or Arbitran audience level scheme for radio and television, except that the present technique provides a more accurate and detailed measurement of user viewing habits. That is, the present technique advantageously allows a more demographically accurate profile to be developed by each user, so it enables the advertiser to selectively label their advertisements more effectively. In accordance, for each user, the preferred embodiment of the present invention determines which information in the information sequence was displayed for that user based on the durations of INFO and in the user's session usage record stored in the database 515 Specifically, the stored session duration information of the user or the stored stored time of the user, the date of entry to the stored system, the time of exit of the stored system and the date of exit of the stored system from the record of use of the session of the user. The user can be used to determine what information was displayed on the television receiver apparatus 350. The result of this determination can be compiled as a list to provide a list of information displayed. This list of information displayed is then stored in an INFO database displayed 525 or similar. It is appreciated that the list of displayed information can be stored in the local storage device 415 (Fig. 5) of the television receiver apparatus 350 before the list is transmitted to the displayed INFO database 525. Also, it is appreciated that This list of information displayed for each user can be a list of INFO IDs and INFO durations corresponding to the information that was displayed for that user.

The list of information displayed for each user can additionally contain the user ID and information relating to the deployment date and the deployment time that a particular information in that list of information displayed that was displayed to that user. It is appreciated that the deployment date and the deployment time information can be derived from the INFO durations and the session usage record stored in the 515 session usage database, namely the time of entry into the system. user, date of entry to the system, time of system exit and system exit date. The list of information displayed for each user may also contain information relating to the location of that television receiver apparatus 350, namely the location ID. Alternatively, the list of information displayed for each user can be transmitted to the session use server 515 which generates an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in that list of displayed information and stores the INFO record displayed on the base of INFO data displayed 525. It is appreciated that the session use server 510 may not necessarily use all the information contained in the list of information displayed to generate the displayed INFO record. Also, the displayed INFO record of the user can be used from the beginning with the user's profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. This is, the information displayed to the user in his current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. In addition, for each displayed information, the present invention keeps track of all the linked regions 373 selected (or chosen) by each user during the deployment of that information to provide the ID of the linked region. This information can be used to determine the user's interest in a particular product, company, channel or similar, by providing more accurate information about the user's viewing habits. Also, this information can be used to develop an ad tagging strategy, where advertisers can determine users who are most likely to be interested in receiving such information. It is appreciated that since each linked region 373 is connected to a particular data provider (e.g., a transmission station or a server 38 A t M i INFO), each linked region ID can represent an ID of the selected data provider. If it is determined that at least one linked region 373 has been selected by a user, the television receiving apparatus 350 associated with that user generates and transmits a selected event packet to the associated network header 320. It is appreciated that the receiving apparatus of television 350 may store the reported event packet selected in local storage device 415 (Fig. 5) before transmitting the reported event packet selected to the associated 320 network header. The selected event reported packet may contain the user ID of the television receiver apparatus 350, the INFO ID displayed, the ID of the selected data provider corresponding to the selected linked region 373, the time and date information was displayed in the television receiver apparatus 350 to provide the display date and the deployment time of the information displayed, and the location ID defining the location of the television receiver apparatus 350. It is appreciated that the television receiver apparatus 350 can generate to date of deployment and deployment time using the virtual clock more than its internal clock to ensure uniform and accurate information. It is also appreciated that the reported event packet chosen may be encrypted and compressed before being transmitted to the associated network header 320 for transmission efficiency and security purposes. The associated network header 320 sends and stores the selected event reported packet in the selected event database 535. Alternatively, the associated network header 320 may send the reported event packet chosen to the chosen event server 530 which decrypts and decompresses the reported received event event packet, and generates a chosen event record. The chosen event record is then stored in the chosen event database 535. It is appreciated that the chosen event server 530 may not necessarily use all the information in the reported event packet chosen to generate the chosen event record. Also, the user's chosen event record can be used from the beginning with the user's profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. That is, the information selected by the user in his current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session.

In addition, it may be advantageous to keep track of the transmission channels selected by the user to develop a more accurate profile for each user. So, it enables advertisers to better select their target audience (users) for their promotions, ads and the like. In accordance, for each user, the present invention determines all the transmission channels selected by that user and stores the corresponding data of the ID's of the providers in the database of the primary session 545. It is appreciated that each time a new transmission channel is selected to display the program to be received on that transmission channel selected in the programming window 371, the television receiving apparatus 350 associated with that user can generate and transmit the session registration packet to the header of network 320. It is appreciated that the television receiver apparatus 350 may store the session registration packet in the local storage device 415 before transmitting the session registration packet to the associated network header 320. The session registration packet may contain the user ID of the television receiver apparatus 350, the data provider ID of the selected transmission channel User-supplied, the date and time of the program received in the selected (required) transmission channel that was displayed in the television receiving apparatus 350 to provide the deployment date and the required program deployment time, the location ID defining the location of the television receiver apparatus 350. Also, it is appreciated that the television receiver apparatus 350 can generate the display date and the display time using the virtual clock more than its internal clock to ensure information exact and uniform. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the session registration packet can be encrypted and compressed before transmitting it to its associated network header 320. The associated network header 320 sends and stores the session registration packet received in the registration database of primary session 545. Alternatively, the associated network header 320 may send the session registration packet to the session registration server 540 which decrypts and decompresses the session registration packet, and generates the primary unfolded data record. The primary unfolded data record is then stored in the session registration database 545.

Also, the session registration server 540 may send a requisition for the profile data associated with the user ID to the network header 320. Each network header 320 searches its profile database 325 for the required profile data corresponding to the user ID. When the required profile data is located by the associated network header 320, the network header 320 sends the required profile data to the session registration server 540. The session registration server 540 additionally generates a secondary display data record. substituting the user ID information in the primary deployed data record with the profile data information associated with that user's ID. The secondary display data record is then stored in the secondary session register database 546. That is, the session register server 540 may combine information from several databases to generate a custom record. For example, a record can be created to provide the viewing habits of users belonging to a particular demographic group such as married men under the age of 35 with annual incomes exceeding $ 100,000 living in New York City. It is appreciated that the session registration server 540 may not necessarily use all the information in the session registration packet to generate the primary and secondary display data records. In addition, the record of the user's displayed data can be used from the beginning with the user profile data to select the sequence of information for the user. That is, the transmission channels selected by the user in their current session can be used to generate the sequence of information for the next session. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of storing the information in several databases, all the information can be stored in a single database or a single storage device. Also the information such as the chosen event report, the session registration packet and the like can be stored in the user terminal 130 and the television receiving apparatus 350 before they are transmitted to their respective databases for storage via the ISP server 110 and the associated network header 320, 41 ¡g¡. receptively This advantageously allows the user terminal 30 and the television receiving apparatus 350 to form the information and transmit the bulk information to the ISP server 110 and the associated network header 320, respectively, off peak hours when the network is less congested. Additionally, instead of storing the profile data and the additional profile data in the databases 325 and the additional databases 326 associated with each network header 320, they can store in a unique database of profile 325 and a database of additional profile 326 connected to satellite 310. In addition, it is appreciated that each server and database can be mirrored by redundancy to provide a more secure and robust system. The information stored in several databases can be additionally stored in a central database at each predetermined interval or outside peak hours to provide recoverability, efficiency and security. Alternatively, each database can secure another database such that there are always primary and secondary databases for any given information. It is intended that the clauses annexed be interpreted according to the modality discussed above, and to those various alternatives that have been described and equivalent to it.

Claims (190)

1. Claims 1. - A method for supplying information to users of a communication network, wherein a plurality of data providers and a plurality of processing devices, each processing device associated only with one user, are connected to said network, which comprises the steps of: receiving a sequence of information by said plurality of processing devices from a plurality of INFO sources connected to said network; select at least one data provider for each user to display the data that is received from 10 said at least one data provider via said network; and continuously displaying said sequence of information simultaneously with said data received from said at least one data provider selected by each said user in an associated processing device in such a manner that said sequence of information and said data required by said each user are simultaneously visible , and where Said data to be displayed in said associated processing device is selectable by said user and the display of each sequence of information is not controllable by said user. 2. - A method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing 20 profile data in a database connected to said network and storing a plurality of information received from a plurality of INFO sources connected to said network in said database of data; and wherein the receiving step includes the steps of selecting said information sequences for said user from said plurality of information in accordance with said profile data of said each user; and receiving said sequence of information for said each user by means of a processing device associated with said each user; 3. - The method of claims 1 or 2, further comprising the step of: selecting another data provider in response to an entry from said user each and wherein in the step of continuously displaying said information sequence simultaneously with data received from said other data provider. 43 il¿ * k * > X & ¿^ 4t,; 4. - The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein in the step of deploying continuously unfolds said information sequence without interfering with the deployment of said data received from at least one data provider selected by said each user. 5. - The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of receiving a sequence of information includes the steps of: receiving a sequence of INFO IDs from a database connected to a network, each INFO ID only identifying the information in said plurality of information sources; and reading said sequence of information from said plurality of INFO sources in accordance with said sequence of IDs of INFO. 6. - The method of claims 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of: verifying the authorization of said user to determine if said user is authorized to connect to said network; and preventing said associated processing device from displaying said sequence of information if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said network. 7. - The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of preventing said processing device from displaying said received data from said at least one data provider selected by said user if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said user. said network. 8. - The method of claims 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of: verifying the authorization of said user to determine if said user is authorized to connect to said network; and preventing said associated processing device from displaying said sequence of information received from at least one data provider selected by said user if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said network. 44 íe *, i ± &; - ^ rÉáté?, - * 9. - The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said information sequence contains a sequence of at least one of the following: commercial notices, messages or announcements, news and updates. 10. - The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the information comprises at least one of the following texts, images without movement, moving images, audio and video components. 11. - The method of claim 7, wherein said network is a computer network and said plurality of processing devices are terminal. 12. - The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: assigning a unique user ID and password to said user in said communication network; and storing said user ID and said password for each said user in a database. 13. - The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: establishing a connection between each of said terminals and said computer network. 14. - The method of claim 13, wherein each terminal includes an input device and wherein the step of establishing the connection includes the steps of entering a user ID and password in said input device by said each user to initiate the connection between a terminal associated with each user and said communication network; transmitting said user ID and said password entered to said input device for said database for verification; determining if said user ID entered in said input device corresponds to one of said user IDs stored in said database to provide a verified user ID; verifying said password entered in said input device with respect to said password associated with said verified user ID if said verified user ID is found; and connecting said terminal associated with said user to said computer network if it is determined that said password entered in the input device corresponds to a password stored in said database which is associated with said verified user ID. 15. - The method of claim 4, wherein said network is a computer network and said plurality of processing devices are terminal. 16. - The method of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of data providers is a server in said computer network and further comprises the step of selecting data to be displayed from said at least one data provider for each user. 17. - The method of claim 16, wherein each of the terminals includes an input device and wherein the step of selecting data includes the step of entering a request for said data from said at least one server connected to 15 said computer network in said input device of a terminal associated with said each user; and transmitting said request for said data to said at least one server from said terminal associated with said each user. 18. - The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said network is a computer network and wherein the step of receiving a sequence of information includes the steps of: receiving a sequence of addresses from a database connected to a network , each address indicating the location of information of said plurality of INFO sources; and reading said sequence of information from said plurality of INFO sources in accordance with said sequence of addresses. 19. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: assigning a unique user ID to each of said plurality of processing devices; generating a time of entry to the system to the system and a date of entry to the system for said user if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to the network; and storing said user ID, said time of entry to the system to the system and said date of entry into the system for said each 46 ütfikt ^ ali user in a database connected to said network if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to said network. 20. - The method of claim 19, wherein the step of generating a time of entry to the system and a date of entry into the system include the steps of: receiving a virtual date and a virtual time from a source connected to said network.; and generating said hour of entry into the system and said date of entry into the system for said each user as a function of said virtual hour and said virtual date, respectively. 21. The method of claims 19 or 20, further comprising the steps of: determining whether a processing device is not further connected to said network; and generating an exit time of the system from the system and a date of exit from the system for said each user if it is determined that said processing device associated with said each user is no longer connected to said network; and store said 15 hour of system exit and said system exit date for said each user in said database if it is determined that said processing device associated with said user is no longer connected to said network. 22. - The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of: generating a session duration for said user as a function of said time of entry to the system, said date of entry into the system, said date of exit from the system and said time of departure from the system; and storing said session duration for said each user in said database. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: generating a session usage record for said user each containing said user ID, said time of entry into the system, said date of entry into the system, said exit date of the system, said departure time of the system and said session duration; and storing said session use record for said each user in said base of 30 data. 47 ,,, &". 24. - The method of claim 1 or 21, further comprising the steps of: assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration to each information in said information sequence to provide a plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of durations of INFO; and storing said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations in said database; and wherein in the step of displaying continuously displays said information in said sequence of information for said duration of INFO assigned to said information before displaying the following information in said sequence of information. 25. - The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: determining which information in said sequence of information was displayed in said associated processing device as a function of said hour of entry into the system, said date of entry into the system to and said plurality of INFO durations to provide a list of information displayed for each user; and storing said list of information displayed for said each user in said database. 26. - The method of claim 25, wherein said list of information displayed for said user contains a list of INFO IDs corresponding to the information displayed. 27. - The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: determining the date and time at which each INFO ID in said list of displayed information was displayed on said associated processing device as a function of said hour of entry into the system , said date of entry into the system, said time of departure from the system, said date of departure from the system and said plurality of durations of INFO to provide a deployment date and a deployment time for said each INFO ID in said information list displayed for said user; and storing said deployment date and a deployment time for said each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said each user in said database. 28. - The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of: generating an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for each said user, said displayed INFO record contains an INFO ID and said ID user house user, and said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said INFO ID; and storing said INFO record displayed in said database. 29. - The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 30. - The method of claim 29, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a storage device; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said user, said deployment record containing an INFO ID, said user ID and said location ID said user, and said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said INFO ID; storing said INFO record displayed on said storage device of said associated processing device; and transmitting said INFO record displayed to said database. 31. - The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of: generating an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for each said user, said expanded INFO record contains an ID of INFO and said ID user house user, and said location ID of said user, and said display date, said display time and said INFO duration associated with said INFO ID; and storing said INFO record displayed in said database. 49 j »~. ? ^ i n? * or. 32. - The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 33. - The method of claim 32, wherein the location ID includes a postal code 34. - The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of: generating? Or a session usage record for said each user containing said user ID, said time of entry to the system, said date of entry into the system, said system exit date, said system exit time and said session duration and said location ID; and storing said session use record for said each user in said database. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of: generating a whistling signal each predetermined interval by said processing device if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to said network; transmitting said whistle signal to said database; update said 20 database to indicate the expected time of the next whistling signal from said user; and wherein the step of generating said system exit time and said system exit date generates said system exit time and said system exit date for said user when said hiss signal is not received from said system. processing substantially associated within 25 said expected time. 36. - The method of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of processing devices includes a monitor having a first part and a second part, and an input device; and wherein the step of continuously displaying said sequence of information in said first part of said monitor and displaying said data received from said at least one data provider selected by each user in said second part of said monitor. fifty . ^ é $ .i a a 37. - The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of: assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration to each information in said information sequence to provide a plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and storing said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations in said database connected to said network; and wherein in the step of displaying continuously displays said information in said sequence of information for said duration of INFO assigned to said information before displaying the following information in said sequence of information. 38. - The method of claim 37, wherein said first part of said monitor is divided into a plurality of linked regions and a plurality of unlinked regions, each of said plurality of linked regions is linked to one of said plurality of providers of data; and the method further comprises the step of selecting one of said plurality of regions linked by said user to receive additional information. 39. - The method of claim 38, wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID, and further comprises the steps of assigning a unique user ID to said associated processing device.; detecting which information in said sequence of information is being displayed in said first part of said monitor associated with said associated processing device to provide an expanded INFO ID; determining date and time in which the information corresponding to said INFO ID displayed was displayed in said associated processing device to provide a deployment date and a deployment time, respectively; detecting which one of said plurality of linked regions was selected by said each user during the display of information corresponding to said displayed INFO ID to provide a selected data provider ID; and storing said user ID, said displayed INFO ID, said selected data provider ID, said display date and said display time for said user in said database if said one of said plurality of regions is detected. linked was selected by said each user. 40. - The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 41. - The method of claim 40, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a storage device; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a register of events chosen for said user, each event record chosen from said user being associated with a selected individual data provider ID and said each selected event record containing an ID of user, said location ID and said selected individual data provider ID, and said displayed INFO ID, said display date, and said display time associated with said single selected data provider ID; storing said plurality of event records chosen for said each user in said storage device of said processing device; and transmitting said plurality of event records chosen for said user to said database. 42. - The method of claim 40, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of event records chosen for said user, each event record chosen for said user each being associated with a selected data provider ID and said each The selected event record contains said user ID, said location ID and said selected individual data provider ID, and said displayed INFO ID, said deployment date, and said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID. selected; and storing said plurality of event records chosen for said each user in said database. 43. - The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein each information in said information sequence is an unsolicited request for data from one of said plurality of data providers. 52 and & *, ¡¡¡¡¡^ ^ ^ 44. - The method of claim 43, wherein said request not requested by data is limited to a subset of said plurality of data providers. 45. - The method of claim 44, wherein the step of selecting at least one data provider prevents the selection of a data provider in said subgroup by said each user. 46. - The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID and further comprises the steps of storing said user ID and said associated data provider ID with at least one data provider selected by said each user in a database connected to said network. 47. - The method of claim 46, further comprising the steps of: determining the date and time of said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said each user was displayed in said associated processing device to provide a date of deployment and one hour of deployment, respectively; and store said deployment date and a deployment time in said database. 48. - The method of claim 47, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 49. - The method of claim 48, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a storage device; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record of said user being associated with a single data provider ID stored in said database and said each data display record containing said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said display date, and said display time associated with said individual data provider ID; storing said plurality of data display records for said each user in said storage device of said associated processing device; and transmitting said plurality of data display records for said each user to said database. 50. - The method of claim 48, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of data display records for said user, each data display record said each user being associated with a data provider ID stored therein database and said each data deployment record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said deployment date, and said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID. and storing said plurality of data deployment records for said each user in said database. 51. - The method of claim 3, wherein said network is a cable television network; and wherein said plurality of processing devices are converter boxes. 52. - The method of claim 51, wherein said each of said plurality of data providers represents a transmission channel in said cable television network. 53. - The method of claim 52, wherein each of said converter boxes includes a television receiver apparatus, wherein the step of selecting at least one data provider selects a transmission channel for displaying a program that is received in said channel. selected transmission channel and wherein the step of displaying continuously displays said information sequence simultaneously with said received program in said selected transmission channel. 54 * «m? »** m. 54. - The method of claim 53, wherein the step of selecting another data provider selects a next transmission channel to display a program that is received on said next transmission channel in response to said input from said each user and where in the step of displaying continuously displays said information sequence simultaneously with said program received in said next transmission channel. 55. - The method of claim 54, wherein the step of selecting another data provider includes operating a channel increase button or a channel decrease button on a channel selector operable with said converter box. 56. - The method of claim 39, wherein the step of selecting one of said plurality of linked regions includes the step of displaying said additional information in said second part of said monitor. 57. - The method of claim 39, wherein the step of selecting one of said plurality of linked regions includes the steps of: displaying a request for additional data to said each user in said second part of said monitor; entering said additional data into said input device by said user; and storing said additional data in said database. 58. - The method of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of processing devices includes an input device and a monitor having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion comprising a plurality of linked regions and unlinked regions. , each of said plurality of linked regions being selectable by each user and linked to one of said plurality of data providers; wherein the step of continuously deploying displays said sequence of information for said user in said first portion of said monitor and displays said data received from said at least one data provider selected by each user in said second portion of said monitor; and where in the step of selecting a sequence of information select 55 tó_. said sequence of information for said user according to said data profile and said plurality of event records selected by each user. 59. - The method of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID and further comprises the steps of storing said user ID and said associated data provider ID with at least one data provider selected by said each user in a database. 60. - The method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of: determining the deployment date and the deployment time of said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said each user in said associated processing device; and store said deployment date and a deployment time in said database. 61. - The method of claim 60, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 62. - The method of claim 61, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a local storage; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, wherein each data display record of said user is associated with an individual data provider ID stored in said database and said each data display record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said display date, and said display time associated with said individual data provider ID; storing said plurality of data display records for said each user in said storage device of said associated processing device; and transmitting said plurality of data display records for said each user to said database. 63. - The method of claim 61, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record for said user each being associated with a data provider ID stored in said database and said each data display record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said display date, and said display time associated with said individual provider ID. data and storing said plurality of data display records for said user in said database. 64. - The method of claim 63, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said user according to said data profile and said plurality of data display records. 65. - The method of claim 63, wherein said database comprises at least first, second and third databases; wherein the method of storing the data profile stores said data profile in said first database; and wherein the method of storing a plurality of information stores said plurality of information in said second database; and wherein the method of storing said user ID, said data provider ID stores said user ID, said data provider ID in said third database; wherein the method of storing said deployment date and said deployment time stores said deployment date and said deployment time in said third database; wherein the method of storing said location ID stores said location ID in said third database; wherein the method of storing said plurality of data display register stores said plurality of data display records in said third database. 57 Fefc 66. - The method of claim 61, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of data display registers for each of said plurality of data providers; each data display record contains said data profile, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said display date, and said display time associated with said individual data provider ID, and storing said plurality of data display records for said each of said plurality of data providers in said database. 67. - The method of claim 66, wherein said database comprises at least first, second and third databases; wherein the method of storing the data profile stores said data profile in said first database; wherein the method of storing a plurality of information stores said plurality of information in said second database; wherein the method of storing said data provider ID in said third database; wherein the method of storing said deployment date and said deployment time stores said deployment date and said deployment time in said third database; wherein the method of storing said location ID stores said location ID in said third database; wherein the method of storing said data deployment register stores said data deployment register in said third database. 68. - The method of claim 61, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a storage device; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of data display records for each of said plurality of data providers, each data display record containing said data profile, said location ID and said individual data ID. data provider, and said deployment date, and said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID; storing said plurality of data display registers for each of said plurality of data providers in said storage device of said associated storage device; and transmitting said plurality of data display records for said each of said plurality of data providers in said database. 69. - The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration to each information in said plurality of information to provide a plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; storing said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations in a database; and wherein the step of displaying continuously displays said information in said sequence of information 10 for said duration of INFO assigned to said each information before displaying the following information in said sequence of information for said each user. 70. - The method of claim 69, wherein the step of continuously displaying includes the steps of: determining the time and date in which each information in said information sequence for each said user was displayed in said associated processing device to provide a deployment date and one deployment time, respectively; and storing said deployment date and said deployment time for each said information for each said user in said database. 71. The method of claim 70, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, each INFO record displayed contains the ID of said user, and said INFO ID, said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said information; and storing said plurality of INFO records displayed for said each user in said database. 72. - The method of claim 71, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said each user according to said data profile and said INFO deployment record. 59 ¿^^^ l ^ ^^ aí ^ sjiáta 73. - The method of claim 70, further comprising the steps: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 74. - The method of claim 73, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a storage device; and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, each displayed INFO record containing user ID and location ID of said user, and said INFO ID, said date of deployment , said hour of deployment and said duration of INFO associated with said each information; storing said plurality of INFO records displayed for said each user in said storage device of said associated processing device; and transmitting said plurality of INFO records displayed for said user to said database. 75. - The method of claim 73, further comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, each displayed INFO record contains a user ID and location ID of said each user, and said ID of INFO, said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said information; and storing said plurality of INFO records displayed for said each user in said database. 76. - The method of claim 75, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said user according to said data profile and said INFO deployment record. 77. - The method of claim 2, wherein said database comprises at least first and second databases; wherein the method of storing the data profile stores said data profile in said first database; and in 60 A «where the method of storing a plurality of information stores said plurality of information in said second database. 78. - The method of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of processing devices includes an input device and wherein the method of storing the data profile includes the step of entering said data profile into said data entry device. said processing device associated by said each user. 79. - The method of claim 78, further comprising the steps of assigning a unique user ID for each of said plurality of processing devices; enter additional profile data in said input device by said each user; and storing said user ID and said data profile for said each user in said database. 80. - The method of claim 79, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence said information sequence for said user is selected according to said data profile and said additional profile data. 81. - The method of claim 79, wherein said database comprises at least first, second and third databases; wherein the method of storing the data profile stores said data profile in said first database; and wherein the method of storing a plurality of information stores said plurality of information in said second database; and wherein the method of storing said user ID, and said additional data profile stores said user ID and said additional data profile in said third database. 82. - The method of claim 2, wherein said network is a computer network and said plurality of processing devices are terminals; and further comprising the steps of: selecting a telephone access number by said user each to initiate a connection between a terminal associated with each said user and said network of computers; verify the authorization of each said user to 61 * "» - determine if each user is authorized to connect to said network, inhibit said terminal from displaying said sequence of information for each said user and said data received from said at least one data provider selected for each said user if determined that each said user is not authorized to connect to said computer network, and establish a connection between each of said terminals to said computer network if it is determined that each said user is authorized to connect to said computer network. 83. - The method of claim 82, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for each said user according to said data profile and said telephone access number associated with said each user. 84. - The method of claim 82, further comprising the steps of: assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and storing said location ID for said each user in said database. 85. - The method of claim 84, wherein said location ID includes at least one postal code. 86. - The method of claim 85, further comprising the steps of determining whether said postal code stored for said user is associated with said telephone access number selected by said user; assigning said postal code as a postal code of location for said user if it is determined that said postal code is associated with said telephone access number; and assigning said location zip code for said user in accordance with said telephone access number if it is determined that said postal code is not associated with said telephone access number. 87. - The method of claim 86, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said each 62 ^^ j ^^ í ^^ iÉggí ^^ yjg user according to said data profile and said location postal code associated with said user. 88. - The method of claim 87, further comprising the step of determining a time zone according to said location code. 89. - The method of claim 88, further comprising the steps of allocating a range of deployment time for each of said plurality of information to provide a plurality of deployment time ranges; and storing said plurality of deployment time ranges in said database. 90. - The method of claim 89, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said user according to said data profile, said postal code of location, a current time and said associated time zone with said each user, and said plurality of deployment time ranges. 91. - The method of claim 82, further comprising the steps of: allocating a range of deployment time for each of said plurality of information to provide a plurality of deployment time ranges; and storing said plurality of deployment ranges in said database. 92. The method of claim 91, wherein in the step of selecting an information sequence selects said information sequence for said user according to said data profile, said telephone access number and a current time associated with said user. and said plurality of deployment time ranges. 93. - A system for supplying information to users in a communication network comprising: a plurality of data providers conned to said network; a plurality of INFO sources connected to said network to provide a sequence of information; and a plurality of processing devices connected to said network; each associated only with a user to provide an associated processing device and having a receiver to receive said sequence of information from said plurality of INFO sources, a selector for selecting at least one data provider for said user and a device for deployment to continuously display said sequence of information simultaneously with said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said user so that said sequence of information and said data required by said user are simultaneously visible, and wherein said data to be displayed in said deployment device is selectable by said user and the deployment of said sequence of information is not controllable by said user. 94. - The system of claim 93, further comprising a storage device connected to said network for storing a data profile of each user and a plurality of information received from a plurality of INFO sources connected to said network; an INFO selector for selecting a sequence of information for said user of said plurality of information according to said data profile of said each user; and wherein said receiver is operable to receive said sequence of information of said user from the selector INFO. 95. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein the selector is operable to select another data provider in response to an input from said user and wherein in the deployment device it is operable to continuously display said information sequence for said each user simultaneously with data received from said other data provider. 96. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein in the deployment device is operable to continuously display said information sequence for said user without interfering with the deployment of said data received from at least one data provider selected by said each user. 64 _ _ ^ ^ | ís6Ktí ^ i2 97. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein each of said plurality of INFO sources includes a storage device and wherein said receiver includes a reading device for reading information from each storage device to generate said sequence of information The system of claim 93 or 94, further comprising a verification device for verifying the authorization of said user to determine whether said user is authorized to connect to said network; and an inhibiting device for preventing said deployment device from displaying said information sequence if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said network. 99. - The system of claim 98, wherein the inhibiting device is operable to prevent said deployment device from displaying said received data of said at least one data provider selected by said user if it is determined that said user does not is authorized to connect to said network. 100. - The system of claim 93 or 94, further comprising a device for verifying the authorization of said user to determine if said user is authorized to connect to said network; and an inhibiting device for preventing said deployment device from displaying said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said user if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said network. 101. The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein said sequence of information contains a sequence of commercial notices, messages or announcements, news and updates. 102. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein the information comprises 30 texts, images without movement, moving images and video and audio components. 65 ^^ £ js | ^ *? ^^ gjg ^ i 103. - The system of claim 99, wherein said network is a computer network and said processing device is a terminal. 104. - The system of claim 103, further comprising: a device for assigning a unique user ID and password to said user in said communication network; and a storage device for storing said user ID and said password for said user. 105. - The system of claim 104, wherein the terminal includes a connection device for establishing a connection between said terminal and said computer network. 106. - The system of claim 105, wherein said terminal includes an input device for entering a user ID and password for said user to 15 initiating the connection between said terminal and said communication network and a transmitter for transmitting said user ID and said password entered in said input device to said storage device for verification; the system further comprises a device for determining whether said user ID entered in said input device is matched with one of said user IDs stored in Said storage device to provide a verified user ID; wherein said verification device is operable to verify said password entered in said input device corresponds to said password associated with said verified user ID if said verified user ID is found; and wherein said connection device is operable to connect said terminal 25 associated with said user to said computer network if it is determined that said password entered in the input device corresponds to a password stored in said storage device which is associated with said verified user ID. The system of claim 96, wherein said network is a computer network and said processing device is a terminal. 66 108. - The system of claim 107, wherein each of the plurality of data providers is a server in said computer network and wherein said selector is operable to select data to be displayed from said at least one data provider by said user. 109. - The system of claim 108, wherein said selector includes: an input device for entering a request for said data from said at least one server connected to said computer network by said user; and a transmitter for transmitting said request for said data to said at least one server from said terminal associated with said user. 110. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein said network is a computer network and wherein said receiver is operable to receive a sequence of addresses from an INFO address provider connected to said network, each address indicating the location of an of said sequence of information of said plurality of INFO sources; and wherein said associated processing device includes a device for reading said sequence of information from said plurality of INFO sources in accordance with said sequence of addresses. 111. - The system of claim 99, further comprising a device for assigning a unique user ID to each of said plurality of processing devices; a time device to generate a time of entry to the system and a date of entry to the system for said user if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to the network; and a storage device connected to said network for storing said user ID, said time of entry to the system and said date of entry to the system for said user if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect said network. 112. - The system of claim 111, wherein said time device is located within said processing device, operable to receive a virtual date and a virtual time from a source connected to said network; and operable to generate said hour of entry into the system and said date of entry into the system for said user as a function of said virtual time and said virtual date, respectively. 113. - The system of claim 111 or 112, further comprising a disconnecting device for determining whether said associated processing device is no longer connected to said network; and wherein the schedule device is operable to generate a system exit time and a system exit date for said user if it is determined that said processing device associated with said user is not already connected to said network; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said system exit time and said system exit date for said user if it is determined that said processing device associated with said user is not already connected to said network. 114. - The system of claim 113, wherein said disconnecting device is operable to generate a session duration for said user as a function of said hour of entry into the system and said date of entry into the system, said date of exit from the system. system and said time of exit from the system; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said session length for said user. 115. - The system of claim 114, wherein said disconnection device is operable to generate a session usage record for said user containing said user ID, said time of entry into the system, said date of entry into the system, said date of system output, said system exit time and said session duration; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said session use record. 116. - The system of claim 113, further comprising a device for assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration to each information in said information sequence to provide a plurality of NFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and wherein said deployment device is operable to display said information in said information sequence for said duration of INFO assigned to said information before displaying the following information in said information sequence. 117. - The system of claim 116, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for determining which information in said sequence of information was displayed in said associated processing device as a function of said hour of entry into the system, said date of entry to the system, said date of departure from the system, said time of departure from the system and said plurality of durations of INFO to provide a list of information displayed for said user; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said list of information displayed for said user. 118. The system of claim 117, wherein said list of information displayed for said user contains a list of INFO IDs corresponding to the displayed information. The system of claim 118, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for determining the date and time at which each INFO ID in said list of displayed information was displayed on said associated processing device as a function of said hour of entry into the system, said date of entry into the system, said time of exit from the system, said date of 25 system output and said plurality of INFO durations to provide a deployment date and a deployment time for said each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said user; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said deployment date and a deployment time for said each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for 30 said user. 69 «- ^« mfe «afe ^». 120. - The system of claim 119, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating an expanded INFO record for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said user, said expanded INFO record contains an INFO ID and said user ID of said user, and said display date, said deployment time and said duration of INFO associated with said INFO ID; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said displayed INFO record. 121. - The system of claim 119, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 122. - The system of claim 121, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes: a device for generating an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said user, said deployment record containing an INFO ID, said user ID and said ID of location of said user, and said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said INFO ID; a local storage device for storing said displayed INFO record locally; and a transmitter for transmitting said displayed INFO register to said storage device connected to said network. 123. - The system of claim 121, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating an INFO record displayed for each INFO ID in said list of information displayed for said user, said expanded INFO record contains an INFO ID said user ID and said location ID of said user, and said display date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said INFO ID; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said displayed INFO record. 70 .- * *. . 124. - The system of claim 114, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 125. - The system of claim 124, wherein the location ID includes a postal code 126. - The system of claim 124, wherein said disconnection device is operable to generate a session usage record for said user containing said user ID, said time of entry to the system, said date of entry into the system, said date of system output, said system exit time and said location ID said session duration; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said session use record. 127. - The system of claim 113, wherein said associated processing device further includes: a device for generating a whistling signal at each predetermined interval if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to said network; and a transmitter for transmitting said whistle signal to said storage device; and wherein said storage device is operable to update an expected time of the next whistling signal from said user; and wherein said schedule device is operable to generate said system exit time and said system exit date for said user when said hiss signal is not received from said associated processing device substantially within said expected time. 128. - The system of claim 96, wherein said associated processing device includes an input device; and wherein said deployment devices include a first part for displaying said information sequence and a second part for displaying said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said user. 71 t.fe » 129. - The system of claim 128, further comprising a device for assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration for each information in said information sequence to provide a plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and a storage device connected to said network for storing said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and wherein said deployment device is operable to display said information in said information sequence for said duration of INFO assigned to said information before displaying the following information in said information sequence. The system of claim 129, wherein said first part of said deployment device is divided into a plurality of linked regions and a plurality of unlinked regions, each of said plurality of linked regions is linked to one of said plurality of data providers; and wherein said associated processing device further includes a region selector for selecting one of said plurality of regions linked by said user to receive additional information. 131. - The system of claim 130, further comprising a device for assigning a unique user ID for said associated processing device; wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID, and wherein said associated processing device further includes: a detector for detecting which information in said sequence of information is being displayed in said first part of said deployment device for providing an expanded INFO ID; a schedule device for determining date and time when the information corresponding to said displayed INFO ID was displayed in said associated processing device to provide a deployment date and a deployment time, respectively; and wherein said detector is operable to detect which one of said plurality of linked regions was selected by said user during the display of information corresponding to said displayed INFO ID to provide a selected data provider ID; and wherein said storage device is 72 - £. ? . . »Tatagua, A operable to store said user ID, said displayed INFO ID, said selected data provider ID, said deployment date and said deployment time for said user if said one of said plurality of regions is detected. linked was selected by said user. 132. - The system of claim 131, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 133. - The system of claim 132, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of event records chosen for said user, said event record chosen for said user being associated with a selected individual data provider ID and said each selected event record. contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID and said displayed INFO ID, said deployment date, said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID; a local storage device for storing locally said plurality of event records chosen for said user; and a transmitter for transmitting said plurality of selected event records to said storage device connected to said network. 134. - The system of claim 132, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of event records chosen for said user, each event record chosen for said user being associated with an individual data provider ID. selected and said each selected event record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID and said displayed INFO ID, said deployment date, said deployment time associated with said individual provider ID. data; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of event records chosen for said user. 135. - The system of claim 93 or 94, wherein each information in said information sequence for said user is an unsolicited request for data from said plurality of data providers. 136. - The system of claim 135, wherein said unsolicited request for data is limited to a subset of said plurality of data providers. 137. - The system of claim 136, further comprising an inhibiting device for preventing said selector from selecting a data provider in said subset by said user. 138. - The system of claim 93, wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID and further comprises a storage device connected to said network for storing said user ID and said Data provider ID associated with at least one data provider selected by said user. 139. - The system of claim 138, wherein said associated processing device further includes a schedule device for determining the date and time at which said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said user was displayed in said device. deployment to provide a deployment date and a deployment time respectively; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said deployment date and said deployment time. 140. - The system of claim 139, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 141. - The system of claim 140, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record for said user being associated with an individual data provider ID stored in said storage device and said each data display record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, said display date, said display time associated with said individual data provider ID; a local storage device for storing locally said plurality of data display records for said user; and a transmitter for transmitting said plurality of data display registers to said storage device connected to said network. 142. - The system of claim 140, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record for said user being associated with an individual provider ID. data stored in said storage device and said each data display record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, said deployment date, said deployment time associated with said individual data ID. data provider; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of data display records for said user. 143. - The system of claim 95, wherein said network is a cable television network and wherein said plurality of storage devices are converter boxes. 144. - The system of claim 143, wherein each of said plurality of data providers represents a transmission channel in said cable television network. 145. - The system of claim 144, wherein each of said converter boxes includes a television receiver apparatus, wherein said selector is 75 * é * &,. i - operable to select a transmission channel for displaying a program that is received on said selected transmission channel and wherein said deployment device is operable to continuously display said sequence of information simultaneously with said program received on said transmission channel . 146. - The system of claim 145, wherein said selector is operable to select a next transmission channel to display a program that is received in said next transmission channel in response to said input of said user and wherein said deployment device is operable to continuously display said sequence of information simultaneously with said program received in said next transmission channel. 147. - The system of claim 146, wherein said selector includes a top or bottom channel change button operable with said converter box. 148. - The system of claim 131, wherein said selector is operable to control said deployment device to display said additional information in said second part of said deployment device. 149. - The system of claim 131, wherein said region selector is operable to control said deployment device to display a request for additional data to said user in said second part of said deployment device; wherein said input device is operable to enter said additional data by said user; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said additional data. 150. - The system of claim 94, wherein said associated processing device includes an input device; said input device includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion comprises a plurality of linked regions and unlinked regions, each of said plurality of linked regions being selectable by each said user and linked to one of said plurality of providers of data; wherein said deployment device is operable to display said sequence of information for each said user in said first portion of said deployment device and said data received from at least one data provider selected by each user in said second portion of said device. deployment; and wherein said selector INFO is operable to select said sequence of information for each said user in accordance with said profile data and linked regions selected by each said user. 151. - The system of claim 94, wherein each of said plurality of data providers is uniquely identified by a data provider ID and further comprises a storage device connected to said network for storing said user ID and said Data provider ID associated with at least one data provider selected by said user. 152. - The system of claim 151, wherein said associated processing device further includes a schedule device for determining the date and time at which said data received from said at least one data provider selected by said user was displayed in said device. deployment to provide a deployment date and a deployment time respectively; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said deployment date and said deployment time. 153. - The system of claim 152, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 154. - The system of claim 153, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record for said user being associated with an individual data provider ID stored in said storage device and 77 «. , "^" ^^^^ said each data deployment record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, said deployment date, said deployment time associated with said individual provider ID. of data; a local storage device for storing locally said plurality of data display records for said user; and a transmitter for transmitting said plurality of data display registers to said storage device connected to said network. 155. - The system of claim 153, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of data deployment records for said user, each data deployment record for said user being associated with an individual provider ID. data stored in said storage device and said each data display record contains said user ID, said location ID and said individual data provider ID, said deployment date, said deployment time associated with said individual data ID. data provider; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of data display records for said user. 156. - The system of claim 155, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile and said plurality of data display registers. 157. - The system of claim 155, wherein said storage device comprises at least a first storage device for storing said data profile and a second storage device for storing said plurality of information and a third storage device for storing said data. of user, said data provider ID, said deployment date, said deployment time, said location ID and said data deployment records. 78 ^^^ ¿^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^. t * 158. - The system of claim 153, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for generating a plurality of data display registers for each plurality of data providers, each data display register containing a data profile, said Location ID and said individual data provider ID, and said deployment date and said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of data display records for said user. 159. - The system of claim 158, wherein said storage device comprises at least a first storage device for storing said data profile and a second storage device for storing said plurality of information and a third storage device for storing said data. of data provider, said deployment date, said deployment time, said location ID and said plurality of data deployment records. 160. - The system of claim 153, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating a plurality of data deployment registers for each plurality of data providers, each data deployment record containing a data profile, said data of location and said individual data provider ID, and said deployment date and said deployment time associated with said individual data provider ID; a local storage device for storing locally said plurality of data display registers for said plurality of data providers; and a transmitter for transmitting said plurality of data display registers for said each of said plurality of data providers for said storage device connected to said network. 161. - The system of claim 94, further comprising a device for assigning a unique INFO ID and an INFO duration to each information in said information sequence to provide a plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of INFO IDs and a plurality of INFO durations; and wherein said deployment device is operable to continually display said information in said information sequence for said duration of INFO assigned to said information before displaying the following information in said information sequence for each user. 162. - The system of claim 161, wherein said associated processing device further includes a device for determining the date and time at which each information in said sequence of information is displayed in said associated processing device to provide a deployment date and a deployment time, respectively; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said deployment date and a deployment time for said information for said user. 163. - The system of claim 162, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, said displayed INFO record contains user ID of said user, and said INFO ID, said deployment date, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said each information; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of displayed INFO records. 164. - The system of claim 163, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile and said displayed INFO record. 165. - The system of claim 162, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 166. - The system of claim 165, wherein the location ID includes a postal code; wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, each INFO record displayed contains, user ID and location ID of said user, and said INFO ID, said date of deployment, said deployment time and said INFO duration associated with said information; a local storage device for locally storing said plurality of displayed INFO records; and a transmitter for transmitting said displayed INFO register to said storage device connected to said network. The system of claim 165, wherein said associated processing device includes a device for generating a plurality of INFO records displayed for said user, each INFO record displayed contains user ID and location ID of said user. , and said INFO ID, said display date, said deployment hour and said INFO duration associated with said each information; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of displayed INFO records. 168. - The system of claim 167, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile and said displayed INFO record. 169. - The system of claim 94, wherein said storage device comprises at least a first storage device for storing said data profile and a second storage device for storing said plurality of information. 170. - The system of claim 94, wherein said associated processing device includes an input device for inputting said data profile by said user; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said data profile entered by said user. 81 -aafeahate *. • »- * ^ .i. 4 * < ? - t _,. aafc ..,. A »1 171. - The system of claim 170, further comprising a device for assigning a unique user ID for each of said plurality of processing devices; and wherein said device is operable to enter the additional data profile by said user; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said user ID and said additional data profile for said user. 172. - The system of claim 171, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile and said additional profile data. 173. - The system of claim 171, wherein said storage device comprises at least a first storage device for storing said data profile and a second storage device for storing said plurality of information and a third storage device for storing said data. of the user and said profile of additional data. 174. - The system of claim 94, wherein said network is a computer network and said associated processing device is a terminal; and the system further comprises: a telephone selector to select a telephone access number for said user to initiate connection between said terminal and said computer network; a verifying device to verify the authorization of said user to verify if said user is authorized to connect to said network; an inhibiting device for inhibiting said deployment device from displaying said sequence of information for said user and said data receiver of said at least one data provider selected by said user if it is determined that said user is not authorized to connect to said network. computers; and a connecting device for establishing a connection between said terminal and said network of computers if it is determined that said user is authorized to connect to said network of computers. 175. - The system of claim 174, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select an information sequence, said information sequence is selected for said user according to said data profile and said telephone access number associated with said user. 176. - The system of claim 174, further comprising a device for assigning a location ID for said user according to the location of said associated processing device; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said location ID for said user. 177. The system of claim 176, wherein said location ID includes at least one postal code. 178. - The system of claim 177, further comprising a device for determining whether said postal code stored for said user is associated with said telephone access number selected by said user; and an assignment device for assigning said postal code as a postal code location for said user if it is determined that said postal code is associated with said telephone access number; and wherein said allocation device is operable to assign said postal code location for said user in accordance with said telephone access number if it is determined that said postal code is not associated with said telephone access number. 179. - The system of claim 178, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile and said location postal code associated with said user. 180. - The system of claim 179, further comprising a device for determining a time zone according to said location postal code. 181. The system of claim 180, further comprising a device for allocating a range of deployment time for each of said plurality of 83 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ information to provide a plurality of deployment time ranges; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of deployment ranges. 182. - The system of claim 181, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile, said postal code location, a current time and said time zone associated with said user. , and said plurality of deployment time ranges. 183. - The system of claim 174, further comprising a device for allocating a range of deployment time for each of said plurality of information to provide a plurality of deployment time ranges; and wherein said storage device is operable to store said plurality of deployment ranges. 184. - The system of claim 183, wherein said INFO selector is operable to select said information sequence for said user in accordance with said data profile, said telephone access number and a current time associated with said user, and said plurality of deployment time ranges. 185. - A method of connecting a terminal to a host server in the internet in response to an incomplete uniform resource locator, wherein said terminal has a monitor and an input device, the method comprising the steps of: entering a host name by a user corresponding to said host server in said input device to provide said incomplete uniform resource locator; contextually determine the remaining components of said incomplete uniform resource locator as a function of said host server. 186. - The method of claim 185, wherein the step of contextually determining includes the step of determining a domain of said host server 84 * A t * as a function of a probability distribution of the number of host servers in a particular domain. 187. - The method of claim 185, wherein said monitor includes a plurality of eligible buttons, each of said plurality of eligible buttons correspond to a component of a uniform resource locator; and wherein the step of contextually determining contextually determines the remaining components of said incomplete uniform resource locator in response to one or more of said plurality of eligible buttons chosen by said user. 188. Apparatus for connecting a computer terminal to a host server in the internet in response to an incomplete uniform resource locator, comprising a device for contextually determining remaining components of said incomplete uniform resource locator as a function of a host name entered by a host user to provide a complete uniform resource locator, wherein said host name corresponds to said host server. 189. - The apparatus of claim 188, wherein said device for determining contextually is operable to determine a domain of said host server as a function of a probability distribution of the number of host servers in a particular domain. 190. - The apparatus of claim 188, wherein said terminal includes a monitor having a plurality of eligible buttons, each of said plurality of eligible buttons corresponding to a component of a uniform resource locator.; and said contextually determining device contextually determines the remaining components of said incomplete uniform resource locator in response to one or more of said plurality of eligible buttons chosen by said user. 85". * T *