Apparatus and method for dynamically coordinating the delivery of computer readable media
The invention provides a method of processing distributable computer readable media in a client/server computer system in a manner specified by a user. The method includes the steps of providing a login construct to a client computer from a server computer. A server computer accepts a login identifier from the client computer that corresponds to the user. The login identifier is used to locate an unprocessed user profile associated with the login identifier in a user profile database when the unprocessed user profile exists. A home networked information monitor is delivered to the client computer in accordance with instructions in a processed user profile. The home networked information monitor is capable of accessing each networked information monitor associated with the login identifier. Each networked information monitor is capable of processing distributable computer readable media.
1. A physical memory device having stored thereon a plurality of software components, said software components comprising:
a client parser application configured to coordinate instantiation of networked information monitors on a computing platform with access to the physical memory device, said client parser application comprising:
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to obtain networked information monitor templates over a network, wherein the obtained networked information monitor templates comprise:
a first networked information monitor template associated with a first networked information monitor, the first networked information monitor template comprising (i) a definition of a first graphical user interface of the first networked information monitor within which content received in a protocol and format readable by a web browser having native network navigation controls may be presented, and (ii) an identifier for a first network location at which content for the first networked information monitor is accessible over the network, and
a second networked information monitor template associated with a second networked information monitor distinct from the first networked information monitor, the second networked information monitor template comprising (i) a definition of a second graphical user interface of the second networked information monitor within which content received in a protocol and format readable by a web browser having native network navigation controls may be presented, and (ii) an identifier for a second network location at which content for the second networked information monitor is accessible over the network;
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to display separate first and second graphical user interfaces of the first and second networked information monitors on a same device, wherein the first and second displayed graphical user interfaces of the first and second networked information monitors are outside of a window of and independent from any web browser application providing native network navigation controls, and wherein:
the first graphical user interface of the first networked information monitor is defined by the first networked information monitor template, and
the second graphical user interface of the second networked information monitor is defined by the second networked information monitor template;
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to transmit requests for content for the first and second networked information monitors over the network, wherein the requests for the content comprise:
a first request for the content for the first networked information monitor transmitted to the first network location, and
a second request for the content for the second networked information monitor transmitted to the second network location;
instructions configured to parse the content received over the network in response to the requests for the content for the first and second networked information monitors, the content being received over the network in a format or protocol readable by a web browser having native network navigation controls; and
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to present the parsed content in an appropriate graphical user interface such that:
the parsed content received in response to the first request is presented in the first graphical user interface of the first networked information monitor outside of the window of and independent from any web browser application providing native network navigation controls, and
the parsed content received in response to the second request is presented in the second graphical user interface of the second networked information monitor outside of the window of and independent from any web browser application providing native network navigation controls.
2. The physical memory device of claim 1 , wherein the client parser application further comprises instructions that enable the first networked information monitor and the second networked information monitor to exchange information therebetween within the computing platform such that one or more of the first graphical interface, the second graphical interface, the content presented in the first graphical interface, or the content presented in the second graphical interface reflect the information exchanged between the first networked information monitor and the second networked information monitor.
3. The physical memory device of claim 1 , wherein the client parser application further comprises:
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to identify a user of the computing platform; and
instructions configured to cause the computing platform to access a user profile associated with the identified user of the computing platform.
4. The physical memory device of claim 3 , wherein the instructions of the client parser application configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates are configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the first networked information monitor template responsive to the first networked information monitor being identified in the user profile associated with the identified user.
5. The physical memory device of claim 4 , wherein the second networked information monitor is a system networked information monitor, and wherein the instructions of the client parser application configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates are configured cause the computing platform to obtain the second networked information monitor template on a basis of the second networked information monitor being the system networked information monitor and without regard for identification or non-identification of the second networked information monitor in the user profile associated with the identified user.
6. The physical memory device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions of the client parser application configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates are configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates from a remote host of the networked information monitor templates over the network.
7. The physical memory device of claim 6 , wherein the client parser application comprises a markup language parser, and wherein the networked information monitor templates comprise markup language files.
8. The physical memory device of claim 1 , wherein the client parser application further comprises instructions configured to cause the computing platform to obtain identifiers that identify individual networked information monitors, and wherein the instructions configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates are configured to cause the computing platform to obtain networked information monitor templates that correspond to individual networked information monitors identified by the obtained identifiers.
9. The physical memory device of claim 1 , wherein the software components further comprise a first web browser having native network navigation controls, wherein the first web browser comprises:
instructions configured to cause the computer platform to display a graphical user interface that includes the native network navigation controls;
instructions configured to cause the computer platform to receive, over the network from a server, a web page having embedded therein a selectable control for requesting the first networked information monitor;
instructions configured to cause the computer platform to present the web page in the graphical user interface including the native network navigation controls;
instructions configured to cause the computer platform to obtain, responsive to user-selection of the selectable control embedded in the web page, an identifier that identifies the first networked information monitor.
10. The physical memory device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions of the client parser application configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the networked information monitor templates is configured to cause the computing platform to obtain the first networked information monitor template responsive to the web browser obtaining the identifier that identifies the first networked information monitor.