Method and apparatus for serving electronic information to a user over a computer network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for serving electronic information to a user over a computer network are disclosed. A computer connected to the network and hosting a database is provided. The computer is configured to receive a request from a user to view electronic information stored in a networked database over the network, and retrieve the information from the database. The computer may then transform the information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information and serve the information to the user over the network.

1 . A method for serving electronic information to a user over a computer network comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user to view electronic information stored in a networked database over the network;    retrieving the information to be viewed from said database;    transforming said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information; and    serving said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said page description language comprises HTML.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said computer network comprises the World Wide Web.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said information comprises graphics.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the act of processing associated billing using on-line credit card processing.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said credit card processing is automated.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said credit card processing is processed in a secure fashion.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said credit card processing is password-protected.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the act of processing associated billing using on-line credit card processing.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said credit card processing is automated.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said credit card processing is processed in a secure fashion.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said credit card processing is password-protected.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for serving electronic information to a user over a computer network comprising: 
 a computer connected to the network and hosting a database, said computer being configured to: 
 receive a request from a user to view electronic information stored in a networked database over the network;  
 retrieve the information to be viewed from said database;  
 transform said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information; and  
 serve said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.  
   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said page description language comprises HTML.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said computer network comprises the World Wide Web.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said information comprises graphics.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further including the act of processing associated billing using on-line credit card processing.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said credit card processing is automated.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said credit card processing is processed in a secure fashion.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said credit card processing is password-protected.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further including the act of processing associated billing using on-line credit card processing.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said credit card processing is automated.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said credit card processing is processed in a secure fashion.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said credit card processing is password-protected.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for serving electronic information to a user over a computer network comprising: 
 means for receiving a request from a user to view electronic information stored in a networked database over the network;    means for retrieving the information to be viewed from said database;    means for transforming said information on-the-fly into a hardware independent page description language representation of said information; and    means for serving said hardware independent version of said information to said user over the network.