System and method for modifying documents sent over a communications network

Abstract

A system and method applied to a communications network which transmits document portions in which an original document portion having an identifier portion and an information portion is replaced or swapped with a substitute document portion. A controller, typically a proxy server, reads the identifier portion of the original document portion, determines the information portion of the original document portion, and issues a swap order when an undesired original document portion is found. A substitute document server receives the swap order and sends the substitute document portion to the controller. A swapping device or mechanism inserts the substitute document portion in place of the original document portion and the substitute document portion is passed on to the user set and displayed. The controller and swapping mechanism can be integrated with the user set or with the resources of the service provider and their functionality can reside in software.

1 . A system for generating documents, said system comprising: 
 a first unit comprising a processor and a display adapted to generate a first request for a first document;    a first server adapted to receive said first request and generate said first document comprising at least one identifier;    a second unit adapted to receive said first document and generate a second request for a second document based on said at least one identifier; and    a second server adapted to receive said second request and generate said second document,    wherein said second unit is adapted to receive said second document, process said first document and said second document to generate a third document, and send said third document to said first unit for viewing on said display.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any of said first document, said second document, and said third document comprises an electronic document.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user profile bank, wherein said second document is generated based on information contained in said user profile bank.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second document is generated based on content of said first document.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first document comprises substitutable content comprising any of un-desired content, un-used content, blank content, and targeted content selected for replacement.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one identifier comprises a network address, and wherein said substitutable content is determined based on said network address.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one identifier comprises a description of said substitutable content.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said second unit is adapted to insert content contained in said second document into said first document in order to generate said third document.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said second unit is adapted to substitute said substitutable content in said first document with content contained in said second document.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first unit is an internet-enabled device and said second unit is a proxy server.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first unit is an internet-enabled device and said second unit is a server of an internet service provider.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first unit comprises said second unit.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second unit comprises any of a service provider, a proxy server, an internet browser, and a user set.  
   
   
       14 . A method of generating documents, said method comprising: 
 generating a first request for a first document;    generating said first document comprising at least one identifier;    generating a second request for a second document based on said at least one identifier;    generating said second document;    processing said first document and said second document to generate a third document; and    viewing said third document on a display.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein any of said first document, said second document, and said third document comprises an electronic document.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second document is generated based on any of: 
 information contained in a user profile bank; and    content of said first document.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first document comprises substitutable content comprising any of un-desired content, un-used content, blank content, and targeted content selected for replacement.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one identifier comprises a network address, and wherein said substitutable content is determined based on said network address.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one identifier comprises a description of said substitutable content.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said second unit is adapted to insert content contained in said second document into said first document in order to generate said third document.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said second unit is adapted to substitute said substitutable content in said first document with content contained in said second document.  
   
   
       22 . A program storage device readable by computer comprising a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method of generating electronic documents, said method comprising: 
 generating a first request for a first document;    generating said first document comprising at least one identifier;    generating a second request for a second document based on said at least one identifier;    generating said second document;    processing said first document and said second document to create a third document; and    viewing said third document on a display.    
   
   
       23 . A service for generating electronic documents, said service comprising: 
 generating a first request for a first document;    generating said first document comprising at least one identifier;    generating a second request for a second document based on said at least one identifier;    generating said second document;    processing said first document and said second document to create a third document; and    viewing said third document on a display.