System and markup language for information extraction from stand-alone devices in webspace

Abstract

A system and markup language for information extraction from stand-alone devices in webspace is disclosed. Devices are provided with Internet accessibility, thus becoming web objects, able to send and receive data through the Internet. A web object is assigned a static and dynamic serial number by its manufacturer which contains data pertaining to the web object/device. Also, the web object has the capability to report on its status, making such information available over the Internet. Thus, the device's owner can monitor the device by accessing it through the Internet and a web page, and the manufacturer or other authorized user can also securely access the device/web object to monitor its status. The web object can thus report that maintenance is required, a service part should be ordered, and maintains this information within the dynamic portion of its serial number, which updates based on changes to its status.

1 . A system for communicating information between the Internet and at least one stand-alone web object, said system comprising:
 a web object-based markup language;   a script that defines said web object using said language;   a mini-server computer electronically connected to said web object, to the Internet, processes data relating to said web object, and communicates with other said web objects; and   a browser that interacts with said mini-server and displays said data for a user accessible through the Internet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said markup language is nested, with increasingly descriptive terms pertaining to said web object appearing in consecutive indentations of said script. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said script is intent-based. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said script is content-based. 
     
     
         5 . The script of  claim 1 , wherein said script contains static and dynamic components. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said browser interprets user preferences and modifies and displays said data extracted from said mini-server for said web object. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said browser allows customizable data displays according to said user's requests for said web object. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system displays information from said web objects on Internet web pages according to predetermined settings programmed into said browser. 
     
     
         9 . The mini-server of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna, a central processing unit, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of data connections, and a power supply. 
     
     
         10 . The mini-server of  claim 1 , further comprising a security system to prevent unauthorized access. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said web objects are electronic appliances. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said web objects are human-portable devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said web objects are vehicles. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said vehicles are supervised using the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mini-server controls said web object by an internal program. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mini-server controls said web object by a user direction accesses said mini-server through the Internet. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a system and mark up language for information extraction from stand-alone devices in webspace, said method comprising:
 establishing a serial number for a web object;   assigning said serial number to said web object;   storing said serial number on a mini-server within said web object;   communicating data about said web object using the Internet;   communicating between said web object and other web objects;   allowing access said web object through the Internet by authorized users;   updating information about the status of said web object through the Internet to authorized users; and   providing an Internet-based access point for authorized users to view the status of said web object.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said serial number contains fixed data about said web object and also contains variable data about said web object. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said variable data is updatable by said web object or said authorized users. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said web object connects to the Internet. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said access to said web object is in the form of an Internet web page with a unique Internet protocol (IP) address.