Accessing and displaying network content

Abstract

A method for accessing and displaying network content employs an informational component which includes a definition for rendering a graphical user interface within which content may be presented outside of and without utilization of another application. The informational component also includes one or more definitions of content locations from which content elements may be transmitted over a network and presented within the graphical user interface. A provider of an informational component or informational components may thus create customized displays within which intended content may be rendered. An application component may be used in association with an informational component or informational components to manage the collection, organization, sharing, and rendering of plurality of the informational component(s).

1 . A system for providing content over a network and displaying the content on a display of a client computing device, the system comprising:
 an electronic storage medium storing a networked information monitor template, the networked information monitor template comprising:
 a definition of a first content element for the networked information monitor template, the definition of the first content element referencing a first network location from which the first content element for the networked information monitor template is served over the network; and 
 a definition of a viewer graphical user interface within which content in a web browser-readable language may be presented on the display of the client computing device, wherein:
 the presentation of the viewer graphical user interface defined by the networked information monitor on the display of the client computing device is separate from and outside of any other graphical user interface that includes user controls for specifying the first network location from which the first content element for the networked information monitor is served over the network; and 
 the definition of the viewer graphical user interface and/or the first content element define all controls for enabling a user to interact with the first content element through the viewer graphical user interface; and 
 
   one or more processors configured by machine readable instructions to effectuate provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein effectuating provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device includes transmitting the networked information monitor template to a server, the networked information monitor template provided by the server to the client computing device in response to the server receiving from the client computing device a request requesting the networked information monitor template. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein effectuating provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device includes providing the networked information monitor template to the client computing device in response to the one or more processors receiving from the client computing device a request requesting the networked information monitor template. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first content element is provided at the first network location by a server. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine readable instructions to provide the first content element at the first network location. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the definition of the viewer graphical user interface includes a definition of at least one control effective for controlling an aspect of the viewer graphical user interface, and wherein presenting the viewer graphical user interface on the display of the client computing device comprises presenting the at least one control. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the definition of the viewer graphical user interface includes an image, and wherein presenting the viewer graphical user interface on the display of the client computing device comprises presenting the image as part of the viewer graphical user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system  claim 7 , wherein presenting the first content element in the viewer graphical user interface comprises presenting the first content element in association with the image. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first content element includes audio content, video content, graphics content, still image content, textual content and/or interactive content. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the networked information monitor template is configured to cause the client computing device to periodically request the first content element from the first network location and to present the received first content element within the viewer graphical user interface in an ongoing manner. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing content over a network and displaying the content on a display of a client computing device, the method comprising:
 storing a networked information monitor template in an electronic storage medium, the networked information monitor template comprising:
 a definition of a first content element for the networked information monitor template, the definition of the first content element referencing a first network location from which the first content element for the networked information monitor template is served over the network; and 
 a definition of a viewer graphical user interface within which content in a web browser-readable language may be presented on the display of the client computing device, wherein:
 the presentation of the viewer graphical user interface defined by the networked information monitor on the display of the client computing device is separate from and outside of any other graphical user interface that includes user controls for specifying the first network location from which the first content element for the networked information monitor is served over the network; and 
 the definition of the viewer graphical user interface and/or the first content element define all controls for enabling a user to interact with the first content element through the viewer graphical user interface; and 
 
   effectuating provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein effectuating provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device includes transmitting the networked information monitor template to a server, the networked information monitor template provided by the server to the client computing device in response to the server receiving from the client computing device a request requesting the networked information monitor template. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein effectuating provision of the networked information monitor template to the client computing device includes providing the networked information monitor template to the client computing device in response to receiving from the client computing device a request requesting the networked information monitor template. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first content element is provided at the first network location by a server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing the first content element at the first network location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the definition of the viewer graphical user interface includes a definition of at least one control effective for controlling an aspect of the viewer graphical user interface, and wherein presenting the viewer graphical user interface on the display of the client computing device comprises presenting the at least one control. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the definition of the viewer graphical user interface includes an image, and wherein presenting the viewer graphical user interface on the display of the client computing device comprises presenting the image as part of the viewer graphical user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 17 , wherein presenting the first content element in the viewer graphical user interface comprises presenting the first content element in association with the image. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first content element includes audio content, video content, graphics content, still image content, textual content and/or interactive content. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the networked information monitor template is configured to cause the client computing device to periodically request the first content element from the first network location and to present the received first content element within the viewer graphical user interface in an ongoing manner.