Method and apparatus for distributing content via a communications network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for distributing content via a communication network is presented. In one or more embodiments, the present invention comprises apparatus for receiving content from a server system. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises a central processing unit, a video controller, a communications interface, and a memory comprising computer readable instructions for causing said apparatus to perform a variety of functions. In one or more embodiments, the computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing the apparatus, upon connection to a power source and a communications source, to initiate a communications session with the server system. In one or more embodiments, the computer readable instructions comprise instructions to cause the apparatus to prompt a user of said apparatus to create an account at the server system.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for displaying content comprising image data received via a communications network on a display screen comprising:
 said display screen;   a central processing unit;   a video controller configured to control display of said content on said display screen;   a communications interface configured to communicate via said communications network;   a memory comprising a unique identifier for said apparatus, computer readable instructions different from said content for controlling the operation of said apparatus, and a version identifier for said computer readable instructions, said computer readable instructions comprising instructions for causing said apparatus to perform the steps of:   initiating by said apparatus a first communications session with a package server via said communications network;   sending by said apparatus said version identifier to said package server;   receiving by said apparatus updated computer readable instructions for controlling the operation of said apparatus from said package server;   updating by said apparatus said computer readable instructions in said memory with said updated computer readable instructions;   initiating by said apparatus a second communications session with a data repository via said communications network;   sending by said apparatus said unique identifier to said data repository;   receiving by said apparatus updated content from said data repository;   displaying by said apparatus said updated content on said display screen.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing said apparatus to perform the step of prompting by said apparatus a user of said apparatus to create an account at said data repository. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said image data comprises still image data. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said image data comprises a video feed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said unique identifier comprises a serial number of said apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said communications network comprises the internet. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing said apparatus to transmit metadata to said package server. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing said apparatus to transmit metadata to said data repository. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said metadata comprises said unique identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said metadata comprises information about said apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing said apparatus to transmit authentication information to said package server. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing said apparatus to transmit authentication information to said data repository. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said updated computer readable instructions comprise instructions for adding new functionality to said apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . A digital display apparatus having an integrated housing, said integrated housing comprising:
 an image display region on an outside surface of said integrated housing;   a memory in an inside of said integrated housing, said memory comprising a plurality of image data files, security information comprising authentication information for a data repository and a unique identifier for said digital display apparatus, and a current version of onboard software;   a processor configured to control the display of image data from said plurality of image data files in said image display region in accordance with said onboard software in said inside of said integrated housing;   communication circuitry configured to engage a network medium in said inside of said integrated housing under the control of said processor;   an image display function configured to obtain image data from said plurality of image data files in said memory for rendering in said image display region;   a remote connection function configured to initiate communications with said data repository across said network medium, said remote connection function further configured to send a request for image data to said data repository after initiating said communications and to receive in response to said request for image data a set of data from said data repository comprising one or more image data files;   an authentication function configured to authenticate said data repository prior to accepting said set of data from said data repository; and   a software update function configured to obtain an updated version of said onboard software from a package server and to replace said current version of said onboard software in said memory with said updated version.   
     
     
         16 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said authentication function is further configured to provide said unique identifier of said digital display apparatus to said data repository. 
     
     
         17 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said authentication function is further configured to provide device authentication information to said data repository prior to obtaining image data from said data repository. 
     
     
         18 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said onboard software further comprises an initialization function configured to prompt said data repository to associate a record with said digital display apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said digital display apparatus is configured to display an account initialization message. 
     
     
         20 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said account initialization message prompts a user to create an account with said data repository. 
     
     
         21 . The digital display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said memory comprises an image display parameter comprising a timing interval for periodically selecting an image data file from said memory for rendering on said display region.