Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic and continuous selection of user-preferred data streams based on predefined parameters. In one aspect of the present invention, a client/server system comprises: a sever comprising an address list including addresses of a plurality of data sources; and a client comprising a list of user preferences; means for accessing the server to obtain the address list; means for accessing at least a first data source of the plurality of data sources on the address list to obtain descriptive information; evaluation means for evaluating the descriptive information and the user preferences to select at least a second data source of the plurality of data sources based on the evaluation; and means for accessing the second data source. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention as applied to Internet radio stations, a user would be allowed to listen only to songs from his list of favorites.

Abstract: An information management system, method and computer program code and means for facilitating communications between user members of an online network is provided which includes receipt, from a first user of an online network, of an identification of a second user of the online network. An indication of an association level of the second user is also received First information having an association level different from the second user and second information having an association level corresponding to the second user is also received from the first user. Only the second information based on the association level is transmitted to the second user.

Abstract: Methods and a system that provide a network of data sources in terms of a traditional database schema, convert traditional database queries into network messages, and route those messages to those data sources which have relevant data, in some instances through designated query nodes. In the present invention, those data sources accept the message, and then send reply messages to the originator of the query, or via designated join nodes in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the data sources may be able to perform local join operations. The system then collects these reply messages as appropriate at the designated join nodes, designated query nodes, and/or at the data sources, and the reply messages that meet the requirements of the query are sent back to the query originator. The query results provided to the query originator are presented as a traditional database result.

Abstract: An Actively Broadcast URLs for Drive-By Internet Information (ABU-DaBII) system provides for the just-in-time distribution of information through mobile information terminals. The system involves the Internet as the primary source of the information and includes a mobile information terminal as the output device and a local agent which is locally operated. The mobile information terminal includes a receiver, a URL queue and a WWW renderer/browser. The local agent includes a short-range transmitter to distribute information pointers to the mobile information terminal and a mechanism for transferring data into the transmitter.