Abstract: A network based hypertext display system employing a supervisory computer interconnected with one or more information display units and one or more remote document servers via a network, such as the Internet. The supervisory computer controls the content displayed by the display units by transferring to each unit a control information file as well as hypertext document files which are locally stored in the display units. The control file determines the extent to which the display unit can access remotely stored information and provides additional information which is used to alter the presentation to the user. Stored control information is used to rewrite hypertext document such that certain links are disabled, and to suppress the appearance of visual cues associated with the displayed anchor which identifies selected links in the referencing document.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating compatibility with a prior process used for connecting a user terminal to a selected server in a system having a plurality of servers. The prior process has the server perform a task on behalf of the terminal. The system includes a server determination process for retrieving from storage a table of data identifying the servers, and for determining an address currently associated with each server. Then, a chooser process enables the user to select from the table, one of said servers for connection to the terminal with a connection process, responsive to a signal from the terminal, that initiates a connection of the terminal to the selected server. The plurality of servers in the system includes at least one parallel server comprised of multiple processors.