Abstract: A system for and method for tracking events occurring on an electronic paper display device is presented. The system and method may include detecting an event occurring at the electronic paper display device, identifying the event and a status of the electronic paper display device, wherein the identification of the event comprises using a data structure mapping electronic content structure to one or more identifiers, and transmitting the one or more identifiers associated with the event via a network to a network accessible device.

Abstract: A system for and method of delivering publication content to one or more reader devices using mixed mode transmission is presented. The system and method may include segmenting, using a computing apparatus, the publication content into a plurality of publication content components. The system and method may also include generating, using a computing apparatus, master publication content that comprises a reference to each publication content component and indicates a structure of the publication content. The system and method may further include multi-casting, to the one or more reader devices, the master publication content and the plurality of publication content components via a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating electronic transactions via a device capable of communicating with a network. The method includes providing a catalog on the network and communicating with the network via the device. The catalog is downloaded to the device and communication is discontinued with the network via the device. At least one desired transaction within the catalog is selected and stored on the device. The device recommunicates with the network and the at least one desired transaction is completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating electronic transactions via a device capable of communicating with a network. The method includes providing a catalog on the network and communicating with the network via the device. The catalog is downloaded to the device and communication is discontinued with the network via the device. At least one desired transaction within the catalog is selected and stored on the device. The device recommunicates with the network and the at least one desired transaction is completed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to efficiently generate and switch page display views on a portable electronic book. The method includes generating an ebook binary file including a plurality of book views, each of the plurality of book views including information needed to generate page display images representing content of a reading material in a font having a particular font point size. The method further includes parsing the ebook binary file and generating the page display images representing content of a reading material.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatic formatting a hypertext document. The hypertext document is parsed to identify a formatting tag. A tag operation is performed on the hypertext document according to the identified formatting tag to generate a formatted document.

Abstract: A method for on-line controlling caching of an image on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) sending from a server to the viewing device an image tag included in a hypertext language code, the image tag having attributes, the attributes specifying the image; (b) parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag; (c) searching for a copy of the image in a cache memory of the viewing device using the image tag attributes; (d) displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current; (e) fetching the image from the server if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current; and (f) storing the fetched image and the image tag attributes in the cache memory.

Abstract: The invention is a method for dynamically converting the byte-ordering of a data structure of a resource type from a first format to a second format, the first format being incompatible with the second format. The method comprises the following steps: (a) creating a template which corresponds to the data structure of the resource type, the template having a structure in a third format which is compatible with the first and second formats; (b) linking the template to the resource type; and (c) converting automatically the byte-ordering of the data structure of the resource type from the first format to the second format using the template.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for electronically distributing digital contents. The digital contents include textual, graphical and pictorial information. At least one portable electronic book is operative to request a digital content from a catalog of distinct digital contents, to receive and display the requested digital content in readable form. An information services system is in electrical communication with the portable electronic book to perform authentication and rendering the requested digital content. An authentication server authenticates the identity of the requesting portable electronic book. A copyright protection server renders the requested digital content sent to the requesting portable electronic book readable only by the requesting portable electronic book. At least one primary virtual bookstore is in electrical communication with the information services system. The primary virtual bookstore is a computer-based storefront accessible by the portable electronic book.

Abstract: A method for on-line displaying and updating a dynamic menu included in a page requested by a viewing device from a server. The dynamic menu has at least one item. The viewing device has a display screen and a menu function key for displaying a default menu when the viewing device is off-line. The method includes the following steps: (a) sending the page to the viewing device as a hypertext language code, the hypertext language code including a menu tag which specifies the dynamic menu; (b) receiving the page at the viewing device; (c) parsing the hypertext language code to identify the menu tag; (d) displaying the page on the display screen; (e) displaying the dynamic menu on the display screen when the menu function key is activated; and (f) performing a dynamic action when one item of the dynamic menu is selected by an action of a user of the viewing device.