Abstract: An intermediate server for sharing data between a sender computer and receiver computer(s)is disclosed. A sender initiates a browsing session by (1) requesting a session setup form from the intermediate server that is returned with a beginning URL or (2) being redirected to the intermediate server. A intermediate server control program retrieves content from a server, modifies the hyperlinks within the content by appending the original URL to the URL of the intermediate server, stores the modified content data for later use, and forwards the modified content data to the sender. In asynchronous playback mode, a receiver connects to the intermediate server using a session identifier associated with sender's browsing session. An intermediate server playback program retrieves and pushes the stored content to the receiver. Storing the modified content guarantees that sender and receiver view the same content sequence as opposed to the same URL sequence.

Abstract: An intermediate server, or kiosk controller, serves as an agent between content servers and kiosk computers. A control program loaded on the intermediate server directs the intermediate server to retrieve content data from various content servers on a network. The particular content to be retrieved is specified in a run list composed of location codes. The intermediate server then automatically transmits the content to the kiosks in the sequential order specified by the run list. The kiosks' screen displays are consistently refreshed based on the transmitted content. In a specific embodiment, a kiosk controller is connected via the Internet to various web servers. The kiosk controller retrieves web pages from the various web servers. The kiosk controller modifies all links contained within the web pages to point to the kiosk computer. The kiosk controller then sends the modified web pages to kiosks running browser programs.

Abstract: A server-based host monitor is provided that allows a host computer to send host data to an intermediate server interfaced with a network. The intermediate server includes a conversion program that translates the host data into a format common with the network. The translated host data is made accessible to a computer interfaced with the network. The receiver computer may receive and view the translated host data in either a synchronous or asynchronous mode.