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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment comprising the steps of:
storing onto portable storage media, information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line environment;
arranging said information on said portable storage media, wherein off-line accessing of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner
as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection; and
establishing a virtual document root for said information stored on said portable storage media, said virtual document root emulating the document root for said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
2. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of storing information onto portable storage media further comprises the step of:
storing Web site information onto said portable storage media.
3. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of:
storing Web site information onto a compact disc.
4. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of storing information onto portable storage media further comprises the step of:
storing said information onto said portable storage media from the same source tree used to create said information configured to be displayed via said on-line connection.
5. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of arranging said information on said portable storage media such that off-line accessing of said information
emulates on-line accessing of said information further comprises the steps of:
storing said information onto a first and a second portable storage media; and
guiding an end-user to access said second portable storage medium when said information requested by said end-user is not on said first portable storage medium presently in use by said end-user.
6. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 5 wherein said step of arranging said information on said portable storage media such that off-line accessing of said information
emulates on-line accessing of said information further comprises the step of
storing common files on each of said first and second portable storage media such that said common files are accessible to an end-user regardless of which of said first and second portable storage media is presently in use by said end-user.
7. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
storing information from a computer system onto said portable storage media, said information for facilitating off-line accessing of said information by an end-user, said information adapted to be transferred from said portable storage media to
local storage space of another computer system used by said end-user to access said information.
8. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
storing initialization software, a Web browser, a Web server, and a search server onto said portable storage media.
9. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
providing access to information stored onto portable storage media, said information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line environment;
displaying said information to said end-user in said off-line environment to emulate accessing said information via an on-line connection such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner as said linked
information would be accessed via said on-line connection; and
accessing said information stored on said portable storage media via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
10. The computer-usable medium of claim 9 further having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the step of:
providing access to Web site information stored onto said portable storage media.
11. The computer-usable medium of claim 10 further having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the step of:
providing access to Web site information stored onto a compact disc.
12. The computer-usable medium of claim 9 further having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the step of:
retrieving from said portable storage media, initialization software, a Web browser, a Web server, and a search server; and
locally storing said initialization software, said Web browser, said Web server, and said search server with respect to said end-user.
13. A computer system comprising:
a processor;
an address/data bus coupled to said processor;
a computer readable memory coupled to communicate with said processor, said processor for performing the steps comprising of:
providing access to information stored onto portable storage media, said information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line environment;
displaying said information to said end-user in said off-line environment to emulate accessing said information via an on-line connection such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner as said linked
information would be accessed via said on-line connection; and
accessing said information stored on said portable storage media via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein said processor is further adapted to perform the step of:
providing access to Web site information stored onto said portable storage media.
15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said processor is further adapted to perform the step of:
providing access to Web site information stored onto a compact disc.
16. The computer system of claim 13 wherein said processor is further adapted to perform the steps of:
retrieving from said portable storage media, initialization software, a Web browser, a Web server, and a search server; and
locally storing said initialization software, said Web browser, said Web server, and said search server with respect to said end-user.
17. A method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system comprising the steps of:
storing from a first computer system, onto portable storage media, information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection;
arranging said information on said portable storage media, wherein off-line accessing of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner
as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection;
loading said information from said portable storage media into a second computer system, wherein off-line accessing of said information from said second computer system emulates on-line accessing of said information from said first computer such
that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection; and
establishing a virtual document root for said information stored on said portable storage media, said virtual document root emulating the document root for said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
18. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of storing information onto portable storage media further comprises the step
of:
storing Web site information onto said portable storage media.
19. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of:
storing Web site information onto a compact disc.
20. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of storing information onto portable storage media further comprises the step
of:
storing said information onto said portable storage media from the same source tree used to create said information configured to be displayed via said on-line connection.
21. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of arranging said information on said portable storage media such that off-line
accessing of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information further comprises the steps of:
storing said information onto a first and a second portable storage media; and
arranging said information on said first and second portable storage media such that an end-user is prompted to access said second portable storage medium when said information requested by said end-user is not on said first portable storage
medium presently in use by said end-user.
22. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 21 wherein said step of arranging said information on said storage media such that off-line accessing
of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information further comprises the step of:
storing common files on each of said first and second portable storage media such that said common files are accessible to an end-user regardless of which of said first and second portable storage media is presently in use by said end-user.
23. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of:
storing information from said first computer system onto said portable storage media, said information for facilitating off-line accessing of said information by an end-user, said information adapted to be transferred from said portable storage
media to local storage space of said second computer system used by said end-user to access said information.
24. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of:
storing initialization software, a Web browser, a Web server, and a search server onto said portable storage media.
25. A method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment comprising the steps of:
storing onto portable storage media, information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line environment;
storing a first portion of said information onto a first portable storage medium via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection;
storing a second portion of said information onto a second portable storage medium via said virtual document root which emulates said document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection; and
arranging said information on said portable storage media, wherein off-line accessing of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner
as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection.
26. The method for emulating on-line accessing of information in an off-line environment as recited in claim 25, said method further comprising the step of:
prompting said end-user to switch from using said first portable storage medium to using said second portable storage medium when information requested by said end-user resides on said second portable storage medium instead of said first portable
storage medium.
27. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
providing access to information stored onto portable storage media, said information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line enviroment;
displaying said information to said end-user in said off-line enviroment to emulate accessing said information via an on-line connection such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line enviroment in the same manner as said linked
information would be accessed via an on-line connection;
storing a first portion of said information onto a first portable storage medium via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection; and
storing a second portion of said information onto a second portable storage medium via said virtual document root which emulates said document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
28. The computer-usable medium of claim 27 further having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the step of:
prompting said end-user to switch from using said first portable storage medium to using said second portable storage medium when information requested by said end-user resides on said second portable storage medium instead of said first portable
storage medium.
29. A computer system comprising:
a processor;
an address/data bus coupled to said processor;
a computer readable memory coupled to communicate with said processor, said processor for performing the steps comprising of:
providing access to information stored onto portable storage media, said information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection, said portable storage media adapted to be used by an end-user in an off-line environment;
displaying said information to said end-user in said off-line environment to emulate accessing said information via an on-line connection such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner as said linked
information would be accessed via said on-line connection;
storing a first portion of said information onto a first portable storage medium via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection; and
storing a second portion of said information onto a second portable storage medium via said virtual document root which emulates said document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
30. The computer system of claim 29 wherein said processor is further adapted to perform the step of:
prompting said end-user to switch from using said first portable storage medium to using said second portable storage medium when information requested by said end-user resides on said second portable storage medium instead of said first portable
storage medium.
31. A method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system comprising the steps of:
storing from a first computer system, onto portable storage media, information configured to be displayed via an on-line connection;
arranging said information on said portable storage media, wherein off-line accessing of said information emulates on-line accessing of said information such that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner
as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection;
loading said information from said portable storage media into a second computer system, wherein off-line accessing of said information from said second computer system emulates on-line accessing of said information from said first computer such
that linked information can be accessed in said off-line environment in the same manner as said linked information would be accessed via said on-line connection;
storing a first portion of said information onto a first portable storage medium via a virtual document root which emulates a document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection; and
storing a second portion of said information onto a second portable storage medium via said virtual document root which emulates said document root of said information when accessed via said on-line connection.
32. The method for transporting a Web site, via portable storage media, from one computer system to another computer system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of storing information onto portable storage media further comprises the step
of:
prompting said end-user to switch from using said first portable storage medium to using said second portable storage medium when information requested by said end-user resides on said second portable storage medium instead of said first portable
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Description |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to a client-server wide area network environment such as the World Wide Web. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for generating a Web-site on storage media such that the Web-site
is accessible to users without accessing the Internet.
BACKGROUND ART
The proliferation of the Internet, in particular the World Wide Web (hereinafter the Web), makes a large amount of information accessible to anyone connected to the Internet. In order to access the Internet, a user typically subscribes to an
on-line service provider. Using, for example, a modem coupled to a computer, the user contacts the service provider who, in turn, connects the user to the Internet. Once the user is coupled to the Internet, the user is said to be "on-line" (a user who
is not on-line is referred to as being "off-line"). When on-line, the user is able to access numerous resources available through conduits such as, for example, the Web.
The Web consists, generally, of voluminous "sites". Various Web sites contain information of virtually innumerable type, style, and content. Web sites are often comprised of a plurality of Web documents referred to as Web pages. In general,
the layout language for a Web document is Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Web documents are stored in HTML format in association with "server" software on remote servers. A Web document is given a "Uniform Resource Locator" (URL) which is essentially
an address path identifying the server which hosts the desired document plus the location of the document on the server. Using "browser" software, an end-user can send a request from a client computer to access a document stored at a particular URL.
Browser software such as Netscape.TM. Navigator, of Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif., is well known and widely available. When the server receives the user's request, it sends the requested HTML Web document to the client
where the document can be displayed. The communications protocol used in making such a request and in transferring Web documents is "Hypertext Transfer Protocol" (HTTP). For more information about the Web, see for example T. Berners-Lee, R. Cailliau,
A. Loutonen, H. F. Nielsen, and A. Secret, "The World Wide Web," Communications of the ACM, vol. 37(8), August 1994.
As a theoretical example of a Web site, consider a particular business, Business A, having a Web site dedicated expressly to providing information about Business A. Business A's Web site may contain an introductory Web page describing the general
technologies and product areas in which Business A is involved. The introductory Web page may also contain links to other Web pages related to Business A. For example, the introductory Web page may have a link to a separate Web page disclosing financial
aspects, such as the annual report, stock price history, and the like, of Business A. By selecting the link, the linked Web page is sent to the client computer and displayed to the end user. Thus, a user initially contacting Business A's introductory
Web page may discover various other information about Business A by virtue of the linked nature of the Web.
Although a linked Web document is probably related to the original Web document, the linked Web document may reside separately from the original Web document. That is, the linked Web document may reside in a directory which is physically
separate from the directory in which the original Web document is stored. In fact, the linked Web document may even reside in a computer or in hardware separate from the computer or hardware in which the original Web document is stored. Therefore,
multiple Web documents may be linked even when the Web documents are not stored contiguously or even proximately. Separate storage of linked Web documents may result from the fact that a particular storage device does not have the capacity to contain
all of the linked documents, or from the fact that a collection of linked web documents are maintained and/or owned by another individual and/or company.
Although on-line Web sites have substantial utility as information providers in both personal and professional environments, on-line access is not available to many potential end-users. For example, in government or high security environments,
computing terminals are "quarantined" or isolated from the outside world. In such instances, on-line access is not available or is prohibited. Additionally, on-line access is often simply not feasible for any one of numerous reasons. For example, an
end-user's hardware/computer system may not be adapted for on-line use, or may operate too slowly to effectively convey information to the end-user over an on-line connection. Likewise, if an end-user's client computer is located very distantly from the
server system, on-line access may be prohibitively slow. As yet another example, during peak Internet or on-line use periods, response from the server system may be so greatly delayed as to render on-line retrieval of information impractical.
Thus, a need exists for a system which allows end-users to access Web site information, or other types of information commonly presented in an on-line manner, when the end-user is off-line. A further need exists for a system in which an off-line
end-user can access linked information even when the linked information is so voluminous as to necessitate storage on multiple storage devices. Still another need exists for a system in which an off-line end-user accesses information in a manner which
emulates on-line retrieval of the information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system which allows end-users to access Web site information, or other types of information commonly presented in an on-line manner, when the end-user is off-line. The present invention also provides
a system in which an off-line end-user can access linked information even when the linked information is so voluminous as to necessitate storage on multiple storage devices. The present invention further provides a system in which an off-line end-user
accesses information in a manner which emulates on-line retrieval of the information. The present invention achieves the above accomplishments with a portable, off-line, Web site delivery mechanism.
Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, information initially configured to be displayed via an on-line connection is stored onto a plurality of portable storage media. The portable storage media is adapted to be used by an
end-user in an off-line environment. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the information is arranged on the plurality of storage media such that off-line accessing of the information emulates on-line accessing of the information. That is, in the
present invention, information is presented to an off-line end-user in a manner which emulates the manner in which the same information would have been presented to the end-user in an on-line environment. In one embodiment, the present invention stores
Web site information onto the plurality of portable storage media. In so doing, an off-line end-user is able to access conventional Web site information in a manner which emulates typical on-line retrieval of the Web site information.
Other advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system used as a part of a portable, off-line Web site delivery mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a logical diagram of the components used to deliver or access web documents via a virtual document root in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of steps employed to support the virtual document root in a portable, offline Web site delivery mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be
understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure
aspects of the present invention.
Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions and
representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In the present application, a procedure, logic block, process, etc., is conceived to be
a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic
signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols,
characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent
from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as "searching," "retrieving," "prompting," "displaying," or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or
similar electronic computing device. The computer system or similar electronic computing device manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly
represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission, or display devices. The present invention is also well suited to the use of other computer systems such as, for example,
optical and mechanical computers.
Computer System Environment of One Embodiment of the Present Invention
With reference now to FIG. 1, portions of the present portable, off-line Web site delivery mechanism are comprised of computer-readable and computer-executable instructions which are installed into and reside in, for example, computer-usable
media of a computer system. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computer system 100 used as a part of a portable, off-line Web site delivery mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It is appreciated that system 100 of FIG. 1
is exemplary only and that the present invention can operate within a number of different computer systems.
System 100 of FIG. 1 includes an address/data bus 102 for communicating information, and a central processor unit 104 coupled to bus 102 for processing information and instructions. System 100 also incudes data storage features such as a
computer usable volatile memory 106, e.g. random access memory (RAM), coupled to bus 102 for storing information and instructions for central processor unit 104, computer usable non-volatile memory 108, e.g. read only memory (ROM), coupled to bus 102 for
storing static information and instructions for the central processor unit 104, and a data storage device 110 (e.g., a magnetic or optical disk and disk drive) coupled to bus 102 for storing information and instructions. A signal input output comm
device 112 (e.g. a modem) coupled to bus 102 is also included in system 100 of FIG. 1. System 100 of the present portable, off-line Web site delivery mechanism also includes an optional alphanumeric input device 114 including alphanumeric and function
keys is coupled to bus 102 for communicating information and command selections to central processor unit 104. System 100 also optionally includes a cursor control device 116 coupled to bus 102 for communicating user input information and command
selections to central processor unit 104. System 100 of the present embodiment also includes an optional display device 118 coupled to bus 102 for displaying information.
Display device 118 of FIG. 1, utilized with the present portable, off-line Web site delivery mechanism, may be a liquid crystal device, cathode ray tube, or other display device suitable for creating graphic images and alphanumeric characters
recognizable to an end-user. Optional cursor control device 116 allows the computer user to dynamically signal the two dimensional movement of a visible symbol (cursor) on a display screen of display device 118. Many implementations of cursor control
device 116 are known in the art including a trackball, mouse, touch pad, joystick or special keys on alphanumeric input device 114 capable of signaling movement of a given direction or manner of displacement. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that a
cursor can be directed and/or activated via input from alphanumeric input device 114 using special keys and key sequence commands. The present invention is also well suited to directing a cursor by other means such as, for example, voice commands.
The following discussion will begin with astructul description of the structure, function, and advantages of the present invention. This general description will then be followed by a more detailed description setting forth specific aspects of
the present invention.
General Description of One Embodiment of the Portable, Off-Line Web Site Delivery Mechanism of the Present Invention
In one embodiment of the present invention, information comprising an entire Web site is stored onto a plurality of compact discs. The stored information includes the information which could be retrieved by an end-user accessing the Web site via
conventional on-line methods. Such information includes, for example, documents which are linked to the Web site. In so doing, information for a particular Web site, previously only accessible to an on-line end-user, is stored on portable, off-line
accessible, storage media. Therefore, the present invention allows an off-line end-user to access the Web site information. Moreover, the present invention allows the off-line end-user to access the Web site information in a manner which emulates
on-line accessing of the Web site. As a result, the off-line end-user is able to access, peruse, and retrieve the Web site information just as if the end-user was coupled to the Web site via an on-line connection.
In the present embodiment, an end-user mounts one or more compact discs into the end-user's computer. The present invention allows the end-user to view the Web site information previously stored on the plurality of compact discs as though the
end-user was accessing the information on-line. In the present embodiment, if the user seeks to access information which is located on a compact disc other than the compact disc
currently loaded in the end-user's computer, the end-user is prompted to load the appropriate compact disc. Once the appropriate compact disc is loaded, the end-user resumes viewing the stored Web site information. The present invention
further allows the end-user to search through the entire contents of the stored Web site regardless of which of the compact discs is currently mounted in the end-user's computer. That is, the search engine for the Web site is operable no matter which
compact disc is mounted. Similarly, in the present invention, a Web browser and Web server are also operable after installation, no matter which compact disc is mounted. In so doing, the present invention further enhances the end-user's perception that
the Web site is being accessed via an on-line connection.
The present invention allows Web site information to be stored and delivered to virtually any off-line, or even on-line, end-user. For example, the present portable, off-line, Web site can be delivered only to paying subscribers. The present
portable, off-line, Web site can be delivered to potential end-users who simply lack access to an on-line connection, or to end- user's who suffer from prohibitively slow on-line access times. As a result, the population of potential end-users is vastly
augmented. Moreover, the present portable, off-line, Web site delivery system allows the content creator (i.e. author of the Web site) to selectively control the type and content of information presented to specific end-users. For example, information
on product prices could be deleted from a portable, off-line, promotional, Web site sent to potential product consumers. Product price information, however, may be expressly included in the portable, off-line, promotional Web site delivered to sales
representatives. Hence, the present invention not only enables delivery of a portable, off-line, Web site, but also enables delivery of a customized portable, off-line, Web site to a chosen population of potential end-users.
The present invention allows the content of a particular portable, off-line, Web site to be customized, while maintaining the same source tree. That is, each portable, off-line, Web site originates from the same source tree of information. In
so doing, the present invention provides for ease of manufacturability and maintains a constant synchronous base of information even between multiple differing sets of portable, off-line, Web sites or fixed on-line web sites. Thus, any updates or
changes to the source tree are available for inclusion on any subsequently created portable, off-line, Web site.
In the present embodiment, a Web site and linked documents are stored on a plurality of compact discs, the present invention is also well suited to storing the Web site and linked documents on a single compact disc. A single compact disc is used
when the entire Web site and linked information does not exceed the 640 megabyte storage capacity of a single compact disc. Also, the present invention is also well suited to storing the Web site and linked documents on other portable storage media such
as, for example, jaz.TM. or zip.TM. drive cassettes (available from Iomega Corporation of Roy, Utah), portable hard disks, floppy disks, and the like. Furthermore, the present invention is also well suited to storing on-line accessible information
other than Web sites onto the portable, off-line accessible, storage media.
Detailed Description of the Portable, Off-Line Web Site Delivery Mechanism of the Present Invention
In the present invention, in order to accommodate the greatest number of potential end-users, the portable, off-line, Web site is structured so that it can be operated by end-users having as little as a single CDROM drive. As a result, support
systems for the present invention cannot execute from any one of the compact discs containing the Web site. That is, the support systems for the present invention must reside other than on the compact discs so that any of the compact discs can be
ejected when so prompted by the present invention. Although the following discussion will assume, for purposes of clarity, that the end-user has only a single CDROM drive, the present invention is also well suited for use by end-users having multiple
CDROM drives or other methods for simultaneously mounting multiple compact discs. Such methods include but are not limited to mounting different compact discs of different computer systems networked together by, for example, a local area network (LAN).
Because it is more likely potential end-users will have spare local disk space than spare CDROM drives, the present invention uses a small amount of local disk space from which to execute. In the | | |
