WO2000062197A1

WO2000062197A1 - System for distributing and processing data in a networked computer structure

Info

Publication number: WO2000062197A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/003327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Binzinger; Joachim GÜNSTER; Reinhard Recklebe
Original assignee: Cariba Internet Technology Ag
Priority date: 1999-04-13
Filing date: 2000-04-13
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: DE19916596A1

Abstract

The inventive system contains a central main computing unit which controls data transmissions using a network from and to the individual computer units of different users. The main computing unit provides the individual computer units with the data which is used by the users to create/process websites. The main computing unit can also make data available to the individual computer units that is used during the processing of websites and/or that is added to the data of a created website which is accessed by a computer unit. The data which is to be processed by the user corresponds to the portion of data on the user website which contains user-specific information concerning the structure and the content of said website. It is possible for the user to incorporate this type of information into a website. Said information includes both graphic and textual information. The inventive system places templates at the disposal of the user which he or she processes, to create a specific, personalised website. The data on the template defines the configuration and the type of reproduction of information which is displayed in a website on a computer unit monitor.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DATA DISTRIBUTION AND PROCESSING IN A NETWORKED COMPUTER STRUCTURE

The invention relates generally to a system and a method for data distribution and processing in a networked computer structure. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and a method for the simplified production of websites for different users of the Internet or similar networks, the websites containing data / information that can be changed individually by each user and containing predetermined data / information, that cannot be changed by users.

Background of the Invention

The invention is described below using the example of users who use a suitable computer system (e.g. personal computer) to connect a network, e.g. use the Internet, in particular to make data in the form of a website available to other users on this network. A web page is to be understood here as a user-specific amount of data that relates, for example, to the user himself or products sold by him, which other users can access, for example in order to visualize them on a computer system connected to the network.

Traditionally, websites are created by users who have their own

Want to make the website available on a network, also created individually using the appropriate auxiliary programs. For this purpose, the websites or the data representing the websites must have a specific format, depending on the network used. For this reason, computer programs are normally used to create websites, which are intended to facilitate the creation of the websites and the required data formats. The operation of these programs, however, requires basic knowledge of dealing with computer systems, which cannot be assumed, in particular, for the users who use the computer systems as pure users.

The websites are created by the individual users with their locally available computer systems. So that on the web If websites can be accessed by other users at any time, the websites must be available on computer systems that make the websites available to other users at all times, since the computer systems of the individual users who want to make a website available are usually only temporarily are in operation or are only temporarily connected to the network for data transmission. The web pages are therefore transferred from the users' computers to central computer units which are in continuous operation and which can be accessed at any time via the network. So that a user can change or update websites stored in the central computer units, it is necessary for the corresponding user to transfer his website from a central computer unit to his own computer system in order to edit the website there using suitable programs. The website is then retransmitted from the user's computer to the central processing unit. For this, at least the changed data of a website must be transmitted to the central computer unit under the control of the respective user. An automated processing of websites under the control of a central computer unit or a computer system of a user is currently not possible.

If individual websites are to be made available for different users which have the same or partially the same data for all users, it has hitherto been necessary for each of the users to create his or her own website. Only if different users want to use completely identical websites, only one website has to be created which can be accessed using cross-references via the network. Furthermore, websites that do not have the same data are currently accessed under the control of an individual user computer system or a central computer unit in such a way that the same data of these websites are at least partially changed or updated. At the moment this can only be achieved by each user of these websites making the desired changes to the website themselves. Central control and monitoring whether the desired changes have been made on the website is therefore not necessary.

Access keys are currently used to enable access to conventional websites for certain users and not for others. It is necessary for the accessing user to know the appropriate access key for the respective website and to whom the website is made available. lender computer system transmitted to obtain permission to access the websites. There is currently no possibility on the part of the user making a website available to define the users who are allowed to access the website without having to make access keys available to the corresponding users. Furthermore, no computer system for websites is currently known in which the access options to specific data of a website can be selectively determined for specific users by the user making the website available, in order to enable these users to access the website in principle, but prevent access to certain data on the website. Likewise, none are currently

Websites are used that, in addition to the data that all users can access, are supplemented by data that are only intended for certain users who access the websites.

So-called electronic messages (e.g. email) are normally used to send information about a network to other users of the network. In this way, websites or parts of them can also be sent as long as they are not complex. The recipients of the websites sent are visually provided with the websites, but access to the websites or to the functionalities offered by the websites, e.g. Cross references to access to other websites (so-called "links") is not possible in this way. That Conventionally sent websites are not immediately available to the receiving users in their "web presence", ie as they would be available to a user with direct access. In addition, it would be advantageous not only to send web pages to specific users in a targeted manner, as is currently possible with electronic messages, but to automatically forward the web pages from the specific users receiving the web pages to other users.

Another problem arises when websites are to be used for different users and the websites used have to have at least partially identical data for all users which cannot be changed by the users. Since the websites have so far been created individually for each user, it is not possible to check the data of a website and to specify certain non-changeable data of a website. The present invention is intended to overcome the problems and bottlenecks in the field described above. In particular, the invention is intended to simplify the creation, modification and / or updating of websites for individual users. Furthermore, the invention is intended to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted for processing web pages, with it being preferred that increased data security is also achieved with such a data transmission.

Another object of the invention is to make predetermined changes automatically on different websites. Such changes should be specified and carried out under the control of an individual user and / or a central computer unit. Furthermore, these changes should be made at any time, i.e. at certain times and / or at regular intervals.

In addition, the invention is intended to provide websites for different users that have at least partially identical information. Preferably, this identical information cannot be changed, at least in part, by the different users of the website.

These objects of the invention are achieved by a system according to claim 1 and by methods according to claim 13 and according to claim 25.

The system according to the invention for data distribution and processing in a networked computer structure comprises a central host unit, e.g. a server or computer cluster, for controlling the system, a large number of computer units that are locally available to different users and are used for receiving, processing and sending data, and a network that connects the main computer unit and the individual computer units and enables data transmission between them. A first computer unit accesses first data that define a first group, the at least one

Computing units include. Using the first data, the first computer unit sends a first data set and second data to the first group, which define a second group of computer units that is at least partially different from the first group. Furthermore, the second data received by the first computer unit is accessed with the aid of the computer units of the first group, so as to send a second amount of data to the second group independently of the first computer unit, where for each second quantity of data sent by the computer units of the first group comprises at least a part of the first quantity of data received by the first computer unit. Thus, all of the data sets sent by the first computer unit and the computer units of the first and second groups have data which are contained in all data sets or are identical.

In this way it is possible not only to send data, for example in the form of websites, directly to desired users, but also to automatically send the websites to other desired users using the computer units of the desired users. In this case, the amount of data sent reflects the website and is the same. In addition, websites can be created for different users with at least partially identical data in this way, with the data of the data sets contained in all the data sets sent corresponding to the identical data in all web pages. Since the data is not sent directly to all users, but gradually via a first group of computer units to a second group of computer units, all websites of the users of the computer units have, in addition to the identical data, also data which are individually defined by the respective users of the computer units sending the data - can be renated.

Preferably, third data defining a third group of computer units is sent to the second group using a computer unit of the first group. Here, the third group comprises at least one computer unit and differs at least partially from the first and the second group. By means of the computer units of the second group, a third amount of data is sent to the third group using the third data independently of the first group of computer units. Each of the third data sets preferably comprises at least a part of the received first data set and at least a part of the respectively obtained second data set. Thus, all of the data sets sent by the first computer unit and the computer units of the first, second and third group have data which are contained in all data sets or are identical.

In this way it is possible not only to send data, for example in the form of websites, directly to desired users, but also to send the websites to one using the computer units of the desired users A large number of desired users can be automatically sent indirectly via several computer units. In this way too, websites can be generated for different users with at least partially identical data, with the data of the data quantities contained in all the data quantities sent corresponding to the data identical in all websites. In addition to identical data, the data sent by the computer units of the different groups, for example websites, also have data that can be individually defined by the respective users of the computer units sending the data.

These identical data of the websites can also be data that are used to create and / or edit websites and / or support the user in creating and / or editing websites. In this case, so-called templates are preferably sent as the data contained / identical in all data quantities. Templates are to be understood as data forms / data masks which are made available to the individual users who create / edit such a website on corresponding local computer units and which are used to define the respective user-specific data of the corresponding websites. In addition to individual data, the websites created / edited by means of a template also have data which are identical for all such websites and are essentially defined by means of the template.

The invention thus enables users who have little or no experience in dealing with computer systems and the computer programs used with them, but nevertheless want to create a website, to create their own websites with user-defined data by providing the users with templates. The templates will be offered to the individual users on their locally available computer systems as text and / or graphic data. These templates have data that cannot be changed by the user, for example graphical symbols, and data that determine the arrangement of the data of a template when it is visualized on a screen of a computer system or specify the manner in which the data is used by a user the website created using the template can be displayed graphically (e.g. colors, fonts). In addition to this specified data, which determine the basic appearance of a website created with such a template, dialog-guided data can be individually entered by the user, which together with the predefined data can be combined into a website for the respective user. Depending on the user-specific requirements and / or knowledge of dealing with computer systems, the data entered by a user can include text data, graphic data and / or acoustic data. The input of the user-specific data can be carried out in any known manner, for example using a keyboard, a computer mouse, a light pen and / or by voice input.

In one embodiment of the invention, the identical data contained in all data sets is not locally available in the first computer unit, but is obtained with access to data from the main computer unit. These data of the main computer unit are preferably also suitable for creating and / or editing websites and are ideally available in the form of the above-mentioned templates. For example, a user of the first computer unit also supports the creation and / or editing of websites by means of the centrally available templates. In addition, centrally available templates such as can be easily updated and checked by a network operator (provider).

Furthermore, the amount of data or at least one of them

Have data that can only be read and sent unchanged by a receiving computer unit. This ensures that, for example, when creating and / or editing websites, only websites can result for the respective user which, in addition to the individual user-specific data, have predefined, unchangeable data. This is useful, for example, for websites that all have the same company-specific appearance and should also have employee-specific information. Since the unchangeable, specified data cannot be edited / changed by the individual users, it is not necessary to check whether the individual websites of the users also have the specified, desired data. In addition, websites for different users can be changed in the same way for all websites without the respective user-specific data of the individual websites being changed / edited, since the data required for the website change is not direct, but in stages using the individual locally available computer units Users are sent. Here, the number of websites that have the unchangeable data from the Computer unit is determined, which sends a quantity of data having the unchangeable data.

In order to ensure that all computer units receive data that are contained / identical in all data volumes that are sent on, it is preferable that the data that can only be read and sent unchanged correspond to the data contained / identical in all data volumes. This is e.g. an advantage if the identical / contained data in all data quantities are sent in the form of templates. Every user is guaranteed to have identical templates e.g. for creating and / or editing websites, whereby each user receives the same support in creating and / or editing a website and / or all websites created and / or edited in this way have at least partially the same appearance and preferably the same website .

To e.g. To make the data of a network operator available to all users and / or to create and / or edit websites using services of a network operator available over the network, it is preferred that a computer unit is provided with data by the main computer unit that the computer unit in the amount of data sent by it on. In particular, the data of the main computer unit can include data for creating and / or editing a website, preferably data in the form of templates.

To automate data under control of the main processing unit in one

To embed the amount of data sent to the computer unit, in one embodiment of the invention such data is sent from the main computer unit to one and / or more computer units. When the computer unit (s) sends a data quantity according to the invention, these data quantities also include the data sent by the main computer unit.

In order that all computing units receive such data sent by the main computing unit as quickly as possible, it is preferable that the computing unit (s) receiving the data sent by the main computing unit sends a comprehensive amount of data upon receipt. It is also possible that the data sent by the main computer unit correspond to the identical / contained data in all the amounts of data sent. This ensures that all computer units receive the data from the main computer unit.

This makes it possible to create and / or edit websites that have data that are identical for all generated websites using the transferred data quantities. For example, websites with an at least partially identical appearance and / or website can be made available in this way.

In the method according to the invention for data distribution and processing in a system according to the invention, a first computer unit, a first and a second group of computer units are defined, a first amount of data and data indicating the second group of computer units are sent from the first computer unit to the computer units of the first group and the Data sent by the first computer unit are received by the computer units of the first group, which, using the data specifying the second group of computer units, send a second data set to the computer units of the second group independently of the first computer unit, the second data quantity comprising at least part of the includes the first amount of data. For example, all amounts of data sent contain data that are contained in the data groups or are identical.

In addition, a third group of computer units can be defined by means of a computer unit of the first group, and the data specifying the second amount of data and the third group are sent from the computer unit of the first group to the computer units of the second group. The computer units of the second group receive the data sent by the computer unit of the first group and, using the data indicating the third group of computer units, send a third amount of data to the computer units of the third group independently of the computer unit of the first group. The third quantity of data preferably comprises at least a part of the first quantity of data from the first computer unit and at least part of the respectively received second quantity of data from the computer unit of the second group, so that all data quantities sent have data which are contained in the data groups or are identical. The data which are identical / contained in all data sets preferably include data for creating and / or editing a website.

In addition, it is possible to send the data identical / contained in all data quantities by the first computer unit accessing the main computer unit before sending the first data quantity in order to obtain the data identical / contained in all data quantities.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the amounts of data are sent in such a way that data is sent that can only be read and sent unchanged by a received computer unit.

In this way, the data that can only be read and sent unchanged can correspond to the data that is identical / contained in all data quantities.

To e.g. To make data and / or templates made available centrally by a network operator usable for different users of the computing units via the network, the corresponding computing unit can access the main computing unit before sending a data amount

Send amount of data that includes data provided by the host unit.

In particular, when creating and / or editing a website, one and / or more computer units should access data from the main computer unit that are used to create and / or edit a website.

If data predefined centrally by the main computer unit are to be incorporated into a quantity of data to be sent, it is preferred that the main computer unit sends further data to the corresponding computer unit before a data quantity is sent and then the computer unit sends a data quantity which transmits the further data to the main computer unit includes.

If all computer units are to receive data provided centrally by the computer unit, the further data sent by the main computer unit should correspond to the data identical / contained in all data quantities. In this way, a website can then be created and / or edited using a received amount of data, for example by means of a template. In this way, websites can be made available that at least partially have the same appearance and / or website.

Should e.g. Web pages are made available that should only partially be individually designed by the individual users of the computer units, data is sent in the amounts of data that cannot be changed by the users when creating and / or editing a web page.

In particular, websites can be created and / or edited with the system according to the invention and / or made available via a network if a computer program is used in the inventive manner to create and / or edit a desired website of a user of a computer unit and the User enters individual, specific data for the website into the computer program. The user-specific data are integrated into a template provided by the computer program for generating the website and the website is made available using the template with the user-specific data.

The use of a template supports the user in creating and / or editing one, preferably his individual website. In the simplest case, the data entered by the user are entered using a questionnaire, which is preferably provided by the computer program, in order to obtain a uniform system for entering user-defined data and for generating web pages. But it is also possible to use separate programs for data entry and website creation.

So that the respective user can assess the website he has created and / or edited, the website can be made available to the user on a local computer system of the user, for example on a monitor, before it is made available to other users via the network. This ensures that the user only makes websites previously assessed by him available to other users, and reduces the data transfer required to create and / or edit a website, since the websites are first made available locally only to the respective users. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer program is on a local computer system of the user who wants to create and / or edit a website. This has the advantage that the user can create and / or edit websites over the network even without data exchange. A website generated in this way can, if it corresponds to the wishes of the user, subsequently be offered to other users via the network.

So that each user can use current computer programs to create and / or edit websites and / or do not have to have a corresponding computer program on a local computer unit, it is also possible to run the computer program from a central main computer unit and / or another local, preferably higher-level Transfer computer unit to the local computer unit of the user creating and / or editing the website.

In addition, it is preferable that the computer program is present in the central main computer unit and / or in the other local computer unit and can be used to generate websites under the control of these. In this way, only the data required to generate the user-defined website must be transmitted over the network, which corresponds to the user-defined data of the website or differentiates the website from other websites created with the computer program.

If each website created and / or edited with the template has data that are at least partially identical for all websites, websites can be created for different users and made available via the network that at least partially have the same appearance and / or the same website to have.

In order to ensure that websites of different users at least partially have the same appearance and / or the same website, the computer program provides templates in which the desired data cannot be changed by the respective user. This means that the identical data of the different website are predefined centrally and cannot be changed by the user. If the identical data of the different websites is changed by means of the main computer unit and / or the other local, preferably higher-level computer unit, centrally specified changes can be made on all such websites. It is not necessary for the users of the different websites to make the changes, for example using the computer program, since the changes are carried out automatically for the websites. Control of individual websites with regard to their desired appearance and / or website is therefore not necessary.

If the data which is identical for all of the web pages according to the invention are on the local computer units of the users, the required data transfer via the network is reduced since only the different data of the web pages, preferably the respective user-specific data, have to be transmitted.

However, it is also possible for the data, which are identical for all websites according to the invention, to be present on the main computer unit and / or on the other local, preferably superordinate, computer unit. In this way, the identical data can easily be changed centrally in order to be integrated into the different websites when they are created.

If the data which are identical for all of the web pages according to the invention are available on all computer units, the identical data need only be transmitted in the event of changes. This reduces the data transfer required over the network in cases where no changes need to be made. When and how often changes to the identical data are made and carried out for the web pages depends on the various applications of the invention.

To give users who create and / or edit websites access to others, e.g. To enable web pages not according to the invention in a simple manner without the use of further computer programs, the computer program can additionally be designed in such a way that users are given access to any web pages available via the network.

If a user accesses any website, ie websites that are not according to the invention, it is no longer guaranteed that centrally specified and / or centrally changeable data, for example data comparable to the above-mentioned identical data, is provided to the user on a local computer system. be made available since websites that are not created and / or edited according to the invention and / or are not made available via the network according to the invention do not necessarily have centrally specified and / or centrally changeable data. This can be achieved if the computer program provides the user with the desired data independently of a web page that is accessed by a user, which data can only be changed by the user in a manner predetermined by the computer program. These data are preferably specified and / or changed centrally, for example by the main computer unit and / or another local, preferably higher-level computer unit. The desired data are reproduced, for example, on a monitor of a local computer unit of a user of the computer program in a frame (for example a graphic frame or window) which surrounds the respective website used by the user.

If the desired data is available on a local computer unit of a user using the computer program, the data transfer via the network is reduced since the desired data does not have to be transmitted over the network in order to make it available to the user. A transfer of the desired data is only necessary for centrally specified changes.

If, for example, the desired data are complex and / or have to be changed frequently, it is preferable that the desired data is present on a main computer unit and / or on another, preferably higher-level computer unit.

If the desired data are present on a local computer unit of a user, on a main computer unit and on another, preferably higher-level computer unit, there are further advantages in addition to the advantages mentioned in the last two paragraphs. For example, it is not necessary for the main computer unit and / or the other, preferably higher-level computer unit to access the local user computer unit in order to check the desired data and / or before changes are made.

Thus, the invention allows not only to simplify the creation of websites, but also to change and update websites more easily. Since templates are used according to the invention when creating websites, When changing a website, only the data portion of this website to be changed has to be changed. This means that data on a website that changes in short time intervals, for example hourly or daily, can be updated in a simple manner. It does not matter whether these changes are made by the corresponding users themselves or by a computer system that controls these changes.

Even when other users access websites, the invention can reduce the amount of data to be transmitted if the accessing users have a template according to the invention available on the locally available computer systems. In this case too, only the user-specific data portion of a website has to be transferred. This also increases the security of data transfers over a network, since only certain data are transferred and unauthorized persons cannot access the entire amount of data on a website.

The templates according to the invention not only have advantages when creating and modifying websites, but can also be used to create websites for a group of users that have a uniform basic structure and contain specific data for each user of this group. For example, companies can provide websites that have a specific appearance for the company and have information about the employee of the company for whom the respective website is intended. The use of templates here ensures that company-specific data on a website cannot be changed by different users, which ensures a uniform company-specific appearance of the website. In addition, when using a template for different users, the basic appearance of the websites of these users can be changed easily and in a controlled manner by changing the template used. For example, company-specific changes to the basic appearance of a website can be carried out uniformly for all employees of the company.

Furthermore, the use of templates allows data areas of a website to be defined which can neither be changed by a user, nor which comprise the unchangeable data of a template mentioned above. To this In this way, further data can be made available on such a website, these further data preferably being updated continuously. This further data includes stock exchange listings, traffic reports, advertising and news information in text and images. It does not matter whether this additional data comes from a local user computer system, a central computer unit of a network or other devices that provide data. As long as the further data are available in a suitable format, the invention combines these with the user-specific and the specified data of a template to form a website.

In addition, the invention allows websites to be made available to different users in a manner comparable to the sending of an electronic message (email). This means that a website no longer has to be accessed by a user in a conventional manner if the user wishes to use the information on the website. Using the invention, websites can be specifically sent to users who are known to need the information on the website and / or to whom the information on the website is to be made available. In contrast to conventional electronic messages (email), according to the invention, websites can be made available not only directly but also indirectly to different users. For this purpose, a website or part of a website is made available to a first group of users and at least one user of the first group makes the website or part of the website available to a second group of users. The second group of users can be defined by the user who originally made the website available and / or by users of the first group. A website or part of a website can thus be made available to a significantly larger number of users, since the user initially providing the website does not have to know all the users who want to access the website. Furthermore, it is possible for a user of the first group, who makes the website available to users of the second group, to change and / or supplement changeable data of the website individually. This can be used, for example, by companies that use hierarchical sales structures and want to provide different information depending on the hierarchy level of different users. Since a website is made available to the second group of users under the control of users from the first group, not only the information or parts of the information of the initially provided website can be made available to the second group of users, but also information, defined by users in the first group and added to the website. It is preferred that the user who initially made the website available does not receive any feedback about the information that was added to the initially made website and / or about the users of the second group who change the website - provided in a changed or unchanged form. In this way, the invention increases security when transmitting information from websites over a network. For example, if a company that sells and sells products from another company receives product offers in the form of websites, the company can supplement the website with additional information of its own, such as prices, delivery times. Since the supplying company does not receive any feedback about the information added to the website and / or customers who use the supplemented website, the confidentiality of company-internal data, which is customary in business, is guaranteed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below, reference being made to the attached figures.

Brief description of the figures

1 shows a schematic representation of a computer structure for carrying out an embodiment of the invention. 2 shows a further computer structure for carrying out an embodiment of the invention. 3 shows a further computer structure for carrying out an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows schematic views of an “empty” template according to the invention and a website created with the template.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

A networked computer structure, as shown in FIG. 1, is used to produce a website in accordance with the invention. This computer structure represents the simplest arrangement of networked computer systems for implementing the invention. Computer units RE1, RE2, RE3, RE4 are connected via a network N to a main computer unit HRE. The network N can be any type of network that enables transfers of any data between the computer units RE and the main computer unit HRE. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, network N at least partially includes the Internet. The computer units RE are computer units or computer systems that are available locally to corresponding users, such as personal computers and network computers for the Internet. The main computing unit HRE is a central computing unit present in the system, which controls data transmissions over the network N from and to the individual computing units RE. The main computer unit HRE is to be understood as meaning both individual computer systems, for example operating as servers, and one or more connected groups of servers, so-called "Güster". The main computing unit HRE provides the individual computing units RE with the data that are used for processing websites by users of the computing units RE. Furthermore, the main computing unit HRE can save created websites and make them available to accessing computing units RE. Since the main computing unit HRE preferably works continuously, web pages created are thus available to computing units RE which can be accessed at any time. Web pages stored by the main computing unit HRE can then also be accessed by other computing units and / or computing systems, not shown in FIG. 1, which are connected via network N and / or other networks to the computing structure shown in FIG. 1 for data transmission . In addition, the main computing unit HRE can make data available to the individual computing units RE, which are used in the processing of websites and / or are added to the data of a created website which is accessed by a computing unit RE.

To create or edit a website, a user provides one of the

Computer units RE, for example the computer unit RE1, establish a connection to the main computer unit HRE via the network N using a computer program available locally for the computer unit RE1. This connection is preferably established automatically when the user of the computer unit RE1 puts it into operation, thereby creating an extremely user-friendly computer system. The user then informs the computer unit RE1 of the main computer unit HRE that he is creating a website and / or want to edit. The main computer unit HRE then sends data for creating / editing a website to the computer unit RE1.

The main computer unit HRE preferably sends a computer program for creating / editing web pages to the computer unit RE1. In this way, the amount of data to be transmitted via the network N is reduced when a website is generated / processed and increased data transmission security is achieved. However, it is also possible for the main computer unit HRE to execute a computer program for creating / editing websites, with data being transferred to the computer unit RE1, being processed by it and being transferred back to the main computer unit HRE. In addition, a website according to the invention can also be created using a computer program provided locally by the computer unit RE1, which the user of the computer unit RE1 e.g. received or acquired by an operator of the network or the main computer unit HRE. In this case too, only the user-specific data of a website and / or changed data have to be transmitted to the main computer unit HRE via the network.

Regardless of whether a program for creating / editing websites is executed by the main computing unit HRE or the computing unit RE1, data is made available to the corresponding user using the computing unit RE1 under control of the website program, which the user processes to create / edit a website . These data are preferably visualized on a monitor of the computer unit RE1 and processed by the user using a keyboard of the computer unit RE1. However, it is also possible to make this data available to the user using acoustic reproduction devices or printers. The processing of the data made available by the user can also be carried out using voice input devices or graphic input means (e.g. computer mouse, light pen).

The data to be processed by the user correspond to that part of the data of the user's website which contains user-specific information about the design and content of the website. Depending on the type of program used to create / edit websites, this information relates at least to the name and address of the respective user. In addition, it is possible to put any type of information into one by the user Embed website, this includes text information as well as graphic information. The extent to which a user can integrate user-specific data into a website is controlled by the website program and can be determined depending on various factors. These factors include the transmission capacity of the network N, the computing power of the computing units RE and / or the main computing unit HRE, the type of access authorization of a user to the main computing unit HRE, user-specific requirements and individual experiences of a user in dealing with computer systems. In the simplest case, the computer program for website editing provides the user with a questionnaire which defines the user-specific data, for example the name and address of the user, and / or the user-specific appearance of the website, for example colors, background patterns, graphic symbols and characters become.

If the processing of the data provided by the website program has been completed by the user, it is preferable that the website program automatically and / or under the control of the user provides the user with a view of the created / edited website directly on the monitor of the computer unit RE1 . In this way, the website can be checked by the user who created it, before the website or that for generating a website according to the invention is transmitted to the main computer via the network and made accessible to other users. For this purpose, the user-specific data and the data that were defined by the website program as not changeable by the user are combined to form a website specific to this user. The appearance of the website generated and reproduced in this way has at least one user-specific area and at least one area defined by the website program, it being possible for all areas of the website to contain text information and graphic information.

If the user is not satisfied with the website created, he must repeat the steps described above for creating / editing the website. If the user is satisfied with the website created, he uses the computer unit RE1 to notify the main computer unit HRE of making the website he has created available to other computer units RE on the network N. For this purpose, the created website is preferably stored by the main computer unit HRE so that other computer units RE can access it at any time Website. The host computer unit HRE preferably stores such websites itself, but it is also possible to store such websites in any storage devices connected to the network N, which are preferably continuously in operation.

As described above, so-called templates are made available to a user who wants to create a website, which the user processes in order to create a website specific to him. A template corresponds to an "empty" website, i.e. a website without user-specific information. The user-specific data entered by the user is added to the data which reproduce a template in order to generate a user-specific website. 4 shows an "empty" website, which was only generated using the data of the template, and a user-specific website, which, in addition to the data of the template, also has the user-specific data. The data of the template define the arrangement and the way information is displayed on a website displayed on a monitor. To an extent specified by the website program, a user can edit this data in order to individually change the arrangement and type of reproduction of information on a website and to supplement user-specific information. As described above, in the simplest case this can be done by answering a questionnaire that is made available to the user by the website program.

The use of templates for the creation / editing of websites allows certain user groups, for example users who belong to a company, to make websites on the network N available which have an essentially identical appearance when displayed on a monitor of an accessing computer unit and have essentially the same information. FIG. 2 shows a possible computer structure for users with so-called group-specific websites. The individual users of the computer units RE1, RE21, ..., RE31, ... of the group are provided with templates by one of the computer units (for example RE1) and / or the main computer unit HRE in the manner described above, which have group-specific data and cannot be changed by individual users. The group-specific data are then supplemented by user-specific data of the individual users and combined to form a website, the information about the group and about the individual user of the website having. The use of group-specific templates allows changes to be made easily and in a controlled manner on all websites of the users of this group. For this purpose, a user of this group, who is authorized to make changes to the group-specific template, creates a new group-specific template with a corresponding computer unit, for example computer unit RE1. A new group-specific template is preferably created in the manner described for the creation / editing of websites in general above. The authorized user accesses a general template and supplements it with group-specific information. Furthermore, the authorized user defines which information of the template can and can not be changed by the users of the group. The changed group-specific template is preferably automatically integrated into all websites of the users of this group under the control of the main computing unit HRE, which ensures that the desired changes are carried out automatically in all the websites concerned. The forwarding of the group-specific data, which cannot be changed by the individual computer units RE1, RE21 RE31, ... is indicated in FIG. 2 by the solid lines which run through all computer units RE1, RE21, ..., RE31, the Group run. The individual users of this group can also change the user-specific information of the respective website, which is then combined with the group-specific data to form a user- and group-specific website. This is indicated by the short lines in the individual computer units RE1, RE21 RE31, ..., which coincide with the lines running through all computer units and indicating the group-specific data. It is preferable in this case that changes to a user and group-specific website of a user made available via the network N cannot be carried out by other users who access the website.

In this way it is possible to integrate identical data into the websites of a large number of different users. This is useful when using company-specific websites, since each user using such websites always receives current data relating to the respective company without having to worry about updating this data. But also in the field of advertising over networks, such as the Internet, the invention can be used to display advertising information not only to be transmitted directly to computer units connected to the main computer unit HRE and / or a higher-level computer unit, for example computer unit RE1, but also to indirectly connected computer units that use the respective template according to the invention and / or access a website according to the invention.

In another embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 3, templates are used to which not only user-specific data can be added, but whose data defining the respective templates can also be edited by a user. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 by the fact that none of the computer units RE1, RE21, RE31,

... running continuous lines are shown. In this case, a group of users of individual computer units RE1, RE21, ..., RE31, ... is enabled to access user-specific websites of this group available via the network N and to edit these websites. The scope of changes to a website that are possible for users of this group is preferably defined by the user whose website is being accessed. If a user accesses a website created by another user, this website serves as a template for the accessing user. The accessing user can thus use the website serving as a template to create / edit his own user-specific website in the manner described above. The user can at least partially change the website individually and supplement it with user-specific information. When editing the website to which the user has accessed, it is possible to change, exclude or accept data unchanged. The processed and the unchanged data are then combined with the user-specific data to form a new user-specific website. In this way, it is possible for users of the invention to create their own user-specific websites and to make them available via the network, which, in addition to their own data, have desired data from a website that is made available by another user via the network N. This means that the user who creates a website can define which "foreign" data is available on his website and which is not.

In contrast to the case of group and user-specific websites described above, it is preferable here that generally applicable changes to the group's websites are made through a centrally implemented change of a template. tes can not be made. However, the invention also makes it possible to provide websites which are centrally changeable group-specific websites which can be accessed for editing users who do not belong to the group of users who make the group-specific websites available. Data that define access rights for different users on websites as well as the type and scope of changes to websites are preferably contained in each website in order to ensure a high degree of data security each time websites are accessed.

The use of templates according to the invention also allows data to be integrated into websites which are changed independently of the respective users under the control of a computer unit RE and / or the main computer unit HRE. Such data are preferably not editable or changeable by the user who creates a website and / or accesses a website. Since such data are part of the data volume of the templates used as the basis for websites, they are available to the accessing users each time they access websites. It is possible to update these data at desired time intervals before accessing corresponding websites and to integrate them into the websites and / or to change these data continuously while accessing a corresponding website, with corresponding data being sent via the network N to the computer unit RE of an accessing user. Examples of such data are stock exchange listings, weather reports, general news, advertising information and database information, but also data that provides functionalities, such as so-called "links", i.e. Cross references e.g. to other websites. These data, which cannot be edited by a user, of a website according to the invention are available to every user accessing the website while accessing the website.

In order to make data available, even while accessing different websites, also not according to the invention, under the control of a computer unit RE and / or the main computer unit HRE in such a way that they cannot be edited and / or changed by users accessing websites, it is necessary not to integrate such data into a template and / or a website according to the invention. In this case, the invention uses a computer program which, in addition to creating and / or editing websites according to the invention, also provides access to any websites via the N network. Data which cannot be changed by users and which are independent of the various websites used are made available to users with the aid of this computer program according to the invention during the entire access to websites. For example, such data are offered on a monitor of a computer system of an accessing user in a graphic frame which surrounds the various websites used. In this way, the accessing user is not only provided with the unchanged form of the different web pages, ie as they were created by the respective users making the web pages available, but also additional data. This data includes, for example, advertising information, traffic news or the like and can be present locally in connection with the computer program according to the invention on the individual computer units RE and / or transmitted from the main computer unit HRE to the individual computer units. Furthermore, under control of the computer program and / or the main computer unit HRE, the data can be changed at desired time intervals in order to offer users updated and / or other data. Here, too, it is preferable that functionalities for accessing other websites and / or other computer systems, for example in the form of "links", are made available to the users by means of this data.

The description of the invention and preferred embodiments are to be understood only as exemplary illustrations. In particular, the selected example of web pages on the Internet does not represent a restriction of the present invention, since the invention can be used in any networked computer structures that enable data processing and data transfers in a simple and efficient manner, allow specific data to be transmitted to desired users, and a to guarantee a high level of data security by defining access rights.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. System for data distribution and processing in a networked computer structure, with: a main computer unit (HRE) for controlling the system,

- A variety of computing units (RE1, RE2, ...) for receiving, processing and sending data, and

- a network (N) for data transmission between the computer units (RE1, RE2, ...) and the main computer unit (HRE), characterized in that - a first computer unit (RE1) is set up and programmed for first data (DG1) access which define a first group (G1) comprising at least one of the computer units (RE11, RE12, ...),

- The first computer unit (RE1) is set up and programmed to use the first data (DG1) to send the first group (G1) a first data set (DM1) and second data (DG2), which is at least one of the Define computer units (RE21, RE22, ...) comprising a second group (G2) which is at least partially different from the first group, and

- The computer units (RE11, Re21, ...) of the first group (G1) are set up and programmed to access the second data (DG2) in order to obtain a second amount of data independently of the first computer unit RE1

(DM21, DM22, ...) to the second group (G2), each second data set (DM21, DM22, ...) comprising at least part of the first data set (DM1), so that each transferred data set (DM1 , DM21, ...) has identical data (DI) that is contained in all data sets (DM1, DM21, ...)

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that

- A computer unit (RE11, RE12, ...) of the first group (G1) is set up and programmed to send third data (DG3) defining a third group (G3) to the second group (G2), the third group (G3) comprises at least one of the computer units (RE31, RE32, ...) and is at least partially different from the first and second groups (G1, G2), and

- The computer units (RE21, RE22, ...) of the second group (G1) are set up and programmed to access the third data (DG3) in order to be independent of the computer units (RE11, RE12, ...) of the first group (G1) to send a third data set (DM31, DM32, ...) to the third group (G2), each third data set (DM31, DM32, ...) at least part of the first data set (DM1) and at least a part of the respectively obtained second amount of data (DM21, DM22, ...), so that each transferred amount of data (DM1, DM21, ..., DM31, ...) has identical data (DI), which in all amounts of data (DM1, DM21,. .., DM31, ...) are included.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data (DI) contained in all data sets (DM1, DM21, ...) contain data (DW) for creating and / or editing a website.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the first computer unit (RE1) is set up and programmed to access data of the main computer unit (HRE) in order to obtain the identical data (DI).

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the transmitted data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...) has data (DRO) which are only read and sent unchanged by a receiving computer unit (RE1, RE2, ...) can be.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein the data (DRO), which can only be read and sent unchanged, correspond to the data (DI) contained in all data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the amount of data sent by a computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) (DM1, DM21, ..., DG2, DG3) comprises data (DH) which are transmitted by the main computer unit ( HRE) are made available.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, in which the data (DH) provided by the main computer unit (HRE) comprise data (DW) for creating and / or editing a website.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of data sent by a computer unit (RE1, RE2, ...) (DM1, DM21, ...) comprises further data (DC) from the main computer unit (HRE) the sending computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) are sent.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, in which the computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) responds to the receipt of the further data (DC) sent by the main computer unit (HRE) in order to produce a data quantity (DM1, DM21, ...) to send, which includes the other data (DC).

11. System according to claim 9 or 10, in which the further data (DC) obtained from the main computer unit (HRE) correspond to the data (DI) contained in all data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...).

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which each website created and / or processed using transferred data quantities (DM1, DM21, ..., DW) has data (DWI) which are identical for all generated websites.

13. Method for data distribution and processing in a system according to one of claims 1 to 12, with the following steps:

- Defining the first computer unit (RE1), the first group (G1) computer units and the second group (G2) computer units,

- Sending the first amount of data (DM1) and the data (DG2), which specify the second group of computing units (G2), from the first computing unit (RE1) to the first group (G1), and

- Receiving the data (DM1, DG2) sent by the first computer unit (RE1) by the first group (G1) and sending the second amount of data (DM21, DM22, ...) by the first group (G1) to the second group ( G2), the transmission from the first group (G1) being carried out independently of the first computer unit (RE1) using the data (DG2) which indicate the second group (G2), and transmission of at least part of the first data set ( DM1) includes, so that sending the data sets (DM1, DM21, ...) includes sending data (DI) that are identical in all data sets.

14. The method according to claim 13 with the following steps:

- Defining the third group (G3) computer units by a computer unit (RE11, RE12, ...) of the first group (G1),

- Sending the second amount of data (DM21, DM22, ...) and data (DG3), which specify the third group (G3), from the computer unit of the first group (G1) to the second group (G2), and - Receiving the data sent by the computer unit of the first group (G1) (DM21, DM22, ..., DG3) by the second group of computer units (G2) and sending the third amount of data (DM3) by the second group (G2) to the third group (G3), the transmission of the second group (G2) independent of the computer unit of the first group (G1) using the data

(DG3) is carried out, which specify the third group (G3), and sending at least part of the first data set (DM1) and at least part of the respectively received second data set (DM21, DM22, ...), so that the Sending the data sets (DM1, DM21, ..., DM31, ...) includes sending data (DI) that are identical in all data sets.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the transmission of the data (DI), which is identical in all data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...), comprises data (DW) for creating and / or editing a website.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first computer unit accesses the main computer unit (HRE) before sending the first data set (DM1) in order to obtain the identical data (DI).

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein at least one transmission of the data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...) comprises a transmission of data (DRO) by a received computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) can only be read and sent unchanged.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data (DRO) that can only be read and sent unchanged correspond to the data (DI) contained in all data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...).

19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the corresponding computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) accesses the main computer unit (HRE) before sending data quantities (DM1, DM21, ..., DG2, DG3) to send amounts of data (DM1, DM21, ..., DG2, DG3) comprising data (DH) of the host unit (HRE).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein when accessing the data (DH) of the main computer unit (HRE), data (DW) of the main computer unit (HRE) are used, which are used to create and / or edit a website.

21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein before sending data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...) the main computer unit (HRE) to the corresponding computer unit (RE1, RE11, ...) further data (DC) receives, which receives a quantity of data (DM1, DM21, ...) on receipt of the further data (DC), which includes the further data (DC) of the main computer unit (HRE).

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the further data (DC) received from the main computer unit (HRE) correspond to the data (DI) contained in all data quantities (DM1, DM21, ...).

23. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, in which a website is created and / or edited using a received amount of data (DM1, DM21, ...).

24. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 23, in which when sending a quantity of data (DM1, DM21, ...) data (DWI) are sent that cannot be changed when creating and / or editing a website.

25. A method for creating and / or editing a website available via a network (N) using the system according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the following steps:

- using a computer program to create and edit the website,

Input of user-specific data for the website into the computer program by a user,

Integrating the user-specific data into a template provided by the computer program for generating the website, and generating the website using the template and the user-specific data.

26. The method according to claim 25, in which the user-specific data are entered using a questionnaire provided by the computer program.

27. The method of claim 25 or 26, wherein the created and / or edited website is made available to the user on a local computer system (RE) of the user using the computer program before it is made available to other users via the network N.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the computer program is on the user's local computer system (RE).

29. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the computer program from a central main computer unit (HRE) and / or another local computer unit (RE) of a user to the local computer unit (RE) of the user creating and / or editing the website is transmitted.

30. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the computer program is present in the central main computer unit (HRE) and / or the other local computer unit (RE).

31. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein each website created and / or edited with the template has data that are at least partially identical for all websites.

32. Method according to one of claims 25 to 31, in which the identical data of the website cannot be changed at least in part by users.

33. Method according to one of claims 25 to 32, in which the identical data of the website can be changed by means of the main computer unit (HRE) and / or the other local computer unit (RE).

34. Method according to one of claims 25 to 33, in which the identical data of the website on the local computer unit (RE) of the user using the computer program and / or on the main computer unit (HRE) and / or on the other local computer unit (RE) available.

35. The method as claimed in one of claims 25 to 34, in which the computer program enables access to any websites available via the network (N).

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, in which the computer program provides the user with desired data independently of a web page which is accessed by a user and can be changed by the user only in a manner predetermined by the computer program.

37. Method according to claim 35 or 36, in which the desired data are present on a local computer unit (RE) of a user using the computer program and / or on the main computer unit (HRE) and / or the other local computer unit (RE).