A method and apparatus providing network
content distribution using a personal
server approach is disclosed. A receiving
client is provided with a personal
server that can select, aggregate, and organize one or more channels of content in a virtual display space of the
client. Selection, aggregation, and organization information is stored only locally.
Raw data representing content is stored at a logically separate
server across a network. Periodically the personal server requests updated content from the server and stores the content in a local channel
database. The personal server synthesizes or generates one or more electronic documents containing the content, based on user-defined
virtual space specifications and page organization information. The personal server then presents the electronic documents to a browser or other
client element. Unlike past approaches that involve distributing fully formatted content to clients, the personal server can receive
raw data, replace tokens in the
raw data with other content, obtain embedded
channel data, and render pages locally, using a conventional browser, without requiring use of a proprietary viewer, and without sending channel selections and other personal information across the network to an untrusted server.