Internet service controller with real time status display

A service controller system comprising:

• a plurality of service providers that provide information and content to a plurality of users;
• a proxy multiplexor for each of the plurality of users that receives information and content from the plurality of providers, wherein each proxy multiplexor aggregates the information and content from the plurality of providers for each user;
• and
• an end user control component which continuously receives updated information and content from the proxy multiplexor, wherein each respective provider is represented by an individual icon within the end user component, each individual icon being updated whenever new information is provided from the respective service provider associated with that icon.

A method for displaying content from a plurality of service providers as part of a service control component, comprising:

• receiving from a user a selection of preferences for receiving and displaying the content;
• receiving over a communication network the content from the plurality of service providers in accordance with the preferences;
• and
• displaying the content in accordance with the preferences, wherein at least one of the plurality of service providers is represented in the service control component by a unique icon that includes real time updates comprising at least some of the received content.