Internet browsing using a uniform interface

A system for sending and receiving content from at least one server connected to a network, the system comprising:

• an access device connected to said network, including:
• an input device presenting to a user an interface including a numeric touchpad, the numeric touchpad having a plurality of numbered keys that, when selected by the user, cause the access device to request specified classes of information from the at least one server;
• and
• an output device for outputting the specified classes of information that the access device receives;
• and
• a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring the plurality of keys by associating the specified classes of information with particular keys of the plurality of keys.

In an access device connected to a network by a communication link, wherein the network includes a communication link to at least one server, a method of providing the access device with access to information stored at the at least one server in response to selection of keys of a numeric touchpad included in an interface of an input device associated with the access device, the method comprising the acts of:

• displaying an interface to a user on a display device associated with the access device, the interface including a representation of a first numeric touchpad having a configuration that is generally similar to the configuration of a second numeric touchpad included on a telephone associated with the network, the second numeric touchpad causing the telephone to transmit a request to the server for a specified class of information in response to selection of a particular key on the second numeric touchpad;
• at the access device, receiving input in response to a selection of a particular key of the first numeric touchpad that corresponds to the particular key of the second numeric touchpad;
• and
• in response to the received input, transmitting a request from the access device to the at least one server for the specified class of information.

A system for sending and receiving content from at least one server connected to a network, the system comprising:

• an access device connected to said network, including:
• a first input device presenting to a user an interface including a numeric touchpad, the numeric touchpad including a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys being configured generally similar to the configuration of the keys on a numeric touchpad on a touchtone telephone, that when selected by the user, cause the access device to request specified classes of information from the at least one server;
• an output device to output received specified classes of information from the server;
• and
• a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring the plurality of keys by associating the specified classes of information with particular keys of the plurality of keys.

A computer program product for implementing, in an access device included on a network with a communication link to at least one server, a method of providing the access device with access to specific classes of information stored on the at least one server in response to selection of keys of a numeric touchpad included in an interface of an input device associated with the access device, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions that, when executed at the access device, cause the access device to perform the method, including the acts of:
• on a display device associated with the access device, displaying an interface to a user that includes a first numeric touchpad, the first numeric touchpad having a configuration that is generally similar to a configuration of a second numeric touchpad included on a telephone associated with the network, the second touchpad having a particular key that, when selected, causes a request to be transmitted to the server for a specified class of information;
• receiving input selecting a particular key of the first numeric touchpad that corresponds to the particular key of the second numeric touchpad;
• and
• in response to the received input, transmitting a request from the access device to the server for the specified class of information.