Information retrieval system for providing downstream loading of remote data and processing control thereof

An information retrieval system comprising a remote information source for remotely continuously transmitting information in a common predetermined format over a common predetermined video signal transmission media;

• and a local selectable purpose variable function terminal operatively connected to said remote information source via said common video signal transmission media for selectably receiving said remotely continuously transmitted information, said remote information source continuously transmitted information comprising continuously transmitted video displayable data and a plurality of continuously transmitted different sets of control instructions for said terminal, said transmitted video displayable data comprising a first plurality of pseudo video scan lines, each of said first plurality of pseudo video scan lines having a television video scan line format and capable of comprising a first complete self-contained packet of digital information sufficient to provide a displayable row of video data characters, each of said sets of control instructions corresponding to a different selectable purpose for said terminal, at least one of said purposes corresponding to control of the processing of said continuously transmitted data for providing a processed video display thereof, said terminal comprising microcomputer means for controlling the operation thereof to process said transmitted data in accordance therewith, said microcomputer means being operatively connected to said video signal transmission media for receiving said remotely continuously transmitted information, said different sets of control instructions comprising different sets of control instructions for said microcomputer means for varying the operation thereof to vary the type of processing of said transmitted data by said terminal in accordance therewith, selection means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for variably selecting said data to be processed for providing said processed display and a first selectable purpose for said terminal for controlling said processing of said data in accordance therewith from a plurality of different selectable purposes for said terminal, said selectable purposes being variable, local storage means for selectably retrievably locally storing both said selected remotely transmitted displayable data and said selected first one of said remotely transmitted selected set of control instructions for said microcomputer means corresponding to said first selected purpose for said terminal, said local storage means being operatively connected to said microcomputer means with at least said selected data storage therein being continuously updateable in response to said remotely continuously transmitted data being updated, said microcomputer means being operable in accordance with said locally stored remotely transmitted selected first one of said selectable sets of control instructions, and video display means operatively connected to said microcomputer means, said microcomputer means selectively enabling said processed video display of said selected remotely continuously transmitted updateable video displayable data, said selected continuously transmitted updateable remotely transmitted video displayable data being processed in said terminal in accordance with said locally stored remotely transmitted selected first one of said selected set of control instructions for providing said processed video display therefrom on said display means, said selection means enabling local storage in said local storage means of a different one of said plurality of remotely transmitted sets of instructions in place of said first one of said locally stored selected remotely transmitted selected set of instructions in response to selection of a different selected purpose, said microcomputer means differently processing said incoming video displayable date in accordance with said different locally stored set of instructions for said microcomputer means, whereby a local downstream program grabbing and data display means for remotely transmitted information is provided.