Information and content exchange document type definitions to support content distribution

A method of providing data content between a first network device and one or more other network devices, the method comprising:

• a. providing a communications protocol including document type definitions to manage data content exchange between the first network device and the one or more other network devices;
• b. providing document type definition extensions to the document type definitions, wherein the document type definition extensions define a hierarchical data content structure for data content and metadata corresponding to the hierarchical data content structure;
• c. configuring the hierarchical data content structure into a plurality of channels to store the data content, wherein the data content is selectively offered and distributed;
• d. transmitting the data content between the first network device and the one or more other network devices according to the communication protocol and the document type definition extensions to the communications protocol;
• and
• e. configuring each channel within the plurality of channels into one or more content sub-channels, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels provides data content of a related subject-matter and each content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within a given channel segments the data content within the given channel according to more specific subject-matter than subject-matter of the given channel, wherein the metadata defines attributes associated with the each channel within the plurality of channels and the content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within the hierarchical data content structure and further wherein the metadata associated with each channel of the plurality of channels includes a title, a caption, an icon-url, an ice-element and an item-group-id.

An apparatus for providing data content between a first network device and one or more other network devices, the apparatus comprising a hardware system configured to implement:

• a. means for providing a communications protocol including document type definitions to manage data content exchange between the first network device and the one or more other network devices
• b. means for providing document type definition extensions to the document type definitions, wherein the document type definition extensions define a hierarchical data content structure for data content and metadata corresponding to the hierarchical data content structure;
• c. means for configuring the hierarchical data content structure into a plurality of channels to store the data content, wherein the data content is selectively offered and distributed;
• d. means for transmitting the data content between the first network device and the one or more other network devices according to the communication protocol and the document type definition extensions to the communications protocol;
• and
• e. means for configuring each channel within the plurality of channels into one or more content sub-channels, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels provides data content of a related subject-matter and each content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within a given channel segments the data content within the given channel according to more specific subject-matter than subject-matter of the given channel, wherein the metadata defines attributes associated with the each channel within the plurality of channels and the content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within the hierarchical data content structure and further wherein the metadata associated with each channel of the plurality of channels includes a title, a caption, an icon-url, an ice-element and an item-group-id.

A network comprising:

• a. one or more network devices;
• and
• b. a first network device coupled to the one or more other network devices, the first network device comprising:
• i. one or more applications;
• ii. a network layer coupled to interface with the one or more other network devices;
• iii. a communications layer to provide a communications protocol including document type definitions to manage data content exchange between the first network device and the one or more other network devices;
• and
• iv. an extension layer to provide document type definition extensions to the document type definitions, wherein the document type definition extensions define a hierarchical data content structure for data content and metadata corresponding to the hierarchical data content structure, further wherein the hierarchical data content structure comprises a plurality of channels to store the data content, wherein the data content is selectively offered and distributed, each channel within the plurality of channels includes one or more content sub-channels, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels provides data content of a related subject-matter and each content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within a given channel segments the data content within the given channel according to more specific subject-matter than subject-matter of the given channel, wherein the metadata defines attributes associated with the each channel within the plurality of channels and the content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within the hierarchical data content structure and further wherein the metadata associated with each channel of the plurality of channels includes a title, a caption, an icon-url, an ice-element and an item-group-id.

A network device coupled to a network of devices, the network device comprising a hardware system configured to implement:

• a. one or more applications;
• b. a network layer coupled to interface with one or more other network devices;
• c. an Information and Content Exchange protocol including document type definitions to manage data content exchange between the network device and the one or more other network devices;
• and
• d. extensions to the document type definitions, wherein document type definitions extensions define a hierarchical data content structure for data content and metadata corresponding to the hierarchical data content structure, further wherein the hierarchical data content structure comprises a plurality of channels to store the data content, wherein the data content is selectively offered and distributed, each channel within the plurality of channels includes one or more content sub-channels, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels provides data content of a related subject-matter and each content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within a given channel segments the data content within the given channel according to more specific subject-matter than subject-matter of the given channel, wherein the metadata defines attributes associated with the each channel within the plurality of channels and the content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within the hierarchical data content structure, and further wherein the metadata associated with each channel of the plurality of channels includes a title, a caption, an icon-url, an ice-element and an item-group-id.

A network device coupled to a network of devices, the network device comprising a hardware system configured to implement:

• a. one or more applications;
• b. a network layer coupled to interface with one or more other network devices;
• c. a communications layer to provide a communications protocol including document type definitions to manage data content exchange between the network device and the one or more other network devices;
• and
• d. an extension layer to provide document type definition extensions to the document type definitions, wherein the document type definition extensions define a hierarchical data content structure for data content and metadata corresponding to the hierarchical data content structure, further wherein the hierarchical data content structure comprises a plurality of channels to store the data content, wherein the data content is selectively offered and distributed, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels includes one or more content sub-channels, wherein each channel within the plurality of channels provides data content of a related subject-matter and each content sub-channel of the one or more content sub-channels within a given channel segments the data content within the given channel according to more specific subject-matter than subject-matter of the given channel, wherein the metadata defines attributes of each of the plurality of channels, each of the sub-channels and each of the data content and further wherein the metadata associated with each channel of the plurality of channels includes a title, a caption, an icon-url, an ice-element and an item-group-id.