1. A subscription video system for providing content by subscription using an Internet connection, the subscription video system comprising:
a program database for storing a plurality of video content objects, and
an interface configured to receive a request to initiate a subscription with a first Internet Protocol (IP) address for a particular account using the Internet, wherein:
the subscription for the particular account allows use of the plurality of video content objects by the particular account without individually charging for the plurality of video content objects,
a first connection bandwidth over the Internet to the first IP address is determined to be greater than a first threshold value before authorizing the subscription to initiate the particular account,
a request to access the subscription of the particular account after successful creation is received from a second IP address with the Internet,
a second connection bandwidth over the Internet to the second IP address is determined to be greater than a second threshold value before authorizing one of a product different from another product or a level of service for the subscription different from another level of service,
the first IP address is different from the second IP address, and
the first threshold is different than the second threshold.
2. The subscription video system as recited in claim 1, wherein the use allowed by the subscription video system comprises at least one of content object download or content object streaming.
3. The subscription video system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data store that holds the first and second connection bandwidths and the first and second IP addresses.
4. The subscription video system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an applet run from the second IP address that verifies the second connection bandwidth.
5. The subscription video system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a client applet that is used to verify connection bandwidths.
6. The subscription video system as recited in claim 1, wherein the subscription provides access to free products.
7. A method for providing a subscription to video content over a public network, the method comprising:
receiving a request to initiate the subscription for a particular account from a first IP address over the public network;
verifying that a first connection bandwidth is greater than a first threshold value, wherein the first connection bandwidth is over the public network with the first IP address;
upon verification, approving the subscription for the particular account to be activated;
receiving a request to access the subscription for the particular account from a second IP address over the public network; and
verifying that a second connection bandwidth is greater than a second threshold value, wherein:
the second threshold value is associated with a level of service of the subscription different from another level of service,
the first IP address is different from the second IP address,
the first threshold is different than the second threshold, and
the second connection bandwidth is over the public network with the second IP address.
8. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising verifying that a geographical location of the second user computer is consistent with geographical subscription limitations.
9. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the approving comprises initiating the subscription with a product level chosen based upon the first connection bandwidth.
10. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the level of service is chosen from a plurality of service levels available to subscribers.
11. The method recited in claim 7, the second threshold value being greater than a standard dial-up connection bandwidth.
12. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising reconfiguring an interface to the subscription to remove access and promotion of programs not associated with the level of service or product.
13. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the first IP address and the second IP address are for the same user computer.
14. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the subscription allows use of a plurality of programs without individually charging for the plurality of programs.
15. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value.
16. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising defining a session service level in accordance with the second connection bandwidth.
17. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising further verifying the second connection bandwidth to the second IP address using a different test methodology than was used in the verifying the second threshold.
18. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising monitoring the second connection bandwidth over a session accessing the subscription.
19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein monitoring the second connection bandwidth over the session comprises monitoring a temporal average of the second connection bandwidth.
20. A method for providing a subscription to video content using a wide area network, the method comprising:
receiving a request to initiate the subscription for a particular account from a first IP address over the wide area network, wherein the subscription allows use of a plurality of programs without individually charging for the plurality of programs;
verifying that a first connection bandwidth is greater than a first threshold value, wherein the first connection bandwidth is over the wide area network with the first IP address;
initiating the subscription for a particular account to at least a product, based, at least in part, on the verifying the first connection bandwidth;
receiving a request to access the subscription for a particular account from a second IP address over the wide area network; and
verifying that a second connection bandwidth is greater than a second threshold value, wherein:
the second connection bandwidth is over the wide area network with the second IP address,
the first IP address is different from the second IP address,
the first threshold is different than the second threshold, and
the second threshold value is associated with at least one of a product different from another product or a level of service different from another level of service.
21. The method recited in claim 20, wherein the testing are performed with software running on the first or second user computers.
22. The method recited in claim 20, wherein:
a given product has a plurality of service levels, and
the plurality of service levels are differentiated by bandwidth.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for transmitting readings taken from within a storage tank, the method comprising:
activating a control box at a predetermined time;
taking a plurality of readings;
transmitting from the control box the plurality of readings;
determining if a response was received;
in response to a determination that a response was received, placing the control box in a power saving state;
if it is determined that a response was not received, retransmitting the plurality of readings and determining if said response was received after a retransmission;
if it is determined that a response was received after retransmission, placing the control box in the power saving state; and
if said response was not received after a predetermined number of retransmissions, placing the control box in the power saving state;
at the central location, receiving a request for a measurement from a user at a remote location, wherein the request for a measurement identifies a storage tank for which the measurement is desired and a time frame for which the measurement is desired;
calculating at the central location the measurement based on the request and the plurality of readings; and
transmitting the calculated measurement from the central location to the remote location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein taking a plurality of readings includes:
generating an excitation voltage;
recording values identifiable as a result of the excitation voltage; and
ending the excitation voltage.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the excitation voltage is approximately five volts.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the readings are a measurement of a weight of a probe located within the storage tank.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the readings are a measurement of a temperature within the storage tank.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the readings are a measurement of a plurality of temperatures within the storage tank.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the readings are a measurement of a pressure within the storage tank.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure is used to detect a fluid level within the storage tank.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of readings are analog readings.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of analog readings are applied to an analog-to-digital converter.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the analog-to-digital conversion provides radiometric readings.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of readings includes:
averaging a total of the plurality of readings; and
transmitting the average.
13. A system for providing storage tank measurements to a user at a remote location, the system comprising:
a control box configured to take a plurality of readings from within a storage tank and transmit those readings;
a master computer at a central location configured to receive and store the plurality of readings;
a remote location configured to:
receive a request from a user to view a measurement for the storage tank, wherein the received request for a measurement identifies the storage tank for which the measurement is desired and a time frame for which the measurement is desired;
determine if the requested measurement is stored at the remote location;
in response to determining that the requested measurement is stored at the remote location, displaying the requested measurements to the user at the remote location;
in response to determining that the .requested measurement is not stored at the remote location, transmitting the request to the master computer at the central location; and
wherein in response to receiving a request from the remote location for a measurement for the storage tank, the master computer is further configured to:
calculate the requested measurement utilizing the received and stored readings; and
transmit the calculated measurement to the remote location.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote location and the master computer are at different geographical locations;
at a remote location, receiving a request from a user to view a measurement for the storage tank;
determining if the requested measurement is stored at the remote location;
in response to determining that the requested measurement is stored at the remote location, displaying the requested measurements to the user at the remote location;
in response to determining that the requested measurement is not stored at the remote location, transmitting the request to the central location;
receiving from the central location, a response to the request including the requested measurement calculated at the central location; and
displaying the requested measurement to the user and storing the requested measurement at the remote location.
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a second control box configured to take a plurality of readings from within a second storage tank and transmit those readings; and wherein the readings are transmitted to the master computer and stored.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the master computer stores a plurality of readings received at different points in time.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the readings are stored in a raw form with a date and a time stamp.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the calculated measurement is for a weight of a load cell located within the storage tank.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the calculated measurement is for a pressure within the storage tank.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein the calculated measurement is for a level of liquid within the storage tank.
21. In a computer system having a computer-readable medium including a computer-executable program therein for performing the method of remotely presenting a measurement taken from within a storage tank, the method comprising:
at a remote location, receiving a request from a user to view a measurement for a storage tank;
determining if the requested measurement is stored at the remote location;
in response to determining that the requested measurement is stored at the remote location, displaying the requested measurements to the user at the remote location;
in response to determining that the requested measurement is not stored at the remote location, transmitting the request to the central location; and
receiving from the central location, a response to the request including the requested measurement calculated at the central location; and
displaying the requested measurement to the user and storing the requested measurement at the remote location.
22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the request to view a measurement identifies the storage tank for which the measurement is desired and a time frame for which the measurement is desired.
23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the request includes a request to view a plurality of measurements for the storage tank.
24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the request includes a request to view measurements for a plurality of storage tanks.
25. A system for transmitting readings taken from within a storage tank, comprising:
a means for activating a control box at a predetermined time, wherein said predetermined time is adjustable;
a means for taking a plurality of readings from within the storage tank, wherein at least one of those readings determines the amount of fluid contained within the storage tank;
a means for transmitting the plurality of readings from the control box to a remote location;
a means for determining if a response was received;
a means for determining if a command to adjust the predetermined time was received and for adjusting said predetermined time;
a means for placing the control box in a power saving state at a central location:
a means for storing the plurality of readings transmitted from the control box;
a means for receiving a request for a measurement from a user at a remote location, wherein the request for a measurement identifies a storage tank for which the measurement is desired and a time frame for which the measurement is desired;
a means for calculating at the central location the measurement based on the request and the plurality of readings; and
a means for transmitting the calculated measurement from the central location to the remote location:
at the remote location:
a means for receiving a request from a user to view a measurement for the storage tank;
a means to determine if the requested measurement is stored at the remote location;
a means for displaying the requested measurement to the user at the remote location in response to a determination that the requested measurement is stored at the remote location;
a means for transmitting the request to a central location in response to a determination that the requested measurement is not stored at the remote location;
a means for receiving from the central location, a response to the request including the requested measurement calculated at the central location; and
a means for displaying the requested measurement to the user and storing the requested measurement at the remote location.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for taking a plurality of readings includes:
a means for generating an excitation voltage;
a means for recording a plurality of values identifiable as a result of the excitation voltage;
a means for averaging the plurality of values; and
a means for ending the excitation voltage.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the excitation voltage is approximately five volts.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of readings include measurement of a weight of a probe located within the storage tank.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of readings include a measurement of a temperature within the storage tank.
30. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of readings include a measurement of a pressure within the storage tank.