PROSTREAM

Welcome to ProStream -- Your Link to The World

Copyright 1995, 1996   PS Group, Inc.


overview
Product Overview

Welcome to ProStream, a powerful Internet Broadcast service that delivers stock quotes, sports scores, and other timely information directly to your workstation.  Viewers access broadcasts for free, completely paid for by advertisers.  ProStream is the first service that allows you to view information while working with other computer applications, such as spreadsheets.

ProStream can be characterized as a world-wide commercial cable system. But unlike current cable broadcasting, ProStream viewers can dynamically configure each information channel to meet their specific needs.  In addition, ProStream reaches a workplace audience unavailable to traditional television broadcasts.

Eventually, ProStream will deliver full motion video and sound programming, all configurable by the viewer.  Unfortunately, network and CPU speeds are not sufficient at this time to support such programming.  So to start, ProStream programs will consist of information streams and still pictures that can be supported by today’s networks and computers.


Key Features

Key features of ProStream:

-- A stocks channel, which allows the tracking of stocks and indices (minimum 15 minute delay).  Last price, last time, day high, day low, and volume information is available for each stock.

-- A sports channel, which provides up-to-date scores for the major professional and college sport leagues.

-- A news alert channel.

-- Dynamic channels, we can add channels at any time without updating the software.

-- No limits on channels: watch as many channels as you want simultaneously (like an unlimited picture-in-picture for the Internet!).

-- Viewer configurable interface: For example, viewers choose which stocks and sports they wish to view.

-- Small footprint: ProStream can fit in a small corner of the screen, so viewers can watch while working with other computer applications.

-- Advertisement window: ProStream is free to the viewer because it is supported by advertisements which appear in the form of a still picture (bitmap).

-- Favorite indicator window: Viewers can receive immediate feedback on a favorite stock by an indicator arrow and color background in this window.  This window also doubles as a button to allow easy “click-through” to a Web page associated with the current advertisement.


Technical Requirements

ProStream currently works on IBM-compatible PCs using either the Microsoft Windows95 or Microsoft WindowsNT operating systems.  Testing on Windows 3.1 with WIN32S will take place soon.  ProStream uses approximately 2MB of disk space

In order to receive ProStream broadcasts, PCs must be connected to the Internet and have Winsock 1.1 installed.  ProStream has been tested using Microsoft Winsock 1.1, but should work with any manufacturer’s Winsock 1.1.  Internet connection via a proxy server is supported using  the http proxy.  Without an Internet connection, ProStream is limited to a "demo" mode which shows how the product works using sample data.


Viewer Interface Overview
User Interface Overview

The ProStream system provides a simple and intuitive interface for the viewer (end-user).  Two menus are provided:

1. A Settings menu which allows the viewer to configure how the system behaves.

2. A Channel menu which, like a television tuner, allows viewers to select which services they wish to view.

Both menus are accessible via the right-mouse button.  Simply click the right-mouse button anywhere in the application's main window to display a combination menu of the Settings and Channels menus.

The ProStream window can be resized to any "footprint" that the viewer desires.  It is expected that most viewers will choose a small footprint which frees the screen for other applications while maintaining the ProStream view.


Settings Menu

The Settings menu allows the viewer to configure how the system behaves.  The menu choices available from this menu are:

-- Options: Brings up a sub-menu of various options pertaining to the system.  See the General Options, section for further details.

-- Select Font: Change the ticker display font and color.

-- Select Background: Change the background color of ticker display area.

-- No Title: Hides ProStream Title and Menu bars, allowing for an even smaller footprint.  This option can also be invoked by double-clicking anywhere in the main window.  NOTE: To undo this option, double-click anywhere on the application or use the right-menu button.

-- Always On Top: Forces ProStream to remain on top of all other applications.  Very convenient to remain viewing while using another program -- simply place ProStream over a seldom used area of the other application.

-- On Startup Menu: Places a ProStream “shortcut” in the Windows “StartUp” menu.  With this option turned on, ProStream will activate whenever Windows boots, keeping you informed from the very beginning.  (Note, if you deinstall ProStream with this option turned on, you must remove the entry manually).  Note that Windows may not refresh your Startup menu right away, i.e., it may take awhile for the short-cut to appear after adding it and vice-versa.  Not available on WindowsNT 3.51.

-- Help: Invokes ProStream Help system.

-- About ProStream: Brings up ProStream version information.

-- Exit: Shuts down ProStream.


General Options

The General Options dialog allows the viewer to change settings that affect general system operations.  Access the General Options dialog from the Settings/General Options menu.   This dialog contains three tabs as follows:

-- Scroll Tab: Controls how text scrolls across the screen.  Selecting static scroll will turn off traditional scrolling -- instead, information is broken into pieces that can fit in the display window and are shown one piece at a time.  Ticker speed controls how fast the ticker moves one unit to the left.  Ticker smoothness defines how many screen pixels make up one unit, as used by ticker speed.  For best results, adjust Ticker Speed and Ticker Smoothness to reach an ideal ticker motion for you and your system.  Note that the fastest scroll is when Ticker Speed is at a maximum and Ticker Smoothness is at a minimum

-- Proxy Tab: Contains information about the use of a proxy server.  ProStream uses proxy servers that support the “http” protocol.  If a proxy is used, then both the “HTTP Proxy” and “Port Number” fields must be completed. Most likely, this infomation is contained within your Web Browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer (the Port Number is usually 8080), or see your local systems support person.  Note: Using a proxy server is slower than directly accessing ProStream – thus it is strongly suggested that you do not use a proxy server if you have a choice.

Proxy functionality has not been tested on all vendor’s proxy servers.  Please contact us if you have problems with a particular proxy.

-- Register Tab: Fill in this information to become a registered user of ProStream.


Channel Menu

The Channel menu allows viewers to select which services they wish to see.  The choices from this menu are:

-- Select Channels: Allows the viewer to select which channels to view and to adjust the options associated with each individual channel. Viewers may also view a long description of each channel and go to the Web page associated with the channels (if one exists).  Stocks Channel Options, Sports Channel Options, and Other Channels Options  sections for further detail.

Select which channels you wish to view:

Stocks Channel

Sports Channel

News Alert Channel

Dynamic Channels (channels which come and go at any time)

The system is dynamic, so we may be adding channels at any time without updating the software.

NOTE: Unlike traditional broadcasts, it is perfectly OK to view multiple channels at the same time!  Selected channels simply take turns displaying their information.

-- Stocks Options: Displays a stocks options dialog.  See the Stocks Channel Options section for further details.

-- Stocks Options: Displays a sports options dialog. See the Sports Channel Options section for further details.

-- View All: Displays a screen that contains all the information currently being shown on the ProStream ticker window.  NOTE: This screen does NOT automatically update.

-- Goto <Advertiser’s> Web Page: Causes the viewer’s Web browser to jump to the advertiser’s Web page.  If the advertiser does not have a Web page, then the text “No Ad Web Page” appears greyed.  The user must have a Web client installed for this option to work.

-- Goto <Content Provider’s> Web Page: Causes the viewer’s Web browser to jump to the  Web page for the content provider of the current collection being displayed.  If the content provider does not have a Web page, then the text “No Content Web Page” appears greyed.  The user must have a Web client installed for this option to work.

-- Demo Mode: Puts the program in a "Demo" mode that does not connect in anyway to the ProStream service.  Use this mode to show how the program works on PCs that are not network connected.


Stocks Channel Options

The Stocks Options dialog allows the viewer to change settings that affect what stock information is displayed.  Access the Stocks Options dialog from the Channel menu.  This dialog contains three tabs as follows:

 -- Select Tab: Select which stocks you wish to appear.  To add a new stock, type in the stock symbol in the box provided and press the “Add” button.  To delete a stock, highlight that stock and press the delete button.  Maximum of 20 stocks allowed.

ProStream supports stocks listed on the NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ stock exchanges.  In addition, two indexes are available:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: use symbol $INDU

NASDAQ Composite: use symbol $NASDAQ

-- View Tab: Choose what information you wish to see with each of your "Selected" stocks.  Options are: price change (daily), price time, day high, day low, and volume (daily).  For price time, the time-of-day is shown if the stock has changed prices during the current day, otherwise the date of the last change is displayed.

-- Favorite Tab: Allows the viewer to pick a favorite stock from the list of "Selected" stocks.  The favorite stock controls an arrow indicator that appears to the right of the Advertisement.  There are five possible values for the indicator:

Extra good (green arrow pointing up)

Good (green arrow pointing up and right)

Neutral (yellow arrow pointing right)

Bad (red arrow pointing down right)

Extra Bad (red arrow pointing down)

No Status (open file icon)

Adjust the Status Values as appropriate to control how much your favorite stock must change to trigger the various indicators.

NOTE: With Windows NT 3.51, text is used instead of pictures.  The corresponding values to the symbols listed above are: “++”, “+”, “Ev”, “-“, “—“, and “Go”.


Sports Channel Options

The Sports Options dialog allows the viewer to change settings that affect what sport information is displayed.  Access the Sports Options dialog from the Channel menu.  This dialog contains two tabs as follows:

-- Select Tab: Select which sport leagues you wish to appear.  Current options are NFL Football, College Football (top 25 only), NBA Basketball, College Basketball (top 25 only), Major League Baseball, NHL Hockey and Other Sports (a catch-all for major events).  At this time, there is no way to further select teams within a league -- all games which pertain to a league are shown if the league is selected.

-- View Tab:

Display Type: Select how you want to see the sports scores.  Scroll View will scroll sports in the same way that the stocks scroll (as controlled by the General Options).  Over/Under view shows sports scores in a more traditional format.

Highlight Option: Select how you want to highlight winning teams.  Choices are: highlight the winning team only after the game has been completed, highlight a team that is currently winning (or has won), or no highlighting.  A highlight button allows for the changing of the highlight color.  Highlighting is only available for display type “Over/Under” view.


Other Channels Options

All channels besides the Stocks and Sports channels contain the same options choices.  These choices are:

-- Channel Delay: Delay showing the channel for this number of minutes.  For example, you may only wish to see “News Alerts” once every 15 minutes.

-- Item Expire: Do not show items older than the number of minutes entered here.


Seeking Business Partners

PS Group is currently seeking strategic ProStream partners as follows:

1. Advertisers or advertising agencies.

2. Information providers to supply ProStream information such as news, weather, etc.

3. Infrastructure support partners including hardware and communications (Internet provider) services.

4. Investors in ProStream technology.

Please contact ProStream if you are interested in receiving more information about partnership and investment opportunities.  See http://www.ps-group.com for more information.


Contacting PS Group
Contacting ProStream

ProStream is a product of PS Group, Inc.

For more information, contact PS Group as follows:

Fax:        	513-743-2296

Internet:	ProStream@ps-group.com

Web: 	http://www.ps-group.com


ProStream refers to the service of providing commercial broadcasts via the Internet.  It may also refer to the software used to view ProStream services.


Channel refers to a single ProStream service.  Currently several channels are supported, including, but not limited to, Stocks and Sports.


Viewers are people who watch the ProStream service.  In more traditional computer terms the viewer equates to the “user”.


Advertisers refer to the companies that support ProStream services by paying fees to have their advertisement displayed in the ProStream application.


Proxy refers to an intermediate server used to buffer company networks from the Internet.