The present disclosed system is directed toward a communication and
management system that dynamically targets network devices for content
deployment, such as application programs, device drivers, configuration
files, and registry subhives. Moreover, the present system targets users
of network devices for promotions, such as advertisements offered by
Internet e-commerce sites. Promotions are generally icons or graphic
images with links to host web servers overlaying a video display, but
also includes audio and video clips or data streams. Network devices and
their users are targeted through user profiles. User profiles are created
when network devices register with the system server and are continually
updated with information provided by user activity and event logs that
are periodically uploaded from each device. A scalable messaging system
is provided for data transmission between the system server and among the
network devices such that it is neutral as to the specific hardware
platforms on which it is implemented.