Non-computer interface to a database and digital library

• US 20030090511A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Belknap, William Russell, Kauffmann, Steven Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08

Abstract

A non-computer interface to a storage system includes a set top box (STB) or interface unit connected to a storage system for storing information to be accessed by a user. The storage system can be a database, such as a relational database having a plurality of tables, or a digital library system, for storing information to be accessed by the user. Also stored in the storage system are navigation information or rules for controlling a user'"'"'s navigation of the database. A user interacts with the storage system through the STB, sending navigation commands to the storage system via the STB. The navigation commands available to a user are generated by combining the navigation rules with the user'"'"'s access privileges. The user can send navigation commands via a remote controller which sends cursor control commands to the STB. Alternatively, the user can send navigation commands via a virtual reality interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus providing an interface for browsing a storage unit, comprising:

a control unit for generating and transmitting a selection signal; and

an interface unit for connection to the storage unit,

wherein the interface unit receives a signal from the storage unit indicating a plurality of selection items and presents the selection items, whereupon the control unit generates the selection signal to select one of the plurality of presented selection items, and the interface unit receives the selection signal and transmits a signal for controlling the storage unit to access an area of the storage unit indicated by the selection signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a remote controller having one or more controls for selecting one of the presented selections, and wherein the control unit presents the selection items on a display monitor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the remote controller comprises:

directional keys for controlling movement of a cursor displayed on the display monitor, wherein the cursor position changes on the display monitor in response to operation of the directional keys; and

a selection key for indicating selection of one of the presented selections items displayed closest to the location of the cursor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a virtual reality control device for displaying the plurality of selection items in a virtual reality manner, and for selecting at least one of the selection items in a virtual reality manner.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a digital library having stored therein a plurality of binary large objects (blobs).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a database.

7. An arrangement for browsing stored information, comprising:

a storage unit containing the stored information and navigation information for navigating the storage unit;

an interface unit connected to the storage unit, for submitting navigation commands to the storage unit and receiving information from the storage unit in response the navigation commands;

a remote controller having navigation controls, wherein the remote controller transmits a first navigation signal to the interface unit in response to selection of one or more of the navigation controls, and in response to receiving the first navigation signal the interface unit submits a first navigation command to the storage unit causing the storage unit to output the navigation information for further navigation of the storage unit.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit is a digital library having stored therein a plurality of binary large objects (blobs).

9. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit is a database.

10. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the navigation controls are navigation keys.

11. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the navigation information output from the storage unit includes navigation control information for controlling access to a portion of the storage unit.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the navigation control information output from the storage unit is based on a user'"'"'s identity.

13. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein in response to selection of another of the navigation keys the remote controller transmits a second navigation signal to the interface unit thereby causing the interface unit to submit a second navigation command to the storage unit, wherein the second navigation command corresponds to the navigation control information thereby controlling the storage unit to provide access to a portion of the storage unit corresponding to the selection.

14. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the navigation keys of the remote controller include directional keys indicating directions, wherein the interface unit submits a command to the storage unit in response to selection of one of the directional keys if the navigation control information indicates that the direction of the corresponding directional key is enabled.

15. A method of controlling a storage unit, comprising:

accessing a first portion of the storage unit;

presenting first navigation information from the first portion of the storage unit;

sending a navigation command to the storage unit relating to the presented first navigation information to access a second portion of the storage unit;

receiving second navigation information from the storage unit, wherein the first and second navigation information are based on the first and second accessed portions of the storage unit, respectively, and an access privilege.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

prior to presenting the first navigation information transmitting information regarding a user requesting access to the storage unit,

wherein the received first navigation information includes only navigation information resulting from comparing the transmitted user information with an object embedded in the storage unit, the embedded object containing the first navigation information.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the embedded object includes another embedded object.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said sending the navigation command is based on selection of a directional control, the directional control indicating a direction of navigating the storage unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the storage unit is a database.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the storage unit is a digital library.

21. A computer program product for browsing information in a storage unit, the computer program product including a computer-readable medium, comprising:

first computer-readable code for presenting first navigation information from an accessed first portion of the storage unit;

second computer-readable code for sending a navigation command to the storage unit based on the displayed first navigation information to access a second portion of the storage unit; and

third computer-readable code for receiving second navigation information from the storage unit, wherein the first and second navigation information are based on the first and second accessed portions of the storage unit, respectively, and an access privilege.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

fourth computer-readable code for transmitting information regarding a user requesting access to the storage unit prior to the first computer-readable code causing presentation of the first navigation information,

wherein the received first navigation information includes only navigation information resulting from comparing the transmitted user information with an object embedded in the storage unit, the embedded object containing the first navigation information.

23. The program product according to claim 22, wherein the storage unit is a database.

24. The program product according to claim 22, wherein the storage unit is a digital library.

25. The program product according to claim 21, wherein said sending of the navigation command is based on selection of a directional control, the directional control indicating a direction of navigating the storage unit.