Method and apparatus for cataloguing and scripting the display of informational content

• US 20030208469A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: PRN Corp. (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Stern, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A digital department system is disclosed. The digital department system of the present invention includes a network management center, a network operating center that is coupled to the network management center, a multimedia server, a multicasting transmission medium coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, a listening post coupled to the multimedia server by the network, and one or more audio/video display capable of displaying video and capable of playing audio, the audio video display coupled to the multimedia server by the network. The audio and video content are stored in digitized files on the multimedia server for distribution throughout the site via the network.

Claims

1. A method for cataloging and scripting consumer informational content comprising:

cataloging titles by uniform product code, type and related content;

defining and specifying groups and date ranges by location and time that;

defining a scripted playlist for components including at least one member selected from the group consisting of video bumpers. attract loops and wall of eyes, and

performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of editing scripts, deleting scripts and copying scripts.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a wall of eyes script module reads scripts designated for a wall of eyes video array and executes video playback scripts for a wall of eyes, including:

controlling video clips displayed on a wall of eyes;

controlling video clip order and frequency;

controlling video clip in/out data and time;

controlling graphic overlays per clip; and

controlling text overlays per clip.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein separate files are scripted for each content element handled by the wall of eyes script module.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein separate regionalized versions of program content are controlled by the wall of eyes script module.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including switching from prepared programming to delayed live feed programs for the purpose of displaying from live action sources at least one member selected from the group consisting of special events and messages.