Electronic interactive community directory and portable player unit

• US 20040019582A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Merlyn Brown
• Original Assignee: Merlyn Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Merlyn
• Application Number:
  US10/208,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

An electronic interactive community directory (10) and portable player unit (12) adapted to receive, store, and provide for playback or otherwise communicate an information set (14) of information relating to people, businesses, or other members associated with a community of homes, businesses, or other interests, wherein the information is presented using a variety of media elements. The directory (10) includes a search function (38); a map and direction generator function (40); and network access (42) for accessing additional community-related information and functionality.

Claims

1. An electronic community directory comprising:

a storage medium;

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable form, wherein the information is related to a community and includes a plurality of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of members of the community; and

a functionality set of functions stored on the storage medium in a selectable form, wherein the functions relate to using the information and include

a search function adapted to facilitate searching the information of the information set,

a map function adapted to provide an electronic map showing the plurality of addresses, and

a network access function adapted to connect the electronic community directory to a network wherefrom additional information relating to the community is available.

2. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the information is presented using a video movie element, an audio element, a still element, a text element, and a hyperlink element providing a selectable electronic link via the network access function to an external source of information.

3. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the information set includes a

people subset of information relating to people associated with the community;

a businesses subset of information relating to businesses associated with the community;

an organizations subset of information relating to organizations associated with the community;

a governmental departments subset of information relating to governmental departments associated with the community;

an attractions subset of information relating to attractions associated with the community; and

an emergency contacts subset of information relating to emergency services contact information for the community.

4. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of the information is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

5. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the information set includes at least one advertising element.

6. An electronic community directory comprising:

a storage medium;

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable form, wherein the information is related to a community and includes a

people subset of information relating to people associated with the community,

a businesses subset of information relating to businesses associated with the community,

an organizations subset of information relating to organizations associated with the community,

a governmental departments subset of information relating to governmental departments associated with the community;

an attractions subset of information relating to attractions associated with the community,

an emergency contacts subset of information relating to emergency services contact information for the community; and

a functionality set of functions stored on the storage medium in a selectable form, wherein the functions relate to using the information and include

a search function adapted to facilitate searching the information of the information set,

a map function adapted to provide an electronic map showing the plurality of addresses, and

a network access function adapted to connect the electronic community directory to a network wherefrom additional information is available.

7. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the information is presented using a video movie element, an audio element, a still element, a text element, and a hyperlink element providing a selectable electronic link via the network access function to an external source of information.

8. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least some of the information of the information set is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

9. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 6, wherein the information set includes at least one advertising element.

10. An electronic community directory system comprising:

a storage medium;

an information set of information stored on the storage medium in a retrievable form, wherein the information is related to a community and includes a plurality of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of members of the community;

a functionality set of functions stored on the storage medium in a selectable form, wherein the functions relate to using the information and include

a search function adapted to facilitate searching the information of the information set,

a map function adapted to provide an electronic map showing the plurality of addresses, and

a network access function adapted to connect the electronic community directory to a network wherefrom additional information relating to the community is available; and

a player unit adapted to retrieve and communicate the information set from the storage medium, wherein the player unit includes a

hand-held portable housing,

a player adapted to removably receive the storage medium,

a display screen and speaker adapted to visually and audibly communicate the information stored on the removably received storage medium,

an input mechanism adapted to allow a user to navigate the information communicated by the display screen and the speaker,

a wireless communication device adapted to allow for wireless voice and data communication, and

a network port adapted to selectively connect the player unit to a network wherefrom additional information relating to the community is available.

11. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the information is presented using a video movie element, an audio element, a still element, a text element, and a hyperlink element providing a selectable electronic link via the network access function to an external source of information.

12. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the information set includes

a people subset of information relating to people associated with the community;

a businesses subset of information relating to businesses associated with the community;

an organizations subset of information relating to organizations associated with the community;

a governmental departments subset of information relating to governmental departments associated with the community;

an attractions subset of information relating to attractions associated with the community; and

an emergency contacts subset of information relating to emergency services contact information for the community.

13. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least some of the information of the information set is stored on the storage medium in a compressed state.

14. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the information set includes at least one advertising element.

15. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the player is a CD-ROM/DVD player.

16. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the input mechanism includes a detachable alphanumeric keyboard.

17. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the wireless communication device is adapted to provide a wireless network connection for connecting the player unit to a network wherefrom additional information relating to the community is available.

18. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, further including a disk holder detachably coupled with the housing and adapted to receive and retain the storage medium.

19. The electronic community directory as set forth in claim 10, wherein the player unit further includes a securement mechanism for supporting the player unit during use, the securement mechanism including a moldable material encased in a flexible material and coupled with the player unit such that the securement mechanism is physically adaptable to support the player unit upon a contoured surface.