Information retrieval system using an internet multiplexer to focus user selection

• US 20040133655A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Liberate Technologies
• Inventors: Yen, Wei, Weinstein, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/397 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of two or more bit-mapped memories to the screen simultaneously, e.g. for mixing or overlay G09G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for receiving incoming information from multiple information sources, both interactive and passive, and for engagingly presenting that information to a recipient on a presentation interface. The system includes a “background” element, which interacts with interactive information sources and receives from passive information sources, and determines whether information from those sources is likely to be interesting to the recipient, possibly using one information source to determine priority for another. The system also includes a “foreground” element, which presents information to the recipient when active, but not when inactive. The background is operative even when the foreground element is inactive, and when the background detects new information of interest to the recipient (for example, exceeding a selected threshold of interest or satisfying a selected criterion for interest), it causes the foreground to become active and engage the recipient to select and view that new information. The threshold or criterion may be adaptively responsive to recipient preferences, whether explicitly expressed or implied, but may also be relatively fixed, such as a scheduled time of day.

Claims

1. Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including

a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said at least one information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient;

and

a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient;

wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination.