Method and apparatus for organizing, sorting and navigating multimedia content

• US 20050193015A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sandraic Logic LLC A California Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: Sandraic Logic LLC A California Limited Liability Company
• Inventors: Logston, Matthew S., Logston, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US11/058,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for organizing, sorting, navigating and selecting for use, one or more multimedia content items available from one or more varied types of multimedia content sources, based on a multimedia content user'"'"'s characteristics, preferences and entitlements, and multimedia content item attributes and characteristics. In a first aspect of the invention, a method and architecture (FIG. 11) are disclosed which uses an information structure hierarchy of parameter sets and included parameters and their associated information fields contained therein to facilitate identification, description, location and characterization of multimedia content items, multimedia content sources, and user characterizing information. In a second aspect of the invention, a method and architecture are disclosed for sorting multimedia content items by applying sorting criteria expressed in the type and format of the multimedia content item, multimedia content source and user identification, description, location and characteristics information (FIGS. 9, 10), at the time of content creation, distribution and delivery through a multimedia content source and at the time multimedia content is selected by a multimedia content user (FIG. 8), for the purposes of identifying and presenting those items appropriate for a particular multimedia content user. In a third aspect of the invention, a method and architecture are disclosed for displaying on a television or computer screen connected to a multimedia terminal, a plurality of video windows containing a menu and visual rendering (FIG. 12) of only those multimedia content items identified as appropriate for the particular multimedia content user, based on the sorting criteria. In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method and architecture are disclosed for navigating the plurality of display windows (FIGS. 14 through 19) for the purposes of selecting a multimedia content for use by the particular multimedia content user.

Claims

1. A method of organizing, sorting, displaying for navigation, and navigating for finding and selecting one or more multimedia content items available from one or more various types of multimedia content sources using a multimedia terminal based on profile, preference and entitlement information pertinent to at least one viewer, and identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information pertinent to the one or more multimedia content items, and identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information pertinent to the one or more various types of multimedia content sources, comprising:

(a) organizing the identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information pertinent to the one or more multimedia content items, the one or more multimedia content sources, and the at least one viewer using a hierarchial information structure including one or more parameter sets, whereby said one or more parameter sets include identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information;

(b) sorting the information pertinent to the one or more multimedia content items, the one or more multimedia content sources, and the at least one viewer by performing at least one sorting operation on said identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information for applying a defined sorting criteria to identify at least one multimedia content item compliant with said defined sorting criteria, thereby identifying said compliant at least one multimedia content as suitable for the at least one viewer, whereby the at least one sorting operation performed is based on the complexity of the required sort and may occur as a pre processing sorting operation at any time prior to the time the at least one viewer navigates multimedia content, as a real time processing sorting operation at the time the at least one viewer navigates multimedia content, and any combination of both said at least one pre processing sorting operation and said at least one real time processing sorting operation;

(c) displaying a navigation graphical user interface on a television, computer, video, or other visual screen connected to a multimedia terminal, said graphical user interface including at least one first window as a diagonal window displaying an enumeration of the at least one multimedia content item suitable for the at least one viewer, at least one second window as an active diagonal information window displaying information pertinent to the at least one suitable multimedia content item, at least one third window as an active content item window displaying a visual still or moving image visual depiction of a multimedia content item selected by the at least one viewer, at least one fourth window as a selected item information window displaying information pertinent to the selected multimedia content item depicted by the still or moving image; and

(d) navigating through the display in the at least one first window as a diagonal window to select the at least one suitable multimedia content item using at least one of a plurality of on screen navigation functions including a diagonal forward function, a diagonal reverse function, a diagonal rotation counterclockwise function, a diagonal rotation clockwise function, a diagonal forward view function, a diagonal reverse view function, a select function, and a guide on and off function, each function invoked by depressing at least one button on a remote control device, or at least one key on a keyboard, or by clicking on at least one on screen icon connected to a multimedia terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more parameter sets further includes

any combination selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters, punctuation symbols, text strings, integers, real numbers, arithmetic operators and symbols, and logic operators and symbols to identify, describe, locate and characterize the one or more multimedia content items, and the one or more various multimedia content sources and to represent the profile, preference and entitlement information pertinent to the at least one viewer of multimedia content.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more parameter sets of identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information further includes:

(a) a content instance, including a content descriptor, a content locator and a content view token associated with said content locator, as a means for referencing each instance of a particular multimedia content item, wherein a particular multimedia content item occurring at more than one time or location has the same more than one number of content instances, each having the same content descriptor and view token but a different content locator,

(b) said content descriptor as a means for identifying and describing a multimedia content item including name and title, identification number, description, genre and subject matter, version number, classification, subclassification type, substitutability status, removability status, processing and decoding format, the multimedia content item for use, identification of the provider, identification of the owner, author, publisher, or distributor, date of publication or release, viewer age appropriateness, content rating, targeted viewer demographics, usage entitlements and access restriction requirements,

(c) said content locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the associated content instance,

(d) said content view token associated with each content locator as a means for defining the characteristics of the particular multimedia content item located by said content locator,

(e) a view token definition as a means for defining the format of the content view token,

(f) a view token definition locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the view token definition,

(g) a blank content instance as a means for maintaining the content descriptor, content locator and content view token information structure but blanking out said information from display and prohibiting its navigation,

(h) at least one content diagonal, including a content diagonal header and at least one content locator and its associated content view token, as a means for grouping content locators and their associated content view tokens locating and characterizing multimedia content items having at least one characteristic in common with all other multimedia content items in said grouping, wherein said at least one characteristic is determined by the content view tokens within said grouping,

(i) said content diagonal header as a means for defining a name, identification number, and version number of its associated content diagonal,

(j) a content diagonal locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the at least one content diagonal,

(k) a content diagonal view token as a means for defining the at least one characteristic in common with all the content view tokens within the content diagonal,

(l) a viewer configuration descriptor as a means for defining information pertinent to the at least one viewer, thereby making said viewer a configured viewer, including a profile, preferences, restrictions and entitlements particular to each of the at least one configured viewer,

(m) a number of configured viewers parameter as a means for indicating the number of viewers for which a viewer configuration descriptor has been defined, thereby being configured for multimedia content use,

(n) a viewer identification parameter assigned and particular to each configured viewer as a means for identifying said each configured viewer,

(o) a viewer configuration descriptor locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a viewer configuration descriptor,

(p) a viewer configuration information parameter set as a means for grouping the at least one viewer configuration descriptor locator pertinent to a particular configured viewer,

(q) a viewer display descriptor as a means for defining what information is displayed for a particular configured viewer,

(r) a viewer display descriptor locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a viewer display descriptor,

(s) at least one content matrix, including a content matrix header, a content matrix availability parameter, a content matrix duration parameter, a view token definition locator, a sort algorithm locator, a current root diagonal parameter and at least one content diagonal locator and its associated content diagonal view token, as a means for grouping content diagonal locators and their associated content diagonal view tokens locating and characterizing at least one content diagonal having at least one characteristic in common with all other content diagonals within said grouping, wherein said at least one characteristic is determined by the content diagonal view tokens within said grouping,

(t) said content matrix header included in a content matrix as a means for defining the name, identification number, and version number of its associated content matrix,

(u) said content matrix availability parameter included in a content matrix as a means for defining the day and time when a content matrix is available for use,

(v) said content matrix duration parameter included in a content matrix as a means for defining the time duration that a content matrix is available for use,

(w) said current root diagonal parameter included in a content matrix as a means for designating a content matrix as an origin reference point in a navigation display,

(x) said view token definition locator included in a content matrix as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the view token definition pertinent to the including content matrix,

(y) at least one sort algorithm as a means for defining the procedure applied for sorting a content matrix,

(z) said sort algorithm locator included in a content matrix as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating said sort algorithm for sorting the including content matrix,

(aa) at least one content matrix modification as a means for modifying a content matrix so as to make said content matrix compliant with a defined sorting criteria as determined by the at least one sort algorithm applied to said content matrix,

(bb) a content matrix modification locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a particular content matrix modification,

(cc) an original content matrix as a means for designating a content matrix as unmodified with respect to its initial version,

(dd) a modified content matrix as a means for designating a content matrix as modified from its prior version,

(ee) an original content matrix locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time of availability, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating an original content matrix,

(ff) an original content matrix viewer list as a means for enumerating the viewer identification parameter of each configured viewer for which multimedia content items referenced in an original content matrix are suitable,

(gg) a modified content matrix viewer list as a means for enumerating the viewer identification parameter of each configured viewer for which multimedia content items referenced in a modified content matrix are suitable,

(hh) a number of modifications parameter as a means for indicating the number of modifications made to a modified content matrix since its initial version as an original content matrix,

(ii) at least one matrix information data parameter set as at least one means for referencing information pertinent to a content matrix including the original content matrix viewer list, the number of modifications parameter, and the content matrix modification locator,

(jj) a content matrix descriptor, including a matrix tag parameter, a matrix status parameter, a matrix information locator, a previous matrix descriptor locator and a next matrix descriptor locator, as a means for defining the availability status, and position within a processing sequence of the content matrix it describes,

(kk) said matrix tag parameter as a means for referencing a particular content matrix within a content matrix descriptor,

(ll) said matrix status parameter included in a content matrix descriptor as a means for describing the availability of the referenced content matrix and any modifications thereto,

(mm) said matrix information locator, included in the content matrix descriptor, as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a matrix information data parameter set,

(nn) said previous matrix descriptor locator, included in the content matrix descriptor, as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time of availability, time duration of availability search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the content matrix preceding the content matrix described by said content matrix descriptor in a processing sequence of a plurality of content matrixes,

(oo) said next matrix descriptor locator, included in the content matrix descriptor, as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time of availability, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the content matrix following the content matrix described by said content matrix descriptor in a processing sequence of a plurality of content matrixes,

(pp) a content matrix locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a content matrix,

(qq) a view filter as a means for defining which particular sort algorithm is applied to verify that each multimedia content item referenced in a content matrix complies with the viewer configuration descriptor pertinent to each of the at least one configured viewer,

(rr) a view filter locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a view filter,

(ss) a number of view filter entries parameter as a means for indicating the number of information entities in a view filter,

(tt) at least one view filter definition as a means for defining the format and type of information entities of a view filter,

(uu) a view filter definition locator as a means for defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time when available, time duration of availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating a view filter definition,

(vv) at least one view filter reference parameter as a means for defining the information that is evaluated in a view filter,

(ww) at least one view filter reference definition parameter as a means for defining the value of an associated view filter reference,

(xx) a number of view filter reference definitions parameter as a means for indicating the number of defined values for a particular view filter reference parameter,

(yy) a number of filter values parameter as a means for indicating the number of view filter references defined in a particular view filter definition,

(zz) at least one view filter reference value definition parameter as a means for defining a name corresponding to a particular type of view filter reference,

(aaa) a view filter entity parameter as a means for referencing an associated view filter reference parameter,

(bbb) at least one display information container as a means for conveying content diagonal information or content instance information for display in a navigation display on a video screen,

(ccc) a container type parameter as a means for indicating whether a display information container is a content diagonal information conveyor or a content instance information conveyor,

(ddd) at least one display information array as a means for conveying the at least one display information container,

(eee) a number of display information containers parameter as a means for indicating the number of display information containers conveyed in a display information array,

(fff) at least one display information container descriptor as a means for defining information for particularizing the configuration of a navigation display to a particular configured viewer, and

(ggg) a number of information container descriptors parameter as a means for indicating the number of display information container descriptors in a display information array.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined sorting criteria further includes at least one multimedia content item characteristic expressed in the information type and format of the at least one view token definition and the at least one sort algorithm, wherein said defined sorting criteria may be defined for application in a pre processing sorting operation, a real time processing sorting operation or any combination of both.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one multimedia content item characteristic to which the defined sorting criteria is applied further includes name, title, identification number, version, description, publication release date, class, type, genre, subject matter, content source, location, usage restrictions and entitlements, owner, producer, author, distributor, provider, actor, performer, artist, viewer age appropriateness, content rating, targeted viewer demographics, running time length, file size, availability day, availability time of day, availability time duration, decoding and display processing format.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sorting operation is a pre-processing sorting operation further including

(a) creating an original content matrix,

(b) modifying an existing original content matrix or a previously modified content matrix,

(c) deriving a new content matrix as a derivative content matrix from an existing original content matrix or an existing modified content matrix.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one pre processing sorting operation further includes

(a) determining whether to apply an existing defined sorting criteria or a newly defined sorting criteria,

(b) retrieving at least one existing sorting parameter list if applying an existing defined sorting criteria,

(c) creating at least one new sorting parameter list if applying a newly defined sorting criteria,

(d) retrieving at least one existing sort algorithm if applying an existing defined sorting criteria,

(e) creating at least one new sort algorithm if applying a newly defined sorting criteria,

(f) retrieving at least one existing view token definition if applying an existing defined sorting criteria,

(g) creating at least one new view token definition if applying a newly defined sorting criteria,

(h) storing the at least one newly created sorting parameter list if created,

(i) storing the at least one newly created sort algorithm if created,

(j) storing the at least one newly created view token definition if created,

(k) performing the retrieved existing at least one sort algorithm on the existing at least one content matrix using the retrieved at least one existing sorting parameter list, and the retrieved existing at least one view token definition if applying an existing defined sorting criteria to sort an existing content matrix,

(l) performing the newly created at least one sort algorithm to create a new content matrix using the newly created sorting parameter list and the newly created view token definition,

(m) performing the newly created at least one new sort algorithm on the existing content matrix if applying a newly defined sorting criteria,

(n) performing the newly created at least one new sort algorithm on the newly created content matrix if applying a newly defined sorting criteria, whereby the foregoing at least one pre processing sorting operation results in a sorted content matrix.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one pre processing sorting operation is performed on all content instances within each and every content diagonal of a content matrix and further includes

(a) performing at least one sort algorithm on each and every content instance and its associated content view token within each and every content diagonal of a content matrix to determine if it complies with the then current pertinent view token definition,

(b) creating a new content view token if said view token definition has changed since its previous version,

(c) performing a second at least one sort algorithm on each and every content instance to determine if it complies with the defined sorting criteria, and thereby suitable for the configured viewer pertinent to said defined sorting criteria,

(d) searching for and substituting a compliant content instance for each non compliant content instance if its substitutability status indicates that substitution is is allowed and if a compliant content instance is found,

(e) creating a new content view token for each substituted compliant content instance,

(f) removing each non compliant content instance for which substitution is not allowed if its removability status indicates that removal is allowed,

(g) replacing each non compliant content instance with a blank content instance if it cannot be substituted or removed,

(h) creating a new content diagonal view token for each content diagonal within the content matrix, thereby describing the current multimedia content item characteristics defined in the constituent content view tokens within said each content diagonal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sorting operation is a real time sorting operation using content matrix descriptor chaining to define the sequence in which a plurality of successive content matrixes is processed and further includes

(a) receiving at least one content matrix,

(b) creating a content matrix descriptor,

(c) creating a matrix information data parameter set from the information contained in the received content matrix,

(d) initializing the matrix information locator in the newly created content matrix descriptor, thereby defining the source, location, delivery type and method, day and time availability, time duration availability, search technique required, and access security restrictions and entitlements applied in locating the newly created matrix information data parameter set,

(e) initializing both the previous matrix descriptor locator and the next matrix descriptor locator of the newly created content matrix descriptor to a null locator value if the newly created content matrix descriptor is the first in a sequence,

(f) initializing the previous matrix descriptor locator to point to the location of the last enumerated content matrix descriptor and the next matrix descriptor locator to a null locator value if the newly created content matrix descriptor is not the first in a sequence,

(g) initializing the next matrix descriptor locator of the last enumerated content matrix descriptor to point to the location of the newly created content matrix descriptor.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one real time sorting operation further includes

(a) receiving at least one content matrix,

(b) assigning a matrix tag parameter to said received content matrix,

(c) creating a real time matrix database including matrix tag parameters, matrix status parameters, matrix information locators, original content matrix locators, content matrix viewer lists, number of modifications parameters, list of modifications parameters, and content matrix modification locators as entries to said real time matrix database,

(d) retrieving the viewer configuration information parameter set pertinent to at least one configured viewer who is actively navigating multimedia content thereby an active configured viewer,

(e) retrieving the at least one view filter definition pertinent to the at least one active configured viewer,

(f) retrieving the at least one view filter pertinent to the at least one active configured viewer,

(g) performing at least one sort algorithm on said received at least one content matrix to determine if it is suitable for said active configured viewer based on said retrieved viewer configuration information parameter set, said retrieved at least one view filter definition and said retrieved at least one view filter,

(h) determining if modifications to the received at least one content matrix are allowed,

(i) searching the real time matrix database for at least one existing content matrix modification suitable for the active configured viewer using information including content matrix locators, content matrix viewer lists, number of content matrix modifications parameters, content matrix modification locators, original content matrixes, and modified content matrixes,

(j) creating at least one new content matrix modification suitable for the at least one active configured viewer if the received at least one content matrix is not suitable for the at least one active configured viewer and no existing suitable modifications are found,

(k) creating at least one modified content matrix suitable for the at least one active configured viewer based on the at least one existing content matrix modification found or the new content matrix modification created,

(l) updating the applicable real time matrix database entries resulting from said modifications including incrementing the number of modifications parameter by the number of content matrix modifications made,

(a) prompting the at least one active configured viewer to select a content matrix that said viewer determines suitable if neither the at least one original content matrix nor the at least one modified content matrix is suitable for said viewer,

(m) adding the viewer identification parameter of the at least one active configured viewer to the content matrix viewer list of the original content matrix, the modified content matrix resulting from said real time sorting operation, or the selected content matrix resulting from the active configured viewer'"'"'s prompted selection.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the real time processing sorting operation is performed on all content instances within each and every content diagonal of a content matrix and further includes

(a) performing at least one sort algorithm on each and every content instance and its associated content view token within each and every content diagonal of a content matrix to determine if it complies with the then current pertinent view token definition,

(b) creating a new content view token if said view token definition has changed since its previous version,

(c) performing a second at least one sort algorithm on each and every content instance to determine if it complies with the defined sorting criteria, and thereby suitable for the configured viewer pertinent to said defined sorting criteria,

(d) searching for and substituting a compliant content instance for each non compliant content instance if its substitutability status indicates that substitution is is allowed and if a compliant content instance is found,

(e) creating a new content view token for each substituted compliant content instance,

(f) removing each non compliant content instance for which substitution is not allowed if its removability status indicates that removal is allowed,

(g) replacing each non compliant content instance with a blank content instance if it cannot be substituted or removed,

(h) creating a new content diagonal view token for each content diagonal within the content matrix, thereby describing the current multimedia content item characteristics defined in the constituent content view tokens within said each content diagonal.

(n) updating the applicable real time matrix database entries resulting from said modifications including incrementing the number of modifications parameter by the number of content matrix modifications made,

(o) adding the viewer identification parameter of the at least one active configured viewer to the content matrix viewer list of the original or modified content matrix resulting from said real time sorting operation.

(p) initializing the content matrix locator parameter to point to the location of the resulting modified content matrix,

(q) update the matrix information data parameter set.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the navigation graphical user interface further includes

(a) receiving a content matrix suitable for the at least one active configured viewer,

(b) designating said received content matrix as an active content matrix,

(c) creating a display information array based on the information contained in the active content matrix as display configuration information pertinent to a particular active configured viewer,

(d) retrieving the current root diagonal number parameter from the active content matrix,

(i) performing at least one sort algorithm on each and every content instance and its associated content view token within each and every content diagonal of the active content matrix to determine if it complies with the view filter pertinent to the active configured viewer,

(j) searching for and substituting a compliant content instance for each non compliant content instance if its substitutability status indicates that substitution is allowed and if a compliant content instance is found,

(k) creating a new content view token for each substituted compliant content instance,

(l) removing each non compliant content instance for which substitution is not allowed if its removability status indicates that removal is allowed,

(m) replacing each non compliant content instance with a blank content instance if it cannot be substituted or removed,

(n) creating a display information array including at least one display information container of only information from those compliant content instances.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the information contained in the display information container is displayed on a television, computer, video or other visual screen using a plurality of on screen windows including

(a) displaying in the at least one active content item window, a still or moving image rendering of a multimedia content item selected and thereby activated by the active at least one configured viewer,

(b) displaying in the at least one diagonal window, a list of the at least one multimedia content item identified in the at least one content diagonal parameter set,

(c) displaying in the at least one diagonal window designated as the active diagonal window, a list of the at least one multimedia content item identified in the active content diagonal parameter set,

(d) displaying in the at least one active diagonal information window, information received from the at least one display information container parameter of the display information array parameter set as information pertinent to the at least one multimedia content item listed in the at least one active diagonal window,

(e) displaying in the at least one selected item information window, information pertinent to the at least one multimedia content item displayed in the at least one active content item window.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal forward navigation function further includes

(a) shifting the multimedia content item graphical index displayed in a diagonal window forward, from right to left, or up in value by at least one count, increment or next multimedia content item listed, each time this function is invoked, whereby the at least one content diagonal containing the information then positioned in the display for navigation is replaced with information from a content diagonal next in a sequence of a plurality of content diagonals, to aid a viewer in navigating in a forward first to last direction through menu list of multimedia content items displayed in a diagonal window which may be shorter than the number of multimedia content items referenced in the content diagonal associated with said displaying diagonal window.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal reverse navigation function further includes

(a) shifting the multimedia content item graphical index displayed in a diagonal window backward, from left to right, or down in value by at least one count, decrement or previous multimedia content item listed, each time this function is invoked, whereby the at least one content diagonal containing the information then positioned in the display for navigation is replaced with information from a content diagonal previous in a sequence of a plurality of content diagonals, to aid a viewer in navigating in a last to first direction through menu list of multimedia content items displayed in a diagonal window which may be shorter than the number of multimedia content items referenced in the content diagonal associated with said displaying diagonal window.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal rotation counterclockwise function further includes

(a) retrieving the content diagonal root parameter,

(b) invoking a general object rotation function and using the content diagonal root parameter as a reference with respect to which the at least one diagonal window is rotated counterclockwise around the navigation display,

(c) using said rotation to position within the at least one diagonal window for displaying the information contained in the at least one content diagonal next in a sequence of a plurality of content diagonals each time said navigation function is invoked, whereby this navigation function may be used by a viewer to navigate through the information contained in a plurality of content diagonals rapidly in a sequence direction from current to next.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal rotation clockwise function further includes

(a) retrieving the content diagonal root parameter,

(b) invoking a general object rotation function and using the content diagonal root parameter as a reference with respect to which the at least one diagonal window is rotated clockwise around the navigation display,

(b) using said rotation to position within the at least one diagonal window for displaying the information contained in the at least one content diagonal previous in a sequence of a plurality of content diagonals each time said navigation function is invoked, whereby this navigation function may be used by a viewer to navigate through the information contained in a plurality of content diagonals rapidly in a sequence direction from current to previous.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal forward view navigation function further includes shifting the graphical index displayed in a diagonal window forward, from right to left, or up by enveloping a plurality comprising a set of next content diagonals, each time this function is invoked, whereby said plurality of content diagonals then positioned in the diagonal window for navigation is replaced with another plurality of equal number of content diagonals occurring next in an enumeration of content diagonals.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal reverse view navigation function further includes shifting the graphical index displayed in a diagonal window backward, from right to left, or down by enveloping a plurality comprising a set of previous content diagonals, each time this function is invoked, whereby said plurality of content diagonals then positioned in the diagonal window for navigation is replaced with another plurality of equal number of content diagonals occurring previous in an enumeration of content diagonals.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the select navigation function further includes

(a) indicating on the display selection of a particular multimedia content item listed in said displayed graphical index,

(b) activating the selected multimedia content item by displaying information pertinent to it in the at least one selected item information window,

(c) displaying a still or moving image rendering of said selected multimedia content item in the at least one active content item window.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide on and off navigation function further includes causing the plurality of display windows to appear on the visual screen by invoking the on function and causing the plurality of display windows to disappear from the visual screen by invoking the off function.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one sorting operation performed by said apparatus further includes the real time processing sort method according to claim 9, 10, or 11.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the displaying for navigation information by said apparatus further includes the method according to claim 12 or 13.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the navigation of displayed information by said apparatus further includes the method according to claim 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21.

22. An apparatus for organizing, sorting, displaying for navigation, and navigating for finding and selecting one or more multimedia content items available from one or more varied types of multimedia content sources and displaying on a television, computer, video or other visual screen a plurality of display windows containing information about or content of at least one multimedia content item, whereby the particular at least one multimedia content item is based on the sorting, comprising:

(a) at least one memory or other data storage device that stores information defining at least one sorting criteria, information identifying, describing, locating and characterizing one or more multimedia content items, information identifying, describing, locating and characterizing one or more various types of multimedia content sources, and information identifying, describing, locating and characterizing one or more viewers of multimedia content;

(b) at least one network interface, including hardware and software, for connection to a multimedia content source and communication of said identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information;

(c) at least one display interface, including hardware and software, for connection to a television screen, computer screen, video or other visual screen and display of said identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information;

(d) at least one user interface, including hardware and software, for controlling and communicating with the apparatus by a user of the apparatus or viewer of multimedia content; and

(e) at least one processor engine, including hardware and software, connected with the at least one network interface, the at least one display interface, the at least one user interface, and the at least one memory or other data storage device, that retrieves the information defining the sorting criteria and the information identifying, describing, locating and characterizing multimedia content items, multimedia content sources, and viewers of multimedia content, performs at least one organizing operation to organize the identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information, performs at least one sorting operation to apply the at least one sorting criteria information to some or all of the identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information, groups only those multimedia content items which comply with said sorting criteria as suitable for use by a particular viewer, displays in the plurality of display windows information about or content of only those suitable multimedia content items, performs at least one navigation function invoked by a viewer to navigate through the displayed information for selecting at least one multimedia content item therefrom.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one memory or data storage device, the at least one network interface, the at least one display interface, the at least one user interface, and the at least one processor engine may all be located together at one location or each one or more of them distributed among a plurality of location in at least one multimedia content source, at least one multimedia content network, or at least one multimedia terminal, or in any combination thereof.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one processing engine organizes, sorts, displays, and navigates some or all of the identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information at any time prior to viewer navigation of multimedia content items as a pre processing operation, at the time of said navigation as a real time processing operation, or in any combination of both.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the sorting criteria and the identifying, describing, locating and characterizing information organized, sorted, displayed, and navigated by said apparatus further includes a hierarchial information structure including one or more parameter sets, whereby said one or more parameter sets includes any combination selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters, punctuation symbols, text strings, integers, real numbers, arithmetic operators and symbols, and logic operators and symbols.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the hierarchial information structure of one or more parameter sets organized, sorted, displayed, and navigated by said apparatus further includes the parameters according to claim 3.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one sorting operation performed by said apparatus further includes the pre processing sorting method according to claim 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.