Electronic system for accessing graphical and textual information
First Claim
1. A system for enabling users thereof to electronically access a wide range of information, and including a capability for interuser messaging and executing of transactions, comprising:
- a. terminal means for displaying graphical and textual information to a user;
b. a first operational node connected to said terminal means and comprising;
(1) first database means comprising page means for providing graphical and textual information, said page means comprising a plurality of pages, each page comprising a variable length electronic data structure comprising control information and displayable data, said control information comprising at least one exit path for directing the user from one page to another page; and
(2) first application program means for exchanging messages and executing transactions on behalf of said user; and
c. a second operational node comprising second database means and second application program means for respectively providing graphical and textual information, and exchanging messages and executing transaction on behalf of said user; and
d. means for enabling said terminal means to access said graphical and textual information from said first and second database means and to exchange messages and execute transactions with said second operational node, through said first node means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An architecture for the implementation of an information utility for accessing information and executing transactions on an interactive basis between Videotex databases and individual end user terminals, some or all of which may be remotely located with respect to each other. The utility may be associated with a Videotex Application Network (VAN) and includes a combination of distributed, semiautonomous Operations Nodes (ONs), each characterized by (1) one or more affiliated users, (2) the inclusion of some form of database, and (3) one or more customized application programs, and each is also capable of "standalone" operation. Each database comprises pages of control information and displayable data. Each node comprises a directory of databases at other nodes.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A system for enabling users thereof to electronically access a wide range of information, and including a capability for interuser messaging and executing of transactions, comprising:
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a. terminal means for displaying graphical and textual information to a user; b. a first operational node connected to said terminal means and comprising; (1) first database means comprising page means for providing graphical and textual information, said page means comprising a plurality of pages, each page comprising a variable length electronic data structure comprising control information and displayable data, said control information comprising at least one exit path for directing the user from one page to another page; and (2) first application program means for exchanging messages and executing transactions on behalf of said user; and c. a second operational node comprising second database means and second application program means for respectively providing graphical and textual information, and exchanging messages and executing transaction on behalf of said user; and d. means for enabling said terminal means to access said graphical and textual information from said first and second database means and to exchange messages and execute transactions with said second operational node, through said first node means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for establishing a system for electronically accessing information, exchanging messages, and executing transactions through an end user terminal at an operational node, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first database comprising a plurality of pages of graphical and textual information in the form of variable length electronic data structures, each page comprising control information and displayable data, said control information comprising at least one exit path for directing the user from one page to another page; b. providing said terminal with a display for graphical and textual information; c. constructing a first operational node connected to and including said first database and said terminal; d. providing a second database for supplying graphical and textual information; e. constructing a second operational node including said second database and connected to said first operational node for supplying graphical and textual information to said terminal through said first operational node; and f. providing a first application program at said first operational node and a second application program at said second operational node for controlling transferring of information, exchanging of messages and executing of transactions between said terminal and said second operational node through said first operational node. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification