Method for interfacing with a multi-media information system

• US 5,594,661 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: U S West Marketing Resources Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Patricia L., Bruner, Nancy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/311,531
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514 R, 364/401, 364/407, 348/7, 348/6, 348/13, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 235/381, 395/600
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2027/002 Advertising message recorded in a memory device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• 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

Abstract

A method for processing selections identified by a user in an interactive multi-media information system. The interactive multi-media information system includes a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys. The identification of user selections is accomplished utilizing the input device. The method includes the step of retrieving from the memory a first set of digital data representing a first multi-media program. The method continues with the step of displaying the first multi-media program on the display device. The method further includes the step of prompting the user to press an alpha-numeric key on the input device to receive multi-media information regarding a selection. The method concludes with the steps of receiving a signal representing the alpha-numeric key and displaying multi-media information regarding the identified selection.

Claims

1. In an interactive multi-media information system comprising a server having storage, said server in communication with a plurality of remote client subscriber stations, each subscriber station comprising a set-top having a processor and a memory, a display device coupled to the set-top, and an input device, in communication with the subscriber station, having a plurality of keys, a method for processing selections identified by a user utilizing the input device, the method comprising the steps of:

having a user request, via a remote subscriber station, a first set of digital data representing a first multi-media program from the server;

retrieving from the storage on the server the first multi-media program in response to the user request;

displaying the first multi-media program on the display device;

prompting the user to select a request for multi-media information by pressing a key on the input device;

receiving, at the server, a signal representing the pressed key;

retrieving from the storage on the server the requested multi-media information as a function of the received signal; and

displaying the requested multi-media information on the display device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information is a list of at least one restaurant.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of:

prompting the user to select restaurant search parameters utilizing the input device;

receiving, at the server, signals representing the selected restaurant search parameters;

retrieving from the storage on the sewer data representing a list of one or more restaurants as a function of the selected restaurant search parameters; and

displaying on the display device the list of restaurants.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the restaurant search parameters are selected from the group consisting of food type, restaurant atmosphere, geographic location, average price range, and restaurant name.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information is a list of at least one movie.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the steps of:

prompting the user to select movie search parameters utilizing the input device;

receiving, at the server, signals representing the selected movie search parameters;

retrieving from the storage on the server data representing a list of one or more movies as a function of the selected movie search parameters; and

displaying on the display device the list of movies.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein movie search parameters are selected from the group consisting of movie type, movie title, and theater location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information is an electronic parents guide comprising video segments of sexually explicit or violent scenes in a movie.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information is previews of motion pictures.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information is information relating to motion picture production.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-media information provides information to select a ticket for an event.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the display device is a TV.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sequence is an alphabetical sequence of the multimedia information.

13. In an interactive multi-media information system comprising a server and a plurality of remote client subscriber stations operatively coupled to the server, each subscriber supporting one or more user sessions, a method for displaying multimedia information in two or more user sessions, the method comprising the steps of:

starting a first user session;

sorting multimedia information in a first sequence;

displaying the multimedia information in the first sequence on the display device in the first user session;

starting a second user session;

sorting the multimedia information in a second sequence;

displaying the multimedia information in the second sequence on the display device in the second user session.

15. In an interactive multi-media information system comprising a server having storage, said server in communication with a plurality of remote client subscriber stations, each subscriber station comprising a set-top having a processor and a memory, a display device coupled to the set-top, and an input device in communication with the subscriber station, having a plurality of keys, a method for processing selections identified by a user utilizing the input device, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting, via a remote subscriber station, a first set of digital data representing a first multi-media program from the server;

retrieving from the storage on the server the first multi-media program;

displaying the first multi-media program on the display device;

prompting the user to select a request for multi-media information by pressing a key on the input device;

receiving, at the server, a signal representing the pressed key;

retrieving from the storage on the server the requested multi-media information as a function of the received signal;

displaying the requested multi-media information on the display device; and

wherein the first sequence is an alphabetical sequence of the multimedia information and the second sequence is derived from the first sequence by rotating the first sequence.

16. In an interactive multi-media information system comprising a display device, a method for displaying multimedia information, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a first set of multimedia information, wherein the first set of multimedia information comprises information associated with paying advertisers;

defining a second set of multimedia information, wherein the second set of multimedia information comprises information associated with free advertisements;

displaying the a first set of multimedia information on a first page on the display device; and

displaying the a second set of multimedia information on a second page on the display device, said second page accessible by scrolling a window in the display device.