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Method and apparatus for scheduling the availability of movies-on-demand and interactive services

  • US 5,940,071 A
  • Filed: 06/27/1996
  • Issued: 08/17/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computerized system for providing information services, including a storage system for data pertaining to the services, a method comprising:

  • creating and storing an inventory of the information services, including a unique identification of each information service and a reference to data required to provide the information service to a customer;

    creating and storing at least one navigation context;

    for each navigation context, creating and storing at least one service menu;

    associating each service menu with zero or more information services;

    assigning and storing a unique availability start time for each navigation context;

    automatically selecting, upon request by a service provider, a service customer, or an automated system, the navigation context with the most recent availability start time, as calculated from the time of the request, to function as unique current navigation context;

    making available only the service menus associated with the current navigation context, and the information services associated with these service menus.

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