Method and apparatus for scheduling the availability of movies-on-demand and interactive services
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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Abstract
Service items at a central authority are scheduled as to their selective availability upon user request at remote stations. These are bidirectionally connected to the central authority. Each service item is assigned to one or more structures of items. Each structure of items is assigned to one or more of a set of navigation contexts. One unique start instant in absolute time is assigned to each respective navigation context. Upon attaining of any such start instant, all service items assigned to the associated navigation context are rendered available unto a detected request.
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Citations
11 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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2. In a computerized system for providing information services, including a storage system for data pertaining to the services, a method comprising:
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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; associating each navigation context 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 information services associated with the current navigation context.
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8. A computerized system for providing information services, including a storage system for data pertaining to the services, the system comprising:
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an inventory store for 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; a navigation store containing at least one navigation context, each navigation context having a unique availability start time and at least one service menu, each service menu having zero or more information services; request handling means for detecting a request by a service provider, a service customer, or by an automated system, and thereupon automatically selecting 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; presentation means for making available the service menus associated with the current navigation context, and the information services associated with these service menus.
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9. A computerized system for providing information services, including a storage system for data pertaining to the services, the system comprising:
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an inventory store for 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; a navigation store containing at least one navigation context, each navigation context having a unique availability start time and zero or more information services; request handling means for detecting a request by a service provider, a service customer, or by an automated system, and thereupon automatically selecting 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; presentation means for making available service menus associated with the current navigation context, and the information services associated with these service menus.
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10. A method for providing information services comprising:
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creating and storing an inventory of said information services; creating and storing at least one navigation context; creating and storing at least one service menu for each navigation context; associating each service menu with zero or more information services; assigning and storing a unique availability start time for each navigation context; automatically selecting a navigation context with the most recent availability start time; and providing a user with the ability to choose one of said information services from the service menu associated with the selected navigation context. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification