Method and system for presenting a multimedia title that is based on a multi-node structure while preferring nodes with a relatively spare visit history over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history

• US 6,006,262 A
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Majoor, Gijsberta M. M., Docampo Rama, Maria d. l. M., Thomason, Graham G., Westerink, Joanne H. D. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/036,014
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/229, 709/219, 709/240, 709/217, 345/334, 345/345
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134

Abstract

A method and system for presenting a multimedia title that is based on a multi-node structure while preferring nodes with a relatively spare visit history over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.

For a multimedia title that is based on an information structure with a finite number of information nodes, first an entry point to the structure is presented to a user. Further, user visits as pertaining to specific nodes are logged, and a visit history of certain nodes is indicated to a user. In particular, the indicating prefers to present nodes with a relatively spare visit history over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.

Claims

1. A method for presenting to a user a multimedia title that is based on an information structure comprising a finite number of information nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

presenting an entry point to said information structure,

logging user visits as pertaining to specific said nodes,

and indicating to a user a visit history of one or more particular nodes,

characterized in that said indicating presents one or more nodes with a relatively spare visit history in preference over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spare visit history means zero visits made within a reference time domain.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spare visit history pertains to a single user person and/or a single user session.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicating favours the presenting of nodes that are closer to said entry point and/or nodes that are logically more distant from an actual node over other nodes.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said presenting is subordinated to a randomizing operation.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, furthermore using an automatic guide mode to arrive at a presented node.

7. A system arranged for presenting to a user a multimedia title that is based on an information structure comprising a finite number of information nodes, said system comprising:

presentation means for presenting an entry point to said information structure,

logging means for logging user visits as pertaining to specific said nodes,

and indicating means for indicating to a user a visit history of one or more particular nodes,

characterized in that said indicating means have ranking means for presenting one or more nodes with a relatively spare visit history in preference over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, furthermore comprising user and/or session delimiting means for delimiting logged visits to a single user person and/or a single user session for ranking said spare visit history.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, furthermore comprising automatic guide means for guiding a user to arrive at a presented node.