System and method for accessing, manipulating and viewing internet and non-internet related information and for controlling networked devices

• US 6,486,892 B1
• Filed: 04/07/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guild Forest LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Joseph L. Stern
• Inventors: Stern, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joseph, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US09/287,260
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/329, 345/332, 345/335, 345/339, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/351-354, 345/704, 345/719, 345/720-723, 345/727, 345/760, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/729
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for accessing, generating, presenting and manipulating Internet and non-Internet related information, data and content, including information netcast over the Internet. The system is also capable of controlling operatively connected, privately networked devices. A number of graphical user interfaces are utilized to facilitate user access, manipulation and control of information, data and content and networked devices. Some of the graphical user interfaces are time and topic oriented, are customizable by the user, and allow for the manipulation of information, data, content and operatively connected networked devices from the graphical interfaces themselves. The system is preferably enhanced through the use of an intelligent, dynamically updated user profile that is fully integrated with the system.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating accessing, manipulating and displaying information obtained from Web and non-Web information sources, comprising:

obtaining first information relating to content available from public Internet sources, said first information comprising scheduling information for available netcasts;

obtaining second information relating to content available from private computer sources, and second information comprising scheduling information for content available from the private computer sources;

obtaining third information relating to content available from non-Internet broadcasting sources, said third information comprising scheduling information relating to available television, cable, satellite, or radio broadcasts;

combining said first information, said second information and said third information;

generating a guide from said combined information, said guide comprising a time-oriented graphical user interface of content available on the Internet, the private computer sources and the non-Internet broadcast sources, said guide operative to display content from said public Internet sources, said private computer sources and said non-Internet broadcasting source; and

displaying, during a normal course of presentation of the said guide, an icon reflecting content from a source that was active when an immediately prior user session was terminated so that the user can resume that activity for the current session by engaging the icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide is operative to cause said content to be recorded and stored by way of selection of a cell of said guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide is generated and automatically updated based on one or more user profiles.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the guide further comprises a graphical user interface organized by programming topic.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first information comprises information that is pulled from the Internet.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said first information comprises information that is netcast over the Internet.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said second information comprises information that is pulled from an intranet.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said second information comprises information that is netcast over an intranet.

5. A computer system for facilitating accessing, manipulating and displaying Web and non-Web related information comprising:

a computer;

a communications interface operatively connected to said computer and to public Internet sources, private computer sources and non-Internet broadcasting sources and wherein said communications interface is operable to scan and obtain information relating to content available from the public Internet sources, the private computer sources and the non-Internet broadcast sources;

wherein the information relating to the available content comprises scheduling information for the available content;

wherein the computer is operative to combine the information obtained from the public Internet sources, the private computer sources and the non-Internet broadcast sources;

a guide displayed on said computer, said guide generated from the combined information and comprising a time-oriented graphical user interface of content available on the Internet, the private computer sources and the non-Internet broadcast sources, said guide operative to display content from the public Internet sources, the private computer sources and the non-Internet broadcast sources; and

wherein the guide includes, during a normal course of presentation of the said guide, an icon reflecting content from a source that was active when an immediately prior user session was terminated so that the user can resume that activity for the current session by engaging the icon.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said guide is operative to cause said information to be recorded and stored by way of selection of a cell of said guide.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said guide is generated based on one or more user profiles.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the communication interface is operative to obtain information relating to content available from the public Internet sources by pulling the information from the public Internet sources.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the communication interface is operative to obtain information relating to content available from the public Internet sources by accessing netcasts from the public Internet sources.

14. The system of claim 5 wherein the communication interface is operative to obtain information relating to content available from the private computer sources by pulling the information from an intranet.

15. The system of claim 5 wherein the communication interface is operative to obtain information relating to content available from the private computer sources by accessing netcasts from the private computer sources.

16. The system of claim 5 wherein the information relating to content available from non-Internet broadcasting sources comprises scheduling information relating to available television, cable, satellite or radio broadcasts.

17. The system of claim 5 wherein the guide further comprises a graphical user interface organized by programming topic.

18. A method for generating a guide to a computer and broadcast content comprising:

obtaining first information relating to available computer network content comprising;

obtaining first information relating to available computer network content, said first information comprising scheduling and content location information relating to available netcasts;

obtaining second information relating to available broadcast content, said second information comprising scheduling and content location information relating to broadcast events;

combining said first and second information into the guide;

displaying the guide, the guide comprising a graphical user interface relating to said available computer network consent and said available broadcast content, and a time-oriented graphical user interface of available netcasts and broadcast events; and

displaying, during a normal course of presentation of the said guide, an icon reflecting content from a source that was active when an immediately prior user session was terminated so that the user can resume that activity for the current session by engaging the icon.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising obtaining third information relating to available private computer content, said third information comprising scheduling information relating to personal appointments.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the scheduling information relating to personal appointments comprises information pulled from a personal organizer program.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the third information comprises personal computer files related to topics of interest to a user, wherein said guide further comprises a topic oriented graphical user interface.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said combining comprises combining said first information, said second information and said third information into the comprehensive guide, and wherein the comprehensive guide comprises a time-oriented graphical user interface of netcasts available over the Internet and broadcast events.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the first information comprises scheduling and content location information relating to netcasts available on private intranets.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the first information comprises scheduling and content location information relating to netcasts available on the Internet.