System and method for creating and navigating a linear hypermedia resource program

• US 7,383,323 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hypermedia Navigation LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Texas Technology Ventures, LLP
• Inventors: Morse, James Richard, Genin, Kent E., Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Sullivan, Barry James, Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Omanson, Richard, Light, Jordan Howard, Bossemeyer, Jr., Robert Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US11/728,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20070180064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-202, 709217-219, 709227-229, 709231-232, 709245-246
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the linear program having only one forward link to the next media element. The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download and display the next media element in the linear program.

Claims

1. A method for presenting video media elements to a subscriber station, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the subscriber station to present at least one video media element to the subscriber station;

selecting a plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station, the plurality of video elements including a first video media element and a plurality of second video media elements;

creating a first file for use by the subscriber station to create a first user interface that includes;

a first viewing area in which the first video media element is presented; and

a first map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of the plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the first file to the subscriber station;

receiving a map area selection request from the subscriber station, the map area selection request corresponding to a selected icon of the first map area;

creating a second file for use by the subscriber station to create a second user interface that includes;

a second viewing area in which a second video media element is presented, the second video element corresponding to the selected icon of the first map area;

a second map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of a second plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the second file to the subscriber station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the request from the subscriber station includes receiving a search criteria; and

selecting the plurality of video media elements includes selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the request from the subscriber station includes receiving a search criteria and at least one search preference; and

selecting the plurality of video media elements includes selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria and the at least one search preference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video media elements are selected prior to receipt of the request from the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise JPEG images.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise MPEG images.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each icon of the first map area comprises a frame of a corresponding MPEG image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station resides on a common Web site.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a billing record indicating creation and transmittal of at least the first file.

10. A method for presenting video media elements to a subscriber station, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the subscriber station to present at least one video media element to the subscriber station;

selecting a plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station, the plurality of video elements including a first video media element and a plurality of second video media elements;

creating a file for use by the subscriber station to create a user interface that includes;

a viewing area in which the first video media element is presented; and

a map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of the plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the file to the subscriber station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

receiving the request from the subscriber station includes receiving a search criteria; and

selecting the plurality of video media elements includes selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

receiving the request from the subscriber station includes receiving a search criteria and at least one search preference; and

selecting the plurality of video media elements includes selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria and the at least one search preference.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of video media elements are selected prior to receipt of the request from the user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise JPEG images.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise MPEG images.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each icon of the map area comprises a frame of a corresponding MPEG image.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station resides on a common Web site.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising creating a billing record indicating creation and transmittal of the file.

19. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions that, upon execution by at least one digital computer, cause the at least one digital computer to present a file including video media elements to a subscriber station, the plurality of computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from the subscriber station to present at least one video media element to the subscriber station;

selecting a plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station, the plurality of video elements including a first video media element and a plurality of second video media elements;

creating a first file for use by the subscriber station to create a first user interface that includes;

a first viewing area in which the first video media element is presented; and

a first map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of the plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the first file to the subscriber station;

receiving a map area selection request from the subscriber station, the map area selection request corresponding to a selected icon of the first map area;

creating a second file for use by the subscriber station to create a second user interface that includes;

a second viewing area in which a second video media element is presented, the second video element corresponding to the selected icon of the first map area;

a second map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of a second plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the second file to the subscriber station.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the computer executable instructions for receiving the request from the subscriber station include computer executable instructions for receiving a search criteria; and

the computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements include computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the computer executable instructions for receiving the request from the subscriber station include computer executable instructions for receiving a search criteria and at least one search preference; and

the computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements include computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria and the at least one search preference.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements prior to receipt of the request from the user.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise JPEG images.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise MPEG images.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein each icon of the first map area comprises a frame of a corresponding MPEG image.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station resides on a common Web site.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer executable instructions for creating a billing record indicating creation and transmittal of at least the first file.

28. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions that, upon execution by at least one digital computer, cause the at least one digital computer to present a file including video media elements to a subscriber station, the plurality of computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from the subscriber station to present at least one video media element to the subscriber station;

selecting a plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station, the plurality of video elements including a first video media element and a plurality of second video media elements;

creating a file for use by the subscriber station to create a user interface that includes;

a viewing area in which the first video media element is presented; and

a map area having a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a corresponding one of the plurality of second video media elements, the plurality of icons available for selection to access corresponding video media elements; and

transmitting the file to the subscriber station.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein:

the computer executable instructions for receiving the request from the subscriber station include computer executable instructions for receiving a search criteria; and

the computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements include computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein:

the computer executable instructions for receiving the request from the subscriber station include computer executable instructions for receiving a search criteria and at least one search preference; and

the computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements include computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements based upon the search criteria and the at least one search preference.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, farther comprising computer executable instructions for selecting the plurality of video media elements prior to receipt of the request from the user.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise JPEG images.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein at least some of the plurality of video media elements comprise MPEG images.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein each icon of the first map area comprises a frame of a corresponding MPEG image.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of video media elements for presentation to the subscriber station resides on a common Web site.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 28, farther comprising computer executable instructions for creating a billing record indicating creation and transmittal of the file.