Method and system for creating, using and modifying multifunctional website hot spots

• US 7,162,696 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CoolTvNetwork.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Franz Wakefield
• Inventors: Wakefield, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): PESIN, BORIS M
• Application Number:
  US09/877,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 345/723, 345/726, 345/853, 370/401, 379/90.01, 379/93.07, 379/93.12, 379/93.14, 379/93.17, 704/240, 704/275, 705/26, 705/37, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/10, 707/104.1, 709/206, 709/218, 715/513
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for creating, using and modifying multifunctional website hot spots including software that identifies, programs and activates hot spots with a plurality of functions wherein the functions include a shopping mode for selecting and purchasing items on a website or in a video, a digital call mode for facilitating videoconferencing and telephone calls over a globally accessible network, a digital storage area for selecting, retrieving and playing selected digital media files, a bid mode that facilitates audio and video communication during multi-task communication interface for conducting an auction and/or accepting bids, an interact mode for communicating a user with a live streamed digital media file, a link mode for directly linking to pre-identified URL addresses and an entertain mode for retrieving and activating digital media files, wherein the functions are selected based on user inputs or predetermined parameters and are activated by clicking a predetermined hot spot.

Claims

1. A Multifunctional Hot Spot apparatus comprising:

at least one hot spot defined by a communication with instructions stored on a tangible retaining medium;

at least one of the hot spots being accessible from a globally accessible network;

means for performing at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions executed with the selection of each particular hot spot;

wherein said hot spots reside on and are accessible from a digital video or audio file;

wherein said predetermined functions are selected from a mode control;

wherein the mode control comprises a plurality of modes;

wherein the plurality of modes comprise a shop mode, a bid mode, an interact mode, an entertainment mode, and a link mode;

wherein a specific mode is selected by a user through an expandable graphical user interface bar;

wherein said specific mode further toggles based on time stamps in said digital video or digital audio file;

wherein said hot spots are visualized by outlines, shading, or illumination or a combination of each, at a predetermined area on the display;

wherein said Multifunctional Hot Spot apparatus is made to reside on and is executing on a computing system;

means, defined by said instructions, for selecting and activating at least one of said predetermined functions by clicking on each particular Multifunctional Hot Spot.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

where said predetermined functions comprising;

means for further identifying items available on a website for purchase.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

where said predetermined functions comprising;

means for conducting an auction and receiving bids for the purchase of identified items, through a multicast communication window &

interface.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

where said predetermined functions comprising;

means for linking to at least one predetermined URL address when said hot spot is activated.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

further comprising a means for storing and retrieving digital media, said digital media having at least one said Multifunctional Hot Spot defined therein.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

wherein said predetermined functions comprises;

means for calling a predetermined phone number or user when said hot spot is activated.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

further comprising a storage, retrieval, and modification-area apparatus;

means for providing sessions for storing, modifying, accessing and activating digital media when said Multifunctional Hot Spot is activated;

a set of processed or readable instructions storable on a retaining medium, providing a means for separating digital video and digital audio files in and from digital media and means defined to facilitate the separation of digital video and digital audio with at least one Multifunctional Hot Spot.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined functions comprises:

a means for communicating a website or network user with

a digital media file having at least one said Multifunctional Hot Spot.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined functions comprise:

a voice recognition means for activating at least one of said predetermined functions based on the sound of the user'"'"'s voice.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

said hot spots reside on and are accessible from at least one linked digital video file, wherein a linked digital video is accessible from digital video with at least one Multifunctional Hot Spot;

where said digital video is activated from a preset parameter, or upon reaching a particular segment in a digital media file;

wherein said digital video is based on a user'"'"'s preference;

means defined for automatically launching digital video to the current user or launching to another active network user.

11. An apparatus as identified in claim 1:

wherein said hot spot resides in and is accessible from at least one, linked audio digital file, wherein linked digital audio is accessible from digital audio with at least one Multifunctional Hot Spot;

where said digital audio is activated from a preset parameter, or upon reaching a particular segment in a digital media file;

wherein said digital audio is based on a user'"'"'s preference;

means defined for automatically launching digital audio to the current user or launching to another active network user.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

wherein said predetermined functions comprise;

at least one globally accessible address that is accessible through a globally accessible network when said corresponding identifier is selected.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said means for selecting and activating comprises:

at least one predetermined parameter that activates a corresponding function from said plurality of functions when said parameter is satisfied.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13:

further comprising a means for overriding said parameter when a user selects at least one of said plurality of predetermined functions.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for adding at least one additional function to a predetermined hot spot.

15. A tangible computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code portions stored therein, such that, when executed in a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

defining at least one hot spot by a communication with instructions stored on a tangible retaining medium;

accessing at least one of the hot spots from a globally accessible network;

performing at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions executed with the selection of each particular hot spot;

wherein said hot spots reside on and are accessible from a digital video or audio file;

wherein said predetermined functions are selected from a mode control;

wherein the mode control comprises a plurality of modes;

wherein the plurality of modes comprise a shop mode, a bid mode, an interact mode, an entertainment mode, and a link mode;

wherein a specific mode is selected by a user through an expandable graphical user interface bar;

wherein said specific mode further toggles based on time stamps in said digital video or digital audio file;

wherein said hot spots are visualized by outlines, shading, or illumination or a combination of each, at a predetermined area on the display;

wherein said Multifunctional Hot Spot apparatus is made to reside on and is executing on a computing system;

selecting and activating at least one of said predetermined functions by clicking on each particular Multifunctional Hot Spot.

17. A Multifunctional Hot Spot method comprising:

defining at least one hot spot by a communication with instructions stored on a tangible retaining medium;

accessing at least one of the hot spots from a globally accessible network;

performing at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions executed with the selection of each particular hot spot;

wherein said hot spots reside on and are accessible from a digital video or audio file;

wherein said predetermined functions are selected from a mode control;

wherein the mode control comprises a plurality of modes;

wherein the plurality of modes comprise a shop mode, a bid mode, an interact mode, an entertainment mode, and a link mode;

wherein a specific mode is selected by a user through an expandable graphical user interface bar;

wherein said specific mode further toggles based on time stamps in said digital video or digital audio file;

wherein said hot spots are visualized by outlines, shading, or illumination or a combination of each, at a predetermined area on the display;

wherein said Multifunctional Hot Spot apparatus is made to reside on and is executing on a computing system;

selecting and activating at least one of said predetermined functions by clicking on each particular Multifunctional Hot Spot.

18. a tangible computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code portions stored therein, such that, when executed in a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

defining at least one hot spot by a communication with instructions stored on a tangible retaining medium;

accessing at least one of the hot spots from a globally accessible network;

performing at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions executed with the selection of each particular hot spot;

wherein said hot spots reside on and are accessible from a digital video or audio file;

wherein said predetermined functions are selected from a mode control;

wherein the mode control comprises a plurality of modes;

wherein the plurality of modes comprise a shop mode, a bid mode, an interact mode, an entertainment mode, and a link mode;

wherein a specific mode is selected by a user through an expandable graphical user interface bar;

wherein said specific mode further toggles based on time stamps in said digital video or digital audio file;

wherein said hot spots are visualized by outlines, shading, or illumination or a combination of each, at a predetermined area on the display;

wherein said Multifunctional Hot Spot apparatus is made to reside on and is executing on a computing system;

selecting and activating at least one of said predetermined functions by clicking on each particular Multifunctional Hot Spot.