U.S. patent application number 09/729904 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for consumer access systems and methods for providing same.
Invention is credited to Bauer, Werner B., Bountour, Lazaros, Haas, Andreas E., Liebert, Alexander, Voelk, Manfred.
Application Number | 20020069265 09/729904 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22613080 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020069265 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bountour, Lazaros ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Consumer access systems and methods for providing same
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced consumer access to
information sources and controllable entities. An Access device can
be a stand alone device such as a DVD player in which the DVD disk
contains the back-end information network. Other Access devices
obtain the back-end information network from remote sources. By way
of a specific example, the consumer can then view a game and
interactively select every television camera located at the game
venue.
Inventors: |
Bountour, Lazaros;
(Huntington Beach, CA) ; Haas, Andreas E.;
(Munchen, DE) ; Bauer, Werner B.; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Voelk, Manfred; (Huntington Beach,
CA) ; Liebert, Alexander; (Huntington Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
620 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
SIXTEENTH FLOOR
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660
US
|
Family ID: |
22613080 |
Appl. No.: |
09/729904 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60168822 |
Dec 3, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/219 ;
348/E7.086; 375/E7.012; 725/109; 725/87 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/2662 20130101;
H04N 21/47211 20130101; H04N 21/47205 20130101; H04N 21/25808
20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N 21/4438 20130101; H04N
21/441 20130101; H04N 7/181 20130101; H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N
21/6125 20130101; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N 21/854 20130101; H04N
21/4621 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/219 ; 725/87;
725/109 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/173; G06F
015/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over the internet to a
user's P.C. comprising: a plurality of television content providers
located at different venues throughout the world, each content
provider having multiple video cameras already installed at a
particular venue in use for commercial television broadcasting; a
parallel lead from each such installed video camera; an encoder
coupled to each parallel lead, each encoder providing both at least
one high resolution video output and a low resolution video output,
both outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over
internet delivery channels; a streaming server coupled to said
encoders; and graphical user interface software stored at said
streaming server, and available to a user over the internet, said
interface software interactively providing a high resolution video
signal to at least one of the P.C. display windows and
simultaneously one or more lower resolution video signals for
plural smaller monitor displays on the P.C. display.
2. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over the internet
comprising: a plurality of television content providers located at
different venues throughout the world, each content provider having
multiple video cameras already installed at a particular venue in
use for commercial television broadcasting; a parallel lead from
each such installed video camera; an encoder coupled to each
parallel lead, each encoder providing both at least one high
resolution video output and a low resolution video output, both
outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over internet
delivery channels; a high bandwidth network coupled to said encoder
and accessible over the internet; front-end human interface
software interactively providing a high resolution video signal to
at least one of the P.C. display windows from said high bandwidth
network and simultaneously one or more lower resolution video
signals for plural smaller monitor displays on the P.C. display
from said high bandwidth network. each user P.C. adapted to
simultaneously show the high resolution video output from at least
one of said television content provider cameras and a plurality of
lower resolution video outputs from a plurality of said television
content provider cameras.
3. A system for multiple cameras broadcasting over the internet
comprising: a television content provider having multiple video
cameras already installed in several locations at a particular
venue and in use for commercial television broadcasting; a parallel
lead from each such installed video camera; and an encoder coupled
to each parallel lead, each encoder providing both at least one
high resolution video output and a low resolution video output,
both outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over the
internet to a user P.C.
4. The method for providing to a user P.C. an athletic game,
musical, theatrical or like event with simultaneous interactive
access to all of the video cameras in use at said event comprising
the steps of: producing at least one high resolution and one low
resolution signal from each of said video cameras compatible for
delivery over internet delivery channels, transmitting said low and
high resolution video signals to the user's P.C. over the internet,
and providing the user's P.C. with the interactive display of any
of said high resolution signals to a larger display region of the
P.C. display and all of the plurality of low resolution signals for
display on smaller monitor portions of the P.C. display so that the
user is simultaneously provided in substantially real time with the
video outputs from all of said video cameras.
5. A P.C. display for providing a user P.C. with a graphical user
interface for viewing a televised event for several different
television camera angles; a larger screen display for selectively
viewing one televised signal in high resolution on said P.C.
display, and a plurality of smaller screen displays for viewing the
same event on a plurality of smaller low resolution displays on
said P.C. display.
6. A P.C. display for providing a user P.C. with an interactive
front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing a televised event from
several different television camera angles; a companion display
provided on said P.C. display showing where said cameras are
located; and providing the viewer over the internet with high
resolution access to one of said video cameras and simultaneous low
resolution access to the remainder of said video cameras.
7. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over the internet
comprising: a plurality of content providers located at different
venues throughout the world, each content provider having multiple
video cameras at a particular venue in use for private or
commercial content broadcasting; a parallel feed from each such
installed video camera; an encoder coupled to each parallel feed,
each encoder providing both at least one high resolution video
output and a low resolution video output, both outputs being
compatible with simultaneous delivery over internet delivery
channels; a streaming server coupled to said encoders; and
front-end human interface (FHI) software stored at said streaming
server, and available to a user over the internet, said interface
software interactively providing a high resolution video signal to
at least one of the display windows and simultaneously one or more
lower resolution video signals for plural smaller monitor displays
on video display.
8. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over the internet
comprising: a plurality of content providers located at different
venues throughout the world, each content provider having multiple
video cameras already installed at a particular venue in use for
private or commercial broadcasting; a parallel feed from each such
installed video camera; an encoder coupled to each parallel feed,
each encoder providing both at least one high resolution video
output and a low resolution video output, both outputs being
compatible with simultaneous delivery over internet delivery
channels; a high bandwidth network coupled to said encoder and
accessible over the internet; front-end human interface (FHI)
software interactively providing a high resolution video signal to
at least one of the video display windows from said high bandwidth
network and simultaneously one or more lower resolution video
signals for plural smaller monitor displays on the video display
from said high bandwidth network. each user video displays adapted
to simultaneously show the high resolution video output from at
least one of said content provider cameras and a plurality of lower
resolution video outputs from a plurality of said content provider
cameras.
9. A system for multiple cameras broadcasting over the internet
comprising: a television content provider having multiple video
cameras already installed in several locations at a particular
venue and in use for private or commercial broadcasting; a parallel
feed from each such installed video camera; an encoder coupled to
each parallel feed, each encoder providing both at least one high
resolution video output and a low resolution video output, both
outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over the
internet to a user video display.
10. The method for providing to a user's video display an athletic
game, musical, theatrical or any live or recorded public or private
event with simultaneous interactive access to all of the video
cameras in use at said event comprising the steps of: producing at
least one high resolution and one low resolution signal from each
of said video cameras compatible for delivery over internet
delivery channels, transmitting said low and high resolution video
signals to the user's video display over the internet, and
providing the user's video display with the interactive display of
any of said high resolution signals to a larger display region of
the display and all of the plurality of low resolution signals for
display on smaller monitor portions of the video display so that
the user is simultaneously provided in substantially real time with
the video outputs from all of said video cameras.
11. A video display for providing a user display with an
interactive front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing from one or
more different video camera angles; a larger screen display for
selectively viewing one video signal in high resolution on said
video display, and a plurality of smaller screen displays for
viewing the same event on a plurality of smaller low resolution
displays on said video display.
12. A video display for providing a user display with an
interactive front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing a televised
event from several different television camera angles; a companion
display provided on said display showing where said cameras are
located; and providing the viewer over the internet with high
resolution access to one of said video cameras and simultaneous low
resolution access to the remainder of said video cameras.
13. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over the internet to
a remote user video display comprising: a feed from each video
camera; an encoder coupled to each feed providing both at least one
high resolution video output and a low resolution video output,
both outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over
internet delivery channels to said remote user; and front-end human
interface (FHI) software interactively providing a high resolution
video signal to at least one of the display windows and
simultaneously one or more lower resolution video signals for
plural smaller monitor displays on said remote user video
display.
14. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure to a user display comprising: a plurality of
television content providers located at different venues throughout
the world, each content provider having multiple video cameras
already installed at a particular venue in use for commercial
television broadcasting; a parallel lead from each such installed
video camera; an encoder coupled to each parallel lead, each
encoder providing both at least one high resolution video output
and a low resolution video output, both outputs being compatible
with simultaneous delivery over said communication infrastructure;
a streaming server coupled to said encoders; and front-end human
interface software stored at said streaming server, and available
to a user over said communication infrastructure, said interface
software interactively providing a high resolution video signal to
at least one of the display windows of said user display and
simultaneously one or more lower resolution video signals for
plural smaller monitor displays on the user display.
15. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure to a user's display comprising: a plurality of
television content providers located at different venues throughout
the world, each content provider having multiple video cameras
already installed at a particular venue in use for commercial
television broadcasting; a parallel lead from each such installed
video camera; an encoder coupled to each parallel lead, each
encoder providing both at least one high resolution video output
and a low resolution video output, both outputs being compatible
with simultaneous delivery over delivery channels of said
communication infrastructure; front-end human interface software
interactively providing a high resolution video signal to at least
one of the windows of said user display from said high bandwidth
network and simultaneously one or more lower resolution video
signals for plural smaller monitor displays on said user display
from said high bandwidth network. each user display adapted to
simultaneously show the high resolution video output from at least
one of said television content provider cameras and a plurality of
lower resolution video outputs from a plurality of said television
content provider cameras.
16. A system for multiple cameras broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure to a user display comprising: a television content
provider having multiple video cameras already installed in several
locations at a particular venue and in use for commercial
television broadcasting; a parallel lead from each such installed
video camera; and an encoder coupled to each parallel lead, each
encoder providing both at least one high resolution video output
and a low resolution video output, both outputs being compatible
with simultaneous delivery over said communication infrastructure
to said user display.
17. The method for providing to a user display an athletic game,
musical, theatrical or like event with simultaneous interactive
access to all of the video cameras in use at said event comprising
the steps of: producing at least one high resolution and one low
resolution signal from each of said video cameras compatible for
delivery over communication delivery channels, transmitting said
low and high resolution video signals to said user display over
said communications delivery channels, and providing the user
display with the interactive display of any of said high resolution
signals to a larger display region of the user display and all of
the plurality of low resolution signals for display on smaller
monitor portions of the user display so that the user is
simultaneously provided in substantially real time with the video
outputs from all of said video cameras.
18. A display for providing a user with an interactive front-end
human interface (FHI) for viewing a televised event from several
different television camera angles; a larger screen display for
selectively viewing one televised signal in high resolution on said
user display, and a plurality of smaller screen displays for
viewing the same event on a plurality of smaller low resolution
displays on said user display.
19. A system for providing a user display with an interactive
front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing a televised event from
several different television camera angles; a companion display
provided on said display showing where said cameras are located;
and providing the viewer with high resolution access to one of said
video cameras and simultaneous low resolution access to the
remainder of said video cameras.
20. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure to a video display comprising: a plurality of
content providers located at different venues throughout the world,
each content provider having multiple video cameras at a particular
venue in use for private or commercial content broadcasting; a
parallel feed from each such installed video camera; an encoder
coupled to each parallel feed, each encoder providing both at least
one high resolution video output and a low resolution video output,
both outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over said
communication infrastructure channels; a streaming server coupled
to said encoders; and front-end human interface (FHI) software
stored at said streaming server, and available to a user over said
communication infrastructure, said interface software interactively
providing a high resolution video signal to at least one of the
display windows and simultaneously one or more lower resolution
video signals for plural smaller monitor displays on video
display.
21. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over a communications
infrastructure to a video display comprising: a plurality of
content providers located at different venues throughout the world,
each content provider having multiple video cameras already
installed at a particular venue in use for private or commercial
broadcasting; a parallel feed from each such installed video
camera; an encoder coupled to each parallel feed, each encoder
providing both at least one high resolution video output and a low
resolution video output, both outputs being compatible with
simultaneous delivery over delivery channels of said communications
infrastructure; a high bandwidth network coupled to said encoder
and accessible over said communications infrastructure; front-end
human interface (FHI) software interactively providing a high
resolution video signal to at least one display windows of said
video display from said high bandwidth network and simultaneously
one or more lower resolution video signals for plural smaller
monitor displays on said video display from said high bandwidth
network. each video display adapted to simultaneously show the high
resolution video output from at least one of said content provider
cameras and a plurality of lower resolution video outputs from a
plurality of said content provider cameras.
22. A system for multiple cameras broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure comprising: a television content provider having
multiple video cameras already installed in several locations at a
particular venue and in use for private or commercial broadcasting;
a parallel feed from each such installed video camera; an encoder
coupled to each parallel feed, each encoder providing both at least
one high resolution video output and a low resolution video output,
both outputs being compatible with simultaneous delivery over said
communication infrastructure to a user video display.
23. The method for providing to a user's video display an athletic
game, musical, theatrical or any live or recorded public or private
event with simultaneous interactive access to all of the video
cameras in use at said event comprising the steps of: producing at
least one high resolution and one low resolution signal from each
of said video cameras compatible for delivery over communication
delivery channels, transmitting said low and high resolution video
signals to the user's video display over communication delivery
channels, and providing the user's video display with the
interactive display of any of said high resolution signals to a
larger display region of the display and all of the plurality of
low resolution signals for display on smaller monitor portions of
the video display so that the user is simultaneously provided in
substantially real time with the video outputs from all of said
video cameras.
24. A video display for providing a user display with an
interactive front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing from one or
more different video camera angles; a larger screen display for
selectively viewing one video signal in high resolution on said
video display, and a plurality of smaller screen displays for
viewing the same event on a plurality of smaller low resolution
displays on said video display.
25. A video display for providing a user display with an
interactive front-end human interface (FHI) for viewing a televised
event from several different television camera angles; a companion
display provided on said display showing where said cameras are
located; and providing the viewer over a communication
infrastructure with high resolution access to one of said video
cameras and simultaneous low resolution access to the remainder of
said video cameras.
26. A system for multiple camera broadcasting over a communication
infrastructure to a remote user video display comprising: a feed
from each video camera; an encoder coupled to each feed providing
both at least one high resolution video output and a low resolution
video output, both outputs being compatible with simultaneous
delivery over delivery channels of said communication
infrastructure to said remote user; and front-end human interface
(FHI) software interactively providing a high resolution video
signal to at least one of the display windows of said user video
display and simultaneously one or more lower resolution video
signals for plural smaller monitor displays of said remote user
video display.
27. An interactive entertainment system comprising: a plurality of
cameras configured to offer different camera views of an event
occurring at a particular venue; a back-end information network
configured to receive camera outputs from the plurality of cameras,
identify a consumer and associated display device, and dynamically
assemble the camera outputs into a front-end version based on the
consumer's preference and the display device's specifications; a
delivery infrastructure configured to transmit the front-end
version to the consumer; and an access device configured to receive
the front-end version for display, wherein the consumer selectively
views one of the camera views on a relatively larger screen window
and views the remaining camera views on a plurality of relatively
smaller screen windows.
28. The interactive entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the
back-end information network limits the number and type of camera
views delivered to the consumer who elects not to pay for a
pay-per-view event.
29. The interactive entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the
back-end information network matches advertisements to the
consumer's profile, and the delivery infrastructure transmits the
advertisements simultaneously with the front-end version to the
consumer.
30. The interactive entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the
event is an athletic game.
31. The interactive entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the
delivery infrastructure is the Internet.
32. The interactive entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the
access device is a personal computer.
33. A user front-end human interface system comprising: a program
stored in a back-end information network located at a remote
location from the user; means for upgrading said program; an access
device available to said user, said program being loaded onto said
access device from said back-end information network each time the
user connects to said system; a controllable entity connected to
said access device; an information source connected to said access
device; whereby said access device serves as a standalone control
device to remotely control said controllable entity; and whereby
said access device serves as a standalone access device to display
information from said information source.
34. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said controllable entity is a home appliance.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein said appliance is a video
camera.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein said appliance is a
refrigerator.
37. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said information source includes a plurality of remote installed
video cameras.
38. The user front-end human interface system of claim 37, wherein
said back-end information network provides a high bandwidth network
and a plurality of lower bandwidth networks so that the user can
interactively display the video signal in the high bandwidth
network on a large high resolution video display and the video
signals on the lower bandwidth network on smaller lower bandwidth
video displays.
39. The system of claim 33, wherein said access device is a DVD
player.
40. The system of claim 33, wherein said access device is a TV set
top player.
41. The system of claim 33, wherein said information source
includes a source of textural information.
42. The system of claim 41, wherein said source of textured
information provides stock quotes.
43. The system of claim 41, wherein said source of textural
information is advertising.
44. the user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said software supports a plurality of multimedia formats.
45. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said system automatically identifies the information source and
dynamically assembles said program.
46. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said program decodes a plurality of data codes so that the provider
of said information source is free to choose, deploy, and mix a
plurality of media platforms.
47. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said program provides multiple types of window objects such as
onscreen, companion and monitor.
48. The user front-end human interface system of claim 33, wherein
said system dynamically assembles said program in response to the
users preferences and the specifications of said access device.
49. A user front-end human interface system comprising: a software
program and plural information sources stored on a digital readable
media member, an access device for receiving said digital readable
member, said access device utilizing said software program for
interactively displaying said plurality of information sources,
whereby the user may interactively display on multiple monitor
displays the information included in said plural information
sources on said digital readable media member.
50. The system of claim 49, wherein said plural information sources
are television signals from multiple video cameras.
51. The system of claim 48, wherein said digital readable storage
media is a DVD disk.
52. The user front-end human interface system of claim 49, wherein
said information source stored on said digital readable member is
an event viewed by a plurality of video cameras.
53. A method for converting a networked user access device to a
standalone access device, comprising: loading into said access
device a plurality of programs stored in a backend information
network; connecting said access device to an information source;
connecting said access device to a controllable entity;
interactively selecting information to be displayed on said access
device from said information source using said programs previously
loaded from said back-end information network; and using said
access device to selectively controlling said controllable entity
using said programs previously loaded from said back-end
information network.
54. A method for providing a networked user access device
comprising: loading into said access device a plurality of programs
stored in a backend information network; connecting said access
device to an information source; connecting said access device to a
controllable entity; interactively selecting information to be
displayed on said access source from said information source using
said programs loaded from said back-end information network; and
using said access source to selectively controlling said
controllable entity using said programs previously located from
said back-end information network.
55. The method of claim 54, comprising: dynamically assembling said
plurality of programs stored in said backend information network in
response to the users preferences and the specifications of said
access device.
56. The method of claim 54, comprising: decoding a plurality of
data codes.
57. A method for providing a networked user access device;
dynamically assembling a plurality of programs stored in a back-end
information network in response to the users preferences and the
specifications of said access device; loading said assembled
programs into said access device; connecting said access source to
an information source; and selecting displaying information on said
access source from said information source using said programs
loaded from said back-end information network.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/168,822 filed Dec. 3, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to apparatus and methods for
providing enhanced consumer access to information sources and
controllable entities. Further, this invention relates to real-time
asset, business logic and consumer integration systems and more
particularly to systems and methods for providing very enhanced
worldwide real-time availability of consumer access to and handling
of asset and business logic offerings, independent of existing or
future asset types, access device types and infrastructures in
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Typically entertainment Offerings to Consumers are
restricted in such important aspects as availability,
personalization and interactivity, rendering the Offerings limited
in their attractiveness and effectiveness as far as the main
intention of the Offering Provider is concerned, that of creating
Consumer business, return on investment and maximizing the Assets'
profitability. For example a typical professional football,
baseball, hockey or similar sports event is played in a large
stadium having a plurality of television cameras following the game
from different positions. At the broadcast studio, a television
director determines which camera signal is actually broadcast. As a
result, the Consumer watching the game on his or her television set
sees only the image of the camera selected by the television
director for broadcasting over the television network. In addition,
the Consumer can access the program only if he or she is in a
location covered by this broadcasting television network, and only
if he or she is using a compatible Access Device such as a
television set, which is integrated in the appropriate Access
Device Infrastructure, i.e. hooked up to a correctly installed
Set-top Box with the respective channel enabled.
[0004] In the preferred embodiments of this invention, however, the
Asset Provider is able to provide the Consumer with personalized,
fully accessible and unrestricted interactive Asset Offerings,
independent of the existing or future type or location of the
Asset, the type or location of the Access Device and the various
infrastructures in use. The television signals from every installed
video camera are transmitted simultaneously over the internet as
well as the standard terrestrial, cable and satellite television
network. The Consumer can view this same game on his home
television set, on an internet connected personal computer (PC) or
a cellular phone anywhere in the world. On the used Access Device's
screen he views the outputs of all of these cameras on a plurality
of small Monitor Windows and one larger OnScreen Window. Whichever
of the cameras is shown on the larger OnScreen Window is entirely
at the discretion and interactive selection of the Consumer. As a
result, each Consumer becomes in effect his or her own director
creating an extraordinarily enhanced ability to view an athletic
game. In the preferred embodiments the Consumer Access System
identifies the Consumer himself, regardless of the Access Device in
use, and personalizes all services automatically. Therefore all
channels and services that are enabled by the Asset Provider for
access by the identified Consumer are available everywhere on any
Access Device. A detailed Consumer profile can be created, so that
Asset Offerings such as Sport events, product offers or
advertisements are targeted on the Consumer's very personal
interests and any purchases can be directly executed.
[0005] As the Consumer Access System is able to handle any Asset
type anywhere, it also can span over different Enterprises,
combining different Asset Offerings and handling all inherent
business logics. In the example the Consumer would receive a
product advertisement along with the broadcast of the game, exactly
matching his personal interests. With few simple steps the Consumer
buys the product, while the generated revenue is automatically
shared between many entities such as the Provider of the game, the
Provider of the advertisement, the Provider of the product and the
Provider of the store.
[0006] Similarly, consider a musical, operatic or stage
presentation. As broadcast today, the television Consumer observes
the video output of the camera selected by the television Provider
although such televised cultural events are normally televised in
venues having a plurality of cameras trained on the stage from
different viewing angles and viewing perspective, e.g., wide angle,
normal, or telephoto shots. Typically Pay-per-view set-ups do not
allow any access what-so-ever for undecided Consumers to view the
Pay-per-View Offering, keeping a majority away from attending,
rendering these Consumers unavailable for further product Offerings
and reducing the possible Pay-per-view revenues. The preferred
embodiments of the present invention enables the Consumer on the
Access Device of his choice from all over the world to
simultaneously see the outputs of all of these video cameras, again
providing an outstanding improved viewing access to a cultural
event. As the Asset Provider is in full control of his Offerings,
he can further improve the revenues of this event by giving free
access to some of the more distant cameras and Pay-per-view access
at lower fees for "first-row-class" cameras giving the Consumer
more choices at lower prices. The overall audience increases,
revenues from Pay-per-view are maximized and consequently the
success of the personalized product Offerings reaches new
dimensions.
[0007] A significant feature of the preferred embodiments of this
invention is that it is, in effect, enabling the integration of any
types of existing and future Assets, Access Devices and
infrastructures in use. It empowers the Asset Owner to streamline
his processes, to create improved and new services and Offerings,
to partner up with other Asset Owners and Providers, while
facilitating all Assets, already installed Legacy Systems, Access
Devices and infrastructures. The example above works in parallel
with the conventional television broadcast equipment, and typically
requires no additional cameras. Rather the system uses a parallel
feed from each of the already installed cameras. The use and
function of television broadcast cameras and Broadcast or Delivery
infrastructure are in no way compromised or degraded--the installed
cameras broadcast signals over their usual links without any change
while a parallel feed from each camera is typically connected via a
direct or conventional local area network as part of the system of
this invention. Also the described Electronic Commerce works on top
of the installed Legacy Systems, spanning multiple Enterprises and
accessing the existing applications in order to initiate
authentications, shipments, invoices, inventory and production
updates, all the way through the supply chain and back to the
customer relationship management applications.
[0008] Another significant feature of the preferred embodiments
invention is a remarkable interactive Front-end Human Interface
(FHI). The software for this User Interface can be located either
or entirely (1) on the Consumer's Access Device or (2) on the
Back-end Information Network of the system and is dynamically (1)
updated or (2) loaded into the Consumer's Access Device anytime the
Consumer opens his or her Access Device to the Start Site of the
Asset Provider's Offerings empowered by this invention. The
Back-end Information Network is Access Device Adaptable, supporting
any kind of connected Access Device without any restrictions as of
i.e. hardware platforms or operating systems, and dynamically
assembles the Front-end Human Interface to the Consumers
preferences and the specifications of the Access Device in use,
including the dynamic Localization of the interface itself. For
example, a Japanese Consumer using his cellular phone is
automatically provided with the Front-end Human Interface optimized
for the Screen size of his cellular phone in the Japanese localized
version of the interface, while an Egyptian Consumer connecting
with a television set (TV) to the same Asset Offering receives a
Front-end Human Interface for the bigger TV screen size in the
Egyptian localized version --even though the Asset Provider
designed only one interface and provided it only in the British
localized version. The Front-end Human Interface can also span
across multiple Access Devices, creating for the Consumer one
single Virtual Access Environment. The Consumer can freely layout
the Front-end Human Interface across all Screens of the assimilated
Access Devices--a Consumer watching a football game, chooses a
camera angle on his Pocket PC and directs the video output to be
displayed in full screen on his television set (TV). Being
attracted by a product sales Offering displayed on the TV and
simultaneously provided with a corresponding prompt on his Pocket
PC, he responds to it on his Pocket PC, automatically directing his
Personal Computers' Front-end Human Interface to the online store
and purchasing the product on his Personal Computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A illustrates the video display provided to the Access
Device such as a Personal Computer;
[0010] FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D illustrate the automatic Localization
functionality of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with
examples for British, Egyptian and Japanese Localizations;
[0011] FIGS. 1E and 1F illustrate the free customizability of the
Front-end Human Interface's Screen Layout depicting several
arrangements,
[0012] FIGS. 1G, 1H and 1J illustrate the unlimited capability of
the preferred embodiments of the invention to allow simultaneously
access to any kind of Asset type,
[0013] FIGS. 1H and 1J also show the use of the Front-end Human
Interface to display any combination of its Window types (2
OnScreen+6 Monitors, 1 OnScreen+5 Monitors+1 Companion, . . . )
[0014] FIGS. 1K, 1L, 1M, and 1N illustrate the capability of the
preferred embodiments of the invention to allow to support any kind
of Access Device type, depicting Screen Layouts for Palm Pilot
IIIc, Pocket PC, Ericsson R380 and Nokia 9210 Communicator cellular
phones,
[0015] FIGS. 1P, 1R and 1S illustrate the unique Virtual Access
Environment capability of the preferred embodiments of the
invention, whereas the Front-end Human Interface can simultaneously
span over multiple Access Devices, allowing the Consumer to easily
control the combine the functionalities of the different Access
Device types;
[0016] FIG. 1P shows the set up for choosing on a cellular phone
the camera angles displayed on a Television set, while
simultaneously programming a Video Cassette Recorder from the
Television set and receiving detailed Coca Cola product information
on the cellular phone along with the respective advertisement on
the Television set,
[0017] FIG. 1R shows the set up for choosing on a Palm Pilot the
camera angles displayed on a Personal Computer, while
simultaneously accessing a Video Cassette Recorder from the
Personal Computer,
[0018] FIG. 1S shows the set up for choosing on a Pocket PC the
camera angles displayed on a Personal Computer as well as on the
Pocket PC, while simultaneously accessing a Video Cassette Recorder
from the Personal Computer;
[0019] FIG. 2A shows an overview block diagram of a typical
Consumer Access Systems,
[0020] FIG. 2B is a simplified schematic diagram that shows as an
example of the preferred embodiment of the invention an Access
Asset System for Video Broadcasting over the Internet,
[0021] FIG. 2C gives an abstract overview of Asset and Access
Device types handled by the Back-end Information Network,
[0022] FIG. 2D illustrates the general overview of Our World Live's
Consumer Access System depicting the cooperation of the relevant
parts,
[0023] FIG. 2E shows a schematic illustration of the structure of
the Front-end Human Interface,
[0024] FIG. 2F illustrates the general overview of the Virtual
Access Environment feature of Our World Live's Consumer Access
System,
[0025] FIG. 2G shows a schematic illustration of the structure of
the Asset Access Interface;
[0026] FIG. 3A shows an abstracted illustration of an Asset
Infrastructure;
[0027] FIG. 3B is a more detailed schematic diagram shown this
manner in which the Asset Infrastructure encodes the video signals
for several different internet delivery channels in the preferred
embodiments;
[0028] FIG. 3C is a more detailed schematic diagram shown this
manner in which the Asset Infrastructure encodes a MS PowerPoint
Presentation for several different Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructures and Asset types in the preferred embodiments;
[0029] FIG. 4A shows an abstracted illustration of a Broadcasting
or Delivery Infrastructure providing streaming services such as a
Streaming Server Phalanx;
[0030] FIG. 4B illustrates a more detailed schematic diagram of a
Streaming Server Phalanx, in which a plurality of streaming servers
provide multiple camera video broadcasting to the World Wide
Internet;
[0031] FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating how a preferred
embodiment of the invention provides the Consumer access to all
available Asset Offerings from Asset Providers around the
world.;
[0032] FIG. 6A illustrates the manner in which the combined Asset
Offerings of several Asset Providers is presented in an easy to
understand and easy to use way;
[0033] FIG. 7A illustrates how the preferred embodiment of the
invention provides the Consumer with the ability to stay tuned to
the Asset Offerings of multiple Asset Providers at the very same
moment, without loosing track of any of them;
[0034] FIG. 8B illustrates the manner in which the preferred
embodiment enables the Front-end Human Interface to simultaneously
access multiple Asset Offerings while optimally using the available
bandwidth of the Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructures in use
for transmitting the data;
[0035] FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram giving an overview of the
unique Access Device Deployment functionality as provided by the
preferred embodiments of the invention,
[0036] FIG. 9B illustrates how the Front-end Human Interface
located on the Backend Information Network is dynamically loaded
into the Consumer's Access Device any time the Consumer opens
it;
[0037] FIG. 9C illustrates the deployment of an Access Device, in
which parts of the User Interface software reside permanently on
the Access Device and are dynamically updated any time the Consumer
opens;
[0038] FIG. 9D illustrates how a DVD/CDROM built-in the Access
Device, becomes automatically available for navigation and control
through the Front-end Human Interface,
[0039] FIG. 9E illustrates the capability of dynamically balancing
the load between the Back-end Information Network and the Access
Device,
[0040] shows the process of the Dynamic Load-balancing capability
between the Backend;
[0041] FIG. 9F illustrates the deployment of a disconnected Access
Device, in which all needed parts of the preferred embodiments of
the invention are embedded on the same DVD/CD medium also
containing the Asset Offerings, rendering the Access Device into a
fully functional Consumer Access System any time the Consumer opens
it,
[0042] FIG. 9G is an schematic diagram showing an exemplary set up
of a standalone Consumer Access System such as a Home and
Entertainment Control system,
[0043] FIG. 10A is an abstract schematic diagram of a typical
Access Device,
[0044] FIG. 10B is an example for Access Device: Information System
Devices;
[0045] FIGS. 10C and 10D are examples for Access Devices of the
type: Home Entertainment Device,
[0046] FIG. 10E is an example for Access Device of the type: Home
Appliances,
[0047] FIG. 10F is an example for Access Device of the type:
Communication System Device,
[0048] FIG. 10G is an example for Access Device of the type: Audio
Entertainment Device,
[0049] FIG. 10H is an example for Access Device of the type: Audio
and Video Entertainment Device,
[0050] FIG. 11A is a schematic drawing of an overview of the
Back-end Information Network Infrastructure,
[0051] FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of a single Server system
for deploying the Back-end Information Network,
[0052] FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram of a Back-end Information
Network Infrastructure consisting of multiple server systems,
[0053] FIG. 12A illustrates OWL's fully interactive, live updated
Front-end Human Interface (FHI) provided by the preferred
embodiments of the invention,
[0054] FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F, 13G, 13H, 13I, 13K and
13L depict system flow diagrams that illustrate the functionality
of the Front-end Human Interface shown in FIG. 12A,
[0055] FIG. 14A shows an abstract illustration of Electronic
Commerce,
[0056] FIG. 14B illustrates how one preferred embodiment of the
invention delivers advertisements Offerings to the Consumer
separate but along with the chosen channels, forwarding a Consumers
purchase request to an external Product Provider, which is taking
over and finalizing the sale outside the Consumer Access
System,
[0057] FIG. 14C illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention
fully handling all transactions of the Electronic Commerce,
[0058] FIG. 14D shows the dynamics the Back-end Information Network
handles in its Dynamic Advertisement Module,
[0059] FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating dependencies of the
Front-end Human Interface,
[0060] FIG. 16A is a block diagram illustrating the multiple
displays capability of the preferred embodiment of the
invention,
[0061] FIG. 16B depicts the assimilation of multiple access devices
into the Virtual Access Environment,
[0062] FIG. 17A illustrates the FHI's ability to handle multiple
Asset Offerings, from all around the world,
[0063] FIG. 18A is an illustration of the default windows provided
by the FHI's at the Consumer's Access Device such as a Personal
Computer.;
[0064] FIG. 19A illustrates the Companion Window of FIG. 18A;
[0065] FIG. 20A illustrates the Monitor Window of the FHI;
[0066] FIG. 21A illustrates the OnScreen Window feature of the FHI;
and
[0067] FIG. 22A illustrates an expanded view of several Windows
depicting the fact, that the number of Windows is only limited by
the capabilities of the Consumer's Access Device, here the Display
attached to his Personal Computer.
[0068] Definition of Terms snd Expressions
[0069] Our World Live's Consumer Access System (CAS) Novel
technology in accordance with the preferred embodiments of this
invention for providing very enhanced worldwide real-time
availability of Consumer access to and handling of Asset and
business logic Offerings, encompassing all existing and future
kinds of asset types, access device types and infrastructures in
use.
[0070] Consumer Private or Enterprise end-user of the services
offered through an installed Consumer Access System
[0071] Asset Provider Deploys Our World Live's Consumer Access
System in order to provide real-time integration of assets,
services and consumers
[0072] Asset Core to the preferred embodiments of this invention
is, that any type of Assets can be integrated and handled:
[0073] Categories of possible Assets can be categorized as but are
not restricted to:
[0074] Cat. A. Video and/or Audio assets, live, recorded or stored
such as Video Conferences, TV Channels or Programs, Advertisements
or Product Offerings, Events or Performances or Reports or Shows,
Art or Musical or Operatic or Stage Presentations
[0075] Cat. B. Graphics, live, recorded or stored such as 2D and 3D
objects, 2D and 3D wireframes, 2D and 3D vector based objects, 2D
and 3D graphs, 2D and 3D live rendered
[0076] Cat. C. Script, live, recorded or stored such as
Forms/Tables, Text, Chat, (e)mail, Advertisement, Stock Quotes,
Presentations
[0077] Cat. D. Functionality, live, recorded or stored such as Data
Access & Control, Transactions, Purchase, Navigation, Software
Applications, Business Legacy Systems (such as from SAP,
PeopleSoft, etc . . . )
[0078] Cat. E. Remote Device Access & Control, any Access
Device can become an Asset to be remotely accessed and controlled;
online (the Asset is connected and is directly accessed) or offline
(the Asset is not connected). If the Asset is offline, the Consumer
accesses a virtual copy of it creating cached information, which is
automatically (with no further Consumer interaction required)
executed once the Asset is online again.
[0079] Cat. F. Local Device Access & Control; When deployed on
an Access Device, the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) software
program can also enable functionalities of the resident Access
Device and in this respect it can in fact make the interface or
Operating System of the Access Device redundant. For example a
Consumer can use the installed FHI to access and view a DVD video
on his Personal Computer (PC), whether the DVD player is built-in
or attached to his PC. The Front-end Human Interface software
program installed on the PC enables the Consumer to override the
Operating System and access all the DVD functionalities through the
FHI.
[0080] Asset Offer, Asset Offering One or more Assets integrated by
the Asset Provider in Our World Live's Consumer Access System and
becoming available for the Asset related functionalities of the
system.
[0081] Offering See Asset Offer, Asset Offering
[0082] Asset Infrastructure The infrastructure that a given Asset
is embedded in plus the infrastructure that connects the Asset to
the infrastructure that the Back-end Information Network (BIN) is
residing on. For example in case of a digitized movie clip, the
Asset Infrastructure encompasses the server it is residing on plus
the server's Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure that is
providing the connection to the BIN's infrastructure.
[0083] Access Device Core to the preferred embodiments of this
invention is, that the User Interface can be deployed on any kind
of connected device (stationary or mobile), including wired as well
as wirelessly connected devices, without any dependency on a
specific device hardware platform or operating system.
[0084] Categories of possible Access Device can be categorized as
but are not restricted to:
[0085] Cat. A. Information System Devices, such as Personal
Computers, Mainframe Computers, Workstations, Industrial
Information Devices, Vending Machines, Information Terminals,
Network/Internet Appliances
[0086] Cat. B. Portable Information System Devices such as
Notebooks, Industrial Information Devices, Car/Boat/Flight
Navigation & Information Systems, Personal/Pocket Navigation
& Information Systems, Network/Internet Appliances
[0087] Cat. C. Handheld Information System Devices such as Pocket
PCs, eBooks, Game-Boys, Industrial Information Devices (i.e. UPS
using Wireless Data Devices), Personal Digital Assistants,
Network/Internet Appliances
[0088] Cat. D. Home & Entertainment Devices such as Game
Consoles, Set-Top Boxes, Television Sets, Video Cassette Recorders,
DVD Players, Video Cameras, Car Entertainment Centers,
Network/Internet Entertainment Appliances
[0089] Cat. E. Home Appliances such as Microwaves, Stoves,
Refrigerators, Ovens, Dishwashers, Coffee machines, Air
Conditioning and Heating Systems, Car Heating Systems, Sprinklers,
Pools, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Blinds, Lights, Alarm and Security
Systems, Home Control Devices, Network/Internet Home Appliances
[0090] Cat. F. Communication System Devices such as
Wireless/Cellular Phones, Radio Phones, Smart Phones, Landline
Phones and Systems
[0091] Cat. G. Audio Entertainment Devices such as MP3 Players,
Home/Car/Boat/Flight Stereo Systems, CD Players
[0092] Access Device Adaptable When the Access Device connects to
the Consumer Access System, the system automatically identifies the
specific device type, assembles dynamically the User Interface
software program optimized to the technical specifications of the
Access Device and deploys it into the device
[0093] Access Device Infrastructure The infrastructure that a given
Access Device is embedded in plus the infrastructure that connects
the Access Device to the infrastructure that the Back-end
Information Network (BIN) is residing on. For example in case of a
Cellular Phone, the Access Device Infrastructure encompasses the
cellular network it is connected to plus the network's Broadcasting
or Delivery Infrastructure providing the connection to the BIN's
infrastructure.
[0094] Back-end Information Network (BIN) The Back-end Information
Network (BIN) is the center of the preferred embodiments,
comprising all software modules and applications needed to provide
the functionalities of Our World Live's Consumer Access System.
[0095] Back-end Information Network Infrastructure The
Infrastructure that the Back-end Information Network (BIN) is
residing on. The BIN is typically distributed over one or more
clusters of servers, but can also be deployed on a single server
system. The preferred embodiments' server operating systems can be,
but are not restricted to, UNIX, LINUX, JAVA, Microsoft Windows NT
or Apple Mac OS X Server. Alternatively it can even be embedded (1)
in a single Access Device such as a DVD jukebox allowing the
Consumer to control the device and use all functionalities as
provided through the Front-end Human Interface or (2) in a part of
an Asset Infrastructure itself such as on a Video DVD, rendering
any DVD Access Device such as a DVD player, Game-Console or
Personal Computer, into a complete standalone Consumer Access
System, allowing the Consumer to access and display the contained
entertainment Offerings through the Front-end Human Interface with
all BIN functionalities, such as online advertisement enabled.
[0096] Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure Any kind of existing
or future broadcasting or delivery technology in use for the
transmission of data that can be categorized as but is not
restricted to
[0097] Cat. A. Internet networks, such as the Word Wide Web and
TCP/IP based networks, both wired and wireless.
[0098] Cat. B. Communication and telecommunication networks, such
as Satellite, Cable and Radio based networks.
[0099] Cat. C. Network services, such as RTP or RTSP streaming or
as provided by internet service providers such as Akamai and
iBeam.
[0100] Cat. D. Internal data-buses, such as system buses in
Personal Computers enabling the internal data transfers.
[0101] Cat. E. Asset Infrastructures
[0102] Cat. F. Access Device Infrastructures
[0103] Cat. G. Back-end Information Network Infrastructures
[0104] BootLink The Consumer activating the simple BootLink
software starts the Access Device deployment process in order to
gain access to the Our World Live's Consumer Access System and is
typically specific to the infrastructures it is installed on, such
as an URL for allowing the Consumer to enter the Consumer Access
System over the World Wide Web.
[0105] Front-end Human Interface (FHI) The User Interface (UI) to
Our World Live's Consumer Access System technology enables Asset
Providers to provide and control their Asset Offerings and the
Consumer to access them. In the preferred embodiments of the
invention, software is object oriented and dynamically assembled to
support the specifications of any Access Device and Asset
Offerings. The Front-end Human Interface is automatically deployed
both as a graphical user interface as well as a user interface
without graphics, based on settings of, for example, the Access
Device capabilities or the Consumer preferences.
[0106] Asset Access Interface Enables Asset Provider to connect
their Assets to the Consumer Access System.
[0107] Object Storage Stores Front-end Human Interface Cores
(FHIC), Asset Device Functionality Objects, Asset Functionality
Objects and Back-end Information Network Functionality Objects of
the Front-end Human Interface (FHI).
[0108] Front-end Human Interface Core (FHIC) Comprises common
interface software objects, becomes dynamically part of a given
Front-end Human Interface and is used for the deployment of a fully
functional Front-end Human Interface. It can also advantageously
include part of or all of the software specific to a single Access
Device hardware, platform or operating system.
[0109] Back-end Information Network Functionality Object Software
object, residing in the Object Storage, becomes dynamically part of
a given Front-end Human Interface and enables Back-end Information
Network functionalities
[0110] Asset Functionality Object Software object, residing in the
Object Storage, becomes dynamically part of a given Front-end Human
Interface and enables Asset Device specific functionalities to the
Back-end Information Network such as control functions of a
specific Video Cassette Recorder.
[0111] Access Device Functionality Objects Software object,
residing in the Object Storage, becomes dynamically part of a given
Front-end Human Interface and enables specific functionalities of a
given Access Device to the Back-end Information Network and
therefore making those functionalities accessible using the
Front-end Human Interface, deployed on this Access Device.
[0112] User Interface The Front-end Human Interface software
program is the User Interface to Our World Live's Consumer Access
System technology, and is deployed both as a graphical user
interface as well as User Interface without graphics.
[0113] OWLed Asset An OWLed Asset is the Offering of a single Asset
such as a single event, for example the transmissions from a
football game, using Our World Live's Consumer Access System
technologies. In contrast to a typical television broadcast, where
the Consumer only can see one picture, which is live mixed out of
the available cameras, an OWLed Asset transmits the output of all
available cameras in the station to the Consumer.
[0114] Window The basic component of the Front-end Human Interface
being displayed on the Consumer's Access Devices' Screen, enabling
the Consumer to interact with the Consumer Access System.
[0115] Companion Window Window-type of the Front-end Human
Interface software application. The main Window for navigation and
control of one or more Asset Offerings of one or more Asset
Providers, such as displaying a map of a single OWLed football
event showing all available camera angles for navigation and
control.
[0116] OnScreen Window Window-type of the Front-end Human Interface
software application. The main Window for accessing a single OWLed
Asset in the Highest available Detail, such as displaying video in
highest available resolution and quality.
[0117] High Detail (HD) The highest level of detail that Asset
Offerings are provided in, typically displayed in OnScreen Windows,
such as videos displayed in highest the available resolution.
[0118] Low Detail (LD) A low level of detail that Asset Offerings
are provided in, typically displayed in Monitor Windows, such as
videos displayed in low resolution.
[0119] Monitor Window Window-type of the Front-end Human Interface
software application. Multiple Monitor Windows for displaying
several Assets with less detailed information, such as multiple
videos in low resolution.
[0120] Display The part of a given Access Device hardware dedicated
to display information. For displaying its information the
Front-end Human Interface is able to use an unlimited number of
Displays connected to the Access Device on which it is
executed.
[0121] Screen The area on a given Display, effectively available
for displaying information.
[0122] Screen Layout Alignment Tool The tools Invisible Grid,
Window Margins, Magnetic Borders and Auto Align are functionalities
of the Front-end Human Interface and support the Consumer in
arranging the Windows and "cleaning up" his or her Screen. The
tools not only work on one Screen but across all Screens connected
to a single Access Device and also across all Access Devices, which
are part of one Virtual Access Environment.
[0123] Invisible Grid A functionality of the Front-end Human
Interface and part of the Screen layout Alignment Tool. Once
activated by the Consumer all windows snap into place relative to
the grid, as soon as they are dragged.
[0124] Window Margins A functionality of the Front-end Human
Interface and part of the Screen Layout Alignment Tool. Once
activated by the Consumer all windows snap into places with
selected margins to each other, as soon as they are dragged.
[0125] Magnetic Borders A functionality of the Front-end Human
Interface and part of the Screen Layout Alignment Tool. Once
activated by the Consumer all windows snap into place relative to
each other, as soon as they are dragged.
[0126] Auto Align A functionality of the Front-end Human Interface
and part of the Screen Layout alignment Tool. Once activated by the
Consumer all windows are resized and/or moved according to the
Consumer's preferences.
[0127] Legacy System All information resources currently existing
in an Enterprise such as mainframe and personal computers,
information terminals, networks, databases, operating systems,
application programs and all other forms of hardware and software
that an Enterprise uses to perform its operations.
[0128] Enterprise A private or public entity such as a government,
corporation, religious entity, home or individual that can enable
access to its Assets through OWL's Consumer Access System
[0129] Virtual Access Environment (VAE) The Front-end Human
Interface can span across multiple Access Devices, creating for the
Consumer one single Virtual Access Environment in which the
Consumer can freely layout the parts of the Front-end Human
Interface across all Screens of the assimilated Access Devices.
[0130] Real-time Display All information displayed to the Consumer
through the Front-end Human Interface, is dynamically provided by
the Back-end Information Network (BIN). The actions needed to
update all information are automatically executed by the BIN,
whenever possible prior to a Consumer's request.
[0131] Consumer actions in the FHI are executed by the BIN, which
provides immediate input response to the Consumer, concurrent
updates of the action's progress and finally the result.
[0132] Asset Availability Information The Back-end Information
Network (BIN) dynamically generates, updates and provides the
Consumer in real-time with instant information regarding a specific
Asset being available to the Consumer or not. The BIN is able to
handle a variety of rules and definitions that can cause an Asset
to be available or become unavailable to the Consumer which can be
categorized as but are not restricted to:
[0133] Cat. A. Asset is available for Access
[0134] Cat. B. Asset is generally not available for Access, because
(1) the Asset is switched off or offline, not active or connected,
(2) the Asset is deactivated in the BIN, as no active service is
provided, (3) one of the Infrastructure in use does not support
access to the Asset
[0135] Cat. C. Asset is specifically not available to the
requesting Consumer, because (1) one of the Infrastructure in use
has exceeded its limitations and can temporarily not support the
Consumer's request, i.e. the maximum number of streaming server
licenses is exceeded, (2) the Asset Provider does not deploy the
needed Asset Type support for the Front-end Human Interface (FHI)
specific to the Access Device in use, (3) the requested Asset and
the Consumer's Access Device in use are not compatible, for example
the Consumer's device is only capable of audio and the requested
Asset provides video only, (4) the Asset is blocked to the
requesting Consumer in the BIN and requires further Consumer
action, for example Pay-per-view, deactivate Parental Guidance, set
preferences to allow automatic connection, authenticate Consumer,
(5) the Asset is blocked to the requesting Consumer in the BIN
because of restrictions such as region codes, copyrights, export
restrictions, legal or political reasons.
[0136] Asset Status Information The Back-end Information Network
(BIN) dynamically generates, updates and provides the Consumer in
real-time with instant information detailing a specific Asset's
availability. The provided Status Information can be categorized as
but is not restricted to:
[0137] Cat. A. Available Asset options related to the Consumer's
current Access Device in use, such as available video resolution
qualities and accessible video Broadcasting or Delivery
infrastructures.
[0138] Cat. B. Available Asset options related to all Access
Devices of the specific Consumer, which are known to the BIN and
are (1) currently active part of the Consumer's current Virtual
Access Environment, (2) currently active as Assets or (3) currently
inactive/not available to the BIN
[0139] Cat. C. Available Asset options for the currently active
Consumer Authentication, such as Parental Guidance or
Pay-per-view
[0140] Cat. D. Next scheduled availability
[0141] Cat. E. Next expected availability, for example based on
statistical calculations on the current Infrastructure load, the
Consumer can schedule an automatic connection once the Asset
becomes available again.
[0142] Cat. F. Unavailability details as determined for determining
the Availability Information
[0143] Asset Profiling Information The Back-end Information Network
(BIN) dynamically generates, updates and provides the Consumer in
real-time with instant information detailing a specific Asset's
profile in order to help the Consumer decide which Asset to choose.
The supported Profiling Information can be based on but is not
restricted to real-time calculations of current and historic Asset
access statistics, such as Consumers with similar characteristics
to those of the accessing Consumer (1) set in the preferences of
the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) or (2) derived from usage
profiles collected by the Consumer Tracking. In an example the
Consumer is about to choose between 700 different broadcast TV
channels. Based on his characteristic preference for Science
Fiction the FHI highlights those channels, which are viewed by
other Consumers with similar characteristics. The BIN sums up the
total number of current Consumers matching the Consumer's
characteristics and calculates their split among the watched TV
channels. The FHI provides this number and percentage information
along with the TV channels. In addition the FHI allows to sort the
TV channels by the provided Profiling Information, enabling a
meaningful ranking.
[0144] Dynamic Front-end Human Interface Program Update All objects
of the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) can be changed in the
Back-end Information Network (BIN) by the Asset Provider at any
time becoming instantly available and can be dynamically updated to
all FHils in use.
[0145] Dynamic FHI Content Update All contents to be displayed by
the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) can be changed in the Back-end
Information Network (BIN) by the Asset Provider at any time
becoming instantly available and can be dynamically updated to all
FHIs in use.
[0146] Codec, Data Codec Technologies for electronically coding and
decoding data. Within Our World Live's Consumer Access System. The
supported Codecs can be categorized as but are not restricted
to
[0147] Cat. A. Audio/Video Codecs, such as Real Networks Audio and
Video Codecs, Microsoft Media Technologies, Apple QuickTime,
Digital Video, IEEE 1394, MPEG and MP3
[0148] Cat. B. Data, Graphics & Text Codecs, such as PICT,
CCITT, BMP, PDF, EPS, RDF, XML, SMIL, HTML, CSS, DOM
[0149] Cat. C. Encryption Codecs, such as RSA, DES, Triple DES,
CAST, IDEA and SSL
[0150] Electronic Commerce Electronically enabled business
transactions and processes.
[0151] Commerce Integration Our World Live's Consumer Access System
enabling one or more Legacy Systems of one or more Enterprises to
automatically and interactively participate in automated and
collaborative Electronic Commerce processes. Turning the
Enterprises' Legacy Systems into OWL'ed Assets enables combined and
shared Asset Offerings of one or more Enterprises such as automatic
and secure billing, invoicing, production planning, inventory
forecasting, money transfers and revenue splitting.
[0152] Access Device Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing
of all Access Device transactions, such as usage, performance and
Consumer interactions, that help build and maintain a dynamic
Access Device specific profile.
[0153] Asset Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing of all
Asset transactions, such as usage, performance and Consumer
interactions, that help build and maintain a dynamic Asset specific
profile.
[0154] Consumer Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing of
all Consumer transactions, such as accessing Assets, using Access
Devices and Interactions, that help build and maintain a dynamic
Consumer specific profile.
[0155] Performance Surveillance The Back-end Information Network
continuously measures the performance throughout the whole Consumer
Access System and continuously surveys the overall end-to-end
performance of all active connections (Access Device
performance--Access Device Infrastructure performance BIN
performance--Asset Infrastructure performance--Asset
performance).
[0156] Dynamic Load-balancing The Back-end Information Network
(BIN) performs its functions in truly parallel processes and thus
is a fully multitasked environment. When using more than one server
system or processor, the BIN automatically balances its load by
spreading its tasks throughout to the available computing
resources. As an example, if the load is increased due to high
demand on the Assets, to the point where the available resources
reach their limits, by a simple addition of more server systems and
their introduction to the system, the BIN automatically extends its
processes and balances the overall load.
[0157] Adjusting to the needs and capabilities of the currently
used Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure and the Consumers
Access Device, the BIN also load-balances the tasks and
functionalities requested by the Consumer. Based on end-to-end
performance measuring the BIN dynamically balances the load between
Access Device and its server systems. For example in case of a
limiting Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure and or an Access
Device with limited computing power, the BIN executes more
functionality itself and advantageously delivers only the results
to the Access Device of the Consumer. If the Broadcasting or
Delivery Infrastructure is highly capable and the Access Device
provides higher computing resources than available to the BIN, the
BIN transmits more functionality to the Access Device, where
execution performance is now higher.
[0158] Localization, Automatic User Interface Localization The
preferred embodiments of this invention provide the automatic
Localization of the Front-end Human Interface based on User
Interface and Country Conventions. The Asset Provider need only
design one interface in one Localization and Our World Live's
Consumer Access System automatically provides all other
Localizations.
[0159] User Interface Conventions The rules and definitions for
every Localization within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing the Script Behavior, Interface Layout and
Interface Behavior for one or more countries, languages or
cultures.
[0160] Script Behavior The rules and definitions for every
Localization within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing the behavior of a localized script can be
categorized as but are not restricted to
[0161] Cat. A. Roman, text written from left to right
[0162] Cat. B. Arabic, text written right to left
[0163] Cat. B. Asian, text written top to bottom
[0164] Interface Layout The rules and definitions for every
Localization within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing the composition of the localized
Front-end Human Interface layout such as the orientation of objects
within Windows, color schemes and Window shapes.
[0165] Interface Behavior The rules and definitions for every
Localization within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing the behavior of a localized Front-end
Human Interface such as responses to Consumer interactions.
[0166] Country Conventions The rules and definitions for every
Localization within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing Alphabet, Language, Language Attributes
such as date, time and currency formats for one or more countries,
languages, or cultures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0167] The screen shot of FIG. 1A illustrates several of the
significant features of the invention. The screen display (FIG. 1A)
illustrates a Display of the Olympic games. In the largest Screen
region 1A.01, a detailed real-time "OnScreen" view of the soccer
game is shown in real time. A map showing the venue of the several
games underway is shown in the somewhat smaller Companion Window
Screen region 1A.06. The Consumer can interactively select which
event will be shown on the OnScreen Window Screen region 1A.02 by
moving the cursor on the Companion Window Screen region 1A.06. In
the example shown, the stadium 1A.07 has been selected at which the
game shown in region 1A.02 is being played. Also included in the
screen display (FIG. 1A) are five smaller Monitor Window Screen
regions 1A.09a, 1A.09b, 1A.09c, 1A.09d and 1A.09e which show five
different events occurring in real time at five different venues at
this Olympic game.
[0168] As described below, the Monitor Window Screen regions are
also used to show the same game being displayed on the larger
OnScreen Window Screen region 1A.02 from additional video cameras
all typically located at different locations in the same
stadium.
[0169] The overall Consumer Access System of the invention is shown
in FIG. 2B. A plurality of video cameras 2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c
are typically located at venues for sports events, theater events,
musical events, or the like. Although for simplicity three cameras
are shown, there can be a fewer or greater number of cameras
depending upon the facility used for broadcasting.
[0170] A significant feature of the invention is that these cameras
2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c are advantageously the identical cameras
already being utilized for regular television broadcasting. As a
result, this invention can be implemented world wide without a
major investment in acquiring or installing video cameras. Rather,
a parallel feed from each camera already used for television
broadcasting is connected to a plurality of video compression
encoders 2B.02a (labeled as Encoding Phalanx #01, 02, 03, . . .).
By way of example, cameras 2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c are cable
connected to the encoders 2B.02 whereas a camera 2B.01d is
connected by a wireless local area network (LAN) 2B.03 to another
video compression encoder 2B.02b. Camera 2B.01d can, for example,
be located at the same venue as cameras 2B.01a-2B.01c but can also
be located at a different venue such as is illustrated in the
screen display of FIG. 1A.
[0171] The outputs of the encoders 2B.02a and 2B.02b are routed by
a router 2B.04 over a suitable communication line 2B.05 to router
2B.06 which connects the video signals to multiple streaming
computer servers 2B.07 shown in detail in FIG. 4B. In the preferred
embodiment shown, the video signals are also supplied to separate a
high bandwidth network 2B.08 such as is available from Akamai,
Intervu or iBeam.
[0172] The individual subscriber client's Access Device is shown in
the FIG. 2B as an Access Device of the type Information System
Device such as a personal computer (PC). Shown are two different
types of PC's 2B.11, 2B.12 connected at 2B.10a, 2B.10b in a normal
manner to the world wide web or Internet 2B.09 by, for example,
telephone lines, cable, or satellite. These PC's 2B.11, 2B.11 are
connected by the world wide web 2B.09 to the streaming servers
2B.07 which as described below, contain OWL's Front-end Human
Interface (FHI) software.
[0173] It will be further understood that additional video cameras
2B.01 and encoders 2B.02 are advantageously located at facilities
located around the world so that the Consumer at the PC's 2B.11,
2B.12 can call up events occurring in real time all over the world.
Thus, each of the encoders 2B.02 is adapted for the particular
television signal being produced by the local video camera such as
High Definition Television, NTSC, PAL, etc. so the video signals
are viewable over the Internet on PC's located anywhere in the
world.
[0174] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the user
client initially connects to the streaming server (SS Phalanx)
2B.07 through an ISP and obtains portal Companion Window display of
the content Companion on the Consumer's Access Device 2B.11 or
2B.12. Using this content Companion, the Access Device transmits
pointers over the world wide Internet 2B.09 to the network 2B.08
which responds to the Consumers requests and transmits the
appropriate video signals from the network 2B.08 over the world
wide Internet 33 to the Access Device 2B.11 or 2B.12.
[0175] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention does not use a high bandwidth network 2B.08. Instead, the
pointers produced at the Access Devices 2B.11, 2B.12 would be
directly transmitted over the Internet 2B.09 to the streaming
servers 2B.07 and these servers would supply the video signals to
the Consumer's Access Devices 2B.11, 2B.12 via the Internet
2B.09.
[0176] A detailed block diagram of the encoder 2B.02 is illustrated
in FIG. 3B. As shown, by way of example, encoder 2B.02a is
connected to camera 2B.02a. The video signal supplied by the
television broadcast camera 2B.01a is connected to a series of
video compression encoders for supplying video signals of varying
resolution and frequency bandwidths to the streaming servers 2B.07
of FIG. 2B via router 2B.04.
[0177] As shown, the compression encoders advantageously provide a
high resolution output and a low resolution output for a plurality
of Internet delivery channels. Thus, the lowest bandwidth channel
3B.01 for a 56K modem includes a high 40K resolution channel 3B.03
and a low 4K resolution channel 3B.02 for the video signal from
camera 2B.01a. Similarly, the next higher or 128K bandwidth channel
3B.04 includes a 50K high resolution channel 3B.06 and a low
resolution channel 3B.05 for the video signal from camera 2B.01a.
The highest bandwidth channel 3B.07 is designed to supply a 768K
bandwidth channel with a high resolution 450K channel 3B.09 and a
low resolution 50K channel 3B.08 from camera 2B.01a. Referring to
FIG. 1A, depending upon the capacity of the Internet connection to
the Access Device 2B.01, 2B.02, the low resolution channel will be
used to provide the Monitor Windows 2B.09a, 2B.09b, 2B.09c, 2B.09d
and 2B.09e and the high resolution channel will be used to provide
the OnScreen Window 1A.01. As a result, each Access Device, whether
it has only a 56K modem or is supplied over a 768K DSL service (or
higher in the future) is able to have simultaneous viewing of a
high resolution real time video in the OnScreen Window 1A.02 and a
plurality of low resolution real time video in the Monitor
Windows2B.09a, 2B.09b, 2B.09c, 2B.09d and 2B.09e.
[0178] Although the specific embodiments described include a single
high resolution OnScreen Window, other embodiments of the invention
provide one or more additional high resolution channels depending
upon the bandwidth of the Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure
in use and the effective Screen size of the Access Device's
Display. Thus, one such embodiment provides a pair or more of
side-by-side OnScreen high resolution Windows as well as plural low
resolution Monitor Windows.
[0179] The manner in which a plurality of Asset Providers around
the world are connected in the preferred embodiments of the
invention to supply Access Devices 2B.11 or 2B.12 is illustrated in
the block diagram of FIG. 5. Shown are three Asset Providers
5A.01a/b/c, e.g., ABC, Fox, NBC and CBS which own or control the
television cameras 2B.01a-d shown in FIG. 2. Some of the main
features of this interface are: (1) all available video channels
are presented to the Consumers Access Devices; (2) each Consumer
can interactively select at any time any one channel as the high
resolution "OnScreen" Window 1A.01; (3) each Consumer can
interactively select multiple channels to provide the Monitor
channels 1A.09a, 1A.09b, 17,1A.09c, 1A.09d and 1A.09e of FIG. 1A;
and (4) the system delivers a channel interactive advertisement
that links the Consumers request with an electronic commerce
service.
[0180] The function of several of the different blocks in this
system diagrams and flow charts are described below:
[0181] 1A.01 is the OnScreen Window type, fully interactive,
continuously updated, corresponding with the other Windows 1A.01,
1A.05, 1A.08a/b, 12A.07;
[0182] 1A.02 is the high-detail content displayed in the OnScreen
Window (1A.01);
[0183] 1A.03 indicates the area for displaying advertising of any
kind;
[0184] 1A.04 indicates the Personal Video Functionalities of the
OnScreen Window (1A.01). This area includes several buttons such as
"Play", "Stop" "Fast Forward", "Rewind", "Volume", "Menu" and so
on;
[0185] 1A.05 is the Companion Window type;
[0186] 1A.06 depicts the content of the Companion Window;
[0187] 1A.07 is a highlighted Asset Offer in the Companion Window
(1A.06);
[0188] 1A.08 indicates the Monitor Window type;
[0189] 1A.08a, b, c, . . . are the various Monitor Windows;
[0190] 1A.09 is the content, displayed in the Monitor Window;
[0191] 1A.09a, b, c, . . . indicate various content that is
displayed in the Monitor Windows;
[0192] 1G.01 is an example of a Script Asset type;
[0193] 1G.02 Is an example of a Data Control type for the Companion
Window;
[0194] 1G.03 is an example of the Forms type;
[0195] 1G.04 is the Master Companion representing the link to the
Companion Window type (1A.05). The Master Companion is a Companion
Window itself;
[0196] 1H.01 shows two OnScreen Windows displaying different
Assets: A movie (with related Advertising) and a data
worksheet;
[0197] 1H.02 is an example of the Data Worksheet type;
[0198] 1H.03 is a content example for the Companion Window
(1.A.05), enabling access to a sample of Home Entertainment
Devices;
[0199] 1H.04 is a bigger version of the Monitor Window type hosting
the control panel for a Home Entertainment Device;
[0200] 1J.01 is an example content for the Companion Window
(1A.05), showing a map with multiple cameras;
[0201] 1J.02 is a smaller version of the Companion Window type
(1A.05);
[0202] 1K.01 is the Monitor Window type for a display of a Palm
Pilot IIIC;
[0203] 1K.02 indicates one solution for the Master Companion for
the Palm Pilot IIIC;
[0204] 1K.03 shows the OnScreen Window type containing a Data
Worksheet;
[0205] 1L.01 indicates the Companion for a Handheld Device;
[0206] 1L.02 is the Monitor Window type for a Handheld Device;
[0207] 1L.03 is an OnScreen Window, showing a Data Worksheet;
[0208] 1L.04 is a Monitor Window showing Real-Time Stock Quote
Information, including an Input Form to request specific Stock
Quotes;
[0209] 1L.05 Shows an OnScreen Window, displayed in 90.degree.
counterclockwise rotation;
[0210] 1L.06 indicates the area for displaying advertising of any
kind on a Handheld device;
[0211] 1M.01 Is a Monitor Window to remote control an Asset: your
home VCR;
[0212] 1N.01 is an OnScreen Window type for Access Devices running
the EPOC operating system, such as the Ericsson R380 cellular phone
or the Nokia 9210 Communicator;
[0213] 1N.02 is a Monitor Window type for Access Devices running
the EPOC operating system;
[0214] 1N.03 is a Companion Window type for Access Devices running
the EPOC operating system;
[0215] 1N.04 shows the area in the OnScreen Window for displaying
advertising of any kind;
[0216] 1N.05 Show various representation of the Monitor Window type
for Access Devices running the EPOC operating system;
[0217] 1N.06 Is a Monitor Window to remote control an Asset: your
home VCR;
[0218] 1P.01 Show the Companion Type window, depicting a map of an
Olympic stadium with several cameras;
[0219] 1P.02 Shows a Monitor Window type containing an Advertising
Offer;
[0220] 1P.03 Shows the OnScreen Window Type, displaying the "100 m
Women's Final" camera video stream of a live sports event;
[0221] 1P.04 Depicts the area for any kind of Advertising in the
OnScreen Window (1P.03);
[0222] 1P.05 Is a Monitor Window showing the "Long Jump" camera
video stream of a live sports event;
[0223] 1P.06 Is a Monitor Window showing the "Women's High Jump"
camera video stream;
[0224] 1R.01 Shows the Palm Pilot IIIc Screen, containing a Master
Companion and a Companion with a map. The map shows an Olympic
stadium with several cameras;
[0225] 1R.02 Shows an OnScreen Window type on a PC, containing the
"100m Women's Final" camera video stream of a live sports
event;
[0226] 1R.03 Shows a Monitor Window type on a PC, containing the
"Women's High Jump" camera video stream of a live sports event;
[0227] 1S.01 Shows a Companion Window type on a PocketPC,
containing the map of an Olympic stadium with several cameras;
[0228] 1S.02 Shows an OnScreen Window type on a PC, containing the
"100 m Women's Final" camera video stream of a live sports
event;
[0229] 1S.03 Shows a Monitor Window Type on a PocketPC, containing
the "Long Jump" camera video stream of a sports event;
[0230] 1S.04 Shows a Monitor Window type on a PC, containing the
"Women's High Jump" camera video stream of a live sports event;
[0231] 1Y.01 is an OnScreen Window type for a Television Display or
a large EPOC Screen;
[0232] 1Y.02 is a Monitor Window type for a Television Display or a
large EPOC Screen;
[0233] 1Y.03 is a Companion Window type for a Television Display or
a large EPOC Screen;
[0234] 1Y.04 is one solution for the Master Companion for a
Television Display or a large EPOC Screen;
[0235] 1Z.01 is an OnScreen Window type for a Cellular Phone with
EPOC-OS;
[0236] 1Z.02 is another version of the OnScreen Window type for a
Cellular Phone with EPOC-OS used for 16:9 format Films;
[0237] 1Z.03 Indicates the area for Advertising;
[0238] 1Z.04 is one solution for the Master Companion for a
Cellular Phone with EPOC-OS;
[0239] 1Z.05 is a Companion Window type for a Cellular Phone with
EPOC-OS;
[0240] 1Z.06 is a Monitor Window type for a Cellular Phone with
EPOC-OS;
[0241] 2A.01a-2A.01d Shows the Assets #1, #2 . . . ;
[0242] 2A.02 Is the Communication Infrastructure;
[0243] 2A.03 Represents the Back-end Information Network;
[0244] 2A.04 is the Broadcast or Delivery Infrastructure;
[0245] 2A.05 shows the Consumer's Access Device;
[0246] 2A.06 is the Consumer's Local Asset;
[0247] 2B.01a-2B.01d is the sum of the video content provided by a
single original parallel video and/or audio signal from the Asset
Provider 5A.01b;
[0248] 2B.02a/b The Encoding Phalanx;
[0249] 2B.03 A Wireless Transmission from LAN to LAN;
[0250] 2B.04 A Router connecting to the next network;
[0251] 2B.05 A Communication Line between two routers or
networks;
[0252] 2B.06 A Router connecting to the next network;
[0253] 2B.07 The Streaming Server Phalanx;
[0254] 2B.08 The Akamai Network as a worldwide delivery
network;
[0255] 2B.09 The Internet;
[0256] 2B.10a/b The Internet Connection of the Access Device;
[0257] 2B.11 A Computer running Mac OS as an Access Device;
[0258] 2B.12 A Computer running Windows 98 as an Access Device;
[0259] 2C.01a-2C.01f Categories of Asset types known to the
Back-end Information Network;
[0260] 2C.02a-2C.02f Categories of Access Devices known to the
Back-end Information Network;
[0261] 2D.01 Represents the Back-end Information Network
Infrastructure;
[0262] 2D.02 Represents the Asset Infrastructure;
[0263] 2D.03 Represents the Access Device Infrastructure;
[0264] 2E.01 Represents the Access Device Operating System;
[0265] 2G.01 Represents a possible Operating System of the
Asset
[0266] 3A.01a-3A.01f Encoding specifications for various target
types;
[0267] 3B.01 Encoding Systems for the Audience with 56K
bandwidth;
[0268] 3B.02 Encoder Systems for Monitor #01 for 56K Audience,
PowerPC G3 System;
[0269] 3B.03 Encoder Systems for Screen #01 for 56K Audience,
PowerPC G4 System;
[0270] 3B.04 Encoding Systems for the Audience with 128K
bandwidth;
[0271] 3B.05 Encoder Systems for Monitor #01 for 128K Audience,
PowerPC G3 System;
[0272] 3B.06 Encoder Systems for Screen #01 for 128K Audience,
PowerPC G4 System;
[0273] 3B.07 Encoding Systems for the Audience with 768K
bandwidth;
[0274] 3B.08 Encoder Systems for Monitor #01 for 768K Audience,
PowerPC G3 System;
[0275] 3B.09 Encoder Systems for Screen #01 for 768K Audience,
PowerPC G4 System;
[0276] 3B.10 A Network Hub;
[0277] 3C.01-3C.06 Various target encoding specifications for
different media, different resolutions and different color
capabilities;
[0278] 5A.01a/b/c is the entity having the cameras
2A.01a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i (FIG. 2) and creating/transmitting Video
and/or Audio content, i.e., ABC, FOX, CBS or any other party
producing video and/or audio content i.e. a stadium having a
Superbowl game or any other event to be broadcast or
transmitted;
[0279] 5A.02 represents the compression encoders explained in
detail above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 8;
[0280] 5A.03 indicates that the Consumer selects the content of
choice he or she wants to see in the "OnScreen" Window;
[0281] 5A.04 indicates receiving the broadcasted or delivered
signal 8B.07;
[0282] 5A.05 indicates that the Consumer selects the content of
choice he or she wants to see in one of the Monitor Windows;
[0283] 5A.06 indicates receiving the broadcast or delivered signal
8B.08;
[0284] 5A.07 indicates that an advertisement is received in a
predesignated separate displaying area within OWL's Font-end Human
Interface (FHI) without interfering with or inhibiting the delivery
of any content. The displaying method can be static (i.e. banner)
or active (i.e. streaming video);
[0285] 5A.08 indicates Consumer requests of further advertisement
related actions, i.e. link 5A.09, by clicking on the advertisement
displaying area;
[0286] 5A.09 is the link by which the request of the Consumer is
automatically and instantly passed together with other relevant
information to a related entity 5A.13 by i.e. passing all needed
information to the FHI (5A.11) so that it automatically connects to
the Product Provider (5A.13), logs onto the External Store Sales
Software (14B.03) and creates a purchase request from the
Consumer;
[0287] 5A.10 indicates a purchase offer caused by the addressed
entity executing the respective action, i.e. transmitting the
purchase offer created out of the purchase request over link
5A.09;
[0288] 5A.11 is the Front-end Human Interface software program,
embodiments preferably in QuickTime and in JAVA;
[0289] 5A.12 is the Advertising Provider. It is as well the entity
contracting for advertising space;
[0290] 5A.13 Is the Product Provider where the advertised products
can be purchased. (FIG. 14C shows the integration of such a Product
Provider's Store into the Consumer Access System, FIG. 2D);
[0291] 6A.01a/b Shows the Companion Windows of the Asset Providers,
containing their Asset lists;
[0292] 6A.02a/b/c/d/e/f indicates the Asset Selectors, each
representing one Asset (2A.01a-2A.01i) of the Asset Provider
represented by the Companion Window that the Asset Selectors are
incorporated in, incorporating two actions 12A.05 and 12A.06, fully
interactive, continuously updated, corresponding with the other
Windows 1A.01, 1A.05, 1A.08a/b, 12A.07;
[0293] 8B.01 is the original signal from the single Video and/or
Audio source, which can be output by a video single camera or the
daily program broadcast by any channel or source;
[0294] 8B.02 is a duplicator/multiplicator device that
duplicates/multiplies the incoming video and/or audio signals,
without any loss, so the signals can be used for two/multiple
simultaneous processes;
[0295] 8B.03 indicates that the incoming video and/or audio signal
is encoded and possibly compressed to meet the high-resolution
specifications of the respective embodiment, such as reducing
picture frame size, frame rate and quality to meet a predetermined
high-resolution bandwidth frequency for eventual access by the user
(i.e. ISDN, ADSL, etc.);
[0296] 8B.04 is the signal, encoded to be broadcast or delivered in
a predetermined high quality frequency;
[0297] 8B.05 indicates that the incoming video and/or audio signal
is encoded and possibly compressed to meet the low-resolution
specifications of the respective embodiment, i.e. reducing picture
frame size, frame rate and quality to meet a predetermined low
quality bandwidth frequency for eventual access by the relevant
frequency user (i.e. ISDN, ADSL, etc.);
[0298] 8B.06 is the signal encoded to be broadcast or delivered in
a predetermined low resolution frequency;
[0299] 8B.07 is the broadcast or delivered signal coming from the
high resolution encoder 8B.04;
[0300] 8B.08 is the broadcast or delivered signal coming from the
low resolution encoder 8B.06;
[0301] 9A.01 Is the Object Storage in the Back-end Information
Network (2A.03). It holds all FHIs, Asset Device Functionality
Objects, Asset Functionality Objects and BIN Functionality Objects.
In general, it holds all available objects and functionality;
[0302] 9A.02 Is an Asset Device Functionality Object that holds all
available functionality for this kind of Asset Device.
[0303] 9A.03 Is an Asset Functionality Object that holds all
available functionality for this kind of Asset;
[0304] 9A.04 Is a BIN (2A.03) Functionality Object that holds
functionality to extend and leverage the BIN;
[0305] 9A.05 Is the part of the BIN that assembles and processes
the objects stored in the Object Storage (9A.01) to prepare them
for delivery and usage;
[0306] 9A.06 The Bootlink or Delivery Request of the Access Device
(9A.01) to the BIN (2A.03) in order to receive the FHI (5A.11)
itself or new Functionality;
[0307] 9A.07 The Delivery transmission of the BIN (2A.03) to the
FHI (5A.11), containing the assembled FHI and Functionality;
[0308] 9A.08 An Information Request from the BIN (2A.03) to the
Access Device (9A.01);
[0309] 9A.09 An Information Response from the Access Device (9A.01)
to the BIN (2A.03);
[0310] 9A.10 are the Access Device independent Front-end Human
Interface Cores;
[0311] 9A.11 Are the Access Device Specific Front-end Human
Interface Cores;
[0312] 9B.01 The request for opening the main application for this
Access Device (9A.01), issued by the Access Device to the BIN
(2B.03);
[0313] 9B.02 The delivery of the main application and open command
from the BIN (2B.03) to the Access Device (9A.01);
[0314] 9C.01 A request for specific technical specifications from
the BIN (2A.03) to the FHI (5A.11);
[0315] 9C.02 The response containing the requested specifications
from the FHI (5A.11) back to the BIN (2A.03);
[0316] 9C.03 The delivery of an Update or Functionality Objects to
the FHI (5A.11);
[0317] 9C.04 The updated or new Functionality Objects are
incorporated into the FHI (5A.11);
[0318] 9D.01 The local DVD/CD-ROM device;
[0319] 9D.02 A DVD/CD-ROM Functionality Object, stored in the
Object Storage (9A.01) of the BIN (2A.03);
[0320] 9D.03 The FHI (5A.11) submits a request for accessing this
specific local DVD/CD-ROM device;
[0321] 9D.04 The BIN (2A.03) delivers the DVD/CD-ROM Functionality
Object to the FHI (5A.11);
[0322] 9D.05 The DVD/CD-ROM Functionality Module is incorporated
into the FHI (5A.11);
[0323] 9E.01 The BIN (2A.03) Sends a Request for
Workload/Delegation to the FHI (5A.11);
[0324] 9E.02 The FHI (5A.11) answers to the BIN (2A.03) with a
Workload or Delegation Response;
[0325] 9E.03 The BIN (2A.03) delivers the results of a
Workload/Delegation to the FHI (5A.11);
[0326] 9F.01 The Operating System of a typical Game Console or
Gaming Station (10D.01);
[0327] 9F.02 The Read-Only-Memory (ROM) of a typical Game Console
or Gaming Station (10D.01);
[0328] 9F.03 A typical Game Console's or Gaming Station's Video
Driver;
[0329] 9F.04 The CPU of a typical Game Console or Gaming Station
(10D.01);
[0330] 9F.05 The Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station (10D.01);
[0331] 9F.06 The internal DVD drive of a typical Game Console or
Gaming Station (10D.01);
[0332] 9F.07 The internal System or Data Bus of a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station (10D.01) that is used as the Delivery
Infrastructure (2A.04);
[0333] 9F.08 The DVD Medium containing the necessary parts of the
BIN (2A.03) for this specific device (a typical Game Console or
Gaming Station, 10D.1);
[0334] 9F.09 Show the insertion of the DVD into the DVD Drive
(9F.06);
[0335] 9F.10 Represents the Data Delivery between the BIN (2A.03)
on the DVD (9F.08) and a typical Game Console or Gaming Station
(10D.01);
[0336] 10A.01 An input device for the Access Device (9A.01);
[0337] 10A.02 A network connection for the Access Device
(9A.01);
[0338] 10A.03 A Display device for the Access Device (9A.01);
[0339] 10B.01 A Display device for the Access Device (9A.01);
[0340] 10B.02 The Video Driver of the Access Device (9A.01);
[0341] 10B.03 The CPU of the Access Device (9A.01);
[0342] 10B.04 A Runtime Environment on the Operating System of the
Access Device (9A.01);
[0343] 10B.05 The Operating System of the Access Device
(9A.01);
[0344] 10B.06 The Read-Only-Memory (ROM) of the Access Device
(9A.01);
[0345] 10B.07 The Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of the Access Device
(9A.01);
[0346] 10B.08 The Network Connection of the Access Device
(9A.01);
[0347] 10B.09 The Keyboard of the Access Device (9A.01);
[0348] 10C.01 Represents a Set-Top Box;
[0349] 10C.02 Is the Remote Control for the Set-Top Box;
[0350] 10C.03 Is the Cable Connection to the Cable Network;
[0351] 10C.04 Represents the Television Set;
[0352] 10D.01 Represents a typical Game Console or Gaming
Station;
[0353] 10D.02 Is a typical Game Console or Gaming Station
Dual-shock Controller;
[0354] 10D.03 Is the Internet Expansion Module for a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station;
[0355] 10D.04 Is the Television Set or Display a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station is connected to;
[0356] 10E.01 Is a Refrigerator
[0357] 10E.02 Is the Refrigerator's Touchpad;
[0358] 10E.03 Represents the Modem connected to the
Refrigerator;
[0359] 10E.04 Is the Refrigerator's Front Display;
[0360] 10F.01 Is a Cellular Phone;
[0361] 10F.02 The Cell Phone keypad;
[0362] 10F.03 Is the GSM connection of the Cell Phone;
[0363] 10F.04 The Cell Phone's Display;
[0364] 10G.01 Is the Home Stereo Device;
[0365] 10G.02 Is the button control bar of the Home Stereo;
[0366] 10G.03 Is the communication Module of the Home Stereo to
connect to the Cable Network;
[0367] 10G.04 Is the Home Stereo's Display;
[0368] 10H.01 Is the Stand-alone CD Player;
[0369] 10H.02 Are the CD Controls on the CD Player;
[0370] 10H.03 Is the CD Remote Control;
[0371] 10H.04 Is the Communication Module of the CD Player to
connect to the Cable Network;
[0372] 10H.05 Is the Home Stereo with speakers to play sound;
[0373] 11A.01 represents a Server System;
[0374] 11A.02 Is the Input Device of the Server System;
[0375] 11A.03 Is the Communication Interface of the Server
System;
[0376] 11A.04 Is a Display Device connected to the Server
System;
[0377] 11A.04 Is a Display Device connected to the Server
System;
[0378] 11B.01 Is the Video Driver in the Server (11A.01);
[0379] 11B.02 The Read-Only-Memory (ROM) of the Server
(11A.01);
[0380] 11B.03 The Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of the Server
(11A.01);
[0381] 11B.04 The Operating System of the Server (11A.01);
[0382] 11B.05 The CPU of the Server (11A.01);
[0383] 11B.06 The Network Connection of the Server (11A.01);
[0384] 11B.07 The Keyboard of the Server (11A.01);
[0385] 11B.08 The Display device connected to the Server
(11A.01);
[0386] 12A.01 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the
Asset displayed in this Monitor Window 2 (1A.08b) to the OnScreen
Window (1A.01). This is shown in detail in FIG. 13F;
[0387] 12A.02 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the
Asset displayed in this OnScreen Window 2 (1A.01) to a Monitor
Window. This is shown in detail in FIG. 13D;
[0388] 12A.03 Is a selector that triggers the action of opening the
corresponding Companion to the Asset displayed in this OnScreen
Window 2 (1A.01). This is shown in detail in FIG. 13E;
[0389] 12A.04 Is a selector that triggers the action of opening the
Master Companion. This is shown in detail in FIG. 13C.
[0390] 12A.05 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the
Asset of the corresponding Asset 1 Selector (6A.02a) to the
OnScreen (1A.01);
[0391] 12A.06 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the
Asset of the corresponding Asset 1 Selector (6A.02a) to a Monitor
(1A.08);
[0392] 12A.07 Is the OWL Master Companion Window that offers the
choices of the various Asset Providers 12A.08a/c;
[0393] 12A.08a Is a selector that triggers the action of opening
the Asset Provider 1 Companion;
[0394] 12A.08c Is a selector that triggers the action of opening
the Asset Provider 3 Companion;
[0395] 14A.01 Represents an electronic commerce offering, dealing
with advertising and purchasing;
[0396] 14A.02 Is the Consumer;
[0397] 14A.03 Is the purchase action of the Consumer that accepted
the Electronic Commerce Offering's Advertising (14A.01, 5A.07);
[0398] 14B.01 Is a module that processes advertising requests,
assembles the advertising and delivers it to the FHI (5A.11);
[0399] 14B.02 Is an e-commerce store interface of the Product
Provider (5A.13);
[0400] 14B.03 Is the sales software of the external product
store;
[0401] 14C.01 Is the Sales Module of the Product Provider's (5A.13)
Store;
[0402] 14D.01 Represents the type of Content related advertising,
stored and processed in the BIN (2A.03);
[0403] 14D.02 Represents the type of Consumer related advertising,
stored and processed in the BIN (2A.03);
[0404] 14D.03 Represents the consumer's advertising preferences
that are stored, used and processed in the BIN (2A.03) to derive
more specific targeted advertising to the Consumer;
[0405] 14D.04 Represents the type of scheduled advertising, stored
and processed in the BIN (2A.03);
[0406] The User Interface of the preferred embodiments of the
invention is the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) 2E. Its software
can be located in parts or as a whole (1) on the Consumer's Access
Device 2A.05, 2B.11, 2B.12 or (2) on the Back-end Information
Network (BIN) 2A.03, 2B.07 of the system and is dynamically (1)
updated or (2) loaded into the Consumer's Access Device 2A.05,
2B.11, 2B.12 each time the Consumer connects to the system. The FHI
is shown generally at 2E in FIGS. 5A and 9A, 9B-F. It works
conceptually as a true extension to the Back-end Information
Network 2A.03 enabling the Consumer to access all the BIN's
functionalities using the Access Device 2A.05 and is integral part
of the completely object oriented and platform independent software
design of the preferred embodiments of the invention 2D, 2A-C. This
provides several advantages. The Consumer is not required to do any
manual software installation or updates, no matter what the
Consumer's language is, 1B, 1C, 1D, where the UI software is
residing 9A-F, what type of Access Device 2C.02a-g, 2B.11, 2B.12 he
or she is using or what kind of infrastructures 2D.01-04, 2A.02,
2A.04, 2B.02-10, are currently or in the future in use. The
Back-end Information Network 2A.03, 2B.07 can be continuously
upgraded so that the Consumers always have at their Access Device
of choice 2A.05, 2B.11, 2B.12, 2C.02a-g, the latest software
release and all of the latest information regarding the system 2D,
2A-C.
[0407] The block diagrams illustrating the versatile and
sophisticated Access Device Deployment concept with the Front-end
Human Interface program 5A.11 are shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and
9F.
[0408] Every Front-end Human Interface deployed onto an Access
Device can dynamically updated to support functionalities specific
to the Access Device it is deployed on (FIG. 9D). These Access
Device specific functionalities are actually added to those of the
Back-end Information Network, as conceptually all functionalities
of the Front-end Human Interface are empowered by the Back-end
Information Network. Therefore any Access Device 10A-H, 2C.02a-g
can become an Asset, 2C.01a-f providing Offerings 10A-H to the
whole Consumer Access System (FIG. 9G). This also can render any
Consumer in an Asset Provider enabling access to his Offerings.
[0409] The diagram 9A shows how a given Front-end Human Interface
5A.11 is dynamically assembled during the boot process from the
Front-end Human Interface Core (FHIC), the Asset Device
Functionality Objects, the Asset Functionality Objects and the
Back-end Information Network Functionality Objects all specific to
the deployment environment in use. These sophisticated processes
allow the Consumer to use any type of Access Device with neither
(1) no parts of the software, or (2) with some parts or (3) the
entire software that is required to run the Consumer Access System
residing (1) on a Back-end Information Network 2A.03 as detailed in
FIG. 9B, or on a (1, 2, 3) networked Access Device 10A-H as
detailed in FIG. 9C or (2, 3) on a simple data storage media
together with the Asset Offerings itself, such as a DVD/CD with
videos 10H which once deployed renders even a not networked Access
Device, such as a Game Console 10D into a fully functional Consumer
Access System as detailed in FIG. 9F.
[0410] FIG. 9G depicts, that once located entirely on one
standalone Access Device 9G.06, 9F, this single Access Device 10A-E
can become the Back-end Information Network 9G.06 to other Assets
and Access Devices 9G.01, 9G.02, 9G.03, 9G.04, 9G.05, 9G.07, 10A-H,
creating its own small Consumer Access System network. This enables
Consumers to build their own independent solutions such as
extraordinary Home and Entertainment control systems (FIG. 9G,
1H.03), allowing the Consumer for example to check the content of
the recording media in his DVD/Video Recorder 9G.07, 1H.04, 1M.01
at his home in Los Angeles, USA, before he schedules 1M.01, 1H.04,
the recording of an internet video broadcasting as well as a
program provided through his home television cable Set-top Box
9G.04, taps into some video observation cameras 9G.05 installed in
his house, checks that enough food is in his refrigerator 9G.03,
orders 1G.01, 14A.03 more milk with his Access Device 9G.01 and
doing all this while being in a hotel room in Seoul, Korea, using
his Nokia 9210 Communicator cellular phone as Access Device 9G.01,
1N. Any Consumer Access System as of this invention has no
limitations in its scalability allowing any type of Consumer Asset
Offering solutions from single system 11A, 11B to multiple server
cluster deployments 11C, for private and/or corporate use.
[0411] The structure and application of the UI is illustrated in
detail in FIGS. 12A, 13A-I, 13K and 13L.
[0412] The Front-end Human Interface 5A.11 is the User Interface
(UI) to Our World Live's Novel Consumer Access System networking
technology. In one preferred embodiment, the UI is available as
entirely written in Java, a well known software development
environment for platform independent programming and supporting
Asset types Apple QuickTime 1A08a, Microsoft Media Technologies
1A08b, RealNetworks Media Technologies 1A08c, MPEG 1A08d and
standard television signals 1A08e. By making all different
multimedia formats accessible with the Front-end Human Interface
the Asset Provider is free to choose, deploy and mix any existing
and future media platforms.
[0413] The Front-end Human Interface 5A.11 provides multiple types
of Window objects, such as OnScreen, Companion and Monitor, each of
them able to have multiple concurrent existences or instances only
limited to the capabilities of the Access Device it is running on.
For one or more OWLed Assets one Companion Window is the parent
object from which other objects come from (see FIG. 15A).
[0414] With increases in performance in the Access System, as well
as with more Display size offering either bigger or additional
Displays, the Consumer is enabled to obtain increased advantage out
of the Front-end Human Interface's expandable Windows feature
(illustrated in FIG. 16A).
[0415] The Front-end Human Interface can also span across multiple
Access Devices, creating for the Consumer one single Virtual Access
Environment (FIGS. 2F and 13K). The Consumer can freely layout the
Front-end Human Interface across all Screens of the assimilated
Access Devices (FIG. 16B)--the FIGS. 1P, 1R and 1S illustrate how a
Consumer watching the Olympic Games, chooses a camera angle on his
(1P.01) Nokia 9210 cellular phone, (1R.01) Palm Pilot or (1S.01)
Pocket PC and directs the video output to be displayed in an bigger
OnScreen Window on his (1P.03) television set or (1R.02, 1S.02)
Personal Computer. Being attracted by a product sales Offering
displayed on the television set (1P.04) and simultaneously provided
with a corresponding prompt on his cellular phone (1P.02), he
responds to it on his cellular phone (1P.02), automatically
directing his Personal Computers' Front-end Human Interface to the
online store (1G.01) and purchasing the product on his Personal
Computer.
[0416] The sophisticated Electronic Commerce procedures as provided
by the preferred embodiments of the invention, providing extended
capabilities for personalized advertisement (14D, 1L.06, 1P.04),
forward to external stores (14B) and optimized integration of
internal stores as well as external store Legacy Systems are
illustrated in detail in FIGS. 14A-D.
[0417] The Front-end Human Interface also provides the Consumer a
portal into the world of Our World Live's Consumer Access System
simultaneously accessing any type of Asset 2C.01a-f, 1A.08a-e,
1G.01, 1G.02, 1G.03, 1G.04, 1H.02, 1H.03, 1H.04, 1J.01, 1M.01,
offered live-video and video-on-demand contents 2C.01a, services
2C.01a-d such as banking, travel agencies, product stores and
electronic shopping malls, as well as Home & Entertainment
Devices 1H.04, 10C, 10D, 10G, 10H, 9G, 1H.03 Home Appliances 10E,
9G, 1H.03 Audio Entertainment Devices 1G, 1H, 1J, 2C.01a-f from all
over the world 1B, 1C, D with any type of Access Device 1A, 1K-N,
1P-S, 2C.02a-g (shown in FIG. 17A).
[0418] 07.B. Navigation and Control Provided by the Front-end Human
Interface
[0419] FIG. 18A shows the default Windows set up of a graphical
user interface version of the Front-end Human Interface as it would
appear for OWLed Assets on a Consumer's Access Device such as a
typical Personal Computer system with a single Display and at a
Screen resolution of 1024.times.768 pixel. Additional examples for
different Screen Layout arrangements of the Front-end Human
Interface are shown in FIGS. 22A and 1A-F.
[0420] The main guide Window for navigation and control is the
Companion Window (shown in FIG. 19A). The navigation and control
provides the Consumer with an intuitive and interactive way to
overview the available Asset Offerings such as video content
offered within a specific OWLed Asset such as a sports event.
Beside offering video-on-demand services by searching and browsing
databases, the Front-end Human Interface provides advantages in
presenting Asset Offerings, such as live televised broadcasting
events, in an entirely novel manner. A plurality of examples of how
the preferred embodiments of the invention provide access to
different types of Asset Offerings are shown in FIGS. 1A-S.
[0421] As described above, in an Asset Offering, such as a live
televised broadcasting event, several cameras are positioned with
different perspectives and viewing areas so that many more details
of an event can be viewed. In traditional television broadcasts a
TV-channel produces its presentation of the event by cutting live
from one camera to another trying to keep up with the supposed
focus of interest of the Television Consumer, often interrupted by
commercials, slow motion replays and other contents.
[0422] In contrast, in the Companion 1A.05, the Consumer gets a
visual impression as to where the cameras are located and what
perspective and viewing area each one has. He or she then can
activate each single camera and either display at a Monitor Window,
e.g. 1A.08, with the make monitor feature (FIG. 20A) or send the
camera-output to the OnScreen Window, e.g. 1A.01, (FIGS. 1A and
21A) to be displayed in the respective screen area.
[0423] The Monitor Windows, e.g. 1A.08, although substantially
smaller in size and with lower resolution than the OnScreen Window
1A.01, allow the Consumer to have an overview of the event as a
whole and instantly jump to the area of his or her personal
interest to watch with high resolution and quality on the OnScreen
Window 1A.01. The Consumer can not only use the navigation services
in the Companion (1A.05) but he or she also can directly redirect
the camera-output from the Monitor Window (1A.08) to the OnScreen
Window (1A.01) with the easy OnScreen feature of the Monitor Window
(1A.08) or vice versa with the make monitor feature of the OnScreen
Window (1A.01).
[0424] In the preferred embodiments, the action displayed on the
OnScreen Window (1A.01) from a given camera is not lost by
switching to another camera for OnScreen Window (1A.01) viewing
since the former camera is immediately transferred to a Monitor
Window (1A.08).
[0425] The Monitor Windows (1A.08), OnScreen Windows (1A.01) as
well as the Companion Windows (1A.05) are resizable and freely
accommodateable, so that the Consumer can customize the displayed
information according to his needs and the abilities of the used
Access Device (FIGS. 1K-N).
[0426] In addition to that, the Front-end Human Interface is not
restricted to a specific number or combination of Windows. The
Consumer can freely choose the number of Monitor, On Screen or
Companion Windows to be displayed (FIGS. 22A, 1H) and is only
restricted by the abilities of the used Access Device or Devices,
in case he is combining multiple Access Devices for deploying a
Virtual Access Environment (FIGS. 2F, 16B).
[0427] Another significant feature of the Front-end Human
Interface, are the Screen Layout Alignment Tools, which support the
Consumer in arranging the Windows and "cleaning up" his or her
Screen. The tools Invisible Grid 13L.11, Window Margins 13L.13,
Magnetic Borders 13L.15 and Auto Align 13L.16 are described more
detailed in FIG. 13L. The tools not only work on one Screen but
across all Screens connected to a single Access Device and also
across all Access Devices, which are part of one Virtual Access
Environment.
[0428] The preferred embodiments of Our World Live's Consumer
Access System are based on Open Source technologies as well as on
industry standards to offer a wide range of services.
[0429] Every Asset Provider using for its offerings Our World
Live's Consumer Access System technologies can automatically
provide them to every Consumer worldwide using the Front-end Human
Interface application. Due to the simple but powerful user
interface, freely Consumer customizable, with unlimited OWLed
Events, unlimited Windows, unlimited Access Devices and unlimited
Display support, the Front-end Human Interface becomes a Consumers
portal into the world (FIG. 22A).
[0430] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention uses the cable or satellite delivery infrastructures to
deliver content to the Consumer's television set. This system
encompasses storing the program content, program guide, advertising
content, customer service, profiling, and billing, including
functionalities currently built into the set-top box on computer
servers that become part of the Back-end Infrastructure network.
The Front-end Human Interface is downloaded on start up to the set
top box, or can be resident on the set top box, to allow the viewer
to access and interact with the Back-end Information Network. In
this embodiment the content owner, broadcaster, and network/cable
operators can use one unified Back-end/front-end technology to
deliver their content over any delivery infrastructure and enhance
the viewer experience.
[0431] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention allows the advertisers, content owners, broadcasters, and
network/cable operators to dynamically insert profile targeted
advertisements, simultaneously showing different adds to different
viewers during the same event, to track user behavior, to create,
poll, track and monitor in real time.
* * * * *