U.S. patent application number 12/478119 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for electronic book with information manipulation features.
This patent application is currently assigned to Discovery Communications, Inc.. Invention is credited to John S. Hendricks.
Application Number | 20090300539 12/478119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22895373 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090300539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hendricks; John S. |
December 3, 2009 |
ELECTRONIC BOOK WITH INFORMATION MANIPULATION FEATURES
Abstract
An electronic book having various features for manipulating text
or other information. The subscriber may highlight, cut and paste,
copy and paste, and annotate information within an electronic book.
A multiple page view feature permits the subscriber to
simultaneously view any plurality of pages of an electronic book,
and a multiple screen feature permits the subscriber to view one or
more pages on a viewer having multiple screens. A
picture-in-picture feature permits the subscriber to simultaneously
view a page of an electronic book along with other content, such as
a television program or information from another electronic book.
The picture-in-picture feature may display an electronic book page
as a main image wrapped around an inset image.
Inventors: |
Hendricks; John S.;
(Potomac, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX LLP
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 400
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
Discovery Communications,
Inc.
Bethesda
MD
|
Family ID: |
22895373 |
Appl. No.: |
12/478119 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09335268 |
Jun 17, 1999 |
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12478119 |
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08336247 |
Nov 7, 1994 |
5986690 |
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09335268 |
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09237828 |
Jan 27, 1999 |
7401286 |
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08336247 |
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09289957 |
Apr 13, 1999 |
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09237828 |
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08160194 |
Dec 2, 1993 |
5990927 |
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09289957 |
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08906469 |
Aug 5, 1997 |
6408437 |
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08160194 |
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08160281 |
Dec 2, 1993 |
5798785 |
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08906469 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/779 ;
715/823 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/9562 20190101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06F 40/137 20200101; G06F 40/134
20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/779 ;
715/823 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Claims
1. A method for highlighting portions of information of an
electronic book displayed on a viewer, comprising: displaying a
portion of the electronic book on the viewer; receiving a request
from the subscriber to highlight selected information of the
electronic book; displaying a task bar for use in receiving the
request; and highlighting at least a portion of the electronic book
based upon the subscriber's request.
2. The method of claim 1, further including displaying the
highlighted portion of the electronic book.
3.-29. (canceled)
30. An apparatus for highlighting portions of information of an
electronic book displayed on a viewer, comprising: a display module
that displays a portion of an electronic book on a viewer; a
command module that receives a request from the subscriber to
highlight selected information of the electronic book; a task
module that displays a task bar for use in receiving the request;
and a highlight module that highlights at least a portion of the
electronic book based upon the subscriber's request.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, further including a section module
that displays the highlighted portion of the electronic book.
32.-73. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/336,247 entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK SELECTION
AND DELIVERY SYSTEM, filed Nov. 7, 1994; U.S. application Ser. No.
09/237,828, filed on Jan. 27, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK
ELECTRONIC LINKS; U.S. application Ser. No. 09/289,957, filed on
Apr. 13, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY
SYSTEMS; U.S. application Ser. No. 08/160,194, entitled ADVANCED
SET-TOP TERMINAL FOR CABLE TELEVISION DELIVERY SYSTEMS, filed Dec.
2, 1993; and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/906,469, entitled
REPROGRAMMABLE TERMINAL FOR SUGGESTING PROGRAMS OFFERED ON A
TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY SYSTEM, filed Aug. 5, 1997, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/160,281, entitled
TERMINAL FOR SUGGESTING PROGRAMS OFFERED ON A TELEVISION PROGRAM
DELIVERY SYSTEM, filed Dec. 2, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,785,
dated Aug. 25, 1998, all of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention is directed to an electronic book unit having
one or more electronic books. More specifically, the invention
relates to an apparatus and method for manipulating information
such as text and graphics within electronic books.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Sparked by the concept of an information superhighway, a
revolution will take place in the distribution of books. Not since
the introduction of Gutenberg's movable typeset printing has the
world stood on the brink of such a revolution in the distribution
of text material. The definition of the word "book" will change
drastically in the near future. Due to reasons such as security,
convenience, cost, and other technical problems, book and magazine
publishers are currently only able to distribute their products in
paper form. This invention solves the problems encountered by
publishers.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] An electronic book viewer incorporates advanced information
manipulation features that enhance the functionality of the
electronic book viewer. In an embodiment, information in an
electronic book including text, mathematical formulas, data,
graphics, and still and moving images may be selected for
manipulation. A processor in the viewer uses software modules to
execute information manipulation commands. Information may be
highlighted by selecting a portion of the electronic book using a
cursor or similar selection device, and then sending a command to
the viewer's processor to initiate the highlighting process. For
example, text shown on a page of the electronic book may be
selected for highlighting. Highlighting may include changing font
style, size, format (bold, italics or normal), or color, for
example. In the disclosure that follows, the terms information and
images will be understood to refer to all manner of data, graphics,
text, videos, formulas and any other information or images.
[0005] Using other software modules, the viewer's processor may be
used to cut and paste, or copy and paste images from one portion of
the electronic book to another portion of the electronic book.
Similarly, images or content from other electronic documents can be
cut and pasted, or copied and pasted into the electronic book.
[0006] The viewer's processor also may use software modules to
annotate portions of the electronic book, to display the annotated
portions, and to move annotations within the electronic book.
[0007] In another embodiment, the viewer may display multiple
electronic books. For example, the viewer may display information
or images from two electronic books in a side-by-side fashion. The
two electronic books also may be displayed in a picture-in-picture
format. The viewer is not limited to displaying only two electronic
books, and may display three or more electronic books, using
well-known image processing routines.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, the viewer may use multiple
screens to display an image from a single electronic book or to
display images from multiple electronic books. The multiple screens
may be hinged and electronically connected to fold like pages in an
actual book. The multiple screens also may snap into place to form
electrical connections. A single image may be expanded to fit on
all the multiple screens. For example, a map of the world may be
expanded from a single screen format to a three screen format. The
multiple screens may also be used to display multiple pages of the
electronic book. The displayed multiple pages may be consecutive or
non-consecutive pages within the electronic book. The multiple
screens also may be used to display multiple pages from more than
one electronic book, or to display a page from an electronic book,
and information from another electronic document or information
source. For example, a first screen may display a page from the
electronic book and a second page may display a digital television
signal. The second screen also may display images that are linked
to the page displayed on the first screen. A method and apparatus
for links in an electronic book are described in detail in
copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/237,828, filed on Jan. 27,
1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK ELECTRONIC LINKS, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0009] In still another embodiment, information from other sources
may be displayed in a picture-in-picture format on the viewer's
screen. For example, a live television program may be displayed in
a picture-in-picture window of the screen at the same time that the
text of an electronic book is displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the primary components of the
electronic book selection and delivery system.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic showing an overview of the electronic
book selection and delivery system.
[0012] FIG. 3a is a schematic of the delivery plan for the
electronic book selection and delivery system.
[0013] FIG. 3b is a schematic of an alternate delivery plan.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an operations center.
[0015] FIG. 5a is a flow diagram of the processing at the
operations center and uplink.
[0016] FIG. 5b is a block diagram of the hardware configuration for
an uplink site.
[0017] FIG. 6a is a block diagram of the hardware configuration for
a four component home subsystem.
[0018] FIG. 6b is a schematic of a two unit home subsystem.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the processes performed by the
video connector.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a block diagram for an example of a library
unit.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of some of the processes performed
by the library on the received data stream.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of the processes performed by the
library unit on information requests from the viewer.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the components for an
example of a viewer.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of some of the processes performed
by the viewer on an information request from a subscriber.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a chart depicting the menu structure and
sequencing of menus in the menu system.
[0026] FIG. 14a is a schematic of an introductory menu.
[0027] FIG. 14b is a schematic showing an example of a main
menu.
[0028] FIGS. 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, 14i and 14j are
schematics showing examples of submenus.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an electronic book system
for a bookstore or public library.
[0030] FIG. 16a and FIG. 16b are schematics of hardware
modifications or upgrades to a set top converter.
[0031] FIG. 17 is a schematic showing a set top terminal that
includes a data receiver and data transmitter.
[0032] FIG. 18a is a schematic of a book-on-demand system.
[0033] FIG. 18b is a schematic of an operations center supporting a
book-on-demand system.
[0034] FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a process for highlighting,
cutting and pasting, copying and pasting, and annotating text in an
electronic book.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a schematic illustrating an example of
highlighting text in an electronic book.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a schematic illustrating an example of cutting
and pasting, and copying and pasting, text in an electronic book or
between electronic books.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a schematic illustrating an example of annotating
text in an electronic book.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a flow chart of a process for displaying multiple
pages of an electronic book.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a schematic illustrating an example of viewing
multiple pages in an electronic book.
[0040] FIG. 25 is a flow chart of a process for displaying one or
more pages of an electronic book on a viewer having multiple
screens.
[0041] FIG. 26a is a schematic illustrating a first viewer having
multiple screens.
[0042] FIG. 26b is a schematic illustrating a second viewer having
multiple screens.
[0043] FIG. 26c is a schematic illustrating presenting an image on
a viewer having one screen.
[0044] FIG. 26d is a schematic illustrating presenting an image on
a viewer having two screens.
[0045] FIG. 26e is a schematic illustrating presenting an image on
a viewer having four screens.
[0046] FIG. 27 is a flow chart of a process for displaying
picture-in-picture images of electronic books.
[0047] FIG. 28a is a schematic illustrating use of an inset image
within a main image for picture-in-picture viewing of electronic
books.
[0048] FIG. 28b is a schematic illustrating use of a side-by-side
images for picture-in-picture viewing of electronic books.
[0049] FIG. 28c is a schematic illustrating use of an inset image
within a main image for picture-in-picture viewing of an electronic
book and other information such as graphical images or video.
[0050] FIG. 28d is a schematic illustrating use of a side-by-side
images for picture-in-picture viewing of an electronic book and
other information such as graphical images or video.
[0051] FIG. 29a is a schematic diagram of an electronic book home
system for receiving and displaying multiple signals in a
picture-in-picture format.
[0052] FIG. 29b shows the electronic book viewer displaying
multiple images from separate information services.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] An electronic book selection and delivery system provides a
new way to distribute electronic books to bookstores, public
libraries, schools, and subscribers or users. In the discussion
that follows, subscribers and users will be understood to refer to
an individual or individuals who interface with the electronic book
or any part of the electronic book selection and delivery system.
The technological breakthroughs of this invention provide a secure
system for both delivering selected electronic books and receiving
payments. The system has an unusual combination of features that
provides the consumer with an electronic book unit that has a high
tech aura while being very practical, portable, and easy to
use.
[0054] The clear advantage of the system is that it eliminates the
distribution of any physical object such as a paper book or
computer memory device from any book or text distribution system.
The purchase of an electronic book may become a PAY-PER-READ.TM.
event avoiding the overhead, "middle-men," printing costs, and time
delay associated with the current book distribution system.
Published material and text such as the President's speech, a new
law, a court decision on abortion, or O. J. Simpson's testimony can
be made immediately available to the consumer at a nominal fee.
[0055] The system is a novel combination of new technology
involving the television, cable, telephone, and computer
industries. It uses high bandwidth data transmissions, strong
security measures, sophisticated digital switching, high resolution
visual displays, novel controls, and user friendly interface
software.
[0056] The primary components of the text delivery system are the
subsystem for placing the text onto a signal path and the subsystem
for receiving and selecting text that was placed on the signal
path. A preferred embodiment of the system includes additional
components and optional features that enhance the system. The
system may be configured for use by bookstores, public libraries,
schools and consumers.
[0057] The system for consumer use is made up of four subsystems,
namely: (1) an operations center, (2) a distribution system, (3) a
home subsystem including reception, selection, viewing, transacting
and transmission capabilities, and (4) a billing and collection
system.
[0058] The operations center performs several primary functions:
manipulating text data (including receiving, formatting and storing
of text data), security encoding of text, cataloging of books,
providing a messaging center capability, and performing uplink
functions. The system delivers the text from the operations center
to consumer homes by inserting text data into an appropriate signal
path. The insertion of text is generally performed with an encoder
at an uplink site that is within or near the operations center. If
the signal path is a video signal path, the system can use several
lines of the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI), all the lines of the
analog video signal, a digital video signal or unused portions of
bandwidth to transmit text data. Using the VBI delivery method, the
top ten or twenty book titles may be transmitted with video during
normal programming utilizing existing cable, satellite, wireless or
broadcast transmission capability without disruption to the
subscriber's video reception. Using the entire video signal,
thousands of books may be transmitted within just one hour of air
time. Nearly any analog or digital video distribution system may be
used to deliver the video signal with included text.
[0059] The text data may also be transmitted over other low and
high speed signal paths including a telephone network (e.g., a
public switched telephone network) having a high speed connection
such as an asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) connection.
Other delivery methods and systems are described in detail in
copending applications U.S. application Ser. No. 09/289,957,
entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, and U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/289,956, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK
ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY METHODS, both filed Apr. 13, 1999, the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0060] The home subsystem performs four primary functions:
connecting to the video distribution system, selecting text,
storing text, and transacting through a phone or cable
communicating mechanism. The components of the home subsystem may
be configured in a variety of hardware configurations. Each
function may be performed by a separate component, the components
may be integrated, or the capability of existing cable set top
converter boxes and televisions may be utilized. Preferably, a
connector, library unit and an electronic book unit, or viewer
unit, are used. The connector portion of the home subsystem
receives the analog video signal and strips or extracts the text
from the video. The home library stores the text signal, provides a
user friendly software interface to the system and processes the
transactions at the consumer home. The viewer provides a screen for
viewing text or menus and novel user friendly controls. The viewer
may also incorporate all the functionality of the home
subsystem.
[0061] The viewing device is preferably a portable book shaped
viewer which stores one or more electronic books for viewing and
provides a screen for interacting with the home library unit. A
high resolution LCD display is used to both read the books and to
interact with the home library software. An optional phone
connector or return-path cable connection initiates the telephone
calls and, with the aid of the library, transmits the necessary
data to complete the ordering and billing portion of the consumer
transaction. The user friendly controls include a bookmark, current
book and page turn button. The billing and collection system
performs transaction management, authorizations, collections and
publisher payments automatically utilizing the telephone system.
Alternative ordering and billing methods and systems are described
in detail in copending applications U.S. application Ser. No.
09/289,957, filed on Apr. 13, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK
ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, and U.S. application Ser. No.
09/289,956, filed on Apr. 13, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK
ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY METHODS.
[0062] In an embodiment, the primary components of the electronic
book selection and delivery system 200 are an encoder 204, a video
distribution system 208, a connector 212, and a text selector 216
as shown in FIG. 1. The encoder 204 places textual data on a video
signal to form a composite video signal. Although the composite
signal may contain only textual data, it usually carries both video
and textual data. A variety of equipment and methods may be used to
encode text data onto a video signal. The video distribution system
208 distributes the composite video signal from the single point of
the encoder 204 to multiple locations which have connectors 212.
The connector 212 receives the digital or analog video signal from
the video distribution system 208 and separates, strips or extracts
the text data from the composite video signal. If necessary, the
extracted text data is converted into a digital bit stream. Text
selector 216 works in connection with the connector 212 to select
text.
[0063] Using a connector 212 and text selector 216 combination,
various methods of selecting and retrieving desired text from a
composite or video signal are possible. Text may be preselected,
selected as received or selected after being received and stored. A
preferred method is for the connector 212 to strip or extract all
the text from the video signal and have the text selector 216
screen all the text as received from the connector 212. The text
selector 216 only stores text in long term or permanent memory if
the text passes a screening process described below.
[0064] An overview of the electronic book selection and delivery
system 200 is shown in FIG. 2. The delivery system 200 includes: an
operations center 250 including an uplink site 254, a video
distribution system 208, a home system 258 including a video
connector 212, a library 262, a viewer 266, and a phone connector
270, telephone system 274, an internet web site 279 and a billing
and collection system 278. Also as shown in FIG. 2, the home system
258 may include connections to a television 259 and a personal
computer 261. The television 259 and the personal computer 261 may
be used to display menu screens, electronic books, electronic
files, or any other information associated with the delivery system
200. In addition, the television 259 and the personal computer 261
may provide control function that replicate and supplement those of
the viewer 266.
[0065] The operations center 250 receives textual material from
outside sources 282 such as publishers, newspapers, and on-line
services. Alternately, the outside sources may maintain electronic
books at the Internet web site 279. The outside sources 282 may
convert textual and graphical material to digital format, or may
contract with another vendor to provide this service. The
operations center 250 may receive the textual and graphical
material in various digital formats and may convert the textual
material to a standard compressed format for storage. In so doing,
the operations center 250 may create a pool of textual material
that is available to be delivered to the home system 258. The
textual material may be grouped by books or titles for easy
access.
[0066] As used herein, "book" means textual or graphical
information such as contained in any novels, encyclopedias,
articles, magazines or manuals. The term "title" may represent the
actual title assigned by an author to a book, or any other
designation indicating a particular group, portion, or category of
textual information. The title may refer to a series of related
textual information, a grouping of textual information, or a
portion of textual data. For example, "Latest Harlequin Romance",
"Four Child Reading Books (Ages 10-12)", "Encyclopedia
`BRITANNICA`.TM.", "President's Speech", "Instruction Manual",
"Schedule of 4th of July Events", "Pet Handbooks", "Roe v. Wade",
and "The Joy of Cooking" are suitable titles. Also, the title may
be a graphical symbol or icon. Thus, a picture of a wrench may be a
title for a repair book, a picture of a computer a title for a
computer book, a graphical symbol of a telephone a title for a
telephone book, a drawing of a dagger a title for a mystery book, a
picture of a bat and ball a title for a sports book and a picture
of tickertape a title for a business book. The term "electronic
book" refers to the electronic counterpart to a "book."
[0067] The operations center 250 includes an uplink site 254 for
placing the text onto a video signal and sending the composite
video signal into a video distribution system. The uplink site 254
would generally include an encoder 204 (not shown in FIG. 2) to
encode the text onto a video signal.
[0068] Many analog and digital distribution systems 208, or other
telecommunications systems, can be used with the delivery system
200, such as a cable television distribution system, a broadcast
television distribution system, video distributed over telephone
systems, distribution from the Internet, direct satellite broadcast
distribution systems, and other wired and wireless distribution
systems.
[0069] The home system 258 performs five primary functions: (1)
connecting with a video distribution system, (2) selecting data,
(3) storing data, (4) displaying data, and (5) handling
transactions. An important optional function of the home sub-system
258 is communicating using a telephone communication system 274.
The home system 258 is made up of primarily four parts: a video
connector 212 or similar type of connector for connecting with the
video distribution system 208, a library unit 262 for storing and
processing, an electronic book, or viewer unit, 266 for viewing
menus and text and a telephone connector 270 for connecting with a
telephone communications system 274. In an alternate arrangement,
the viewer 266 may include all the functionality of the home system
258.
[0070] The billing and collection system 278 may be co-located with
the operations center 250 or located remote from the operations
center 250. In an embodiment, the billing and collection system 278
is in communication with the home system 258 via telephone-type
communication systems (for example 274). Any of a number of
telephone type communication systems, such as, a cellular system,
will operate with the billing and collection system 278. The
billing and collection system 278 records the electronic books or
portions of text that are selected or ordered by the subscriber.
The collection system will charge a subscriber's credit account or
bill the subscriber. In addition, the billing and collection system
278 will monitor that amount due to publishers or other outside
sources 282 who have provided textual data or other services such
as air time to enable the text delivery system 200 to operate.
[0071] When electronic books are provided via the Internet web site
279, the billing and collecting functions may be incorporated into
the Internet web site 279. For example, a subscriber may pay for an
electronic book selection by entering a credit card number into a
data field of a page of the Internet web site 279. In this
configuration, a separate billing and collection system may not be
required.
[0072] FIG. 3a is an expanded overview of a delivery plan 301 for
the delivery system 200. The delivery plan 301 supports various
types of subscribers and various billing systems. FIG. 3a shows
that publishers 282 will provide text transfer 302 to the
operations center 250' and receive payments 306 from the billing
and collection system 278'. A separate channel uplink site 254' is
shown in this configuration receiving data 310 from the operations
center 250'. The operations center 250' has three separate sections
(318, 322, 326) one for text receiving, formatting and re-entry
318, a second for security encoding 322 and a third section for
catalog and messaging center functions 326.
[0073] The billing and collection system 278' shown has two
sections (330, 334) one for transaction management, authorizations
and publisher payments 330, and the other for customer service 334.
The customer service section 334 provides for data entry and access
to customer account information. Transaction accounting information
338 is supplied to credit card companies 342 by the transaction
management section 330 of the billing and collection system 278'.
The credit card companies 342 provide billing 346 to customers
either electronically or by mail.
[0074] Three methods for communicating between the subscriber base
348 and the billing and collection system 278' are shown: by
telephone switching 350 alone, cellular switching 354 and telephone
switching 350 combined, and by use of the cable system 358 and the
telephone switching 350. The system shown supports both one-way 362
and two-way cable communication 366 with subscribers. Public
libraries and schools 370 as well as bookstores 374 may use the
delivery system 301.
[0075] Public libraries and schools 370 would have a modified
system to allow the viewer 266 to be checked-out or borrowed while
bookstores 374 would rent or sell the viewer 266 and sell the
electronic books. The bookstores 374 as well as the public
libraries and schools 370 may be serviced by cable 378. Optional
direct broadcast systems (DBS) 382 can also be used with the
delivery system 200. The DBS 382 may provide the electronic books
using digital satellite technology, with the electronic books being
received via a backyard satellite antenna, for example.
[0076] FIG. 3b is an alternate delivery plan 301' that provides for
electronic book selection and delivery using the Internet. In FIG.
3b, the publishers 282 provide the electronic books to be posted at
the Internet web site 279. The publishers may convert the text and
graphical data to digital format, compress the digital data, and
upload the compressed digital data to the Internet web site 279.
Alternately, the publishers 282 may arrange for an outside
conversion activity 283 to convert the text and graphical data to
digital format. The conversion activity 283 may then provide the
digital data to the Internet web site 279. For example, a large
on-line bookstore could gather publications in electronic form from
a variety of publishers, or could convert hard-copy books to
electronic form, and post the electronic books on the Internet such
as at the Internet web site 279.
[0077] The electronic books may then be transferred via a public
switched telephone network (PSTN), for example, direct to a
subscriber 285, a library 286 and a bookstore 287. The library 286
and the bookstore 287 may also provide electronic books to the
subscriber 285.
I. The Operations Center
[0078] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an operations center 250 which
includes an uplink 254. The operations center 250 gathers text or
books by receiving, formatting, storing, and encoding. A data
stream 302 containing text is received at the operations center 250
by a data receiver 402. The data receiver 402 is under the control
of a processor 404. After reception, the data stream is formatted
using digital logic for formatting 406 which is also under the
control of the processor 404. If any additional text is being
generated at the operation center 250 locally for insertion into
the distributed signal, the text generation is handled through text
generator hardware 410 which may include a data receiver and a
keyboard (not shown). Following processing by the text generator
410, the additional text can be added to the text received by the
combining hardware 414 that includes digital logic circuitry (not
shown).
[0079] The processing at the operations center 250 is controlled by
a processor 404 which uses an instruction memory 416. The processor
404 and instruction memory 416 may be supplied by a personal
computer or mini-computer. To perform the catalog and messaging
functions, the operations center 250 uses a catalog and message
memory 420 and the text generator 410 if necessary.
[0080] The data stream of text, catalog and messages is preferably
encoded by security module encoding 424 prior to being sent to the
uplink module 254. Various encoding techniques may be used by the
security encoding module 424 such as the commercial derivative of
NSA's encryption algorithm (Data Encryption System (DES)) and
General Instrument's DigiCipher II. Following encoding, the encoded
text may be stored in text memory 428 prior to being sent to the
uplink 254. A first-in-first-out text memory arrangement may be
used under the control of the processor 404. Various types of
memory may be used for the text memory 428 including RAM. The
operations center 250 may use file server technology for the text
memory 428 to catalog and spool electronic books for transmission
as is described below.
[0081] To transmit textual data (i.e., electronic books), the
delivery system 208 uses high bandwidth transmission techniques
such as those defined by the North American Broadcast Teletext
Standard (NABTS) and the World System Teletext (WST) standard.
Using the WST format (where each line of the Vertical Blanking
Interval contains 266 data bits), a four hundred page book, for
example, may be transmitted during programming using four lines of
the Vertical Blanking Interval at a rate of approximately one book
every 1.6 minutes (63,840 bits per second). Alternatively,
electronic books may be transmitted over a dedicated channel, which
interrupts programming so that 246 lines of video can be used to
transmit approximately 2,250 books every hour (3.9 Mbits per
second). A teletext type format is the simplest but possibly the
slowest text format to use with the delivery system 200. In either
event, an encoder 204 is utilized at an uplink site 254 to insert
textual data into the analog video signal. In many other respects,
the delivery of the textual information is completed using existing
cable television plant and equipment.
[0082] FIG. 5a is a flowchart of the steps involved in processing
text from the publisher or provider 282 that occurs at the
operations center 250. As shown in block 500, the publisher 282
processes data files of text for books, compresses, encrypts and
sends the data files to the operations center 250 or uplink 254.
Text files for books are preferably sent one book at a time. As
shown in block 504, the uplink 254 or operations center 250
receives and processes the data stream from the publisher 282.
Generally, part of this processing includes encryption and error
correction.
[0083] As shown in block 508, files are broken into smaller packets
of information. Header information is added to the packets. The bit
stream is converted from a serial digital bit stream to an analog
bit stream that is compatible with an NTSC video signal. Block 512
shows the switching of analog data into the video lines of a video
signal. The analog data is generally placed either in the VBI or
the active video lines. In some instances, it may be preferable to
utilize unused portions of bandwidth (such as 5-40 MHZ, 70-75 MHZ,
100-109 MHZ or other guard bands) instead of the video lines.
[0084] FIG. 5b is an example of a hardware configuration to perform
some of the functions for blocks 508 and 512. A video feed 516 is
received and processed through a sync stripper 520. The stripped
sync signal 532 is used by the digital logic control 524. The
digital logic control 524 receives the sync signal 532 and a serial
digital bit stream 528 for processing. The digital logic control
524 passes the serial digital bit stream to the Digital to Analog
converter 536 and outputs a control signal 540 for the video switch
544. The video switch 544 integrates the video feed 516 and analog
data stream 548 into a video feed with analog data signal inserted
552.
[0085] As an alternative to cable, satellite, broadcast, or other
television delivery methods, the public telephone system may be
used to transmit books to the subscribers. An average electronic
book would take about 7 minutes to transmit over the public
telephone system. Using the telephone system, it is not necessary
to combine video and text into a composite signal. In most other
respects, the operation center would remain similar whether text
delivery was by telephone or cable. File server technology (such as
that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,875, entitled AUDIO/VIDEO
FILE SERVER INCLUDING DECOMPRESSION/PLAYBACK MEANS, issued to
Mincer, et al., and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,695, entitled FILE SERVER
SYSTEM HAVING HIGH-SPEED WRITE EXECUTION, issued to Noveck, et al.,
incorporated herein by reference) may be used at the operation
center with a telephone system text delivery method.
[0086] As another alternative to cable, television, and telephone
system delivery, the public telephone system may be used to provide
access to the Internet, where the Internet web site 279 may be
accessed. Electronic books may be ordered, paid for, and delivered
directly from the Internet web site 279 over the telephone
system.
[0087] In any delivery system using the telephone system,
individual subscribers may increase the electronic book deliver
rate by incorporating high speed modems or other communication
devices such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
connector, or by use of an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
(ADSL)
II. The Home System
[0088] The hardware configuration for a four component home system
258 is shown in FIG. 6a. FIG. 6b shows a hardware configuration for
a two component home system. The hardware components may also be
incorporated into a single unit that communicates with a terminal
in a television delivery system or with a telephone system by use
of a modem, for example. The home system 258 performs several
functions, such as receiving data and video transmissions,
stripping (or extracting) the data from the video signal, screening
and storing the data, providing user friendly interface controls
and software, displaying menus and text, processing transactions,
initiating telephone calls and transmitting billing data. Various
hardware configurations may be utilized to achieve the desired
functions of the home system 258. For example, as shown in FIG. 6b,
the home system 258 can be configured to utilize the reception and
channel tuning capability of the current installed subscriber base
of cable converter boxes and televisions 601. The home system 258
can also be designed as an advanced set top terminal converter box
with menu generation capability, electronic memory and a telephone
modem as described in section V below.
[0089] The electronic components which make up the home system 258
can be arranged in a variety of ways. In the four unit system of
FIG. 6a the viewer 266 and library unit 262 are wired together
while the remaining components communicate through RF transceivers
604. In a simple version of the home system 258 there are only two
units, the library unit 262 and a viewer 266. FIG. 6b shows a two
unit home system 258 with certain optional features. Finally, all
the functionality of the home system 258 may be incorporated into
one electronic book unit, or viewer.
[0090] The viewer 266 is generally equipped with a high resolution
viewing area 602, digital logic (including a key 605, security 606,
and a microprocessor 621), video graphics control and memory 607,
power supply circuitry 602 (not shown), an optional battery 603 and
an optional RF transceiver 604. In a two unit arrangement, the
library unit 262 contains the connector function to the video
distribution system 208, connector function to a public telephone
communications system, and memory 600 (which may be removable and
portable 600'). More specifically, the library unit 262 would
include data stripping functions 617, digital logic 609, memory
storage 600, power circuitry 610, optional telephone connections
611 (including cellular or PCN 611'), optional battery (not shown),
optional tuner module 613 and an optional RF transceiver 604. The
video connector 212 and the public telephone system connection 270,
as well as the removable portable memory unit 600 of the library
unit 262 may be broken out into separate components. (FIG. 6b shows
a removable portable hard disk memory 600' with removable
cartridges 614.) Finally, the home system 258 may include an
attached keyboard 267 or a wireless keyboard 268. Both the attached
keyboard 267 and the wireless keyboard 268 may be used to
communicate with the viewer 266 (not shown) or the library unit
262.
[0091] The wireless keyboard 268 may communicate via radio
frequency (RF) signaling, for example. Therefore, the home system
258 may have as many as six separate components which communicate
with each other. The two, three, four, five or six separate
components which make up the home system 258 can communicate with
each other in a variety of ways, including hardwired connection
615, RF transceiver 604, and other wireless methods.
[0092] RF communications are preferred in the home because they
allow separate components to be located throughout the home without
restriction. The data communicated between the units is preferably
secure data. In addition, the library unit 262 may provide power to
the viewer 266 through the hardwired connection 615.
[0093] Alternatively, a single unit may perform all of the home
system 258 functions. The single unit should use light-weight
materials, including a light-weight battery. A single unit
eliminates the need to communicate (externally) between units. The
single unit is less expensive and eliminates duplicative
processing, memory storage and power circuitry.
[0094] To receive and strip the data from the video signal at the
consumer's home, either a cable interface device or cable connector
212 is used. The cable connector device includes a tuner 613, while
the cable interface device makes use of existing tuning equipment
in the home. In either configuration, data is stripped from the
video signal and stored at the subscriber's location in the library
unit 262. The phone connector 270, and modem 611 initiate telephone
calls and transmit ordering and billing information to the
operations center 250 or billing and collection system 278.
Alternatively, the phone connecter 270 and the modem 611 may be
used to provide access to the Internet to order and receive
electronic books from an Internet web site. A digital connector 619
is provided to communicate digital information with the set top
601. The library unit 262 is the intelligent component of the home
system, incorporating the hardware and software necessary to store
the text data, generate menus and effect the purchase transactions.
In addition to an RF transceiver 604, the library unit 262 also
includes the necessary jacks and connections to allow the delivery
system 200 to be connected to the viewer 266. As shown in FIG. 6b,
the library 262 communicates the text data (electronic book) to the
viewer 266 in a secure format which requires a key 605 for
decryption. The text is generally only decrypted page by page just
before viewing.
[0095] a. The Video Connector
[0096] FIG. 7 shows the flow of the processes performed by the
video connector 212. The video connector receives the video signal
608, tunes to the channel containing the text data 612, strips the
text data from the video signal 616, and communicates the text data
stream to logic components in the library 620.
[0097] The connection to the video distribution system is
preferably a cable connector to a cable television delivery system,
as shown in FIG. 6b. The cable connector includes a data stripper
circuit 617, which accepts video input from either a set top
converter, TV or VCR 601, or an optional tuner block 613 that
receives the CATV signal through the cable connector 212'. The data
stripper circuit 617 strips data out of the video, and outputs a
digital bit stream to the digital logic portion 609 of the library
unit 262. The data is embedded in the video signal either in the
vertical blanking interval or the active video portion in an
encrypted and compressed format. The data stripper circuit 617 can
be placed inside the set top converter box 601, TV, or in the
library unit. The data stripper circuit 617 outputs the digital bit
stream to be used by the library digital logic 609.
[0098] The video connector 212 may also contain a channel tuner
module 613 that can tune to the video channel and provide access to
the video that contains the data to be stripped. Using the optional
tuner module 613, a set top converter, VCR, or TV tuner is not
needed in the home system. The optional tuner module 613 would
instead receive the CATV signal directly through the cable
connector 212.
[0099] b. Library
[0100] An embodiment of the library unit 262 for a two unit home
system 258 is shown in both FIG. 6b and FIG. 8. The embodiment
shown includes the following optional parts: the video connector
212, phone connector 270, RF transceiver 604, and battery pack 624
in addition to a removal portable memory 600', microprocessor 628,
instruction memory unit 632, digital logic 636, and power unit
640.
[0101] The library unit 262 contains a digital logic section 609
(not shown in FIG. 8) which includes the microprocessor 628, the
digital logic 636 and the instruction memory unit 632. The
microprocessor 628 is preferably a secure microprocessor such as
the Mot SC21 device sold by Motorola. The digital logic section 609
will receive the serial digital bit stream from the data stripper
circuit 617 and process the data. Error correction will also be
performed by the digital logic section 609 and the data will be
checked for proper address. If the address of the data is correct
and the library unit 262 is authorized to receive the data, the
data will be transferred to the memory storage unit 600, 600'.
Authorization to receive the data is provided by the cable headend
or another distribution point. An authorization code may be sent in
the serial digital bit stream. The digital logic section 609 will
send appropriate text and graphical data to the memory storage unit
600, 600'. It transfers this data in a compressed and encrypted
format and the data remains stored in a compressed and encrypted
format. [0102] i. Memory Storage Unit
[0103] The memory storage unit of the library may be a removable
portable memory unit 600' (as shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 8). A
variety of options are available for memory storage: a hard disk
drive, a hard disk with removable platters, and a CD ROM, or a
MEMORY STICK.TM.. Referring to FIG. 6b, a hard disk drive unit 600'
which contains removable platters may also be used. This would
provide virtually unlimited library storage capacity. Data (i.e.,
electronic book files) may be stored in the memory storage unit in
a compressed and encrypted format. As is also shown in FIG. 6b, the
data may also contain a key or unique ID number that matches the ID
or key of the viewer 266. This matching of a unique key or ID
number prevents unauthorized transfer of text data from the memory
storage unit to an unauthorized viewer. Small memory devices such
as smart cards, electronic memory cards or PCMCIA cards (personal
computer memory card industry association) may also be used to
store the data. [0104] ii. Power Circuitry
[0105] As shown in FIGS. 6b and 8, the library unit 262 may accept
power from either AC wall power 610, DC power 640, or optional
battery power 624. The power circuitry 610, 640 may provide all the
voltage necessary from either the battery 624 or AC unit for the
various circuitry in the library. The power circuitry 610, 640 may
also provide power to the viewer 266 through a single data cable
when connected to the viewer. The power circuitry 610, 640 will
recharge the battery using AC power when in operation. With the
optional battery unit 624 installed, the library unit 262 becomes a
portable unit and can still provide power to the viewer 266. In
order to extend battery life, power conservation measures may be
utilized, such as shutting down the memory system when not in use.
When the viewer 266 is being utilized and the library circuitry is
not being utilized, virtually all power may be shut down to the
library unit 262. [0106] iii. Connection to the Public Telephone
System
[0107] The connection to the telephone system may be provided by a
modem 611. Various available modems may be used to perform this
function. As shown in FIG. 6b, cellular phone or PCN phone
connections 611' may also be provided. When the home system 258 is
first initialized, the modem may be used to transfer the name and
credit card information of the consumer to the billing and
collection system 278. The telephone connection 270 may be utilized
each time an electronic book is purchased by a consumer to complete
and record the transaction. The telephone connection 270 may also
be used as a means for receiving the electronic books from the
operations center 250 or from an Internet web site, by-passing the
video distribution system 208. The phone connection 270 may be a
separate unit as shown in FIG. 6b. [0108] iv. Library
Processing
[0109] FIG. 9 shows an example of some basic processing performed
by the library unit 262 on the data stream 651 received from the
video connector 212 or stripper circuit 617. First the data stream
651 is checked for error correction by block 650. If an error is
detected, block 654 de-interleaves the data followed by block 658
running a FEC (Forward Error Correcting) algorithm. The combination
of block 650, 654 and 658 perform the error correction needed on
the data stream. If no error correction is necessary the data
proceeds to block 662 where packets are individually checked for
packet address.
[0110] If the address is a unique address, block 666 checks whether
the address of the packet matches the library box ID number. The
library box ID number is a unique number associated with that
library unit 262 which is used to ensure security of the data.
Block 670 determines whether an electronic file has already been
opened into which the data packet can be saved. If no data file has
been opened then block 674 opens a new data file for that packet.
If an electronic file has been opened, then the packet is saved in
that electronic file on disk, block 678. Next, the process checks
to see if this is the last packet for a particular book for a
particular textual data block being received 682. If it is the last
packet of information, then the electronic file is closed and the
directory of available electronic files is updated 686. Following
either block 682 or 686, the process returns to receive another
data packet from the data stream received from the data stripper
block.
[0111] If the packet address is checked and the address is
determined to be a broadcast address, the process determines the
type of message that is being sent 690. The message may be an index
of book titles, menu (and menu graphics) information,
announcements, special offerings, discounts, promotions, previews
etc. The message is then stored in appropriate electronic message
file 694 and the process is returned to block 650 to receive
another data packet and perform another error check.
[0112] Using the process of FIG. 9, the library unit 262 is able to
receive, store and update directories related to the textual data
and graphical data (that can be used to depict pictures in a given
book or to generate menus). Variations of the processes are
possible depending on the format of the data and operating system
of the library unit 262.
[0113] FIG. 10 shows an example of the processing of information
requests from the viewer 266 at the library unit 262. Information
requests from the viewer 266 are received either through the cable
connecting the viewer 266 to the library unit 262 or through
wireless transmissions such as RF. It is possible in some
embodiments for subscribers' requests to come from a set top
terminal 602 (see Section V).
[0114] Information requests received from the viewer 266 generally
fall into three categories: (1) directory data of electronic books
stored in the library unit 262, (2) index of all available
electronic books on the system, and (3) requests for a specific
electronic book (Block 700). A get directory process 704 answers a
request from the viewer 266 for a directory of data showing the
electronic books stored at the viewer 266. The directory of data is
sent to the viewer 266 so that it may be displayed to the
subscriber. A get index process 708 handles requests from the
viewer 266 for an index of all available electronic books on the
home system 258. The library unit 262 will obtain an index of all
the available books on the system and transmit that index, process
712, with menu information to the viewer 266. An open file process
716 replies to a request from the viewer 266 for a specific
electronic book. The library unit 262 opens an electronic file for
the specific electronic book requested by the viewer 266 and
transmits the record or transmits the information 720 on a
packet-by-packet basis to the viewer 266. This process of
transmitting the specific electronic book, record, or packets to
the viewer 266 continues until the last record or packet has been
sent, 724.
[0115] In addition to the processes shown on FIG. 10 in handling a
request for a specific electronic book, the library unit 262 also
orders and receives specific electronic books from the operations
center 250 using the process as described in the open file process
716. Following a request for a specific electronic book which is
not stored at the library unit 262, the library unit 262 will
proceed to determine the next available time the electronic book
will be on the video distribution system 208 and ensure reception
and storage of that electronic book (process not shown). In
performing this process the library unit 262 will transmit to the
viewer 266 information on when it will obtain the text data for the
electronic book so that the subscriber may view the electronic
book. In addition to timing information, price and other ordering
information may also be passed by the library unit 262 to the
subscriber.
[0116] c. The Viewer
[0117] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the viewer 266 showing its
internal components. The viewer 266 of FIG. 11 is similar to the
viewer 266 depicted in FIG. 6b. The viewer 266 is designed to
physically resemble a bound book. The viewer 266 is made up of five
primary components and six optional components: (1) LCD display
602, (2) digital circuitry (not shown), (3) video graphics
controller 607', (4) controls 740, (5) book memory 728, (6)
optional power supply circuitry 736, (7) optional battery 603', (8)
optional RF transceiver 604, (9) optional cellular or mobile
communicator (608), (10) optional keyboards 267 and 268, and (11) a
speaker/microphone 608'.
[0118] (1) A high resolution LCD screen 602, preferably of VGA
quality, is used by the viewer 266 to display text and graphic
images. The screen is preferably the size of one page of a book. A
two page screen or two screens may also be used with the viewer
266.
[0119] (2) Digital circuitry that includes a secure microprocessor
621, instruction memory 732, and digital logic. Data is transferred
to the viewer 266 in compressed and encrypted format. The secure
microprocessor 621 compares the ID number of the viewer 266 with
the incoming data stream and only stores the text data if the ID
number of the viewer 266 matches that within the incoming data
stream. It is preferred that the viewer 266 not output text data or
other data and that the data is decompressed and decrypted only at
the moment of viewing and only for the current page being viewed.
These measures are preferred because they provide additional
security against unauthorized access to data.
[0120] (3) A video graphics controller 607' that is capable of
assisting and displaying VGA quality text and graphic images is
included in the viewer 266. The graphics controller 607' is
controlled by the digital circuitry described above. Text may be
displayed in multiple font sizes.
[0121] (4) The viewer 266 of FIG. 11 has touch panel controls 740.
These unique and novel controls 740 allow the consumer to select
stored electronic books and electronic books from catalogues, move
a cursor, and turn pages in a book. Typically, preferred controls
740 include forward and reverse page buttons 742, 741, a ball (or
trackball) 743 for cursor movement, one or more selection buttons
745, a current book button 747 and a bookmark button 749 (see FIG.
14a).
[0122] The controls 740 should be easy to use and conveniently
located. Referring to FIG. 14a, the controls for the viewer 266 may
be located below the screen 602 at the bottom portion of the viewer
266. The next page turn button 742 is the most used button 740 and
may be located towards the right edge of the page. The subscriber
is likely to use right hand thumb movements to work the controls
particularly the page turn buttons 741, 742. Therefore, it is
preferred that the buttons be arranged in such a manner that the
buttons are easily controlled by a subscriber's right thumb.
Generally, this can be accommodated either on the lower portion of
the viewer 266 (as shown) or along the right hand margin of the
viewer 266 (not shown). The current book button 747 and bookmark
button 749 are usually the least used of the controls 740.
Therefore, in the example shown those buttons 747, 749 are located
on the inside portion towards the binder of the viewer 266.
[0123] Locating the ball 743 or other cursor movement device (such
as four pointer arrows--not shown) in the bottom center of the
viewer 266 is both easier for the subscriber to use and easier in
manufacturing the viewer 266. The selection buttons for the cursor
745 are preferably located below the middle diameter of the cursor
ball 743 on the right and left sides of the ball as shown. If
pointer arrows are used for cursor movement, a selection button 745
may be located in the center of the four arrow buttons (not shown).
Again, the most used controls should be located where a
subscriber's right hand thumb would normally rest.
[0124] (5) Book memory 728 for at least one electronic book or more
of text is included in the viewer 266. The memory 728 stores text
and any graphics which represent pictures in a book. The memory 728
can also store menu graphics data. Two different memory 728 devices
may be used in the viewer 266, one for the instructions for the
microprocessor 621 in the digital circuitry and a second type of
memory may be used for the book memory 728 (and graphics). Various
memory devices available on the market may be used such as, ROM,
RAM or a small hard disk. Since an electronic book requires
approximately 0.6 megabytes of storage, a small hard disk providing
approximately 60 MBytes of storage provides memory to store
approximately 100 electronic books. The large hard disk drives
currently available allow for storage of thousands of electronic
books.
[0125] Text for books may be displayed in various font sizes. To
accommodate various fonts for display, a variety of fonts are
stored in instruction 732 or book memory 728. Thus larger or
smaller fonts may be recalled from memory 621, 728 to create
displays desired by the subscriber.
[0126] (6) Power supply circuitry 736 in the viewer 266 will accept
power from either an AC power source or from an optional battery
603', or the library unit 262. The power supply circuitry 736
provides the necessary voltages to accommodate the various systems
within the viewer 266.
[0127] (7) An optional battery 603' is provided in a preferred
embodiment. The battery 603' is automatically recharged when AC
power is available.
[0128] (8) An optional RF transceiver 604 which provided two-way
data link between the viewer 266 and other components of the home
system can also be included in the viewer 266.
[0129] (9) Also, the viewer 266 may include a cellular transceiver
for mobile communications.
[0130] (10) The optional wired (attached) keyboard 267 and wireless
(e.g., RF) keyboard 268 (see FIG. 6a) may be used with the viewer
266 to provide communications between the subscriber and the viewer
266.
[0131] (11) The speaker and microphone 608' allow the viewer 266 to
provide audio signals to the subscriber, and allow the subscriber
to provide an audio input. The speaker and microphone 608' may be
used in conjunction with the cellular transceiver 608 or other
telecommunications equipment to provide for reception and
transmission of telephony and data.
[0132] The viewer 266 of FIG. 11 has parts available for providing
connections to: a library 744, electronic card memory 748, CD ROM
units 752, and a portable memory unit 756 (such as that shown in
FIG. 6b 600'). Various electronic memory cards such as PCMCIA can
be used with this viewer 266.
[0133] Security, low power consumption and excellent display
technology are desired features of the viewer 266 design. The
viewer 266 should be lightweight and portable. The viewer 266
contains a software operating system that allows electronic books
to be stored, read and erased and includes the capability to order
electronic books and retain them in memory 728 for a predefined
period of time determined by the system operator. The software can
be configured to allow the electronic book to be read during a
period of time (i.e., two weeks) and then automatically erased,
read once and erased, or held in memory permanently. Each viewer
266 has a unique key 605. All of the data storage is encrypted with
the key 605 for an individual viewer 266 to prevent more than one
viewer 266 accessing the text file or electronic book file.
[0134] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of some of the processes executed
by the viewer 266. Generally, the viewer 266 receives inputs from
the subscriber through touch panel controls 740. Alternately, the
viewer 266 receives inputs from a touchscreen display, the attached
keyboard 267, or the remote keyboard 268. The subscriber's
information requests are then processed through an information
request process 800 by the viewer 266.
[0135] If the subscriber requests a menu of available electronic
books, a select available book process 804 will select a book menu.
An open file process 808 will open the electronic files which list
the electronic books that are available (related to the category of
topic of the menu) and display the menu with the names of the
available electronic books.
[0136] If the subscriber selects a particular electronic book to
read, then a select a book process 812 will process the selection
and determine the electronic file that contains the specific
electronic book. An open file process 816 will open the file for
that specific book and normally access the first page. (If a
pointer has already been set in that electronic book's file, the
process may default to that page.) A decision process 820 will then
determine which page needs to be displayed. The decision process
820 will determine whether a next page, previous page or a book
marked page needs to be displayed. If the pointer for the
electronic file is not in the correct location then a get previous
page process 828 will move the pointer and obtain the previous page
of data from the stored file. Otherwise, a get next page process
824 will normally obtain the next page of text from the stored
electronic file. A decrypt and decompress process 832 will decrypt
and decompress the text data and send the data to the video
display. The video display will generally have a video display
memory associated with it and the decrypt and decompress process
832 will send the data directly to that video display memory. The
circuitry for the display then completes the process of displaying
the page of text.
[0137] If the subscriber, through the controls 740, requests (from
the information request process 800) that the power be turned off,
then a process, 836, of turning the power off will be initiated. A
save pointer process 840 saves the pointer in memory to the page
number in the book that the viewer 266 is currently reading. A
close files process 844 closes all the electronic files and signals
the power circuitry to shut down the power to the various circuits
in the viewer 266. The subscriber may also use the controls 740 to
access other electronic files using electronic links embedded in a
particular electronic file. An electronic link system will be
described later in detail.
[0138] With these examples of basic processes the viewer 266 is
able to display book selections and display text from those
books.
[0139] d. Menu System
[0140] Referring generally to FIG. 13, the delivery system 200 may
have a menu system 851 for selecting features and electronic books
from the delivery system 200. The operating software and memory
required for the menu system 851 may be located at the viewer 266
(e.g., the instruction memory 732 and/or book memory 728). However,
it may also be located at the library unit 262 (e.g., the
instruction memory 632) or the library unit 262 and the viewer 266
can share the software and memory needed to operate the menu system
851. Since the menus are usually displayed on the viewer 266 and it
is preferred that the viewer 266 be capable of operating in the
absence of the library unit 262, the basic software and memory to
create the menus is more conveniently located at the viewer
266.
[0141] The menu system 851 allows sequencing between menus and
provides menu graphics for graphical displays such as on the LCD
display 602 of the viewer 266. In a system which uses a set top
converter these menus may also be displayed on a television screen.
In the simplest embodiment, the menus provide basic text
information from which the subscriber makes choices. In more
sophisticated embodiments, the menus provide visual displays with
graphics and icons to assist the subscriber.
[0142] FIG. 13 depicts a menu system 851 with sequencing. The
primary menus in the system are an introductory menu 850, a main
menu 854 and various submenus 858. In the embodiment shown, there
are three levels of submenus 858. In certain instances one or two
submenus 858 is sufficient to easily direct the subscriber to the
selection or information requested. However, there are features in
which three or more submenus 858 make the user interface more
friendly for the subscriber. Each level of submenus 858 may consist
of multiple possible menus for display. The particular menu
displayed depends on the selection by the subscriber on the
previous shown menu. An example of this tree sequence of one to
many menus are the help submenus 887, 888. Depending upon the
specific help requested, a different level two help menu is
displayed to the subscriber.
[0143] An example of an introductory menu 850 is shown on FIG. 14a.
Generally the introductory menu 850 introduces the viewer 266 to
the system and provides initial guidance, announcements and
instruction. The introductory menu 850 is followed by a main menu
854, an example of which is shown in FIG. 14b. The main menu
provides the viewer 266 with the basic selection or features
available in the system. FIG. 14b is an example of a main menu 854
offering many additional features and submenus 858 to the
subscriber. For example, FIG. 14b shows that the viewer 266 is able
to choose by a point and click method, many options including: (1)
free previews, (2) books you can order, (3) books in your library,
(4) your current book, (5) help, (6) on-line services and (6) other
system features. Following a selection on the main menu 854, a
corresponding submenu 858 is shown.
[0144] FIG. 13 shows thirteen available primary or first level
submenus. They are (1) account set up 862, (2) free previews 866,
(3) book suggestion entries 855, (4) books in your library 872, (5)
books you can order 878, (6) your current book 884, (7) help 887,
(8) available features 890, (9) messages 893, (10) account
information 896, (11) outgoing message submenu 898, (12) show links
970, and (13) create links 980. FIG. 14c is an example of a first
level submenu for electronic books in your library 872. This "Book
In Your Library" example submenu 872 shows six available electronic
books by title and author and provides the subscriber with the
ability to check a different shelf of books 874 or return to the
main menu 854. FIGS. 14d and 14e show example submenus 858 for
electronic books that may be ordered using the "Books You Can
Order" submenu 878.
[0145] FIG. 14f is an example of an order selection and
confirmation menu 880', which provides a "soft keyboard" 975 for
the subscriber to use in placing an electronic book order and which
confirms the subscriber's order. In this particular example, the
subscriber is required to enter a PIN number to complete the
subscriber's order. The "soft keyboard" 975 could be configured as
a full alpha-numeric keyboard, and may be used by the subscriber to
add additional information related to a book order. An
alpha-numeric or similar password may be used to ensure the
subscriber is an authorized subscriber. In an embodiment, the
subscriber confirms an order with a PIN or password and then
receives a final confirmation screen. The final confirmation screen
is primarily text and may state: Your book order is now being
processed via CABLE.
[0146] Your book will be delivered overnight and your VISA account
will be charged $2.95.
[0147] Your book will be available for reading at 6:00 AM EST
tomorrow. Make sure that: [0148] 1. your Library Unit and Cable
Connection Unit are plugged in with aerials up tonight; and [0149]
2. you tune your cable converter to THE BOOK Channel. The TV set
does not have to remain on. or similar language.
[0150] Examples of the "Account Set Up Menu" 862 and further
submenus 858 related to account set up (which provide instructions
and account input 864) are shown in FIG. 14g and FIG. 14h. These
submenus 858 allow initialization of an account at the operations
center 250 and orders to be charged to credit cards. The submenus
858 include the ability to enter data related to your desired PIN
number or password, credit cards, phone numbers, etc. It is
preferred that the account set up be performed using the telephone
system. A confirmation menu verifies that the account has been
properly set up with the desired PIN or password and credit
card.
[0151] Free previews for books 866 are also provided by submenus
(868, 870). Examples of the free preview menus are shown in FIG.
14i and FIG. 14j. FIG. 14i shows a menu depicting various
electronic books for which previews are available for viewing.
Following an electronic book selection, a screen submenu showing an
excerpt of the selected electronic book cover's description is
provided along with an excerpt from a critic's review of the
selected electronic book. In a preferred embodiment, this preview
screen for a particular electronic book also allows the subscriber
to select a submenu which provides information about the author.
The book preview submenu may also include a still video picture or
graphics portraying a book cover or a scene from the electronic
book. An example of such a still video picture or graphics is shown
in FIG. 14j which depicts a preview screen 870 about the author.
The video may also be provided according to MPEG standards as a
short moving video clip. Such a clip could be an interview with the
author, for example. The author's preview screen 870 shows a
picture of the author, provides a short biography, and may allow
the subscriber to order the author's books. The price for ordering
the authors various electronic books may also be shown on the menu.
Alternatively, the previews may be provided through an electronic
link system, which is described in detail in copending U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/237,828, filed on Jan. 27, 1999, entitled
ELECTRONIC BOOK ELECTRONIC LINKS, the disclosures of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0152] In addition to free previews, in more sophisticated
embodiments, the delivery system 200 provides the subscriber with
an electronic book suggestion feature (see 855). This is
accomplished using the menu system 851 and the processor with
associated memory located at the viewer 266, library unit 262 or at
the distribution point (1020 or 250). When necessary, information
for the program suggestion feature is sent in the text data of the
composite or video signal to the home system 258. With this
feature, books or authors are suggested to a subscriber based upon
historical data of the subscriber's previous orders, demographics
or mood of the subscriber, other indicators, and/or by text word
searches.
[0153] In a book suggestion embodiment, text word searches of
preview information (such as book cover descriptions, critics
reviews and biographies about the author) and/or text of books or
other titles are performed by the library unit 262 using databases
stored in the library memory 600. Personalized book or author
suggestions are made to the subscriber by obtaining information
from the subscriber indicative of general subscriber interests.
Subscriber entries are solicited from the subscriber preferably
using the electronic book suggestion entries submenu 855. The
system uses these subscriber entries either directly or indirectly
to search for books or authors to suggest to the subscriber.
[0154] Generally, the book suggestion methods may be categorized
into two categories, either responsive methods (which respond to a
series of subscriber menu entries), or intelligent methods (which
analyze data to suggest an electronic book). Using a responsive or
intelligent method, the delivery system 200 determines a list of
suggested titles or authors and creates a second or third level
submenu 856, 857 to suggest the titles for subscriber
selection.
[0155] Responsive methods of suggesting titles include, for
example, the use of mood questions, searching for authors, and
keyword searching. Using the instruction memory 732 and menu
generation hardware (e.g., 607) of the viewer 266, a series of mood
questions can be presented on menus to determine a subscribers
interest at a particular time. For this methodology, the operations
center's 250 processor 404 and instruction memory 416 assign each
title mood indicators (and subindicators) from a group such as
light, serious, violent, short, long, dull, exciting, complex,
easy-read, young theme, old theme, adventure, romance, drama,
fiction, science-fiction, etc. These indicators are sent to the
home system 258 with the text data and are stored in library memory
600. Based upon the subscriber entries, the processor 404
associates a set of indicators with the subscriber's request and a
set of electronic books with matching indicators are located for
suggesting to the subscriber.
[0156] Responsive searches for authors or keywords (a search word
provided by the subscriber) are generally performed by the library
processor 628 and instruction memory 632 on data stored in the
library memory 600. For example, a keyword given by the subscriber
may be searched for a match in library memory 600 storing the book
reviews, critics and previews databases. Thus, if a subscriber
provided an entry of the word "submarine" on an appropriate
submenu, the title "Hunt For Red October" may be located by the
library processor 628 using instruction from a routine in the
instruction memory 632.
[0157] Intelligent methods of suggesting programs include analyzing
personal profile data on the subscriber and/or historical data
about the subscriber such as past books ordered by the subscriber
(or buy data). This method is preferred in a book on demand system
and can be performed at the distribution point or operations center
250 by the on-site processor 404 using subscriber databases stored
in memory 428. The home system 258 receives the text data including
program suggestion information from the distribution point or
operations center 250 and generates the program suggestion submenus
855, 856, 857 using the same text data receiving 212 and viewer
menu generation hardware (e.g., 607, 621) described above. Software
routines and algorithms stored in instruction memories (e.g. 632,
732) are used to analyze historical data and book ordered data to
determine a line of books to suggest to the subscriber.
[0158] The algorithms for this powerful feature of suggesting books
or authors to subscribers are disclosed in great detail in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,559,549, entitled REPROGRAMMABLE TERMINAL FOR SUGGESTING
PROGRAMS OFFERED ON A TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY SYSTEM, issued
Sep. 24, 1996, and are incorporated herein by reference.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 13, submenus 858 are shown on the "Books
In Your Library" submenu 872 and are preferably broken into shelf
numbers with submenus for each shelf 874, 876. The submenus 858 for
the "Books You Can Order" submenu 878 is similarly broken out into
submenus by shelves 880, 882. These shelves may each be a category
or genre of books. Electronic books may be grouped into categories
such as best sellers, novels, fiction, romance, etc. See FIG.
14d.
[0160] Referring to FIG. 13, the submenu 858 for "Your Current
Book" 884 allows a subscriber to select a current book 884 and then
determine what page to view. This selection is confirmed with a
level two submenu 885. The help submenu 887 provides the subscriber
with additional help screens 888. The submenus 858 for available
features 890 are preferably broken out into a sequence of separate
submenus for each feature 891, 892.
[0161] Referring to FIG. 13, messages can also be sent with the
delivery system 200. A level one message screen provides the
subscriber with the ability to select from various messages the
subscriber has pending 893. Each message is then shown on a
separate submenu screen 894, 895. The message may contain text and
graphics.
[0162] Referring to FIG. 13, account information is shown on a
level one submenu 896 and then follow-on submenus 858 show the
recent orders and your account balance 897. There is also a level
one submenu for outgoing messages 898 which has a follow-on submenu
used as an input screen 899.
[0163] In addition to the specific features and submenus described
in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14a through FIG. 14j, many other variations and
features are possible. When a book is finally selected for viewing
the title page 886 will appear on the screen followed by a page of
text.
III. The Billing And Collection System
[0164] The billing and collection system 278 (shown in FIGS. 2 and
3) utilizes the latest technology in electronic transaction and
telephone switching to track orders, authorize deliveries, bill
consumers, and credit publishers automatically. The telephone calls
initiated by the phone connector 270 are received by the billing
and collection system 278 which responds immediately without human
intervention by placing the order and charging the consumers credit
card account. Data is compiled periodically and publishers 282 are
credited for sales of their books or other text. The billing and
collection system 278 may also connect with subscribers through
two-way cable connections, cellular, or other communication
means.
[0165] In an embodiment, the billing and collection system 278
communicate with the operations center 250 to track changes in
available books and to provide statistical data to the operations
center 250.
IV. Public Library, School, and Bookstore System
[0166] The electronic book system can be modified to be used at
public libraries, schools and bookstores. FIG. 15 shows one
possible arrangement of components for a public library, school or
bookstore location. The main unit at a public library, school or
bookstore is the file server 900. The file server 900 is a large
electronic memory unit that can store thousands of electronic
books. Various electronic storage means may be used in the file
servers, such as hard disks, read-write CD ROMs and read-only CD
ROMs.
[0167] The system comprises five components; the file server 900, a
converter or video connector 904, a controller 908, a viewer 912,
and a catalog printer 916. The software for controlling the system
is primarily located in the controller 908. The converter or video
connector 904 is similar to those described above. In this
configuration the controller unit 908 monitors the data being
transferred to the file server 900 by the converter 904. The
controller 908 is preferably provided with a viewing screen and
several control buttons. When it is necessary to have a larger
screen to perform more sophisticated controlling of the system a
viewer 266 may be connected to the controller 908 and the viewer
screen and controls 740 may be used.
[0168] The controller 908 is only able to download books to public
viewers 912 which are authorized to receive books from the
particular file server 900. For security reasons it is not
desirable that the public viewer 912 have access to more than one
file server 900. In this way, security can be maintained over the
text data for books. It is preferred that the public viewer 912 be
limited to receiving one or two electronic books at a time from the
controller 908. When the subscriber of the public viewer 912 needs
a new or additional electronic book, the subscriber returns the
viewer 912 to the school or public library where the subscriber
receives a new electronic book from the controller 908.
[0169] In order to track the electronic books that are available on
the file server 900, the titles of the available books may be
printed on a catalog printer 916. The catalog printer 916 is
connected to the library controller 908 and the titles of the
electronic books are downloaded to the catalog printer 916. None of
the coded text for any of the electronic books can be printed using
the controller 908 and catalog printer 916 of this system. In order
to maintain security over the data, none of the electronic book
data is allowed to be downloaded to the printer 916. Once a
complete printout of available electronic book titles, magazines,
or other textual material is complete, a hard copy of the catalog
920 can be maintained at the file server 900.
[0170] The system shown may also be used at bookstores. The
bookstores can rent the public viewer 912 to customers with the
text for one or two electronic books loaded onto the public viewer
912. The public viewer 912 may be provided with an automatic
timeout sequence. The timeout sequence would erase the textual data
for the books after a certain period of time, for example, two
weeks. It is expected that after a period of time (perhaps within
two weeks) the renter would return the public viewer 912 to the
bookstore and receive additional electronic books for viewing.
Using this arrangement, it is also possible for the bookstore to
(permanently) sell a viewer 912 to a regular customer. The customer
then returns to the bookstore from time to time to receive textual
data for an electronic book which the customer can then store
permanently on the customer's own viewer 912. Various other
configurations are possible for bookstores, schools and public
libraries using the file server 900 and public viewer 912
described.
V. Use of a Set Top Converter
[0171] Existing set top converters such as those made by Scientific
Atlanta or General Instruments are presently unequipped to handle
the delivery system 200 of the present invention. Although set top
converters may be built which include the library functions,
hardware modifications are necessary in order to use the delivery
system 200 with existing set top converter technology.
[0172] FIGS. 16a and 16b are examples of hardware modifications or
upgrades. A port is used to attach hardware upgrades described
below to a set top terminal. Two upgrades are possible to set top
converters 601 to assist in receiving and selecting electronic
books. A menu generation card upgrade (FIG. 16a) and an information
download unit (FIG. 16b). Each of these upgrades may be connected
to the set top terminal unit through an upgrade port. A four wire
cable, ribbon cable, IEEE 1394 firewire interface, USB interface,
or the like may be used to connect the upgrade to the set top
converter 601.
[0173] A card addition 950 to a set top converter 601 is depicted
in FIG. 16a. The card 950 shown provides the additional
functionality needed to utilize the book selection system with
existing set top converter 601 technology. The card 950 may be
configured to slip inside the frame of a set top terminal and
become part of the set top terminal, an advanced set top terminal.
The primary functions the card 950 adds to the set top converter
601 are the interpreting of data signals, generating of menus,
sequencing of menus, and, ultimately, the ability of the subscriber
to select an electronic book using either the television or a
viewer 266. The card 950 also provides a method for a remote
location, such as the cable headend, to receive information on
electronic books ordered. The electronic books ordered information
and control commands may be passed from the cable headend to the
card 950 using telephone lines.
[0174] The primary components of the card 950 are a PC chip CPU
952, a VGA graphic controller 954, a video combiner 956, logic
circuitry 958, NTSC encoder 960, a receiver 962, demodulator (not
shown), and a dialer 611'. The card 950 operates by receiving the
data text signal from the cable headend through the coaxial cable.
The logic circuitry 958 of the card 950 receives data 964, infrared
commands 966, and synchronization signals (not shown) from the set
top converter 601. Menu selections made by the viewer 266 on the
remote control are received by the set top converter's 601 IR
equipment and passed through to the card 950. The card 950
interprets the IR signal and determines the electronic book (or
menu) the subscriber has selected. The card 950 modifies the IR
command to send the information to the set top converter 601. The
modified IR command contains the channel information needed by the
set top converter 601. Using the phone line 968 and dialer 611',
the card 950 is able to transmit electronic books ordered
information to the cable headend. It is also possible to receive
the electronic books over the telephone lines and by-pass the video
distribution system. In this embodiment, the telephone system may
be used to provide access to an Internet web site to order and
receive electronic books.
[0175] These commands are passed through the interface linking the
set top terminal's microprocessor with the microprocessor of the
hardware upgrades. In this way, subscriber inputs, entered through
the set top terminal keypad or remote control, can be transferred
to any of the hardware upgrades for processing and responses
generated therein can then be sent back to the set top terminal for
display. In a preferred embodiment the IR commands 966 are
transferred from set top terminal 601 to hardware upgrade.
[0176] Hardware upgrades may include a microprocessor, interactive
software, processing circuitry, bubble memory, and a long-term
memory device. In addition to these basic components, the hardware
upgrade may make use of an additional telephone modem or CD-ROM
device.
[0177] The information download hardware upgrade 1001 (shown in
FIG. 16b) allows the subscriber to download large volumes of
information from the operations center 250 or cable headend using
the set top converter 601. The hardware upgrade 1001 will enable
subscribers to download data, such as electronic books and
magazines, to local storage. Primarily, the hardware upgrade 1001
is an additional local storage unit 1003 (e.g., hard disk, floppy,
optical disk or magnetic cartridge and may include a microprocessor
1005, instruction memory 1007, and a random access memory 1009, as
shown in FIG. 16b). Preferably, a small portable viewer 266 is also
provided with the upgrade 1001 to enable downloaded text to be read
without the use of a TV.
[0178] The downloadable information may be text or graphics
supplied by the operations center 250 or cable headend. With this
upgrade, electronic books may be downloaded and read anywhere with
the portable viewer 266. Using this upgrade, books may be
downloaded and stored in compressed form for later decompression.
The electronic books would be decompressed only at the time of
viewing. Important text that the public desires immediate access
may made available through this system. Text such as the
President's speech, a new law, or a recent abortion decision
rendered by the Supreme Court may be made immediately
available.
[0179] In an embodiment, electronic book ordering information is
stored at each set top terminal until it is polled by the cable
headend using a polling request message format. An example of a
polling request message format consists of six fields, namely: (1)
a leading flag at the beginning of the message, (2) an address
field, (3) a subscriber region designation, (4) a set top terminal
identifier that includes a polling command/response (or P/F) bit,
(5) an information field, and (6) a trailing flag at the end of the
message. A similar response frame format for information
communicated by the set top terminal to the cable headend in
response to the polling request may be used.
[0180] FIG. 17 shows a preferred set top converter that includes a
data receiver 617' and a data transmitter 1011. The data
transmitter provides upstream data communications capability
between the set top converter 601 and the cable headend. Upstream
data transmissions are accomplished using the polling system
described and, using a data transmitter 1011. Both receiver 617'
and transmitter 1011 may be built into the set top converter 601
itself or added through an upgrade module. Regardless of the
specific hardware configuration, the set top terminal's data
transmission capabilities may be accomplished using the hardware
shown in FIG. 17.
[0181] FIG. 17 shows RF signals, depicted as being received by a
data receiver 617' and tuner 613 working in unison. Both of these
devices are interfaced with the microprocessor 1013, which receives
inputs 1015, from the subscriber, either through a set top
converter's keypad, a remote control unit or the viewer 266. All
cable signals intended for reception on the subscriber's TV are
accessed by the tuner 613 and subsequently processed by the
processing circuitry 1017. This processing circuitry 1017 typically
includes additional components (not shown) for descrambling,
demodulation, volume control and remodulation on a Channel 3 or 4
TV carrier.
[0182] Data targeted to individual set top converters is received
by the data receiver 617' according to each set top converter's
specific address or ID. In this way, each addressable set top
converter only receives its own data. The data receiver 617' may
receive set top converter 601 specific data in the information
field of the signal frame described or on a separate data carrier
located at a convenient frequency in the incoming spectrum.
[0183] The received data includes information regarding electronic
books and menus available for selection. The subscriber may enter a
series of commands 1015 using a keypad or remote control in order
to choose an electronic book or menu. Upon receipt of such
commands, the microprocessor 1013 instructs the tuner to tune to
the proper frequency of the channel carrying data and subsequently
instructs the processing circuitry 1017 to begin descrambling of
this data.
[0184] Upon selection of the electronic book, the microprocessor
1013 stores any selection information in local memory (not shown)
for later data transmission back to the cable headend. The
microprocessor 1013 coordinates all CATV signal reception and also
interacts with various upstream data transmission components.
Typically, the data transmitter 1011 operates in the return
frequency band between 5 and 30 MHZ. In an alternative embodiment,
the frequency band of 10 to 15 MHZ may be used. Regardless,
however, of the frequency band used, the data transmitter 1011
sends information to the cable headend in the information field of
the response frame described. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that a number of variations and combinations of the
above-described set top terminal hardware components may be used to
accomplish upstream data transmissions.
VI. Books-On-Demand System
[0185] The electronic book system 200 described may also be
configured in a book-on-demand style. FIG. 18a shows one example of
a configuration for a books-on-demand system. A books-on-demand
system requires more powerful two-way communications between the
consumer's home, bookstore, school or public library and either the
operations center 250 or a distribution site 1020 such as the cable
headend. This type of two-way communication can be provided by the
hardware shown in FIG. 17 and described above.
[0186] Referring to FIG. 18a, in a books-on-demand system, the
subscriber selects the electronic book to be download from an
available menu of electronic books (see for example FIGS. 14d and
14e). The data for menus of available books is usually sent to the
subscriber location by the distribution site 1020. After the
subscriber's menu selection, information about the subscriber
selection (or request) is then communicated to either a
distribution point 1020 (such as a cable headend or an Internet web
site) or the operations center 250. Upon receipt of this request,
the needed textual and graphical information for the book is
spooled and sent to the subscriber. In this manner, books are only
sent when requested by the subscriber and are sent immediately upon
demand for the book (or text).
[0187] In order to support such a books-on-demand system, the text
delivery and distribution must be conducted on a strong nodal
architectured distribution system, such as, a video-on-demand cable
or telephone television system, an Internet web site, or through
use of individual telephone access on the public telephone
system.
[0188] The books-on-demand system allows for a greater selection of
electronic books to the subscriber and limits the amount of
communicated book data that is unnecessary or unneeded. It also
provides the electronic book to the subscriber in a much timelier
fashion.
[0189] In addition to a stronger distribution system, a
books-on-demand system requires a distribution point 1020 to have
more sophisticated equipment to access and "spool out"the textual
information. This can be accomplished using file server technology
1024 for storing the electronic books and ATM 1028 or
telephone-type switching (not shown) to distribute the textual
information. The file server 1024 and distribution technology that
can be used in configuring such a books-on-demand system is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,875 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,695,
cited above.
[0190] FIG. 18a shows an embodiment for a books-on-demand system
that utilizes file server technology. In addition to electronic
books, the embodiment of FIG. 18a will support distribution of
nearly any digital data. Electronic books or textual files are
received from publishers 282 and other sources through local feeds
1032, ATM 1028, or by satellite dish 1036. The data is then stored
in memory 1040 at the file server 1024. The distribution point 1020
may be a cable headend that receives requests from subscribers and
delivers text to subscribers over a two-way communication system
(such as a video-on-demand system (VOD) 1044). Alternately, an
Internet web site may serve as the distribution point 1020.
[0191] The library unit 262 can be connected to either a basic
premium-type service cable system 1048, a near video-on-demand type
cable system (or pay-per-view (PPV) 1052) or a video-on-demand
cable system 1044. In connecting with either of these three systems
the library unit 262 may access the cable directly or may access
the system through a set top terminal 601', 601'', or 601'''.
[0192] Using the two-way video-on-demand system 1044, a subscriber
is able to request a specific electronic book title and receive
that text immediately following its request. To accomplish this,
the distribution point 1020 transmits a list of available
electronic books through the cable delivery system to the library
unit 262. The library unit 262 displays the list of available
electronic books on a menu or similar format. As described earlier,
it is preferred that the library unit 262 use menus which list
categories of available electronic books to form its request from
the distribution point 1020. After selecting an electronic book,
the library unit 262 sends a request signal on the two-way
communication system 1044 back to the distribution point 1020. This
request signal can be handled in two ways. The library unit 262
either initiates the request or the distribution point 1020 polls
the various libraries on to the two-way system 1044. Upon receiving
the request for the electronic book title, the text associated with
that book title is transmitted to the library unit 262 using the
two-way cable system 1044.
[0193] FIG. 18b is an expanded view of a preferred operations
center 250 that supports a regional or national books-on-demand
system. In fact, the operations center 250 shown supports
distribution of nearly any digital data. The operations center 250
supports multiple feeds to receive digital information by tape
1060, 1060', ATM 1028, or satellite 1036. The information is
processed through an input MUX 1064 and a small file server 1068
before reaching the master file server 1072. Digital data such as
electronic books received from publishers 282 is then stored on the
master file server 1072. It is preferred that the digital data is
stored compressed in a standard format such as MPEG2.
[0194] A system controller 1076 provides control over the regional
or national books-on-demand system. Electronic books may be
packaged into groups to provide feeds to various cable headends. In
addition, scheduling and marketing research are conducted at the
operations center 250. In order to handle the scheduling and market
research, electronic book buy data is received at the operations
center 250 through a multiplexer 1082. Electronic book buy
information can be provided by the operation center 250 to the
billing and collection system 278.
[0195] The operations center 250 is also equipped to insert
messages or advertisements into the file server. These messages or
advertisements will eventually be received by the subscribers.
[0196] The master file server 1072 uses an output multiplexer 1080
and ATM 1028 as well as satellite connections to distribute digital
data. In a preferred embodiment, cable headends receive text data
on electronic books from the master file server 1080 through the
output multiplexer 1028 and an ATM system 1028. After receiving the
electronic book data, the cable headends store the books in a local
file server 1024. FIG. 18a's distribution point 1020 is an example
of a cable headend which may receive data from the operations
center 250 of FIG. 18b through an ATM hookup 1088 or satellite
hookup.
VII. Information Manipulation Features for Electronic Books
[0197] An electronic book may include various features for
manipulating text or other information within it. As discussed
below, those features include highlighting, copying and pasting,
cutting and pasting, and annotating information. Other features
include simultaneously displaying multiple pages selected by a
subscriber, displaying one or more pages on a viewer having
multiple screens, rotating images and sizing images.
[0198] FIG. 19 is a flow chart of an information manipulation
process 901 for highlighting, cutting and pasting, copying and
pasting, and annotating text or other information in an electronic
book. The information manipulation process 901 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination. For
example, the image manipulation process 901 may be implemented by
software modules residing within the instruction memory unit 632
for execution by the library processor 628 or within the
instruction memory 732 for execution by the viewer processor 621,
or a combination. Within the information manipulation process 901,
the display page module or process 801 provides for displaying a
page on the viewer 266. The page display may be accomplished using
the process shown in FIG. 12 in which the subscriber selects a
particular electronic book for viewing. The description that
follows assumes the viewer processor 621 performs all software
module execution steps.
[0199] In the select text process 803, a subscriber selects text or
other information, which may be accomplished by using controls 740
to manipulate the curser to select a portion of text. In
particular, the subscriber may select displayed text or other
information by moving the cursor across the information to be
selected using a trackball 743 while depressing a selection button
745 (see FIG. 11). Other types of selection are possible, such as
using a touch-sensitive screen and permitting the subscriber to
select information by touching the appropriate part of the screen,
or using other types of cursor-control devices, including
peripheral devices, and selection buttons to manipulate a cursor
over information to be selected.
[0200] The viewer 266 may provide an indication of the selected
text or other information by showing the text or other information
shaded, showing the text in an alternate color, or using another
type of indicator. If the subscriber selects a command process 805,
such as a highlight command, a highlight decision process 815 is
executed and the processor 621 determines if the subscriber has
requested any particular type of highlighting. The term
highlighting refers to providing an indication of text or other
displayed information in order to distinguish the highlighted text
from other displayed information. If the subscriber has selected a
highlighting option using the process 817, the processor 621 alters
the selected information to highlight the information according to
the subscriber-entered option. Otherwise, the processor 621, using
a default process 819, alters the selected information to highlight
it according to a default option. The highlighted information is
then stored and displayed by the processor 621 using a store
process 821.
[0201] If the subscriber entered a copy command, the processor 621,
using a copy process 807, copies and stores the selected
information as identified by the subscriber during the select text
process 803. If the subscriber entered a cut command, the processor
621 executes a remove process 809 and removes and stores the
selected information. Upon receiving a paste command, as determined
during execution of a paste process 811, the processor 621, using
an insert process 813, inserts the stored information, typically at
a location of the cursor, and displays and stores the changes.
[0202] If the subscriber entered an annotate command, the processor
621, using text process 823, permits the subscriber to enter a text
or other annotation. An annotation may include, for example, text,
graphical information, still images, video clips, multi-media
information or an electronic link identifier. A subscriber may
indicate a location to enter an annotation by, for example, using
the controls 740 (see FIG. 14a) to select text or other information
to annotate under control of the processor 621 executing the select
text process 803. Alternatively, the subscriber, using controls 740
to position the cursor, may create an annotation under control of
the processor 621 using the subscriber position cursor process
881.
[0203] Using an insert process 825, the processor 621 inserts the
annotation, and displays and stores the changes. The annotation is
typically inserted at a location of the cursor identified using the
positions cursor process 881, or proximate to the selected
information identified using the select text process 803, so that
the subscriber may choose where to enter the annotation within a
particular displayed page of the electronic book. The subscriber
may alternatively move a location of the annotation elsewhere
within the page by using the controls 740 to select the annotation
and move the annotation to a new location. The subscriber can cut,
copy, and paste the annotation. Using a reposition process 826, the
processor 621 repositions the annotation, if moved by the
subscriber.
[0204] Using a receive another command process 827, the processor
621 determines if the subscriber has entered another command. If
the subscriber has entered another command, the process repeats. In
addition, if the subscriber selected information to annotate, the
processor 621 may indicate the selected information along with the
annotation by, for example, highlighting the selected information
or displaying the selected information within a box or other type
of border.
[0205] FIGS. 20-22 are examples of text screens illustrating use of
the commands in the information manipulation process 901. FIG. 20
is an example of a text screen 1200 on the viewer 266 displaying
highlighted text 1201. In an embodiment, the text screen 1200
includes a task bar 1214 having a number of sections 1215-1227 and
1231 for selecting particular commands. The term section (1215-1227
and 1231) refers to a definable portion of the screen, and the
phrase task bar (1214) refers to a collection of sections for
permitting selection of various commands. For instance, a
subscriber may select a highlight command by manipulating the
controls 740 to select the highlight section 1215 using the cursor
or by using a particular key stroke. A subscriber also may select a
menu section 1231 in task bar 1214 in order to view menus on the
viewer 266, such as the menus identified in FIG. 13, and then may
select an electronic book for viewing from the menus. The act of
selecting a section may involve, for example, positioning the
cursor or a pointer over the section using the trackball 743 and
depressing the selection button 745 to "click on" the section.
Other cursor-control devices, including peripheral devices, may be
used to select a section.
[0206] In this example, highlighted text 1201 is shown as shaded.
Other types of highlighting may be used such as, for example,
illustrating the text or other displayed information in a different
color, in a box, in a different font, in bold, in italics,
underlined, or in reverse video. In addition, the subscriber may
highlight other types of information in addition to text. The
viewer 266 may present highlighting options by presenting a section
with options when the subscriber selects the highlight section
1215. Alternatively, the viewer 266 may include a screen for
setting various display and other controls, which may include a
section for setting highlighting options. In addition, although the
task bar 1214 includes the sections 1215-1227 and 1231 in
contiguous horizontal form, the sections of the task bar 1214 may
be displayed vertically on the left or right margin, scattered
among the screen, or in some other geometric representation.
[0207] Typical cut, copy, and paste commands are illustrated by a
text screen 1202 shown in FIG. 21. A subscriber may select cut,
copy, and paste commands by manipulating the controls 740 (the
trackball 743 and the selection button 745) to select,
respectively, sections 1216, 1217, and 1218 using the cursor, or by
using particular key strokes. The text screen 1202, which may be
displayed on the viewer 266, corresponds to the text screen 1200
shown in FIG. 20. In this example, the highlighted text 1201 has
been cut, copied, and pasted. In particular, the first sentence in
highlighted text 1201 has been cut and pasted at location 1203. The
second sentence in highlighted text 1201 has been copied and pasted
at location 1204. Although these commands are illustrated with
text, they may apply to other information such as, for example,
graphical information, still images, or video clips. Although the
example in FIG. 21 is shown as cutting and pasting, and copying and
pasting, text within one electronic book, the viewer 266 typically
may cut and paste, and copy and paste, text or other information
between two or more electronic books, or between electronic books
and other data sources such as word processing programs. When text
is added or deleted from an electronic book, the electronic book
typically automatically repaginates.
[0208] FIG. 22 is an example of an annotated screen 1205 on the
viewer 266 displaying an annotation 1206 within the text. The
subscriber may select an annotate command by manipulating the
controls 740 (the trackball 743 and the selection button 745) to
select an annotate section 1219 using the cursor or by using a
particular key stroke. Upon selection of the annotate section 1219,
the viewer 266 may present section 1206 at a location of the cursor
and permit the subscriber to enter text or other information into
section 1206. The annotation may include text, graphical
information, still photos, video clips, or multimedia information.
The information may include subscriber-entered information, default
information provided by the viewer 266, or a combination. The
annotation may be displayed, for example, in a box, highlighted, or
as codes or symbols. The annotation may cover the text beneath it,
or the text beneath the annotation may scroll around the
annotation. Text for annotation may be created using the remote
wired keyboard 267 or wireless keyboard 268 shown in FIG. 6a. Text
may also be created using a soft keyboard displayed on the viewer
266. The soft keyboard may be displayed during the annotation step
and may be hidden at other times.
[0209] FIG. 23 is a flow chart of a multiple display process 903
for displaying multiple pages. The process 903 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination. For
example, the process 903 may be implemented by software modules
residing within the instruction memory unit 632 for execution by
the library processor 628 or within the instruction memory 732 for
execution by the viewer processor 621, or a combination. The
process 903 may be used by the subscriber to view a plurality of
pages within an electronic book. For example, instead of viewing
consecutive pages, as typically presented on the viewer 266, the
subscriber may wish to view non-consecutive pages, such as those
having related information. Therefore, the viewer 266 may display,
for example, on a split screen, two or more pages selected by the
subscriber.
[0210] In the multiple display process 903, the processor 621,
executing a display page module or process 829, displays a page.
Using a request process 831, the processor 621 receives a multiple
page view request. A receive process 833 is used by the processor
621 to receive a selection of pages. In response, using a display
process 835, the processor 621 retrieves, formats, and displays the
selected pages of the electronic book. Formatting may involve
reducing the size of the pages and appending them together to
display as one image on the viewer 266. A decision process 837
determines if additional pages are selected. If so, the display
process 835 again retrieves and displays the newly selected
pages.
[0211] FIG. 24 is an example illustrating how two pages 1229 and
1230 may be displayed simultaneously on the viewer 266 within one
split-screen 1228. The subscriber may select multiple page view by
manipulating the controls 740 (the trackball 743 and the selection
button 745) to select a multi-page section 1220 in the task bar
1214, and the subscriber may enter pages to view within a page
section 1221 of the task bar 1214. In addition, the subscriber may
select pages from different electronic books for simultaneous
viewing by selecting the menu section 1231 to select another
electronic book or other information source and, if necessary,
select a page by entering a page or pages in the page section
1221.
[0212] Therefore, the subscriber may select which particular pages
among any of the pages in the electronic book are to be displayed
on the viewer 266. Although the pages are shown displayed as a
side-by-side image, the pages may be displayed vertically. In
addition, although only two pages are shown displayed, the viewer
266 may format varying number of pages to be displayed. For
example, the viewer 266 may receive a selection of four pages and
display the four pages in four equally sized sections of the viewer
266. In addition, the viewer 266 may display the page numbers along
with the page content. Although only text is shown, pages may
contain other types of information such as, for example, graphical,
video, or multimedia information. When multiple pages are
displayed, information contained on each of the multiple pages may
be manipulated as described herein. For example, if four pages from
an electronic book are displayed simultaneously, the subscriber may
elect to manipulate information on the third page. To do so, the
subscriber may operate the controls 740 (the trackball 743 and the
selection button 745) to select the third page and to then
manipulate information on, or associated with, the third page. For
example, the subscriber may select a paragraph of text in the third
page, copy the text, and then scroll or drag the copied text to the
first page of the four displayed pages.
[0213] FIG. 25 is a flow chart of a multiple screen display process
905 for displaying pages on an electronic book viewer having
multiple screens. The process 905 may be implemented within the
viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination. For example, the
process 905 may be implemented by software modules residing within
the instruction memory unit 632 for execution by the library
processor 628 or within the instruction memory 732 for execution by
the viewer processor 621, or a combination. Displaying images on
multiple screens involves formatting one or more pages to be
displayed on a number of associated screens. For example, as shown
in FIG. 26a, an electronic book viewer 266' may include three
screens, 1211, 1212, and 1213. The screens may be connected in a
variety of positions, such as horizontally, vertically, T-shape,
rectangular, square, or some other geometric configuration.
[0214] The screens 1211, 1212, and 1213 may be physically connected
by hinges 1241 and 1242, including electrical connections between
screens for transmitting electronic book content and commands. As
another example, as shown in FIG. 26b, a viewer 266'' may include
three screens 1211', 1212', and 1213' that snap together, or become
otherwise joined together, by physical and electrical connectors,
as represented by arrows 1243 and 1244. The subscriber may select a
multiple screen view by manipulating the controls 740 (the
trackball 743 and the selection button 745) to select a
multi-screen section 1222 in the task bar 1214, as shown in FIG.
24, or by using a particular key stroke, and the subscriber may
enter pages to view within the page section 1221 of the task bar
1214. At least one of the screens 1211-1213 and 1211'-1213' may
include the task bar 1214 for selecting a command and entering
pages.
[0215] Referring to FIG. 25, in the multiple screen display process
905, the processor 621, executing a display page module or process
839, displays a page. Next, using a request process 841, the
processor 621 receives a request for display on multiple screens.
Using a receive process 843, the processor 621 receives selected
pages, which the subscriber may specify by manipulating the
controls 740. Next, in a determination process 859, the processor
621 determines a number of screens in the viewer 266, which may be
accomplished by electronically interrogating the connections
between screens to determine how many screens are
interconnected.
[0216] The processor 621 next uses a format process 845 to format
the page or pages for display on the multiple screens. Using the
format process 845, the processor 621 determines the number of
pages for display and compares that number with the number of
screens available for displaying the page or pages. If only one
page was selected, the processor 621 uses a first format process
847 to format the selected page for display across all screens in
the viewer 266. If the number of selected pages is less than the
number of screens, the processor 621 uses a second format process
849 to format the selected pages for display. One method of
formatting is to equally distribute the selected pages across the
screens, which involves resizing and scaling up or scaling down the
pages for display among the available screens. If the number of
selected pages equals the number of screens, the processor 621 uses
a third format process 851 to format the selected pages to display
one page per screen. If the number of selected pages is greater
than the number of screens, the processor 621 uses a fourth format
process 853 to format the selected pages to display them equally
distributed across the screens, which involves resizing and
reducing the pages to fit among the screens.
[0217] The processor 621 uses known techniques for sizing a page to
fit an available screen. For example, the processor 621 may apply
sub-sampling routines to create a thumbnail image of a page, and
then may display the thumbnail image in a reduced size window on a
screen. For example, an electronic atlas may include many full page
maps. A select number of the maps may be displayed on the viewer
screen by first creating thumbnail images, and then arranging their
display on the viewer screen. In this way, several full page images
may be viewed and compared in a convenient manner. For example,
nine full page maps from the electronic atlas may be displayed
simultaneously on the viewer screen. Digital data compression
techniques for images (including text and images) are well known
and need not be repeated here. For example, Data Compression In
Digital System, by Ray Hoffman, (Chapman & Hall, 1977), the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes
such data compression techniques.
[0218] An image displayed on the viewer 266 may be scaled down by
dropping, or decimating, rows and columns of pixels within the
image. Alternatively, each pixel in the reduced-size image may be
created by averaging neighboring pixels in the original image.
[0219] To make an image larger, the existing pixels in the original
image may be replicated in two dimensions. However, such a
scaled-up image is likely to be "blocky." To avoid the blocky
appearance, each pixel in the scaled-up image is created by
applying a color smoothing or dithering algorithm to pixels in the
original image.
[0220] The scaling up and down may be performed with text and
graphic images, and with still (for example, JPEG) and moving (for
example, MPEG 2) images. These and other techniques may be used to
display multiple images on a single screen, multiple images on
multiple screens and multiple images on multiple screens.
[0221] Once the selected pages have been resized, the processor
621, using a display process 855, sends the formatted page or pages
to the viewer screen(s) for display. Then, using display process
883, the processor 621 displays the formatted page or pages on the
multiple screens of the viewer 266. The processor 621 uses decision
process 856 to determine the number of screens changes. This may
occur by the subscriber adding additional screens to the viewer 266
or removing screens from the viewer 266, if the viewer 266 contains
removable screens or the capability to deactivate particular
screens. If this occurs, the processor 621 returns to the
determination process 859 to determine the number of screens and
then formats the page or pages accordingly. Otherwise, the
processor 621 determines if additional pages are selected using
decision process 857.
[0222] FIGS. 26c, 26d, and 26e, in which each box represents one
screen, illustrate the display of a page or pages on multiple
screens. If a single image 1245 represents one page, FIG. 26d
illustrates enlargement of the page to display the page as a first
image 1246 and a second image 1247. FIG. 26e illustrates
enlargement of the page to display the page as a first image 1248,
a second image 1249, a third image 1250, and a fourth image 1251.
In comparison, if the first image 1248, the second image 1249, the
third image 1250, and the fourth image 1251 together represent one
page, FIG. 26d illustrates reduction of the pages to display the
pages as the first image 1246 and the second image 1247, and FIG.
26c represents reduction of the pages to display the pages as the
single image 1245. If the first image 1248, the second image 1249,
the third image 1250, and the fourth image 1251 each represent one
page, FIG. 26e illustrates display of one page per screen,
alternatively, FIG. 26e shows an enlargement of a single page to
four screens.
VIII. Picture-in-Picture Feature for Electronic Books
[0223] Picture-in-picture viewing permits the subscriber to
simultaneously display on the viewer 266, pages or portions of two
different electronic books, or content from an electronic book and
another information source, such as video or multimedia
information. The electronic book for viewing may be selected from
electronic books stored in the viewer 266 or an associated library
viewer 262, or may be obtained from a received signal. The other
information source, when used, may be received using an electronic
or electromagnetic signal such as a television signal, video
signal, cable television signal, or wireline or wireless telephone
or data source signal. For example, while viewing an electronic
book the subscriber may want to simultaneously view a television
program or a particular video.
[0224] When electronic content is obtained from memory, a system
for picture-in-picture viewing formats the two or more electronic
books, or electronic books and other electronic information, for
simultaneous display. When electronic content is obtained from a
received signal, the viewer 266 performs necessary decoding or
other processing for simultaneously displaying a page of an
electronic book along with the other electronic information.
[0225] a. Picture-in-Picture Process
[0226] FIG. 27 is a flow chart of a picture-in-picture viewing
process 907 for picture-in-picture viewing of electronic books and
other electronic information. The process 907 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination. For
example, the process 907 may be implemented by software modules
residing within the instruction memory unit 632 for execution by
the library processor 628 or within the instruction memory 732 for
execution by the viewer processor 621, or a combination. In the
picture-in-picture viewing process 907, the viewer 266, using a
display page module or process 863, displays a page of a first
electronic book. Using the receive request process 865, the
processor 621 receives a request for picture-in-picture viewing
from the subscriber along with an identification of a second
information source, such as a second electronic book, a television
signal, a video signal, still photos, content from the Internet,
electronic book electronic links, or multi-media information. Using
a decision process 867, the processor 621 determines if the
subscriber entered a request for a particular type of
picture-in-picture viewing format, which may include, for example,
use of an inset image or side-by-side images. If the subscriber did
not enter a particular type of picture-in-picture viewing format,
the processor 621 uses a default process 873 to format the first
electronic book and content from the second information source for
picture-in-picture viewing according to a particular default format
setting.
[0227] Otherwise, the library 262 or the viewer 266 formats the
first electronic book and the content from the second information
source according to the subscriber-entered option. In particular,
if the subscriber requested an inset image, the processor 621,
using an inset image process 869, formats the first electronic book
and the content from the second information source for displaying
content from the second information source as an inset image within
the first displayed electronic book. Using a reposition process
909, the processor 621 then repositions the inset image and
reformats the first electronic book, if the inset image is moved by
the subscriber. If the subscriber requested side-by-side images,
the processor 621 uses a split screen process 871 to format the
first electronic book and content from the second information
source for display as side-by-side images. After displaying the
picture-in-picture images, each display functions independently,
permitting the subscriber to advance pages in the first electronic
book, for example, by selecting the displayed image of the first
electronic book. Using reverse images decision process 875, the
processor 621 determines if the subscriber entered a request to
reverse the displayed images. If so, the processor 621 executes a
reverse format process 877 to reverse the display. The processor
621 then uses a decision process 879 to determine if the subscriber
entered a request for different viewing. If the subscriber entered
a different viewing request, the processor 621 returns to the
decision process 867. Various multimedia experiences, programs, and
displays may be created using two or more images.
[0228] FIGS. 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are examples of displays for
picture-in-picture viewing. In the display of FIG. 28a, a portion
of a first electronic book is displayed as a main image 1207, and a
portion of a second electronic book is displayed as an inset image
1208. In the display of FIG. 28b, side-by-side images display a
portion of a first electronic book 1209 adjacent a portion of a
second electronic book 1210. In the display of FIG. 28c, a portion
of a first electronic book is displayed as a main image 1207', and
content from a second information source, such as a television or
video signal, is displayed as an inset image 1208'. In the display
of FIG. 28d, side-by-side images display a portion of a first
electronic book 1209' adjacent to content 1210' from a second
information source such as a television or video signal.
[0229] As shown in FIGS. 28a and 28c, the viewer 266 typically
formats the content 1207 and 1207' from the electronic book so that
the content 1207 and 1207' wraps around the inset images 1208 and
1208', respectively, in order to display a portion of the content
1207 and 1207' that would otherwise be concealed by inset images
1208 and 1208'. In this manner, content from the electronic book is
not obstructed because the inset image does not overlay the main
image. This is particularly well-suited for text. In addition, if
the subscriber moves a location of the inset image 1208 or 1208',
the processor 621 uses the reposition process 909 to reformat the
content 1207 and 1207' to display the portion concealed by the new
location of the inset image 1208 or 1208', respectfully.
[0230] In an alternative embodiment, the main image 1207 and 1207'
may be formatted so that the inset images 1208 and 1208',
respectively, overlay and obstruct the portion of the main image at
the location of the inset images. If the main image 1207 or 1207'
is a television or video signal, then the viewer 266 typically
overlays the inset image 1208 or 1208' to avoid distortion of the
main image as may occur with wrapping the main image around an
inset image. In addition, the subscriber may typically position the
inset image anywhere within the main image by using the cursor and
the controls 740 to select and move the inset image to a new
location. The size of the inset image may also be changed.
[0231] The subscriber may select picture-in-picture viewing by
manipulating the controls 740 (the trackball 743 and the selection
button 745) to select a p-i-p section 1223 in the task bar 1214, or
by using a particular key stroke. In order to display an inset
image, as shown in FIG. 28a, the subscriber may select an inset
section 1225. To display the electronic books as side-by-side
images, as shown in FIG. 28b, the subscriber may select a split
section 1224. The subscriber may switch between the inset view and
the split image view by selecting the split section 1224 and the
inset section 1225 for the desired view. The subscriber may reverse
or swap the displayed images by selecting a swap section 1226 in
the task bar 1214. Upon selecting the swap section 1226, the viewer
266 switches positions of the images. By selecting a normal view
section 1227, the subscriber may exit the picture-in-picture mode
and return to normal viewing, in which case the main image 1207 or
left image 1209 becomes the sole displayed image, for example. The
subscriber may select the first and second electronic books, or the
first electronic book and the second information source, for
viewing by selecting the menu section 1231 on the task bar 1214 and
selecting particular electronic books or other information sources
from the displayed menu.
[0232] b. Picture-in-Picture Tuning: Electronic Book and an
Information Source
[0233] The viewer 266 or the home system 258 may be used to provide
picture-in-picture capability with one or more signals coming from
an information source or a component that is external to the home
system 258. FIG. 29a shows an embodiment of the home system 258
that is intended to display multiple images in a picture-in-picture
format. In FIG. 29a, the home system 258 comprises a single unit,
namely the viewer 266. The viewer 266 includes the digital logic
609, the microprocessor 621, the memory 607, and the LCD 602. The
functions of these components have been described previously. Also
included in the viewer 266 is a data connector/converter 617'. The
data converter 617' includes the functions of the tuner 613, data
stripper 617, modem 611 and RF transceiver 604 described in
connection with FIG. 6b. The data converter 617' receives data
signals from wired or wireless communications paths and passes the
signals to the digital logic 609 for processing and display on the
LCD 602. The data converter 617' may for example receive signals
from a wireless keyboard 268, a telephone 275, a personal computer
261, a video camera 273, a television 259 or a set top terminal
601. As shown in FIG. 29a, all of these components may communicate
with the viewer 266 using either wired or wireless communication
paths. The viewer 266 may also receive data signals from the
Internet web site 279. Data signals from the Internet web site 279
may be received directly from the Internet or by using the personal
computer 261, for example. The data converter 617' receives the
data signals from one or more of the multiple sources shown in FIG.
29a and converts the signal into an appropriate format for display
on the LCD 602. The received signal may be displayed as text, a
JPEG image, or an MPEG image, for example. The data converter 617'
may also receive audio and output the audio to a speaker 608.
Alternately, the audio may be converted to text and displayed on
the LCD 602. Text information displayed on the personal computer
261, using for example a word processing program, may be sent to
the data converter 617' and displayed as text on the LCD 602.
Television signals received at either the set top terminal 601 or
the television 259 may be displayed as video signals on the LCD
602. The video camera 273 may provide a live video feed to the
viewer 266 for display on the LCD 602. Commands or text typed in
using the keyboard 268 may be displayed on the LCD 602. Finally,
web pages such as a web page available at the web site 279 may be
displayed on the LCD 602. The memory 607 may store programs and
menus to allow the subscriber to select which of the multiple
information sources will provide a display on the viewer 266. For
example, the subscriber may decide to display an electronic book on
the viewer 266 and concurrently to display in a window on the LCD
602, a live feed from the video camera 273, and in another window
on the LCD 602, a broadcast television program being received by
the television 259, for example.
[0234] FIG. 29b shows an example of the multiple information
sources being displayed on the viewer 266. In FIG. 29b the menu bar
1214 shows the menu selection 1231 and the p-i-p selection 1223.
The subscriber has elected to use the p-i-p function and the menu
bar therefore displays four window options 1244-1247. In FIG. 29b
the subscriber has elected to play the text from an electronic book
using window one 1244, a television show using window two 1245 and
a video feed from a video camera using window three 1246. Window
four 1247 is not used. The result is shown as the text in a full
width, upper window 1207'' television show in a split with lower
window 1240 and a video feed in a second split window 1241.
[0235] There are many practical uses for the multiple screen, split
screen and picture-in-picture features of the viewer 266. Examples
of uses of these features include, but are not limited to, the
following.
[0236] For example, while in the garage working on a vehicle the
subscriber can use the viewer 266 to help make a repair easier. The
subscriber can use part of the LCD 602 to display the instructions
to make the necessary repair on the automobile, can also display
schematics, drawings and/or pictures of the parts, a short video on
how to make the repair, as well as continuously watching the video
camera 273 showing the front door or baby's crib.
[0237] When the car repair is completed, the subscriber can move
the viewer to the kitchen where the subscriber can have one, two or
more of the following on the viewer 266: a list of ingredients,
text of a recipe, a video on how to mix the ingredients, listing of
measurement conversions, and a video feed from a child's play room.
More simply, the subscriber can read a book in the backyard while
simultaneously watching the baby's playpen indoor on a video
feed.
[0238] While this invention has been described in conjunction with
the embodiments described above, it is evident that many
alterations, modifications and variations will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention as
set forth above are intended to be only illustrative. Various
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims and their
equivalents.
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