U.S. patent application number 13/335432 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-12 for electronic book with restricted access features.
This patent application is currently assigned to ADREA LLC. Invention is credited to Michael L. Asmussen, John S. Hendricks.
Application Number | 20120179962 13/335432 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46456174 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120179962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hendricks; John S. ; et
al. |
July 12, 2012 |
ELECTRONIC BOOK WITH RESTRICTED ACCESS FEATURES
Abstract
A viewer for displaying electronic books and having various
features for restricting access to their content. A user may assign
ratings to stored electronic books, or use standard ratings, and
assign access levels to potential users. The ratings and access
levels determine which electronic books, or portions of the
electronic books, a particular user may access on the viewer.
Inventors: |
Hendricks; John S.;
(Potomac, MD) ; Asmussen; Michael L.; (Herndon,
VA) |
Assignee: |
ADREA LLC
Sunnyvale
CA
|
Family ID: |
46456174 |
Appl. No.: |
13/335432 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09344492 |
Jun 25, 1999 |
8095949 |
|
|
13335432 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/273 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/4401 20130101;
H04N 21/8126 20130101; H04N 5/44543 20130101; H04N 7/165 20130101;
H04N 5/44591 20130101; Y10S 345/901 20130101; H04N 7/173 20130101;
H04N 5/602 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 5/445 20130101;
H04N 7/17336 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101; H04N 21/435 20130101;
H04H 20/02 20130101; H04N 21/42206 20130101; H04N 21/235 20130101;
H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/478 20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101;
H04N 7/088 20130101; H04N 7/17354 20130101; H04N 5/44582 20130101;
H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101; H04N 2005/4405 20130101;
H04N 5/4403 20130101; H04M 2203/1058 20130101; H04N 21/4135
20130101; H04N 5/44504 20130101; H04M 1/57 20130101; H04N 21/4532
20130101; H04H 60/23 20130101; H04N 21/2351 20130101; H04N 21/47
20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/273 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A method for controlling access to electronic books displayed
on a viewer, comprising: displaying a portion of an electronic book
on a viewer, the electronic book having a series of pages arranged
in a particular order; receiving information relating to access of
the electronic book by potential users; and permitting, based upon
the information, viewing of the pages only in the particular
order.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the permitting step includes
permitting viewing of the pages only in sequential order.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the permitting step includes
permitting viewing of the pages based upon a particular time period
of viewing at least one of the pages.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the permitting step includes
permitting viewing of the pages based upon user-entered
information.
22. A method for controlling access to an electronic book displayed
on a viewer, comprising: displaying a portion of an electronic book
on a viewer, the electronic book having a series of pages arranged
in a particular order and each of the pages having a plurality of
sections; receiving information relating to access of the
electronic book by a user; and permitting, based upon the
information, viewing of the pages only in the particular order and
permitting the user to view a next page within the particular order
only upon selection of the sections on each page in an order
assigned to each page.
23-41. (canceled)
42. An apparatus for controlling access to electronic books
displayed on a viewer, comprising: a display that displays a
portion of an electronic book on a viewer, the electronic book
having a series of pages arranged in a particular order; a
receiving module that receives information relating to access of
the electronic book by potential users; and a permitting module
that permits, based upon the information, viewing of the pages only
in the particular order.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the permitting module
includes a module that permits viewing of the pages only in
sequential order.
44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the permitting module
includes a module that permits viewing of the pages based upon a
particular time period of viewing at least one of the pages.
45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the permitting module
includes a viewing module that permits viewing of the pages based
upon user-entered information.
46. An apparatus for controlling access to an electronic book
displayed on a viewer, comprising: a display that displays a
portion of an electronic book on a viewer, the electronic book
having a series of pages arranged in a particular order and each of
the pages having a plurality of sections; a receiving module that
receives information relating to access of the electronic book by a
user; and a viewing module that permits, based upon the
information, viewing of the pages only in the particular order and
permitting the user to view a next page within the particular order
only upon selection of the sections on each page in an order
assigned to each page.
47-53. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/344,492, filed Jun. 25, 1999. Priority is hereby claimed to
the preceding application. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/344,492 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, and 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, which is now U.S. Pat. No.
5,798,785, dated Aug. 25, 1998. Priority of this application for
the years 1993, 1994, 1997, and 1998 is not claimed. All of the
preceding patents and patent applications are incorporated herein
by reference.
[0002] This application is related to 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, and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/289,956, filed on Apr.
13, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY METHODS,
all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] 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 restricting access to
electronic books.
BACKGROUND ART
[0004] 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
[0005] Methods and apparatus consistent with the present invention
include features for restricting access to electronic books
displayed on a viewer. The methods and apparatus include displaying
an identification of an electronic book on a viewer, receiving
information for use in restricting access to the electronic book,
and restricting access to the electronic book based upon the
information. The information may relate to access to the electronic
book and the content of the book. Alternatively, the information
may include identification of potential users of the electronic
book, a rating assigned to the electronic book, selected portions
of the electronic book, a particular order in which pages of the
electronic book are to be viewed, a particular order in which
sections of a page of the electronic book are to be viewed, or a
mode of the viewer.
[0006] Many uses of the restricted access features are possible.
For example, a family use electronic book may restrict children's
access to particular content of an electronic book.
[0007] Instructors may also use restricted access features for
teaching exercises for their students. For example, they may
require selection of pages or sections of pages in a particular
order to facilitate a teaching process. They may also restrict
access to particular content based upon, for example, an assigned
order in which the students are to complete particular
assignments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the primary components of the
electronic book selection and delivery system.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic showing an overview of the electronic
book selection and delivery system.
[0010] FIG. 3a is a schematic of the delivery plan for the
electronic book selection and delivery system.
[0011] FIG. 3b is a schematic of an alternate delivery plan.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an operations center.
[0013] FIG. 5a is a flow diagram of the processing at the
operations center and uplink.
[0014] FIG. 5b is a block diagram of the hardware configuration for
an uplink site.
[0015] FIG. 6a is a block diagram of the hardware configuration for
a four component home subsystem.
[0016] FIG. 6b is a schematic of a two unit home subsystem.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the processes performed by the
video connector.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a block diagram for an example of a library
unit.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of some of the processes performed
by the library on the received data stream.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of the processes performed by the
library unit on information requests from the viewer.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the components for an
example of a viewer.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of some of the processes performed
by the viewer on an information request from a subscriber.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a chart depicting the menu structure and
sequencing of menus in the menu system.
[0024] FIG. 14a is a schematic of an introductory menu.
[0025] FIG. 14b is a schematic showing an example of a main
menu.
[0026] FIGS. 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h, 14i and 14j are
schematics showing examples of submenus.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an electronic book system
for a bookstore or public library.
[0028] FIG. 16a and FIG. 16b are schematics of hardware
modifications or upgrades to a set top converter.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a schematic showing a set top terminal that
includes a data receiver and data transmitter.
[0030] FIG. 18a is a schematic of a book-on-demand system.
[0031] FIG. 18b is a schematic of an operations center supporting a
book-on-demand system.
[0032] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a main menu for restricted access
features for electronic books.
[0033] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of a main menu process.
[0034] FIGS. 21A and 21B are flow charts of a view book
routine.
[0035] FIG. 22 is a diagram of a user name screen.
[0036] FIG. 23 is a diagram of a select book screen.
[0037] FIG. 24 is a diagram of an access denied screen.
[0038] FIG. 25 is a diagram of an electronic book cover page
screen.
[0039] FIG. 26 is a flow chart of a book ratings routine.
[0040] FIG. 27 is a diagram of a user name and password screen.
[0041] FIG. 28 is a diagram of a book ratings screen.
[0042] FIG. 29 is a flow chart of an implement ratings process.
[0043] FIG. 30a is a diagram of a page text screen.
[0044] FIG. 30b is a diagram of a page screen with selected
text.
[0045] FIG. 30c is a diagram of a page screen with restricted
text.
[0046] FIG. 30d is a diagram of a page text- and graphics
screen.
[0047] FIG. 30e is a diagram of a page screen with selected
graphics.
[0048] FIG. 30f is a diagram of a page screen with restricted
graphics.
[0049] FIG. 31 is a flow chart of an access levels routine.
[0050] FIG. 32 is a diagram of an access levels and viewer mode
screen.
[0051] FIG. 33 is a flow chart of a page-based book view
routine.
[0052] FIG. 34 is a diagram of a page-based book view screen.
[0053] FIG. 35 is a flow chart of a content-based book view
routine.
[0054] FIG. 36 is a diagram of a content-based book view
screen.
[0055] FIG. 37 is a flow chart of a time-based book view
routine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] An electronic book selection and delivery system is a new
way to distribute electronic books to bookstores, public libraries,
schools and consumers. 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
[0061] 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.
[0062] 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.
Alternatively, other delivery systems and methods may be used, such
as those disclosed in the related applications identified
above.
[0063] 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, personal computers, 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.
[0064] 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 methods are disclosed in the related
applications identified above.
[0065] In one 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.
[0066] 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.
[0067] 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 interne 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.
[0068] 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.
[0069] 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."
[0070] 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.
[0071] 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.
[0072] 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.
[0073] The billing and collection system 278 may be co-located with
the operations center 250 or located remote from the operations
center 250. In one 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.
[0074] 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.
[0075] 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 reentry 318,
a second for security encoding 322 and a third section for catalog
and messaging center functions 326.
[0076] 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.
[0077] Three methods or examples for communicating between the
subscriber base 348 and the billing and collection system 278' are
shown: by telephone switching 350 alone, cellular (PCS) 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.
[0078] 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 (DOS) 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.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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
[0081] 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).
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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.
[0084] 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.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] As another alternative to cable, television, and telephone
system delivery, the public telephone system may be used to provide
access to the Internet, where an 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.
[0090] 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
[0091] 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.
[0092] 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.
[0093] 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] 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.
[0098] a. The Video Connector
[0099] 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.
[0100] 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.
[0101] 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.
[0102] b. Library
[0103] 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.
[0104] 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.
[0105] i. Memory Storage Unit
[0106] 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 memory
stick. 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) or memory sticks may
also be used to store the data.
[0107] ii. Power Circuitry
[0108] 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.
[0109] iii. Connection to the Public Telephone System
[0110] 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.
[0111] iv. Library Processing
[0112] 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.
[0113] 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.
[0114] 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.
[0115] 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.
[0116] 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
converter box 602 (see Section V).
[0117] 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
preferably 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.
[0118] 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.
[0119] c. The Viewer
[0120] 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'.
[0121] (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.
[0122] (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 foil iat. 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.
[0123] (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 60T is
controlled by the digital circuitry described above. Text may be
displayed in multiple font sizes.
[0124] (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).
[0125] 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.
[0126] 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.
[0127] (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.
[0128] 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.
[0129] (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.
[0130] (7) An optional battery 603' is provided in a preferred
embodiment. The battery 603' is automatically recharged when AC
power is available,
[0131] (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.
[0132] (9) Also, the viewer 266 may include a cellular transceiver
for mobile communications.
[0133] (10) The optional wired (attached) keyboard 267 and wireless
(e.g., RF) keyboard 268
[0134] (see FIG. 6a) may be used with the viewer 266 to provide
communications between the subscriber and the viewer 266.
[0135] (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.
[0136] 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.
[0137] 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.
[0138] 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.
[0139] 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.
[0140] 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.
[0141] 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.
[0142] With these examples of basic processes the viewer 266 is
able to display book selections and display text from those
books.
[0143] d. Menu System
[0144] 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.
[0145] 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.
[0146] 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.
[0147] 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.
[0148] 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.
[0149] 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 alphanumeric
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. [0150]
Your book will be delivered overnight and your VISA account will be
charged $2.95. [0151] Your book will be available for reading at
6:00 AM EST tomorrow. Make sure that: [0152] 1. your Library Unit
and Cable Connection Unit e plugged in with aerials up tonight; and
[0153] 2. you tune your cable converter to THE BOOK Channel. The TV
set does not have to remain on. or similar language.
[0154] 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.
[0155] 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, disclosed in the related application identified
above.
[0156] 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.
[0157] 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.
[0158] 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.
[0159] 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.
[0160] 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.
[0161] 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.
[0162] 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.
[0163] 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.
[0164] 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.
[0165] 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.
[0166] 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.
[0167] 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
[0168] 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.
[0169] It is preferred that 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
[0170] 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.
[0171] 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.
[0172] 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.
[0173] 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.
[0174] 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
[0175] 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.
[0176] 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 examples of upgrades to set top
converters 601 to assist in receiving and selecting electronic
books are shown. 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.
[0177] 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.
[0178] 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 ER 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 ER 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 for example, to provide access to an Internet web site to
order and receive electronic books.
[0179] 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.
[0180] 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.
[0181] 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.
[0182] 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.
[0183] In one 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.
[0184] 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,
[0185] 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.
[0186] 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.
[0187] 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.
[0188] 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
[0189] 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.
[0190] 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).
[0191] 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.
[0192] 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.
[0193] 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.
[0194] 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.
[0195] 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''.
[0196] 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 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.
[0197] 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.
[0198] 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.
[0199] 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.
[0200] 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. Restricted Access Features for Electronic Books
[0201] An electronic book may include various features for
restricting access to text or other information contained within
it. As discussed below, those features include restricting
information in electronic books by user and content. Other features
include restricting how a user may access pages of an electronic
book based, for example, on page order, content, or time of
viewing.
[0202] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a main menu 1100 for restricted
access features for electronic books. Main menu 1100 may be
displayed on the viewer 266 for permitting a user to select various
options relating to restricting access to information in electronic
books. Main menu 1100 has a number of sections for permitting the
user to select the options by selecting an appropriate section. The
term section refers to a definable portion of the screen, and the
act of selecting a section may involve, for example, positioning
the cursor or a pointer over the section using trackball 743 and
depressing selection buttons 745 to "click on" the section; other
cursor-control devices, including peripheral devices, may be used
to select a section either by positioning the cursor or entering a
particular command The sections in main menu 1100, and other
described screens, may alternatively have different shapes and may
be displayed in a different configuration than that shown. In
addition, the screens may have more or fewer sections depending
upon, for example, desired functions or displayed information.
Also, main menu 1100 and the other described screens may be
generated for display on the viewer 266, or retrieved from memory
for display, by library processor 628 operating under control of
software modules residing within the instruction memory unit 632 or
by viewer processor 621 operating under control of software modules
residing within the instruction memory 732, or by hardware modules,
or a combination of hardware and software modules.
[0203] A view book section 1102 permits a user to select an option
to view one of the electronic books stored within the viewer 266 or
library 262. An enter book ratings section 1104 permits a user to
select an option to enter ratings for the stored electronic books
in order to control access to the electronic books. A rating or
book rating is any type of information used to control or restrict
access to content of an electronic book. Also, ratings may include
a range of ratings, and the range of ratings may have associated
support levels indicating multiple levels of access such as those
provided by the following standard film ratings: G; PG; PG-13; R;
and NC-17. An access levels and viewer mode section 1106 permits a
user to select an option to enter access levels for users in order
to control the users' access to the stored electronic books. This
option also permits a particular user to set the operating mode of
the viewer 266. Access levels or user access levels are any type of
information used to restrict or control particular users' access to
content of electronic books. An operating or viewer mode is a
particular way in which a viewer restricts or controls access to
content of electronic books. It may, for example, restrict access
by user access levels, book ratings, a combination of access levels
and book ratings, or according to another methodology.
[0204] Sections 1108, 1110, and 1112 permit a user to select
various options for how a particular electronic book may be viewed.
A page-based book view section 1108 permits a user to select a
page-based book view option, which refers to a feature requiring
that pages of an electronic book be viewed in a particular order. A
content-based book view section 1110 permits a user to select a
content-based book view option, which refers to a feature requiring
that portions of a particular page of an electronic book be
selected in a particular order before viewing a next page in the
electronic book. A time-based book view section 1112 permits a user
to select a time-based book view option, which refers to a feature
requiring that a page of an electronic book be viewed for a
particular amount of time before viewing a next page in the
electronic book.
[0205] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of a main menu process 1120 for
processing a user's selection of various sections in main menu
1100. Main menu process 1120 may be implemented within the viewer
266, the library 262, or a combination; for example, it 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 by hardware modules, or a combination of hardware
and software modules. In process 1120, a display main menu process
1122 displays a main menu 1100 on the viewer 266. A select option
process 1124 waits for a user to select one of the sections within
a main menu 1100. Upon a user selecting a section in order to
choose an option, an option process 1126 selects an appropriate
routine based upon the user's selected option. If the user selected
the view book section 1102, a view book process 1128 executes a
view book routine 1130. If the user selected the book ratings
section 1104, a book ratings process 1132 executes a book ratings
routine 1134. If the user selected access levels and viewer mode
section 1106, an access levels and viewer mode process 1136
executes an access levels routine 1138.
[0206] If the user selected the page-based book view section 1108,
a display page-based book view process 1140 executes a page-based
book view routine 1142. If the user selected the content-based book
view section 1110, a display content-based book view process
executes a content-based book view routine 1146. If the user
selected the time based book view section 1112, a display
time-based book view process 1148 executes a time-based book view
routine 1150.
[0207] After executing the appropriate routine based upon the
user's selection, a decision process 1152 determines if the user
has selected another section in the main menu 1100. If so, the
option process 1126 is repeated to process the next selected
option.
[0208] FIGS. 21A and 21B are flow charts of view book routine 1130.
The view book routine 1130 may comprise software modules stored in
a memory, such as the instruction memory 732 of the viewer 266 (see
FIG. 11). The processor 621 then executes the view book routine
1130. The view book routine 1130 includes a viewer mode routine (or
module) 1162 to determine the operating mode of the viewer 266. The
viewer 266 may operate in a number of different modes, as set by a
particular user or determined by default. For example, a user level
mode module 1164 permits access based upon a particular access
level assigned to each user and ratings assigned to the stored
electronic books. A book rating mode module 1165 permits access
based solely upon the ratings assigned to the stored electronic
books. Alternatively, a user may operate the viewer 266 in neither
the user level or book rating modes, shown as an unlimited access
mode module 1163, which effectively disables the restricted access
features. Other modes or default modes are possible for use with
restricted access features. The processor 621, using the viewer
mode module 1162 determines if the viewer 266 is operating in the
user level mode 1164, the book rating mode 1165, the unlimited
access mode 1163, or another mode. If operating in the user level
mode 1164, a display name screen module 1166 displays a screen
requesting a user's name or other identifier. FIG. 22 illustrates
an example of a name screen 1210 for display on the viewer 266 and
including a name section 1212 for the user to enter a name or other
identifier.
[0209] The processor 621 uses a name process module 1168 to receive
the user's entered name or identifier. An access module 1170
determines the user's permitted access, which it may accomplish by
retrieving from a database an access level assigned to the user.
The database, stored for example in the instruction memory unit 632
or within the instruction memory 732, may include a table
cross-referencing user names or identifiers with access levels.
Table 1 illustrates an example of access levels one (1) through n
and books rates l, m, and n.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 user access identifier level meaning user1 1
access to all electronic books user2 2 access to no electronic
books user3 3 .COPYRGT.48 access to electronic books rated 1-m . .
. userN N access to electronic books rated m-n
[0210] A display module 1172 displays a listing of the stored
electronic books or a subset of them that are available to the
users based on their entered user identifiers. FIG. 23 illustrates
a select a book screen 1220 for display on the viewer 266 and
including sections 1222, 1224, and 1226 identifying stored
electronic books 1, 2 and N, respectively.
[0211] Returning to FIG. 21A, a request module 1174 receives the
user's selection of a requested electronic book. The user may
choose an electronic book for viewing by positioning the cursor on
one of the sections 1222, 1224 and 1226 identifying the desired
electronic book in the select a book screen 1220 and selecting a
desired section on screen, or by entering a particular command
using a keyboard or other peripheral device. The processor, using a
rating module 1176 then retrieves the rating information for the
selected electronic book and compares the information with the
user's permitted access.
[0212] The rating information may be stored within a header file
for each electronic book. The information contained in the header
file may be used to identify and categorize each electronic book
for display and for other purposes, such as associating a rating
with the electronic book or for searching. As new electronic books
are stored on the viewer 266 or library unit 262, this header
information may be extracted from the header file and stored in a
database resident on the viewer 266 or library unit 262, such as in
memory 600 or 600'. The header information associated with each
electronic book typically includes the information shown in Table
2, and can be stored, for example, in records or other database
structures.
[0213] The header file may contain a rating field for storing
ratings or rating information for the corresponding electronic
book. The header file may also contain other fields relevant to
controlling access to electronic books. The header file may include
a restricted version field to identify whether the corresponding
electronic book is a restricted or unrestricted version; a
page-based book view field to identify information for use in
determining the particular order of pages for the page-based book
view option; a content-based book view field to identify
information for use in determining the particular order of sections
for the content-based book view option; and a time-based book view
field to identify information for use in determining the particular
time of viewing pages for the time-based book view option.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Title: Authors: Primary Author: Author 2:
Author 3: Author 4: Author 5: ISBN #: Library of Congress # (LC#)
Dewey Decimal Classification # (DDC#) Publisher: Edition Number:
Date of Publishing: Related Categories: Category 1 Category 6
Category 2 Category 7 Category 3 Category 8 Category 4 Category 9
Category 5 Category 10 Related Keywords: Keyword 1 Keyword 6
Keyword 2 Keyword 7 Keyword 3 Keyword 8 Keyword 4 Keyword 9 Keyword
5 Keyword 10 User Defined Criteria 1: User Defined Criteria 2: User
Defined Criteria 3: User Defined Criteria 4: User Defined Criteria
5: Book Summary/Description: User Entered Notes: Rating: Restricted
Version: Page-Based Book View: Content-Based Book View: Time-Based
Book View:
[0214] Using a decision module 1178, the processor 621 determines
if the user is permitted access to the selected electronic book. It
may make this determination by comparing the retrieved rating for
the requested electronic book with the permitted access for the
user's access level, as shown for example in Table 1. If no access
is permitted, the processor 621 uses a display module 1180 and
displays an access denied message. FIG. 24 illustrates an access
denied screen 1230 for display on the viewer 266 and for displaying
an access denied message 1232. Otherwise, if the user is permitted
access, the processor 621 uses an open module 1182 to open and
display the requested electronic book, and a display module 1184 to
display pages of the electronic book as requested by the user.
[0215] FIG. 25 illustrates a book access screen 1240 displaying a
cover page 1242 of a requested electronic book to which access is
permitted. The book access screen 1240 also displays a page forward
button 1244 and a page backward button 1246 to permit a user to
page forward and backward, respectively, in the displayed
electronic book by selecting the appropriate button. The processor
621 uses a decision module 1186 to determine if the user has closed
the displayed electronic book and, if so, routine 1130 returns to
display module 1172 to display the listing of the stored electronic
books in the select a book screen 1220. A user may close a
displayed electronic book by selecting an icon displayed on the
screen, for example, or by entering, using a keyboard or other
device, a particular command.
[0216] If the viewer 266 is in the book rating mode 1165, the
processor 621, using a display module 1188, displays the listing of
electronic books, as illustrated in the select a book screen 1220.
Using a request module 1190, the processor 621 receives a user's
requested electronic book, and with a rating module 1192, retrieves
rating information for the requested electronic book and compares
the rating information with the viewer access level. The processor
621 next uses a decision module 1194 to determine if access to the
requested electronic book is permitted by determining, for example,
if the rating for the requested electronic book is within the range
of ratings for which access is permitted for the particular viewer
mode. If not, using a display module 1196, the processor 621 may
display an access denied message, as illustrated in the access
denied screen 1230. Otherwise, if access is permitted, the
processor 621 uses an open module 1198 to open and display the
requested electronic book, and a display process 1200 to display
pages of the electronic book as requested by the user, as
illustrated in the book access screen 1240. Using a decision module
1202, the processor 621 determines if the user closes the displayed
electronic book. If so, the view book routine 1130 returns to a
display module 1188 to display the listing of electronic books on
the select a book screen 1220. The access levels may be assigned,
for example, locally by a particular user or by a supplier or
distributor upon sale of an electronic book or providing a
subscription to one.
[0217] If the viewer 266 is in the unlimited access mode 1163, the
processor 621 uses a display module 1167 to display a listing of
the stored electronic books or a sub-set of stored electronic books
that are available to the user based on the entered user
identifier. FIG. 23 illustrates the select a book screen 1220 for
display on the viewer 266 and includes name sections identifying
stored electronic books. Returning to FIG. 21, the processor 621
uses a request module 1169 to receive the user's selection of a
requested electronic book. The user may choose an electronic book
for viewing by positioning the cursor on a section identifying the
desired electronic book on the select a book screen 1220 and
selecting the action denied section, or by entering a particular
command using a keyboard or other device. The processor 621 then
uses an open module 1171 to open and display the requested
electronic book, and a display module 1173 to display pages of the
electronic book as requested by the user.
[0218] FIG. 25 illustrates a book access screen 1240 displaying a
cover page 1242 of a requested electronic book to which access is
permitted. The book access screen 1240 also displays a page forward
button 1244 and a page backward button 1246 to permit a user to
page forward and backward, respectively, in the displayed
electronic book by selecting the appropriate button. The processor
621 uses a decision module 1186 to determine if the user has closed
the displayed electronic book and, if so, routine 1130 returns to
display module 1175 to display the listing of the stored electronic
books in the select a book screen 1220. A user may close a
displayed electronic book by selecting an icon displayed on the
screen, for example, or by entering, using a keyboard or other
device, a particular command.
[0219] FIG. 26 is a flow chart of a book ratings routine 1134. The
book ratings routine 1134 may be implemented within the viewer 266,
the library 262, or a combination; for example, it 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 by hardware modules, or a combination of hardware
and software modules. In the book ratings routine 1134, the
processor 621 uses a name/password module 1252 to display a name
and password screen for permitting a particular user to enter a
name or other identifier for a user and a corresponding password.
The password may include an alphanumeric string or any type of
information used to verify a user's identity. The particular user
has the ability to enter and change user access levels and book
ratings.
[0220] FIG. 27 illustrates a password screen 1270 for display on
the viewer 266 and having name and password sections 1272 and 1274,
respectively, for permitting the user to enter a name or other
identifier and a password. Using a receive module 1254, the
processor 621 receives the user's entered name or other identifier
and the user's corresponding password. The processor 621 then uses
a compare module 1256 to compare the user's entered password with
stored access information relating to rating of the stored
electronic books. The processor 622 uses a decision module 1258 to
determine if the user is permitted to enter book ratings by, for
example, determining if the user's name and password matches the
stored access information. If not, using a display module 1268, the
processor 621 displays an access denied message, as illustrated in
FIG. 24.
[0221] If the user is permitted access, the processor 621, using
display module 1260, displays a book ratings menu. FIG. 28
illustrates a book ratings screen 1280 for display on the viewer
266 that permits a user to enter ratings for stored electronic
books.
[0222] The book ratings screen 1280 displays book sections 1282,
1284 and 1286 that list electronic books 1-N. associated with each
of the book sections is one of a rating section 1288, 1290, and
1292. In addition, optional page restrictions sections 1294-1294''
may be used to restrict access to specific pages in an electronic
book.
[0223] Returning to FIG. 26, the processor 621 uses a receive
module 1262 to receive the user's entered rating information for
the stored electronic books and implements the rating information.
The viewer 266 or library unit 262 may store the rating information
in a database structure, such as a table, for later access and
retrieval. The rating information may relate to a content of a
corresponding electronic book by, for example, indicating
restriction of particular content, a particular type of content, a
particular portion of the content, or another type of restriction.
The processor 621 then uses a receive standard ratings module 1263
to optionally receive and implement standard ratings, the
implementation of which depends upon the particular standard; the
standard ratings may be entered by a user or may be predetermined
by, for example, a publisher or an operations center.
[0224] Using a decision module 1264 the processor 621 determines if
the user closes the book ratings screen 1280. If not, the book
ratings routine 1134 may continue to receive rating information. If
the user did close the book ratings screen 1280, a return module
1266 is used to return to the main menu and display the main menu
screen 1100. The phrase close a screen or close screen refers to
removing from display information displayed on a screen of the
viewer, and a user may close a screen by selecting an icon
displayed on the screen, for example, or by entering via a keyboard
or other device a particular command.
[0225] FIG. 29 is a flow chart of implement ratings module 1262,
including examples of various ways in which the user may restrict
access to the stored electronic books. In the implement ratings
module 1262, the processor 621 uses a receive module 1302 to
receive the user's identification of an electronic book to rate,
which may be accomplished by determining which section the user
selected in the book ratings screen 1280 or by determining in which
corresponding section a user entered a rating in screen 1280. Using
a display ratings module 1304, the processor 621 may display rating
options, if desired by a user, and rating options may be
implemented by using rating numbers or characters to determine the
type of rating. Alternatively, the processor 621 may present
another screen with rating options or present such options within
separate sections of the book ratings screen 1280. Next, the
processor 621 uses a receive module 1306 to receive and process the
user's requested type of rating. If the user requested restriction
of specific content, as determined using the specific content
module 1308, a receive content module 1310 is used to display a
text screen for displaying pages of an electronic book to a user
and for permitting a user to identify information to restrict. The
receive content module 1310 is also used to receive an
identification of content to restrict. A text screen, examples of
which are provided in FIGS. 30a-30f, is a screen displaying a page
of an electronic book, the page having information possibly
including text, graphics, images, video, or other information
capable of visual display. A receive rating module 1312 is used to
receive a rating for the restricted content, and a save module 1314
is used to save the entered rating in the header file for the
electronic book and restricts the identified content.
[0226] If the user requested restriction of specific pages, as
determined by the processor 621 using page restriction module 1316,
a receive module 1318 is used to receive identification of pages to
restrict, as entered in, for example, in section 1294 of the book
ratings screen 1280. A receive rating module 1320 is used to
receive a rating for the restricted pages, and a save module 1322
is used to save the rating in the header file for the electronic
book and restricts the identified pages.
[0227] If the user requested restriction of images, as determined
during execution of an images module 1324, a receive module 1326 is
used to receive a rating for the restricted images, and a save
module 1328 is used to save the rating in the header file for the
electronic book and restricts the images.
[0228] If the user requested restriction of the entire content of
an electronic book, as determined by the processor 621 using an
entire book module 1330, a receive module 1332 is used to receive a
rating for the restriction, and a save module 1334 is used to save
the entered rating in the header file for the electronic book.
[0229] Table 3 provides an example of rating options and particular
ratings, if the rating options are determined by characters or
numbers entered in the ratings sections 1288, 1290, and 1292, shown
in FIG. 28. In Table 3, a user would enter a number, for example,
as the particular ratings m, n, o, and p. Alternatively, default
ratings may be used, as determined for example of different
characters or symbols identifying rating options and as further
illustrated in Table 3. The viewer 266 may store the entered type
of ratings and particular ratings for each electronic book in the
header file for each electronic book or in a database table or
another type of structure in the instruction memory unit 632 or
within the instruction memory 732 to cross-reference the ratings
with the electronic books. Ratings may also be based upon standard
ratings such as those used in conjunction with the device known as
the v-chip, or any type of ratings pre-assigned to the electronic
books by, for example, a publisher.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 rating meaning C-m restrict by content,
rating m applied to restricted content P-n restrict pages entered
in section 1294, rating n applied to restricted pages I-o restrict
images, rating o applied to the images B-p restrict entire content
of the book, rating p applied to the book . . . C-d restrict by
content, default rating applied to restricted content P-d restrict
pages entered in section 1294, default rating applied to restricted
pages I-d restrict images, default rating applied to the images B-d
restrict entire content of the book, default rating applied to the
book
[0230] Returning to FIG. 29, upon completion of restricting access
to a particular electronic book, a decision process module 1336 is
used to determine if the user has selected another electronic book
to rate. If so, the implement ratings module 1262 returns to the
receive module 1302 for the processor 621 to perform the processes
for restricting and rating the next selected electronic book.
[0231] FIGS. 30a-30f are diagrams of screens for display on the
viewer 266 to illustrate in conjunction with implement ratings
module 1262 different ways in which a particular user may restrict
access to electronic books. FIG. 30a is a diagram of a page text
screen 1340, which the viewer 266 may display upon a user
requesting restriction of specific content. A restrict section 1341
permits a user to restrict selected content, and selection of page
turn sections 1343 and 1345 permit a user to page backward and
forward, respectively, in the displayed electronic book by
selecting the appropriate section. FIG. 30b is a diagram of page
text screen 1340 with selected text 1342 to be restricted. Upon a
user selecting restrict section 1341, the viewer 266 restricts
access to the selected text. FIG. 30c is a diagram of page text
screen 1340 with restricted text section 1344, illustrating removal
of the restricted text when viewed by a user who does not have an
access level permitting viewing of the restricted text.
[0232] FIG. 30d is a diagram of a page text and graphics screen
1346 illustrating an image 1348 within a displayed page of an
electronic book. A user may restrict the image by selecting the
image, as indicated in FIG. 30e illustrating image 1350 having a
different shaded background to indicate its selection. Upon
selecting restrict section 1341, the viewer 266 restricts access to
the image, and FIG. 30f illustrates removal of the image to display
a restricted portion 1352 when viewed by a user who does not have
an access level permitting viewing of the restricted image.
[0233] For restriction of particular content, as opposed to an
entire book, such as the restriction by specific content (module
1308), page (module 1316), or images (module 1324), in one
embodiment the viewer 266 restricts the particular content by
saving another version of the restricted electronic book with the
restricted portions deleted. Therefore, the viewer 266 may store
two versions of the same electronic book for restricting access. A
first version is the original version, such as that received from a
publisher, and includes all content. A second version has all
restricted content deleted, such as described with respect to FIGS.
30a-30d. The header file for each electronic book may use the
restricted version field to identify whether the corresponding book
is the first (unrestricted) or second (restricted) version, and the
restricted version field may also, if desired or necessary,
cross-reference the two versions.
[0234] FIG. 31 is a flow chart of an access levels routine 1138.
The access levels routine 1138 may be implemented within the viewer
266, the library 262, or a combination; for example, the access
levels routine 1138 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 by hardware modules, or a combination
of hardware and software modules. In the access levels routine
1138, a display name/password module 1362 is used to display the
password screen 1270 permitting a user to enter a name or other
identifier and a corresponding password. A receive module 1364 is
used to receive the user's entered name or other identifier and
entered password. An electronic book viewer, such as the viewer
266, may contain identification of a default user and password,
allowing for initial set-up of additional users and their
associated access levels by entering the default information using
the password screen 1270 and the receive module 1364. The default
user and password information may be pre-assigned and subsequently
provided to a particular user. A compare module 1366 is used to
compare the password with stored access information related to
assigning access levels to users. A decision module 1368 is used to
determine if the particular user is permitted to enter access
levels for other users, typically determined by whether the
password matches the stored access information. If not, a display
module 1370 is used to displays an access denied message, as
illustrated in the access denied screen 1230.
[0235] Otherwise, if the user is permitted access, a display module
1372 is used to display a user access levels/viewer mode screen.
FIG. 32 illustrates an access levels/viewer mode screen 1400 for
display on the viewer 266. The screen 1400 includes an access
levels section 1401 permitting the user to enter access levels for
other users. The screen 1400 includes name sections 1402, 1404, and
1406 identifying users and, if necessary, permitting entry of
information identifying a potential user. Corresponding access
levels sections 1408, 1410, and 1412 permit the user to enter
access levels for, respectively, users identified by sections 1402,
1404, and 1406. A viewer mode section 1403 permits the user to
enter a mode for the viewer 266. By selecting user access level
section 1414, the user may set the viewer 266 in a mode to restrict
access by both user access levels and book ratings. By selecting
viewer access level section 1416, the user may restrict access
based solely on the book ratings and may enter a particular level
in section 1418 to control the level of restriction.
[0236] Table 4 provides an example of electronic books that a user
may access based upon a particular viewer access level entered in
section 1418 while in the viewer mode. The viewer mode restricts
access to the stored electronic books based upon a rating for each
electronic book. A user may enter the parameters r, s, t, and u, or
they may be predetermined or established, for example, by a
publisher.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 viewer electronic books access level that
may be accessed 1 no electronic books 2 all electronic books 3 only
electronic books rated l-s . . . r only electronic books rated
t-u
[0237] Returning to FIG. 31, a receive identification module 1374
is used to receive identifications of users, if necessary, in
screen 1400. A receive access levels module 1376 is used to receive
access levels entered in, for example, access levels sections 1408,
1410, and 1412. An associate access levels module 1378 is used to
associate the entered access levels with the corresponding users
and saves such information in a database structure, such as shown
in Table 1, for later access and retrieval. A decision module 1380
is used to determine if a viewer mode has been entered in viewer
mode section 1403. If not, a default module 1382 is used to set a
default mode. A default mode may be predetermined and stored in the
viewer 266, or determined and entered by a user. Otherwise, a
decision module 1384 is used to determine if the user has entered a
viewer mode based upon access levels by selecting user access
levels section 1414. If not, a receive module 1386 is used to
receive a viewer access level in section 1418, and a save module
1390 is used to save the entered level. A save view mode module
1388 is used to save the viewer mode, in this example either a mode
based upon user access levels and book ratings (user access level
mode) or based solely upon book ratings (viewer access level mode),
or neither of those modes.
[0238] A decision module 1392 is used to determine if the user
closes screen 1400. If not, the routine 1138 may continue to
receive access levels and viewer modes. If the user does close
screen 1400, a return module 1394 is used to return to the main
menu to display main menu screen 1100.
[0239] FIG. 33 is a flow chart of page-based book view routine
1142. The page-based book view routine 1142 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination; for
example, it 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 by hardware modules, or a combination
of hardware and software modules. In the page-based book view
routine 1142, a display module 1422 is used to display an
electronic book. FIG. 34 illustrates a text screen 1425 for display
on the viewer 266 for the page-based book view routine 1142. The
text screen 1425 displays a page of an electronic book, and it
includes a next page section 1427 for selection by a user to select
the next page of the displayed electronic book.
[0240] A request module 1424 is used to receive a user's request
for a next page, such as by the user selecting next page section
1427. Alternatively, a user may be required to perform a predefined
action such as taking an interactive quiz, prior to being allowed
to move to the next page. A decision module 1426 is used to
determine if an end of the electronic book is displayed. If so, a
return module 1430 is used to return to the main menu to display
main menu screen 1100. If the end of the electronic book is not
displayed, a display module 1428 is used to display only the next
page of a particular order of pages of the electronic book. The
viewer 266 may store a particular order for the pages, such as a
sequential order, and therefore require that the user view the
pages in sequential order. Other orders of pages may similarly be
saved. In addition, the particular order may be changed by a user
to re-order the pages for a subsequent page-based book view, and
different stored electronic books may have different associated
page orders for viewing them in the page-based book view mode. The
particular order may be stored in the page-based book view field in
the header file for each electronic book, or it may be stored
elsewhere and referenced by information in the page-based book view
field.
[0241] FIG. 35 is a flow chart of content-based book view routine
1146. The content-based book view routine 1146 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination; for
example, it 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 by hardware modules, or a combination
of hardware and software modules. In content-based book view
routine 1146, a display module 1442 is used to display a page of an
electronic book having particular sections. FIG. 36 illustrates a
content restriction screen 1460 for display on the viewer 266 and
having sections 1462, 1464, 1466, 1468, 1470, and 1472. The
content-based book view routine 1196 restricts access to the
electronic book displayed in screen 1460 by displaying the next or
another page only when the user selects the sections in a
particular order, in this example, in numerical order. Other types
of restriction are possible for teaching or other purposes. For
example, an electronic book used for teaching mathematics could
include a page or pages with example problems of increasing
difficulty. Associated with each problem could be a model answer.
The user's access to the problems may be restricted, using the
routine 1146, such that the user is provided access to a subsequent
problem only after first successfully answering a prior
problem.
[0242] The viewer 266 may store a table or other database structure
cross-referencing each page of an electronic book with a selection
order for the sections on each page. The header file for each
electronic book may store that information in the content-based
book view field, or the content-based book view field may include a
reference to the information stored elsewhere. The viewer 266 can
retrieve that information in order to compare the user's selection
with the stored selection to determine whether to display the next
page. Table 5 provides an example of an order of selection for an
electronic book displayed on the content restrictions screen 1460
and possibly having other pages. As shown in Table 5, each page may
have its own particular selection order in which the displayed
sections must be selected to view the next page, and each page may
also instruct the user to select the displayed sections in a
particular order, for example, sequential, reverse sequential, only
the odd numbered sections, or only the even numbered sections. In
addition, the listing of the pages in the table may identify the
order in which the pages are to be displayed; alternatively, the
viewer 266 may permit the user to view any other page after
selecting the sections on a displayed page in the particular
order.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 pages election order for sections 1 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 2 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 3 1, 3, 5 4 2, 4, 6 . . . m m1, m2, . .
. mn
[0243] The processor 621 uses a receive process 1444 receives the
user's selection of the sections in the displayed page of the
electronic book. A decision module 1446 is used to determine if the
selection satisfies particular criteria relating to the restricted
access. If not, a message module 1448 may be used to display a
request for the user to reselect the portions. If the selection
does satisfy the criteria, a decision module 1450 is used to
determine if the end of the electronic book is displayed. If not, a
retrieve module 1452 may be used to retrieve the next page of the
particular order of pages and returns to display module 1442 to
display that page. The next displayed page may also have sections
that must be selected in a particular order to again advance to the
next page. If the end of the book is displayed, a return module
1454 may be used to return to the main menu to display screen
1100.
[0244] FIG. 37 is a flow chart of a time-based book view routine
1150. The time-based book view routine 1150 may be implemented
within the viewer 266, the library 262, or a combination; for
example, it 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 by hardware modules, or a combination
of hardware and software modules. This routine requires that the
user view each page of a displayed electronic book for a particular
time period before the viewer 266 will display the next page. In
the time-based book view routine 1150, a display module 1482 may be
used to display a page of an electronic book, for example, as shown
in text screen 1425. A request module 1484 may be used to receive a
requested next page from a user. In response, a decision module
1490 may be used to determine if the end of the book is displayed
and, if so, a return module 1492 may be used to return to the main
menu to display screen 1100.
[0245] If the end of the electronic book is not displayed, a
decision module 1488 is used to determine if a particular amount of
time has elapsed since displaying the current page. The viewer 266
or library unit 262 may include an internal timer, such as a timer
provided by the viewer processor 621 or the library processor 628,
triggered by a page selection in order to determine if the
particular amount of time has elapsed. The particular amount of
time may be predetermined or entered by a particular user, and it
may be stored in the time-based book view field of the header file
for the corresponding book or referenced by information in the
time-based book view field. In addition, each page may include the
same amount of particular time for viewing or varying amounts of
time.
[0246] Table 6 is an example of a table providing viewing times for
pages of a particular electronic book. Upon display of a particular
page by the viewer 266, it may retrieve the corresponding viewing
time for that page from the appropriate table or other database
structure and also trigger a timer, or obtain a time stamp or time
information from a running timer. The viewing time information may
be stored in the time-based book view field for the corresponding
electronic book, or it may be stored elsewhere and referenced by
information in the time-based book view field. In addition, the
listing of pages in the table may identify the order in which the
pages are displayed.
[0247] When another page is requested, the viewer 266 may obtain
another time stamp or time information from the timer and compare
it with the previous time stamp or time information to determine an
amount of elapsed time since the current page was first displayed.
If a sufficient amount of time has elapsed, a display module 1486
may be used to display the next page of a particular order of the
pages, such as a sequential order. Otherwise, if a sufficient
amount of time has not elapsed, routine 1150 continues displaying
the current page.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 page viewing time 1 2 minutes 2 1.75 minutes
3 1.5 minutes . . . m n minutes
[0248] The time-based book view routine 1150 may be incorporated
into the viewer software to control access to specific book
content. For example, if an electronic book includes a page bearing
an advertisement, the routine 1150 could prevent that page from
being turned until a sufficient time has elapsed to ensure the user
has at least had an opportunity to view the advertisement. In
another alternative use, the routine 1150 could be used in a school
text book to require pages to be turned at a rate set by a teacher,
or programmed into the electronic book. In these alternatives, a
warning may be provided that an allowed time for viewing has
elapsed, prior to a page being turned by the processor 621.
[0249] 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.
* * * * *