U.S. patent application number 16/218476 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 for consumer access systems and methods for providing same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lazaros Bountour. Invention is credited to Lazaros Bountour.
Application Number | 20190116399 16/218476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22613080 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20190116399/US20190116399A1-20190418-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190116399 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bountour; Lazaros |
April 18, 2019 |
CONSUMER ACCESS SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced consumer access to
information sources and controllable entities. An Access device can
be a stand alone device such as a DVD player in which the DVD disk
contains the back-end information network. Other Access devices
obtain the back-end information network from remote sources. By way
of a specific example, the consumer can then view a game and
interactively select every television camera located at the game
venue.
Inventors: |
Bountour; Lazaros; (Paonia,
CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bountour; Lazaros |
Paonia |
CO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
22613080 |
Appl. No.: |
16/218476 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15615165 |
Jun 6, 2017 |
|
|
|
16218476 |
|
|
|
|
15175323 |
Jun 7, 2016 |
9749695 |
|
|
15615165 |
|
|
|
|
14182483 |
Feb 18, 2014 |
9420342 |
|
|
15175323 |
|
|
|
|
13251272 |
Oct 2, 2011 |
8719872 |
|
|
14182483 |
|
|
|
|
11611689 |
Dec 15, 2006 |
8060908 |
|
|
13251272 |
|
|
|
|
09729904 |
Dec 4, 2000 |
|
|
|
11611689 |
|
|
|
|
60168822 |
Dec 3, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/25808 20130101;
H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N 21/441 20130101; H04N 21/47211
20130101; H04N 21/47205 20130101; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N 7/181
20130101; H04N 21/4438 20130101; H04N 21/2662 20130101; H04N 21/854
20130101; H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101; H04N 21/6125
20130101; H04N 21/4621 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/472 20060101
H04N021/472; H04N 21/2668 20060101 H04N021/2668; H04N 21/854
20060101 H04N021/854; H04N 21/443 20060101 H04N021/443; H04N 21/81
20060101 H04N021/81; H04N 21/441 20060101 H04N021/441; H04N 7/18
20060101 H04N007/18; H04N 21/258 20060101 H04N021/258; H04N 21/462
20060101 H04N021/462; H04N 21/2662 20060101 H04N021/2662; H04N
21/61 20060101 H04N021/61; H04N 21/2187 20060101 H04N021/2187 |
Claims
1: A method of defining a user front-end human interface for
allowing a user to access and control the presentation of assets
from asset providers using an access device, the method comprising:
the user interface being other than a dynamically loaded web page
and being defined by computer program code that is configured to be
partially or entirely located on at least one of: the access
device; or a network device; the user interface having a default
layout selected based on the access device used; the front-end
human interface allowing for the display and user interaction with
a plurality of windows including at least two types of windows
selected from the following three types: monitor windows for access
to assets at a first quality level; onscreen windows for access to
assets at a second quality level higher than the first quality
level; companion windows for providing video, audio, pictorial,
textural, informational or commercial asset offerings; the
front-end human interface including user controls to enable and
disable asset interaction or control
2: A user interface system in accordance with claim 1, and
configured to allow the user to transfer a digital asset from one
window type to another window type.
3: A user interface system in accordance with claim 1, and
configured to allow the user to transfer a digital asset from a
window type on an access device to a window type on another access
device.
4: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a cellular
telephone.
5: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a TV set
top box.
6: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a TV.
7: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a
monitor.
8: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a
computer.
9: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a game
console.
10: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is
portable.
11: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is an
entertainment device or system.
12: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is the
information system of a terrestrial or aerial transport
vehicle.
13: The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a
household appliance.
14. A user interface system in accordance with claim 1, and
configured to offer a full screen presentation of a window
type.
15. A user interface system in accordance with claim 1, distributed
to include some of the window type son a user access device and
other of the window types on another user access device.
16. A user interface system in accordance with claim 15, configured
to control a window type in one access device from a window type
equipped with user controls in another access device.
17. A user interface system in accordance with claim 1, and
configured to display a digital asset in at least one window type
on at least two devices.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a Continuation application of Ser. No.
15/615,165 filed Jun. 6, 2017, which is a Continuation application
of Ser. No. 15/175,323, filed Jun. 7, 2016, which is a Continuation
application of Ser. No. 14/182,483, filed Feb. 18, 2014, which is a
Continuation application of Ser. No. 13/251,272, filed Oct. 2,
2011, which is a Continuation application of Ser. No. 11/611,689,
filed Dec. 15, 2006, which is a Continuation application of Ser.
No. 09/729,904, filed Dec. 4, 2000, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/168,822 filed Dec. 3, 1999, and
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Various embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus and
methods for providing enhanced consumer access to information
sources and controllable entities. Further, various embodiments of
the invention relate to real-time asset, business logic and
consumer integration systems and more particularly to systems and
methods for providing very enhanced worldwide real-time
availability of consumer access to and handling of asset and
business logic offerings, independent of existing or future asset
types, access device types and infrastructures in use.
SUMMARY
[0003] Typically entertainment Offerings to Consumers are
restricted in such important aspects as availability,
personalization and interactivity, rendering the Offerings limited
in their attractiveness and effectiveness as far as the main
intention of the Offering Provider is concerned, that of creating
Consumer business, return on investment and maximizing the Assets'
profitability. For example a typical professional football,
baseball, hockey or similar sports event is played in a large
stadium having a plurality of television cameras following the game
from different positions. At the broadcast studio, a television
director determines which camera signal is actually broadcast. As a
result, the Consumer watching the game on his or her television set
sees only the image of the camera selected by the television
director for broadcasting over the television network. In addition,
the Consumer can access the program only if he or she is in a
location covered by this broadcasting television network, and only
if he or she is using a compatible Access Device such as a
television set, which is integrated in the appropriate Access
Device Infrastructure, i.e. hooked up to a correctly installed
Set-top Box with the respective channel enabled.
[0004] In various embodiments of this invention, however, the Asset
Provider is able to provide the Consumer with personalized, fully
accessible and unrestricted interactive Asset Offerings,
independent of the existing or future type or location of the
Asset, the type or location of the Access Device and the various
infrastructures in use. The television signals from installed video
cameras are transmitted simultaneously over the internet as well as
the standard terrestrial, cable and satellite television network.
The Consumer can view this same game on his home television set, on
an internet connected personal computer (PC) or a cellular phone
anywhere in the world. On the used Access Device's screen he views
the outputs of all of these cameras on a plurality of small Monitor
Windows and one larger OnScreen Window. Whichever of the cameras is
shown on the larger OnScreen Window is entirely at the discretion
and interactive selection of the Consumer. As a result, each
Consumer becomes in effect his or her own director creating an
extraordinarily enhanced ability to view an athletic game. In
various embodiments the Consumer Access System identifies the
Consumer himself, regardless of the Access Device in use, and
personalizes all services automatically. Therefore all channels and
services that are enabled by the Asset Provider for access by the
identified Consumer are available everywhere on any Access Device.
A detailed Consumer profile can be created, so that Asset Offerings
such as Sport events, product offers or advertisements are targeted
on the Consumer's very personal interests and any purchases can be
directly executed.
[0005] As the Consumer Access System is able to handle any Asset
type anywhere, it also can span over different Enterprises,
combining different Asset Offerings and handling all inherent
business logics. In the example the Consumer would receive a
product advertisement along with the broadcast of the game, exactly
matching his personal interests. With few simple steps the Consumer
buys the product, while the generated revenue is automatically
shared between many entities such as the Provider of the game, the
Provider of the advertisement, the Provider of the product and the
Provider of the store.
[0006] Similarly, consider a musical, operatic or stage
presentation. As broadcast today, the television Consumer observes
the video output of the camera selected by the television Provider
although such televised cultural events are normally televised in
venues having a plurality of cameras trained on the stage from
different viewing angles and viewing perspective, e.g., wide angle,
normal, or telephoto shots. Typically Pay-per-view set-ups do not
allow any access what-so-ever for undecided Consumers to view the
Pay-per-View Offering, keeping a majority away from attending,
rendering these Consumers unavailable for further product Offerings
and reducing the possible Pay-per-view revenues. Various
embodiments of the present invention enable the Consumer on the
Access Device of his choice from all over the world to
simultaneously see the outputs of all of these video cameras, again
providing an outstanding improved viewing access to a cultural
event. As the Asset Provider is in full control of his Offerings,
he can further improve the revenues of this event by giving free
access to some of the more distant cameras and Pay-per-view access
at lower fees for "first-row-class" cameras giving the Consumer
more choices at lower prices. The overall audience increases,
revenues from Pay-per-view are maximized and consequently the
success of the personalized product Offerings reaches new
dimensions.
[0007] Various embodiments enable the integration of any types of
existing and future Assets, Access Devices and infrastructures in
use. They empower the Asset Owner to streamline his processes, to
create improved and new services and Offerings, to partner up with
other Asset Owners and Providers, while facilitating all Assets,
already installed Legacy Systems, Access Devices and
infrastructures. The example above works in parallel with the
conventional television broadcast equipment, and typically requires
no additional cameras. Rather the system uses a parallel feed from
each of the already installed cameras. The use and function of
television broadcast cameras and Broadcast or Delivery
infrastructure are in no way compromised or degraded--the installed
cameras broadcast signals over their usual links without any change
while a parallel feed from each camera is typically connected via a
direct or conventional local area network as part of the system of
various embodiments of this invention. Also the described
Electronic Commerce works on top of the installed Legacy Systems,
spanning multiple Enterprises and accessing the existing
applications in order to initiate authentications, shipments,
invoices, inventory and production updates, all the way through the
supply chain and back to the customer relationship management
applications.
[0008] Various embodiments provide an interactive Front-end Human
Interface (FHI). In some embodiments, software for this User
Interface can be located either or entirely (1) on the Consumer's
Access Device or (2) on the Back-end Information Network of the
system and is dynamically (1) updated or (2) loaded into the
Consumer's Access Device anytime the Consumer opens his or her
Access Device to the Start Site of the Asset Provider's Offerings
empowered by various embodiments of this invention. In various
embodiments, the Back-end Information Network is Access Device
Adaptable, supporting any kind of connected Access Device without
any restrictions as of i.e. hardware platforms or operating
systems, and dynamically assembles the Front-end Human Interface to
the Consumers preferences and the specifications of the Access
Device in use, including the dynamic Localization of the interface
itself. For example, a Japanese Consumer using his cellular phone
is automatically provided with the Front-end Human Interface
optimized for the Screen size of his cellular phone in the Japanese
localized version of the interface, while an Egyptian Consumer
connecting with a television set (TV) to the same Asset Offering
receives a Front-end Human Interface for the bigger TV screen size
in the Egyptian localized version--even though the Asset Provider
designed only one interface and provided it only in the British
localized version. The Front-end Human Interface can also span
across multiple Access Devices, creating for the Consumer one
single Virtual Access Environment. The Consumer can freely layout
the Front-end Human Interface across all Screens of the assimilated
Access Devices--a Consumer watching a football game, chooses a
camera angle on his Pocket PC and directs the video output to be
displayed in full screen on his television set (TV). Being
attracted by a product sales Offering displayed on the TV and
simultaneously provided with a corresponding prompt on his Pocket
PC, he responds to it on his Pocket PC, automatically directing his
Personal Computers' Front-end Human Interface to the online store
and purchasing the product on his Personal Computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A illustrates the video display provided to the Access
Device such as a Personal Computer;
[0010] FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D illustrate the automatic Localization
functionality of various embodiments of the invention, with
examples for British, Egyptian and Japanese Localizations;
[0011] FIGS. 1E and 1F illustrate the customizability of the
Front-end Human Interface's Screen Layout depicting several
arrangements,
[0012] FIGS. 1G, 1H and 1J illustrate the capability of various
embodiments of the invention to allow simultaneously access to
various Asset types,
[0013] FIGS. 1H and 1J also show the use of the Front-end Human
Interface to display any combination of its Window types (2
OnScreen+6 Monitors, 1 OnScreen+5 Monitors+1 Companion, . . . )
[0014] FIGS. 1K, 1L, 1M, and 1N illustrate the capability of
various embodiments of the invention to allow to support various
Access Device types, depicting Screen Layouts for Palm Pilot IIIc,
Pocket PC, Ericsson R380 and Nokia 9210 Communicator cellular
phones,
[0015] FIGS. 1P, 1R and 1S illustrate the unique Virtual Access
Environment capability of various embodiments of the invention,
whereas the Front-end Human Interface can simultaneously span over
multiple Access Devices, allowing the Consumer to easily control
and combine the functionalities of the different Access Device
types;
[0016] FIG. 1P shows the set up for choosing on a cellular phone
the camera angles displayed on a Television set, while
simultaneously programming a Video Cassette Recorder from the
Television set and receiving detailed Coca Cola product information
on the cellular phone along with the respective advertisement on
the Television set,
[0017] FIG. 1R shows the set up for choosing on a Palm Pilot the
camera angles displayed on a Personal Computer, while
simultaneously accessing a Video Cassette Recorder from the
Personal Computer,
[0018] FIG. 1S shows the set up for choosing on a Pocket PC the
camera angles displayed on a Personal Computer as well as on the
Pocket PC, while simultaneously accessing a Video Cassette Recorder
from the Personal Computer;
[0019] FIG. 2A shows an overview block diagram of a typical
Consumer Access Systems,
[0020] FIG. 2B is a simplified schematic diagram that shows an
Access Asset System for Video Broadcasting over the Internet in
accordance with various embodiments,
[0021] FIG. 2C gives an abstract overview of Asset and Access
Device types handled by the Back-end Information Network,
[0022] FIG. 2D illustrates the general overview of Our World Live's
Consumer Access System depicting the cooperation of the relevant
parts,
[0023] FIG. 2E shows a schematic illustration of the structure of
the Front-end Human Interface,
[0024] FIG. 2F illustrates the general overview of the Virtual
Access Environment feature of Our World Live's Consumer Access
System,
[0025] FIG. 2G shows a schematic illustration of the structure of
the Asset Access Interface;
[0026] FIG. 3A shows an abstracted illustration of an Asset
Infrastructure;
[0027] FIG. 3B is a more detailed schematic diagram shown this
manner in which the Asset Infrastructure encodes the video signals
for several different internet delivery channels in various
embodiments;
[0028] FIG. 3C is a more detailed schematic diagram shown this
manner in which the Asset Infrastructure encodes a MS PowerPoint
Presentation for several different Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructures and Asset types in various embodiments;
[0029] FIG. 4A shows an abstracted illustration of a Broadcasting
or Delivery Infrastructure providing streaming services such as a
Streaming Server Phalanx;
[0030] FIG. 4B illustrates a more detailed schematic diagram of a
Streaming Server Phalanx, in which a plurality of streaming servers
provide multiple camera video broadcasting to the World Wide
Internet;
[0031] FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating providing a Consumer
access to a variety of available Asset Offerings from Asset
Providers around the world;
[0032] FIG. 6A illustrates the manner in which the combined Asset
Offerings of several Asset Providers is presented in an easy to
understand and easy to use way;
[0033] FIG. 7A illustrates providing the Consumer with the ability
to stay tuned to the Asset Offerings of multiple Asset Providers at
the very same moment, without losing track of any of them;
[0034] FIG. 8B illustrates enabling the Front-end Human Interface
to simultaneously access multiple Asset Offerings while optimally
using the available bandwidth of the Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructures in use for transmitting the data;
[0035] FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram giving an overview of Access
Device Deployment functionality in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention,
[0036] FIG. 9B illustrates how the Front-end Human Interface
located on the Back-end Information Network is dynamically loaded
into the Consumer's Access Device any time the Consumer opens
it;
[0037] FIG. 9C illustrates the deployment of an Access Device, in
which parts of the User Interface software reside permanently on
the Access Device and are dynamically updated any time the Consumer
opens it;
[0038] FIG. 9D illustrates how a DVD/CDROM built-in the Access
Device, becomes automatically available for navigation and control
through the Front-end Human Interface,
[0039] FIG. 9E illustrates the capability of dynamically balancing
the load between the Back-end Information Network and the Access
Device, shows the process of the Dynamic Load-balancing capability
between the Back-end;
[0040] FIG. 9F illustrates the deployment of a disconnected Access
Device, in accordance with various embodiments, in which all needed
parts are embedded on the same DVD/CD medium also containing the
Asset Offerings, rendering the Access Device into a fully
functional Consumer Access System any time the Consumer opens
it,
[0041] FIG. 9G is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary set up
of a standalone Consumer Access System such as a Home and
Entertainment Control system,
[0042] FIG. 10A is an abstract schematic diagram of a typical
Access Device,
[0043] FIG. 10B is an example for Access Device: Information System
Devices;
[0044] FIGS. 10C and 10D are examples for Access Devices of the
type: Home Entertainment Device,
[0045] FIG. 10E is an example for Access Device of the type: Home
Appliances,
[0046] FIG. 10F is an example for Access Device of the type:
Communication System Device,
[0047] FIG. 10G is an example for Access Device of the type: Audio
Entertainment Device,
[0048] FIG. 10H is an example for Access Device of the type: Audio
and Video Entertainment Device,
[0049] FIG. 11A is a schematic drawing of an overview of the
Back-end Information Network Infrastructure,
[0050] FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of a single Server system
for deploying the Back-end Information Network,
[0051] FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram of a Back-end Information
Network Infrastructure consisting of multiple server systems,
[0052] FIG. 12A illustrates OWL's fully interactive, live updated
Front-end Human Interface (FHI) provided by various embodiments of
the invention,
[0053] FIG. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F, 13G, 13H, 13I, 13K and
13L depict system flow diagrams that illustrate the functionality
of the Front-end Human Interface shown in FIG. 12A,
[0054] FIG. 14A shows an abstract illustration of Electronic
Commerce,
[0055] FIG. 14B illustrates how one embodiment of the invention
delivers advertisements Offerings to the Consumer separate but
along with the chosen channels, forwarding a Consumers purchase
request to an external Product Provider, which is taking over and
finalizing the sale outside the Consumer Access System,
[0056] FIG. 14C illustrates an embodiment of the invention handling
transactions of the Electronic Commerce,
[0057] FIG. 14D shows the dynamics the Back-end Information Network
handles in its Dynamic Advertisement Module,
[0058] FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating dependencies of the
Front-end Human Interface,
[0059] FIG. 16A is a block diagram illustrating the multiple
displays capability of various embodiments of the invention,
[0060] FIG. 16B depicts the assimilation of multiple access devices
into the Virtual Access Environment,
[0061] FIG. 17A illustrates the FHI's ability to handle multiple
Asset Offerings, from all around the world,
[0062] FIG. 18A is an illustration of the default windows provided
by the FHI's at the Consumer's Access Device such as a Personal
Computer;
[0063] FIG. 19A illustrates the Companion Window of FIG. 18A;
[0064] FIG. 20A illustrates the Monitor Window of the FHI;
[0065] FIG. 21A illustrates the OnScreen Window feature of the FHI;
and
[0066] FIG. 22A illustrates an expanded view of several Windows
depicting the fact, that the number of Windows is only limited by
the capabilities of the Consumer's Access Device, here the Display
attached to his Personal Computer.
TABLE-US-00001 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS Our World Live's
Technology in accordance with various embodiments of this Consumer
Access invention for providing very enhanced worldwide real-time
System (CAS) availability of Consumer access to and handling of
Asset and business logic Offerings, encompassing all existing and
future kinds of asset types, access device types and
infrastructures in use. Consumer Private or Enterprise end-user of
the services offered through an installed Consumer Access System
Asset Provider Deploys Our World Live's Consumer Access System in
order to provide real-time integration of assets, services and
consumers Asset In various embodiments, a variety of Assets can be
integrated and handled: Categories of possible Assets can be
categorized as but are not restricted to: Cat. A. Video and/or
Audio assets, live, recorded or stored such as Video Conferences,
TV Channels or Programs, Advertisements or Product Offerings,
Events or Performances or Reports or Shows, Art or Musical or
Operatic or Stage Presentations Cat. B. Graphics, live, recorded or
stored such as 2D and 3D objects, 2D and 3D wireframes, 2D and 3D
vector based objects, 2D and 3D graphs, 2D and 3D live rendered
Cat. C. Script, live, recorded or stored such as Forms/ Tables,
Text, Chat, (e)mail, Advertisement, Stock Quotes, Presentations
Cat. D. Functionality, live, recorded or stored such as Data Access
& Control, Transactions, Purchase, Navigation, Software
Applications, Business Legacy Systems (such as from SAP,
PeopleSoft, etc . . . ) Cat. E. Remote Device Access & Control,
any Access Device can become an Asset to be remotely accessed and
controlled; online (the Asset is connected and is directly
accessed) or offline (the Asset is not connected). If the Asset is
offline, the Consumer accesses a virtual copy of it creating cached
information, which is automatically (with no further Consumer
interaction required) executed once the Asset is online again. Cat.
F. Local Device Access & Control; When deployed on an Access
Device, the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) software program can
also enable functionalities of the resident Access Device and in
this respect it can in fact make the interface or Operating System
of the Access Device redundant. For example a Consumer can use the
installed FHI to access and view a DVD video on his Personal
Computer (PC), whether the DVD player is built-in or attached to
his PC. The Front-end Human Interface software program installed on
the PC enables the Consumer to override the Operating System and
access all the DVD functionalities through the FHI. Asset Offer,
Asset One or more Assets integrated by the Asset Provider in Our
Offering World Live's Consumer Access System and becoming available
for the Asset related functionalities of the system. Offering See
Asset Offer, Asset Offering Asset Infrastructure The infrastructure
that a given Asset is embedded in plus the infrastructure that
connects the Asset to the infrastructure that the Back-end
Information Network (BIN) is residing on. For example in case of a
digitized movie clip, the Asset Infrastructure encompasses the
server it is residing on plus the server's Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructure that is providing the connection to the BIN's
infrastructure. Access Device In various embodiments, the User
Interface can be deployed on any kind of connected device
(stationary or mobile), including wired as well as wirelessly
connected devices, without any dependency on a specific device
hardware platform or operating system. Categories of possible
Access Device can be categorized as but are not restricted to: Cat.
A. Information System Devices, such as Personal Computers,
Mainframe Computers, Workstations, Industrial Information Devices,
Vending Machines, Information Terminals, Network/Internet
Appliances Cat. B. Portable Information System Devices such as
Notebooks, Industrial Information Devices, Car/Boat/ Flight
Navigation & Information Systems, Personal/Pocket Navigation
& Information Systems, Network/Internet Appliances Cat. C.
Handheld Information System Devices such as Pocket PCs, eBooks,
Game-Boys, Industrial Information Devices (i.e. UPS using Wireless
Data Devices), Personal Digital Assistants, Network/Internet
Appliances Cat. D. Home & Entertainment Devices such as Game
Consoles, Set-Top Boxes, Television Sets, Video Cassette Recorders,
DVD Players, Video Cameras, Car Entertainment Centers,
Network/Internet Entertainment Appliances Cat. E. Home Appliances
such as Microwaves, Stoves, Refrigerators, Ovens, Dishwashers,
Coffee machines, Air Conditioning and Heating Systems, Car Heating
Systems, Sprinklers, Pools, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Blinds, Lights, Alarm
and Security Systems, Home Control Devices, Network/Internet Home
Appliances Cat. F. Communication System Devices such as
Wireless/Cellular Phones, Radio Phones, Smart Phones, Landline
Phones and Systems Cat. G. Audio Entertainment Devices such as MP3
Players, Home/Car/Boat/Flight Stereo Systems, CD Players Access
Device When the Access Device connects to the Consumer Access
Adaptable System, the system automatically identifies the specific
device type, assembles dynamically the User Interface software
program optimized to the technical specifications of the Access
Device and deploys it into the device Access Device The
infrastructure that a given Access Device is embedded
Infrastructure in plus the infrastructure that connects the Access
Device to the infrastructure that the Back-end Information Network
(BIN) is residing on. For example in case of a Cellular Phone, the
Access Device Infrastructure encompasses the cellular network it is
connected to plus the network's Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructure providing the connection to the BIN's
infrastructure. Back-end Information The Back-end Information
Network (BIN) comprises Network (BIN) software modules and
applications to provide the functionalities of various embodiments
of Our World Live's Consumer Access System. Back-end Information
The Infrastructure that the Back-end Information Network Network
Infrastructure (BIN) is residing on. The BIN is typically
distributed over one or more clusters of servers, but can also be
deployed on a single server system. The server operating systems
can be, but are not restricted to, UNIX, LINUX, JAVA, Microsoft
Windows NT or Apple Mac OS X Server. Alternatively it can even be
embedded (1) in a single Access Device such as a DVD jukebox
allowing the Consumer to control the device and use all
functionalities as provided through the Front-end Human Interface
or (2) in a part of an Asset Infrastructure itself such as on a
Video DVD, rendering any DVD Access Device such as a DVD player,
Game-Console or Personal Computer, into a complete standalone
Consumer Access System, allowing the Consumer to access and display
the contained entertainment Offerings through the Front-end Human
Interface with all BIN functionalities, such as online
advertisement enabled. Broadcasting or Delivery Any kind of
existing or future broadcasting or delivery Infrastructure
technology in use for the transmission of data that can be
categorized as but is not restricted to Cat. A. Internet networks,
such as the Word Wide Web and TCP/IP based networks, both wired and
wireless. Cat. B. Communication and telecommunication networks,
such as Satellite, Cable and Radio based networks. Cat. C. Network
services, such as RTP or RTSP streaming or as provided by internet
service providers such as Akamai and iBeam. Cat. D. Internal
data-buses, such as system buses in Personal Computers enabling the
internal data transfers. Cat. E. Asset Infrastructures Cat. F.
Access Device Infrastructures Cat. G. Back-end Information Network
Infrastructures BootLink The Consumer activating the simple
BootLink software starts the Access Device deployment process in
order to gain access to the Our World Live's Consumer Access System
and is typically specific to the infrastructures it is installed
on, such as an URL for allowing the Consumer to enter the Consumer
Access System over the World Wide Web. Front-end Human The User
Interface (UI) to Our World Live's Consumer Interface (FHI) Access
System technology enables Asset Providers to provide and control
their Asset Offerings and the Consumer to access them. In various
embodiments of the invention, software is object oriented and
dynamically assembled to support the specifications of various
Access Device and Asset Offerings. In various embodiments, the
Front-end Human Interface is automatically deployed both as a
graphical user interface as well as a user interface without
graphics, based on settings of, for example, the Access Device
capabilities or the Consumer preferences. Asset Access Interface
Enables Asset Provider to connect their Assets to the Consumer
Access System. Object Storage Stores Front-end Human Interface
Cores (FHIC), Asset Device Functionality Objects, Asset
Functionality Objects and Back-end Information Network
Functionality Objects of the Front-end Human Interface (FHI).
Front-end Human Comprises common interface software objects,
becomes Interface Core (FHIC) dynamically part of a given Front-end
Human Interface and is used for the deployment of a fully
functional Front-end Human Interface. It can also advantageously
include part of or all of the software specific to a single Access
Device hardware, platform or operating system. Back-end Information
Software object, residing in the Object Storage, becomes Network
Functionality dynamically part of a given Front-end Human Interface
and Object enables Back-end Information Network functionalities
Asset Functionality Software object, residing in the Object
Storage, becomes Object dynamically part of a given Front-end Human
Interface and enables Asset Device specific functionalities to the
Back-end Information Network such as control functions of a
specific Video Cassette Recorder. Access Device Software object,
residing in the Object Storage, becomes Functionality Objects
dynamically part of a given Front-end Human Interface and enables
specific functionalities of a given Access Device to the Back-end
Information Network and therefore making those functionalities
accessible using the Front-end Human Interface, deployed on this
Access Device. User Interface The Front-end Human Interface
software program is the User Interface to Our World Live's Consumer
Access System technology, and is deployed both as a graphical user
interface as well as User Interface without graphics. OWLed Asset
An OWLed Asset is the Offering of a single Asset such as a single
event, for example the transmissions from a football game, using
Our World Live's Consumer Access System technologies. In contrast
to a typical television broadcast, where the Consumer only can see
one picture, which is live mixed out of the available cameras, an
OWLed Asset transmits the output of all available cameras in the
station to the Consumer. Window The basic component of the
Front-end Human Interface being displayed on the Consumer's Access
Devices' Screen, enabling the Consumer to interact with the
Consumer Access System. Companion Window Window-type of the
Front-end Human Interface software application. The main Window for
navigation and control of one or more Asset Offerings of one or
more Asset Providers, such as displaying a map of a single OWLed
football event showing all available camera angles for navigation
and control. OnScreen Window Window-type of the Front-end Human
Interface software application. The main Window for accessing a
single OWLed Asset in the Highest available Detail, such as
displaying video in highest available resolution and quality. High
Detail (HD) The highest level of detail that Asset Offerings are
provided in, typically displayed in OnScreen Windows, such as
videos displayed in the highest available resolution. Low Detail
(LD) A low level of detail that Asset Offerings are provided in,
typically displayed in Monitor Windows, such as videos displayed in
low resolution. Monitor Window Window-type of the Front-end Human
Interface software application. Multiple Monitor Windows for
displaying several Assets with less detailed information, such as
multiple videos in low resolution. Display The part of a given
Access Device hardware dedicated to display information. For
displaying its information the Front-end Human Interface is able to
use an unlimited number of Displays connected to the Access Device
on which it is executed.
Screen The area on a given Display, effectively available for
displaying information. Screen Layout The tools Invisible Grid,
Window Margins, Magnetic Alignment Tool Borders and Auto Align are
functionalities of the Front-end Human Interface and support the
Consumer in arranging the Windows and "cleaning up" his or her
Screen. The tools not only work on one Screen but across all
Screens connected to a single Access Device and also across all
Access Devices, which are part of one Virtual Access Environment.
Invisible Grid A functionality of the Front-end Human Interface and
part of the Screen layout Alignment Tool. Once activated by the
Consumer all windows snap into place relative to the grid, as soon
as they are dragged. Window Margins A functionality of the
Front-end Human Interface and part of the Screen Layout Alignment
Tool. Once activated by the Consumer all windows snap into places
with selected margins to each other, as soon as they are dragged.
Magnetic Borders A functionality of the Front-end Human Interface
and part of the Screen Layout Alignment Tool. Once activated by the
Consumer all windows snap into place relative to each other, as
soon as they are dragged. Auto Align A functionality of the
Front-end Human Interface and part of the Screen Layout alignment
Tool. Once activated by the Consumer all windows are resized and/or
moved according to the Consumer's preferences. Legacy System All
information resources currently existing in an Enterprise such as
mainframe and personal computers, information terminals, networks,
databases, operating systems, application programs and all other
forms of hardware and software that an Enterprise uses to perform
its operations. Enterprise A private or public entity such as a
government, corporation, religious entity, home or individual that
can enable access to its Assets through OWL's Consumer Access
System, Virtual Access The Front-end Human Interface can span
across multiple Environment (VAE) Access Devices, creating for the
Consumer one single Virtual Access Environment in which the
Consumer can freely layout the parts of the Front-end Human
Interface across all Screens of the assimilated Access Devices.
Real-time Display All information displayed to the Consumer through
the Front-end Human Interface is dynamically provided by the
Back-end Information Network (BIN). The actions needed to update
all information are automatically executed by the BIN, whenever
possible prior to a Consumer's request. Consumer actions in the FHI
are executed by the BIN, which provides immediate input response to
the Consumer, concurrent updates of the action's progress and
finally the result. Asset Availability The Back-end Information
Network (BIN) dynamically Information generates, updates and
provides the Consumer in real-time with instant information
regarding a specific Asset being available to the Consumer or not.
The BIN is able to handle a variety of rules and definitions that
can cause an Asset to be available or become unavailable to the
Consumer which can be categorized as but are not restricted to:
Cat. A. Asset is available for Access Cat. B. Asset is generally
not available for Access, because (1) the Asset is switched off or
offline, not active or connected, (2) the Asset is deactivated in
the BIN, as no active service is provided, (3) one of the
Infrastructures in use does not support access to the Asset Cat. C.
Asset is specifically not available to the requesting Consumer,
because (1) one of the Infrastructures in use has exceeded its
limitations and can temporarily not support the Consumer's request,
i.e. the maximum number of streaming server licenses is exceeded,
(2) the Asset Provider does not deploy the needed Asset Type
support for the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) specific to the
Access Device in use, (3) the requested Asset and the Consumer's
Access Device in use are not compatible, for example the Consumer's
device is only capable of audio and the requested Asset provides
video only, (4) the Asset is blocked to the requesting Consumer in
the BIN and requires further Consumer action, for example
Pay-per-view, deactivate Parental Guidance, set preferences to
allow automatic connection, authenticate Consumer, (5) the Asset is
blocked to the requesting Consumer in the BIN because of
restrictions such as region codes, copyrights, export restrictions,
legal or political reasons . Asset Status Information The Back-end
Information Network (BIN) dynamically generates, updates and
provides the Consumer in real-time with instant information
detailing a specific Asset's availability. The provided Status
Information can be categorized as but is not restricted to: Cat. A.
Available Asset options related to the Consumer's current Access
Device in use, such as available video resolution qualities and
accessible video Broadcasting or Delivery infrastructures. Cat. B.
Available Asset options related to all Access Devices of the
specific Consumer, which are known to the BIN and are (1) currently
active part of the Consumer's current Virtual Access Environment,
(2) currently active as Assets or (3) currently inactive/not
available to the BIN Cat. C. Available Asset options for the
currently active Consumer Authentication, such as Parental Guidance
or Pay-per-view Cat. D. Next scheduled availability Cat. E. Next
expected availability, for example based on statistical
calculations on the current Infrastructure load, the Consumer can
schedule an automatic connection once the Asset becomes available
again. Cat. F. Unavailability details as determined for determining
the Availability Information Asset Profiling The Back-end
Information Network (BIN) dynamically Information generates,
updates and provides the Consumer in real-time with instant
information detailing a specific Asset's profile in order to help
the Consumer decide which Asset to choose. The supported Profiling
Information can be based on but is not restricted to real-time
calculations of current and historic Asset access statistics, such
as Consumers with similar characteristics to those of the accessing
Consumer (1) set in the preferences of the Front-end Human
Interface (FHI) or (2) derived from usage profiles collected by the
Consumer Tracking. In an example the Consumer is about to choose
between 700 different broadcast TV channels. Based on his
characteristic preference for Science Fiction the FHI highlights
those channels, which are viewed by other Consumers with similar
characteristics. The BIN sums up the total number of current
Consumers matching the Consumer's characteristics and calculates
their split among the watched TV channels. The FHI provides this
number and percentage information along with the TV channels. In
addition the FHI allows to sort the TV channels by the provided
Profiling Information, enabling a meaningful ranking. Dynamic
Front-end All objects of the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) can be
Human Interface changed in the Back-end Information Network (BIN)
by the Program Update Asset Provider at any time becoming instantly
available and can be dynamically updated to all FHIs in use.
Dynamic FHI Content All contents to be displayed by the Front-end
Human Update Interface (FHI) can be changed in the Back-end
Information Network (BIN) by the Asset Provider at any time
becoming instantly available and can be dynamically updated to all
FHIs in use. Codec, Data Codec Technologies for electronically
coding and decoding data. Within Our World Live's Consumer Access
System. The supported Codecs can be categorized as but are not
restricted to Cat. A. Audio/Video Codecs, such as Real Networks
Audio and Video Codecs, Microsoft Media Technologies, Apple
QuickTime, Digital Video, IEEE 1394, MPEG and MP3 Cat. B. Data,
Graphics & Text Codecs, such as PICT, CCITT, BMP, PDF, EPS,
RDF, XML, SMIL, HTML, CSS, DOM Cat. C. Encryption Codecs, such as
RSA, DES, Triple DES, CAST, IDEA and SSL Electronic Commerce
Electronically enabled business transactions and processes.
Commerce Integration Our World Live's Consumer Access System
enabling one or more Legacy Systems of one or more Enterprises to
automatically and interactively participate in automated and
collaborative Electronic Commerce processes. Turning the
Enterprises' Legacy Systems into OWL'ed Assets enables combined and
shared Asset Offerings of one or more Enterprises such as automatic
and secure billing, invoicing, production planning, inventory
forecasting, money transfers and revenue splitting. Access Device
Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing of all Access Device
transactions, such as usage, performance and Consumer interactions,
that help build and maintain a dynamic Access Device specific
profile. Asset Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing of all
Asset transactions, such as usage, performance and Consumer
interactions, that help build and maintain a dynamic Asset specific
profile. Consumer Tracking Automatic monitoring and cataloguing of
all Consumer transactions, such as accessing Assets, using Access
Devices and Interactions, that help build and maintain a dynamic
Consumer specific profile. Performance The Back-end Information
Network continuously measures Surveillance the performance
throughout the whole Consumer Access System and continuously
surveys the overall end-to-end performance of all active
connections (Access Device performance - Access Device
Infrastructure performance-- BIN performance - Asset Infrastructure
performance--Asset performance). Dynamic Load- The Back-end
Information Network (BIN) performs its balancing functions in truly
parallel processes and thus is a fully multitasked environment.
When using more than one server system or processor, in various
embodiments, the BIN automatically balances its load by spreading
its tasks throughout to the available computing resources. As an
example, if the load is increased due to high demand on the Assets,
to the point where the available resources reach their limits, by a
simple addition of more server systems and their introduction to
the system, the BIN automatically extends its processes and
balances the overall load. Adjusting to the needs and capabilities
of the currently used Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure and
the Consumers Access Device, in various embodiments the BIN also
load- balances the tasks and functionalities requested by the
Consumer. Based on end-to-end performance measuring the BIN
dynamically balances the load between Access Device and its server
systems. For example in case of a limiting Broadcasting or Delivery
Infrastructure and or an Access Device with limited computing
power, the BIN executes more functionality itself and
advantageously delivers only the results to the Access Device of
the Consumer. If the Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure is
highly capable and the Access Device provides higher computing
resources than available to the BIN, the BIN transmits more
functionality to the Access Device, where execution performance is
now higher. Localization, Automatic Various embodiments of this
invention provide the User Interface automatic Localization of the
Front-end Human Interface Localization based on User Interface and
Country Conventions. The Asset Provider need only design one
interface in one Localization and Our World Live's Consumer Access
System automatically provides all other Localizations. User
Interface The rules and definitions for Localizations within Our
World Conventions Live's Consumer Access System describing and
containing the Script Behavior, Interface Layout and Interface
Behavior for one or more countries, languages or cultures. Script
Behavior The rules and definitions for Localization within Our
World Live's Consumer Access System describing and containing the
behavior of a localized script can be categorized as but are not
restricted to Cat. A. Roman, text written from left to right Cat.
B. Arabic, text written right to left Cat. B. Asian, text written
top to bottom Interface Layout The rules and definitions for
Localizations within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing the composition of the localized
Front-end Human Interface layout such as the orientation of objects
within Windows, color schemes and Window shapes. Interface Behavior
The rules and definitions for Localizations within Our World Live's
Consumer Access System describing and containing the behavior of a
localized Front-end Human Interface such as responses to Consumer
interactions. Country Conventions The rules and definitions for
Localizations within Our World Live's Consumer Access System
describing and containing Alphabet, Language, Language Attributes
such as date, time and currency formats for one or more countries,
languages, or cultures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0067] The screen shot of FIG. 1A illustrates several features of
various embodiments of the invention. The screen display (FIG. 1A)
illustrates a Display of the Olympic games. In the largest Screen
region 1A.01, a detailed real-time "OnScreen" view of the soccer
game is shown in real time. A map showing the venue of the several
games underway is shown in the somewhat smaller Companion Window
Screen region 1A.06. The Consumer can interactively select which
event will be shown on the OnScreen Window Screen region 1A.02 by
moving the cursor on the Companion Window Screen region 1A.06. In
the example shown, the stadium 1A.07 has been selected at which the
game shown in region 1A.02 is being played. Also included in the
screen display (FIG. 1A) are five smaller Monitor Window Screen
regions 1A.09a, 1A.09b, 1A.09c, 1A.09d and 1A.09e which show five
different events occurring in real time at five different venues at
this Olympic game.
[0068] As described below, the Monitor Window Screen regions are
also used to show the same game being displayed on the larger
OnScreen Window Screen region 1A.02 from additional video cameras
all typically located at different locations in the same
stadium.
[0069] The overall Consumer Access System of various embodiments of
the invention is shown in FIG. 2B. A plurality of video cameras
2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c are typically located at venues for
sports events, theater events, musical events, or the like.
Although for simplicity three cameras are shown, there can be a
fewer or greater number of cameras depending upon the facility used
for broadcasting.
[0070] These cameras 2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c are advantageously
the identical cameras already being utilized for regular television
broadcasting. As a result, various embodiments of this invention
can be implemented world wide without a major investment in
acquiring or installing video cameras. Rather, a parallel feed from
each camera already used for television broadcasting is connected
to a plurality of video compression encoders 2B.02a (labeled as
Encoding Phalanx #01, 02, 03, . . . ). By way of example, cameras
2B.01a, 2B.01b and 2B.01c are cable connected to the encoders 2B.02
whereas a camera 2B.01d is connected by a wireless local area
network (LAN) 2B.03 to another video compression encoder 2B.02b.
Camera 2B.01d can, for example, be located at the same venue as
cameras 2B.01a-2B.01c but can also be located at a different venue
such as is illustrated in the screen display of FIG. 1A.
[0071] The outputs of the encoders 2B.02a and 2B.02b are routed by
a router 2B.04 over a suitable communication line 2B.05 to router
2B.06 which connects the video signals to multiple streaming
computer servers 2B.07 shown in detail in FIG. 4B. In the
embodiment shown, the video signals are also supplied to a separate
high bandwidth network 2B.08 such as is available from Akamai,
Intervu or iBeam.
[0072] The individual subscriber client's Access Device is shown in
the FIG. 2B as an Access Device of the type Information System
Device such as a personal computer (PC). Shown are two different
types of PC's 2B.11, 2B.12 connected at 2B.10a, 2B.10b in a normal
manner to the world wide web or Internet 2B.09 by, for example,
telephone lines, cable, or satellite. These PC's 2B.11, 2B.11 are
connected by the world wide web 2B.09 to the streaming servers
2B.07 which as described below, contain OWL's Front-end Human
Interface (FHI) software.
[0073] It will be further understood that additional video cameras
2B.01 and encoders 2B.02 are advantageously located at facilities
located around the world so that the Consumer at the PC's 2B.11,
2B.12 can call up events occurring in real time all over the world.
Thus, each of the encoders 2B.02 is adapted for the particular
television signal being produced by the local video camera such as
High Definition Television, NTSC, PAL, etc. so the video signals
are viewable over the Internet on PC's located anywhere in the
world.
[0074] In various embodiments of the invention, the user client
initially connects to the streaming server (SS Phalanx) 2B.07
through an ISP and obtains portal Companion Window display of the
content Companion on the Consumer's Access Device 2B.11 or 2B.12.
Using this content Companion, the Access Device transmits pointers
over the world wide Internet 2B.09 to the network 2B.08 which
responds to the Consumers requests and transmits the appropriate
video signals from the network 2B.08 over the world wide Internet
33 to the Access Device 2B.11 or 2B.12.
[0075] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention does not use a high bandwidth network 2B.08. Instead, the
pointers produced at the Access Devices 2B.11, 2B.12 would be
directly transmitted over the Internet 2B.09 to the streaming
servers 2B.07 and these servers would supply the video signals to
the Consumer's Access Devices 2B.11, 2B.12 via the Internet
2B.09.
[0076] A detailed block diagram of the encoder 2B.02 is illustrated
in FIG. 3B. As shown, by way of example, encoder 2B.02a is
connected to camera 2B.02a. The video signal supplied by the
television broadcast camera 2B.01a is connected to a series of
video compression encoders for supplying video signals of varying
resolution and frequency bandwidths to the streaming servers 2B.07
of FIG. 2B via router 2B.04.
[0077] As shown, the compression encoders advantageously provide a
high resolution output and a low resolution output for a plurality
of Internet delivery channels. Thus, the lowest bandwidth channel
3B.01 for a 56K modem includes a high 40K resolution channel 3B.03
and a low 4K resolution channel 3B.02 for the video signal from
camera 2B.01a. Similarly, the next higher or 128K bandwidth channel
3B.04 includes a 50K high resolution channel 3B.06 and a low
resolution channel 3B.05 for the video signal from camera 2B.01a.
The highest bandwidth channel 3B.07 is designed to supply a 768K
bandwidth channel with a high resolution 450K channel 3B.09 and a
low resolution 50K channel 3B.08 from camera 2B.01a. Referring to
FIG. 1A, depending upon the capacity of the Internet connection to
the Access Device 2B.01, 2B.02, the low resolution channel will be
used to provide the Monitor Windows 2B.09a, 2B.09b, 2B.09c, 2B.09d
and 2B.09e and the high resolution channel will be used to provide
the OnScreen Window 1A.01. As a result, each Access Device, whether
it has only a 56K modem or is supplied over a 768K DSL service (or
higher in the future) is able to have simultaneous viewing of a
high resolution real time video in the OnScreen Window 1A.02 and a
plurality of low resolution real time video in the Monitor
Windows2B.09a, 2B.09b, 2B.09c, 2B.09d and 2B.09e.
[0078] Although the specific embodiments described include a single
high resolution OnScreen Window, other embodiments of the invention
provide one or more additional high resolution channels depending
upon the bandwidth of the Broadcasting or Delivery Infrastructure
in use and the effective Screen size of the Access Device's
Display. Thus, one such embodiment provides a pair or more of
side-by-side OnScreen high resolution Windows as well as plural low
resolution Monitor Windows.
[0079] The manner in which a plurality of Asset Providers around
the world are connected in various embodiments of the invention to
supply Access Devices 2B.11 or 2B.12 is illustrated in the block
diagram of FIG. 5. Shown are three Asset Providers 5A.01a/b/c,
e.g., ABC, Fox, NBC and CBS which own or control the television
cameras 2B.01a-d shown in FIG. 2. Some of the main features of this
interface are: (1) all available video channels are presented to
the Consumers Access Devices; (2) each Consumer can interactively
select at any time any one channel as the high resolution
"OnScreen" Window 1A.01; (3) each Consumer can interactively select
multiple channels to provide the Monitor channels 1A.09a, 1A.09b,
17,1A.09c, 1A.09d and 1A.09e of FIG. 1A; and (4) the system
delivers a channel interactive advertisement that links the
Consumers request with an electronic commerce service.
[0080] The function of several of the different blocks in this
system diagrams and flow charts are described below:
TABLE-US-00002 1A.01 is the OnScreen Window type, fully
interactive, continuously updated, corresponding with the other
Windows 1A.01, 1A.05, 1A.08a/b, 12A.07; 1A.02 is the high-detail
content displayed in the OnScreen Window (1A.01); 1A.03 indicates
the area for displaying advertising of any kind; 1A.04 indicates
the Personal Video Functionalities of the OnScreen Window (1A.01).
This area includes several buttons such as "Play", "Stop" "Fast
Forward", "Rewind", "Volume", "Menu" and so on; 1A.05 is the
Companion Window type; 1A.06 depicts the content of the Companion
Window; 1A.07 is a highlighted Asset Offer in the Companion Window
(1A.06); 1A.08 indicates the Monitor Window type; 1A.08a, b, c, . .
. are the various Monitor Windows; 1A.09 is the content, displayed
in the Monitor Window; 1A.09a, b, c, . . . indicate various content
that is displayed in the Monitor Windows; 1G.01 is an example of a
Script Asset type; 1G.02 Is an example of a Data Control type for
the Companion Window; 1G.03 is an example of the Forms type; 1G.04
is the Master Companion representing the link to the Companion
Window type (1A.05). The Master Companion is a Companion Window
itself; 1H.01 shows two OnScreen Windows displaying different
Assets: A movie (with related Advertising) and a data worksheet;
1H.02 is an example of the Data Worksheet type; 1H.03 is a content
example for the Companion Window (1.A.05), enabling access to a
sample of Home Entertainment Devices; 1H.04 is a bigger version of
the Monitor Window type hosting the control panel for a Home
Entertainment Device; 1J.01 is an example content for the Companion
Window (1A.05), showing a map with multiple cameras; 1J.02 is a
smaller version of the Companion Window type (1A.05); 1K.01 is the
Monitor Window type for a display of a Palm Pilot IIIC; 1K.02
indicates one solution for the Master Companion for the Palm Pilot
IIIC; 1K.03 shows the OnScreen Window type containing a Data
Worksheet; 1L.01 indicates the Companion for a Handheld Device;
1L.02 is the Monitor Window type for a Handheld Device; 1L.03 is an
OnScreen Window, showing a Data Worksheet; 1L.04 is a Monitor
Window showing Real-Time Stock Quote Information, including an
Input Form to request specific Stock Quotes; 1L.05 Shows an
OnScreen Window, displayed in 90.degree. counter-clockwise
rotation; 1L.06 indicates the area for displaying advertising of
any kind on a Handheld device; 1M.01 Is a Monitor Window to remote
control an Asset: your home VCR; 1N.01 is an OnScreen Window type
for Access Devices running the EPOC operating system, such as the
Ericsson R380 cellular phone or the Nokia 9210 Communicator; 1N.02
is a Monitor Window type for Access Devices running the EPOC
operating system; 1N.03 is a Companion Window type for Access
Devices running the EPOC operating system; 1N.04 shows the area in
the OnScreen Window for displaying advertising of any kind; 1N.05
Show various representation of the Monitor Window type for Access
Devices running the EPOC operating system; 1N.06 Is a Monitor
Window to remote control an Asset: your home VCR; 1P.01 Show the
Companion Type window, depicting a map of an Olympic stadium with
several cameras; 1P.02 Shows a Monitor Window type containing an
Advertising Offer; 1P.03 Shows the OnScreen Window Type, displaying
the "100 m Women's Final" camera video stream of a live sports
event; 1P.04 Depicts the area for any kind of Advertising in the
OnScreen Window (1P.03); 1P.05 Is a Monitor Window showing the
"Long Jump" camera video stream of a live sports event; 1P.06 Is a
Monitor Window showing the "Women's High Jump" camera video stream;
1R.01 Shows the Palm Pilot IIIc Screen, containing a Master
Companion and a Companion with a map. The map shows an Olympic
stadium with several cameras; 1R.02 Shows an OnScreen Window type
on a PC, containing the "100 m Women's Final" camera video stream
of a live sports event; 1R.03 Shows a Monitor Window type on a PC,
containing the "Women's High Jump" camera video stream of a live
sports event; 1S.01 Shows a Companion Window type on a PocketPC,
containing the map of an Olympic stadium with several cameras;
1S.02 Shows an OnScreen Window type on a PC, containing the "100 m
Women's Final" camera video stream of a live sports event; 1S.03
Shows a Monitor Window Type on a PocketPC, containing the "Long
Jump" camera video stream of a sports event; 1S.04 Shows a Monitor
Window type on a PC, containing the "Women's High Jump" camera
video stream of a live sports event; 1Y.01 is an OnScreen Window
type for a Television Display or a large EPOC Screen; 1Y.02 is a
Monitor Window type for a Television Display or a large EPOC
Screen; 1Y.03 is a Companion Window type for a Television Display
or a large EPOC Screen; 1Y.04 is one solution for the Master
Companion for a Television Display or a large EPOC Screen; 1Z.01 is
an OnScreen Window type for a Cellular Phone with EPOC-OS; 1Z.02 is
another version of the OnScreen Window type for a Cellular Phone
with EPOC-OS used for 16:9 format Films; 1Z.03 Indicates the area
for Advertising; 1Z.04 is one solution for the Master Companion for
a Cellular Phone with EPOC-OS; 1Z.05 is a Companion Window type for
a Cellular Phone with EPOC- OS; 1Z.06 is a Monitor Window type for
a Cellular Phone with EPOC-OS; 2A.01a-2A.01d Shows the Assets #1,
#2...; 2A.02 Is the Communication Infrastructure; 2A.03 Represents
the Back-end Information Network; 2A.04 is the Broadcast or
Delivery Infrastructure; 2A.05 shows the Consumer's Access Device;
2A.06 is the Consumer's Local Asset; 2B.01a-2B.01d is the sum of
the video content provided by a single original parallel video
and/or audio signal from the Asset Provider 5A.01b; 2B.02a/b The
Encoding Phalanx; 2B.03 A Wireless Transmission from LAN to LAN;
2B.04 A Router connecting to the next network; 2B.05 A
Communication Line between two routers or networks; 2B.06 A Router
connecting to the next network; 2B.07 The Streaming Server Phalanx;
2B.08 The Akamai Network as a worldwide delivery network; 2B.09 The
Internet; 2B.10a/b The Internet Connection of the Access Device;
2B.11 A Computer running Mac OS as an Access Device; 2B.12 A
Computer running Windows 98 as an Access Device; 2C.01a-2C.01f
Categories of Asset types known to the Back-end Information
Network; 2C.02a-2C.02f Categories of Access Devices known to the
Back-end Information Network; 2D.01 Represents the Back-end
Information Network Infrastructure; 2D.02 Represents the Asset
Infrastructure; 2D.03 Represents the Access Device Infrastructure;
2E.01 Represents the Access Device Operating System; 2G.01
Represents a possible Operating System of the Asset 3A.01a-3A.01f
Encoding specifications for various target types; 3B.01 Encoding
Systems for the Audience with 56K bandwidth; 3B.02 Encoder Systems
for Monitor #01 for 56K Audience, PowerPC G3 System; 3B.03 Encoder
Systems for Screen #01 for 56K Audience, PowerPC G4 System; 3B.04
Encoding Systems for the Audience with 128K bandwidth; 3B.05
Encoder Systems for Monitor #01 for 128K Audience, PowerPC G3
System; 3B.06 Encoder Systems for Screen #01 for 128K Audience,
PowerPC G4 System; 3B.07 Encoding Systems for the Audience with
768K bandwidth; 3B.08 Encoder Systems for Monitor #01 for 768K
Audience, PowerPC G3 System; 3B.09 Encoder Systems for Screen #01
for 768K Audience, PowerPC G4 System; 3B.10 A Network Hub;
3C.01-3C.06 Various target encoding specifications for different
media, different resolutions and different color capabilities;
5A.01a/b/c is the entity having the cameras 2A.01a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i
(FIG. 2) and creating/transmitting Video and/or Audio content,
i.e., ABC, FOX, CBS or any other party producing video and/or audio
content i.e. a stadium having a Superbowl game or any other event
to be broadcast or transmitted; 5A.02 represents the compression
encoders explained in detail above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 8;
5A.03 indicates that the Consumer selects the content of choice he
or she wants to see in the "OnScreen" Window; 5A.04 indicates
receiving the broadcasted or delivered signal 8B.07; 5A.05
indicates that the Consumer selects the content of choice he or she
wants to see in one of the Monitor Windows; 5A.06 indicates
receiving the broadcast or delivered signal 8B.08; 5A.07 indicates
that an advertisement is received in a predesignated separate
displaying area within OWL's Font-end Human Interface (FHI) without
interfering with or inhibiting the delivery of any content. The
displaying method can be static (i.e. banner) or active (i.e.
streaming video); 5A.08 indicates Consumer requests of further
advertisement related actions, i.e. link 5A.09, by clicking on the
advertisement displaying area; 5A.09 is the link by which the
request of the Consumer is automatically and instantly passed
together with other relevant information to a related entity 5A.13
by i.e. passing all needed information to the FHI (5A.11) so that
it automatically connects to the Product Provider (5A.13), logs
onto the External Store Sales Software (14B.03) and creates a
purchase request from the Consumer; 5A.10 indicates a purchase
offer caused by the addressed entity executing the respective
action, i.e. transmitting the purchase offer created out of the
purchase request over link 5A.09; 5A.11 is the Front-end Human
Interface software program, embodiments preferably in QuickTime and
in JAVA; 5A.12 is the Advertising Provider. It is as well the
entity contracting for advertising space; 5A.13 Is the Product
Provider where the advertised products can be purchased. (FIG. 14C
shows the integration of such a Product Provider's Store into the
Consumer Access System, FIG. 2D); 6A.01a/b Shows the Companion
Windows of the Asset Providers, containing their Asset lists;
6A.02a/b/c/d/e/f indicates the Asset Selectors, each representing
one Asset (2A.01a-2A.01i) of the Asset Provider represented by the
Companion Window that the Asset Selectors are incorporated in,
incorporating two actions 12A.05 and 12A.06, fully interactive,
continuously updated, corresponding with the other Windows 1A.01,
1A.05, 1A.08a/b, 12A.07; 8B.01 is the original signal from the
single Video and/or Audio source, which can be output by a video
single camera or the daily program broadcast by any channel or
source; 8B.02 is a duplicator/multiplicator device that
duplicates/multiplies the incoming video and/or audio signals,
without any loss, so the signals can be used for two/multiple
simultaneous processes; 8B.03 indicates that the incoming video
and/or audio signal is encoded and possibly compressed to meet the
high-resolution specifications of the respective embodiment, such
as reducing picture frame size, frame rate and quality to meet a
predetermined high-resolution bandwidth frequency for eventual
access by the user (i.e. ISDN, ADSL, etc.); 8B.04 is the signal,
encoded to be broadcast or delivered in a predetermined high
quality frequency; 8B.05 indicates that the incoming video and/or
audio signal is encoded and possibly compressed to meet the
low-resolution specifications of the respective embodiment, i.e.
reducing picture frame size, frame rate and quality to meet a
predetermined low quality bandwidth frequency for eventual access
by the relevant frequency user (i.e. ISDN, ADSL, etc.); 8B.06 is
the signal encoded to be broadcast or delivered in a predetermined
low resolution frequency; 8B.07 is the broadcast or delivered
signal coming from the high resolution encoder 8B.04; 8B.08 is the
broadcast or delivered signal coming from the low resolution
encoder 8B.06; 9A.01 Is the Object Storage in the Back-end
Information Network (2A.03). It holds all FHIs, Asset Device
Functionality Objects, Asset Functionality Objects and BIN
Functionality Objects. In general, it holds all available objects
and functionality; 9A.02 Is an Asset Device Functionality Object
that holds all available functionality for this kind of Asset
Device; 9A.03 Is an Asset Functionality Object that holds all
available functionality for this kind of Asset; 9A.04 Is a BIN
(2A.03) Functionality Object that holds functionality to extend and
leverage the BIN; 9A.05 Is the part of the BIN that assembles and
processes the objects stored in the Object Storage (9A.01) to
prepare them for delivery and usage; 9A.06 The Bootlink or Delivery
Request of the Access Device (9A.01) to the BIN (2A.03) in order to
receive the FHI (5A.11) itself or new Functionality; 9A.07 The
Delivery transmission of the BIN (2A.03) to the FHI (5A.11),
containing the assembled FHI and Functionality; 9A.08 An
Information Request from the BIN (2A.03) to the Access Device
(9A.01);
9A.09 An Information Response from the Access Device (9A.01) to the
BIN (2A.03); 9A.10 are the Access Device independent Front-end
Human Interface Cores; 9A.11 Are the Access Device Specific
Front-end Human Interface Cores; 9B.01 The request for opening the
main application for this Access Device (9A.01), issued by the
Access Device to the BIN (2B.03); 9B.02 The delivery of the main
application and open command from the BIN (2B.03) to the Access
Device (9A.01); 9C.01 A request for specific technical
specifications from the BIN (2A.03) to the FHI (5A.11); 9C.02 The
response containing the requested specifications from the FHI
(5A.11) back to the BIN (2A.03); 9C.03 The delivery of an Update or
Functionality Objects to the FHI (5A.11); 9C.04 The updated or new
Functionality Objects are incorporated into the FHI (5A.11); 9D.01
The local DVD/CD-ROM device; 9D.02 A DVD/CD-ROM Functionality
Object, stored in the Object Storage (9A.01) of the BIN (2A.03);
9D.03 The FHI (5A.11) submits a request for accessing this specific
local DVD/CD-ROM device; 9D.04 The BIN (2A.03) delivers the
DVD/CD-ROM Functionality Object to the FHI (5A.11); 9D.05 The
DVD/CD-ROM Functionality Module is incorporated into the FHI
(5A.11); 9E.01 The BIN (2A.03) Sends a Request for
Workload/Delegation to the FHI (5A.11); 9E.02 The FHI (5A.11)
answers to the BIN (2A.03) with a Workload or Delegation Response;
9E.03 The BIN (2A.03) delivers the results of a Workload/Delegation
to the FHI (5A.11); 9F.01 The Operating System of a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station (10D.01); 9F.02 The Read-Only-Memory
(ROM) of a typical Game Console or Gaming Station (10D.01); 9F.03 A
typical Game Console's or Gaming Station's Video Driver; 9F.04 The
CPU of a typical Game Console or Gaming Station (10D.01); 9F.05 The
Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of a typical Game Console or Gaming
Station (10D.01); 9F.06 The internal DVD drive of a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station (10D.01); 9F.07 The internal System or
Data Bus of a typical Game Console or Gaming Station (10D.01) that
is used as the Delivery Infrastructure (2A.04); 9F.08 The DVD
Medium containing the necessary parts of the BIN (2A.03) for this
specific device (a typical Game Console or Gaming Station, 10D.1);
9F.09 Show the insertion of the DVD into the DVD Drive (9F.06);
9F.10 Represents the Data Delivery between the BIN (2A.03) on the
DVD (9F.08) and a typical Game Console or Gaming Station (10D.01);
10A.01 An input device for the Access Device (9A.01); 10A.02 A
network connection for the Access Device (9A.01); 10A.03 A Display
device for the Access Device (9A.01); 10B.01 A Display device for
the Access Device (9A.01); 10B.02 The Video Driver of the Access
Device (9A.01); 10B.03 The CPU of the Access Device (9A.01); 10B.04
A Runtime Environment on the Operating System of the Access Device
(9A.01); 10B.05 The Operating System of the Access Device (9A.01);
10B.06 The Read-Only-Memory (ROM) of the Access Device (9A.01);
10B.07 The Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of the Access Device (9A.01);
10B.08 The Network Connection of the Access Device (9A.01); 10B.09
The Keyboard of the Access Device (9A.01); 10C.01 Represents a
Set-Top Box; 10C.02 Is the Remote Control for the Set-Top Box;
10C.03 Is the Cable Connection to the Cable Network; 10C.04
Represents the Television Set; 10D.01 Represents a typical Game
Console or Gaming Station; 10D.02 Is a typical Game Console or
Gaming Station Dual-shock Controller; 10D.03 Is the Internet
Expansion Module for a typical Game Console or Gaming Station;
10D.04 Is the Television Set or Display a typical Game Console or
Gaming Station is connected to; 10E.01 Is a Refrigerator; 10E.02 Is
the Refrigerator's Touchpad; 10E.03 Represents the Modem connected
to the Refrigerator; 10E.04 Is the Refrigerator's Front Display;
10F.01 Is a Cellular Phone; 10F.02 The Cell Phone keypad; 10F.03 Is
the GSM connection of the Cell Phone; 10F.04 The Cell Phone's
Display; 10G.01 Is the Home Stereo Device; 10G.02 Is the button
control bar of the Home Stereo; 10G.03 Is the communication Module
of the Home Stereo to connect to the Cable Network; 10G.04 Is the
Home Stereo's Display; 10H.01 Is the Stand-alone CD Player; 10H.02
Are the CD Controls on the CD Player; 10H.03 Is the CD Remote
Control; 10H.04 Is the Communication Module of the CD Player to
connect to the Cable Network; 10H.05 Is the Home Stereo with
speakers to play sound; 11A.01 represents a Server System; 11A.02
Is the Input Device of the Server System; 11A.03 Is the
Communication Interface of the Server System; 11A.04 Is a Display
Device connected to the Server System; 11A.04 Is a Display Device
connected to the Server System; 11B.01 Is the Video Driver in the
Server (11A.01); 11B.02 The Read-Only-Memory (ROM) of the Server
(11A.01); 11B.03 The Random-Access-Memory (RAM) of the Server
(11A.01); 11B.04 The Operating System of the Server (11A.01);
11B.05 The CPU of the Server (11A.01); 11B.06 The Network
Connection of the Server (11A.01); 11B.07 The Keyboard of the
Server (11A.01); 11B.08 The Display device connected to the Server
(11A.01); 12A.01 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending
the Asset displayed in this Monitor Window 2 (1A.08b) to the
OnScreen Window (1A.01). This is shown in detail in FIG. 13F;
12A.02 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the Asset
displayed in this OnScreen Window 2 (1A.01) to a Monitor Window.
This is shown in detail in FIG. 13D; 12A.03 Is a selector that
triggers the action of opening the corresponding Companion to the
Asset displayed in this OnScreen Window 2 (1A.01). This is shown in
detail in FIG. 13E; 12A.04 Is a selector that triggers the action
of opening the Master Companion. This is shown in detail in FIG.
13C. 12A.05 Is a selector that triggers the action of sending the
Asset of the corresponding Asset 1 Selector (6A.02a) to the
OnScreen (1A.01); 12A.06 Is a selector that triggers the action of
sending the Asset of the corresponding Asset 1 Selector (6A.02a) to
a Monitor (1A.08); 12A.07 Is the OWL Master Companion Window that
offers the choices of the various Asset Providers 12A.08a/c;
12A.08a Is a selector that triggers the action of opening the Asset
Provider 1 Companion; 12A.08c Is a selector that triggers the
action of opening the Asset Provider 3 Companion; 14A.01 Represents
an electronic commerce offering, dealing with advertising and
purchasing; 14A.02 Is the Consumer; 14A.03 Is the purchase action
of the Consumer that accepted the Electronic Commerce Offering's
Advertising (14A.01, 5A.07); 14B.01 Is a module that processes
advertising requests, assembles the advertising and delivers it to
the FHI (5A.11); 14B.02 Is an e-commerce store interface of the
Product Provider (5A.13); 14B.03 Is the sales software of the
external product store; 14C.01 Is the Sales Module of the Product
Provider's (5A.13) Store; 14D.01 Represents the type of Content
related advertising, stored and processed in the BIN (2A.03);
14D.02 Represents the type of Consumer related advertising, stored
and processed in the BIN (2A.03); 14D.03 Represents the consumer's
advertising preferences that are stored, used and processed in the
BIN (2A.03) to derive more specific targeted advertising to the
Consumer; 14D.04 Represents the type of scheduled advertising,
stored and processed in the BIN (2A.03);
[0081] The User Interface of various embodiments of the invention
is the Front-end Human Interface (FHI) 2E. Its software can be
located in parts or as a whole (1) on the Consumer's Access Device
2A.05, 2B.11, 2B.12 or (2) on the Back-end Information Network
(BIN) 2A.03, 2B.07 of the system and is dynamically (1) updated or
(2) loaded into the Consumer's Access Device 2A.05, 2B.11, 2B.12
each time the Consumer connects to the system. The FHI is shown
generally at 2E in FIGS. 5A and 9A, 9B-F. It works conceptually as
a true extension to the Back-end Information Network 2A.03 enabling
the Consumer to access all the BIN's functionalities using the
Access Device 2A.05 and is an integral part of the completely
object oriented and platform independent software design of various
embodiments of the invention 2D, 2A-C. This provides several
advantages. The Consumer is not required to do any manual software
installation or updates, no matter what the Consumer's language is,
1B, 1C, 1D, where the UI software is residing 9A-F, what type of
Access Device 2C.02a-g, 2B.11, 2B.12 he or she is using or what
kind of infrastructures 2D.01-04, 2A.02, 2A.04, 2B.02-10, are
currently or in the future in use. The Back-end Information Network
2A.03, 2B.07 can be continuously upgraded so that the Consumers
always have at their Access Device of choice 2A.05, 2B.11, 2B.12,
2C.02a-g, the latest software release and all of the latest
information regarding the system 2D, 2A-C.
[0082] The block diagrams illustrating the versatile and
sophisticated Access Device Deployment concept with the Front-end
Human Interface program 5A.11 are shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and
9F.
[0083] Front-end Human Interfaces deployed onto an Access Device
can be dynamically updated to support functionalities specific to
the Access Device it is deployed on (FIG. 9D). These Access Device
specific functionalities are actually added to those of the
Back-end Information Network, as conceptually all functionalities
of the Front-end Human Interface are empowered by the Back-end
Information Network. Therefore any Access Device 10A-H, 2C.02a-g
can become an Asset, 2C.01a-f providing Offerings 10A-H to the
whole Consumer Access System (FIG. 9G). This also can render any
Consumer into an Asset Provider enabling access to his
Offerings.
[0084] The diagram 9A shows how a given Front-end Human Interface
5A.11 is dynamically assembled during the boot process from the
Front-end Human Interface Core (FHIC), the Asset Device
Functionality Objects, the Asset Functionality Objects and the
Back-end Information Network Functionality Objects all specific to
the deployment environment in use. These sophisticated processes
allow the Consumer to use any type of Access Device with either (1)
no parts of the software, or (2) with some parts or (3) the entire
software that is required to run the Consumer Access System
residing (1) on a Back-end Information Network 2A.03 as detailed in
FIG. 9B, or on a (1, 2, 3) networked Access Device 10A-H as
detailed in FIG. 9C or (2, 3) on a simple data storage media
together with the Asset Offerings itself, such as a DVD/CD with
videos 10H which once deployed renders even a not networked Access
Device, such as a Game Console 10D into a fully functional Consumer
Access System as detailed in FIG. 9F.
[0085] FIG. 9G depicts, that once located entirely on one
standalone Access Device 9G.06, 9F, this single Access Device 10A-E
can become the Back-end Information Network 9G.06 to other Assets
and Access Devices 9G.01, 9G.02, 9G.03, 9G.04, 9G.05, 9G.07, 10A-H,
creating its own small Consumer Access System network. This enables
Consumers to build their own independent solutions such as
extraordinary Home and Entertainment control systems (FIG. 9G,
1H.03), allowing the Consumer for example to check the content of
the recording media in his DVD/Video Recorder 9G.07, 1H.04, 1M.01
at his home in Los Angeles, USA, before he schedules 1M.01, 1H.04,
the recording of an internet video broadcasting as well as a
program provided through his home television cable Set-top Box
9G.04, taps into some video observation cameras 9G.05 installed in
his house, checks that enough food is in his refrigerator 9G.03,
orders 1G.01, 14A.03 more milk with his Access Device 9G.01 and
doing all this while being in a hotel room in Seoul, Korea, using
his Nokia 9210 Communicator cellular phone as Access Device 9G.01,
1N. Any Consumer Access System in accordance with various aspects
of this invention has no limitations in its scalability allowing
any type of Consumer Asset Offering solutions from single system
11A, 11B to multiple server cluster deployments 11C, for private
and/or corporate use.
[0086] The structure and application of the UI is illustrated in
detail in FIGS. 12A, 13A-I, 13K and 13L.
[0087] The Front-end Human Interface 5A.11 is the User Interface
(UI) to Our World Live's Novel Consumer Access System networking
technology. In one embodiment, the UI is available as entirely
written in Java, a well known software development environment for
platform independent programming and supporting Asset types Apple
QuickTime 1A08a, Microsoft Media Technologies 1A08b, RealNetworks
Media Technologies 1A08c, MPEG 1A08d and standard television
signals 1A08e. By making all different multimedia formats
accessible with the Front-end Human Interface the Asset Provider is
free to choose, deploy and mix any existing and future media
platforms.
[0088] The Front-end Human Interface 5A.11 provides multiple types
of Window objects, such as OnScreen, Companion and Monitor, each of
them able to have multiple concurrent existences or instances only
limited to the capabilities of the Access Device it is running on.
For one or more OWLed Assets one Companion Window is the parent
object from which other objects come from (see FIG. 15A).
[0089] With increases in performance in the Access System, as well
as with more Display size offering either bigger or additional
Displays, the Consumer is enabled to obtain increased advantage out
of the Front-end Human Interface's expandable Windows feature
(illustrated in FIG. 16A).
[0090] The Front-end Human Interface can also span across multiple
Access Devices, creating for the Consumer one single Virtual Access
Environment (FIG. 2F and 13K). The Consumer can freely layout the
Front-end Human Interface across all Screens of the assimilated
Access Devices (FIG. 16B)--the FIGS. 1P, 1R and 1S illustrate how a
Consumer watching the Olympic Games, chooses a camera angle on his
(1P.01) Nokia 9210 cellular phone, (1R.01) Palm Pilot or (1S.01)
Pocket PC and directs the video output to be displayed in an bigger
OnScreen Window on his (1P.03) television set or (1R.02, 1S.02)
Personal Computer. Being attracted by a product sales Offering
displayed on the television set (1P.04) and simultaneously provided
with a corresponding prompt on his cellular phone (1P.02), he
responds to it on his cellular phone (1P.02), automatically
directing his Personal Computers' Front-end Human Interface to the
online store (1G.01) and purchasing the product on his Personal
Computer.
[0091] The sophisticated Electronic Commerce procedures of various
embodiments of the invention provide extended capabilities for
personalized advertisement (14D, 1L.06, 1P.04), forwarding to
external stores (14B) and optimized integration of internal stores
as well as external store Legacy Systems, and are illustrated in
detail in FIGS. 14A-D.
[0092] The Front-end Human Interface in various embodiments also
provides the Consumer a portal into the world of Our World Live's
Consumer Access System simultaneously accessing any type of Asset
2C.01a-f, 1A.08a-e, 1G.01, 1G.02, 1G.03, 1G.04, 1H.02, 1H.03,
1H.04, 1J.01, 1M.01, offered live-video and video-on-demand
contents 2C.01a, services 2C.01a-d such as banking, travel
agencies, product stores and electronic shopping malls, as well as
Home & Entertainment Devices 1H.04, 10C, 10D, 10G, 10H, 9G,
1H.03 Home Appliances 10E, 9G, 1H.03 Audio Entertainment Devices
1G, 1H, 1J, 2C.01a-f from all over the world 1B, 1C, D with any
type of Access Device 1A, 1K-N, 1P-S, 2C.02a-g (shown in FIG.
17A).
07.B. Navigation and Control Provided by the Front-End Human
Interface
[0093] FIG. 18A shows the default Windows set up of a graphical
user interface version of the Front-end Human Interface as it would
appear for OWLed Assets on a Consumer's Access Device such as a
typical Personal Computer system with a single Display and at a
Screen resolution of 1024.times.768 pixel. Additional examples for
different Screen Layout arrangements of the Front-end Human
Interface are shown in FIGS. 22A and 1A-F.
[0094] The main guide Window for navigation and control is the
Companion Window (shown in FIG. 19A). The navigation and control
provides the Consumer with an intuitive and interactive way to
overview the available Asset Offerings such as video content
offered within a specific OWLed Asset such as a sports event.
Beside offering video-on-demand services by searching and browsing
databases, the Front-end Human Interface provides advantages in
presenting Asset Offerings, such as live televised broadcasting
events, in an entirely novel manner. A plurality of examples of how
various embodiments of the invention provide access to different
types of Asset Offerings are shown in FIGS. 1A-S.
[0095] As described above, in an Asset Offering, such as a live
televised broadcasting event, several cameras are positioned with
different perspectives and viewing areas so that many more details
of an event can be viewed. In traditional television broadcasts a
TV-channel produces its presentation of the event by cutting live
from one camera to another trying to keep up with the supposed
focus of interest of the Television Consumer, often interrupted by
commercials, slow motion replays and other contents.
[0096] In contrast, in the Companion 1A.05, the Consumer gets a
visual impression as to where the cameras are located and what
perspective and viewing area each one has. He or she then can
activate each single camera and either display at a Monitor Window,
e.g. 1A.08, with the make monitor feature (FIG. 20A) or send the
camera-output to the OnScreen Window, e.g. 1A.01, (FIGS. 1A and
21A) to be displayed in the respective screen area.
[0097] The Monitor Windows, e.g. 1A.08, although substantially
smaller in size and with lower resolution than the OnScreen Window
1A.01, allow the Consumer to have an overview of the event as a
whole and instantly jump to the area of his or her personal
interest to watch with high resolution and quality on the OnScreen
Window 1A.01. The Consumer can not only use the navigation services
in the Companion (1A.05) but he or she also can directly redirect
the camera-output from the Monitor Window (1A.08) to the OnScreen
Window (1A.01) with the easy OnScreen feature of the Monitor Window
(1A.08) or vice versa with the make monitor feature of the OnScreen
Window (1A.01).
[0098] In various embodiments, the action displayed on the OnScreen
Window (1A.01) from a given camera is not lost by switching to
another camera for OnScreen Window (1A.01) viewing since the former
camera is immediately transferred to a Monitor Window (1A.08).
[0099] The Monitor Windows (1A.08), OnScreen Windows (1A.01) as
well as the Companion Windows (1A.05) are resizable and freely
accommodateable, so that the Consumer can customize the displayed
information according to his needs and the abilities of the used
Access Device (FIGS. 1K-N).
[0100] In addition to that, the Front-end Human Interface is not
restricted to a specific number or combination of Windows. The
Consumer can freely choose the number of Monitor, On Screen or
Companion Windows to be displayed (FIGS. 22A, 1H) and is only
restricted by the abilities of the used Access Device or Devices,
in case he is combining multiple Access Devices for deploying a
Virtual Access Environment (FIGS. 2F, 16B).
[0101] Another feature of the Front-end Human Interface, are the
Screen Layout Alignment Tools, which support the Consumer in
arranging the Windows and "cleaning up" his or her Screen. The
tools Invisible Grid 13L.11, Window Margins 13L.13, Magnetic
Borders 13L.15 and Auto Align 13L.16 are described more detailed in
FIG. 13L. The tools not only work on one Screen but across all
Screens connected to a single Access Device and also across all
Access Devices, which are part of one Virtual Access
Environment.
[0102] Various embodiments of Our World Live's Consumer Access
System are based on Open Source technologies as well as on industry
standards to offer a wide range of services.
[0103] Asset providers using for their offerings technologies
disclosed herein can automatically provide them to consumers
worldwide using the Front-end Human Interface application. Due to
the simple but powerful user interface, freely Consumer
customizable, with unlimited OWLed Events, unlimited Windows,
unlimited Access Devices and unlimited Display support, the
Front-end Human Interface becomes a Consumers portal into the world
(FIG. 22A).
[0104] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention uses the cable or satellite delivery infrastructures to
deliver content to the Consumer's television set. This system
encompasses storing the program content, program guide, advertising
content, customer service, profiling, and billing, including
functionalities currently built into the set-top box on computer
servers that become part of the Back-end Infrastructure network.
The Front-end Human Interface is downloaded on start up to the set
top box, or can be resident on the set top box, to allow the viewer
to access and interact with the Back-end Information Network. In
this embodiment the content owner, broadcaster, and network/cable
operators can use one unified Back-end/front-end technology to
deliver their content over any delivery infrastructure and enhance
the viewer experience.
[0105] It will be understood that another embodiment of the present
invention allows the advertisers, content owners, broadcasters, and
network/cable operators to dynamically insert profile targeted
advertisements, simultaneously showing different adds to different
viewers during the same event, to track user behavior, to create,
poll, track and monitor in real time.
* * * * *