U.S. patent number RE30,666 [Application Number 06/069,830] was granted by the patent office on 1981-07-07 for audio visual information system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mitchell Beazley Encyclopedias, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Edward J. Day, James A. H. Mitchell.
United States Patent |
RE30,666 |
Mitchell , et al. |
July 7, 1981 |
Audio visual information system
Abstract
A printed illustrated text, printed alphabetical text and
printed illustrated index are all correlated to a set of recordings
intended for audio visual display and which are in turn topically
arranged. In addition the illustrated index may by themselves be
recorded in their entireties for audio visual display. The
illustrated text is presented by a main written portion heavily
pictorialized by a key illustration and ancillary illustrations
arranged in a predetermined sequence with ancillary supporting
information. A conspicuously displaying cross-reference listing
refers to other pertinent illustrated texts and topical audio
visual recordings. The alphabetical text is correlated to pertinent
portions of the illustrated text by having, on pertinent pages
thereof, key illustrations from the illustrated text. It, in
addition, carries cross-references to pertinent optical audio
visual recordings as well as to other pertinent information in the
system. The illustrated index, which may include reduced
reproductions of entire pages from the illustrated text, is also
cross-referenced to pertinent topical audio visual recordings. The
jackets for each topical audio visual recording include a printed
display of pertinent portions of the illustrated text and pertinent
portions from the alphabetical text. In addition sub-topic titles,
and/or illustrations indicative of such sub-topics, are arranged in
positions corresponding to the position of the recorded sub-topic
information; and are printed either directly upon the audio visual
recording or a transparent sleeve carried by the jacket.
Inventors: |
Mitchell; James A. H. (London,
GB2), Day; Edward J. (Kingston Surry,
GB2) |
Assignee: |
Mitchell Beazley Encyclopedias,
Ltd. (London, GB2)
|
Family
ID: |
22091469 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/069,830 |
Filed: |
August 27, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
616551 |
Sep 25, 1975 |
04124943 |
Nov 14, 1978 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/307R;
283/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42D
1/007 (20130101); G09B 5/062 (20130101); B42D
15/00 (20130101); B42D 1/009 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42D
15/00 (20060101); B42D 1/00 (20060101); G09B
5/00 (20060101); G09B 5/06 (20060101); G09B
005/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;35/8A,9R,35C,35E
;274/42P ;40/340 ;283/36-43 ;434/308,309,310,307 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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108083 |
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Dec 1924 |
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CH |
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1039988 |
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Aug 1966 |
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GB |
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Other References
Encyclopedia Brittanica; 15th Edition, .COPYRGT.1974 vol. 2, p.
1056..
|
Primary Examiner: Grieb; William H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Feldman; Stephen E. Feldman;
Marvin
Claims
We claim:
1. An audio visual information system comprising:
(a) first information means consisting of a plurality of graphic
displays each concerning a particular selected topic;
(b) each of said graphic displays including a main word text and a
pictorialized description each sufficient to describe its
particular selected subject without reference to the other and each
disposed in a separate and distinct location within its graphic
display;
(c) each pictorialized description including a key illustration and
a plurality of ancillary illustrations arranged in a sequence, the
key illustrations of said plurality of graphic displays being
sequenced.
(d) second information means constituting a graphic arrangement of
alphabetically set out expanded word descriptions of a plurality of
selected topics and a reproduction of selected key illustrations
from said graphic displays of said first information means when
such key illustrations pertain to said topics and said key
illustrations being in correlation to the alphabetical arrangement
of said word descriptions; and
(e) third information means constituting a recording for audio
visual playback including audio visual display of a selected topic
from said first information means and including at least a key
illustration related to said topic, said recording being provided
with index means for locating said topic, whereby the user of the
system may retrieve the information of the above information means
without substantial resort to text material.
2. The audio visual information system of claim 1 including:
(f) fourth information means constituting a graphic index including
reproductions of said key illustrations of said first information
means, and said key illustrations being arranged according to (c)
or (d) with each such key illustration disposed adjacent a listing
of selected types of information related to its particular
topic.
3. The audio visual information system of claim 2 wherein said
first information means, said second information means and said
fourth information means are recorded for audio visual
playback.
4. The audio visual information system of claim 2 wherein
additional information not forming part of said first, second or
fourth information means is recorded on said third information
means recordings.
5. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said
third information means includes pertinent graphic arrangements of
word descriptions from said second information means.
6. The audio visual information system of claim 5 wherein said
graphic displays of said first information means included in said
fourth information means being reduced in size when compared to
said graphic displays as reproduced for said first information
means.
7. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said key
illustrations when reproduced for said second information means
being grouped together separate from said word definitions at a
selected location in said graphic arrangement and being reduced in
size when compared to the size therefore as displayed in said first
information means.
8. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said
recording of said fourth information means is provided with
sound.
9. The audio visual information system of claim 8 wherein said
sound is background music, sound related to the subject matter to
be displayed and voice over describing the information to be
displayed.
10. The audio visual information system of claim 1 including:
record storing means in the form of a jacket for receiving and
storing said recording and upon which, in addition to indicia for
indicating the topic recorded upon the record, there is displayed
text as recorded in the reference work.
11. The audio visual information system of claim 10 wherein said
jacket also has displayed thereon expanded word descriptions
related to the recorded topic.
12. The audio visual information system of claim 10 wherein said
jacket includes a sleeve within which the record is stored.
13. The audio visual information system of claim 12 wherein said
sleeve is formed from transparent material.
14. The audio visual information system of claim 12 wherein said
sleeve has displayed thereon indicia indicative of sub-topics
recorded on said recording and wherein said indicia are
positionally located on a surface of said sleeve so that when said
record is stored thereon the indicia is disposed in alignment with
the corresponding information as recorded on said record means.
15. The audio visual information system of claim 14 wherein said
indicia are words defining the sub-topic title.
16. The audio visual information system of claim 15 wherein said
indicia are graphic pictorial illustrations indicative of the
sub-topic information.
17. The audio visual information system of claim 14 wherein said
indicia are frame designations.
18. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said
recording is in the form of a disc.
19. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said
recording is recorded for optical sensing and playback.
20. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein said
recording has displayed thereon indicia indicative of sub-topics
recorded on said record means and wherein said indicia are
positionally located on said record means in positions
corresponding to the locations where the sub-topic information is
recorded.
21. The audio visual information system of claim 20 wherein said
indicia are words defining the sub-topic title.
22. The audio visual information system of claim 20 wherein said
indicia are graphic pictorial illustrations indicative of the
sub-topic information.
23. The audio visual information system of claim 1 wherein
(a) at least some of said information is recorded upon said
recording for continuous viewing; and
(b) some other of said information being recorded upon said
recording for frame by frame viewing;
(c) said other of said information being recorded on said recording
on at least one frame so that in a continuous viewing of said
recorded information the lack of many multiple frames of the other
information inhibits viewing thereof.
24. The audio visual information system of claim 23 wherein said at
least one frame is a single frame. .Iadd. 25. An audio visual
information system comprising:
a. first information means comprising pictorial information
concerning a particular selected topic;
b. second information means comprising first text information means
comprising pages of illustrated text and word descriptions relating
to said selected topic, and second text information means
comprising comprehensive sub topic information covering said topic
and reference to pages of the illustrated text and said
descriptions;
c. recording means comprising a recording for audio visual playback
including audio visual display of said pictorial and text
information; wherein
d. part of said pictorial information being recorded upon said
recording means for continuous viewing;
e. said first and second text information means being recorded upon
said recording means for frame by frame viewing; and
f. said first and second text information being recorded on said
recording means on at least one frame so that in a continuous
viewing of said pictorial information the lack of many multiple
frames of the text information inhibits viewing thereof, whereby
the user may stop the continuous viewing of the topical pictorial
information to study the first text information means relative to
the topical information and then selectively study the
comprehensive sub topic informtion with reference to
related sections of said illustrated text. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 26. The
audio visual information system of claim 25, wherein some of said
pictoral information is recorded upon said recording means for
continuous view and other of said pictoral information is recorded
on said recording means for frame by frame viewing. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION - FIELD OF APPLICATION
This invention relates to an information system, and more
particularly to a system for arranging indexing and
cross-referencing information pictorially and by words for audio
visual presentation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION - DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
The quest for information, or research as it is more formally
called, is carried on in many ways. One may go to texts, magazine
articles, newspapers or like material when pursuing information
about a particular topic. No such research is considered to be
complete without looking up the subject in an encyclopedia type
reference text. In fact, a great deal of such research, especially
by students in various grades of school and even college, both
begins and ends with the encyclopedia.
Many persons, school students and otherwise, find reading printed
texts, even heavily illustrated printed texts, cumbersome and
difficult. A significant portion of the population lacks the
ability to understand by reading alone, and learns better when
printed text is supported by audio and audio visual material. But
available research material is almost invariably only available in
printed form.
More often than not a number of students are assigned the identical
topic to research. But encyclopedia type research texts are
expensive and only a few libraries can afford more than one set of
a particular encyclopedia. Thus each student must wait their turn.
Some may even find it impossible to get a time to review the
encyclopedia and may have to do without this invaluable source of
information.
When describing to a group how to use an encyclopedia; or when
presenting the results of research from an encyclopedia to a group,
one can either hold up the text for the group to view or pass the
text around for better understanding. If equipped with a projector
the pertinent encyclopedia pages may be shown on a screen. But all
of the above make for difficult presentations, may subject the text
pages to tearing, marking or other damage and require an articulate
speaker if an interesting and understandable presentation is to be
made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel and
improved information system.
It is another object of this invention to provide a novel and
improved audio visual information system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel and
improved system for storing topical information for audio visual
presentation.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a novel and
improved information system wherein topical information prepared
for audio visual presentation is cross-referenced with like
alphabetically and topically arranged printed information.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a
novel and improved information system wherein encyclopedia type
reference texts are recorded in their entirety for audio visual
presentation.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a
novel and improved jacket for housing an audio visual
recording.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a
novel and improved audio visual recording jacket wherein
information corresponding to the recorded information is printed by
words and illustrations upon the jacket.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a
novel and improved audio visual recording.
It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a
novel and improved manner of correlating sub-topic information on
an audio visual recording to the position on the physical recording
where the sub-topic information is recorded.
In carrying out the invention, according to the preferred
embodiment, there is provided an information system utilizing audio
visual recording for topical presentation of alphabetically
arranged expanded entry type descriptions and comprehensive heavily
illustrated encyclopedia type reference material; and, in fact, for
presentation of entire texts of such expanded dictionary type
definitions and encyclopedia arranged information.
Cross-referencing of the topical audio visual recordings into the
alphabetical and illustrated texts provides for a highly correlated
reference work.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention, in its
details of construction and arrangement of parts, will be seen from
the above, from the following description of the preferred
embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawing and from
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a specimen layout from an illustrated comprehensive text
showing the relationship between the elements thereof which
incorporate the instant system;
FIG. 2 is a specimen layout of a page from an illustrated
alphabetical text showing the relationship between the elements
thereof which incorporate the instant invention;
FIG. 3 is a specimen layout of a page from an illustrated
comprehensive index showing the relationship between the elements
thereof which incorporate the instant invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic showing of a topical information jacket which
houses an audio visual recording of a topic corresponding to one of
the topics which appear in the illustrated comprehensive text of
the type which would be displayed on a page as shown in FIG. 1 and
which incorporate the instant invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of a form of sleeve from the
information jacket of FIG. 4 which houses and protects the
recording and which incorporates the instant invention;
FIG. 6 is a modified form of information recording for use with the
information jacket of FIG. 4 and which incorporates the instant
invention;
FIG. 7 is a specimen layout of the back of the information jacket
of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a schematic layout of a playback system for utilizing the
audio visual recording of the instant invention; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic frame by frame layout of a typical topical
audio visual recording as same might be displayed by a system such
as shown in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For convenience the invention will be described as applied to an
information system including a plurality of audio visual recordings
each in the form of a disc adapted for optical scanning and
playback through a home type television set, and wherein the audio
visual recordings are of selected topics from an encyclopedia type
text heavily illustrated in color and with insertions from an
alphabetical text of expanded entry type descriptions. A jacket for
housing each such optical audio visual recording is provided on its
back page with printed reproductions of part of all of the
comprehensive text article and with one or more pertinent
alphabetical text descriptions and carries a sleeve for the
recording with either the sleeve or the recording itself printed
with sub-topic titles or illustrations at positions indicative of
the recorded positions corresponding to sub-topic. It should be
understood, nevertheless, that without departing from the scope of
the invention that subject information system may be recorded on
tape or other suitable non-disc forms, may be played back through
non-optional scanning and by closed circuit and/or other suitable
television type presentation means; that the recorded information
may be not only topical but also the entire comprehensive
illustrated text and alphabetical illustrated text with their
respective indexes or for that matter, the text of any dictionary,
encyclopedia or other reference work; that the jacket for housing
the recording may have the information printed on any portion
thereof or not at all; and that other suitable means may be
provided for indicating where in the recording a sub-topic begins
if such be desired at all.
With reference to FIG. 1 there is generally shown at 10 a specimen
page from a comprehensive illustrated text as described in our
co-pending application entitled "System for Arranging and
Retrieving Information" and which was filed on Sept. 25, 1975 as
application Ser. No. 616,865. In that application each such page,
or group of pages, forming the comprehensive illustrated text is
described as including, under a subject heading 12 a main word text
14 and a set of color illustrations 16 including a key illustration
18 and ancillary illustrations 20 accompanied by ancillary text 22,
and often consecutively numbered to facilitate the flow thereof in
an orderly manner.
A cross-reference listing 24 is conspicuously displayed in a
marginal position on each such layout 10.
Also described in my above mentioned application is an illustrated
alphabetically arranged text 40 (FIG. 2) including a plurality of
alphabetically arranged expanded short entry type word descriptions
42, arranged in a particular portion of the page; accompanied by a
number of reproductions of the key illustrations 44 from the
comprehensive illustrated text 10 also displayed in a particular
portion of the printed page. The alphabetical text is described in
said application as including cross-reference information to the
comprehensive illustrated text as part of the captions 46 to said
reproductions 44 of said key illustrations and as part of the
printed text 42 as shown at 48.
An illustrated comprehensive index 50 (FIG. 3) is additionally
described in my aforementioned co-pending application. Index 50 is
described as including reduced size reproductions 52 of full text
pages from the comprehensive illustrated text 10 adjacent to which
appear columns 54, 56, 58 and 60 respectively of cross-referencing
to other information both within and outside of the information
system. It will be appreciated that the index may be located at any
place in the illustrated aliphabetical text or the illustrated
comprehensive text or in a volume by itself. If the index appears
at the front of a volume, it may be referred to as a table of
contents or other suitable term.
To accompany, compliment and supplement the aforementioned "System
For Arranging and Retrieving Information" there are provided a
number of topical video visual recordings such as the one
illustrated at 70 in FIG. 4. Recording 70 is shown as housed in a
sleeve 72 carried by a jacket 74 having a front cover 76, and a
rear cover 78 connected to a spine 80.
While each such recording 70 is herein described as for a single
topic corresponding to a topic from the comprehensive illustrated
text 10; it should be realized that space requirements for properly
covering the topic may dictate the use of multiple recording 70 for
a single topic. In the alternative a single recording 70 may cover
more than one such topic if the topic content so permits.
Also contemplated by the instant system is a single recording 70,
or multiple recordings 70, which encompass the entire illustrated
comprehensive text 10, illustrated alphabetical text 40 and
illustrated comprehensive index 50.
Recording 70 is shown as a disc but it should be realized that tape
or other suitable recording means may just as easily be
utilized.
In FIG. 5 sleeve 72 is shown removed from jacket 74 but with a
recording disc 70 still disposed therein. Sleeve 72 is preferably
of transparent material such as plastic or the like; but other
suitable materials may be used. Printed upon the surface 82 of
sleeve 72 are sub-topic titles 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 which
correspond to sub-topics of the topic recorded in audio visual
manner upon recording 70. Titles 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 are also
positioned upon surface 82 in alignment to the position on
recording 70 where the sub-topic information is recorded. Also, the
frame numbers themselves may be printed on the sleeve. In this
manner the user may easily position the playback equipment for
recording 70 so as to begin at a particular sub-topic instead of
having to either start at the beginning of recording 70 and play
everything until the desired sub-topic appears, or merely guessing
hit or miss until the user finds the place desired to start.
Alternatively recording 70 may have printed directly upon its
recorded surface references to such sub-topics and/or frame
numbers. This appears for a recording 70a as shown in FIG. 6
wherein the surface 96 of recording 70a has reproductions of the
illustrations 18, 20 from the comprehensive text 10 printed thereon
at 98, 100, 102 and 104. Here again the illustrations are
positioned to correspond to the position of recording of their
respective sup-topic or frame.
Printed titles such as 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 may accompany or be
substituted for illustrations 98, 100, 102, 104 of FIG. 6; while
illustrations such as 98, 100, 102 and 104 may accompany or be
substituted for the titles 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 of FIG. 5. The
important object is to provide some form of index to direct the
user to a selected recorded area of recording 70.
Jacket 74 may have displayed, as by printing, upon the facing page
of front cover 76 information 120 (FIG. 4) including words and
illustrations, indicative of the topic or topics recorded upon
recording 70 housed therewithin. A title 122 may likewise appear
upon spine 80.
On the facing page of back cover 78 of jacket 74 there is
reproduced, as by printing or other suitable means, at 126 a copy
of the pages of the comprehensive illustrated text (such as shown
at 10 in FIG. 1) corresponding to the topic of recording 70. Also
reproduced on back cover 78 as at 128 is a copy of pertinent
alphabetical text descriptions compiled from the illustrated
alphabetical text as described for FIG. 2.
Each topical recorcing 70 is in turn cross-referenced into the
comprehensive illustrated text, as described for FIG. 1, and will
appear therein either in the cross-reference listing 24 or at a
position 140 closely adjacent thereto and so as to be
conspicuous.
Cross-referencing of the availability of a topical recording 70
will also appear in the illustrated alphabetical text, as described
for FIG. 2. Such cross-referencing may accompany the illustrations
appearing at 44 by inclusion in captions 46 or adjacent or
proximate thereto. They may appear also or additionally as part of
the cross-referencing 48 within texts 42.
To make the system even more comprehensive cross-referencing to
audio visual recordings 70 also are inserted with the columnar
material 54, 56, 58, 60 of the comprehensive illustrated index
described with reference to FIG. 3. Such cross-referencing may
appear within one of the columns 54, 56, 58, 60 or may appear as an
additional column or in any other conspicuous manner.
The audio visual information recorded upon recording 70 may be
presented to one or more observers on playback equipment 150 such
as that shown in FIG. 8. Equipment 150 is of the type
conventionally available to the public and more commonly known as
"Philips and MCA Videodisc System". In the schematic of FIG. 8,
recording 70 is placed upon videodisc player 152 which is in turn
driven by a motor 154 powered from a suitable source and controlled
in conventional manner by suitable switches. A laser 156, powered
from a supply 158 co-operates with optics 160, a mirror 162 and an
objective 164 to transmit successive portions of recording 70
through a light sensitive device 166 to video and servo electronics
168 which in turn control and present the recorded information upon
a conventional home TV set 170.
The recorded information is thereby presented successively in frame
by frame manner upon the screen of set 170. Suitable controls are
provided for equipment 150 to advance same or back same up to any
selected position and to freeze any display upon the screen of set
170.
It should be understood that other suitable playback equipment may
be utilized; such as the RCA "SelectraVision Videodisc system" and
that closed circuit as well as other suitable television
presentation equipment may be used to view the recorded
information.
When preparing recording 70, if desired, appropriate musical and
other sound effect background may be recorded into recording 70 by
conventionally available techniques. In a similar manner a voice
over reading or description of the text material may be provided to
further enhance the understanding thereof.
A typical frame by frame arrangement for a topical recording 70 is
schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a strip 200 is shown
beginning with frame 202 and proceeding consecutively through frame
204, 206, 208, 210, etc to 2nn.
Frame 202 would carry the title for recording 70 corresponding to
the topic recorded theron. Frame 206 and 208 would display
reproductions of the entire pages from the comprehensive
illustrated text (as described with reference to FIG. 1) and
reproductions of pertinent expanded word descriptions from the
illustrated alphabetical text (as described with reference to FIG.
2).
Thereafter in frames 210, 212, 214, etc. the entire topic would be
covered by sub-topic and where pertinent by reference to sections
of the comprehensive illustrated text and expanded word
descriptions.
As previously set forth, it is an inherent capability of playback
equipment 150 to be able to present the information recorded upon
recording 70 either in a continuous manner, or frame by frame
freezing each frame for a desired period of time (or a few frames
at a time so that the frame appears to be frozen) as controlled by
the operator. Accordingly when information is recorded upon
recording 70 a suitable number of frames, 202-210 etc. must be
recorded for each image to maintain same on the viewing screen long
enough to be seen and studied when the playback equipment 150 is in
a continuous mode of operation. This is accomplished by
conventional techniques well known in the field.
On the other hand, some written and even pictorial information is
inserted on recording 70 to be seen only in a frame by frame freeze
mode of operation for playback equipment 150. This is accomplished
by recording such information on only a single frame, 202-210 etc.
Thus, when recording 70 is played in a continuous manner the frame
so recorded will flash upon the viewing screen; but only for such a
short period of time that its persistency will be too short to
allow viewing thereof. In fact, the viewer will not even be aware
that it appeared, except maybe subliminally. When it is desired to
view the single frame one need only run playback equipment 150
continuously until the frame approaches and then frame by frame
until the information appears on the screen.
From the above description it will thus be seen that a novel and
improved audio visual information system has been provided; which
system provides for recording for audio visual presentation of
expanded word entry type descriptions information, and
comprehensive illustrated encyclopedia type text information and
the corresponding cross-referencing in a conspicuous manner into
said word entry test and encyclopedia text of the availability of
said audio visual information.
It is understood that although we have shown the preferred form of
my invention that various modifications may be made in the details
thereof without departing from the spirit as comprehended by the
following claims.
* * * * *