CN1326562A - System for providing user with active and passive access to cached content - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (42) as provided for viewing cached content passively and actively. Content from the Internet (60) or other information sources is stored on the disk drive (55) of a computer. The computer is programmed to make snap shots of selected content and to generate a cache movie of the content by sequentially providing snap shots on a display device (47). A user is provided with application software for the computer to customize the cache movie by selecting music for playback during the cache movie. The tempo of the cache movie is synchronized with the selected music and can be varied, depending on the type of music selected by the user. The user can selectively stop and start (54) the cache movie to actively browse content corresponding to the snap shots therein. Hyper-links in the snap shots permit access to related cached content. The user can then resume playback of the cache movie for passive viewing of cached content.

Description

A system for providing users with active and passive access to cached content

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for allowing users to actively and passively view and access cached content.

Background of the invention

Users generally take an active role in obtaining information from the Internet or other networks. For example, a user operates a mouse or keyboard in response to prompts generated on a computer screen by Internet browser applications (eg, search engines) and web pages. By doing so, the user searches and selects information available on the Internet for viewing and downloading while the user browses.

In contrast, users take a passive role in obtaining information via television or other broadcast technologies. For example, programs are broadcast over broadband television networks (eg, via satellite, microwave, VHF/UHF or cable television (CATV) systems) at times specified by the broadcast service provider. Therefore, a user must tune to a specific television channel at a predetermined time in order to watch a program. Users can tune to different channels as they wish. However, the user is limited to viewing only those programs that are currently being broadcast. To avoid watching the show at the time, users typically program a video cassette recorder (VCR) to capture and record television programs on videocassette tape. The user must program the VCR to specify when the VCR starts and ends recording.

1 and 2, traditional Internet access involves a user actively searching for Internet-type information using browser software 22 on a user computer (e.g., a personal computer or PC) 24 provided by a content provider 20a, 20b, 20c to 20n are provided. Users have access to Internet-type content via network 26 and the Internet and/or the World Wide Web (WWW), indicated at 28 . For purposes of illustration, Internet-type information is understood to mean any digitized and viewable content (e.g., hypertext markup language (HTML), web pages, video, audio, text, software downloads, photo , animation, etc.). A web page (Web page) is understood to mean utilizing other software languages, formats and protocols (eg, JAVA, Graphics Format Interchangeable (GIF), File Transfer Protocol (FTP)) used to facilitate the transfer of data between computers by data files. Internet-type information may be stored or cached on a disk drive of the user computer 24, as shown at block 30 of FIG. Referring to box 32 of FIG. 2, the browser software 22 allows the user to view the cached information page by clicking on an icon on the screen or typing in the address of a universal resource locator (URL) 31 with a mouse or other input device. In traditional television scenarios, users passively watch as information is displayed in an entertaining format. Users prefer to obtain information in different ways depending on the type of content to watch, the amount of time the user has to watch the content, the user's disposition, and the like.

A need exists for a centralized technology that provides users with either passive or active selective access to Internet-type information as well as other types of digital content, since both methods of accessing information have their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, a user will conveniently view automatically presented Internet-type information without having to spend time and effort taking various actions to view cached information, such as clicking icons on the screen with a mouse to jump to different content. Additionally, users can continue to actively peruse Internet-type information and other digital content using their mouse or other input device in a time and order of their choosing.

Traditional Internet protocols involve delivering content to each user after each user has specifically requested the content. Therefore, the same content is sent to different users respectively at different times. When the same content is sent repeatedly to a large number of requesting users, network bandwidth for delivering Internet information to users is ineffectively used, as is the case with popular web sites. Broadcasting such popular digital information to many users simultaneously makes more efficient use of the communication paths to users. This popular content may include news reports, weather reports, stock market reports, advertisements for goods and services, and the like. While broadcast services for Internet-type information and other material are emerging, there is a need for a user interface that allows users to focus on active and passive viewing and access of information.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of existing methods of providing cached content to users, and achieves a number of advantages over these methods. According to the present invention, a user can conveniently and passively watch a cached movie providing a preview of selected content, which has been cached or stored on a computer or multimedia system or stored remotely. Additionally, the user can discontinue the passive preview activity at any time to actively peruse selected content from the previewed content using a mouse or other input device. The user can then resume passive viewing of the content preview at will.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cache movie is generated by creating and combining snapshots of selected content. The snapshot images are then sequentially presented on the display device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the rate at which the snap shots are presented is user-selectable and may be synchronized with a user-selected soundtrack.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided for previewing selected cache content via a cache movie and accessing actual content corresponding to snap shots in the cache movie. The user interface allows the user to jump to different snaps within the cache movie by clicking on different positions of the slider. Snapshot images and their corresponding content can also be characterized by category names. The order of the snaps in the cache movie can be arranged by category. The user interface may provide a slider section with the name of the category to which the snapshot of the selected content belongs. The user can click on the part of the slide bar to start displaying the snapshot image at the corresponding place.

According to another aspect of the present invention, snapshot images are generated for selected files and application files on the user computer and may include snapshot images for control panels of devices controlled by the user computer.

According to another aspect of the invention, a display frame may be configured to display more than one snap shot or cache movie. The user interface provides the user with different layout options.

Various aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a conventional system for accessing Internet-type content;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the traditional way by which information is obtained from browsing the Internet or other sources of information;

3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for providing information, including Internet information, to users via a high-speed broadcast data stream, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of one manner in which a computer provides cached content to a user for preview and access, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of cache content according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 illustrates caching movies and their synchronization with music, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary snap shot, which may be a frame of a cache movie, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 and 9 depict computer screens of exemplary user interfaces provided during caching of a movie, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

10 and 11 show exemplary computer screens generated by a user computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

12 and 13 show exemplary snap shots that may appear in a cache movie according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals will refer to like parts and components throughout the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 3, a system 40 according to the present invention allows a user to obtain one or more types of information or content, such as Internet-type information for storage in cache memory, via a computer 42 or a computer such as a set-top box. control system to be viewed and accessed. The content of the cache is information stored in non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive. The cache content may be stored in accordance with the present invention in the user's computer 42 or in a remote storage device accessible by the computer 42 via a network. The content may be provided to computer 42, for example, via a high-speed broadcast channel. The broadcast methods 44, 46 and 48 described in connection with FIG. 3 are provided for exemplary purposes. It should be understood that many aspects of the invention do not require content to be broadcast. The present invention provides a user interface 50 for accessing high quality sound, data and images stored on a storage device 55 such as a hard disk drive. The user interface includes an input device 54 such as a mouse and at least one output device 56 such as a speaker 59 and a display device 47 .

Continuing with FIG. 3, a content aggregator or gateway 58 obtains content from various content providers via the Internet 60 and other data sources (eg, a network such as Ethernet). Content aggregator 58 may obtain selected content, such as local news reports, local weather reports, stock market information, music, consumer information, distance learning programs, and the like. The content may be delivered to users via a broadcast signal utilizing one or more high-speed data transmission methods, such as satellite direct digital broadcasting system 44, CATV network (e.g., coaxial cable) 46, or public switched telephone network (PSTN) cable 48 (e.g., , fiber optic, copper or coaxial links). The telephone company may utilize Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Link (ADSL) technology or other Digital Subscriber Link technology (ie XDSL). Other transmission methods may include VHF/UHF broadcast network, microwave communication network, optical fiber network and so on.

It should be understood that more than one content aggregator 58 may be used to organize content for viewing and access by users. According to one aspect of the present invention, content aggregator 58 organizes data for high-speed data streaming, generally indicated at 66 in FIG. 3 . Although the data transmission systems 44, 46, and 48 described in FIG. For example, a communication path such as PSTN 68 may be used to both request and receive content. Traditional Internet solutions typically involve connecting the Internet 60 to the server 26 via the PSTN 68 each time a user desires to access content. Alternatively, a request for content may be sent to content aggregator 58 via PSTN 68 and the requested content may be received via high speed data stream 66 in satellite transmission system 44, for example. According to one aspect of the invention, content from content aggregator 58 is broadcast to the user without providing a return link such as PSTN 68 . To assist users in selecting content, content aggregator 58 establishes a program that highlights content available via the content aggregator. This program is hereinafter referred to as a teaser and is broadcast to users at least periodically together with other content. A method for generating this challenge according to another aspect of the invention is described below. A user can view the puzzle via the user interface to determine which content from content aggregator 58 is to be stored in disk drive 55 .

In accordance with the present invention, computer 42 is programmed to generate a screen on display device 47 to allow a user to view stored content and make selections regarding the type of content stored in computer memory 55 . To aid in viewing cached content, computer 42 is programmed to generate snapshot images from content stored on disk drive 55 or other storage device (e.g., converting images of HTML pages into non-interactive images such as bitmap or JPEG files). representation) and generate a cache movie. A cache movie is a series of snapshots representing the contents of a cache device. A method by which the user computer 42 can generate a cache movie and likewise the content aggregator 58 can generate a puzzle will be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 4-6. Computer 42 may also generate screens (such as those depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 ) that allow the user to customize the manner in which cached movies and content are presented to the user via output device 56 .

As noted above, browsing Internet-type content in traditional ways requires the user to take an active role, eg, by clicking through to select content to view each web page. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the process of browsing content is enhanced to provide the user with the ability to view and access cached content either actively or passively via the user computer 42 . Referring to FIG. 4, content obtained from a content provider (eg, content aggregator 58) via a network channel or other means is preferably stored in computer memory (eg, disk drive 55). FIG. 5 shows the content from the data stream being provided to computer 42 . The computer includes a disk drive 55 or other storage device, part of which may be cache portion 52 . Cache portion 52 may also be on a storage device separate from disk drive 55 . Portions of broadcast content such as preselected and broadcast by the user through the broadcast network are stored in the cache section 52 as data files referred to as content pieces 93 hereinafter. Content from the content aggregator 58 that has been stored in the storage device 55 may be automatically updated, ie overwritten, when the content has been updated by the content aggregator and provided to the user computer 42 . A content segment 93 is preferably a puzzle provided by the content aggregator 58 . The disk drive also stores applications 95 (eg, word processing and communication programs) and data files 97 such as text and image files, which may be entered into computer 42 by various means such as a CDROM, keyboard, or other input device.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, the computer 42 is programmed according to the present invention with local movie generation software 70 to generate a cache movie by combining snapshots from any directory and file on the disk drive 55 or other storage device. The local cine generation software is referred to as cached cine generator (CMG) 70 hereinafter. Computer 42 is programmed to take a snapshot of one or more key pages of each piece of content 93 and store the snapshot on disk drive 55 (block 71). Snapshots are generated by creating web page representations, that is, converting text, images, HTTP and other data into image files using bitmap, JPEG or other formats. In accordance with the present invention, computer 42 is programmed by CMG 70 to assemble and display snap shots on output device 56 to provide the user with a preview of the cached movie of the content segment in cache memory 52 (block 81). A user can thus passively view a representation of cached content.

Computer 42 is also programmed in accordance with the present invention to store a plurality of software tools 73 that are downloaded or stored as desired. The software tools preferably include an image segue library 75, an audio library 77, and a synchronization tool 79 such as an edit decision list (EDL) to provide synchronizing the snap shots in the cache movie to match the music played during the cache movie. instruction. As described below in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9, the computer 42 is programmed to allow the user to customize the cache movie by selecting music played during the cache movie or muting the sound (e.g., muting the speaker 59), and snapping or displaying frames in the cache movie The speed at the output device 56 is provided to the output device 56 as well as other options such as screen prompts, controls and image continuation.

To create the cache movie, the computer 42 is programmed to synchronize the display of the snapshot on the computer monitor of the output device 56 with other audio movie soundtracks selected by the user from the audio library 77 . Commands (eg, EDL commands) from synchronization tool 79 provide a synchronization code such as the SMPTE time code standardized by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). However, other synchronization methods may also be used. Figure 6 illustrates the generation of a cache movie. A first snap shot 96 is shown, followed by a number of other snap shots, generally indicated at 98, which are subsequently displayed in sequence. Snapshot 96 is generated on output device 56 at a selected time for playback of user-selected background music, such as time 01:02:28:16 in a music segment, as indicated by SMPTh code 99 . Thus, the tempo of the snapshot displayed on the output device 56, as instructed by the synchronization tool, matches the tempo of the music selected by the user for playback during the cached movie. Accordingly, when accompanied by rock music rather than chamber music, the snapshots of the cached movie are displayed at a frame-forward or varying speed (eg, faster than the movie progresses). Two users who have selected the same content preview produce different cached movies based on speed and accompanying music. The content aggregator 58 can use the same method of synchronization to create a puzzle that can produce snap shots of the content at a selected rate commensurate with the style of soundtrack chosen by the content aggregator.

However, as described above, the user may choose to watch the cached movie without sound from speaker 59. Snapshots can be synchronized to user input rather than to audio sound tools. For example, as shown in Figure 7, a slide bar 67 is provided to control the presentation rate of the cached movie when a movie soundtrack is not desired. By moving the cursor 69 up or down, the user can select the speed of the cached movie to be displayed faster (eg, 3 frames per second) or at a slower rate (eg, one frame every three seconds), respectively. Computer 42 can be programmed to associate a frame or snapshot presentation rate with a specific cursor position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a cache movie is generated by computer 42, which includes applications 95 and data files 97 on disk drive 55, as well as content segments from cache 52 or other storage. The CMG 70 selects files and/or applications for storage based on criteria such as file type, directory location, or start or last edit date. Snapshots are generated for files and/or applications that the user wishes to include in the cache movie. Such a snapshot is depicted in FIG. 7 . For example, the user may choose to view a snapshot of every file created or modified before the selected date. The user can then passively watch a portion of each file to determine, for example, whether a file can be deleted. A cached movie of a disk drive file is also useful when the user is looking for a specific image, text, or other data and cannot remember where the data is stored. Users can also choose the format of the snapped image. For example, only a snapshot of the first page of each selected data file may be provided to output device 56 . Snapshots representing viewable files or four pages from storage can be used to allow the user to view several pages of each file that the cached movie is previewing, as shown in FIG. 7 . The cache movie may also include snapshots of icons or other images representing applications.

The computer 42 is also programmed to allow the user to actively view the cached content by aborting the presentation of the cached movie to click on the snapshot, which causes the CMG 70 to display the actual content corresponding to the current snapshot. The user can then click on any screen icon or hyperlink of the currently displayed content to jump to other content segments 93 cached anywhere accessible by the computer 42 (e.g., via the network 60) and resume the presentation of the cached movie as desired. Referring to FIG. 4, the user may activate CMG 70 as desired by clicking on an icon or other image on display device 47 (block 83). When the cached movie is presented (block 85), the user may stop the cached movie, as shown in block 87, to view the content segment represented by the snap shot. The user can thus selectively switch from a passive viewing role to an active browsing role, and then click on a prompt or icon provided in the content and jump to other Internet-related type of content, as shown in box 89 . When the user no longer wishes to actively browse the selected content, the user may resume playback of the cached movie, as indicated by block 91 .

According to CMG 70, the computer 42 can generate the cache movie before the user requests to view the cache movie, so this generation is independent of when the user wishes to preview the cache content. Alternatively, computer 42 generates a cache movie via CMG 70 in response to a user request (eg, when the user requests to view a snapshot of a data file in computer storage 55 with a selected revision date). A cache movie changes from its one generation to a subsequent generation when the content changes. Additionally, several different cached movies may reside in cache memory 52 at the same time for presentation at user selection. All "entertainment" cache movies can be created using snapshots from different videos, while "My Documents" cache movies can be created for the user's professional work. If the user maintains a cache file to preview favorite videos, the "Entertainment" cache movie does not have to change as often as the "My Documents" cache movie.

8 and 9 are exemplary snap shots created via cache movie generation in accordance with the present invention. These screens depict windows of snapshots of the selected content being displayed. The screen includes a slider bar 160 and a cursor 162 that moves across the slider bar 160 to indicate the progress of the cached movie, as well as a play/stop button 159 and a mute button 161 . The button 159 can be eliminated and the cache movie stopped and started alternately by allowing the user to double-tap the cursor 162 . The user can click on cursor 162 to "freeze" the screen, then click on cursor 162 again to resume playback of that portion. The user can also click on any portion of the slider bar 160 to view a snap image corresponding to that portion of the cached movie. The computer 42 is programmed by the CMG 70 to store data regarding the snap with the position of the cursor on the slider bar 160 in a series of snaps. FIG. 9 illustrates a snap shown prior to the snap shown in FIG. 8, as indicated by the various positions of cursor 162 on slider bar 160 in the two snaps. Thus, the user can click on a position on the slider bar 160 and jump to the snapshot displayed when the cursor 162 is located, without having to watch all the snapshots displayed between the last cursor position and the new cursor position.

In addition to picking the style of silence or playing music during the cached movie and the tempo of the cached movie, the present invention provides other ways for the user to customize the capture and presentation of the content. Referring to FIG. 10, the computer 42 is programmed to generate an audio preference screen 100 on the display device 47, which provides the user with a number of choices regarding the music that accompanies the cached movie. The user customizes his or her listening session by selecting the mute button 114 or the soundtrack button 104 of the cached movie during presentation of the cached movie. The audio preference screen also provides a menu 106 of different types of movie soundtracks, such as Latin American music, Middle Eastern music, African tribal music, Southern peace music, Southeast Asian music, and the like. Selections can also include specific artists and recordings. In the example of the audio preference screen 100 shown in FIG. 10, the user has selected the "Latin America 3" soundtrack. A slide button 112 is provided to adjust the soundtrack volume.

The snapshots 96 and 98 of FIG. 6 and the snapshots of FIGS. 8 and 9 are depicted as full screen displays for exemplary purposes. As shown in the figure, multiple snapshots can be displayed on a full screen at the same time. The CMG70 can generate more than one cache movie in one display frame. According to one aspect of the present invention, different framing options are presented to the user for selection, based on the operating speed of the computer 42 and the number of different snap shots or content segments provided by the user in one frame. preferences in the frame.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the computer 42 is programmed to generate a screen 130 with a layout preferred to allow the user to create a display frame or cache movie with more than one piece of content, and to create a display frame or cache movie at different screen destinations (i.e., coordinates on the display) from the screen 130. Defines the placement of these items in the window on the screen. The layout menu 132 allows the user to select from a variety of pre-designed or user-designed layouts. For example, a row of three on-screen windows may be provided along the left side of the screen for respectively displaying video data from three content segments 93, such as a broadcast news program, a broadcast local news program, and a broadcast sports highlight program. Another on-screen window may be placed on top of the screen to display stock market information from another piece of content 93 in text format, for example. These on-screen windows are represented as windows "1", "2", "3" and "4" in preview window 136 and correspond to the "alternate 2" layout selection of menu 132 in the example shown. Resolution menu 134 allows the user to change the resolution of display device 47 for use with the passive and active content viewing applications of the present invention. When the user exits the passive and active content viewing applications of the present invention, the computer 42 is programmed to return the resolution to the previous setting used before launching the active content viewing application. A "Change Resolution at Startup" button 138 allows the user to disable resolution changes via the menu 134 . A "More" button 138 allows the user to go to another screen that provides more layout customization options, such as allowing the user to create a custom layout or modify a pre-defined layout. The user is provided with the option of switching the settings of the on-screen window as well as the size and shape of the on-screen window. For example, a user may assign priorities to different content that the user chooses to view. For example, content deemed most important to the user may be provided in the most prominent window on the screen. Other on-screen windows can be generated as minimized windows in the background, which can be clicked with the mouse 53 and enlarged for temporary viewing. In addition, the user can select a different image continuation option. For example, the user may select from the image continuation library 75 different animation transition mechanisms between snap shots. Transitions between snapshots are indicated by reducing or fading out the currently displayed snapshot until the display device 47 is blank before another snapshot is displayed. Snapshots can also be presented by traversing or sliding and then leaving the display device 47 .

The computer 42 according to the present invention preferably has native screen or icon or desktop functionality (eg, "WorldView" screen 170 shown in FIG. 12). The native screen may provide the user with the option to enter a custom mode in which computer 42 generates screens (such as those shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 ) to prompt the user to make choices regarding custom presentation of cached movies and cached content. Alternatively, the customization mode can be entered by clicking on the snap image representing the control panel, which includes the customization screen, during cache movie access to the control panel. Each screen may be provided with a label generally indicated at 154 in FIGS. 10 and 11 to guide the user when switching screens in the application of the present invention. Additionally, interface portions such as a Cancel button 156 and an Accept button 158 for entering user selections may be provided on the screen to allow the user to control when his or her selections are stored and implemented by the computer 42 .

Continuing with FIG. 12, a snapshot image 170 with a content selection mechanism may be provided on the display device 47 to guide the user in selecting content that the broadcast may deliver for storage. Snapshot 170 provides two columns of menus 172 and 174 with different content. Menus 172 and 174 are scrolled using up and down buttons 176 and 178, respectively. With the user's selections, computer 42 stores corresponding information from content aggregator 58 in, for example, cache device 52 . Content in menus 172 and 174 may be categorized by content aggregator 58 into categories such as "Kids" and "News." Content type and category names such as “My Documents” and “Control Panel” may be generated by computer 42 and displayed on slider 160 . The type name may be dynamically generated by the CMG 70 and displayed on the slider 160 based on the selected cache content. User type selection from slider bar 160, allows the user to jump to a snapshot of the cached movie that matches the content of the selected type.

As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the cached content may include files or applications, such as control panels, for devices controlled by the computer 42, such as wireless receiver cards, television tuner cards, audio cards, and Home security or environmental control systems and more. Snapshots of control panels for external or peripheral devices may be included in the cache movie and provided on the slider bar 160 as separate types (eg, "Control Panel"). Thus, a user can scan multiple control panel snapshots and view the actual content corresponding thereto to control settings.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the multimedia available with the CMG 70 of the present invention. Snapshots can be generated from different media types and presented on a single snapshot. The different media types can be, for example, real-time data streaming at stock market rates, HTML, GIF, text, Quicktime, Flash, SMPTE, EDL, etc.

As previously described in conjunction with FIG. 3, certain users may access selected Internet-type information via a one-way broadcast system. Selected Internet-type data may be provided, for example, by content aggregator 58 because enough users desire certain types of information that broadcasting this information to many users at the same time is more convenient than providing it to individual users on a request basis in a peer-to-peer type of communication system. Data is more efficient. The system 40 sends the selected information to the user without requiring an information request or other signal from the user to the content provider or aggregator.

The computer 42 can be programmed to generate a snapshot of the HTML control/browsable page on the display device 47 that guides the user from multiple information sources such as local news reports, local weather reports, stock market reports, and consumer information. Choose from topics. Broadcast content may also include, for example, audio programs for various music genres such as classical music, world music, country music, maps, feature films, television programs, distance learning programs, information from Internet sites, and the like. The user selects which broadcast content to download and cache on his or her computer, and the snap shots are then presented by computer 42 on a screen window on display device 47 to create a cache movie as described above. Accordingly, previews of selections and cached content are provided in a television or video-like format. In other words, a user may passively preview highlights of all content selected by the user from the broadcast channel 66 . The user can also browse the content as described in connection with FIG. 4 . If a news broadcast program is selected, the news broadcast program is updated each time the content aggregator updates and broadcasts the program. Content such as videos can be downloaded for viewing at a later time. Therefore, the user conveniently does not have to receive and store selections on the spot. Additionally, content may be downloaded overnight or at other times when computer 42 is not in use. In another embodiment of the invention involving a two-way communication system, the computer 42 stores snapshots of certain content, but no actual content corresponds to the snapshots. Computer 42 accesses content represented by these snapshots from remote data sources via a network, as shown in FIG. 3 .

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to its details. Various modifications and substitutions have been suggested in the above description, and others may also occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such alternatives are included within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (41)

1. one kind provides the passive of cache content and the method for visit initiatively for the user, this content comprise any can from the Internet and other network, can digitizing and utilize the physical media of memory device stores and the content that the out of Memory source is checked and carried out, this method may further comprise the steps:

Chosen content, described content comprises contents fragment;

The candid photograph image of at least a portion of each fragment that generates a plurality of described contents fragments is to represent described a plurality of contents fragment;

The described candid photograph image of storage in memory storage; And

High-speed cache film of described a plurality of contents fragments is provided and described candid photograph image is offered an output unit successively by making up the described image of capturing, this output unit comprises at least one display device and an audio output device.

2. the method for claim 1 further may further comprise the steps:

During showing described high-speed cache film, receive the control signal of user's input; With

The control signal that responds described user's input is ended the displaying of described high-speed cache film.

3. method as claimed in claim 2 further comprises providing described output unit corresponding to one in the described candid photograph image selected step of capturing first described contents fragment of image.

4. method as claimed in claim 3, the wherein said step that provides comprises the step of obtaining described related content fragment from the local storage device that is connected to a computing machine, the described output unit of described computer-controllable system.

5. method as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidly provides step to comprise to utilize a computing machine to obtain the step of described related content fragment, the described output unit of described computer-controllable system through a network from a remote storage.

6. method as claimed in claim 3, the wherein said step that provides may further comprise the steps:

Determine that from selected described candid photograph image a relevant described contents fragment is to offer described output unit;

Obtain described relevant contents fragment from this memory storage, described relevant contents fragment is stored in this memory storage; With

Utilize described output unit that described relevant contents fragment is provided.

7. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said obtaining step comprise the step of obtaining described related content fragment from a local memory storage that is connected to a computing machine, and described computing machine is connected to described output unit.

8. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said obtaining step comprise utilizes a computing machine to obtain the step of described related content fragment through a network from remote storage, and described computing machine is connected to described output unit.

9. method as claimed in claim 2 further may further comprise the steps:

Receive the control signal of another user's input; With

The control signal that responds described another user's input recovers to show described high-speed cache film.

10. method as claimed in claim 2 further may further comprise the steps:

Browse selected described content;

Receive the control signal of another user's input; With

Respond the displaying that the control signal of described another user input is recovered described high-speed cache film.

11. the method for claim 1, wherein said a plurality of contents fragments comprise the HTML page or leaf, and described generation step comprises the step that the image transitions of at least one described HTML page or leaf is become at least one bitmap file and jpeg file.

12. method as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one described candid photograph image and relative described contents fragment are included in the hyperlink of another described contents fragment.

13. the method for claim 1 further comprises the step of no-load speed, makes that to utilize audio program to generate described candids photograph with this speed on described output unit visual.

14. method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said synchronizing step comprise that further instruction produces described step of capturing image according to editor's decision table.

15. method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of audio programs can be stored in the memory storage and playback on described audio output device, described instruction comprises the subset of instructions corresponding to each of described a plurality of audio programs, described instruction changes the rhythm that described candid photograph image produces on described display device, and further may further comprise the steps:

One control signal in the described a plurality of audio programs of selection of reception user input; And

Speed with a control being subjected to described subset of instructions produces described candids photograph image, and this instruction is corresponding to one that selectes in described a plurality of audio programs.

16. method as claimed in claim 2 further may further comprise the steps:

Show a slider bar on described output unit, described output unit has the cursor that moves around on described slider bar, and this cursor is to move corresponding to the speed of showing described candid photograph image during the described high-speed cache film;

Utilize an input equipment to click described slider bar;

End to show described high-speed cache film; With

On described display device, show a described candid photograph image.

17. method as claimed in claim 16, further comprise receiving the control signal and execution at least one operation in response to its a plurality of operations that the user imports, described a plurality of operations comprise another the described candid photograph image that recovers the described high-speed cache film of displaying, displaying selection and begin to browse described content.

18. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said slider bar comprises that corresponding to each described cursor position of capturing image described click step comprises that a described cursor position clicking selection is to provide a corresponding described candid photograph image on described display device.

19. the method for claim 1, wherein this content can obtain from least one Content aggregation device and gateway, described selection step comprises from one lists the step of selecting the menu of this content, and this menu is received from least one of Content aggregation device and gateway.

20. method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said selection step further are included in the step of the described chosen content of storage in the local memory storage that is connected to a computing machine, this computing machine is connected to described output unit.

21. method as claimed in claim 19, wherein this content characterizes with a plurality of class names, further may further comprise the steps:

According to the described candid photograph image of each described classification combination, be used for showing at described high-speed cache film successively;

Show a slider bar on described output unit, described output unit has the cursor that moves around on described slider bar, and this cursor is to move corresponding to the speed of showing described candid photograph image during the described high-speed cache film;

On described slider bar, provide the name part to represent the described classification of described chosen content;

Utilize an input equipment to click one of them described name part on the described slider bar; With

A described candid photograph image showing a corresponding described classification on described display device is represented this classification by a selected described name part.

22. one kind is used for representing the system of content with self-defining multimedia form to the user, this content comprises information, multimedia, data file and the application of internet-type, and this system comprises:

One user's interface device comprises an output unit and an input media, and described output unit comprises at least one display device and an audio output device;

One memory storage is used to store the content that comprises contents fragment;

One treating apparatus, it is connected to described user's interface device and described memory storage, and described treating apparatus can generate corresponding to the candid photograph image of each described contents fragment with by provide described candid photograph image to create a high-speed cache film in proper order to described display device.

23. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said treating apparatus can be through controlling connected external device (ED) and peripherals for the control panel that provides for each described external device (ED) and peripherals in the described memory storage, on described display device, produce different described candid photograph image corresponding to each described control panel, and allow described user by selecting to interrupt described high-speed cache film, visit a corresponding described control panel to provide to described display device, visit described control panel through described high-speed cache film with the corresponding described candid photograph image of a selected described control panel with from described memory storage.

24. the system as claimed in claim 22, described treating apparatus is programmed according to the application program that has described memory storage, described treating apparatus can generate different described candid photograph images to represent each described application program and to allow described user through described high-speed cache film that interrupting described high-speed cache film by selection provides a described candid photograph image and execution to carry out a selected described application program from a corresponding described application program of described memory storage to provide to described display device corresponding to a described application program of selecting.

25. the system as claimed in claim 22, further comprise a remote storage and a network, this remote storage is used to store at least one described contents fragment, this network is used to connect described treating apparatus and described remote storage, described treating apparatus can be ended to show described high-speed cache film and one described candid photograph image is provided and visit an its corresponding described contents fragment by obtain described contents fragment from one of described memory storage and described remote storage to described display device.

26. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said content offers described user through broadcast program, described treating apparatus can be programmed and comprise with generation and to instruct described user to select which described broadcast program is stored in described memory storage and the screen of the prompt that provides to described output unit through described input media, and it is visual that described treating apparatus can generate different described candid photograph of each described broadcast program of selecting corresponding to described user.

27. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said memory storage has a plurality of digital audio programs that are used to provide dissimilar music, described treating apparatus can be programmed allowing described user to carry out of a plurality of selections at least, these selections comprise the described different a plurality of audio programs of output which as described high-speed cache film during around background music, the described audio output device of noise reduction whether, when upgrade described memory storage to described memory storage by downloading at least one new audio program, with be the volume level that described audio output device is provided with when the background music play around described.

28. system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said treating apparatus can be programmed so that produce the described speed of image and the synchronization of rate of described audio program of capturing on described display device.

29. system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said treating apparatus utilizes synchronization means to instruct synchronous described generation of capturing image.

30. system as claimed in claim 29, the synchronization means instruction of a plurality of subclass of corresponding each the described audio program of wherein said memory device stores, described treating apparatus produces described candid photograph image with different speed according to one of them described a plurality of subclass of the described audio program of corresponding described user's selection on described display device.

31. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said treating apparatus can be programmed the screen that comprises window at least one screen with generation, position of window is corresponding to the destination of screen on the above screen of described screen, described treating apparatus can be selected the screen destination that is used to place window on the described screen to instruct described user at the screen that generates at least one preference layout on the described display device, shows at least one described contents fragment and described candid photograph image wherein with self-defined described treating apparatus.

32. system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said treating apparatus can be programmed to allow described user to select at least one shape and size of window on the described screen.

33. system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said treating apparatus can be programmed producing a plurality of high-speed cache films residing in described memory storage, and shows more than one described a plurality of high-speed cache films simultaneously on described display device.

34. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said content can obtain from least one of Content aggregation device and gateway, described treating apparatus can be programmed with generation and comprise the information exercise question of corresponding described contents fragment and the menu of program, described treating apparatus generates at least one candid photograph image and is used for being stored in described memory device, the described information exercise question that at least one described contents fragment is selected from described menu through described input media corresponding to described user.

35. system as claimed in claim 34, wherein said content is relevant with the different classification with each class name, the described treating apparatus described image of capturing capable of being combined is used for showing at described high-speed cache film successively according to described classification separately, on described output unit, to show slider bar with a cursor, cursor shows that described speed of capturing image moves past described slider bar back and forth during with corresponding described high-speed cache film, on described slider bar, provide the name part to represent each described classification of selected described content, therefore when utilizing described input media to click the described name part of of described slider bar, described treating apparatus provides of a corresponding described classification described candid photograph image, represents described classification by the above name part of described display device.

36. system as claimed in claim 35, connected external device (ED) of wherein said treating apparatus may command and peripherals, and on described display device, produce the control panel be used for each described external device (ED) and peripherals, to generate different described candid photograph images corresponding to each the described control panel that is illustrated in described display device, a described name part corresponding to control panel is provided on described slider bar, and allows described user partly to visit described control panel by the described control panel of selecting described slider bar through described high-speed cache film.

37. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one described candid photograph image and the described contents fragment that shows at described output unit comprises that from the link of its part to one described contents fragment described treating apparatus can end to show described high-speed cache film automatically when described user selects described link.

38. system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said treating apparatus can be programmed allowing described user to browse described contents fragment, to respond described user through the request of described input equipment and recover to show described high-speed cache film.

39. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said memory storage can be programmed the image continuity routine library that comprises a plurality of image continuity functions with storage, described treating apparatus can be programmed to allow described user to select from described a plurality of image continuity functions, described treating apparatus can be realized the described a plurality of image continuity functions that described user selects, so that the visual transition between the different described candid photograph images to be provided.

40. system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said a plurality of image continuity function is included in the size that reduces the current screen that described treating apparatus generates during the described high-speed cache film on described display device, the described contents fragment of being watched all is blank up to described current screen, produce described current screen and move, and weak described current screen is blank haply up to described display device to make it to look like by described display device.

41. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said treating apparatus can generate a high-speed cache film rate controlled button on described display device, described treating apparatus can be programmed to allow described user to select a plurality of speed to produce described high-speed cache film in described display device, and described treating apparatus can provide described speed of capturing image through the input control of described rate controlled button according to the user.

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