Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-12
2001-09-11
Black, Thomas (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C709S241000, C725S050000, C725S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289346
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for searching for archived items of interest and bookmarking those items for future reference. More specifically, the invention provides for identifying a broadcast program of interest that is archived on a network and bookmarking the archived version of the program at a particular point during the broadcast.
Currently, it is possible to search for items of interest that are archived and available on the Internet and then bookmark those items for future reference. However, in order to bookmark the item of interest, the item must first be retrieved from the network on which it is archived. Usually this retrieval process is preceded by a search for the item. Searching for an item of interest presents drawbacks. For example, if a keyword search is conducted in the situations where either the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the particular item of interest is not known or where the searcher is not yet aware of a particular document that is of interest, the number of “hits” retrieved could be so extensive as to require the searcher to sift through the search results to find a particular item of interest. Thus, extensive searching may be required before a particular archived document is found and bookmarked for future reference.
Even if the searcher knows the specific URL of an item of interest, and is thus able to retrieve the item without extensive searching, current methods of bookmarking an item of interest present drawbacks. In order to bookmark an item, the viewer is required to identify the URL of the item so that its URL may be stored for future reference. This may be accomplished by either accessing the archived item from the network or by entering the specific URL for the item into the searcher's computer. In either case, the searcher must be using their computer to bookmark the item of interest. This presents drawbacks when the viewer of an item of interest desires to bookmark that item for future reference when the viewer's computer is not accessible.
Known bookmarking techniques have the further disadvantage that the searcher may have to review an entire item to view that particular part of the item that is of interest. For example, if a searcher is interested in viewing a particular story in a news program that is archived, the searcher may have to scan through the entire news program before they are able to find and view the particular story that they are interested in.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved method for searching for archived items of interest and for bookmarking those items of interest at particular locations within the item for future reference purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The drawbacks in the prior art are overcome by the present invention for a bookmarking system. In accordance with the present invention, a user input device and a network server are provided. With the present invention, a person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference at any particular location in the program. Therefore, in order to practice the present invention, the network news program, as well as being broadcast for viewing, must also be archived on a network for future access by the viewer.
As stated above, when viewing a broadcast program, the viewer of the broadcast program can bookmark an archived version of the program for future reference. The viewer utilizes a user input device to communicate to a network server the identity of the viewer, the identity of the program of interest, and the particular time of interest during the conduct of the program. The network server uses the identification information related to the program of interest to identify and locate the archived version of the program. The archived program is segmented into distinct segments. A unique URL is specified for each segment of the archived program. Using the time of interest of the viewer when viewing the broadcast program, as communicated to the network server, the network server is able to identify the specific URL that is associated with the particular archived segment of the program that is of interest to the viewer. Once the network server determines the URL for the segment of the program of interest, the server transmits this URL to the computer of the viewer. The viewer is thus able to bookmark this URL to access the archived program at a particular point of interest in the program for future reference.
In this manner, the present invention provides for easily locating an archived program of interest and bookmarking that program at a particular point in the program for future reference. The viewer of the program is not required to know the URL of the program of interest to locate the archived version of the program and the viewer is not required to have access to a personal computer to bookmark the program of interest. After the program of interest is bookmarked, the user is able to utilize their personal computer to access the program of interest through means that are well known in the art.
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Milewski Allen E.
Smith Thomas M.
AT&T Corp.
Black Thomas
Kenyon & Kenyon
Le Uyen
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