Patent ID: 6553404
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A digital department system comprising:a network management center that receives content providers' files and assigns at least one attribute for each content provider file used to designate certain of the content providers' files for distribution to certain end clients, the network management center including one or more databases of 1) digitized and cataloged content provider information and at least one of 2a) sponsor information and 2b) attract videos; a network operating center coupled to the network management center, the network operating center: receiving the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged content provider information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file from the network management center; creating designated files for distribution to end clients by compressing into a single file the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged product information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file; and sending the designated flies for distribution to certain end clients; a multimedia server, the multimedia server receiving and storing the designated files in a digitized form for distribution to certain end clients; a communications network coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, the communications network including a multicasting transmission medium; a plurality of end clients coupled to the multimedia server, each end client of the plurality of end clients receiving its designated files; and a plurality of multimedia displays coupled to the multimedia server.