Patent ID: 6874152
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for organizing and accessing content over a network of computers, the system comprising: a database system connected to the network that contains a mapping of a plurality of channel codes to a plurality of network addresses and a plurality of content descriptions, where each channel code comprises a textual genre code and a number, and where each network address identifies a unit of content; a content provider interface to the database system that is connected to the network, for allowing content providers to enter the network addresses and the content descriptions into the database system for the units of content; a personal computer connected to the network, for use by a computer user to view the units of content over the network; and a viewer interface software that is loaded on the personal computer, the viewer interface comprising a guide and a browser-independent virtual remote control; wherein the guide shows the content descriptions for units of content and allows a viewer to select one of the channels for viewing in a network browser application running on the personal computer; wherein the personal computer displays the guide to the computer user independently from the network browser application; and wherein the virtual remote control allows the computer user to display the units of content through the network browser application by inputting a textual genre code and a number or by selecting a textual genre code and then scanning channels by browsing through the channel codes for that genre code; wherein scanning channels by browsing through the channel codes for a genre code comprises cycling only through the channel codes for which units of content are accessible; wherein the channel code is not a URL.