SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A USER WITH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE ACCESS TO CACHED CONTENT

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: SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A USER WITH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE ACCESS TO CACHED CONTENT Field of the Invention The invention relates to a system for allowing a user to actively and passively view and access cached content. Background of the Invention A user typically has an active role when obtaining information from the Internet or other network. For example, the user operates a mouse or keyboard, among other types of input devices, to respond to prompts generated on a computer screen by Internet browser application software (e.g., a search engine) and Web pages. By doing so, the user searches for and selects information that is made available on the Internet for viewing and downloading when the user is browsing. In contrast, a user has a passive role when obtaining information via television or other broadcast technology. For example, programs are broadcast via broadband television networks (e.g., via satellite, microwave, VHF/UHF or cable television (CATV) systems) at times designated by broadcast service providers. Thus, a user must tune to a particular television channel at a predetermined time in order to view a program. The user can tune to different channels if desired. The user, however, is limited to viewing only those programs being broadcast at the present time. To avoid having to be present to view a program, a user typically programs a video cassette recorder (VCR) to capture and record television programs on video cassette tape. The user must program the VCR to specify when the VCR is to commence and terminate recording. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional Internet approach involves a user actively searching for Internet-type information provided by content providers 20a, 20b, 20c through 20n using browser software 22 on the user's computer (e.g., a personal computer or PC) 24. A user obtains access to Internet-type content via a network 26 and the Internet and/or the World Wide Web (WWW) indicated at 28. For illustrative purposes, the Internet- type information is understood to be any digitizable and viewable content (e.g., Hyper-text Markup Language (HTML), web-type pages, video, audio, text, software downloads, photographs, animation and so on) from the Web, for example, or any other data source. Web-type pages are understood to be HTML pages or content pages created using other software languages, formats and protocols (e.g., JAVA, Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), File Transfer Protocol (FTP)) used to facilitate transfer of data files between computers. The Internet-type information can be stored or cached, as indicated in block 30 in Fig. 2, on the disk drive of the user's computer 24. With reference to block 32 in Fig. 2, the browser software 22 allows a user to view the cached information page by page by clicking on screen icons or typing an address into a Universal Resource Locator (URL) 31 using a mouse or other input device to go to other Web-type content. In the conventional television approach. the user watches passively while information is displayed in an entertaining format. Users prefer different methods of obtaining information, depending on the type of the content to be viewed, the amount of time the user has to view content, the user's disposition, among other factors. A need exists for a convergence technology which provides users with the option of accessing Internet-type information, as well as other types of digital content, either passively or actively, since both methods of accessing information have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, users would then have the convenience of viewing Internet- type information which has been automatically presented to them, without having to expend time and effort to perform various actions to view the cached information such as clicking on screen icons with a mouse to jump to different content. In addition, users would continue to have the ability to actively peruse Internet-type information and other digital content using their mouse or other input device, in the time and order of their choosing. Conventional Internet protocol involves delivery of content to each user after each user has specifically requested that content. Thus, the same content is sent to different users at different times on an individual basis. Network bandwidth for transmitting Internet information to users is inefficiently used when the same content is sent repeatedly to large numbers of requesting users, as is the case with a popular web site. Broadcasting such popular digital information simultaneously to many users makes more efficient use of a communication path to users. This popular content can 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 information are emerging, a need exists for a user interface which permits a user to experience the convergence of active and passive information viewing and access. Summary of the Invention The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of existing methods for presenting cached content to users, and realizes a number of advantages over these methods. In accordance with the invention, a user has the convenience of passively viewing a cache movie which provides a preview of selected content, which has been cached or stored on a computer or multimedia system or stored remotely. In addition, a user has the ability to suspend passive preview activity at any time using a mouse or other input device and to actively peruse content selected from the previewed content. The user may then resume passive viewing of the content preview if desired. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the cache movie is generated by creating and assembling snap shots of the selected content. The snap shots are then presented sequentially on a display device. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the rate at which the snap shots are presented is selected by the user and can be synchronized with a soundtrack of the user's choice. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided for previewing selected cached content via a cached movie and accessing actual content corresponding to the snap shots in the cache movie. The user interface allows the user to jump to different snap shots within a cache movie by clicking on different positions in a slide bar. The snap shots and the content corresponding thereto can also be characterized by category names. The order of the snap shots in the cache movie can be arranged by category. The user interface can provide slide bar segments bearing the names of the categories to which the snap shots of the selected content belongs. A user can click on a slide bar segment to commence presentation of the snap shots corresponding thereto. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, snap shots are generated for selected documents and application files on a user computer and can include snap shots of control panels for devices controlled by the user's computer. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a display frame can be configured to display more than one snap shot or cache movie. The user interface provides the user with different layout options. Brief Description Of The Drawings The various aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be more readily comprehended from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional system for accessing Internet-type content; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the conventional manner by which information is obtained from the Internet or other information sources for browsing; Fig. 3 is diagrammatic illustration of a system for providing information including Internet information to users via a high-speed broadcast data stream in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner by which a computer presents cached content to a user for preview and access in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of cached content in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 illustrates a cache movie and synchronization thereof with music in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 depicts an exemplary snap shot which can be a frame in a cache movie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figs.8 and 9 depict exemplary user interface computer screens presented during a cache movie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate exemplary computer screens generated by a user computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate exemplary snap shots which can be presented in a cache movie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Throughout the drawing figures, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts and components. Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments With reference to Fig. 3, a system 40 allows a user to obtain one or more types information or content such as Internet-type information for storage in a cache memory for viewing and accessing via a computer 42 or a computer-controlled system such as a set-top box in accordance with the present invention. Cached content is information stored in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive. Cached content can be stored at the user's computer 42, or at a remote storage device which is accessible by the computer 42 via a network in accordance with the present invention. The content can be provided to the computer 42 via high-speed broadcast channels, for example. The broadcast methods 44, 46 and 48 described below in connection with Fig. 3 are provided for exemplary purposes. It is to be understood that many aspects of the present invention do not require that content be broadcast. The present invention provides a user interface 50 to access high quality sound, data and images stored in a memory device 55 such as a hard disk drive. The user interface comprises an input device 54 such as a mouse and at least one output device 56 such as a loudspeaker 59 and a display device 47. With continued reference to Fig. 3, a content aggregator or gateway 58 obtains content from various content providers via the Internet 60, as well as from other data sources (e.g., networks such as Ethernets). The content aggregator 58 can obtain selected content such as regional news reports, regional weather reports, stock market information, music, consumer information, distance learning programs, among other information. The content can be transmitted to users via a broadcast signal using one or more high-speed data transmission methods such as a satellite direct digital broadcast system 44, a CATV network (e.g., coaxial cable) 46, or a public switched telephone network (PSTN) cable 48 (e.g., fiber optic, copper or coaxial link). For example, a telephone company can employ asynchronous digital subscriber link (ADSL) technology, or other digital subscriber link technology (i.e., XDSL). Other transmission methods can include a VHF UHF broadcast network, a microwave network, a fiber optic network, and so on. It is to be understood that more than one content aggregator 58 can be used to organize content for viewing and access by users. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the content aggregator 58 organizes data for transmission by a high-speed data stream, which is generally indicated at 66 in Fig. 3. While the data transmission systems 44, 46 and 48 depicted in Fig. 3 are described as being one-way communication systems, a user can have two-way access to content organized by a content aggregator 58. For example, a communication path such as a PSTN 68 can be used to both request and receive content. The conventional Internet approach typically involves connecting to a server 26 via a PSTN 68 and the Internet 60 each time a user desires to access content. Alternatively, a request for content can be sent to a content aggregator 58 via a PSTN 68 and the requested content can be received via the high-speed data stream 66 in a satellite transmission system 44, for example. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, content from a content aggregator 58 is broadcast to the user and no return link such as a PSTN 68 is provided. To facilitate user selection of content, the content aggregator 58 creates a program which highlights the content available via the content aggregator. The program is hereinafter referred to as a teaser and is broadcast to users at least periodically with other content. A method of generating the teaser is described below in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The user can view the teaser via the user interface to determine which content from the content aggregator 58 is to be stored in the disk drive 55. In accordance with the present invention, the computer 42 is programmed to generate screens on the display device 47 to allow a user to view stored content, as well as to make selections regarding the types of content that are to be stored in the computer memory 55. To facilitate viewing cached content, the computer 42 is programmed to generate snap shots (e.g., to convert images of HTML pages to non- interactive representations such as a bit map or JPEG file) from content stored on the disk drive 55 or other memory device and to generate a cache movie. A cache movie is a sequence of snap shots that represent the contents of a cache storage device. A method by which a user computer 42 can generate a cache movie, and likewise a content aggregator 58 can generate a teaser, is described below in connection with Figs. 4-6. The computer 42 can also generate screens (e.g., the screens depicted in Figs. 10 and 11) which allow a user to customize the manner in which the cache movie and content is presented to the user via the output device 56. As stated previously, the conventional way of browsing Internet-type content requires a user to have an active role, by clicking through selected content to view each Web- type page, for example. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the process of browsing content is improved to provide a user with the ability to either actively or passively view and access cached content via the user's computer 42. With reference to Fig. 4, content obtained from content providers (e.g., a content aggregator 58) via a network channel or other means is preferably stored in computer memory (e.g., on a disk drive 55). Fig. 5 illustrates content from a data stream being provided to a computer 42. The computer comprises a disk drive 55 or other memory device, a portion of which can be a cache storage section 52. The cache storage section 52 can also be on a memory device that is separate from the disk drive 55. Portions of the broadcast content which is pre-selected by and for the user through a broadcast network, for example, are stored in the cache storage section 52 as data files hereinafter referred to as content segments 93. Content from a content aggregator 58 which has been stored in storage device 55 can be automatically updated, that is, written over when that content has been updated by the content aggregator and provided to the user's computer 42. One of the content segments 93 is preferably a teaser provided by a content aggregator 58. The disk drive also stores applications 95 (e.g., word processing and communication programs) and data files 97 such as text and image files which can enter the computer 42 by alternate means such as CDROM, a keyboard or other input device. With continued reference to Fig. 4, the computer 42 is programmed with local movie generation software 70 in accordance with the present invention to generate a cache movie by assembling snap shots from any directories and files on the disk drive 55 or other memory device. The local movie generation software is hereinafter referred to as the cache movie generator (CMG) 70. The computer 42 is programmed to make a snap shot of one or more key pages in each content segment 93 and to store the snap shots on the disk drive 55 (block 71). Snap shots can be generated, for example, by creating a representation of Web-type page that is, converting text, images, HTML and other data to an image file using bit mapping, JPEG or other format. In accordance with the present invention, the computer 42 is programmed by the CMG 70 to generate and to assemble and display the snap shots sequentially on the output device 56 to provide the user with a cache movie to preview the content segments in the cache memory 52 (block 81). The user can therefore passively view a representation of the cached content. The computer 42 is also programmed in accordance with the present invention to store a number of software tools 73 which are downloaded or otherwise stored as needed. The software tools preferably comprise an image segue library 75, an audio library 77 and a synchronization tool 79 such as an Edit Decision List (EDL) for providing instructions to synchronize the snap shots in a cache movie to correspond with music being played during the cache movie. As described below in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, the computer 42 is programmed to permit the user to customize the cache movie by selecting music to be played or having silence (e.g., muting the loudspeaker 59) during the cache movie and the speed with which snap shots or frames in the cache movie are presented to the output device 56, among other options such as screen prompts, controls and image segues. To create a cache movie, the computer 42 is programmed to synchronize the display of the snap shots on a computer monitor of the output device 56 with music or other audio soundtrack selected by the user from the audio library 77. Instructions from the synchronization tool79 (e.g., EDL instructions) provide synchronization codes such as SMPTE time codes standardized by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for synchronization. Other synchronization methods, however, can be used. Cache movie generation is illustrated in Fig. 6. A first snap shot 96 is shown, followed by a number of other snap shots to be displayed sequentially thereafter and indicated generally at 98. The snap shot 96 is to be generated on the output device 56 a selected time during the playback of the background music selected by the user such as at time 01:02:28: 16 into the music piece, as indicated by the SMPTE code 99. Thus, the pace at which the snap shots are presented to the output device 56 is coordinated via synchronization tool instructions with the tempo of the music selected by the user for playback during the cache movie. Accordingly, snap shots or frames in the cache movie can be presented in a more rapid succession and at a varying pace (e.g., the pace increasing more rapidly as the movie progresses) when accompanied by rock music than by chamber music. Two users who have selected the same content to be previewed create different cache movies on the basis of speed and the accompanying soundtrack. A content aggregator 58 can create a teaser using the same method of synchronization, that is, snap shots of content can be generated at a selected rate which is commensurate with the style of the soundtrack selected by the content aggregator. As stated previously, however, the user can select to view the cache movie without any sound from the loudspeaker 59. The snap shots can be synchronized in accordance with a user input, as opposed to a synchronization with an audio soundtrack tool. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, a slide bar 67 is provided to control the cache movie presentation rate when no soundtrack is desired. By moving the cursor 69 up or down, the user can select the pace of the cache movie to be presented more rapidly (e.g., three frames per second) or at a slower rate (e.g., one frame every three seconds), respectively. The computer 42 can be programmed to associate a frame or snap shot presentation rate with a particular cursor position. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a cache movie is generated by the computer 42 which comprises applications 95 and data files 97 on the disk drive 55, for example, as well as content segments from the cache memory 52 or other memory. The CMG 70 selects stored files and/or applications on the basis of file type, directory location or date of origin or date of last edit, among other criteria. Snap shots are generated for the files and/or applications that a user wishes to have included in a cache movie. One such snap shot is depicted in Fig. 7. For example, a user can select to see a snap shot of each file having been created or revised before a selected date. The user can then passively view a portion of each file to determine, for example, whether or not a file can be deleted. A cache movie of disk drive files is also helpful when a user is looking for a particular image, text or other data and cannot remember where the data is stored. The user can also select the format of the snap shots. For example, a snap shot of only the first page of each selected data file can be provided to the output device 56. Snap shots which each indicate four pages or images from a stored viewable file can be used to allow the user to view several pages of each file being previewed by the cache movie, as depicted in Fig. 7. The cache movie can also include a snap shot of an icon or other image representing an application. The computer 42 is also programmed to allow the user to browse cached content actively by suspending presentation of the cache movie to click on a snap shot, which causes the CMG 70 to present the actual content corresponding to the present snap shot. The user can then click on any screen icons or hyper-links in the content currently on display, to jump to other content segments 93 cached anywhere that is accessible via the computer 42 (e.g., via a network 60), and to resume presentation of the cache movie as desired. With reference to Fig. 4, the user can start the CMG 70 (block 83) when desired by clicking on an icon or other image on the display device 47. While the cache movie is being presented (block 85). the user can stop the cache movie, as indicated in block 87, to view the content segment represented by a snap shot. The user therefore can selectively transition to an active browsing role from a passive viewing role and then click on prompts or icons provided in the content and jump to other related Internet-type content, as indicated in block 89. When the user no longer wishes to actively browse the selected content, the user can resume playback of the cache movie, as indicated in block 91. In accordance with the CMG 70, the computer 42 can commence generation of the cache movie before the user requests to view the cache movie and therefore independently of when the user desires to preview cached content. Alternatively, the computer 42 via the CMG 70 generates the cache movie in response to a user request (e.g., when the user requests to view snap shots of data files in the computer storage device 55 having a selected revision date). The cache movie changes from one generation thereof to a subsequent generation thereof when the content changes. In addition, several different cache movies can reside simultaneously in the cache memory 52 for presentation when selected by a user. Any "Entertainment" cache movie can be created using snap shots of different videos, while a "My Documents" cache move can be created for a user's professional work. The "Entertainment" cache movie may not change very often if the user maintains cache files to preview favorite videos, as compared with a "My Documents" cache movie. Figs. 8 and 9 are exemplary snap shots created via cache movie generation in accordance with the present invention. The screens depict windows in which snap shots of selected content are being presented. The screens comprise a bar 160 and a cursor 162 which traverses the bar 160 to indicate the progression of the cache movie, as well as a play/stop button 159 and a mute button 161. The button 159 can be eliminated by allowing the user to double click on the cursor 162 instead to alternately stop and start the cache movie. A user can click on the cursor 162 to "freeze" the screen and then click on the cursor 162 again to resume playback of the segment. The user can also click on any portion of the bar 160 to view the snap shot corresponding to that portion of the cache movie. The computer 42 is programmed by the CMG 70 to store data relating a snap shot among a sequence of snap shots with a cursor position on the bar 160. Fig. 9 illustrates a snap shot which is presented before the snap shot depicted in Fig. 8, as indicated by the respective positions of the cursor 162 on the bar 160 in both snap shots. Thus, the user can click on a position on the bar 160 and jump to the snap shot presented when the cursor 162 is at that position without having to view all of the snap shots that were presented between the last cursor position and the new cursor position. In addition to selecting silence or the style of music played during a cache movie, and the tempo of the cache movie, the present invention provides the user with other ways to customize snap shots and presentation of the content. With reference to Fig.10, the computer 42 is programmed to generate an audio preferences screen 100 on the display device 47 which provides a user with a number of options regarding music to accompany the cache movie. A user customizes his or her listening experience during presentation of the cache movie by selecting a silence button 114 or a button 104 for the soundtrack music for the cache movie. The audio preferences screen also provides a menu 106 of different kinds of soundtrack music such as Latin American music, Middle Eastern music, African Tribal music, South Pacific music, Southeast Asian music, and so on. The selections can also include specific artists and sound recordings. In the sample audio preferences screen 100 shown in Fig. 10, the user has selected the "Latin American 3" soundtrack. A slider button 1 12 is provided to adjust the volume of the soundtrack music. The snap shots 96 and 98 in Fig. 6 and the snap shots in Figs. 8 and 9 have been described as full-screen displays for exemplary purposes. Plural snap shots can be presented simultaneously in a full-screen display, as shown. The CMG 70 can generate more than one cache movie in a display frame. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, different framing options are provided for selection by the user, depending on the operating speed of the computer 42 and user preferences as to how many different snap shots or content segments are to be provided in one frame. With reference to Fig.l l, the computer 42 is programmed to generate a layout preferences screen 130 to allow the user to create display frames having more than one content segment or cache movie and to customize the placement these items in onscreen windows at different screen destinations (i.e., coordinates on a display). A layout menu 132 permits the user to select from a variety of pre-designed or user-designed layouts. For example, a row of three onscreen windows can be provided along the left side of a screen for showing video data from three content segments 93 such as a broadcast news program, a broadcast regional news program and a broadcast sports highlights program, respectively. Another onscreen window can be placed at the top of the screen to display stock market information from another content segment 93 in a text format, for example. The onscreen windows are shown in a preview window 136 as windows "1", "2", "3" and "4" and correspond to the "alternate 2" layout option in menu 132 in the illustrated example. A resolution menu 134 allows the user to change the resolution of the display device 47 for the passive and active content viewing application program of the present invention. When the user exits the passive and active content viewing application program of the present invention, the computer 42 is programmed to return the resolution to the previous setting used before the active content viewing application program was initiated. A "switch resolutions on 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 which provides more layout customization options, such as allowing the user to create custom layouts or to modify the pre-defined layouts. The user is provided with options to change the placement of the onscreen windows, as well as the size and shape of the onscreen windows. For example, the user can assign priorities to different content which the user has selected for viewing. For example, the content deemed to be most important to the user can be provided in the most prominent window on the screen. Other onscreen windows can be generated as smaller windows in the background which can be clicked on using the mouse 53 and enlarged for temporary viewing. In addition, a user can select from different image segue options. For example, the user can select from among different animated transition mechanisms between snap shots from the image segue library 75. Transitions between snap shots can be indicated by diminishing the size of or fading a currently displayed snap shot until the display device 47 is blank prior to presenting another snap shot. Snap shots can also be presented so as to appear to be traversing or sliding onto and then off of the display device 47. The computer 42 in accordance with the present invention preferably has a home screen or icon or desktop function (e.g., "WorldView " ' screen 170 depicted in Fig. 12). The home screen can provide the user with the option to enter a customization mode wherein the computer 42 generates screens (e.g., screens as shown in Figs. 10 and 1 1) to prompt the user to make selections regarding the customized presentation of the cache movie and cached content. Alternatively, the customization mode can be entered by clicking on the snap shot representing the control panel comprising the customization screens during the cache movie to access the control panel. Each screen can be provided with tabs indicated generally at 154 in Figs. 10 and 11 to guide the user when switching between screens in the application program of the present invention. In addition, interface elements such as a cancel button 156 and an accept button 158 can be provided on screens where user selections are entered to allow the user to control when his or her selections are to be stored and implemented by the computer 42. With continued reference to Fig. 12, a snap shot 170 can be provided which provides a content selection mechanism on the display device 47 to guide the user when selecting broadcast deliverable content for storage. The snap shot 170 provides two column menus 172 and 174 listing different content. The menus 172 and 174 which can be scrolled using up/down buttons 176 and 178, respectively. The user's selections are used by the computer 42 to store the corresponding information from the content aggregator(s) 58 in the cache storage device 52, for example. The content in the menus 172 and 174 can be categorized by the content aggregator 58 into categories such as "Kids" and "News". Category names, as well as content-type names such as "My Documents" and "Control Panel" can be generated by the computer 42 and displayed in the bar 160. The category names can be dynamically generated by the CMG 70 based on selected cached content and displayed in the bar 160. User selection of a category from the bar 160 allows the user to jump to snap shots representing content in the cache movie that correspond to the selected category. As stated previously with reference to Fig. 5, the cached content can include documents or applications such as control panels for devices controlled by the computer 42 such as a radio receiver card for receiving broadcast content, a television tuner card, an audio card, and a home security or environment control system, among others. Snap shots for control panels for external or peripheral devices can be included in a cache movie and provided a separate category (e.g., "Control Panels") in the bar 160. Thus, a user can scan several control panel snap shots and browse the actual content corresponding thereto in order to change control settings Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the multimedia available using the CMG 70 of the present invention. A snap shot can be made from different media types and presented on a single snap shot. The different media types can be a real-time data stream to provide stock market rates, for example, HTML. .GIF, text, Quicktime. Flash. SMPTE, EDL, and so on. As stated previously in connection with Fig. 3, some users can have access to selected Internet-type information via a one-way broadcast system. The selected Internet- type data can be provided by a content aggregator 58, for example, because some types of information are desired by enough users as to make broadcasting of that information simultaneously to many users efficient in contrast with providing the data to individual users on a request-only basis in a point-to-point type of communication system. The system 40 delivers selected information to users 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 snap shot of an HTML control/navigable page on the display device 47 which guides the user to select from a number of topics of information such as regional news reports, regional weather reports, stock market reports, and consumer information. Broadcast content can also include, for example, audio programs for a variety of music categories such as classical music, world music, country music, maps, feature films, television programs, distance learning programs, information from Internet sites, and so on. The user selects which broadcast content is to be downloaded and cached on his or her computer. Snap shots therefrom are then presented in onscreen windows on the display device 47 by the computer 42 to create a cache movie as described above. Thus, a preview of the selected and cached content is provided in a television or video-like format. In other words, the user can passively preview highlights of all of the content selected by the user from the broadcast channel 66. The user can also browse the content as described above on connection with Fig. 4. If a news broadcast program is selected, it is updated as often as the content aggregator updates and broadcasts the program. Content such as video can be downloaded for viewing at a later time. Thus, a user has the convenience of not having to be present to receive and store selected content. In addition, content can be downloaded during the night or during other periods when the computer 42 is not otherwise being used. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention involving a two-way communication system, the computer 42 stores snap shots of some content but not the actual content corresponding to these snap shots. The computer 42 accesses the content represented by these snap shots from remote data sources via a network, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various modifications and substitutions have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such substitutions are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: What is Claimed Is: 1. A method for providing a user with passive and active access to cached content, the content comprising any viewable and executable content from the Internet and other networks, physical media and other information sources which can be digitized and stored using a memory device, the method comprising the steps of: selecting content, said content comprising content segments; generating snap shots of at least a portion of respective ones of a plurality of said content segments to represent said plurality of content segments; storing said snap shots in a memory device; and presenting a cache movie of said plurality of content segments by assembling said snap shots and providing said snap shots sequentially to an output device comprising at least one of a display device and an audio output device. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: receiving a user input control signal during presentation of said cache movie; and suspending presentation of said cache movie in response to said user input control signal. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of providing to said output device a first one of said content segments corresponding to a selected one of said snap shots. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said providing step comprises the step of retrieving said related content segment from a local memory device connected to a computer, said computer being operable to control said output device. 5. A method as claimed in claim 3. wherein said providing step comprises the step of retrieving said related content segment from a remote memory device via a network using a computer, said computer being operable to control said output device. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said providing step comprises the steps of: determining from said selected said snap shots a related one of said content segments to provide to said output device; retrieving said related content segment from the memory device in which said related content segment is stored; and providing said related content segment using said output device. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving said related content segment from a local memory device connected to a computer, said computer being connected to said output device. 8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving said related content segment from a remote memory device via a network using a computer, said computer being connected to said output device. 9. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: receiving another user input control signal; and resuming presentation of said cache movie in response to said another user input control signal. 10. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: browsing the selected said content; receiving another user input control signal; and resuming presentation of said cache movie in response to said another user input control signal. 11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of content segments comprise HTML pages and said generating step comprises the step of converting an image of at least one of said HTML pages to at least one of a bit-mapped file and a JPEG file. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of said snap shots and said content segment associated therewith comprises a hyper-link to another one of said content segments. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of synchronizing the rate at which said snap shots are generated on said output device with an audio program. 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said synchronizing step further comprises the steps generating said snap shots in accordance with Edit Decision List instructions. 15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of audio programs are available for storage in a memory device and playback on said audio output device, and said instructions comprise subsets of instructions corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of audio programs which vary the tempo with which said snap shots are generated on said display device, and further comprising the steps of: receiving a user input control signal selecting one of said plurality of audio programs; and generating said snap shots at a rate controlled by one of said subsets of instructions which corresponds to the selected one of said plurality of audio programs. 16. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: displaying a bar on said output device having a cursor which traverses said bar at a rate corresponding to the presentation of said snap shots during said cache movie; clicking on said bar using an input device; suspending presentation of said cache movie; and presenting one of said snap shots on said display device. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving a user input control signal and performing at least one of a plurality of operations is response thereto, said plurality of operations comprising resuming presentation of said cache movie, presenting another selected one of said snap shots, and commencing browsing of said content. 18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said bar comprises cursor positions corresponding to respective said snap shots, and said clicking step comprises clicking on a selected one of said cursor positions to present the corresponding one of said snap shots on said display device. 19. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content is available from at least one of a content aggregator and a gateway, said selecting step comprising the step of selecting from a menu received from said at least one of a content aggregator and a gateway which lists the content. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of storing said selected content on a local memory device connected to a computer connected to said output device. 21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the content is characterized in terms of a plurality of categories, further comprising the steps of: assembling said snap shots for presentation in said cache movie in order according to respective said categories; displaying a bar on said output device having a cursor which traverses said bar at a rate corresponding to the presentation of said snap shots during said cache movie; providing named sections on said bar indicating respective said categories of said selected content; clicking on one of said named sections on said bar using an input device; and presenting one of said snap shots in the corresponding one of said categories indicated by the selected one of said named sections on said display device. 22. A system for presenting to a user content comprising Internet-type information, multimedia, data files and applications in a customized multimedia format comprising: a user interface device comprising an output device and an input device, said output device comprising at least one of a display device and an audio output device; a memory device for storing content comprising content segments; a processing device connected to said user interface device and said memory device, said processing device being operable to generate snap shots corresponding to each of said content segments and to create a cache movie by providing said snap shots sequentially to said display device. 23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processing device is operable to control external devices and peripheral devices connected thereto via control panels provided for each of said external devices and peripheral devices in said memory device for generation on said display device, to generate different said snap shots corresponding to respective said control panels, and to allow said user to access said control panels via said cache movie by selectively interrupting said cache movie to present one of said snap shots corresponding to a selected one of said control panels to said display device and accessing the corresponding one of said control panels from said memory device. 24. A system as claimed in claim 22, said processing device is programmed in accordance with application programs stored in said memory device, said processing device being operable to generate different said snap shots to represent each of said application programs and to allow said user to execute a selected one of said application programs via said cache movie by selectively interrupting said cache movie to present one of said snap shots corresponding to a selected one of said application programs to said display device and executing the corresponding one of said application programs from said memory device. 25. A system as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a remote memory device for storing at least one of said content segments and a network for connecting said processing device and said remote memory device, said processing device being operable to suspend presentation of said cache movie and provide one of said snap shots to said display device, and to access one of said content segments corresponding thereto by retrieving said content segment from one of said memory device and said remote memory device. 26. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said content is provided to said user via broadcast programs, said processing device being programmable to generate a screen comprising prompts to guide said user to select via said input device which ones of said broadcast programs are to be stored in said memory device and provided to said output device, said processing device being operable to generate different said snap shots corresponding to each of said broadcast programs selected by said user. 27. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said memory device is provided with a plurality of digital audio programs for providing different types of music, said processing device being programmable to permit said user to make at least one of a plurality of selections comprising which of said different ones of said plurality of audio programs is to be output as ambient background music during said cache movie, whether said audio output device is to be muted, when to update said memory device by downloading at least one new audio program to said memory device, and a volume level setting for said audio output device when said ambient background music is played. 28. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said processing device is programmable to synchronize the rate at which said snap shots are generated on said display device with one of said audio programs. 29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said processing device synchronizes the generation of said snap shots using synchronization tool instructions. 30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said memory device stores a plurality of subsets of synchronization tool instructions corresponding to respective ones of said audio programs, and said processing device generates said snap shots on said display device at different rates in accordance with one of said plurality of subsets corresponding to said audio program selected by said user. 31. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processing device is programmable to generate a screen comprising at least one onscreen window, the position of said onscreen window on said screen corresponding to a screen destination, said processing device being operable to generate at least one layout preferences screen on said display device to guide said user in selecting a screen destination for placement of said onscreen window to customize where said processing device is to display at least one of said content segments and said snap shots. 32. A system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said processing device is programmable to permit said user to select at least one of the shape and the size of said onscreen window. 33. A system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said processing device is programmable to generate a plurality of cache movies to reside on said memory device and to present more than one of said plurality of cache movies simultaneously on said display device. 34. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said content is available from at least one of a content aggregator and a gateway and said processing device is programmable to generate a content screen comprising a menu of information topics and programs corresponding to said content segments, said processing device generating at least one snap shot for storage in said memory device of at least one of said content segments corresponding to one of said information topics selected from said menu by said user via said input device. 35. A system as claimed in claim 34, wherein said content is associated into different categories having respective category names, said processing device being operable to assemble said snap shots for presentation in said cache movie in order according to respective said categories, to display a bar on said output device having a cursor which traverses said bar at a rate corresponding to the presentation of said snap shots during said cache movie, and to provide named sections on said bar indicating respective said categories of selected said content such that, when one of said named sections on said bar is clicked on using said input device, said processing device presents one of said snap shots in the corresponding one of said categories indicated by said named section on said display device. 36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein said processing device is operable to control external devices and peripheral devices connected thereto and to generate control panels on said display device for each of said external devices and peripheral devices, to generate different said snap shots corresponding to each of said control panels for presentation on said display device, to provide one said named sections corresponding to control panels on said bar, and to allow said user to access said control panels via said cache movie by selecting said control panel section on said bar. 37. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one of said snap shots and said content segments displayed on said output device comprises a link from a portion thereof to one of said content segments, said processing device being operable to automatically suspend presentation of said cache movie when said user selects said link. 38. A system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said processing device is programmable to permit said user to browse said content segments to resume presentation of said cache movie in response to request by said user via said input device. 39. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said memory device is programmable to store an image segue library comprising a plurality of image segue functions, said processing device being programmable to permit said user to select from said plurality of image segue functions, said processing device being operable to implement one of said plurality of image segue functions selected by said user to provide a visual transition between different said snap shots. 40. A system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said plurality of image segue functions comprises decreasing the size of a current screen generated by said processing device on said display device during one of said cache movie and said content segment being reviewed until said current screen is blank, generating said current screen to appear to be moving across said display device, and fading said current screen until said display device is substantially blank. 41. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processing device is operable to generate a cache movie rate control button on said display device, said processing device being programmable to permit said user to select one of a plurality of rates for generation of said cache movie on said display device, said processing device being operable to control the speed with which said snap shots are provided to said display device in accordance with user input via said rate control button.

Inventors: HARMON JAMES, NIELSON PETER, QUINN KEVIN, HARMON, JAMES, NIELSON, PETER, QUINN, KEVIN
Applicants: WORLDSPACE MANAGEMENT CORP, WORLDSPACE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: G06F3, G06F17