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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a closed cable network and more
particularly the present invention relates to the interactive transfer of
multimedia information within such a network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many types of closed cable networks. What is meant by closed
cable networks in the context of this application are networks which are
self-contained and have a specified number of users. For example, a hotel
or hospital would contain such networks. In such networks, there are a
series of connections to each room or the like for presentation of various
multimedia information. Oftentimes this information takes the form of
video material that is provided to each of the customers or patients. The
characteristic of these types of networks is that there is a feedback path
that provides the owner of the network with knowledge of the activities of
the particular user on the network. Hence, in the case of a hotel system,
if a person orders a service there is a way for the owner of the network
to know that the service has been ordered by that particular person. The
major problem with existing closed cable networks are that they are not
fully interactive. That is, there is no way to actively select multimedia
information from outside of the network in real time. Accordingly, what is
needed is a system for allowing a user of such a network to interactively
access information outside of the network without requiring additional
equipment within each user location. In addition, the system should be one
that does not affect the normal operation of the existing closed cable
system. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A closed cable network for interactive multimedia transmission comprises a
services operation platform system for receiving program materials from
customers and a multimedia processing system responsive to the program
materials for providing information. The network further includes means
for transmitting and receiving telephone messages coupled to the
multimedia processing system, a video control unit coupled to the
processing system and a plurality of interactive multimedia devices (IMDs)
for receiving and transmitting multimedia information to and from the
multimedia processing system.
In another aspect, an interactive system for a closed cable network
comprises means for processing multimedia information; means coupled to
the multimedia processing means for receiving telephone messages from and
transmitting telephone messages to the multimedia processing means; means
coupled to the multimedia processing means for receiving account
information from and transmitting account information to the multimedia
processing means; means coupled to the multimedia processing means for
receiving control information from and transmitting control information to
the multimedia processing means; and a plurality of interactive devices
coupled to the multimedia processing means.
The interactive devices are utilized to vastly increase the amount of
information that can be processed through a closed cable network. In one
aspect, the network is utilized to provide a reservation system for pay
per view movies, catalog shopping, ticketing or the like through the
network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art closed cable network.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a general embodiment of an interactive
multimedia system for use in a closed cable network.
FIG. 2a is a block diagram of a personal computer and an IMD utilized in
the system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 2b is a block diagram of a point to point system utilized in the
system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 2c is a block diagram of a multimedia multiplexer coupled to an
interactive multimedia decoder.
FIG. 2d is a block diagram of a global multimedia decoder.
FIG. 2e is a block diagram of a multimedia processing center (MPC) in
accordance with the system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a block representation of the multimedia processing system (MPS)
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a first specific embodiment of an interactive multimedia system
for use in a closed cable network.
FIG. 5 is a second specific embodiment of an interactive multimedia system
for use in a closed cable network.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of the optimization method
which is utilized in the closed cable network in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 7 is a representation of the separation of primary and secondary
multimedia information.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the optimization method
showing the cooperation of a compression algorithm with a transmission
algorithm in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block that shows the cooperation of a compression algorithm
with a transmission algorithm in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a block representation of digital information of an image file
and a MIDI file.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a general embodiment of an interactive
multimedia device (IMD) in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a representation of a remote control utilized in conjunction
with the system architecture of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a reservation system that utilizes the
interactive system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a shopping system that utilizes the interactive
system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14a is a flow chart of a portion of the shopping system of FIG. 14.
FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a movie review and ordering system that utilizes
the interactive system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 15a is a flow chart of a portion of the movie review and ordering
system of FIG. 15.
FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a ticketing system that utilizes the interactive
system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a map generating system that utilizes the
interactive system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 18a is a block diagram of an electronic inventory control system
utilized in the interactive system in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 18b is a block diagram of a physical inventory control system utilized
in the interactive system in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interactive system for a closed cable
network. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the
context of a patent application and its requirements. Various
modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to
those skilled in the art and the generic principles and features described
herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus the present invention is
not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded
the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described
herein.
Referring now to FIG. 1, what is shown in simple block diagram form is a
prior art closed cable network. In the following discussion the present
invention will be discussed in the context of a hotel system. It should be
understood however that there are other types of closed cable networks
such as hospitals, educational institutions and many conventional cable
head end networks or the like where the principles of the present
invention would apply.
The system 10 includes a hotel PBX system 12 for receiving and transmitting
telephone calls, property management system 14 and a video control system
16 which could be used to access the pay per view movies or the like. The
video control system 16 includes an in-room remote link and is connected
to the services operation platform 14. The property management system
(PMS) 14 keeps track of the users that order the movies.
The system 10 as above described is not fully interactive. In this type of
system there are a number of video units or VCRs located within the system
and they are switched in when the appropriate customer or client wants to
use the video unit. Hence, these video units cannot be individualized to a
particular user because there are simply not enough units. For example,
there may be a bank of 64 VCRs which would service a 500 room hotel. Each
of the VCRs would have a separate movie. Accordingly, in this case there
is a possibility that a particular movie would not be available. In
addition, this type of arrangement severely limits the number of choices
available.
Before the present invention is described in detail certain background
information should be discussed to clarify the utility of the present
invention in terms of existing closed cable networks. In a multimedia
system, various sensory information is provided to a receiver. In the case
of video information, this information takes the form of foreground and
background images that display a particular scene. In the case of audio
information, the foreground and background signals are such that the
foreground information is speech and the background information is music.
Typically, multimedia systems in whatever form provide this information
over a single transmission line. In so doing, the amount and quality of
the multimedia information is severely limited by the bandwidth of the
transmission line.
The present invention first differentiates between important and less
important multimedia information by separating the information into
primary and secondary layers through the use of a program model to
minimize the bandwidth limitations. In such a system each layer will have
its own set of parameters that are important psychographically, however,
the secondary layer will not vary as much as the primary layer.
What is meant by a program model refers to psychographic parameters within
the multimedia system, that is parameters that relate to an individual's
sensory perceptions when encountering multimedia information. These
parameters comprise a set of unique and consistent elements for a
particular class of multimedia information. In accordance with the present
invention, its multimedia information is separated into different layers
in accordance with the program model. Therefore, by way of example, in the
instance of video images, the foreground and background information might
be divided into different layers. Similarly, in the case of audio
information, the news information, weather information, or the like may be
one layer whereas the background music may be the other layer.
In the present invention, these layers will be divided into primary and
secondary layers in accordance with the information's importance relative
to the program model. The most important information is identified and
enhanced to provide the best quality information to the receiver of the
multimedia information.
In the preferred embodiment, the primary layers will be enhanced in such a
way to provide a perceived improvement in quality of the multimedia
information presented. In one embodiment the secondary layers are
presented that may or may not be enhanced. Thereby the important
information or the primary layers that are to be transmitted can be
identified and selectively enhanced in accordance with the present
invention.
In addition, the primary layers generally can be enhanced through critical
psychographic parameters take the form of spatial, color, audio, and
temporal variables that occur in the primary or secondary layers.
In a closed cable network such as a hotel system it is important that the
multimedia information that is produced, transmitted and received is
enhanced in some manner. This is necessary to ensure that high fidelity,
high quality information is presented to the viewer. Therefore, it will be
possible to bring a superior product into the network. It is known, for
example, it has been possible to provide video information over the
telephone lines. However, it has been a problem sending high quality video
information due to the bandwidth requirements that are needed to provide
such high quality video information.
The present invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for
enhancing the interactive multimedia information that is utilized within a
closed cable network. To more fully explain such a method and apparatus,
refer now to FIGS. 2-5 which shows a block diagram of a general embodiment
and block diagrams of two specific embodiments of the overall system
architecture for an enhanced interactive multimedia system for a closed
cable network. The overall architecture would be connected to the hotel
PBX or the like so as to readily access the transmission lines located
therein.
Referring first to FIG. 2, the overall general architecture 100 includes a
multimedia processing system (MPS) 102 which is coupled to receive
information from and transmit information to a video control system 104,
an account computer 106, a service operations platform SOP 107, and a
telephony switching system 108. The MPS 102 is also coupled to an
interactive multimedia decoder (IMD) 110, a CD/I device 112, a laser disk
117, video camera 121, compact disk (CD) player 125, personal computer
(PC) 119, video camera recorder (VCR) 123 and other devices 114. In this
system each of these devices can be utilized to provide updatable
multimedia information. For example, a compact disk player 125 can be
utilized to jump to different places to provide multimedia information. It
could be utilized in conjunction with an IMD to augment the fixed media
with interactive material (updatable video source) material.
A personal computer 119 can be utilized in conjunction with the IMD 110 as
shown in FIG. 2a to mesh a composite signal (audio, video) utilizing a
multimedia selection. Some examples for the use of such a system are
on-line services, games or maps and the like.
A VCR 123 or CD player 125 could be utilized in such a system, for example,
movie preview, catalog shopping, and a music listening system. Through
this system full interactivity could be obtained.
Video conferencing can be implemented for point to point or point to
multiple point video conferencing. For example, referring now to FIG. 2b,
what is shown is a point to multiple point video conference system 500. In
this type of system, a video conference room (VC) can be utilized to
transmit to multiple sites. This system can be utilized with the IMD 110
to provide updatable multimedia information.
Similarly, a point to point system, in which there is a video camera in
each guest's room, can be utilized. In this embodiments a video
multiplexer can be utilized to send updatable multimedia information from
point to point (room to room) dependent on the type of information
presented.
An advantage of this system is to provide means for switching between
alternate multimedia information at the head end. This allows for
switching between analog and digital; data and graphics, music and video,
etc. To more fully explain the advantage of this feature refer now to FIG.
2c. FIG. 2c shows a multimedia multiplexer (MM) 135 coupled to an IMD 110.
In this embodiment the MM 135 can send information from a plurality
multimedia sources to the IMD 110.
In a preferred embodiment to provide for maximum resource allocation refer
now to FIG. 2d which shows a global multimedia multiplexer (GMM) 137. The
GMM 137 would typically include a plurality of multimedia lines (mm.sub.0
-mm.sub.n) for receiving multimedia source material. The GMM 137 receives
information from a plurality of multimedia devices such as a PC, VCR, LD,
CD-ROM, and CD/I devices. The output of the GMM 137 is provided to a
plurality of IMDs 110 (IMD.sub.0 -IMD.sub.n). The GMM 137 receives signals
from a control channel 139 either from a MPS or the IMDs or other outside
source. Through this device any multimedia source or combination of
sources (mm.sub.0 -mm.sub.n) can be directed to any decoder or interactive
channel (IMD.sub.0 -IMD.sub.n). This GMM 137 can be implemented in a
variety of ways, for example, it can be a digital crosspoint switch.
Through such a device a combination of multimedia devices can be utilized
to produce a composite signal.
Referring back to FIG. 2, the cable feed line in turn is coupled to the
video control system 104. The account computer 106 and the SOP 107 are
also directly coupled to the telephone switching system 108 via lines 120
and 120', respectively. The telephone switching system 108 is capable of
sending and receiving outside calls. The video control system 104 is
capable of sending and receiving a remote signal from a cable system,
telecommunication system or the like.
Another portion of the invention is an interactive voice response system
111. This system includes a telephone 113 which connects to the telephony
switching 108 via telephone links. The telephone 113 also could include a
credit card slot. There is also included within the system 111, a remote
control 900 which will be described in detail later and a television 115
which is coupled to the cable 116.
In this general embodiment, the multimedia processing system (MPS) 102
receives program source material from the SOP 107 and from the control
system 104. The control system 04 can be a pay per view system such as a
On-Command.TM. Video or a different type of service, such as a shopping,
buying movie or airline tickets, or the like. The MPS can also operate an
interactive voice response program independently or integrated into other
interactive multimedia programs.
The SOP 107 is utilized for receiving facsimile and voice messages. The SOP
107 can also be utilized in conjunction with pagers and the like to relay
messages. By linking the account computer 106 to MPS 102 messages can be
displayed on a monitor within the guest room. In addition, faxes can be
displayed on the television and could be forwarded to other locations.
A master multimedia processing center (MPC) 109 is also coupled to the
closed cable system 100 via connection to the MPS 102. The MPC 109 is
coupled to a plurality of closed cable systems to provide enhanced
interactivity thereto. Referring now to FIG. 2e what is shown is a block
diagram of the MPC 109. The MPC 109 comprises an interactive multimedia
mastering system 111 which receives program source material from various
outside sources and a MPS 102 which receives source material from the IMM
111 and can also receive data information over a program port 113 and an
auxiliary port 115.
Referring back to FIG. 2, a critical portion of the system 100 is the
telephone switching system 108 interface. Through the use of this
architecture the switching system 108 can be controlled to provide the
appropriate information to the user. Through the use of the interface
devices (IMD 110, CD/I 112 and the other device 114) and the MPS 102, the
switching system 108 can be controlled in such a manner that the user
doesn't have to remember a telephone number to obtain the desired
information. This control can be accomplished through either a digital
link that is directly interfaced to the telephone switching system 108 or
through an analog link where only a normal phone connection to the system.
Through either of the systems an emulation of the customer actions would
be undertaken.
In a typical example, a call is made by the user to order a service. The
MPS 102 places call to the room through control of the system 108. The
room telephone will ring and the MPS 102 will send a message to the
switching system 108 that the customer would like to access a service, in
this case, a restaurant where the customer would like to make
reservations. It should be understood in the alternative to the above that
the restaurant could be called first via the system 108 and then the MPS
102 would call the customer back. The switching system 108 will then call
the restaurant, introduce the caller and then the restaurant will be
linked to the room. All of these activities are done transparently to the
user. Through the use of this system 100 it is also possible to print out
faxes and or receipts directly at the front desk of a hotel or the like.
The system 100 is capable of transaction processing via the multimedia in a
variety of ways. For example, transactions can be processed by posting
billing information to a computer within the closed cable system, a
facsimile ordering system within the system or through a voice order
processing.
The MPS 102 will provide and receive information relating to movies and
other services from and to interface devices 110, 112, and 114. The
interface devices 110, 112, and 114 are in the hotel facilities connected
either to the hotel video cable system through use of the video/audio
outputs or connected via digital links from interface devices 110, 112 and
114 in each guest's room.
Referring now to FIG. 3 what is shown is the preferred embodiment of a MPS
102. The MPS 102 comprises a distributed computing architecture. The
distributed computing architecture includes a master node 200 that has, in
this case, three server nodes 204, 206, and 208 for the IMD, CD/I and the
other devices respectively. The other devices that could be coupled to MPS
102 are, for example, but not limited to video games, a CD ROM device, a
personal computer, or a specialty device such as a translator or gaming
device such as a video slot machine or the like.
Each of the server nodes 204, 206 and 208 have client nodes 210, 212, 214,
216, 218, and 220 connected to the respective interactive devices.
Attached to each of the clients nodes 210, 212, 214,216, and 218 ports
220. When connected via the existing networks or the MPC 109 (FIG. 2a) and
then on to connection to the interactive devices 110, 112, and 114 (FIG.
2) which has its own processing storage and computing structure the entire
network can be operated as a massive distributed computing environment.
This environment shares all dimensions of computing, storages transmission
and peripheral resources (printing, product ordering, mailing functions,
etc.). This type of computing architecture would include dynamic port
allocation and would include incremental failure characteristics to allow
for robustness of the MPS 102.
In addition through the use of this interactive system 100 of the present
invention a multiplicity of different interactive devices can be utilized
and no modification to the device need be made to allow for devices' use
within the system. Accordingly the link between the MPS 102 and the
interactive devices can be a serial link, a CD/I link, a cable link such
as ethernet or telephone connection via a simple infrared relay control
link. Since the MPS 102 can transmit and receive data as well as control
information it can operate utilizing a wide range and types of interactive
devices such as video games, CD ROM, personal computer or specialty
instruments such as translators.
In a first more specific embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the multimedia
processing system (MPS) 102 receives program source material from the
services operation platform (SOP) 106' and from a pay video control system
104'. The control system 104' can be a pay per view system such as a
On-Command.TM. Video or a different type of service, such as a shopping,
buying movie or airline tickets, or the like.
The SOP 106' is utilized for receiving facsimile and voice messages. The
SOP 106' can also be utilized in conjunction with pagers and the like to
relay messages. By linking the SOP 106' to MPS 102 messages can be
displayed on a monitor within the guest room. In addition, faxes can be
displayed on the television and could be forwarded to other locations.
The multimedia processing system 102 will provide and receive information
relating to movies and other services from to interactive devices 110' and
112'. The interactive devices 110' and 112' will be located in the hotel
facilities connected either to the hotel video cable system through use of
the video/audio outputs or connected via digital links from interactive
devices 110' and 112' in each guest's room.
In a second more specific embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the architecture is
similar except that there is an IMD 110 in each guest room. The IMD 110
can also be used within an interactive voice response system 119 to
provide a more complete interactive system. In this embodiment, the IMDs
110" can be utilized to provide the interactivity for each room. The
structure of the IMDs 110" will be described in detail later in this
specification.
The IMDs 110 can take on many different forms dependent upon how much
intelligence is located in an IMD 110 relative to the system architecture
100. The system architecture 100 shown in different aspects in FIGS. 2-5
provides program material which will enhance the interactivity of
information that is transmitted along the video network. Accordingly, what
the system architecture 100 represents, in fact, is an additional network
which would receive information from the program source which would also
be part of the existing closed cable system. The system architecture 100
will then be utilized to provide for enhanced multimedia information
through psychographic manipulations or other enhancements to the systems
to provide for an improved interactive closed cable system.
Within each of the IMDs 110 of the system 100 is an optimization technique
for enhancing the quality of the multimedia information that is present.
To more specifically describe this optimization technique, refer now to
FIG. 6 which is a block diagram of an optimization method in accordance
with the present invention. The following paragraphs along with the
accompanying figures will provide the details regarding the optimization
method and how it will be used advantageously to provide an enhanced
interactive multimedia system.
The purpose of the IMD 110 is to provide maximum interactivity while at the
same time providing maximum retention of the program model. It is also
important that there be minimum transit time for the interactivity while
the information has maximum replication. Therefore, it is very important
that the program model psychographic parameters be well described. For
example, the spatial, color, temporal, audio response, material concept,
contention perception all should be very well described and defined in the
program model.
Referring again now to FIG. 6 what is shown is a first embodiment of a flow
chart for providing an enhanced interactive multimedia information that
utilizes the principles of the present invention. The flow chart 300
comprises the steps of providing a program model to a separator. The
separator 302 will divide the information into primary and secondary
layers of interactive multimedia information. The separation is automatic
and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the layers can
be separated by production sources. In another example, separation can be
accomplished through key coding the layers. In yet a third example, the
layers can be spatially separated or separated by the various colors.
Finally, layers of information could be separated by a filtering process.
The primary layers are provided to the compression generation block 304.
There are a variety of ways that the multimedia data can be changed or
generated to use less bandwidth. For example, compression algorithms or
their equivalents could be utilized to reduce the bandwidth used. In
addition generators, such as in a tone generator system, could be utilized
to reduce the bandwidth required. Finally, key coding systems could be
utilized to reduce bandwidth use. Such systems will be discussed in more
detail later in the specification.
In this embodiment, the primary layer is provided to an encoder where the
primary layer is prepared for transmission (block 308). Thereafter the
primary layer of information is decompressed (block 110). The primary
layer is then decoded and mixed with the secondary layer of data
information (block 312) to provide an enhanced interactive multimedia
image (motion, video or other) or data to a display.
Similarly, the secondary layer is compressed through block 314, encoded
(block 316) and then transmitted to block 318 to decompress and mix block
310. The two signals (primary and secondary) are then sent to display 312.
In this embodiment, for example, for the optimization of video images, the
primary layer can be the foreground image, the secondary layer can be a
background image. Through the use of this type of optimization technique
multimedia information can be enhanced while at the same time utilizing
significantly less bandwidth. In addition, by optimizing both layer, s,
full motion video is possible.
To more fully understand this feature refer now to the following
discussion. In a typical interactive multimedia system the information is
all sent along one layer. The information that can then be transmitted is
limited by the bandwidth of that layer.
In the prior art, the interactive multimedia information that could be
transmitted along typical networks or transmission paths that are very
limited because, for example, in the case of video images the bandwidth is
not adequate to provide a high quality image to a display.
Hence, in the present invention, by separating the multimedia information
into primary and secondary layers and thereafter compressing the more
important information utilizing well known compression algorithms, a
system is described that can produce enhanced interactive multimedia
information that easily be transmitted over existing networks.
To more fully describe the psychographic enhancement feature of the present
invention refer now to FIG. 7 which shown the various possibilities from a
particular program model. The program model is provided to the separator
302 of the multimedia system.
Psychographic enhancements are critical to the improvement in interactive
multimedia transmission and reception enhancements in the context of the
present application is information that is not transmitted but operates
on, operates in conjunction with, or operates as a supplement to
transmitted multimedia information. There are three separate categories
that will be described that relate to psychographic enhancements.
The first category will be described as a cross correlation between the
information that is being transmitted and being enhanced due to the
presence of information that is not transmitted. Dithering of image is an
example of this in that dithering masks artifacts of images that are
present and that improves the image quality. This type of system does not
remove the artifacts but actually just masks imperfections. A second
example in the audio arena where secondary audio materials such as a sound
of an ocean or the like which might mask problems in the audio quality of
the primary sound (voice, music or the like).
The second category is where the signal is actually changed without the use
of any control signal; for example, through interpolation or some other
technique. The typical example of that is a graphic equalizer in which
certain frequencies are enhanced depending on the range of the particular
device. Another example of the second category is to frequency or
amplitude compress a certain signal so as to further enhance the
frequencies that are being transmitted. It is also known to use various
filters to sharpen or provide certain information that will actually
modify the signal without controlling it per se.
Finally, the third category is using the primary and secondary information
to drive the other generators that might be present within the multimedia
system. This can be utilized to either enhance the multimedia information
or enhance the program model. An example of this is the use of real-time
graphics frequency spectrum displays to enhance a music juke box type of
program model.
As is seen in FIG. 7, the primary multimedia information layer can be
compressed to reduce the bandwidth utilizing well known algorithms. It is
also seen that the signal can be replaced by a generator that is
responsive to the primary/secondary layers signals. Finally, a key code
could be used to cause information to be provided from a look-up table or
the like.
Although all of the above methods provide advantages in accordance with the
present invention, key coding has some additional non-obvious advantages
when utilized in the optimization system of the present invention. In the
following paragraphs the use of various key coding systems will be
described generally along with their attendant advantages.
Typically, when looking at an interactive multimedia information signal
there are several components of that information. The first component is
the data or the multimedia information itself that is being conveyed. The
second component is referred to as program model dynamics. That is the
changes that occur in the interactive multimedia information due to for
example, a fade that allows for a transition from one scene in the
graphics or video image to another. Conversely, if you want to wipe away
an image there is information associated with the multimedia data that
would call out for that transition to change efficiently.
Finally, the third category of interactive multimedia information is what
will be referred to in this specification which will allow a particular
device or system to go from one category to another. In a typical
interactive multimedia information system all this information is required
to adequately transmit such information.
In its simplest form, a key has an identifiable code which dictates the
commands on the other side of the device. The clearest example of such a
keying system would be the very simple dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF)
signal. This type of signal can be used in the telecommunications area to
provide keying for low bandwidth protocol. These keys would then command a
code table on the side of the network to provide certain information about
the multimedia information to be displayed without requiring actual
transmission of the multimedia information.
A more specific version of this type of key coding is what will be referred
to in this specification as control information keying. What is meant by
controlled information keying is where a key code is utilized to access
particular types of commands which can then be used to control other items
on the other side of the network.
Such a table would then be utilized to access a certain set of multimedia
information in the network. A final version of key coding will be called
program branching keying is described by each of the keys representing a
certain branch identification. Thus in this type of key coding the key is
cross referenced to a particular branch of the interactive multimedia
program where each of the branches allows plurality of functions or
commands to be accessed in order to replicate the program model.
The important feature that is provided by all of these types of keying
coding arrangements is that information already present on the network can
be utilized. Therefore, the processing power inherent in the network or
the system being accessed can be utilized rather than having to have to
provide that processing power within the optimization system itself.
It is also important to develop means to improve the transmission quality
of the multimedia information, for example, the information may be
transmitted utilizing a typical transmissio | | |
