Method and system for network delivery of content associated with physical audio media

What is claimed is:

1. A method in a multimedia computer system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording said method comprising the steps of:

storing a unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, said unique identifying indicia being stored on a storage media separately from said audio recording, said indicia conforming to a Red Book Audio CD standard, said audio recording being stored on said storage media, wherein said unique identifying indicia is accessed without accessing said audio recording;

reading said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording from said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system;

searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia; and

presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises the step of:

identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, wherein said audio recording comprises an audio recording stored on a compact disc, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises the step of:

retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote network site linked to said multimedia computer system, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprising the step of:

searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said listing of codes is located at a remote network site.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, further comprises the step of:

presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, wherein said multimedia data includes photographic data, textual data, audio data, and graphical data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises the step of:

identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, such that said unique identifying indicia comprises an audio compact disc unique identifier encoded physically on said audio compact disc, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, wherein said unique identifying indicia is encoded separately from said audio recording.

7. A system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording having unique identifying indicia therein, wherein said system includes a multimedia computer, said system comprising:

means for storing a unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, said unique identifying indicia being stored on a storage media separately from said audio recording, said indicia conforming to a Red Book Audio CD standard, said audio recording being stored on said storage media, wherein said unique identifying indicia is accessed without accessing said audio recording;

reading means for reading said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording from said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system;

search means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia; and

presentation means for presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said audio recording comprises an audio compact disc recording.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises:

retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote network site linked to said multimedia computer system, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said search means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises:

means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said listing of codes is located at a remote network site.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said multimedia data includes photographic data, textual data, audio data and graphical data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said identifying means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises:

identifying means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, such that said unique identifying indicia comprises an audio compact disc unique identifier encoded physically on said audio compact disc.

13. A program product residing in computer memory in a computer system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording having unique identifying indicia therein, wherein said system includes a multimedia computer, said program product comprising:

means for storing a unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, said unique identifying indicia being stored on a storage media separately from said audio recording, said indicia conforming to a Red Book Audio CD standard, said audio recording being stored on said storage media, wherein said unique identifying indicia is accessed without accessing said audio recording;

reading means for reading said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording from said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system;

search means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

presentation means for presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system; and

signal bearing media bearing said identifying means, said search means, said retrieval means, and said presentation means.

14. The program product of claim 13 wherein said audio recording comprises an audio recording stored on a compact disc.

15. The program product of claim 14 wherein said retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises:

retrieval means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote network site linked to said multimedia computer system, in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia.

16. The program product of claim 15 wherein said search means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises:

means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said listing of codes is located at a remote network site.

17. The program product of claim 16 wherein said multimedia data includes photographic data, textual data, audio data, and graphical data.

18. The program product of claim 17 wherein said identifying means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises:

identifying means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, such that said unique identifying indicia comprises an audio compact disc unique identifier encoded physically on said audio compact disc.

19. The program product of claim 18 wherein said signal bearing media further comprises transmission media.

20. The program product of claim 18 wherein said signal bearing media further comprises recordable media.

21. A method in a multimedia computer system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, said unique identifying indicia being stored on a storage media separately from said audio recording, said indicia conforming to a Red Book Audio CD standard, said audio recording being stored on said storage media, wherein said unique identifying indicia is accessed without accessing said audio recording;

reading said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording from said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system;

searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said multimedia data is stored within said remote computer system; and

presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia utilizing said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprising the step of:

searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said listing of codes is located at a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, further comprises the step of:

presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, wherein said multimedia data includes photographic data, textual data, audio data, and graphical data.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises the step of:

identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, such that said unique identifying indicia comprises an audio compact disc unique identifier encoded physically on said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, wherein said unique identifying indicia is encoded separately from said audio recording on said storage media.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network further comprises the step of retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing the Internet.

26. A multimedia computer system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording, comprising:

means for storing a unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, said unique identifying indicia being stored on a storage media separately from said audio recording, said audio recording being stored on said storage media, wherein said unique identifying indicia is accessed without accessing said audio recording;

means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system;

means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia;

means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network in response to finding said code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said multimedia data is stored within said remote computer system; and

means for presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia utilizing said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, further comprises means for searching a listing of codes for a code corresponding to said unique identifying indicia, wherein said listing of codes is located at a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said means for presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, further comprises means for presenting said multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia in said multimedia computer system, while playing said audio recording in said multimedia computer system, wherein said multimedia data includes photographic data, textual data, audio data, and graphical data.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, further comprises means for identifying said unique identifying indicia associated with said audio recording, such that said unique identifying indicia comprises an audio compact disc unique identifier encoded physically on said storage media, in response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, wherein said unique identifying indicia is encoded separately from said audio recording on said storage media.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing a network further comprises means for retrieving multimedia data corresponding to said unique identifying indicia from a remote computer system coupled to said multimedia computer system utilizing the Internet.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to improved information-retrieval methods and systems. In particular, the present invention relates to improved information-retrieval methods and systems utilized in association with graphical user interfaces. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to physical audio media and methods and systems for delivering content associated with such physical audio media via computer networks.

2. Description of the Related Art

The development of computerized information resources, such as remote networks, allows users of data-processing systems to link with other servers and networks, and thus retrieve vast amounts of electronic information heretofore unavailable in an electronic medium. Such electronic information is increasingly displacing more conventional means of information transmission, such as newspapers, magazines, and even television.

In communications, a set of computer networks which are possibly dissimilar from one another are joined together by "gateways" that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network, with packets if necessary. A gateway is a device used to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizing different communication protocols) so that electronic information can be passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronic information, converting such information to a form compatible with the protocols used by the second network for transport and delivery.

One type of remote network commonly utilized in recent years is the Internet. The term "Internet" is an abbreviation for "Internetwork," and refers commonly to the collection of networks and gateways that utilize the TCP/IP suite of protocols, which are well-known in the art of computer networking. TCP/IP is an acronym for "Transport Control Protocol/Interface Program," a software protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communication between computers. The Internet can be described as a system of geographically distributed remote computer networks interconnected by computers executing networking protocols that allow users to interact and share information over the networks. Because of such wide-spread information sharing, remote networks such as the Internet have thus far generally evolved into an "open" system for which developers can design software applications for performing specialized operations or services, essentially without restriction.

Electronic information transferred between data-processing networks is usually presented in hypertext, a metaphor for presenting information in a manner in which text, images, sounds, and actions become linked together in a complex non-sequential web of associations that permit the user to "browse" or "navigate" through related topics, regardless of the presented order of the topics. These links are often established by both the author of a hypertext document and by the user, depending on the intent of the hypertext document. For example, traveling among links to the word "iron" in an article displayed within a graphical user interface in a data-processing system might lead the user to the periodic table of the chemical elements (i.e., linked by the word "iron"), or to a reference to the use of iron in weapons in Europe in the Dark Ages. The term "hypertext" was coined in the 1960s to describe documents, as presented by a computer, that express the nonlinear structure of ideas, as opposed to the linear format of books, film, and speech.

The term "hypermedia," on the other hand, more recently introduced, is nearly synonymous with "hypertext" but focuses on the nontextual components of hypertext, such as animation, recorded sound, and video. Hypermedia is the integration of graphics, sound, video, or any combination thereof into a primarily associative system of information storage and retrieval. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext, especially in an interactive format where choices are controlled by the user, is structured around the idea of offering a working and learning environment that parallels human thinking--that is, an environment that allows the user to make associations between topics rather than move sequentially from one to the next, as in an alphabetic list. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext topics, are thus linked in a manner that allows the user to jump from one subject to other related subjects during a search for information. Hyper-link information is contained within hypermedia and hypertext documents, which allow a user to move back to "original" or referring network sites by the mere "click" (i.e., with a mouse or other pointing device) of the hyper-linked topic.

A typical networked system that utilizes hypertext and hypermedia conventions follows a client/server architecture. The "client" is a member of a class or group that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. Thus, in computing, a client is a process (i.e., roughly a program or task) that requests a service provided by another program. The client process utilizes the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. In a client/server architecture, particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (i.e., a server).

A request by a user for news can be sent by a client application program to a server. A server is typically a remote computer system accessible over a remote network such as the Internet. The server scans and searches for raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups). Based upon such requests by the user, the server presents filtered electronic information as server responses to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system, communicating with one another over a communications medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.

Client and server communicate with one another utilizing the functionality provided by Hypertext-Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web (WWW) or, simply, the "web," includes those servers adhering to this standard (i.e., HTTP) which are accessible to clients via a computer or data-processing system network address such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL). The network address can be referred to as a Universal Resource Locator address. For example, communication can be provided over a communications medium. In particular, the client and server may be coupled to one another via Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or TCP/IP connections for high-capacity communication. Active within the client is a first process, known as a "browser," which establishes the connection with the server and presents information to the user. The server itself executes corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses. The HTTP responses correspond to "web pages" constructed from a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), or other server-generated data. Each web page can also be referred to simply as a "page." The client and server typically display browsers and other remote network data for a user via a graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is a type of display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can be activated generally either with a keyboard or a mouse. Internet services are typically accessed by specifying a unique network address (i.e., Universal Resource Locator). The Universal Resource Locator address has two basic components, the protocol to be used and the object pathname. For example, the Universal Resource Locator address, "http://www.uspto.gov" (i.e., home page for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), specifies a hypertext-transfer protocol ("http") and a pathname of the server ("www.uspto.gov"). The server name is associated with a unique numeric value (TCP/IP address).

The evolution of personal computers over the last decade has accelerated the web and Internet toward useful everyday applications. Nearly every computer sold over the last several years has or will, at some point, become "on-line" to an Internet service provider. Somewhere between 20 and 30 million people around the globe use some form of Internet service on a regular basis. The graphical portion of the World Wide Web itself is usually stocked with more than twenty-two million "pages" of content, with over one million new pages added every month.

Free or relatively inexpensive computer software applications such as Internet "search engines" make it simple to track down sites where an individual can obtain information on a topic of interest. A person may type in a subject or key word and generate a list of network sites (i.e., web sites). Thus, with "home pages" published by thousands of companies, universities, government agencies, museums, and municipalities, the Internet can be an invaluable resource. With a little practice, even new users can skim millions of web pages or thousands of newsgroups, not only for topics of general interest, but also to access precise bits of data. The market for Internet access and related applications is explosive and is growing faster than expected, doubling in size approximately every three months.

A problem associated with the Internet is the dichotomy that exists between the Internet and other forms of digital content delivery, including physical media such as a compact disc (CD) For digital delivery, there still remains a dichotomy between the CD for density and quality, and the Internet for its virtual capacity for storage and global on-demand distribution. This dichotomy has spawned "hybrid media," such as CD-ROMS, which provide access to Web sites or e-mail to the CD-ROMs' producers or artists. Attempts have been made to address issues associated with this dichotomy by providing so called "enhanced" CDs, which combine Red Book audio and Yellow Book CD-ROM data. This combination can provide CD quality audio with multimedia content and interactivity, but it does not provide the benefits of distributed media. Such enhanced CDs are limited to the physical capacity of the CD itself, and cannot be updated without producing an entirely new disc. Hybrid CDs are enhanced CDs or CD-ROMs which provide links to artists' or recording companies' Web sites, or the ability to e-mail artists. However, this hybrid approach has not been accomplished with audio CDs, which account for the vast majority of recorded music sales.

Thus, from the foregoing it can be seen that in the recorded music industry alone, there is a need to effectively combine the richness of on-demand distributed multimedia with the density and quality of audio CDs. The present invention disclosed herein addresses such needs by providing a unique and effective solution which combines conventional audio CDs with on-demand multimedia distribution over the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved information-retrieval method and system.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved graphical network navigation aid.

The above and other objects are achieved as is now described. A method and system are disclosed in a multimedia computer system for automatically retrieving and presenting data associated with an audio recording having unique identifying indicia therein. In response to playing an audio recording in a multimedia computer system, a unique identifying indicia associated with the audio recording is identified. A listing of codes within the multimedia computer system is automatically searched to find a code corresponding to the unique identifying indicia. In response to finding the code corresponding to the unique identifying indicia, multimedia data is retrieved which corresponds to the unique identifying indicia. The multimedia data can be retrieved from local storage or from a remote network site. The multimedia data corresponding to the unique identifying indicia is then presented in the multimedia computer system, while playing the audio recording in the multimedia computer system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a data-processing system which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram illustrative of selected components in a personal computer system which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a detailed block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrative of a computer network which can be implemented in accordance with the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a hypertext document contained within a graphical user interface window which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of operations illustrating a method for delivering content associated with audio recordings in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a pictorial representation of an audio/video system in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a pictorial representation of compact disks which may be utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures and, in particular, with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted a pictorial representation of a data-processing system in which the present invention may be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A personal computer 10 is depicted which includes a system unit 12, a video display terminal 14, an alphanumeric input device (i.e., keyboard 16) having alphanumeric and other keys, and a mouse 18. An additional input device (not shown), such as a trackball or stylus, also can be included with personal computer 10. Computer 10 can be implemented utilizing any suitable computer, such as an IBM Aptivam computer, a product of International Business Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. "Aptiva" is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Although the depicted embodiment involves a personal computer, a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in other types of data-processing systems, such as, for example, intelligent workstations or mini-computers. Computer 10 also preferably includes a graphical user interface that resides within a machine-readable media to direct the operation of computer 10. Computer 10 also can be implemented utilizing any suitable computer, such as the IBM RISC/6000 computer, a product of International Business Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. "RISC SYSTEM/6000" is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, and also can be referred to as the "RS/6000."

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is depicted a block diagram of selected components in personal computer 10 of FIG. 1 in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Personal computer 10 of FIG. 1 preferably includes a system bus 20, as depicted in FIG. 2. System bus 20 is utilized for interconnecting and establishing communication between various components in personal computer 10. Microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) 22 is connected to system bus 20 and also may have numeric co-processor 24 connected to it. Direct memory access ("DMA") controller 26 also is connected to system bus 20 and allows various devices to appropriate cycles from CPU 22 during large input/output ("I/O") transfers. Read-only memory ("ROM") 28 and random-access memory ("RAM") 30 are also connected to system bus 20. ROM 28 is mapped into the microprocessor 22 address space in the range from 640K to 1 megabyte. CMOS RAM 32 is attached to system bus 20 and contains system-configuration information. Any suitable machine-readable media may retain the graphical user interface of computer 10 of FIG. 1, such as RAM 30, ROM 28, a magnetic diskette, magnetic tape, or optical disk.

Also connected to system bus 20 are memory controller 34, bus controller 36, and interrupt controller 38 which serve to aid in the control of data flow through system bus 20 between various peripherals, adapters, and devices. System unit 12 of FIG. 1 also contains various I/O controllers, such as those depicted in FIG. 2: keyboard and mouse controller 40, video controller 42, parallel controller 44, serial controller 46, and diskette controller 48. Keyboard and mouse controller 40 provide a hardware interface for keyboard 50 and mouse 52. Video controller 42 provides a hardware interface for video display terminal 54.

Parallel controller 44 provides a hardware interface for devices, such as printer 56. Serial controller 46 provides a hardware interface for devices, such as a modem 58. Diskette controller 48 provides a hardware interface for floppy-disk unit 60. Other technologies also can be utilized in conjunction with CPU 22, such as touch-screen technology or human voice control.

Main memory 70 is connected to system bus 20, and includes a control program 71. Control program 71 resides within main memory 70 and contains instructions that when executed on CPU 22 carry out the operations depicted in the logic flowchart of FIG. 7 described herein. The computer program product also can be referred to as a program product. Control program 71 can support a number of Internet-access tools including, for example, an HTTP-compliant web "browser." Known browser software applications include: Netscape Navigator.RTM. ("Netscape") Mosaic, and the like. Netscape, in particular, provides the functionality specified under HITP. "Netscape" is a trademark of Netscape, Inc. Mosaic-brand browser is available from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. The present invention is designed to operate with any of these known or developing web browsers, in order to provide network navigation aids for web pages displayed with three-dimensional graphics.

Control program 71 also can support other remote network services, such as the file-transfer protocol (FTP) service, which facilitates the transfer and sharing of files across remote networks such as the Internet. Control program 71 can further support remote network services, such as remote terminal access (Telnet), which allows users to log onto computers coupled