초록 ▼

An interactive Web book ("ibook") system is provided that allows material to be contributed to the World Wide Web. An ibook is a self-extending, self-sustaining information-redistributing Web robot, which is resident on a data network such as the Internet or an intranet. Users may enroll with an ibo

An interactive Web book ("ibook") system is provided that allows material to be contributed to the World Wide Web. An ibook is a self-extending, self-sustaining information-redistributing Web robot, which is resident on a data network such as the Internet or an intranet. Users may enroll with an ibook as viewers or contributors. Viewers may view ibook material, such as text or multimedia content. Contributors may contribute original material to the ibook or may create derivations of existing ibook material. Attribution information that identifies the source of material in a derivation is automatically generated. Information concerning the derivation of each work and its characteristics can be used to help the user navigate through ibook material. The ibook system keeps track of how often users access each work within an ibook. Contributors may be automatically rewarded (e.g., by a monetary distribution) based on the extent to which their contributed material is viewed by the users.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for use in a communications network having a server and clients linked by a data network wherein contributors use the clients to contribute material that is stored by the server and users at the clients access the material for viewing, the system comprising:autho

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for use in a communications network having a server and clients linked by a data network wherein contributors use the clients to contribute material that is stored by the server and users at the clients access the material for viewing, the system comprising:authoring means used by the contributors for creating derivations based on previously contributed material;means for generating attribution information identifying the contributors whose material is used to create the derivations, wherein the attribution information comprises an attribution link from each derivation to the previously contributed material on which that derivation is based;means for generating a derivation link from the previously contributed material to each derivation based on that previously contributed material, wherein at least a given one of the derivations has an associated derivation that is based on the given derivation, wherein the given derivation and its associated derivation are linked by one of the attribution links and one of the derivation links, and wherein the given derivation and the previous contributed material on which the given derivation is based are linked by another one of the attribution links and another one of the derivation links;means for viewing the material by navigating along the derivation and attribution links, wherein the users navigate from the given derivation to the previously contributed material on which the given derivation is based using the attribution link between the given derivation and that previously contributed material, wherein the users navigate from that previously contributed material to the given derivation using the derivation link between that previously contributed material and the given derivation, wherein the users navigate from the given derivation to its associated derivation using the derivation link between the given derivation and its associated derivation, and wherein the users navigate from the associated derivation to the given derivation using the attribution link between the associated derivation and the given derivation; andmeans for providing access information concerning the amount that the previously contributed material and derivations are viewed.