초록 ▼

The present invention relates to computerized methods and systems for user-interactive, multimedia cataloguing, navigation, the performance of data retrieval and previewing of films and videos. The system comprises an IBM compatible computer, with an Intel 486DX2/66 or higher based CPU, 8 megabytes

The present invention relates to computerized methods and systems for user-interactive, multimedia cataloguing, navigation, the performance of data retrieval and previewing of films and videos. The system comprises an IBM compatible computer, with an Intel 486DX2/66 or higher based CPU, 8 megabytes random access memory, 270 megabyte hard drive and an internal cache for speed. One or more double-spin CD-ROM Drives are used for storage of cover art and film trailers and a full-motion video board with MPEG-1 compression and 16-bit digital sound processing and a touch-screen color monitor. The system is placed in video stores, and the like. Users are potential purchasers of the videos. The system's powerful, but easy to use graphical user interface, quickly leads the user to the desired film or video, wherein the user can read synopses, notes and reviews about the film or video, observe the associated cover art, and in certain instances, say, for about the most current 50-or-so films and videos, view their associated trailers--in full sound and quality video. The system can print out information identifying the chosen film and video for presentation to the store's clerk to aid in purchasing same.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A computerized method for user-interactive searching, retrieving and previewing of multimedia content in a retail environment using hardware and software including an interface configured and arranged for displaying a plurality of input screens and result screens, said input screen

[ We claim:] [1.] A computerized method for user-interactive searching, retrieving and previewing of multimedia content in a retail environment using hardware and software including an interface configured and arranged for displaying a plurality of input screens and result screens, said input screens for receiving information to be searched from a user's interaction with said interface and said result screens for displaying retrieved data items on said interface, and a computer processor, said method comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of related databases for storing a plurality of data items, each of said data items being one of text, graphic, image, video, animation and audio data, each of said data items being stored as a record identified by a pointer, each said record having at least one field permitting a plurality of other pointer entries for relating said record to other data items identified by said other pointer entries;displaying an input screen on the interface for inputting the information to be searched in response to the user's interaction therewith;identifying whether the information to be searched corresponds to any of said data items;automatically modifying the information to be searched if no data items corresponding to the information to be searched are identified until at least one data item corresponding to the information to be searched is identified, includingidentifying searchable terms in said records of data items;identifying one or more searchable terms in the information to be searched;performing a Boolean "and" operation on each of said terms in the information and identifying records containing all of said terms in the information;if no records corresponding to the information are identified by said Boolean "and" operation, performing a Boolean "or" operation on each of said terms in the information and identifying records containing any of said terms in the information;if no records corresponding to the information are identified by said Boolean "or" operation, performing a "seek" operation in said databases on each of said terms in the information and identifying records containing any of said terms in the information; andif no records corresponding to the information are identified by said "seek" operation, winnowing back each of said terms in the information one character at a time and performing a "seek" operation on each of said winnowed back terms until at least one record corresponding to said winnowed back terms in the information is identified;retrieving, said at least one data item corresponding to the information to be searched;displaying said at least one data item corresponding to the information to be searched on a result screen of the interface; anddisplaying at least one of said other data items identified by said other pointer entries contained in said at least one field of said record of said at least one data item corresponding to the information to be searched.