CONSUMER ACCESS SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME
Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced consumer access to information sources and controllable entities. An Access device can be a stand alone device such as a DVD player in which the DVD disk contains the back-end information network. Other Access devices obtain the back-end information network from remote sources. By way of a specific example, the consumer can then view a game and interactively select every television camera located at the game venue.
1 : A method of defining a user front-end human interface for allowing a user to access and control the presentation of assets from asset providers using an access device, the method comprising:
the user interface being other than a dynamically loaded web page and being defined by computer program code that is configured to be partially or entirely located on at least one of:
the access device; or
a network device;
the user interface having a default layout selected based on the access device used;
the front-end human interface allowing for the display and user interaction with a plurality of windows including at least two types of windows selected from the following three types:
monitor windows for access to assets at a first quality level;
onscreen windows for access to assets at a second quality level higher than the first quality level;
companion windows for providing video, audio, pictorial, textural, informational or commercial asset offerings;
the front-end human interface including user controls to enable and disable asset interaction or control
2 : A user interface system in accordance with claim 1 , and configured to allow the user to transfer a digital asset from one window type to another window type.
3 : A user interface system in accordance with claim 1 , and configured to allow the user to transfer a digital asset from a window type on an access device to a window type on another access device.
4 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a cellular telephone.
5 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a TV set top box.
6 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a TV.
7 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a monitor.
8 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a computer.
9 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a game console.
10 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is portable.
11 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is an entertainment device or system.
12 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is the information system of a terrestrial or aerial transport vehicle.
13 : The system of claim 1 , wherein said access device is a household appliance.
14 . A user interface system in accordance with claim 1 , and configured to offer a full screen presentation of a window type.
15 . A user interface system in accordance with claim 1 , distributed to include some of the window type son a user access device and other of the window types on another user access device.
16 . A user interface system in accordance with claim 15 , configured to control a window type in one access device from a window type equipped with user controls in another access device.
17 . A user interface system in accordance with claim 1 , and configured to display a digital asset in at least one window type on at least two devices.