ELECTRONIC BOOK VIEWER CONNECTION TO WORLD WATCH LIVE

摘要

An electronic book selection and delivery system (200) distributes electronic text and graphics to subscribers. The system contains an operations center (250), a video distribution system (208) or a variety of alternative distribution systems, a home subsystem (258), and a billing and collection system (278). The operations center and/or distribution points perform the functions of manipulation of text data, security and coding of text, cataloging of books, message center, and uplink functions. The home subsystem connects to a video distribution system or variety of alternative distribution systems, generates menus and stores text, and transacts through communicating mechanisms. A portable book-shaped viewer (266) is used for viewing the text. The viewer can receive digital video data from a variety of sources, including the Internet by wired or wireless connections (274, 279). The viewer may use the Internet connection to control and receive multiple line video feeds such as from a world watch live system. Users may be able to view a plurality of remote locations in real time and remotely control a video picture of a distant location. The remote control may be either actual control of a remote video camera or perceived remote control by the manipulation of audiovisual data streams. Text, graphics, and other video information supplement one or more video pictures to provide an educational and entertaining system. Information is accessible to users who are viewing multiple video pictures. The information relates and describes what is being viewed. Users who have different types of equipment, with different data rates, are able to access and use the system of the present invention. Users may interactively communicate with a video lecturer by asking questions and receiving answers.