Videotex information utility.

摘要

An architecture for the implementation of an information utility for accessing information and executing transactions on an interactive basis between Videotex databases and individual end user terminals, some or all of which may be remotely located with respect to each other. The utility may be associated with a Videotex Application Network (VAN) and includes a combination of distributed, semiautonomous Operations Nodes (ONs), each characterized by (1) one or more affiliated users, (2) the inclusion of some form of database, and (3) one or more customized application programs, and each is also capable of "standalone" operation. Each database comprises pages of control information and displayable data. Each node comprises a directory of databases at other nodes.