Information retrieval system using an internet multiplexer to focus user selection

Claim 2

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes drawing attention to said particular identifier in turn in said sequence; and wherein receiving said selection for a particular selected item includes awaiting a signal from said recipient at a time when said focus is associated with said particular selected item.

Claim 3

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning substantially greater screen space to said particular identifier.

Claim 4

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning substantially greater screen space to said particular identifier.

Claim 5

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning a speaker to said particular identifier.

Claim 6

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning a speaker to said particular identifier.

Claim 7

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element alters said sequential order in response to a signal from said background element.

Claim 8

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element alters said sequential order in response to a signal from said background element.

Claim 9

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element associates a new identifier with a new item coupled from said background element, and adds said new identifier to said sequential order.

Claim 10

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element associates a new identifier with a new item coupled from said background element, and adds said new identifier to said sequential order.

Claim 11

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element moves said focus backward or forward within said sequential order in response to a signal from said recipient.

Claim 12

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element moves said focus backward or forward within said sequential order in response to a signal from said recipient.

Claim 13

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 14

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said linear path is substantially horizontal.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said linear path is substantially vertical.

Claim 17

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said background element includes a comparator coupled to said items and to at least one recipient preference; said determination is made in response to an output of said comparator; and said recipient preference is responsive to at least one said selection by said recipient.

Claim 18

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said background element includes a comparator coupled to said items and to at least one recipient preference; said determination is made in response to an output of said comparator; and said recipient preference is responsive to at least one said selection by said recipient.

Claim 19

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said background element includes a comparator coupled to said items and to an interest threshold; said determination is made in response to an output of said comparator; and said interest threshold is responsive to at least one said selection by said recipient.

Claim 20

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said background element includes a comparator coupled to said items and to an interest threshold; said determination is made in response to an output of said comparator; and said interest threshold is responsive to at least one said selection by said recipient.

Claim 21

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element has an engaging state in which said foreground element operates to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation, and a nonengaging state in which said foreground element does not operate to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation; and said foreground element switches between said engaging state and said nonengaging state, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 22

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an active mode in which said foreground element presents said items to said recipient, wherein in said active mode said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers, and having an inactive mode in which said foreground element does not present said items to said recipient; wherein said foreground element switches between said active mode and said inactive mode, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element has an engaging state in which said foreground element operates to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation, and a nonengaging state in which said foreground element does not operate to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation; and said foreground element switches between said engaging state and said nonengaging state, in response to said determination; and wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 23

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an engaging state in which said foreground element operates to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation, and a nonengaging state in which said foreground element does not operate to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation; wherein said foreground element switches between said engaging state and said nonengaging state, in response to said determination; and wherein in said engaging state said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers; and wherein wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 24

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element, having an engaging state in which said foreground element operates to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation, and a nonengaging state in which said foreground element does not operate to attempt to engage said recipient to select said items for presentation; wherein said foreground element switches between said engaging state and said nonengaging state, in response to said determination; and wherein in said engaging state said foreground element associates an identifier with each one of a plurality of said items, presents said identifiers to said recipient, and presents an associated item selected by said recipient from among said identifiers; and wherein wherein said foreground element associates a focus with each said identifier in a sequential order, and receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 25

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element which associates each said item with an identifier for presentation to said recipient, associates each said identifier with a focus in a linear sequential order, receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus, and presents said item to said recipient only when selected; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning substantially greater screen space to said particular identifier.

Claim 26

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element which associates each said item with an identifier for presentation to said recipient, associates each said identifier with a focus in a linear sequential order, receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus, and presents said item to said recipient only when selected; and wherein associating said focus with a particular identifier includes assigning substantially greater screen space to said particular identifier.

Claim 27

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element which associates each said item with an identifier for presentation to said recipient, associates each said identifier with a focus in a linear sequential order, receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus, and presents said item to said recipient only when selected; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.

Claim 28

Apparatus for presenting information to a recipient, said apparatus including a background element, having a receiver coupled to at least one information source, said background element associating with items received from said information source a determination whether said items are interesting to said recipient; and a foreground element which associates each said item with an identifier for presentation to said recipient, associates each said identifier with a focus in a linear sequential order, receives a selection by said recipient of said selected item only when said selected item is associated with said focus, and presents said item to said recipient only when selected; and wherein said foreground element presents said identifiers to said recipient at a plurality of positions on a two-dimensional screen, and associates said focus with each said identifier, so that presentation of said focus sweeps across said two-dimensional screen along a substantially linear path.