Method and apparatus for recording and presenting life stories

Claim 1

An interactive user interface on a computer system for presenting information about an entity, the user interface comprising: a) a viewable screen image associated with the entity wherein the entity is at lease one of a person, an organization, and an animal; b) a plurality of life related recordations associated with the entity, the recordations being of at least two different types and being associated with a calendar date; c) a plurality of selection options on the viewable screen image, each of said selection options corresponding to at least one type of recordation such that when a selection option is selected the corresponding types of recordations are presented; d) a slidable calendar date selection option on the viewable screen image for selecting a date, said calendar date selection option being associated with at least a portion of the plurality of recordations such that when a specific date is selected the user interface presents one or more recordations which correspond to a selected calendar date; e) one or more future messages from the entity, the content of the future messages being provided from the entity and directed to the user of the interactive user interface; f) an access control mechanism preventing access to the future messages until a predetermined calendar date or event, wherein the event or calendar date is dictated by the entity; and g) a list of relatives to the entity, wherein one or more of the listed relatives has a link to a screen associated with that listed relative.

Claim 14

A method for preserving and presenting information about a deceased person, the method comprising the steps of: a) entering into a contractual agreement with a physical customer; b) collecting from the customer a plurality of life related recordations relating to a person and one or more future messages provided from the person; c) categorizing the recordations in to different types; d) referencing the recordations with a calendar date; e) storing the categorized and referenced recordations and future messages on a computer readable medium; f) after the person is deceased, displaying on a computer system a plurality of options, wherein of the plurality of options correspondence exists between the options and the following: i) at least one type of recordation, (ii) a specific date, and (iii) at least one of the future messages; g) selecting by a user one or more of the options; h) presenting the recordations and future messages in accordance of a selected option by a user and preventing access to the future messages until a predetermined calendar date or event, dictated by the person or the customer; and, i) providing a list of relatives to the entity, wherein one or more of the listed relatives has a link to a screen associated with that listed relative.

Claim 15

A method for preserving and presenting information about a deceased person, the method comprising the steps of: a) entering into a contractual agreement with a physical customer; b) collecting from the customer a plurality of life related recordations relating to a person and one or more future messages provided from the person; c) categorizing the recordations in to different types; d) referencing the recordations with a calendar date; e) storing the categorized and referenced recordations and future messages on a computer readable medium; f) after the person is deceased, displaying on a computer system a plurality of options, wherein of the plurality of options correspondence exists between the options and the following: i) at least one type of recordation, (ii) a specific date, and (iii) at least one of the future messages; g) selecting by a user one or more of the options; h) presenting the recordations and future messages in accordance of a selected option by a user and preventing access to the future messages until a predetermined calendar date or event, dictated by the person or the customer; and, i) providing a list of relatives to the entity, wherein one or more of the listed relatives has a link to a screen associated with that listed relative.