GB2355083A

GB2355083A - Multi-media multi-dimensional compound document structure

Info

Publication number: GB2355083A
Application number: GB9915894A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-08
Filing date: 1999-07-08
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: GB9915894D0

Abstract

A method for creating, displaying, communicating and modifying multimedia documents uses a multidimensional structure to store and code the information content and associated information and the interrelationships between the various elements of the information, to permit transmission of some or all of the content to various appliances and devices. Such a structure permits modification of the document architecture according to the information delivery channel, which could be e.g. a wireless channel, a newspaper information feed, or an interactive cable channel, whilst retaining the inherent structure of the document. The information is displayed in a depth appropriate to each of the channels. The structure also allows the document to carry additional information and links to other documents.

Description

2355083 Title A Method for Integrated Multi-Media Compound Document

Structure, Creation, Representation, Processing and Interaction.

Background

The printed word, even with graphics and pictures, is a two-dimensional world. With the explosion of electronic content there are a variety of new forms of information representation. Classification and categorisation of information is more important and with shared categorisations, two-way communication becomes possible. Increasingly rich multimedia objects will support communication. To support such compound documents new forms of document content structure are required, making explicit the links between the different media types relating to the same event. My method and device uses multi-dimensional classification, categorisation and communication to permit effective creation, distribution, receipt and communication about embedded information content, which can be communicated in a variety of formats, using the multi-dimensional structure, for delivery to different information intensity channels. This makes possible the automatic repurposing of information content for different information channels and information appliances.

Problem The number of different information delivery channels is increasing because of technological advances. It is no longer sufficient to have twodimensional document representations within a multi-dimensional electronic space. Information delivery may be ubiquitous, but different information channels differ in the degree to which they can effectively support compound document architectures. To ensure information is delivered effectively to distinct channels requires a Meta Document Content Structure in addition to the inherent two-dimensional structure of any document. Such a Meta structure permits modification of the compound document architecture according to the information delivery channel, whilst retaining the inherent structure of the document. The Meta structure also makes it possible to carry additional information about a document and to link a document to other documents. It permits additional coding of events, with any particular event subsuming multiple documents with similar or different document architectures.

Essential Features Three dimension forms of representation have been proven useful in domains such as social group interactions (Ross 1979) and they apply equally well to computer generated content. My Meta-framework means the same document content can be automatically delivered to different information channels with greater or less degrees of content elaboration according to the capability of any particular channel. Where this Metaframework is used to code documents at source information streams can be re-purposed in an automatic fashion for delivery to different information intensity channels.

Where documents are coded, either at origination or subsequently, to a particular event or category then groups of documents can be interrelated which improves speed of retrieval and improves depth of user understanding of an event or events.

This method makes use of a Visual Language Interface (VLI) and a Standardised User Interface (SUI) to bring consistency to users using different information appliance devices. The Visual Language Interfaces uses a multi-dimensional representation for human - computer interaction whilst the Standard User Interface uses information categorisation to differentiate classes of content and events.

The Meta-structure makes it possible to gather public or private comments and communications about the document content in an easy manner and to make these available to the document author(s).

The document Meta-structure and event links can be used in support of electronic commerce applications by taking users through structured sequences of changing information towards and beyond an electronic transaction.

Introduction to Drawings

Figure One shows an example of the dimensions for the receipt display and co-ordination of multi-media material, and this device protects the delivery of a multi-dimensional multi-media document content and structure to facilitate multi-stream information delivery and receipt to different information intensity channels, and to support two-way information and transaction exchange.

2 Figure Two shows how origination and editing of the different components can take place within the compound document structure without the need for third party software applications, making communication and modification of compound documents a straightforward matter.

Figure Three shows a particular embodiment of the multidimensional Metastructure, in this case a cube, although all other shapes are possible. The faces of the cube show illustrations of the Meta-structure attached to different sides of the cube for information about both the structure and the content of a compound document. In this example the actual multimedia content would be in a Cube within a Cube.

Figure Four shows example Meta-structure tags attached to other faces of the cube. Together the various faces define the content, category and coding structures to permit automatic delivery to different information channels. They also provide for the possibility of communication between readers of a document and other readers or the author(s).

Figure Five shows how a story layout with multi-media object types in the story, can be sent to other information appliances, able to read some or all of the elements of the story.

Figure Six shows how complex multi-media information can be selected for transport to other devices.

Examples

An Information provider sends the same content to a wireless channel, a newspaper information feed, and an interactive cable channel, with the information displayed at a depth appropriate to each of the channels.

A researcher publishes a document of research evidence, together with links to earlier related research papers, and gathers comments from readers of the paper when used in conjunction electronic mail facilities.

References Ross (1979) - Multiple Group Membership, Social Mobility and Intergroup Relations. An Investigation of Group Boundaries and Boundary Crossings. Ph.D Thesis, University of Bristol, England.

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Claims

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by patent is as follows:

I Methods for the creation, display, communication and modification of simple or compound multimedia documents, using a multidimensional structure to store and code the information content and associated information and the interrelationships between the various elements of the information, to permit transmission of some or all of the content to the full range of information appliances and devices with different inherent receipt and display characteristics, to preserve the underlying information integrity, and to make available the full information content to one or more appropriate devices to maintain a historic record to the transactions and information exchange, with such information available to be passed on to designated third parties for back-up, billing, and replication purposes, including the forward transmission to others using electronic mail and other forms of communication, comprising some or all of the steps and methods described here and below.
2. Methods for the origination of documents or any other form of information transfer within specified document or other content structures, or the translation of existing documents and media types into con4:)atible forms of content structure, with none, some or all of the other multi-dimensional fields filled, with category tags linked to the document or other communication element at the point of origin or subsequently to permit documents or other elements to be subject to categorisation and classification into automated or serni-automated forms of delivery and display and interaction
3. Methods for linking associated elements of different media types including text, graphics, data, audio, video and other formats, to the document content structure to permit suitably equipped receiving devices to play and display some or an of the elements according to device characteristics, and where allowed, edit and store and retrieve and re- use said documents and/or forward them to others
4. Methods for creation of document to allow interaction and editing within the compound structure such that some or all of the media types, other than information which should not be altered, to be edited, amended and modified within the document without the need for other third party software applications to allow for easy and efficient handling of the document and the document contents, with the ability to forward said document to one or more others with the modifications, the author of such modifications to then be added to the document history as a contributor, Whilst preserving the integrity of the original document.

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5. Method for the differential delivery of elements of compound document or communication components, whilst preserving the whole, to allow for speedy and if required differential delivery of some elements, ahead of or without other elements in a limited bandwidth environment and/or to speed user response times, and with intense media applications capable of being loaded in background, or in anticipation of possible interaction, as well as in response to direct requests for the element and/or application, or of being withheld until accessed from a suitable device and/or across a suitable network.
6. 1 claim that within a multi-dimensional information environment the description of documents along additional dimensions relating to the document and its content structure opens up new opportunities for information processing, retrieval and communication to make humancomputer interaction faster, more effective and more satisfying.
7. Methods for integrated multi-media compound document and other communications device structure, creation, representation, processing and interaction substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I - 6 of the accompanying drawing.