| abstract |
The invention, an electronic book selection and delivery system, distributes text to subscribers. The system includes a subsystem for placing text in a video signal format and a subsystem for receiving and selecting video format text. The system contains an operations center, a video distribution system, a home subsystem, and a billing and collection system. The operation center and/or video 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, generates menus and stores text, and transacts through communicating mechanisms. A portable book-shaped viewing device is used for viewing the text. The billing system performs the transaction, management, authorization, collection and payments utilizing the telephone system. |