Apparatus and method for communicating over a distributed system of computers

Abstract

A communications system particularly suited for a distributed network of computers such as the World Wide Web or the Internet. Connected to the distributed network is a broadcast computer which simultaneously communicates two streams of video. The first stream of video is of entertainment content; the second stream of video contains commercial content. The receiver of the two streams has both streams displayed simultaneously and is able to select which stream's audio component is played to the user's computer's loudspeakers. In one embodiment of the invention, the user is also able to replace the commercial channel with another selected commercial channel.

1 . A communications system comprising: 
 a) a distributed network for computers;    b) a broadcast computer connected to said distributed network for computers, said broadcast computer having access to, 
 1) a first stream of video containing entertainment content, and,  
 2) a second stream of video containing commercial content;  
 said broadcast computer having means for simultaneously communicating the first stream of video and the second stream of video to a remote computer via said distributed network for computers.  
   
     
     
         2 . The communications system according to  claim 1 , further including a remote computer connected to said distributed network for computers and having, 
 a) means for receiving at least two streams of video; and,    b) means for simultaneously displaying said first stream of video and said second stream of video.    
     
     
         3 . The communications system according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for receiving and said means for simultaneously displaying are operating simultaneously.  
     
     
         4 . The communications system according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for simultaneously displaying includes means for separately displaying said first stream of video and said second stream of video.  
     
     
         5 . The communications systems according to  claim 2 , 
 a) wherein said first stream of video and said second stream of video each include an audio component; and,    b) wherein said remote computer includes, 
 1) audio speakers, and,  
 2) means, responsive to operator input, for selectively communicating the audio component from said first stream of video or said second stream of video to said audio speakers.  
   
     
     
         6 . The communications network according to  claim 1 , 
 a) further including a remote computer having, 
 1) means for receiving at least two streams of video from said broadcast computer via said distributed network of computers, and,  
 2) means for communicating an indicia to said broadcast computer via said distributed network of computers; and,  
   b) wherein said broadcast computer further includes access to, 
 1) a third stream of video, said third stream of video containing commercial content; and,  
 2) means, responsive to the indicia from said remote computer, for communicating said third stream of video in lieu of the second stream of video.  
   
     
     
         7 . The communications system according to  claim 1 , 
 a) wherein said second stream of video includes address identifiers therein; and    b) wherein said address identifiers are periodically communicated to said remote computer.    
     
     
         8 . The communications system according to  claim 7 , wherein said remote compute includes means for communicating a historical listing of said address identifiers to a user of said computer.  
     
     
         9 . The communications system according to  claim 7 , wherein said remote computer includes means, responsive to an operator selection of a selected address identifier, for connecting said remote computer to a merchant computer remote from said broadcast computer.  
     
     
         10 . The communications system according to  claim 1 , 
 a) wherein said broadcast computer includes time dependent data, and wherein said broadcast computer includes means for communicating said time dependent data to said remote computer; and,    b) wherein said remote computer includes means for displaying said time dependent data in conjunction with said first stream of video and said second stream of video.    
     
     
         11 . The communications system according to  claim 10 , wherein said means for communicating said time dependent data of said broadcast computer is periodically activated.  
     
     
         12 . A broadcasting system comprising a broadcast computer connected to a distributed network of computers, said broadcast computer having means for simultaneously communicating a first stream of video and a second stream of video to a remote computer via said distributed network of computers.  
     
     
         13 . The broadcasting system according to  claim 12 , wherein said broadcast computer includes memory means for storing the second stream of video.  
     
     
         14 . The broadcasting system according to  claim 13 , wherein said first stream of video is supplied to said broadcast computer via a camera.  
     
     
         15 . The broadcasting system according to  claim 14 , wherein said first stream of video is communicated by said means for simultaneously communicating substantially upon receipt of said first stream of video from said camera by said broadcast computer.  
     
     
         16 . The broadcasting system according to  claim 12 , wherein said broadcast computer includes means for communicating an audio component with said first stream of video and an audio component with said second stream of video.  
     
     
         17 . The broadcasting system according to  claim 12 , wherein said broadcast computer further includes: 
 a) a third stream of video, said third stream of video containing commercial content; and,    b) means, responsive to an indicia from the remote computer, for simultaneously communicating said third stream of video in lieu of the second stream of video with the first stream of video.    
     
     
         18 . A method of communicating entertainment content comprising the steps of: 
 a) arranging a first stream of entertainment video and a second stream of video, said second stream of video being substantially of commercial content; and,    b) simultaneously communicating the first stream of entertainment video and the second stream of video to a remote computer via a distributed network of computers.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further including the steps of, by the remote computer: 
 a) receiving at least two streams of video; and,    b) simultaneously displaying said at least two streams of video.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further including the step of, by the remote computer, separately displaying a first stream of video and a second stream of video.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the remote computer includes the step of selectively communicating an audio component from said first stream of entertainment video or said second stream of video to audio speakers located proximate to the remote computer.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , 
 a) wherein the remote computer further includes the steps of, 
 1) receiving at least two streams of video from said broadcast computer via said distributed network of computers, and,  
 2) communicating an operator generated indicia to said broadcast computer via said distributed network of computers; and,  
   b) wherein said broadcast computer further includes the steps of, in response to said operator generated indicia, communicating a third stream of video in lieu of the second stream of video.