Apparatus and method for a bookmarking system

Abstract

A bookmarking system is provided that includes a user input device and a network server. A person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference. The viewer utilizes the user input device to communicate to the network server the identity of the program of interest. The network server uses the identification information for the program of interest to identify a URL for the archived version of the program. The network server transmits the URL for the archived program to the personal computer of the viewer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for searching for an archived item of interest comprising the steps of: 
 viewing an item of interest on a first medium by a viewer;    providing identification information for said item of interest and the viewer to a network server;    identifying an archival address for an archived version of said item of interest, said archived version of said item of interest being stored on a second medium; and    transmitting said archival address for said archived version of said item of interest to the viewer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of bookmarking said archival address on a personal computer of the viewer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said step of providing identification information for said item of interest includes providing information specifying a particular portion of said item of interest.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3    wherein said information specifying a particular portion of said item of interest is a time when viewing said particular portion.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said step of providing identification information for said item of interest to said network server comprises the step of sending an electronic mail message to said network server.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said step of providing identification information for said item of interest to said network server comprises the step of orally communicating said identification information to said network server.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of storing said archival address on a web page.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of storing said archival address on a personal computer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 7    further comprising the step of providing information associated with said archival address to said web page.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of determining whether said item of interest is archived on said second medium.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said archival address for said archived version of said item of interest is a URL.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for bookmarking an archived item of interest comprising: 
 a network server;    a database resident in said network server, said database containing information related to availability of an item interest stored on an archiving network;    a network interface, said network interface contained in said network server and providing interconnection to the archiving network; and    a user input device, said user input device communicating with said network server to provide identification information for the item of interest and the viewer of the item of interest wherein the viewer of the item of interest is viewing the item of interest on a medium separate from a medium that stores an archived version of the item of interest.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of    claim 12    wherein said user input device is a two-way pager.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of    claim 12    wherein said network server includes voice recognition software.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of    claim 14    wherein said user input device is a telephone.  
     
     
         16 . A method for bookmarking archived items of interest comprising the steps of: 
 receiving identification information for a broadcast program of interest at a network server, said identification information including data related to the network on which said program was broadcast and data to determine a time of broadcast of said program;    determining an archival address for an archived version of said broadcast program; and    bookmarking said archival address.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said step of bookmarking said archival address comprises the step of storing said archival address on a personal computer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said step of bookmarking said archival address comprises the step of storing said archival address on a web page.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said step of receiving identification information for said broadcast program of interest at said network server comprises the step of receiving an electronic mail message at said network server.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said step of receiving identification information for said broadcast program of interest at said network server comprises the step of orally receiving said identification information at said network server.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said data to determine a time of broadcast of said program identifies a particular segment of said program and said archival address is associated with said particular segment of said program.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 16    further comprising the step of periodically accessing a database contained in said network server to determine when said broadcast program of interest has been archived.