Prior art

The USPTO database confirms that US Patent 7010508, titled "Automated multimedia data processing network," was granted on March 7, 2006, from an application filed on April 7, 1995, by inventor Lawrence B. Lockwood. The patent's legal status is "Expired - Lifetime".

The following are the patent citations listed for US7010508B1, which represent the prior art considered during its examination:

1. US4333152A

• Full Citation: US4333152A, "TV Movies that talk back", Inventor: Best Robert M, Publication date: June 1, 1982, Filing date: February 5, 1979.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system that allows users to interact with recorded programming, such as movies, effectively enabling a "TV that talks back." It broadly covers interactive multimedia experiences.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate elements of claims related to interactive multimedia presentation and user input, such as:
  • Claim 1: Specifically, the elements related to a "video display and means associated therewith for displaying textual and graphical data," "means for entering information into said computer," and "means for programming sequences of inquiring messages on said video display in accordance with preset routines and in response to said information." The "TV Movies that talk back" concept suggests a foundational understanding of interactive visual and data input elements within a system, which might limit the novelty of these broad aspects of Claim 1.
  • Claim 8: The general concept of "accepting and processing an user's entry... for formulating a query and outputting said query to said user; and means for delivering information to said user." The interactive nature of US4333152A could be argued to cover these fundamental interactive information delivery principles.
  • Claim 16: Aspects related to "means for storing and retrieving textual and graphical data," "means for processing interrelated textual and graphical data," and "means for accepting and processing said requests."

2. US4359631A

• Full Citation: US4359631A, "Self-service terminal", Inventor: Lawrence B. Lockwood, Publication date: November 16, 1982, Filing date: July 11, 1980.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a self-service terminal. Given that Lawrence B. Lockwood is also the inventor of US7010508B1 and this is a "Self-service terminal" patent, it is highly likely to cover aspects of automated transactions and user interaction in a terminal environment. The description of US7010508B1 explicitly mentions that "Automatic vending machines and self-service terminals have evolved to a high degree of sophistication as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,631 Lockwood, et al."
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is particularly relevant as it shares an inventor and directly relates to self-service terminals. It could potentially anticipate broad aspects of all independent claims:
  • Claim 1: The fundamental components of a "computerized installation," "at least one station including a general purpose computer," "means for communicating data," "mass memory," "video display," and "means for entering information into said computer" would likely be present in a sophisticated self-service terminal. The "interactive" nature and processing of inquiries in a self-service context would also be anticipated.
  • Claim 8: The core idea of a "computerized station" that "accepts and processes an user's entry" and "delivers information to said user" is central to any self-service terminal.
  • Claim 16: The concept of "at least two computerized stations," each with "access means," "mass memory and a database," and "means for storing, processing, updating, and retrieving data" in response to requests, particularly within a self-service context, would be strongly anticipated.

3. US4714989A

• Full Citation: US4714989A, "Functionally structured distributed data processing system", Inventor: Billings Roger E, Publication date: December 22, 1987, Filing date: February 19, 1982.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a distributed data processing system with a functional structure. This implies a network of interconnected computing resources working together.
• Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate elements related to the networked and distributed aspects of US7010508B1:
  • Claim 1: The "computerized installation including a database" and "at least one station including a general purpose computer" with "means for communicating data back and forth between said installation and said station" would be directly relevant. The concept of a "plurality of entities, each using one of said stations, to exchange data" is a hallmark of distributed data processing.
  • Claim 16: The aspect of "at least two computerized stations" and the interaction with a "computerized installation" (as introduced in Claim 17, which depends on 16), fundamentally describes a distributed data processing system.

It is important to note that the ultimate determination of anticipation would depend on a detailed claim-by-claim analysis, comparing the specific limitations of each claim in US7010508B1 against the disclosures of these prior art references.