Electronic reader and method of operation

A system for chatroom communication between a plurality of readers comprising:

• a plurality of electronic-reader devices, each having:
• a housing;
• a processor;
• a memory configured to store electronic book data for a first electronic book and to store reader computer instructions for execution by the respective processor to control display of the electronic book data, the reader computer instructions being stored resident in the memory;
• a keypad, operable by a respective user, to control operation of the respective electronic-reader device;
• a display to display the electronic book data under the control of the resident reader computer instructions;
• and
• a network interface configured to connect the electronic reader to a wide-area network (WAN);
• wherein the electronic reader device is configured to display a portion of the stored electronic book data to thereby display a text of the first electronic book stored electronically in the memory, the text being displayed under the control of the resident reader computer instructions;
• the resident reader computer instructions further causing the display to display a chatroom associated with the first electronic book to thereby permit the user of each respective electronic-reader device to communicate directly within the first electronic book with an author of the first electronic book or with the other readers of the first electronic book being read on the other electronic-reader devices.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer instructions and data that, if executed by a processor in an electronic reader (E-reader), cause the processor to:

• store electronic book data for a selected electronic book;
• store resident reader computer instructions for execution by the processor to control display of the electronic book data on an electronic display for viewing by a user;
• sense operation of a keypad by a user;
• control operation of the electronic reader based on the user operation of the keypad;
• control operation of a display to display the electronic book data;
• and
• control operation of a network interface to permit communication with a wide-area network (WAN);
• wherein the E-reader is configured to display a portion of the stored electronic book data to thereby display a text of the electronic book stored electronically in the memory, the text being displayed under the control of the resident reader computer instructions;
• the resident reader computer instructions further causing the display to display a chatroom associated with the electronic book to thereby permit the user to communicate directly with an author of the electronic book or with other readers of the electronic book being read on other E-reader devices operated by the other readers.