Digital interactive communication system

A system accessible to a plurality of subscribers for generating digital information representative of selected images in response to requests made by at least one of said subscribers during a requesting session, and system comprising:

• a first local operating center serving a first group of said subscribers comprising;
• a first local area network capable of transmitting digital information;
• a voice network interface coupled to said first local area network by means of an interface and selectively placed in communication with one or more of said subscribers during a requesting session, for receiving subscriber requests and for generating digital information representative of the identity of each requesting subscriber and of the contents of the requests made by each such subscriber;
• a first group of data processors each operatively coupled to said first local area network;
• a first data base coupled to said first local area network and having stored therein digital information representative of selected images:
• a number of said first group of data processors each being dedicated to serving one requesting subscriber during a requesting session, such server data processors translate the digital signals from the voice network interface to command signals understood by said other data processors and transmits such command signals to said other data processors through said first local area network;
• at least another of said first group of data processors being selectively dedicated during a requesting session to obtaining biographical information relating to said requesting subscribers;
• at least another of said first group of data processors being selectively dedicated during a requesting session to receive said command signals from said server data processor, and determine which images the subscriber selected, and request said first data base send said selected images to the subscriber:
• means operatively coupled to said first data base for the high speed transmission of digital information representative of said selected images;
• and
• a first gateway coupled to said first local operating center and capable of communication with a common-link, high-speed transmission medium,
• a second local operating center for serving a second group of said subscribers comprising;
• a second local area network capable of transmitting digital information;
• a second voice network interface coupled to said local area network by means of an interface and selectively placed in communication with one or more of said second group of subscribers during a requesting session, for receiving subscriber requests and for generating digital information representative of the identity of each requesting subscriber and of the contents of the requests made by each such subscriber;
• a second group of data processors each operatively coupled to said second local area network;
• a second data base coupled to said second local area network and having stored therein digital information representative of selected images;
• a number of said second group of data processors each being dedicated to serving one requesting subscriber during a requesting session, such server data processors translate the digital signals from the voice network interface to command signals understood by the other of said second group of data processors and transmits such command signals to said other data processors through said second local area network;
• at least another of said second group of data processors being selectively dedicated during a requesting session to obtaining biographical information relating to said requesting subscribers;
• at least another of said second group of data processors being selectively dedicated during a requesting session to receive said command signals from said server data processor, and determine which images the subscriber selected, and request said second data base send said selected images to the subscriber;
• means operatively coupled to said second data base for the high speed transmission of digital information representative of said selected images;
• and
• a second gateway coupled to said second local operating center and capable of communication with a common-link, high speed transmission medium for interactive communication with said first local operating center.