Abstract: A number of participants communicate via their personal computers over a telephone network with an on-line service that provides a chat capability. A server connects to the telephone network at the on-line service provider. A chat formatter at this server formats and transmits the chat over an associated data channel. This server accommodates both text and audio chat. A television program is combined with the associated data at a broadcast transmitter. The encoded television signal is broadcast over the airways by way of a broadcast tower, satellite or cable. A consumer receives the encoded television signal at a television antenna, satellite dish or cable connection. Software at the consumer's computer reads the broadcasted chat and formats it such that it appears on the computer screen as if the consumer were a participant in the chat. This software is tied to the broadcast of a particular television program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information relating to a news story in a computer system. A computer system receives a news story, determines a corresponding geographical location to the location of the news story, and displays a story indicator on a map using the location corresponding to the news story, such that the information displayed relates to the news story and the story indicator. The story indicator displayed on the map also fades, where the fade rate is a function of the aging of the news story.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information in a computer system. The computer system includes a processor coupled to a memory. The computer system includes a display coupled to the processor. The memory stores a plurality of stories. The method comprises the following steps. One step involves displaying a plurality of first levels of information corresponding to the plurality of stories in a first area of the display. Another step includes displaying a first level of information of a first story of the plurality of stories in a first subarea of the first area. Another step includes detecting a selector within the first subarea and displaying a second level of information of the first story within the first subarea responsive to the detecting the selector within the first subarea. Another step is a step of detecting a selection within the first subarea and displaying a third level of information of the first story within said first area.