1. A method for generating an informational display on a document processing device comprising:
receiving preselected media content;
displaying the preselected media content on a display of the document processing device while the document processing device is idle;
receiving user identification data;
retrieving user-specified media content preference data identifying a user-specified media content preferred by a user associated with the user identification data; and
displaying the user-specified media content on the display of the document processing device in response to receipt of a request from the user to complete a document processing operation using the document processing device.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising suspending display of the preselected media content and displaying a user interface on the document processing device upon a determination that the document processing device is no longer idle.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user identification data is received from the user in conjunction with the request to complete the document processing operation, the document processing operation selected from a list comprising facsimile, scanning, printing, electronic mailing and storage of a document.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising performing the document processing operation while displaying the subset of the preselected media content on the display of the document processing device.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically altering the preselected media content shown on the display.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising outputting a tangible document including a part of the user-specified media content.
7. An apparatus comprising a storage medium storing a program having instructions which when executed by a processor will cause the processor to:
receive preselected media content;
display the preselected media content on a display of the document processing device while the document processing device is idle;
receive user identification data;
retrieve user-specified media content preference data identifying a user-specified media content preferred by a user associated with the user identification data; and
display the user-specified media content on the display of the document processing device in response to receipt of a request from the user to complete a document processing operation using the document processing device.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the instructions will further cause the processor to suspend display of the preselected media content and display a user interface on the document processing device upon a determination that the document processing device is no longer idle.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the user identification data is received from the user in conjunction with the request to complete the document processing operation, the document processing operation selected from a list comprising facsimile, scanning, printing, electronic mailing and storage of a document.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the instructions will further cause the processor to direct the document processing device to complete the document processing operation while displaying the subset of the preselected media content on the display of the document processing device.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the instructions will further cause the processor to periodically alter the preselected media content shown on the display.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the instructions will further cause the processor to direct the document proceeding device to output a tangible document including a part of the user-specified media content.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
the display;
a processor;
a memory;
wherein the processor and the memory comprise circuits and software for performing the instructions on the storage medium.
14. A document processing device comprising:
a network connection for receiving preselected media content;
a display for displaying the preselected media content on a display of the document processing device while the document processing device is idle;
a second input for receiving user identification data;
the network connection for retrieving user-specified media content preference data identifying a user-specified media content preferred by a user associated with the user identification data; and
the display further for displaying the user-specified media content on the display of the document processing device in response to receipt of a request from the user to complete a document processing operation using the document processing device.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a controller for suspending display of the preselected media content and displaying a user interface on the document processing device upon a determination that the document processing device is no longer idle.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the user identification data is received from the user in conjunction with the request from the user to complete the document processing operation, the document processing operation selected from a list comprising facsimile, scanning, printing, electronic mailing and storage of a document.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the document processing operation is completed while displaying the subset of the preselected media content on the display of the document processing device.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the preselected media content shown on the display is periodically altered.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an output engine for outputting a tangible document including a part of the user-specified media content.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. The method of providing a simulated interactive conversation comprising the steps of:
a. storing in a database searchable information in the form of text andor oral recorded statements;
b. providing in the database stored images of selected individuals or animated characters.
c. using questions provided through a user interface to search the database for an appropriate response and providing the response to the user.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the response comprises providing the response orally with lip sincing of said image.
3. A software program for carrying out the methods of claims 1 and 2.