SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUE FOR ACCESSING STORED AUDIO AND VISUAL INFORMATION FROM A DATABASE

A method and system for providing video on demand from a database of textual information. In accordance with the inventive method, video data is stored on an addressable medium. The addresses for video segments are stored for retrieval when corresponding textual information is accessed in the database. In a particular embodiment, the addresses are stored in a lookup table which is read whenever a section of textual data is accessed. When the table indicates that video is available, corresponding to the text being viewed, an icon is displayed on the screen. When the video option is exercised, the address for the video segment is retrieved from the table and used to access the video storage medium. Video from the medium is then displayed interactively. The invention thus provides a system and technique for providing access to live action video at appropriate locations in a computer database.