Title: Link-level browser instance control
Abstract: A method for processing data contains links to information in a data browsing system, thereby providing user control over link activation behavior. As data is received, it is parsed to identify a link. Link-option data is then generated and inserted into the received data, such that a user may retrieve the information identified by the link in response to selection of the link-option data independent of retrieving the information in response to selection of the link. For example, the link-option data may be capable of retrieving the information for display in a current presentation instance, in a separate presentation instance overlaid upon the current presentation instance, in a separate presentation instance side-by-side with the current presentation instance, or in a separate presentation instance with minimization of the current presentation instance.
Patent Number: 6,904,569 Issued on 06/07/2005 to Anderson
| Inventors:
|
Anderson; Glen J. (Sioux City, IA)
|
| Assignee:
|
Gateway, Inc. (Irvine, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
917390 |
| Filed:
|
July 26, 2001 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
715/851; 715/760; 715/835; 715/845 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
| Field of Search: |
345/851,760,835,845
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5790122 | Aug., 1998 | Cecchini et al.
| |
| 5802530 | Sep., 1998 | Van Hoff.
| |
| 5838906 | Nov., 1998 | Doyle et al.
| |
| 5872974 | Feb., 1999 | Mezick.
| |
| 5893064 | Apr., 1999 | Kudirka et al.
| |
| 6025844 | Feb., 2000 | Parsons.
| |
| 6065059 | May., 2000 | Shieh et al.
| |
| 6683633 | Jan., 2004 | Holtzblatt et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 11-328224 | Nov., 1999 | JP.
| |
Other References
US 5,884,318, 3/1999, Nielsen et al. (withdrawn)
Jon Bosak, et al., "XML and the Second-Generation Web", May 1999, Scientific
American Feature Article, http://www.sciam.com/1999/0599issue/0599bosak.html.
"XML Linking Language (XLink) Version 1.0", W3C, Dec. 20, 2000, http://www.w3org.TR/xlink.
Walter S. Mossberg , "A Browser Road Map: Shortcuts for Trips on the World Wide
Web", Wall Street Journal, No. 171, p. B1 (W) and p. B1 (E), Aug. 27, 1998.
|
Primary Examiner: Cabeca; John
Assistant Examiner: Roswell; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Proehl; Jeffrey A., Hunt, Jr.; Ross, Stites & Harbison PLLC
Claims
1. A computer implemented method for link-level control of browser presentations,
comprising the steps of:
receiving data, wherein the data includes a selectable link to information;
parsing the received data to identify the link;
generating selectable link-option data, wherein the link-option data retrieves
the information in response to selection of the link-option data independently
of retrieving the information in response to selection of the link;
inserting the link-option data into the received data before presenting the received
data to a user; and
reformatting and displaying the received data with the link-option data incorporated
therein to produce a display of both the link and link-option data wherein a visible
presentation of an additional link-option corresponding to the link-option data
is provided to a user and thus by selection of the additional link-option, the
user can retrieve the information independently of retrieving the information in
response to selection of the link.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link-option data is
selectable by a cursor control device.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of links are
displayed, wherein the links are provided with a simple identifier, and the link-option
data is selectable by voice input using the corresponding identifier.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the identifiers are numbers.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said link-option data
represents a plurality of different additional links.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one of a first additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a current presentation instance, a second additional link for retrieving the
information for display in a separate presentation instance overlaid upon the current
presentation instance, a third additional link for retrieving the information for
display in a separate presentation instance side-by-side with the current presentation
instance, and a fourth additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a separate presentation instance and minimizing the current presentation instance.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one additional link to the information for carrying out at least one of:
retrieving the information for editing in an editor program, sending the link to
another user, and retrieving the information for storage on a data storage device.
8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon one or more sequences of
instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method for link-level
control of browser presentations, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving data, wherein the data includes a selectable link to information;
parsing the received data to identify the link;
generating selectable link-option data, wherein the link-option data is retrieves
the information in response to selection of the link-option data independently
of retrieving the information in response to selection of the link;
inserting the link-option data into the received data before presenting the received
data to a user;
reformatting and displaying the received data with the link-option data incorporated
therein to produce a display of both the link and link-option data wherein a visible
presentation of an additional link-option corresponding to the link-option data
is provided to a user and thus by selection of the additional link-option, the
user can retrieve the information independently of retrieving the information in
response to selection of the link.
9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one of: a first additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a current presentation instance, a second additional link for retrieving the
information for display in a separate presentation instance overlaid upon the current
presentation instance, a third additional link for retrieving the information for
display in a separate presentation instance side-by-side with the current presentation
instance, and a fourth additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a separate presentation instance and minimizing the current presentation instance.
10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one additional link to the information for carrying out at least one of:
retrieving the information for editing in an editor program, sending the link
to another user, and
retrieving the information for storage on a data storage device.
11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more sequences
of instructions are configured for installation in an existing browser on a data
browsing apparatus.
12. A system for link-level control of browser presentations, comprising means
for receiving data, wherein the data includes a selectable link to
information;
means for parsing the received data to identify the link;
means for generating selectable link-option data, wherein the link-option data
retrieves the information in response to selection of the link-option data independent
of retrieving the information in response to selection of the link;
means for inserting the link-option data into the received data before presenting
the received data to a user; and
means for reformatting and displaying the received data with the link-option
data incorporated therein to produce a display of both the link and link-option
data wherein a visible presentation of an additional link-option corresponding
to the link-option data is provided to a user and thus by selection of the additional
link-option, the user can retrieve the information independently of retrieving
the information in response to selection of the link.
13. A data browsing apparatus, comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a network interface coupled to the processor; and
logic capable of being executed by the processor for receiving data via the network
interface wherein the data includes a selectable link to information, parsing the
received data to identify the link, generating selectable link-option data wherein
the link-option data
retrieves the information in response to selection of the link-option data
independent of retrieving the information in response to selection of the link,
inserting the link-option data into the received data, and
reformatting and displaying the received data with the link-option data incorporated
therein to produce a display of both the link and link-option data wherein a visible
presentation of an additional link-option corresponding to the link-option data
is provided to a user and thus by selection of the additional link-option, the
user can retrieve the information independently of retrieving the information in
response to selection of the link.
14. The data browsing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logic is implemented
as a user interface program stored on the memory.
15. The data browsing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logic is implemented
by the network interface.
16. The data browsing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one of: a first additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a current presentation instance, a second additional link for retrieving the
information for display in a separate presentation instance overlaid upon the current
presentation instance, a third additional link for retrieving the information for
display in a separate presentation instance side-by-side with the current presentation
instance, and a fourth additional link for retrieving the information for display
in a separate presentation instance and minimizing the current presentation instance.
17. The data browsing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the link-option data comprises
at least one additional link to the information for carrying out at least one of:
retrieving the information for editing in an editor program, sending the link to
another user, and
retrieving the information for storage on a data storage device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of data browsing and, more particularly,
to systems and methods for improving user control of the data browsing experience
in computer implemented data browsing systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Data browsing is a common form of information review. While conducting research
in one text, an individual may come across a reference to another text, article
or other source of information, which appears pertinent to the task at hand. The
individual then retrieves the referenced text to review, while saving his place
in the original text. While reviewing the referenced text, the individual can then
repeat the process or return to the original text. In the traditional world of
physical books and libraries, this data browsing process is labor intensive and
time consuming.
With the development of computer networks and linked electronic data, data browsing
has become simpler, faster and more effective. Linked data includes additional
information that references a location of another data file or data object. By
selecting a particular piece of linked data, such as by pointing to it with a cursor
and pressing a button, a user of a data browsing system causes the referenced data
file or data object to be retrieved and presented to the user. While the concept
of linked data is applicable to many types of data retrieval systems, the most
common application today is on the Internet and the World Wide Web.
The Internet is a computer network made up of nodes spanning the entire globe.
A node can be a multi-purpose computer, a computer network, or any machine capable
of communicating using Internet Protocol, such as routers, bridges and dumb terminals.
Host computers or networks of computers on the Internet allow easy access to electronic
services and information. Hosts can be sponsored by a wide range of entities including,
for example, universities, government organizations, commercial enterprises and individuals.
Internet information and services are made available to the public through
servers running on Internet hosts. Although a server is, strictly speaking, the
software that resides on a host, an Internet host is also commonly referred to
as a server because it performs this function. An individual using a computer connected
to the Internet can access a very large amount of information by running client
software, such as web browsing software, which requests data from the large number
of servers connected to the Internet.
The World Wide Web is based on the combination of a standardized hypertext script
language for defining the semantic value of data, such as Hypertext Markup Language
("HTML") or a particular breed of Extensible Markup Language ("XML"), and a hypertext
transfer protocol, such as "HTTP". HTTP is designed to run primarily over the Transport
Control Protocol (TCP), which is one of many transport layer protocols designed
for use with the Internet Protocol (IP). HTTP uses the standard Internet setup,
where a server issues the data and a client displays or processes the data using
a web browser. This data can be in many forms including text, pictures, sound and
software. Because the Web uses hypertext (information that defines the semantic
value of data with which it is associated), it is very easy to create linked data
on the Web. For example, using HTML, a link is typically created using the "href"
attribute of the "a" element to identify a resource, using a Uniform Resource Identifier
("URI"), or a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL"), which is a particular type of URI.
When such links are associated with text, or some other grouping of data, a user
simply selects the text to cause the resource to be retrieved.
Through the use of these links, the Web provides ready access to information
on the Internet, allowing a user to navigate Internet resources intuitively, using
a graphical user interface, without specific knowledge of IP addresses and other
specialized information. The Web comprises millions of data files, frequently referred
to as "web pages", connected by links. These web pages can be downloaded and displayed
on a user's computer. Hosts running web servers provide these web pages.
Web server software is relatively simple and available on a wide range of computer
platforms, including standard personal computers. Equally available is web browser
software, which is used to request and display web pages and other types of data
files to users. Thus, the combination of the Internet, the World Wide Web, and
web browsers has created the largest and most comprehensive data browsing system
known to date.
FIG. 2 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using a prior art link activation control mechanism. Referring now to FIG. 2, a
graphical user interface (GUI) presentation 200 is a window created by (or
instance of) data browsing software, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer available
from Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Wash. The GUI presentation 200 is
displaying a web page designated by the URL "http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp."
This web page shows various stock symbols 204 and their pricing and trading
information. Each stock symbol 204 is also a link to more detailed information
regarding the stock. By left clicking on a stock symbol link 204, a user
will cause the web browser to request the more detailed information and display
it in the GUI presentation 200. If the user wishes to keep this instance
of the web browser displaying the current page and retrieve the more detailed information
about a particular stock in a new instance of the web browser, the user must first
right click 208 a selected link.
When the user right clicks 208 a selected link, an options menu 212
appears on the display. Included within this options menu 212 is an "Open
in New Window" option. The user then moves the cursor down to this option and left
clicks it to open the selected link in a new instance of the web browser. Thus,
in order to open a link in a new web browser instance, the user must take four
separate actions: (1) move the cursor to the link, (2) right click the link (3)
move the cursor to the option, and (4) left click the option.
Moreover, the new instance of the web browser is opened on top of the current
instance. If the user wishes to compare detailed information side by side, as is
common in data browsing and particularly so in the case of looking up stock information,
the user must then manually resize the two instances of the web browser.
When the extra user actions required by the current data browsing technology
are considered in the aggregate over many hundreds of hours of data browsing activity,
they represent a significant amount of wasted time and energy.
In addition, when people browse the World Wide Web, they are often subjected
to
unpredictable behavior of links, as programmed by the author of a particular web
site. For example, a user may click on one link that opens a web page in a separate
instance of the browser, while another link may open a page within the same instance
of the browser. Links that spawn new instances of a browser unexpectedly can be
very frustrating for a user, especially when the user is on a system with limited
resources for managing windows.
In conventional data browsing systems, the user typically has no way to know
how
a link will behave until after it is selected, and the user has no ability to specify
a manner in which to retrieve data identified by a link without extraneous user
actions. Thus, what is needed is a system and method to improve user control of
the data browsing experience, thereby enabling more efficient data browsing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method for processing data containing
links to information in a data browsing system, whereby user control over link
activation behavior is enabled. The method includes the steps of receiving the
data, parsing the data to identify the link, generating link-option data, and inserting
the link-option data into the received data before presenting the received data
to a user. The link-option data is capable of retrieving the information in response
to selection of the link-option data independent of retrieving the information
in response to selection of the link. For example, the link-option data may be
capable of retrieving the information for display in a current presentation instance,
in a separate presentation instance overlaid upon the current presentation instance,
in a separate presentation instance side-by-side with the current presentation
instance, or in a separate presentation instance with minimization of the current
presentation instance. Additionally, the link-option data may be capable of retrieving
the information for editing in an editor program or for storage on a data storage
device, as well as of sending the link itself to another user.
The present invention is also directed to a system which implements a method
for processing data containing links to information, whereby user control over
link activation behavior is enabled. In one embodiment, the system is a data browsing
apparatus connected to a network, such as a multipurpose computer connected to
the Internet and running a web browser. In another embodiment, the system is a
service provider, such as an Internet Service Provider, coupling a data browsing
apparatus with a network such as the Internet. In yet another embodiment, the system
is a central server, such as a web server, accessible by a data browsing apparatus
via a network such as the Internet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an exemplary data browsing apparatus connected
with its operational environment according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a block diagram depicting a plurality of data browsing apparatuses
connected in an operational environment according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using a prior art link activation control mechanism;
FIG. 3 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using link activation control according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using link activation control according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for providing specific link activation
control in a data browsing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example system in which elements and
functionality of the invention are implemented according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward link activation control in a data browsing
apparatus and data browsing systems. The present invention is disclosed and described
herein in terms of a data browsing apparatus utilizing the Internet and the World
Wide Web. Description in these terms is provided for ease of discussion only. After
reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the
art how to implement the invention in alternative embodiments and alternative network
environments. For example, alternative embodiments include a multi-purpose computer
running a web browser, and a dumb terminal running library database browsing software.
In addition, the present invention will also be useful in applications that interact
with data browsing systems. For example, in non-web applications that open web
pages, the present invention could be used to provide user control over how a web
page is launched from the non-web application.
Alternative network environments include any "Future Net" which will
likely encompass the functions now provided by today's Internet, cable and broadcast
television, telephone communications and other linear and interactive business
and telecommunications systems, and any collection of electronic devices connected
by communication means so as to allow data retrieval and review. As such, the description
of this example embodiment should not be construed to limit the scope and breadth
of the present invention.
Moreover, it is understood that the World Wide Web is just one part of
the Internet, and is only one type of data browsing system to which the present
invention is applicable. However, because the World Wide Web is widely used, the
discussion that follows below will use terms referring to the Internet and the
World Wide Web, without intending to limit the discussion to the specific terms
that are used.
FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an exemplary data browsing apparatus connected
with its operational environment according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1A, a data browsing apparatus
100 is connected to
a network
150, which in this example embodiment is the Internet, via a channel
124. This channel
124 carries signals
128 and can be implemented
using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, a radio
frequency (RF) link, infrared interface (IR) or other communications channels.
The signals
128 are data files requested by the data browsing apparatus
100, as well as communication protocol information used in obtaining the
data files via the network
150.
The data browsing apparatus
100 includes a central processor ("CPU")
104,
a network interface
108, a main memory
112, a user interface
116
and a display
120. The network interface
108 provides a connection
between the data browsing apparatus
100 and the network
150. The
network interface
108 receives the signals
128, thereby providing
the CPU
104 with access to data and code in a manner that is well-known
and commonly used in computer systems. In this example embodiment, the network
interface
108 includes control logic allowing requesting and receiving of
data files via the network
150 and downloading of the user interface
116
upon power up of the data browsing apparatus
100.
The main memory
112 provides CPU
104 with access to storage for
data and code, including the user interface
116, in a manner that is well-known
and commonly used in computer systems. The user interface
116 represents
an operating system for the data browsing apparatus
100, and allows a user
to request data files via links presented on the display
120.
In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented by the user interface
116 within the data browsing apparatus
100. In an alternative embodiment,
the present invention is implemented by the network interface
108 within
the data browsing apparatus
100. While the above embodiments describe a
dumb terminal acting as the data browsing apparatus
100, those skilled in
the relevant art(s) understand that the functionality described herein can be implemented
in a wide variety of computer systems, including a multi-purpose computer running
a web browser.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram depicting a plurality of data browsing apparatuses
connected in an operational environment according to one embodiment of the present
invention. Referring now to FIG. 1B, the data browsing apparatus
100 is
the same as that shown in FIG.
1A. The data browsing apparatus
100
is coupled to a network backbone
160 along with a plurality of other data
browsing apparatuses, such as data browsing apparatuses
100a and
100b. The network backbone
160 provides connectivity for the
data browsing apparatuses
100,
100a, and
100b to
a network
150 through a service provider
170. A central server
180
may also be coupled to the network
150.
For example, in one embodiment, the network
150 is the Internet, the service
provider
170 is an Internet service provider (ISP), and the backbone
160
comprises a coax cable. Additionally, the central server
180 comprises a
web server. In alternative embodiments, each data browsing apparatus
100,
100a, or
100b may be connected to the backbone
160
through additional layers. For example, the data browsing apparatus
100,
100a, or
100b may be connected to a local area network,
such as a home network, and the local area network may then be coupled to the backbone
160.
FIG. 3 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using link activation control according to one embodiment of the present invention.
A GUI presentation
300 is a window created by (or an instance of) data browsing
software. The GUI presentation
300 is displaying the same web page, designated
by the URL "http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp", as shown in FIG.
2.
However, this web page has been modified in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
For each link
304 on the downloaded web page, link-option data for link
activation control has been generated. In this embodiment, the link-option data
comprises two additional sinks
308 for each original link
304. These
additional links
308 identify the same URI as the original link
304,
but further include link activation control data. This link activation control
data is capable of retrieving the data identified by the URI of the original link
304 in response to selection of the additional links
308 in a particular
manner independent of a manner of retrieving the data identified by the URI in
response to selection of the original link
304.
For example, in one embodiment, the additional links
308 comprise a graphical
square and a graphical triangle. The graphical triangle is a link that, if selected,
retrieves the data specified by the URI in the current instance of the data browsing
software. The graphical square is a link that, if selected, opens a new instance
of the data browsing software and retrieves the data specified by the URI in the
new instance. Thus, the user obtains specific control over how a link is activated
without extraneous cursor movements or mouse clicks.
The square and the triangle are shown as examples only. It is understood that
many alternative graphics may be used, along with alternative link activation control,
as discussed more below. Depending upon the density and proximity of links on a
page, automatic resizing of the alternative link graphics would be performed.
Reformatting of web pages before they appear to the end-user is well
known in the art of browser and web server programming. For example, Web TV operates
through servers that format web pages for best viewing on a TV screen. There are
also products that remove advertisements from web pages by detecting the advertisements
and reformatting the web page before it appears to the user.
In alternative embodiments, additional links are created for each original link
304, and additional link activation control functionality is enabled. The
various link activation control functions that may be implemented include retrieving
the linked data in the same session, retrieving the linked data in a separate session,
retrieving the linked data in an editor (such as a web editor), retrieving the
linked data in different data browsing software, emailing the link to a third party,
saving the linked data to disk, and the like.
FIG. 4 is an illustration depicting an exemplary user interface for data browsing
using link activation control according to another embodiment of the present invention.
A GUI presentation
400 is a window created by (or an instance of) data browsing
software. The GUI presentation
400 is displaying the same web page, designated
by the URL "http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp", as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
However, this web page has been modified in accordance with another embodiment
of the present invention.
For each link
404 on the downloaded web page, link-option data for link
activation control has been generated. In this embodiment, the link-option data
comprises code for each original link
404, which causes a pop-up menu
412
to appear when a cursor
408 remains over the original link
404 for
a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be user programmable, but in one
embodiment, may be one half to one second. The pop-up menu
412 includes
options capable of retrieving the data identified by the URI of the original link
404 in response to selection of the pop-up menu
412 in a particular
manner independent of a manner of retrieving the data identified by the URI in
response to selection of the original link
404.
For example, in one embodiment, the pop-up menu
412 includes a square,
a triangle, equal size bars, and unequal size bars. The square is an option that,
if selected, opens a new instance of the data browsing software and retrieves the
data specified by the URI in the new instance. The triangle is an option that,
if selected, retrieves the data specified by the URI in the current instance of
the data browsing software. The equal size bars is an option that, if selected,
opens a new instance of the data browsing software, resizes the old and the new
instances of the data browsing software so that they appear side-by-side with each
other, and retrieves the data specified by the URI in the new instance. The unequal
size bars is an option that, if selected, opens a new instance of the data browsing
software, minimizes the old instance, and retrieves the data specified by the URI
in the new instance.
The square, triangle, equal size bars, and unequal size bars are shown as examples
only. It is understood that many alternative graphics may be used, along with alternative
lick activation control, as discussed more below. Additionally, the equal size
bars and unequal size bars options need not create new instances or windows. For
example, in one embodiment, the equal size bars option may be implemented using
HTML frames, such that the current web page is reformatted to display the data
identified by the current URI in one frame and the data identified by the selected
URI in another frame.
Moreover, the link-option code is not limited to code that generates the
pop-up window
412. For example, in one embodiment, the link-option code
may use speech recognition technology to activate links. Each link on the web page
may be identified and given a number. The web page may then be modified to add
the number of each link next to the link. The user may then activate each link
using commands like "open link 3", "branch link 4", and "side by side link 2",
to retrieve the URI data of the third link in the current window, retrieve the
URI data of the fourth link in a new window, and retrieve the URI data of the second
link in a new window side-by-side with the current window, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for providing specific link activation
control in a data browsing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
invention. In step
502, data is received. This data includes at least one
link to information. For example, in one embodiment, a user selects a link to another
web page, which causes a web browser to request the data identified by the link.
The received data includes the link to the requested web page.
In step
502, the data may be received by different portions of the data
browsing environment in different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment,
the data may be received in a web browsing apparatus
100, such as that shown
in FIG.
1A. In this embodiment, the method may be implemented in either
the user interface
116 or the network interface
108. For example,
the method may be implemented as a browser plug-in for installation in a web browser.
In an alternative embodiment, the data may be received at a service provider
170,
such as that shown in FIG.
1B. In this embodiment, the method may be implemented
in at least one computer making up the service provider
170. In another
alternative embodiment, the method may be implemented on a central server
180,
which is a web server. A user may first request a web page from the web server
180, and then perform data browsing. All web page requests may be routed
through the web server
180, which in turn may implement the method depicted
in FIG.
5.
Referring once again to FIG. 5, the received data is parsed in step
504
to identify the links to information. The data may be parsed in accordance with
methods well-known to those skilled in the art. For example, in a web embodiment,
step
504 involves parsing the HTML text to identify links, such as by looking
for an "href" attribute of an "a" element. It should be appreciated that many different
types of links may be identified in step
504, even within one embodiment,
such as an XML link or the like.
Next, in step
506, link-option data is generated. As discussed above,
the link-option data may be one or more additional links, code for performing specific
link activation control functions, or a combination of links and code. The link-option
data is generated by first isolating the part of the identified link that is a
reference to information, and then this part of the link is copied and added to
a wrapper of data for implementing a specific type of link activation. For example,
in a web embodiment, the link-option data is generated by first isolating the URI.
This URI is then associated with a wrapper of data which includes an href identifying
a graphic for the link, such as the triangle graphic discussed above, and an href
to be associated with the MRI. In this fashion, a new link is created to the same
URI as the URI isolated from the identified link, wherein the new link has specific
functionality that is preferably readily ascertainable from its manner of presentation
to a user.
Once the link-option data is generated in step
506, this link-option
data is inserted into the received data in step
508. In one embodiment,
the link-option data comprises a new link with an associated graphic, and it is
inserted such that it appears in close proximity to the link identified in step
504.
Then in step
510, the newly created data is either presented to the user
or transmitted to the user, depending on the particular embodiment. For example,
in an embodiment such as that shown in FIG. 1A, where the method of FIG. 5 is implemented
in the data browsing apparatus
100, the newly created data is presented
to the user. Alternatively, in an embodiment such as that shown in FIG. 1B, where
the method of FIG. 5 is implemented at the central server
180, the newly
created data is transmitted to the user.
Although the flowchart of FIG. 5 is discussed in terms of distinct sequential
steps, it is understood that these steps may overlap. For example, in one embodiment,
as data is received in step
502, it may be simultaneously parsed in step
504. As each link is identified in step
504, link-option data may
be generated in step
506 and inserted into the received data at step
508,
even as the data is continued to be received in step
502.
Moreover, although the method depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is shown
having a start and an end, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant
art(s) that the method is actually part of a larger method for data browsing or
network communication, which need not be described in detail herein. Additionally,
the method steps of FIG. 5 may be cycled through any number of times.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system in which elements
and functionality of the invention are implemented according to one embodiment.
The present invention may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination
thereof and may be implemented in a computer system or other processing system.
An exemplary computer system
600 is shown in FIG.
6. Various software
embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system
600.
After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person having ordinary
skill in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention using other computer
systems and/or computer architectures.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the computer system
600 includes one or
more processors, such as processor
604. Additional processors may be provided,
such as an auxiliary processor to manage input/output, an auxiliary processor to
perform floating point mathematical operations, a digital signal processor (a special-purpose
microprocessor having an architecture suitable for fast execution of signal processing
algorithms), a back-end processor (a slave processor subordinate to the main processing
system), an additional microprocessor or controller for dual or multiple processor
systems, or a coprocessor. It will be recognized that such auxiliary processors
may be discrete processors or may be built in to the processor
604.
The processor
604 is connected to a communication bus
602. The
communication bus
602 may include a data channel for facilitating information
transfer between storage and other peripheral components of the computer system
600. The communication bus
602 further provides the set of signals
required for communication with the processor
604, including a data bus,
address bus, and control bus (not shown). The communication bus
602 may
comprise any known bus architecture according to promulgated standards, for example,
industry standard architecture (ISA), extended industry standard architecture (EISA),
Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local
bus, standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) including IEEE 488 general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), IEEE 696/S-100,
and the like.
Computer system
600 includes a main memory
606 and may also
include a secondary memory
608. The main memory
606 provides storage
of instructions and data for programs executing on the processor
604. The
main memory
606 is typically semiconductor-based memory such as dynamic
random access memory (DRAM) and/or static random access memory (SRAM). Other semiconductor-based
memory types include, for example, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM),
Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), and ferroelectric random access memory
(FRAM). In one embodiment of the computer system
600, the main memory
606
may be a combination of a RAM and a read only memory (ROM), and the secondary memory
608 may not be present.
The secondary memory
608 may include, for example, a hard disk drive
610
and/or a removable storage drive
612, representing a floppy disk drive,
a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, and the like. The removable storage
drive
612 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit
614
in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit
614 may be a floppy disk,
magnetic tape, optical disk, and the like, which is read by and/or written to by
removable storage drive
612. As will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art, the removable storage unit
614 includes a computer usable storage
medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.
In alternative embodiments, secondary memory
608 may include other similar
means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the
computer system
600. Such means may include, for example, a removable storage
unit
622 and an interface
620. Examples of such means include semiconductor-based
memory such as programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory
(block oriented memory similar to EEPROM). Also included are any other removable
storage units
622 and interfaces
620, which allow software and data
to be transferred from the removable storage unit
622 to the computer system
600.
The computer system
600 also includes a communications interface
624.
The communications interface
624 allows software and data to be transferred
between the computer system
600 and external devices, networks or information
sources. Examples of the communications interface
624 include a modem, a
network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot
and card, and the like. The communications interface
624 preferably implements
industry promulgated architecture standards, such as Ethernet IEEE 802 standards,
Fibre Channel, digital subscriber line (DSL), asymmetric digital subscriber line
(ASDL), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated digital services
network (ISDN), personal communications services (PCS), transmission control protocol/Internet
protocol (TCP/IP), serial line Internet protocol/point to point protocol (SLIP/PPP),
Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), and the like.
Software and data transferred via the communications interface
624
are in the form of signals
628, which can be electronic, electromagnetic,
optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface
624. These signals
628 are provided to the communications interface
624 via a channel
626. This channel
626 carries the signals
628 and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line,
a cellular phone link, a radio frequency (RF) link, infrared interface (IR) or
other communications channels.
Computer programming instructions (also known as computer programs, software
or code) are stored in the main memory
606 and/or the secondary memory
608.
Computer programs may also be received via the communications interface
624.
Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system
600 to
perform the features of the present invention as discussed herein. In particular,
the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor
604 to perform
the features and functions of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer
programs represent controllers of the computer system
600.
In one embodiment, the communications bus
602 is coupled with a display
(not shown), such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying information to a
computer user. Various input devices may also be coupled with the communications
bus
602 for communicating information and command selections to the processor
604. These input devices may include a keyboard (not shown), a cursor control
device (such as a mouse, trackball, or cursor direction keys) (not shown), and
a microphone (not shown) for voice command inputs.
In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, the software
may be stored in a computer readable medium and loaded into the computer system
600 using the hard drive
610, the removable storage drive
612,
the interface
620, the or communications interface
624. Examples
of computer readable media include removable storage units
614 and
622,
a hard disk installed in the hard disk drive
610, a ROM installed in the
computer system
600, and the signals
628. The software, when executed
by the processor
604, causes the processor
604 to perform the features
and functions of the invention as described herein.
In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware using,
for example, hardware components such as application specific integrated circuits
("ASICs"). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions
described herein will be apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art(s).
In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using a combination of
both hardware and software. It should be appreciated that modification or reconfiguration
of the computer system
600 of FIG. 6 by one having ordinary skill in the
relevant art(s) will not depart from the scope or the spirit of the present invention.
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