Methods and devices for reconstructing visual stimuli observed through browser-based interfaces over time

• US 20010035876A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Schlucktronix LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Vanover, William K., Crain, Kenneth H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention allows an operator to identify a specific article of online-content to be reconstructed and displayed, and specify a duration of time to be used when graphically representing what areas of the visual stimuli were actually visible to the user. First, the operator selects an article of online-content based on its original network address, or from a substitute name from a database that contains a record of all online-content visited by the original user. Next, the operator enters a specific duration of time to reconstruct, preferably by using slider-bar, a timeline equal to duration, preferably the maximum duration, that the online content was visible to the original user. Next, the user selects from various compositions that can be used to represent the visual stimuli as it was originally displayed to the user. Finally, the original visual stimuli displayed to the user is recreated based on the article of online content and period of time specified, using the selected form of composition. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a method for retrieving multiple instances of an article of online content from a database of previously recorded content. In yet a further embodiment, the invention is a method for reconstructing visual stimuli as originally displayed to a user as one form of composition. Still another embodiment of the invention is a method for reconstructing a field of visual stimuli that could be observed by a user as one form of composition.

Claims

1. A method of reconstructing visual stimuli observable through a browser-based interface, comprising:

receiving a selection of content for reconstruction;

retrieving data;

calculating what to display; and

reconstructing a display.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a network address of online content displayed within a browser window at a point in time.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a two-dimensional offset of the online content displayed within a browser window.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a two-dimensional position of a pointing device.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data comprises textual and binary objects systematically displayed within each browser window.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a graphical image of online content as displayed in a browser window.

7. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is an inventory of objects that comprise online content, and the two-dimensional position of each object in a browser window.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a user eye position.

9. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data is a pupil dilation.

10. The method of

claim 1

further comprising retrieving data.

11. The method of

claim 1

further comprising calculating the size of a visual area.

12. The method of

claim 1

further comprising masking an area of a visual area.

13. The method of

claim 1

further comprising displaying the visual area.

14. The method of

claim 1

wherein data is stored as an article identifiable as an alphanumeric string.

15. The method of

claim 1

further comprising assigning a unique ID to each parent web page and each child web page.

16. The method of

claim 1

wherein calculating calculates the original size and position of each browser window as it was originally displayed.

17. The method of

claim 1

further comprising calculating at least a visual area.

18. The method of

claim 12

wherein masking is achieved via colorizing.

19. A data storage device that maintains a method of reconstructing visual stimuli observable through a browser-based interface, by:

receiving a selection of content for reconstruction;

retrieving data;

calculating what to display; and

reconstructing a display.

20. Memory in a computer system that maintains data capable of transforming a computer system into a visual stimuli retrieval system by:

receiving a selection of content for reconstruction;

retrieving data;

calculating what to display; and

reconstructing a display.