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

• US 20010038393A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• 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 7,448,000 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:

finding a unique instance of an article;

creating a container; and

enumerating a web page.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein enumerating enumerates a child window.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein finding locates online content using a network address.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein the instance of the article is associated with a specified time period.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein creating also sizes the container to the two dimensional size of the browser-based interface.

6. The method of

claim 1

further comparing a parent window ID.

7. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

retrieving a graphical image of a child web page;

writing a content of the child web page to the container; and

arranging the child web page with the container to create a modified container.

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

finding a unique instance of an article;

creating a container;

enumerating a web page to create an image and

adjusting the image.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein adjusting arranges the image based on a two-dimensional position at which it was originally recorded.

10. The method of

claim 8

further comprising retrieving a child web page having a native size and native aspect ratio.

11. The method of

claim 8

wherein adjusting adjust the two-dimensional arrangement of the image by moving the image horizontally.

12. The method of

claim 8

wherein adjusting adjust the two-dimensional arrangement of the image by moving the image vertically.

13. The method of

claim 8

wherein adjusting the image changes the container size.

14. The method of

claim 8

further comprising masking the image.

15. The method of

claim 14

wherein masking colorizes the areas of the image left void by the placement of any child web pages.

16. The method of

claim 14

wherein masking colorizes the areas of the image that were not exposed through a browser-interface at a point in time.

17. The method of

claim 8

further comprising iterating to a next detected event and reconstructing a second visual image.

18. The method of

claim 8

further comprising adjusting the image to reflect an image analysis.

19. Memory in a computer system that maintains data capable of transforming a computer system into a visual stimuli reconstruction system, by:

finding a unique instance of an article;

creating a container; and

enumerating a web page to create an image.

20. The computer system of

claim 19

further comprising adjusting the image.