Apparatus and method for producing contextually marked-up electronic content

• US 20020035619A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BioSpace.com, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BioSpace.com, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurland, Adam, Dougherty, Carter D.
• Application Number:
  US09/921,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035619A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method of providing contextual marked-up information includes receiving a request from a user for an information resource. The information resource is retrieved. Data in the information resource is converted into inserted user-selectable objects, thereby rendering a converted information resource. The converted information resource is provided to the user. By selecting an inserted user-selectable object, the user secures additional information regarding the inserted user-selectable object. The inserted user-selectable objects augment the pre-existing user-selectable objects that may exist in an information resource. The inserted user-selectable objects are supplied without modifying software at the source of the information resource.

Claims

1. A method of providing contextual marked-up information, comprising

receiving a request from a user for an information resource;

retrieving said information resource;

converting data in said information resource into inserted user-selectable objects, thereby rendering a converted information resource; and

providing said converted information resource to said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting includes:

scanning text in said information resource for a selected key phrase; and

replacing said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said replacing includes replacing said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object in the form of a uniform resource locator.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said replacing includes replacing said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object in the form of a uniform resource locator with a key phrase identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein converting includes:

parsing a markup language document into markup language tokens and text-only portions;

scanning at least one text-only portion for the presence of a key phrase; and

replacing said key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining user content characterization information classifying information within said information resource.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein obtaining includes obtaining content characterization information selected from the group including:

content type, content subject area, and content comments.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving instructions to store said information resource as saved content associated with said user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving instructions to store said information resource as saved content associated with a group of individuals that includes said user.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

searching for documents stored by said group.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein searching includes searching for documents stored by said group according to content characterization information specified by said user.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

delivering search results that include content characterization information.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting a document summary user-selectable object into said information resource, said document summary user-selectable object invoking a document summary window that lists predetermined key phrases identified within said information resource.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein inserting includes inserting a document summary user-selectable object into said information resource that invokes a document summary window that lists predetermined key phrases identified within said information resource, wherein said predetermined key phrases are organized in accordance with predetermined content categories.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions to convert include:

instructions to scan text in said information resource for a selected key phrase; and

instructions to replace said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said instructions to replace include instructions to replace said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object in the form of a uniform resource locator.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said instructions to replace include instructions to replace said selected key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object in the form of a uniform resource locator with a key phrase identifier.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions to convert include:

instructions to parse a markup language document into markup language tokens and text-only portions;

instructions to scan at least one text-only portion for the presence of a key phrase; and

instructions to replace said key phrase with an inserted user-selectable object.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions to obtain user content characterization information classifying information within said information resource.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein said instructions to obtain include instructions to obtain content characterization information selected from the group including:

content type, content subject area, and content comments.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions to store said information resource as saved content associated with said user.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions to store said information resource as saved content associated with a group of individuals that includes said user.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 further comprising:

instructions to search for documents stored by said group.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 further comprising:

instructions to search for documents stored by said group according to content characterization information specified by said user.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising:

instructions to deliver search results that include content characterization information.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions to insert a document summary user-selectable object into said information resource, said document summary user-selectable object invoking a document summary window that lists predetermined key phrases identified within said information resource.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising:

instructions to invoke a document summary window that lists predetermined key phrases identified within said information resource, wherein said predetermined key phrases are organized in accordance wit h pre determined content categories.

15. A computer readable medium to direct a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising:

instructions to process a request from a user for an information resource;

instructions to retrieve said information resource;

instructions to convert data in said information resource into inserted user-selectable objects, thereby rendering a converted information resource; and

instructions to provide said converted information resource to said user.