Automated scrolling of browser content and automated activation of browser links

• US 20020126155A1
• Filed: 01/19/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Original Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Inventors: Lin-Hendel, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/785
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/07 Guided tours
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An automatic scrolling mechanism that converts the passive browser/web/computer media or any other information repository into an active media that can actively present and “push” information to the users/viewers while retaining the browser/web media'"'"'s existing “pull” and interactivity functions. The same mechanism applied in TV/Video Media can give the TV/Video Media interactivity. The automatic scrolling can be controlled by placing a cursor on various control icons, such as a respective end of a floating border structure. The structure may be a box or a line. Furthermore, the structure may be a cluster of arrows, or other symbols. In operation, while the cursor is on the respective end, automatically scrolling occurs to bring forth the content that extends beyond the field of view of the browser display window into view. As the content is scrolled, the content is moved into the field of view of the browser display window in a predetermine direction designated by the respective end. Sub-windows are also designed to be independently and automatically scrolled or floated with respect to the content of the main browser window. Furthermore, this invention automatically activates links created in an information repository, actively retrieves the linked information, and automatically present and scroll the retrieved information to the users/viewers of the repository. As the content is automatically scrolled, the repository is pushed to the user and allured to further navigate there through the repository.

Claims

1. A method of automatically scrolling comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a cursor on a respective end of a floating border structure; and

,

(b) automatically scrolling through content extending beyond a display window into a field of view of the display window in a predetermined direction designated by the end.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end; and

the step (b) includes;

when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view; and

,

when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end;

and

wherein the step (b) further includes the steps of;

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(c) moving the cursor away from the respective end; and

(d) directly in response to the step (c), automatically stopping the step (b).

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(c) during the step (b), determining if a full-screen shift of the content has occurred; and

(d) in response to step (c) automatically pausing the step (b).

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(e) after the step (d), clicking a left key of a mouse; and

(f) in response to the step (e), resuming the step (b).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display window is a browser window, and the content is a page.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the floating border structure is a floating line or floating box.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of activating a user control to perform one of:

begin automatic scrolling, stop automatic scrolling, advance scrolling a page, increase scrolling speed and decrease scrolling speed.

10. A method of automatically scrolling comprising the steps of:

placing a cursor on at least one of a plurality of direction indicators; and

while the cursor is on the one direction indicator, automatically scrolling through content extending beyond a display window, into a field of view of the display window, in a predetermined direction designated by the one direction indicator.

11. A browser display window comprising:

a display window having a field of view;

a first floating border structure having first and second ends oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the field of view when a cursor is placed on a respective one of the first and second ends; and

a second floating border structure having third and fourth ends oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the field of view when the cursor is placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends.

12. The window according to claim 11, wherein, the first floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end such that when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view, and when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

13. The window according to claim 12, wherein:

the second floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end; and

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

14. The window according to claim 11, wherein the content is a page.

15. The window according to claim 11, wherein the first and second floating border structures are a floating line.

16. The window according to claim 11, wherein the first and second floating border structures are a floating box.

17. The window according to claim 11, wherein the automatic scrolling is limited to a full-screen shift.

18. The window according to claim 11, wherein the automatic scrolling is automatically stopped when the cursor is moved away from the first floating border structure or the second floating border structure.

19. The window according to claim 11, wherein the display window is a main display window;

and,

further comprising;

a second display window having a second field of view within the main display window;

a first floating sub-border structure having first and second ends oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the second field of view when the cursor is placed on a respective one of the first and second ends of the first floating sub-border structure; and

a second floating sub-border structure having third and fourth ends oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the second field of view when the cursor is placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends of the second floating sub-border structure.

20. The window according to claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of autoscrolling controls, the autoscrolling controls including at least two of;

a go button;

a stop button;

a page button;

a continuous button;

a slow down button; and

,

a speedup button.

21. A method of displaying and navigating through a website comprising the steps of:

displaying a page of a website; and

,

automatically scrolling the page to push and allure navigation through the website.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the website has multiple categories wherein each category has multiple sub-categories;

and further comprising the step of;

displaying a floating dynamic instruction box overlaid on the page that displays navigational links for alluring the user to further navigate to a category or to a sub-category.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the page is a website home page.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the page includes at least one blinking picture or link;

and

further comprising the step of;

dynamically changing the floating dynamic instruction box in response the at least one blinking picture to entice the user to further navigate.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

automating sequences of blinking links in a page; and

,

activating the blinking links of the sequences to automatically and sequentially push navigation within the website.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the sequences are based on user demographics or profile.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the page includes at least two independent windows.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of automatically scrolling independently the at least two independent windows.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

automatically scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows at a first speed; and

,

automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows at a second speed different from the first speed.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

,

continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.

31. An apparatus for displaying and navigating through a website comprising a browser window having a field of view for displaying a webpage of a website within the field of view, wherein the webpage is automatically scrolled to push and allure navigation through the website.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the website has multiple categories wherein each category has multiple sub-categories;

and

further comprising;

a floating dynamic instruction box adapted to be overlaid on the webpage that displays navigational links for alluring the user to further navigate to a category or to a sub-category.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the webpage is a website home page.

34. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the webpage includes at least one blinking picture or link;

further comprising;

means for dynamically changing the floating dynamic instruction box in response the at least one blinking picture to entice the user to further navigate.

35. The apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for automating sequences of blinking links in the webpage; and

means for activating the blinking links of the sequences to automatically and sequentially push navigation within the website.

36. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the webpage includes at least two independent windows.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the at least two independent windows are automatically scrolled independently.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein:

a first one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolled at a first speed; and

a second one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolling at a second speed different from the first speed.

39. The apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising:

means for manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

means for continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.