System and method for generating dynamically updated graphical user interfaces

• US 20020188619A1
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Low, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/851,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188619A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for generating dynamically updated graphical user interfaces over a distributed computer network is disclosed. The system and method use existing hypertext transfer protocols and existing Java Script and Active Server Pages to generate a dynamic graphical user interface based on a database of records identifying goods or services. The consumer is provided a range of predetermined choices and in accordance with replies to the predetermined choices, the graphical user interface is dynamically updated with icons and other graphic symbols representing the consumer choices. Importantly, the graphical user interface does not need to refresh the browser application and therefore, minimizes data transmission delays over the distributed computer network.

Claims

1. A method of representing a search of a database over an interconnected data network between a merchant and a consumer, said consumer equipped with a browser application, said method comprising the steps of:

providing to consumers a set of predetermined choices from said database;

receiving consumer replies to said set of predetermined choices;

dynamically providing a graphic user interface reflecting said consumer replies; and

presenting selected consumer choices as a graphic image on said graphic user interface, wherein said presenting step is accomplished without refreshing said browser application.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interconnected data network is the Internet.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interconnected data network is a virtual private network (“

VPN”

).

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said merchant is a vendor of cable connectors.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said merchant is a vendor of clothing.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said merchant is a vendor of shoes.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

updating a database of records wherein each record corresponds to a single good for sale.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of:

updating a database of records wherein each record corresponds to a single service for sale.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said database is a relational database.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said providing step is performed by an Active Server Pages (“

ASP”

) routine.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dynamically providing step is performed by a Java Script applet.

13. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said interconnected data network is the Internet.

14. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said interconnected data network is a virtual private network (“

VPN”

).

15. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said merchant is a vendor of cable connectors.

16. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said merchant is a vendor of clothing.

17. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said merchant is a vendor of shoes.

18. The system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising:

means of updating a database of records wherein each record corresponds to a single good for sale.

19. The system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising:

means of updating a database of records wherein each record corresponds to a single service for sale.

20. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said database is a relational database.

12. A system for dynamically representing a search of a database over an interconnected data network between a merchant and a consumer, said consumer equipped with a browser application, said system comprising:

means for providing to consumers a set of predetermined choices;

means for receiving consumer replies to said set of predetermined choices;

means for dynamically providing a graphical user interface reflecting said consumer replies without refreshing said browser application; and

means for presenting selected consumer choices as a graphic image on said graphic user interface.