Adding a shortcut to a web site

• US 20030016241A1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul E. Burke
• Original Assignee: Paul E. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,819,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for accessing a web site quickly is provided. Part of the computer software for implementing the present invention will be called “See You Again Shortcut™” software in this application. The “See You Again Shortcut™” software gives visitors to the vendor'"'"'s web site, the ability to create a shortcut link to access the vendor'"'"'s web site. The shortcut link may appear on the visitor'"'"'s display. The shortcut link may be a logo or trademark of the vendor. The shortcut link may appear on the desktop display, start menu display, favorites menu display, Windows (TRADEMARKED) QuickLaunch Bar display, or in any other manner on the visitor'"'"'s display. Selecting the shortcut link on the visitor display will cause a web page of the vendor'"'"'s web site to appear on the visitor'"'"'s display.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

placing a first link on a vendor'"'"'s web site page of a vendor'"'"'s web site;

causing a second link to be placed on a visitor display in response to an add short cut process started by the selection of the first link on the vendor'"'"'s web site page by a visitor to the vendor'"'"'s web site page;

wherein selection of the second link on the visitor display causes a vendor'"'"'s web site page of the vendor'"'"'s web site to be displayed on the visitor display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link is placed on a Desktop menu on the visitor display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link is placed on a Start menu on the visitor display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link is placed on a Favorites list menu on the visitor display.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link is placed on a Links Bar menu on the visitor display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link is placed on a Windows QuickLaunch (TRADEMARKED) Bar menu on the visitor display.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second link identifies the vendor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein

selection of the second link on the visitor display causes a coupon code to be transferred to a vendor web site server processor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein

selection of the second link on the visitor display causes a username and a password which identify the visitor to be transferred to a vendor web site server processor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein

selection of the second link on the visitor display causes data identifying an affiliate of the vendor to be transferred to a vendor web site server processor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

prior to the placement of the second link on the visitor display, the visitor to the vendor'"'"'s web site accesses the vendor'"'"'s web site through a web site of the affiliate of the vendor.

12. The method of claim 1

wherein the add shortcut process includes granting privileges to allow a visitor shortcut software program to modify software on a visitor processor.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein

the add shortcut process includes displaying a first pop up screen on the visitor display in response to selection of the first link on the vendor web site web page.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein

the first pop up screen includes a third link which can be selected to cause the shortcut process to continue.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein

the third link is an HTML button.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein

the first link is a graphic button displayed on the visitor display.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein

the first link is a text button displayed on the visitor display.