Presentation of information to end-users

• US 20030145060A1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Carhamm Limited LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Martin, Anthony G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

In one embodiment, a message containing message information is received in an end-user'"'"'s computer. A portion of the message information is first displayed in a caption area. Preferably, the caption area only has enough information to attract the end-user'"'"'s attention, or provide a hint of the information contained in a subsequently displayed slider window area. A slider window area containing another portion of the message information is displayed after the caption area. Typically, the slider window area is larger than the caption area and contains more information. If the end-user has not acted on either the caption area or the slider window area, indicating that she is not interested in the presented message information, the slider window area automatically closes after a predetermined amount of time.

Claims

1. A method of presenting information to an end-user comprising:

receiving a message information over a network;

displaying a portion of the message information on a first content area of a display monitor;

displaying another portion of the message information on a second content area of the display monitor, the second content area being larger than the first content area; and

closing at least a section of the second content area after a predetermined amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second content area is adjacent to an edge of the first content area, and the second content area slides out of the edge of the first content area.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second content area is displayed adjacent to an edge of the first content area in response to the end-user acting on the first content area.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by clicking on the first content area.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by moving a cursor over the first content area.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the message information is stored in a message cache prior to being displayed.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising re-displaying the second content area in response to the end-user acting on the first content area.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by placing a cursor over the first content area.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by clicking on the first content area.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising saving the message information in response to an end-user action.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the message information is packaged in several messages.

12. A method of presenting information to an end-user comprising:

receiving a message information;

displaying a portion of the message information on a first content area of a display monitor;

displaying another portion of the message information on a second content area of the display monitor, the second content area being larger than the first content area; and

closing at least a section of the second content area if the end-user does not act on either the first content area or the second content area.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second content area is adjacent to an edge of the first content area, and the second content area slides out of the edge of the first content area.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second content area is displayed adjacent to an edge of the first content area in response to the end-user acting on the first content area.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by clicking on the first content area.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the end-user acts on the first content area by moving a cursor over the first content area.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the message information is stored in a message cache prior to being displayed.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising saving the message information in response to an end-user action.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the message information is packaged in several messages.

20. In a computer, a user interface comprising:

a caption area displaying information about a subject; and

a window area sharing a border with the caption area and containing further information about the subject, the window area having an area larger than the caption area, the window area capable of being automatically displayed and closed without the end-user acting on either the caption area or the window area.

21. The user interface of claim 20 further comprising a control button for removing at least the caption area.

22. The user interface of claim 20 further comprising a control button for saving a content of the window area.

23. The user interface of claim 20 wherein the window area is displayed by sliding it out of a border of the caption area.

24. The user interface of claim 20 wherein the window area and the caption area are adjacent rectangular areas.

25. The user interface of claim 20 wherein the window area and the caption area are separate from a web browser.

26. The user interface of claim 20 wherein the window area and the caption area are included in a web page.

27. A method for presenting information to an end-user over a network:

transmitting message information from a server computer in response to the end-user viewing a certain web page;

receiving the message information in a client computer;

displaying a portion of the message information on a first display area;

displaying another portion of the message information on a second display area within a predetermined amount of time after the first display area is displayed.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

closing the second display area within a predetermined amount of time after the second display area is displayed.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

closing the second display area in response to the end-user viewing another web page.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the first display area and the second display area are in a web page.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the first display area and the second display area are separate from a web browser.