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Method and apparatus for transparent keyword-based hyperlink

  • US 20030208472A1
  • Filed: 01/23/2003
  • Published: 11/06/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. ) A method for transparently linking keywords in a document, displayed in a document viewer on a display monitor attached to an end-user computer system, to information on a web site offering keyword-based information lookup service comprises of the steps:

  • a) Defining a hot key on an input device attached to the said end-user system and mapping the said hot key to a URL containing a special marker to be replaced by a user-selected keyword and used to query the said lookup service on the said web site for information relating to the said user-selected keyword b) Selecting a keyword in a document viewer on the said display by either;

    i) highlighting the said keyword or ii) positioning an input device'"'"'s cursor at or on top of the said keyword or iii) positioning an input device'"'"'s cursor at or on top of a keyword displayed in a distinct display attribute c) Applying the said hot key d) Intercepting user input from the said input device for detecting the said hot key event e) Upon detecting the said hot key event from the said input device, further executing the steps;

    i) Retrieving the said keyword selected in step b) by either;

    (1) Retrieving highlighted text from the display buffer of the said document viewer and trimming off leading and trailing word separation characters or (2) Retrieving a single word at the cursor position or (3) Retrieving distinctly-displayed text at the cursor'"'"'s position from the display buffer of the said document viewer using the said distinct attribute as selected text boundary ii) If the keyword retrieval in step i) is successful, continuing on next step;

    otherwise, ending processing iii) Retrieving the said URL associated with the said hot key and replacing the said special marker in the said URL with the said keyword retrieved in step i) iv) Invoking a web browser on the said end-user computer system, if an instance of said web browser has not yet been running, for retrieving information associated with the said user-selected keyword and handling the retrieved information in accordance to the standard receive data handling procedure of the said web browser by passing the said URL resulted in step iii) to the said web browser using one of the below methods;

    (1) Passing the said URL as an argument of the command to invoke the said web browser or (2) Simulating an input of the said URL to the URL specification field of the said web browser from a keyboard followed by the key code of the Enter key or (3) Using an external API provided by the said web browser

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