Function-based object model for web page display in a mobile device

• US 20030237053A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ma, Wei-Ying, Chen, Jin-Lin
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

By understanding a website author'"'"'s intention through an analysis of the function of a website, website content can be adapted for presentation or rendering in a manner that more closely appreciates and respects the function behind the website. A website'"'"'s function is analyzed so that its content can be adapted to different client environments. A function-based object model (FOM) identifies objects associated with a website, and analyzes those objects in terms of their functions. Desktop oriented websites are adapted for mobile devices based on the FOM and on a mobile control intermediary language. While the FOM attempts to understand a website author'"'"'s intention based on functional analysis of web content, the mobile control intermediary language enables the author to create web content that can be presented in various mobile devices by processing the objects, by extracting forms from the objects, and by generating a file in the mobile control intermediary language for each form.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing one or more functions associated with a web page;

forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing; and

paginating the web page based on said hierarchical structure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the analyzing is being performed by generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the webpage; and

the objects comprise;

one or more basic objects associated with the webpage, basic objects comprising a smallest information body that cannot be further divided, said one or more basic objects being configured to perform one or more of the following functions;

(1) providing semantic information, (1) navigating to other objects, (3) providing a visual effect on the webpage, and (4) enabling user interaction; and

one or more composite objects associated with the webpage, composite objects comprising objects that contain other objects, said one or more composite objects having a clustering function.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating multiple function-based object models each of which being generated as a function of multiple different properties that can be associated with associated objects.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a basic object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented, (2) a semanteme property associated with content of an object, (3) a decoration property pertaining to an extent to which the basic objects serves to decorate the webpage, (4) a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which the basic object points via a hyperlink, and (5) a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of the basic object.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a composite object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among root children of the composite object, and (2) a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with the root children of the composite object.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one specific function-based object model that serves to categorize an object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a basic object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the basic object and properties associated with any father or brother objects.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a composite object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the composite object and any of its root children.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category of an object.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising adapting the paginated web page for presentation on a device having device capabilities based on the hierarchical structure of the web page and the device capabilities.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the paginating the web page based on said hierarchical structure further comprises generating an index for one or more pages of the paginated web page.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request for the web page from the device having the capabilities; and

transmitting the adapted paginated web page and the index therefore to the device

13. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 1.

14. A method comprising:

analyzing one or more functions associated with a web page described in a first markup language;

forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing; and

describing the web page in a second markup language based on said hierarchical structure.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the analyzing is being performed by generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the webpage; and

the objects comprise;

one or more basic objects associated with the webpage, basic objects comprising a smallest information body that cannot be further divided, said one or more basic objects being configured to perform one or more of the following functions;

(1) providing semantic information, (1) navigating to other objects, (3) providing a visual effect on the webpage, and (4) enabling user interaction; and

one or more composite objects associated with the webpage, composite objects comprising objects that contain other objects, said one or more composite objects having a clustering function.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating multiple function-based object models each of which being generated as a function of multiple different properties that can be associated with associated objects.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a basic object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented, (2) a semanteme property associated with content of an object, (3) a decoration property pertaining to an extent to which the basic objects serves to decorate the webpage, (4) a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which the basic object points via a hyperlink, and (5) a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of the basic object.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a composite object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among root children of the composite object, and (2) a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with the root children of the composite object.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one specific function-based object model that serves to categorize an object.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a basic object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the basic object and properties associated with any father or brother objects.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a composite object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the composite object and any of its root children.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein said forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category of an object.

23. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the describing of the web page in a second markup language based on said hierarchical structure further comprises:

identifying one or more pages in the web page based on said hierarchical structure; and

generating an index for one or more pages of the web page.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising adapting the web page for presentation on a mobile device based on the description of the web page in the second markup language and device capabilities of the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a request for the web page from the device having the capabilities; and

transmitting the index and the one or more pages of the web page to the device.

26. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 14.

27. A method comprising:

(A) generating a logical layered structure for an original web page by steps comprising;

(1) detecting one or more objects that comprise a web page, said one or more objects including basic objects and composite objects;

(2) ascertaining functional properties of any said basic object and generating them from a basic function-based object model (FOM);

(3) ascertaining functional properties of any said composite object and generating them from a basic FOM;

(4) generating a specific FOM (SFOM) for any said basic object using the ascertained functional properties thereof;

(5) generating an SFOM for any said composite object using the ascertained functional properties thereof; and

(6) applying one or more rules to assemble the logical layer structure for the original web page using one or more of the basic objects, the composite objects, the basic FOM for the basic objects, the basic FOM for the composite objects, the SFOM for the basic objects, and the SFOM for the composite objects;

(B) generating one or more page files by steps comprising;

(1) performing an object processing process comprising;

(a) applying one or more rules to remove objects in the logical layered structure;

(b) associating each remaining object in the logical layered structure with a mobile control;

(2) performing a form extraction process comprising;

(a) applying one or more rules to remove one or more layers in the logical layered structure;

(b) applying one or more rules to segment the logical layered structure into forms;

(3) performing a file generation process comprising;

(a) generating one said page file for each said form segmented from the logical layered structure; and

(b) generating an index for the page files.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, further comprising:

rendering a web page, configured for a mobile device, for one or more of the page files; and

transmitting to the mobile device;

the index for the page files; and

the one or more of the page files.

29. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein the rendering of a web page further comprises:

receiving a demand for the original web page from the mobile device; and

rendering the web page applying one or more rules specific to the mobile device so as to be configured for the mobile device.

30. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 27.

31. A server, one or more processors, and a memory containing executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform the acts comprising:

analyzing one or more functions associated with a web page;

forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing;

paginating the web page based on said hierarchical structure;

generating an index for one or more pages of the paginated web page;

receiving a request for the web page sent from an address of a mobile client having device capabilities;

adapting the paginated web page based on the hierarchical structure of the web page and so as to be expressed in functions compatible with the device capabilities of the mobile device; and

addressing a transmission containing the adapted paginated web page and the index to the mobile device.

32. The server as defined in claim 31, wherein:

the analyzing is being performed by generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the webpage; and

the objects comprise;

one or more basic objects associated with the webpage, basic objects comprising a smallest information body that cannot be further divided, said one or more basic objects being configured to perform one or more of the following functions;

(1) providing semantic information, (1) navigating to other objects, (3) providing a visual effect on the webpage, and (4) enabling user interaction; and

one or more composite objects associated with the webpage, composite objects comprising objects that contain other objects, said one or more composite objects having a clustering function.

33. The server as defined in claim 32, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating multiple function-based object models each of which being generated as a function of multiple different properties that can be associated with associated objects.

34. The server of claim 32, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a basic object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented, (2) a semanteme property associated with content of an object, (3) a decoration property pertaining to an extent to which the basic objects serves to decorate the webpage, (4) a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which the basic object points via a hyperlink, and (5) a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of the basic object.

35. The server of claim 32, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a composite object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among root children of the composite object, and (2) a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with the root children of the composite object.

36. The server of claim 32, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one specific function-based object model that serves to categorize an object.

37. The server of claim 36, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a basic object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the basic object and properties associated with any father or brother objects.

38. The server of claim 36, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a composite object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the composite object and any of its root children.

39. The server of claim 36, wherein said forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category of an object.

40. The server as defined in claim 31, wherein the addressing the transmission comprises addressing a transmission containing a first page of one of more pages that are contained in the adapted paginated web page, wherein the first page is indicated by the index.

41. The server as defined in claim 40, wherein the executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform the acts further comprising:

receiving a request, addressed from the address of the mobile client, to display a page of the one of more pages that are contained in the adapted paginated web page, wherein the request to display the page corresponds to an entry in the index; and

addressing a transmission containing the requested page corresponding to the entry in the index.

42. A system comprising:

an interconnected network;

a mobile client, in communication with the interconnected network, for performing the acts comprising;

transmitting a request for a web page to the interconnected network;

receiving the requested web page, expressed in functions compatible with the device capabilities of the mobile device, via the interconnected network; and

displaying the received requested web page;

a server, in communication with the mobile client through the interconnected network, for performing the acts comprising;

analyzing one or more functions associated with the web page;

forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing;

paginating the web page based on said hierarchical structure;

generating an index for one or more pages of the paginated web page;

receiving the request for the web page from the mobile client;

adapting the paginated web page based on the hierarchical structure of the web page and so as to be expressed in functions compatible with the device capabilities of the mobile device; and

transmitting the adapted paginated web page and the index to the mobile device.

43. The system as defined in claim 42, wherein:

the analyzing is being performed by generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the webpage; and

the objects comprise;

one or more basic objects associated with the webpage, basic objects comprising a smallest information body that cannot be further divided, said one or more basic objects being configured to perform one or more of the following functions;

(1) providing semantic information, (1) navigating to other objects, (3) providing a visual effect on the webpage, and (4) enabling user interaction; and

one or more composite objects associated with the webpage, composite objects comprising objects that contain other objects, said one or more composite objects having a clustering function.

44. The system as defined in claim 43, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating multiple function-based object models each of which being generated as a function of multiple different properties that can be associated with associated objects.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a basic object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented, (2) a semanteme property associated with content of an object, (3) a decoration property pertaining to an extent to which the basic objects serves to decorate the webpage, (4) a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which the basic object points via a hyperlink, and (5) a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of the basic object.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one function-based object model for a composite object, said at least one function-based object model being generated as a function of one or more of the following properties:

(1) a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among root children of the composite object, and (2) a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with the root children of the composite object.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein said generating of the one or more function-based object models comprises generating at least one specific function-based object model that serves to categorize an object.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a basic object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the basic object and properties associated with any father or brother objects.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein said generating of said at least one specific function-based object model comprises, for a composite object, generating said at least one specific function-based object model based upon properties of the composite object and any of its root children.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein said forming a hierarchical structure of the web page based on said analyzing comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category of an object.

51. The system as defined in claim 42, wherein:

the receiving the requested web page, expressed in functions compatible with the device capabilities of the mobile device, via the interconnected network comprises receiving an index for one or more pages that are contained in the received requested web page; and

the displaying the received requested web page comprises displaying a first page of the one of more pages that are contained in the received requested web page, wherein the first page is indicated by the index.

52. The system as defined in claim 51, wherein the mobile client performs the acts further comprising:

receiving a request to display a page corresponding to an entry in the index for the one of more pages contained in the received requested web page;

forming an addressed request to display the page corresponding to the entry in the index; and

receiving a transmission containing the page corresponding to the entry in the index; and

displaying the page corresponding to the entry in the index.

53. The system as defined in claim 42, wherein the transmitting the adapted paginated web page and the index to the mobile device comprises:

transmitting a first page of one of more pages that are contained in the adapted paginated web page, wherein the first page is indicated by the index.

54. The system as defined in claim 53, wherein the server performs the acts further comprising:

receiving a request, addressed from the address of the mobile client, to display a page of the one of more pages that are contained in the adapted paginated web page, wherein the request to display the page corresponds to an entry in the index; and

transmitting the requested page corresponding to the entry in the index addressed.