System and method for dynamically generating a customized menu page
First Claim
1. A dynamic and customized menu page generation system which allows a user to readily view desired network information, the system comprising:
- a user preference server including a user preference database containing data related to each user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access;
a menu page generator coupled to the user preference server, for dynamically generating a customized menu page for each user based on the user'"'"'s data retrieved from the user preference server; and
a client system including a display and an input device, the client system being configured to request and receive a menu page from the menu page generator, the menu page presenting a set number of items available for selection by the user, wherein upon the user'"'"'s selection of one of the items using the input device, information sources and/or services associated with the selected item is automatically rendered available on the display to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method, system, and software for dynamically generating a customized menu page on a display of a client system coupled to a network, such as the Internet. The menu page includes a number of selectable icons, each associated with a particular Web site, service, Web guide channel, etc., that the user is likely to wish to access. The menu page is “customized” in the sense that each menu page is generated based on each user'"'"'s network log history and preferences, as stored in a user preference database, so as to present only those information sources/services that he/she would want to access. The menu is “dynamically” generated in the sense that the user preference database is constantly updated so as to present a menu page that reflects the user'"'"'s most recent preferences and history.
193 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A dynamic and customized menu page generation system which allows a user to readily view desired network information, the system comprising:
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a user preference server including a user preference database containing data related to each user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access;
a menu page generator coupled to the user preference server, for dynamically generating a customized menu page for each user based on the user'"'"'s data retrieved from the user preference server; and
a client system including a display and an input device, the client system being configured to request and receive a menu page from the menu page generator, the menu page presenting a set number of items available for selection by the user, wherein upon the user'"'"'s selection of one of the items using the input device, information sources and/or services associated with the selected item is automatically rendered available on the display to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. A menu page generator for dynamically generating a customized menu page, which allows a user to readily view desired network information, the generator being coupled to a user preference database containing data related to each user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access, wherein the generator generates a customized menu page for each of the individual users based on predefined criteria as applied to the data related to the user'"'"'s history and preferences.
- 13. A user preference server coupled to a menu page generator for dynamically generating a customized menu page based on predefined criteria, the menu page allowing a user to readily view desired network information, the server including a user preference database containing data related to each user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access, wherein the server performs a calculation to identify the network information that satisfies the criteria defined by the menu page generator, and forwards the information to the menu page generator.
- 16. A client system coupled via a network to a menu page generator for dynamically generating a customized menu page on the client system, the menu page allowing a user to readily view desired network information, the client system comprising a display, input device, network browsing application, and data collecting software.
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21. An article comprising a computer-readable signal-bearing medium including computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions when loaded onto a computer perform the steps of:
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receiving a request for a dynamic and customized menu page from a client system over a network;
verifying the identity of a user associated with the client system requesting the menu page;
accessing data related to the user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access;
generating a customized menu page for the user based on the accessed data; and
sending the generated customized menu page to the client system for display, the menu page presenting a set number of items available on the network for selection by the user, wherein upon the user'"'"'s selection of one of the items, information sources and/or services associated with the selected item is automatically rendered available on the client system to the user. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An article comprising a computer-readable signal-bearing medium including computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions when loaded onto a client system are capable of performing the steps of:
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requesting a dynamic and customized menu page over a network;
receiving and displaying the menu page on a display of the client system, the menu page presenting a set number of items available on the network for selection by a user;
receiving the user'"'"'s selection of one of the items;
requesting the selected item over the network; and
receiving and displaying the information sources and/or services associated with the selected item on the display of the client system. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of dynamic and customized menu page generation to allow a user to readily view desired network information, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for a dynamic and customized menu page from a client system over a network;
verifying the identity of a user associated with the client system requesting the menu page;
accessing data related to the user'"'"'s history and preferences in his/her network access;
generating a customized menu page for the user based on the accessed data; and
sending the generated customized menu page to the client system for display, the menu page presenting a set number of items available on the network for selection by the user, wherein upon the user'"'"'s selection of one of the items, information sources and/or services associated with the selected item is automatically rendered available on the client system to the user. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of allowing a user of a client system to readily view desired network information, the method comprising:
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associating a set of information sources and services available on a network with numbers that can be entered by the user of a client system using an input device;
receiving a numeric entry from the client system; and
displaying the information source or service associated with the received numeric entry on the client system. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. An article comprising a computer-readable signal-bearing medium including computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions when loaded onto a client system are capable of performing the steps of:
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receiving a numeric entry from a user of the client system via an input device;
transmitting the received numeric entry to a network;
receiving the information source or service associated with the numeric entry from the network; and
displaying the received information source or service on the client system. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification