Structured document browser

• US 20050216863A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, James E., Schumacher, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/126,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216863A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A structured document browser includes a constant user interface for displaying and viewing sections of a document that is organized according to a pre-defined structure. The structured document browser displays documents that have been marked with embedded codes that specify the structure of the document. The tags are mapped to correspond to a set of icons. When the icon is selected while browsing a document, the browser will display the section of the structure corresponding to the icon selected, while preserving the constant user interface.

Claims

1. A method for displaying data, the method comprising:

selecting a subset of selectors from a larger set of selectors for display on a toolbar of a browser;

displaying the selected subset of selectors on the toolbar;

wherein each selector of the subset of selectors is automatically configured to correspond to respective data;

wherein the data comprises Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML);

wherein at least one of the subset of selectors does not comprise a first page button, a last page button, a first section button, a last section button, a next page button, a previous page button, a next section button, or a previous section button; and

after receiving a selection of a selected one of the subset of selectors;

retrieving data that corresponds to the selected one of the subset of selectors from a storage medium via a network, wherein the network comprises the Internet; and

displaying, in a display area, the retrieved data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of selectors is selected from the larger set of selectors based on content to be displayed in the display area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of selectors comprises a plurality of buttons.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of selectors comprises text.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, continuing to display the subset of selectors in the toolbar.

6. A browser comprising:

a toolbar; and

a display area;

wherein the browser is operative to;

select a subset of selectors from a larger set of selectors for display on the toolbar;

display the selected subset of selectors on the toolbar, each selector of the subset of selectors corresponding to respective data; and

after receiving a selection of a selected one of the subset of selectors, display, in the display area, data that corresponds to the selected one of the subset of selectors.

7. The browser of claim 6, wherein the browser selects the subset of selectors from the larger set of selectors based on content to be displayed in the display area.

8. The browser of claim 6, wherein the subset of selectors comprises a plurality of buttons.

9. The browser of claim 6, wherein the subset of selectors comprises text.

10. The browser of claim 6, wherein the browser is further operative to, after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display the subset of selectors in the toolbar.

11. The browser of claim 6, wherein the browser is further operative to, after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display a different subset of selectors in the toolbar.

12. The browser of claim 6, wherein the browser is further operative to retrieve the data from a storage medium via a network.

13. The browser of claim 12, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

14. The browser of claim 6, wherein the subset of selectors is automatically displayed in the toolbar without prompting by a user.

15. The browser of claim 6, wherein at least one of the subset of selectors does not comprise a first page button, a last page button, a first section button, a last section button, a next page button, a previous page button, a next section button, or a previous section button.

16. The browser of claim 6, wherein the data comprises a section of a document.

17. The browser of claim 6, wherein the subset of selectors is never obscured by data displayed in the display area.

18. The browser of claim 6, wherein each selector of the subset of selectors is automatically configured to correspond to respective data.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program code executable by the processor, the program code operative to;

select a subset of selectors from a larger set of selectors for display on a toolbar;

display the selected subset of selectors on the toolbar, each selector of the subset of selectors corresponding to respective data; and

after receiving a selection of a selected one of the subset of selectors, display, in a display area, data that corresponds to the selected one of the subset of selectors.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the program code is operative to select the subset of selectors from the larger set of selectors based on content to be displayed in the display area.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subset of selectors comprises a plurality of buttons.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subset of selectors comprises text.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the program code is further operative to, after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display the subset of selectors in the toolbar.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the program code is further operative to, after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display a different subset of selectors in the toolbar.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the program code is further operative to retrieve the data from a storage medium via a network.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subset of selectors is automatically displayed in the toolbar without prompting by a user.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of the subset of selectors does not comprise a first page button, a last page button, a first section button, a last section button, a next page button, a previous page button, a next section button, or a previous section button.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the data comprises a section of a document.

30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subset of selectors is never obscured by data displayed in the display area.

31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each selector of the subset of selectors is automatically configured to correspond to respective data.

32. A method comprising:

selecting a subset of selectors from a larger set of selectors for display on a toolbar;

displaying the selected subset of selectors on the toolbar, each selector of the subset of selectors corresponding to respective data; and

after receiving a selection of a selected one of the subset of selectors, displaying, in a display area, data that corresponds to the selected one of the subset of selectors.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of selectors is selected from the larger set of selectors based on content to be displayed in the display area.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of selectors comprises a plurality of buttons.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of selectors comprises text.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display the subset of selectors in the toolbar.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

after receiving the selection of the selected one of the subset of selectors, without additional user input, display a different subset of selectors in the toolbar.

38. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

retrieving the data from a storage medium via a network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of selectors is automatically displayed in the toolbar without prompting by a user.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the subset of selectors does not comprise a first page button, a last page button, a first section button, a last section button, a next page button, a previous page button, a next section button, or a previous section button.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the data comprises a section of a document.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of selectors is never obscured by data displayed in the display area.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein each selector of the subset of selectors is automatically configured to correspond to respective data.