Web-styled messaging system

• US 20050278434A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Riggs, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention allow a user to post messages regarding Web resources formed from such elements as Web pages, images, video files, audio files, and executable applications. These messages are maintained independent from the Web resource so that the user is liberated to express his opinions about Web resources.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a Web browser operable by a user to access Web resources, the Web browser being receptive to a uniform resource locator to locate a Web resource; and

a user interface indicator that demonstrates the presence or the absence of a message board connected with the Web resource, the message board referencing one or more messages, each message being associated with the Web resource by storing in the metadata of the message the uniform resource locator of the Web resource.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a server that has access to the one or more messages, the server being receptive to a query that creates the message board by collecting the one or more messages.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a message board program that periodically queries the Web browser for a uniform resource locator being visited by the user, the message board program forwarding the uniform resource locator.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a network with which the server is coupled to the message board program.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing the one or more message that are accessible by the server.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

searching a database to form a collection of messages whose metadata includes a uniform resource locator of a Web resource, the collection of messages being defined as a message board; and

indicating to a user the presence or the absence of the message board, the message board being present if one or more messages are found by the act of searching, the message board being absent if the act of searching cannot find at least one message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising querying to obtain a uniform resource locator visited by a user in operating a Web browser, the uniform resource locator being used by the act of searching to form the collection of messages.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication by the user to add a message associated with the Web resource, which is located at the uniform resource locator, the message being stored in the database and being discoverable by the use of the uniform resource locator.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication by another to create a reply message in response to a message posted by the user, the reply message being stored in the database and being discoverable by the use of the uniform resource locator.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein each message is formed from text, graphics, video, audio, or executable applications.

11. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for implementing a computer-implemented method, comprising:

searching a database to form a collection of messages whose metadata includes a uniform resource locator of a Web resource, the collection of messages being defined as a message board; and

indicating to a user the presence or the absence of the message board, the message board being present if one or more messages are found by the act of searching, the message board being absent if the act of searching cannot find at least one message.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising querying to obtain a uniform resource locator visited by a user in operating a Web browser, the uniform resource locator being used by the act of searching to form the collection of messages.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising receiving an indication by the user to add a message associated with the Web resource, which is located at the uniform resource locator, the message being stored in the database and being discoverable by the use of the uniform resource locator.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising receiving an indication by another to create a reply message in response to a message posted by the user, the reply message being stored in the database and being discoverable by the use of the uniform resource locator.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein each message is formed from text, graphics, video, audio, or executable applications.