Systems and methods for providing a visual indicator of magnitude

• US 20070094335A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tu, Edgar
• Application Number:
  US11/256,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A system and method for providing a visual indicator of magnitude is provided. The method comprises displaying a visual indicator in association with a network space. A magnitude associated with the network space is then measured. The visual indicator is changed according to the measured magnitude.

Claims

1. A method for providing a visual indicator of magnitude comprising:

displaying a visual indicator in association with a network space;

measuring a magnitude associated with the network space; and

changing the visual indicator according to the measured magnitude.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the network space comprises a web site.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that visit the web site.

4. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that support one or more items associated with the web site.

5. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the magnitude corresponds with a type of user associated with the web site.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the network space comprises a file on the network.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that have interacted with the file.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the network space comprises a multi-user game space.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the magnitude comprises a type of user logged into the game space.

10. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising customizing the visual indicator.

11. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising associating one or more user profiles with the visual indicator.

20. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the magnitude comprises a type of user logged into the game space.

12. A method for providing a visual indicator of magnitude comprising:

a network space configured to display a visual indicator;

a counter configured to measure a magnitude associated with the network space; and

a visual indicator modifier configured to change the visual indicator according to the measured magnitude.

13. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the network space comprises a web site.

14. The system recited in claim 13, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that visit the web site.

15. The system recited in claim 13, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that support one or more items associated with the web site.

16. The system recited in claim 13, wherein the magnitude corresponds with a type of user associated with the web site.

17. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the network space comprises a file on the network.

18. The system recited in claim 17, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that have interacted with the file.

19. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the network space comprises a multi-user game space.

21. The system recited in claim 12, further comprising a visual indicator generator configured to allow a user to customize the visual indicator.

22. The system recited in claim 12, further comprising a user profile generator configured to allow a user to associate one or more user profiles with the visual indicator.

23. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium having instructions for providing a visual indicator of magnitude comprising:

displaying a visual indicator in association with a network space;

measuring a magnitude associated with the network space; and

changing the visual indicator according to the measured magnitude.

24. The computer program recited in claim 23, wherein the network space comprises a web site.

25. The computer program recited in claim 24, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that visit the web site.

26. The computer program recited in claim 24, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that support one or more items associated with the web site.

27. The computer program recited in claim 24, wherein the magnitude corresponds with a type of user associated with the web site.

28. The computer program recited in claim 23, wherein the network space comprises a file on the network.

29. The computer program recited in claim 28, wherein the magnitude comprises a number of users that have interacted with the file.

30. The computer program recited in claim 23, wherein the network space comprises a multi-user game space.

32. The computer program recited in claim 23, further comprising customizing the visual indicator.

33. The computer program recited in claim 23, further comprising associating one or more user profiles with the visual indicator.

31. The computer program recited in claim 40, wherein the magnitude comprises a type of user logged into the game space.