Structured document browser

• US 20080082915A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Schumacher, Robert, Matthews, James
• Application Number:
  US11/710,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/277
• 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 system for displaying a plurality of web information, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, in communication with the processor, that stores;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a selector area by sending data comprising markup language codes that are configured to cause a browser in communication with the processor to retrieve graphics from a location external to the data comprising the markup language codes and external to the browser, the plurality of selectors automatically configured to correspond to respective portions of a plurality of web information regardless of what portion of the plurality of web information is being displayed;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors but outside of the selector area, a portion of the plurality of web information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a search string entry box; and

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is part of a computing environment that includes communication over a network, and wherein the processor is in communication with the network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, over a network, at least one of the data to display the portion of the plurality of web information and the data to display the plurality of selectors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a second at least one additional selector in response to receiving a selection of the at least one additional selector.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the plurality of web information, and wherein the second at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the sub-section of the plurality of web information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a menu selector, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a text box to allow a user to enter a note that provides feedback regarding the portion of the plurality of web information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the plurality of selectors in a row above the display window.

11. A method for displaying a plurality of web information, the method comprising:

sending data to display a plurality of selectors in a selector area by sending data comprising markup language codes that are configured to cause a browser to retrieve graphics from a location external to the data comprising the markup language codes and external to the browser, the plurality of selectors automatically configured to correspond to respective portions of a plurality of web information regardless of what portion of the plurality of web information is being displayed;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

sending data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors but outside of the selector area, a portion of the plurality of web information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors;

sending data to display a search string entry box; and

sending data to display a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending, over a network, at least one of the data to display the portion of the plurality of web information and the data to display the plurality of selectors.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending data to display at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

sending data to display a second at least one additional selector in response to receiving a selection of the at least one additional selector.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the plurality of web information, and wherein the second at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the sub-section of the plurality of web information.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending data to display a menu selector, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

sending data to display the menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending data to display a text box to allow a user to enter a note that provides feedback regarding the portion of the plurality of web information.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending data to display the plurality of selectors in a row above the display window.

20. A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a selector area by sending data comprising HyperText Markup Language (HTML) codes, with angle brackets around them, that are configured to cause a browser in communication with the processor to retrieve graphics from a location external to the data comprising the markup language codes and external to the browser, the plurality of selectors automatically configured to correspond to respective portions of a plurality of web information regardless of what portion of the plurality of web information is being displayed;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors but outside of the selector area, a portion of the plurality of web information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors;

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a search string entry box; and

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, over a network, at least one of the data to display the portion of the plurality of web data and the data to display the plurality of selectors.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a second at least one additional selector in response to receiving a selection of the at least one additional selector.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the plurality of web information, and wherein the second at least one additional selector is associated with a sub-section of the sub-section of the plurality of web information.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a menu selector, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a text box to allow a user to enter a note that provides feedback regarding the portion of the plurality of web information.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising:

operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the plurality of selectors in a row above the display window.