Structured Document Browser

• US 20080126964A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• 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:
  US11/710,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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 web information, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a portion of web information with a browser comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises a display window, and wherein the portion of the web information is displayed in the display window;

(b) displaying a plurality of selectors in a region of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein the plurality of selectors are displayed in a row above the display window, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a different respective portion of the web information regardless of what portion of the web information is being displayed, wherein selection of any of the plurality of selectors results in a display of a corresponding portion of the web information irrespective of a relationship between the corresponding portion of the web information and the displayed portion of the web information;

(c) displaying a menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;

(d) displaying a search string entry box and a next-found selector in a region of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein selection of the next-found selector results in a display of a location in the portion of the web information displayed in the display window that contains text entered in the search string entry box, and wherein the next-found selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;

(e) displaying a fly-by help message indicating a function of one of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the one of the plurality of selectors;

(f) receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

(g) continuing to display the plurality of selectors after the selection is received in (f); and

(h) displaying a portion of the web information that corresponds to the selector selected in (f).

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing a user to enter feedback regarding the portion of the web information displayed in the display window; and

saving the compilation of feedback in a separate file.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

displaying the compilation of feedback in the user interface of the browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors.

5. A method for displaying web information, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a portion of web information with a browser comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises a display window, and wherein the portion of the web information is displayed in the display window;

(b) displaying a plurality of selectors in a region of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein the plurality of selectors are displayed in a row above the display window, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a different respective portion of the web information regardless of what portion of the web information is being displayed, wherein selection of any of the plurality of selectors results in a display of a corresponding portion of the web information irrespective of a relationship between the corresponding portion of the web information and the displayed portion of the web information;

(c) displaying a menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;

(d) displaying a fly-by help message indicating a function of one of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the one of the plurality of selectors;

(e) receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

(f) continuing to display the plurality of selectors after the selection is received in (e); and

(g) displaying a portion of the web information that corresponds to the selector selected in (e).

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

displaying a search string entry box in an area of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

displaying a next-found selector in an area of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein selection of the next-found selector results in a display of a location in the portion of the web information displayed in the display window that contains text entered in the search string entry box.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

allowing a user to enter feedback regarding the portion of the web information displayed in the display window; and

saving a compilation of feedback in a separate file.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying the compilation of feedback in the user interface of the browser.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors.

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

(a) displaying a portion of web information with a browser comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises a display window, and wherein the portion of the web information is displayed in the display window;

(b) displaying a plurality of selectors in a region of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein the plurality of selectors are displayed in a row above the display window, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a different respective portion of the web information regardless of what portion of the web information is being displayed, wherein selection of any of the plurality of selectors results in a display of a corresponding portion of the web information irrespective of a relationship between the corresponding portion of the web information and the displayed portion of the web information, wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors;

(c) displaying a menu selector in a same row as the plurality of selectors, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;

(d) displaying a search string entry box in a region of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window;

(e) displaying a fly-by help message indicating a function of one of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the one of the plurality of selectors;

(f) receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors;

(g) continuing to display the plurality of selectors after the selection is received in (f); and

(h) displaying a portion of the web information that corresponds to the selector selected in (f).

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

allowing a user to enter feedback regarding the portion of the web information displayed in the display window; and

saving the compilation of feedback in a separate file.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying the compilation of feedback in the user interface of the browser.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying a next-found selector in an area of the user interface of the browser outside of the display window, wherein selection of the next-found selector results in a display of a location in the portion of the web information displayed in the display window that contains text entered in the search string entry box.