Methods for Bundling Disparate Sets of Web Resources to Unique String Identifiers

• US 20100070889A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LiveWorld, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LiveWorld, Inc.
• Inventors: Weisbart, Adam, Griffiths, Trevor
• Application Number:
  US12/556,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

Methods for bundling disparate sets of web resources to unique string identifiers. The application may contain links to various interactive functions contextual to the web page displayed, and may provide functionality to the user because the various sessions do not open as pop-ups that block the viewing of the web page, or as a new tab or browser window, or as links directing the user to separate web pages; rather the sessions open as semi-transparent windows within the page that do not block the view of the underlying web page and are published seamlessly without having to reload the entire page again. The various interactive functions, such as discussions, shouts, polls and blogs, may be bundled as sets and mapped to certain unique identifiers, such as unique URLs, geocodes, UPC, ISBNs, etc. The bundle organization may be networked, or potentially form a containment hierarchy. By mapping to unique identifiers, the bundles of sets of functionality may create communities centered around a certain topic or book, or may create geographically centered communities.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating interactive functions for an online community, the method comprising the following steps:

downloading a web page of a website into a browser;

mapping bundles of sets of interactive functions to a unique string identifier;

associating the unique string identifier with the web page, where the unique string identifier corresponds to the bundles of sets of interactive functions; and

displaying a semi-transparent interactive region in the browser having links to the interactive functions for interacting with members of the online community.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive functions include discussions, shouts, polls or blogs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique string identifier is a URL, geocode, barcode, UPC or ISBN.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique string identifier is a geographic code automatically generated from a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the online community is centered around a topic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique string identifier is an ISBN and the online community is centered around a book.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique string identifier is a geographic code and the online community is centered around a location.

8. A method for facilitating interactive functions for an online community, the method comprising the following steps:

downloading a web page of a website into a browser;

mapping a first bundle of sets of interactive functions to a first unique string identifier;

mapping a second bundle of sets of interactive functions to a second unique string identifier;

associating each unique string identifier with the web page, where the unique string identifiers correspond to the bundles of sets of interactive functions; and

displaying a semi-transparent interactive region in the browser having links to the interactive functions for interacting with members of the online community;

wherein the first unique string identifier is contained within the second unique string identifier, and the first bundle of sets of interactive functions is also contained in the second bundle of sets of interactive functions, forming a containment hierarchy.

9. A user interface for facilitating interactive functions for an online community comprising:

a web page displayed in a browser; and

a semi-transparent interactive application in the browser having links to a set of interactive functions contextual to the web page, where members of the online community can upload content to the online community;

wherein the set of interactive functions corresponds to a unique string identifier associated with the web page.

10. The user interface of claim 9 wherein the unique string identifier is a URL of the web page.