SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A HUB

• US 20130035995A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Hamilton Malcolm, Matthew Campbell Patterson
• Original Assignee: Andrew Hamilton Malcolm, Matthew Campbell Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, Matthew Campbell, Malcolm, Andrew Hamilton
• Granted Patent: US 10,430,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

A system and method of accessing at least one hub is provided, wherein the system displays a selectable item within an interface, and receives selection of the selectable item from a user of the interface. A first type of selection by the user causes a function to be performed, and a second type of selection by the user causes user specific information to be accessed and used in bidirectional communication with the hub.

Claims

1. A method of accessing at least one hub, comprising:

displaying a selectable item within an interface;

receiving a selection of the selectable item from a user of the interface,

wherein receiving a first type of selection by the user causes a function to be performed, and

wherein receiving a second type of selection by the user causes user specific information to be accessed and used in bidirectional communication with the hub.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering content to the user, wherein the content is not otherwise available at the interface.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of determining the content to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the user specific information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content is delivered to the user in at least one secondary interface.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondary interface is located within the interface.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondary interface is directly inserted into the interface.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary interface is an IFRAME.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface is a web page displayed by a web browser.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising displaying a menu on receiving the second type of selection.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the menu comprises at least one control option.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one control option comprises at least one option for opening at least one secondary interface.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising accessing the user specific information from the hub using a means for establishing bidirectional communication associated with the selectable item at the interface.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising accessing the user specific information from the hub using an identifier associated with the user.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifier is stored on a user device on which the interface is displayed.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifier is stored in at least one cookie.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifier is secured by attaching a key related to a domain of the hub.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, comprising assigning a new identifier to the user, wherein the new identifier is linked to the previous identifier.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the new identifier is obtained by a login to the hub, and at least a portion of previously created user specific information is associated with the new identifier.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing at least one detail associated with the selectable item at the hub on request by the user.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one detail associated with the selectable item comprises details of the interface.

21. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content comprises details of content previously saved by the user.

22. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content comprises at least one reminder associated with content previously saved by the user.

23. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content comprises means for communication between the user and at least one other user

24. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the content comprises at least one notification.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the notification comprises details of an online auction the user is participating in.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the notification comprises at least one message from at least one other user.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the notification comprises a reminder regarding a calendar event.

28. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content comprises an indication of an online status of at least one contact associated with the user specific information.

29. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content comprises an invitation to access another interface currently being viewed by at least one contact associated with the user specific information.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, comprising opening a view of the interface currently being viewed by the at least one other user on accepting the invitation.

31. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first type of selection results from clicking a first mouse button, while the second type of selection results from clicking a second mouse button.

32. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function performed in response to the first type of selection is standard to the interface.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the function performed in response to the first type of selection is a default means for activating items within the interface.

34. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein any type of selection which is not the first type of selection function is interpreted as the second type of selection for the selectable item.

35. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selectable item is an advertisement.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising the steps of:

determining that a date for reminding the user regarding at least one previously saved advertisement has been reached; and

issuing a reminder regarding the previously saved advertisement.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising following a link to an online resource associated with the advertisement on receiving the first type of selection by the user, and

enabling delivery of details of at least one previously saved advertising item to the interface on receiving a second type of selection.

38. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising recording selection of the details of the previously saved advertising item at the advertising hub.

39. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising saving details of the advertisement to a remote storage device following receiving the second type of selection.

40. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising facilitating purchase of an item or service associated with the advertisement using the user specific information.

41. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selectable item is a search result.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein receiving the first type of selection by the user causes a link to an online resource associated with the selected search result to be followed, and

wherein receiving the second type of selection enables delivery of details of at least one previously saved search result to the search results page within a secondary interface.

43. The method as claimed in claim 41, comprising saving details of the search result to a remote storage device following receiving the second type of selection.

44. The method as claimed in claim 41, comprising accessing the details of the at least one previously saved search result.

45. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content comprises an interactive application.

46. A user interface, comprising:

a selectable item displayed within the interface;

the selectable item configured to determine that a selection of the selectable item from a user of the interface has occurred,

wherein receiving a first type of selection by the user causes a function to be performed, and

wherein receiving a second type of selection by the user causes user specific information to be accessed from the hub and used in bidirectional communication with the hub.

47. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer readable tangible storage medium storing logic, which when executed by the at least one processor is operable to;

display a selectable item within an interface;

receive a selection of the selectable item from a user of the interface, wherein receiving a first type of selection by the user causes a function to be performed, and

wherein receiving a second type of selection by the user causes user specific information to be accessed from the hub and used in bidirectional communication with the hub.