Apparatus and method for displaying control-objects

• US 6,021,418 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Keefe, Timothy Jude, Moskalik, Thomas Michael, Hansen, Jason Robert, DiCecco, Joseph Vincent, Olson, Diane Elaine, Snyder, Devon Daniel, Brandt, Marcia Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/801,671
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 707/516, 707/513, 707/531, 707/526, 707/500, 707/515, 707/530, 709/201, 709/203, 709/219, 709/217
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An enhanced document browsing method and apparatus. A browser at a client interprets a work-frame code, information, a control-frame code, and a control-object function that identifies the control-frame code. When the browser interprets the work-frame and control-frame codes, it divides the browser window into two frames: a work-frame and a control-frame. When the browser interprets the information, the browser displays the information to the user in the work-frame. When the browser interprets the control-object function, the browser displays a control-object in the control-frame associated with the control-frame code. The control-object can allow the user to control the information in the work-frame. Since the control-object is in the control-frame instead of being only in the work-frame, it is always in view and available to the user, regardless of the scrolling position of the page of information within the work-frame. Thus, the preferred embodiment provides the user with quick and easy access to the control-object.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a document at a client, wherein the document comprises information, a control-code, a third frame code, and a task code, comprising:

retrieving the information from a server, wherein the client and the server are connected via a network;

displaying the information in a first frame at the client;

translating the control-code to a control-object; and

displaying the control-object in a second frame at the client;

creating a third frame in response to the third frame code; and

displaying a task control-object in the third frame in response to the task code, wherein the retrieving step is executed in response to a user selecting the task control-object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document further comprises a first and a second frame code, further comprising:

creating the first and second frames in response to the respective first and second frame codes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the control-object in the first frame; and

scrolling the information in the first frame, so that the control-object in the first frame is out of view.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the document further comprises a plurality of control-codes, and wherein the translating step further comprises translating the plurality of control-codes to a plurality of control-objects.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the displaying step further comprises:

displaying the plurality of control-objects in the second frame at the client.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling the information in the first frame in response to a user selecting the control-object in the second frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the control-object comprises a button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control-object comprises a check-box.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the control-object comprises a radio button.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control-object comprises a text-box.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the button identifies a "back" function.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the button identifies a "help" function.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the button identifies a "finish" function.

14. A program-product, comprising:

a work-frame code that, when interpreted by a browser at a client, displays a work-frame at the client;

information that, when interpreted by the browser, is displayed in the work-frame;

a control-frame code that, when interpreted by the browser, displays a control-frame at the client;

a control-object function that identifies the control-frame code, wherein the control-object function, when interpreted by the browser, displays a control-object in the control-frame;

a task-frame code that, when interpreted by the browser, creates a task-frame;

a task code that, when interpreted by the browser, displays a task control-object in the task-frame, wherein the browser retrieves the information and the control-object function from a server in response to a user selecting the task control-object, wherein the client and the server are connected via a network; and

signal-bearing-media bearing the work-frame code, the information, the control-frame code, the task-frame code, the task code, and the control-object function.

15. The program-product of claim 14, wherein a first document, borne by the signal-bearing-media, comprises the work-frame code and the control-frame code.

16. The program-product of claim 15, wherein a second document, borne by the signal-bearing-media, comprises the information.

17. The program-product of claim 16, wherein the second document further comprises the control-object function.

18. The program-product of claim 14, wherein the control-object in the control-frame controls the information in the work-frame in response to a user selecting the control-object.

19. The program-product of claim 14, wherein the control-object comprises a button.

20. The program-product of claim 14, wherein the control-object comprises a check-box.

21. The program-product of claim 14, wherein the control-object comprises a text-box.

22. The program-product of claim 14, wherein the control-object comprises a radio button.

23. The program-product of claim 19, wherein the button identifies a "next" function.

24. The program-product of claim 19, wherein the button identifies a "back" function.

25. The program-product of claim 19, wherein the button identifies a "help" function.

26. The program-product of claim 19, wherein the button identifies a "finish" function.

27. A server connected via a network to a client, comprising:

a work-frame code that, when retrieved and interpreted by a browser located at the client, displays a work-frame at the client;

information that, when retrieved and interpreted by the browser, is displayed in the work-frame;

a control-frame code that, when retrieved and interpreted by the browser, displays a control-frame at the client;

a control-object function that identifies the control-frame code, wherein the control-object function, when retrieved and interpreted by the browser, displays a control-object in the control-frame;

a task-frame code that, when interpreted by the browser, creates a task-frame;

a task code that, when interpreted by the browser, displays a task control-object in the task-frame, wherein the browser retrieves the information and the control-object function from the server in response to a user selecting the task control-object; and

memory, containing the work-frame code, the information, the control-frame code, the task-frame code, the task code, and the control-object function.

28. The server of claim 27, further comprising:

a first document, located in the memory, wherein the first document comprises the work-frame code and the control-frame code.

29. The server of claim 28, further comprising:

a second document, located in the memory, wherein the second document comprises the information.

30. The server of claim 29, wherein the second document further comprises the control-object function.

31. The server of claim 27, wherein the control-object in the control-frame controls the information in the work-frame in response to a user selecting the control-object.

32. The server of claim 27, wherein the control-object comprises a button.

33. The server of claim 27, wherein the control-object comprises a check-box.

34. The server of claim 27, wherein the control-object comprises a text-box.

35. The server of claim 27, wherein the control-object comprises a radio button.

36. The server of claim 32, wherein the button identifies a "next" function.

37. The server of claim 32, wherein the button identifies a "back" function.

38. The server of claim 32, wherein the button identifies a "help" function.

39. The server of claim 32, wherein the button identifies a "finish" function.