Graphical user interface

• US 6,091,417 A
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EarthLink Network, Inc. (EarthLink Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lefkowitz, Howard Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/039,565
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 345/335, 345/357, 345/356, 345/349, 345/348, 345/350-351, 345/326-332, 345/340-347, 345/333-334, 345/336-337, 345/352-355
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A virtual mall consists of a graphical user interface having a web page with graphical image that represents the physical structure of a mall. Various sub-regions in the graphical image represent retail stores. The stores are hypertext linked to retail web pages which allow the user to shop for items in much the same way as shopping in a mall. Various icons on the web page allow the user to move form store to store, as well as to various levels of the mall. There are also sub-regions for information, news and magazine subscriptions as well as any other features or services that may be found in malls.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for use with a browser on a computer connected to a network capable of supporting hypertext links, said graphical user interface comprising:

a web page capable of being displayed on the browser of the computer, said web page having embedded therein;

a) a graphical menu image representing the physical structure of a shopping mall and having a plurality of sub-regions representing stores in the shopping mall, each of said plurality of sub-regions having a hypertext link corresponding to a retail web site of one of said stores embedded therein so that when one of said sub-regions is activated said web page is linked to one of said retail web sites and said one retail web site is imported into said web page; and

b) an icon connected to said graphical menu image so that when said icon is activated, said web page displays said graphical menu image.

2. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein a user may interact with said one retail web site.

3. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein two or more of said sub-regions have hypertext links which correspond to the same retail web site.

4. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sub-region with a hypertext link to a web site which provides information about said web page and said graphical menu image.

5. A graphical user interface for use with a browser on a computer connected to a network capable of supporting hypertext links, said graphical user interface comprising:

a web page capable of being displayed on the browser of the computer, said web page having embedded therein;

a first graphical menu image representing the physical structure of a first floor of a shopping mall;

a second graphical menu image representing the physical structure of a second floor of a shopping mall;

a first icon positioned on said first graphical menu image, said first icon linking said first graphical menu image to said second graphical menu image so that when said first icon is activated said second graphical menu image is imported into the web page; and

a second icon positioned on said second graphical menu image, said second icon linking said second graphical menu image to said first graphical menu image so that when said second icon is activated said first graphical menu image is imported into said web page.

6. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 5, further comprising an icon embedded in said web page, so that when said icon is activated said first graphical menu image is imported into said web page.

7. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 5, wherein said first icon and said second icon depict a transportation conduit selected from the group consisting of an escalator, a flight of stairs, and an elevator.

8. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 5, said first graphical menu image having a first plurality of stores and said second graphical menu image having a second plurality of stores wherein each of said first plurality of stores and said second plurality of stores has a hypertext link embedded therein;

and

each of said hypertext links corresponding to a retail web site so that when one of said first plurality of stores or said second plurality of stores is activated, said web page is linked to said retail web site and imports said retail web site into said web page.

9. The graphical user interface recited in claim 8, wherein two or more of said first plurality of stores and said second plurality of stores have hypertext links which correspond to the same said retail web site.

10. A graphical user interface for use with a browser on a computer connected to a network capable of supporting hypertext links, said graphical user interface comprising:

a web page having a fist and second frame, said web page capable of being displayed on the browser of the computer;

a first graphical menu image depicting a first floor of a shopping mall embedded on said second frame of said web page;

a second graphical menu image depicting a second floor of a shopping mall embedded on said second frame of said web page;

a first icon positioned on said first graphical menu image, said first icon depicting a first transportation conduit and linking said first graphical menu image to said second graphical menu image so that when said first icon is activated said second graphical menu image is imported into said second frame of said web page;

a second icon positioned on said second graphical menu image, said second icon depicting a second transportation conduit and linking said second graphical menu image to said first graphical menu image, so that when said second icon is activated said first graphical menu image is imported into said second frame of said web page; and

a third icon positioned in said first frame of said web page, said third icon controlling said second frame of said web page so that when said third icon is activated said first graphical menu image is imported into said second frame of said web page.

11. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 10, wherein said first transportation conduit and said second transportation conduit are selected from the group consisting of a flight of stairs, an escalator and an elevator.

12. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 10, wherein said first floor of a shopping mall has a store positioned therein, said store having a hypertext link embedded therein, so that when said store is activated said hypertext link imports a web site corresponding to said store into said second frame of said web page.

13. A method for navigating the world wide web using a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a web page capable of being displayed on the browser of a computer;

displaying said web page, said web page having embedded therein;

a) a first graphical menu image having a plurality of sub-regions said first graphical menu image depicting a first floor of a shopping mall and said sub-regions representing stores, each of said plurality of sub-regions having a hypertext l embedded therein, wherein each of said hypertext links corresponds to a retail web site of said store; and

b) an icon for controlling said web age;

activating one of said plurality of sub-regions to link said web page to said retail web site and import said retail web site into said web page; and

activating said icon and importing said first graphical menu image into said web page.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein said web sites represent retail web sites said method further comprising the step of

using said retail web site to purchase items.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said web page having further embedded therein a second graphical menu image on said web page, said second graphical menu image depicting a second floor of a shopping mall and having sub-regions representing stores, each of said sub-regions having a hypertext link embedded therein, wherein each of said hypertext links corresponds to a retail web site of one of said stores and wherein:

a first icon is positioned on said first graphical menu image, said first icon being linked to said second graphical menu image; and

a second icon is positioned on said second graphical menu image, said second icon being linked to said first graphical menu image.

16. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

activating said first icon; and

importing said second graphical menu image into said web page.

17. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

activating said second icon; and

importing said first graphical menu image into said web page.