Document research system and method for efficiently displaying and researching information about the interrelationships between documents

• US 6,263,351 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Wolfe
• Inventors: Wolfe, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US09/245,183
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 707/501, 707/513, 707/517, 707/526, 707/514, 345/346
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/382 using citations hypermedia G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A system for displaying, on a computer screen, information concerning the interrelationships of documents. A system employing the present invention also allows for the efficient research of documents that cite a document shown on the computer screen. In one embodiment, the present invention involves displaying at least a portion of a first document and simultaneously displaying a representation of one or more citing documents. The citing documents cite some portion of the displayed document. In another embodiment, the invention involves displaying at least a portion of a first document, and displaying a representation of one or more citing documents, wherein the displayed citing documents cite the displayed portion of the first document.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information on a computer screen for a person operating a computer, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) displaying an application window on the computer screen, wherein the application window has associated with it both a document display area and a secondary area;

(b) retrieving a first document over a wide area network, wherein the first document is retrieved over the wide area network from a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(c) displaying the first document in the document display area associated with the application window so that at least a portion of the first document is visible in the document display area;

(d) displaying in the secondary area associated with the application window a plurality of representations of related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the first document that is displayed in the document display area, wherein the representations of the related documents are each separately selectable within the secondary area, and wherein each of the related documents is an independent document that is not part of the first document;

(e) monitoring the person'"'"'s selection of one of the representations in the secondary area;

(f) upon detecting the person'"'"'s selection of one of the representations displayed within the secondary area in act (e), retrieving a second document over the wide area network, wherein the second document is the document that corresponds to the representation in the secondary area that was selected by the person operating the computer in act (e), and wherein the second document is retrieved over the wide area network from a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(g) displaying the second document in the document display area by replacing the first document in the document display area with the second document, wherein the second document is displayed so that at least a portion of the second document is visible in the document display area;

(h) automatically updating, without requiring further input from the person operating the computer, the representations of related documents displayed in the secondary area when the second document is displayed in the document display area, wherein the representations are updated so that they comprise a plurality of representations of related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the second document that is displayed in the document display area, and wherein each of the related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the second document is an independent document that is not part of the second document;

(i) monitoring input from the person operating the computer;

(j) upon receiving input from the person operating the computer in act (i), retrieving a third document over the wide area network, and wherein the third document is retrieved over the wide area network from a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(k) displaying the third document in the document display area by replacing a document displayed in the document display area with the third document, wherein the third document is displayed so that at least a portion of the third document is visible in the document display area; and

(l) automatically updating, without requiring further input from the person operating the computer, the representations of related documents displayed in the secondary area when the third document is displayed in the document display area, wherein the representations are updated so that they comprise a plurality of representations of related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the third document that is displayed in the document display area, and wherein each of the related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the third document is an independent document that is not part of the third document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the secondary area is independent of the document displayed in the document display area, meaning that the information displayed in the secondary area is not part of the document displayed in the document display area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of displaying the first document in the document display area includes the acts of:

displaying the first document in a hypertext format; and

permitting the person to manipulate a scroll bar associated with the document display area so that an undisplayed portion of the first document can be scrolled into the document display area.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the acts of:

(m) monitoring the person'"'"'s selection of a backtrack button; and

(n) displaying in the document display area a previously displayed document when the person selects the backtrack button.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of displaying the first document in a hypertext format includes the act of displaying the first document in HTML.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the document that is displayed in the document display area each discuss the subject matter of a document displayed in the document display area.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the document that is displayed in the document display area each contain a link to a document displayed in the document display area.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the related documents that are relevant to the subject matter of the document that is displayed in the document display area each contain a link to a document previously displayed in the document display area.

9. A computer that is operated by a user, wherein the computer comprises a display screen, an input device, and a connection to a wide area network, wherein the computer is programmed to:

(a) display an application window on the display screen, wherein the application window has associated with it both a document display area and a secondary area;

(b) retrieve a first document over the wide area network, wherein the first document is retrieved over the wide area network from a web server at a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(c) display the first document in the document display area associated with the application window so that at least a portion of the first document is visible in the document display area;

(d) display in the secondary area associated with the application window at least one representation of a related document that is relevant to the subject matter of the first document that is displayed in the document display area, wherein each representation of a related document is separately selectable within the secondary area, wherein the information displayed in the secondary area is not part of the first document, and wherein each related document is an independent document that discusses the subject matter of the first document and is not part of the first document;

(e) monitor the user'"'"'s selection of a representation in the secondary area;

(f) upon detecting the user'"'"'s selection of a representation displayed within the secondary area in act (e), retrieve a second document over the wide area network, wherein the second document is the document that corresponds to the representation in the secondary area that was selected by the user operating the computer in act (e), and wherein the second document is retrieved over the wide area network from a web server at a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(g) display the second document in the document display area by replacing the first document in the document display area with the second document, wherein the second document is displayed so that at least a portion of the second document is visible in the document display area;

(h) automatically update, without requiring further input from the user operating the computer, the at least one representation of a related document displayed in the secondary area when the second document is displayed in the document display area, wherein the representation(s) are updated to comprise at least one representation of a related document that is relevant to the subject matter of the second document, wherein the information displayed in the secondary area is not part of the second document, and wherein each related document is an independent document that discusses the subject matter of the second document and is not part of the second document;

(i) monitor input from the user operating the computer;

(j) upon receiving input from the user operating the computer in act (i), retrieve a third document over the wide area network, wherein the third document is retrieved over the wide area network from a remote location that is not local to the computer;

(k) display the third document in the document display area by replacing a document in the document display area with the third document, wherein the third document is displayed so that at least a portion of the third document is visible in the document display area; and

(l) automatically update, without requiring further input from the user operating the computer, the at least one representation of a related document displayed in the secondary area when the third document is displayed in the document display area, wherein the representation(s) are updated to comprise at least one representation of a related document that is relevant to the subject matter of the third document, wherein the information displayed in the secondary area is not part of the third document, and wherein each related document is an independent document that discusses the subject matter of the third document and is not part of the third document.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

display the first document in a hypertext format; and

permit the user to manipulate a scroll bar associated with the document display area so that an undisplayed portion of the first document can be scrolled into the document display area.

11. The computer of claim 10, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

(m) monitor the user'"'"'s selection of a backtrack button; and

(n) display in the document display area a previously displayed document when the user selects the backtrack button.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein the computer is further programmed to display the first document in HTML.