System and method for the utilization of an electronic book

• US 6,320,591 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griencewic, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, GREGORY F
• Application Number:
  US09/393,249
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/326, 345/348, 345/349, 345/350, 345/357, 345/430, 345/901, 345/582, 345/589, 345/930
• US Class Current: 345/582
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing an electronic book is disclosed, comprising generating a first label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with a first element of an electronic book and generating a second label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with at least one of the first element and a second element of an electronic book. The first label and second label are capable of being utilized to access at least one of the first element from the first label and at least one of the first element and the second element from the second label. In an exemplary embodiment, a user may specify a label to correspond with an element of an electronic book. Additionally, labels may be utilized to access the element of the electronic book by the user. Labels may also be modified by size, shape, text, color, apparent texture, and the like. Furthermore, labels may be utilized to indicate a relationship with an element.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing an electronic book, comprising:

generating a first graphical non-textual label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with a first element of an electronic book;

generating a second graphical non-textual label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with at least one of the first element and a second element of an electronic book; and

displaying in a screen separate from the first element and the second element of the electronic book the first graphical non-textual label and the second graphical non-textual label, wherein the first graphical non-textual label and second graphical non-textual label are capable of being utilized to access at least one of the first element from the first graphical non-textual label and at least one of the first element and the second element from the second graphical non-textual label.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first label and the second label include a user defined property.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein the property includes at least one of size, shape, text, color and apparent texture.

4. The method as described in claim 2, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the property.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first element and the second element include at least one of text and graphics.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first element is included in a first title and the second element is included in a second title.

7. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the relationship of the first label with the first element and the relationship of the second label with at least one of the first element and the second element.

8. The method as described in claim 7, wherein the relationship includes at least one of a topic, type, origin, user defined relationship, and user.

9. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an electronic book for causing the electronic book to execute steps for the utilization of an electronic book, the steps comprising:

generating a first graphical non-textual label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with a first element of an electronic book;

generating a second graphical non-textual label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with at least one of the first element and a second element of an electronic book; and

displaying in a screen separate from the first element and the second element of the electronic book the first graphical non-textual label and the second graphical non-textual label, wherein the first graphical non-textual label and second graphical non-textual label are capable of being utilized to access at least one of the first element from the first graphical non-textual label and at least one of the first element and the second element from the second graphical non-textual label.

10. The program of instructions as described in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first label and the second label include a user defined property.

11. The program of instructions as described in claim 10, wherein the property includes at least one of size, shape, text, color and apparent texture.

12. The program of instructions as described in claim 10, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the property.

13. The program of instructions as described in claim 9, wherein the first element and the second element include at least one of text and graphics.

14. The program of instructions as described in claim 9, wherein the first element is included in a first title and the second element is included in a second title.

15. The program of instructions as described in claim 9, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the relationship of the first label with the first element and the relationship of the second label with at least one of the first element and the second element.

16. The program of instructions as described in claim 15, wherein the relationship includes at least one of a topic, type, origin, user defined relationship, and user.

17. An electronic book, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the electronic book;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by said processor; and

an input and output system coupled to the processor for coupling the electronic book to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the electronic book to

generate a first label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with a first element of an electronic book;

generate a second label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with at least one of the first element and a second element of an electronic book; and

display in a screen separate from the first element and the second element of the electronic book the first graphical non-textual label and the second graphical non-textual label, wherein the first label and second label are capable of being utilized to access at least one of the first element from the first label and at least one of the first element and the second element from the second label.

18. The electronic book as described in claim 17, wherein at least one of the first label and the second label include a user defined property.

19. The electronic book as described in claim 18, wherein the property includes at least one of size, shape, text, color and apparent texture.

20. The electronic book as described in claim 18, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the property.

21. The electronic book as described in claim 17, wherein the first element and the second element include at least one of text and graphics.

22. The electronic book as described in claim 17, wherein the first element is included in a first title and the second element is included in a second title.

23. The electronic book as described in claim 17, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the relationship of the first label with the first element and the relationship of the second label with at least one of the first element and the second element.

24. The electronic book as described in claim 23, wherein the relationship includes at least one of a topic, type, origin, user defined relationship, and user.

25. An electronic book, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the electronic book;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by said processor; and

an input and output system coupled to the processor for coupling the electronic book to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the electronic book to include

means for generating a first label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with a first element of an electronic book;

means for generating a second label capable of being utilized to indicate a relationship with at least one of the first element and a second element of an electronic book; and

means for displaying in a screen separate from the first element and the second element of the electronic book the first graphical non-textual label and the second graphical non-textual label, wherein the first label and second label are capable of being utilized to access at least one of the first element from the first label and at least one of the first element and the second element from the second label.

26. The electronic book as described in claim 25, wherein at least one of the first label and the second label include a user defined property.

27. The electronic book as described in claim 26, wherein the property includes at least one of size, shape, text, color and apparent texture.

28. The electronic book as described in claim 26, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the property.

29. The electronic book as described in claim 25, wherein the first element and the second clement include at least one of text and graphics.

30. The electronic book as described in claim 25, wherein the first element is included in a first title and the second element is included in a second title.

31. The electronic book as described in claim 25, further comprising searching at least one of the first label and the second label based on the relationship of the first label with the first element and the relationship of the second label with at least one of the first element and the second element.

32. The electronic book as described in claim 31, wherein the relationship includes at least one of a topic, type, origin, user defined relationship, and user.