System and method for communicating information relating to a network resource

• US 6,341,305 B2
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Wolfe
• Inventors: Wolfe, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/442,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/246, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers

Abstract

In an information retrieval system, a system and method for presentation of information and/or resources that are pertinent to an individual'"'"'s interests or task. Guiding individuals to places of interest on a network where information is stored, and displaying or otherwise presenting useful information to the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) a network having a first server, a second server, and a third server, all of which are in communication with each other on the network;

(b) a client computer having a display screen, wherein the client computer is operated by a user, and wherein the client computer is connected to the network and in communication with the first server, the second server, and the third server; and

(c) a data storage medium that is accessible to the client computer and that has stored on it an application executing on the client computer, wherein the application has an application window that is displayed on the client computer display screen and that includes within it (1) a primary web browser area and also (2) a secondary area, wherein the secondary area is separate from and not part of the primary web browser area and wherein the contents of the secondary area are independent from the document displayed in the primary web browser area, meaning that the contents of the secondary area are not part of or embedded in the document displayed in the primary web browser, area wherein both the primary web browser area and the secondary area are displayed simultaneously and are integrated into the application window, and wherein the application is configured to cause the client computer to;

retrieve a first document over the network from the first server, wherein the first document is displayed in the primary web browser area as a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements,

automatically send a first command over the network to the third server so that information relating to the first document can be determined, wherein the first command communicates information about the first document to the third server, and wherein the third server is not related to the first server,

receive a reply in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the first document,

upon receiving the reply in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server, display content in the secondary area that is integrated into the application window, wherein the content includes information received in the reply that relates to the first document and includes a link to a second document, wherein the content is published by an entity different than the publisher of the first document and is not part of the first document, and wherein the secondary area and the primary web browser area are displayed simultaneously within the application window so that the content in the secondary area is automatically displayed for the user along with the first document that is displayed in the primary web browser area,

display the second document in the primary web browser area when the user selects the link to the second document in the secondary area, wherein the second document is retrieved over the network from the second server,

automatically send a second command over the network to the third server so that information relating to the second document can be determined, wherein the second command communicates information about the second document to the third server,

receive a reply in response to sending the second command over the network to the third server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the second document, and

upon receiving the reply in response to sending the second command over the network to the third server, update the content in the secondary area that is integrated into the application window so that the secondary area is automatically updated when the second document replaces the first document in the primary web browser area, wherein the content displayed in the secondary area is updated to include information received in the reply that relates to the second document and include a link to a document that relates to the second document, wherein the content displayed in the secondary area is published by an entity different than the publisher of the second document and is not part of the second document, and wherein the secondary area and the primary web browser area are displayed simultaneously within the application window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content displayed in the secondary area is displayed as a hypertext document.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further configured to cause the client computer to:

close the secondary area when the user selects a display element associated with the secondary area, and

reopen the secondary area when the user selects a menu item.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the content displayed in the secondary area is displayed as a hypertext document.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the reply received in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server includes information identifying a plurality of types of supplemental information that are available for the first document, wherein the types of supplemental information available for the first document include (1) content critique information that reviews or critiques the first document, and (2) competitive information that relates to competitors of the publisher of the first document, and that includes documents published by marketplace competitors of the publisher of the first document.

6. A method of displaying information using a web browser application executing on a computer operated by a user, wherein the computer is connected to a network having a first server, a second server, and a third server, wherein the web browser application has a web browser application window that is displayed on a display screen and that includes within it (1) a primary web browser window and also (2) a secondary window, wherein the secondary window is separate from and not part of the primary web browser window wherein the contents of the secondary window are independent from the document displayed in the primary web browser window, meaning that the contents of the secondary window are not part of or embedded in the document displayed in the primary web browser window, and wherein both the primary web browser window and the secondary window are displayed simultaneously and are integrated into the web browser application window, the method comprising the acts of;

retrieving a first document over the network from the first server, wherein the first document is displayed in the primary web browser window as a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements;

automatically sending a first command over the network to the third server so that information relating to the first document can be determined, wherein the first command communicates information about the first document to the third server and wherein the third server is not related to the first server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the first document;

upon receiving the reply in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server, displaying content in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window, wherein the content includes information received in the reply that relates to the first document and a link to a second document, wherein the content is published by an entity different than the publisher of the first document and is not part of the first document, and wherein the secondary window and the primary web browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window so that the content in the secondary window is automatically displayed for the user along with the first document that is displayed in the primary web browser window;

displaying the second document in the primary web browser window when the user selects the link to the second document in the secondary window, wherein the web browser application retrieves the second document over the network from the second server;

automatically sending a second command over the network to the third server so that information relating to the second document can be determined, wherein the second command communicates information about the second document to the third server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the second command over the network to the third server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the second document;

upon receiving the reply in response to sending the second command over the network to the third server, updating the content in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window so that the secondary window is automatically updated when the second document replaces the first document in the primary web browser window, wherein the content displayed in the secondary window is updated to include information received in the reply that relates to the second document and a link to a document that relates to the second document, wherein the content displayed in the secondary window is published by an entity different than the publisher of the second document and is not part of the second document, and wherein the secondary window and the primary web browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window;

retrieving a third document over the network, wherein the third document is displayed in the primary web browser window as a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements, and wherein the third document replaces a document previously displayed in the primary web browser window;

automatically sending a third command over the network to the third server so that information relating to the third document can be determined, wherein the third command communicates information about the third document to the third server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the third command over the network to the third server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the third document; and

upon receiving the reply in response to sending the third command over the network to the third server, updating the content in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window so that the secondary window is automatically updated when the third document replaces the document previously displayed in the primary web browser window.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content displayed in the secondary window is displayed as a hypertext document.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the acts of:

closing the secondary window when the user selects a display element associated with the secondary window.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the acts of:

reopening the secondary window when the user selects a menu item.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the reply received in response to sending the first command over the network to the third server further includes:

information identifying a plurality of types of supplemental information that are available for the first document, wherein the types of supplemental information available for the first document include (1) content critique information that reviews or critiques the first document, and (2) competitive information that relates to competitors of the publisher of the first document, and that includes documents published by marketplace competitors of the publisher of the first document.

11. A method of displaying information using a web browser application, wherein the information is displayed for a user, wherein the web browser application has a web browser application window that is displayed on a display screen and that includes within it (1) a primary web browser window and also (2) a secondary area, wherein the secondary area is separate from and not part of the primary web browser window, wherein the contents of the secondary area are independent from the document displayed in the primary web browser window, meaning that the contents of the secondary area are not part of or embedded in the document displayed in the primary web browser window, and wherein both the primary web browser window and the secondary area are displayed simultaneously and are integrated into the web browser application window, the method comprising the acts of:

displaying a first document in the primary web browser window, wherein the first document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over a network from a first web server using HTTP protocol, and wherein the first document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements and also a link to a linked document;

after displaying the first document in the primary web browser window, automatically displaying a first message in the secondary area that is within the web browser application window, wherein the first message includes an advertisement that is meant to be seen by those viewing a document from the first web server, wherein the first message is published by an entity different than the publisher of the first document and wherein the first message is not part of the first document, and wherein the secondary area and the primary web browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window so that the first message is automatically displayed for the user in the secondary area when the first document is displayed in the primary web browser window;

detecting that the user wishes to browse to a second document using an input device that is operated by the user;

displaying the second document in the primary web browser window by replacing the document in the primary web browser window with the second document, wherein the second document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a second web server using HTTP protocol, wherein the second document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements, and wherein the second web server is different from the first web server;

after displaying the second document in the primary web browser window, automatically displaying a second message in the secondary area that is within the web browser application window, wherein the second message includes an advertisement that is meant to be seen by those viewing a document from the second web server, wherein the second message is published by an entity different than the publisher of the second document and wherein the second message is not part of the second document, and wherein the secondary area and the primary web browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window so that the second message is automatically displayed for the user in the secondary area when the second document is displayed in the primary web browser window;

detecting that the user wishes to browse to a third document;

displaying the third document in the primary web browser window, wherein the third document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a third web server using HTTP protocol, wherein the third document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements;

after displaying the third document in the primary web browser window, automatically displaying a third message in the secondary area that is within the web browser application window, wherein the third message includes an advertisement that is meant to be seen by those viewing a document from the third web server, wherein the third message is published by an entity different than the publisher of the third document and wherein the third message is not part of the third document, and wherein the secondary area and the primary web browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window so that the third message is automatically displayed for the user in the secondary area when the third document is displayed in the primary web browser window;

detecting that the user has selected the third message when the third message is displayed in the secondary area, wherein the user has selected the third message using the input device; and

displaying a supplemental document when the user selects the third message when the third message is displayed in the secondary area, wherein the supplemental document is associated with the advertisement that is meant to be seen by those viewing a document from the third web server, and wherein the supplemental document is retrieved over the network from a server that is different from the third web server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the acts of:

detecting that the user has selected the second message when the second message is displayed in the secondary area, wherein the user has selected the second message using the input device; and

displaying a second supplemental document when the user selects the second message when the second message is displayed in the secondary area, wherein the second supplemental document is associated with the advertisement that is meant to be seen by those viewing a document from the second web server, and wherein the second supplemental document is retrieved over the network from a server that is different from the second web server.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first message includes a plurality of advertisements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of advertisements are displayed one at a time.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of automatically displaying a first message in the secondary area includes the act of:

scrolling the first message horizontally within the secondary area.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of automatically displaying a first message in the secondary area includes the act of:

displaying the first message in a single line display area.

17. A method of interfacing a client program with a web browser application executing on a computer that is operated by a user, wherein the web browser application has a web browser application window that is displayed on a display screen associated with the computer, and wherein the client program interfaces with the web browser application so that the web browser application window includes within it (1) a primary browser window and also (2) a secondary window, wherein the primary browser window and the secondary window are separated within the web browser application window, but wherein both the primary browser window and the secondary window are displayed simultaneously and are integrated into the web browser application window, the method of interfacing the client program with the web browser application comprising the acts of:

communicating with the web browser application through an OLE interface so that the web browser application provides a notification to the client program of when the document displayed in the primary browser window changes;

receiving a notification from the web browser application that a first document is being displayed in the primary browser window, wherein the notification is received automatically by the client program from the web browser application through an OLE interface, wherein the notification from the web browser application identifies the first document, wherein the first document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a first server, and wherein the first document is displayed in the primary browser window as a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements;

after receiving the notification from the web browser application that the first document is being displayed in the primary browser window, automatically sending a first message over the network to a supplemental information server, wherein the first message includes information about the first document that is to be communicated to the supplemental information server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the first message over the network to the supplemental information server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the first document;

after receiving the reply in response to sending the first message over the network to the supplemental information server, displaying first document supplemental information in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window, wherein the first document supplemental information includes information received in the reply that relates to the first document, wherein the first document supplemental information includes a link to a second document, wherein the first document supplemental information is published by an entity different than the publisher of the first document and is not part of the first document, and wherein the secondary window and the primary browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window;

monitoring the user'"'"'s selection of the link to the second document in the simultaneously displayed secondary window;

displaying the second document in the primary browser window when the user selects the link to the second document, wherein the second document has a resource identifier associated with it, wherein the web browser application retrieves the second document over the network from a second server, wherein the second document is retrieved from the second server using HTTP protocol, and wherein the second document replaces the first document in the primary browser window;

automatically sending a second message over the network to the supplemental information server, wherein the second message includes information about the second document that is to be communicated to the supplemental information server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the second message over the network to the supplemental information server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the second document;

after receiving the reply in response to sending the second message over the network to the supplemental information server, displaying second document supplemental information in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window so that the secondary window is automatically updated when the second document replaces the first document in the primary browser window, wherein the second document supplemental information includes information received in the reply in that relates to the second document, wherein the second document supplemental information includes a link to a document that relates to the second document, wherein the second document supplemental information is published by an entity different than the publisher of the second document and is not part of the second document, and wherein the secondary window and the primary browser window are displayed simultaneously within the web browser application window;

receiving a notification from the web browser application that a third document is being displayed in the primary browser window, wherein the notification is received automatically from the web browser application through an OLE interface, wherein the notification from the web browser application identifies the third document, wherein the third document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a third server, wherein the third document is displayed in the primary browser window as a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements, and wherein the third document replaces a document previously displayed in the primary browser window;

after receiving the notification from the web browser application that the third document is being displayed in the primary browser window, automatically sending a third message over the network to the supplemental information server, wherein the third message includes information about the third document that is to be communicated to the supplemental information server;

receiving a reply in response to sending the third message over the network to the supplemental information server, wherein the reply includes information that relates to the third document; and

after receiving the reply in response to sending the third message over the network to the supplemental information server, displaying third document supplemental information in the secondary window that is integrated into the web browser application window so that the secondary window is automatically updated when the third document replaces the document previously displayed in the primary browser window.

18. A client computer that is operated by a user and is programmed to:

(a) display a first document in a main web browser window on a display screen associated with the client computer, wherein the first document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over a network from a first web server using HTTP protocol, and wherein the first document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements and also includes links to linked documents;

(b) detect that a document from the first web server is being displayed on the display screen associated with the client computer;

(c) after detecting that a document from the first web server is being displayed, automatically display a first message in a supplemental information area on the display screen associated with the client computer, wherein the supplemental information area is separate from and not part of the main web browser window, and wherein the first message that is displayed in the supplemental information area is independent from the first document that is displayed in the main web browser window, meaning that the first message displayed in the supplemental information area is not part of or embedded in the first document displayed in the main web browser window, and

wherein the first message displayed in the supplemental information area comprises a first advertisement associated with a first advertiser, wherein the first advertisement is targeted to users viewing a document from the first web server and is displayed in response to detecting that a document from the first web server is being displayed, wherein the first message is published by an entity that is different than the publisher of the first document, and wherein the first message displayed in the supplemental information area and the first document displayed in the main web browser window are displayed simultaneously on the display screen so that the first advertisement is automatically displayed for the user in the supplemental information area for at least a portion of the time that the first document is displayed in the main web browser window;

(d) prior to automatically displaying the first message in the supplemental information area on the display screen, retrieve the first message over the network, wherein the first message is retrieved over the network in response to a command communicated by the client computer to a supplemental information server, and wherein the supplemental information server is different from the first web server and is operated by an entity that is different from the entity that operates the first web server;

(e) monitor the user'"'"'s interest in displaying further information relating to the first advertisement associated with the first advertiser, wherein the user expresses interest in displaying further information relating to the first advertisement through an input device associated with the client computer;

(f) detect that the user wishes to display a second document in the main web browser window;

(g) display the second document in the main web browser window, wherein the second document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a second web server using HTTP protocol, wherein the second document is displayed in the main web browser window by replacing a previously displayed document in the main web browser window, and wherein the second document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements and also includes links to linked documents;

(h) detect that a document from the second web server is being displayed on the display screen associated with the client computer;

(i) after detecting that a document from the second web server is being displayed, automatically display a second message in the supplemental information area on the display screen associated with the client computer, wherein the supplemental information area is separate from and not part of the main web browser window, and wherein the second message that is displayed in the supplemental information area is independent from the second document that is displayed in the main web browser window, meaning that the second message displayed in the supplemental information area is not part of or embedded in the second document displayed in the main web browser window, and

wherein the second message displayed in the supplemental information area comprises a second advertisement associated with a second advertiser, wherein the second message is published by an entity that is different than the publisher of the second document, and wherein the second message displayed in the supplemental information area and the second document displayed in the main web browser window are displayed simultaneously on the display screen so that the second advertisement is automatically displayed for the user in the supplemental information area for at least a portion of the time that the second document is displayed in the main web browser window;

(j) prior to automatically displaying the second message in the supplemental information area on the display screen, retrieve the second message over the network, wherein the supplemental information server is different from the second web server and is operated by an entity that is different from the entity that operates the second web server;

(k) monitor the user'"'"'s interest in displaying further information relating to the second advertisement associated with the second advertiser, wherein the user expresses interest in displaying further information relating to the second advertisement through the input device associated with the client computer;

(l) detect that the user wishes to display further information relating to the second advertisement associated with the second advertiser;

(m) upon detecting that the user wishes to display further information relating to the second advertisement associated with the second advertiser, display a second advertisement document in a web browser window on the display screen associated with the client computer, wherein the second advertisement document provides information relating to the second advertiser;

(n) detect that the user wishes to display a third document on the display screen;

(o) display the third document on the display screen, wherein the third document has a resource identifier associated with it and is retrieved over the network from a third web server using HTTP protocol, and wherein the third document is a hypertext document that includes graphical display elements and also includes links to linked documents;

(p) detect that a document from the third web server is being displayed on the display screen associated with the client computer;

(q) after detecting that a document from the third web server is being displayed, automatically display a third message in the supplemental information area on the display screen associated with the client computer, wherein the third message that is displayed in the supplemental information area is independent from the third document that is displayed on the display screen, meaning that the third message displayed in the supplemental information area is not part of or embedded in the third document, and

wherein the third message displayed in the supplemental information area comprises a third advertisement associated with a third advertiser, wherein the third advertisement is targeted to users viewing a document from the third web server and is displayed in response to detecting that a document from the third web server is being displayed, wherein the third message is published by an entity that is different than the publisher of the third document, and wherein the third message displayed in the supplemental information area and the third document displayed on the display screen are displayed simultaneously on the display screen so that the third advertisement is automatically displayed for the user in the supplemental information area for at least a portion of the time that the third document is displayed on the display screen;

(r) prior to automatically displaying the third message in the supplemental information area on the display screen associated with the client computer, retrieve the third message over the network, wherein the third message is retrieved over the network in response to a command communicated by the client computer to the supplemental information server, and wherein the supplemental information server is different from the third web server and is operated by an entity that is different from the entity that operates the third web server;

(s) monitor the user'"'"'s interest in displaying further information relating to the third advertisement associated with the third advertiser, wherein the user expresses interest in displaying further information relating to the third advertisement through the input device associated with the client computer;

(t) detect that the user wishes to display further information relating to the third advertisement associated with the third advertiser; and

(u) upon detecting that the user wishes to display further information relating to the third advertisement associated with the third advertiser, display a third advertisement document, wherein the third advertisement document provides information relating to the third advertiser.