Method and apparatus for creating the appearance of multiple embedded pages of information in a single web browser display

• US 6,405,221 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ludolph, Frank E., Levine, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/546,180
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 395/793, 395/784, 395/785, 395/326, 395/335, 395/346, 395/352, 707/104, 707/501.1, 707/513, 707/517, 707/520, 707/522, 707/523, 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/335, 345/346, 345/352
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for Web or network viewing of pages of data by a browser program. This is accomplished by creating at least a template page having substantial portions thereof of user data and defining a first predetermined substantially static area on a display screen. A second predetermined static area on the template page is created to give the appearance of a window on the screen, the window having the capability of receiving a plurality of variable but user requested subsection of data therein, the subsections being linked to the template page and to each other. The user may choose a selectable control on the static portion of the display screen to permit the selection of specific linked subsections of data for viewing in the second predetermined static area on the template page. The first and second static areas are combined to create a multiplicity of composite pages of user data for call by users with a browser program and for display on the display screen. The user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

Claims

1. A method of displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a template for simulating a windowed-data display within an application program, said template having a first area for displaying substantially static data on said display screen, and a second area for displaying variable data therein; and

providing a control on said first area for permitting the user to specify a link to data for viewing in said second area, said control having a visible indicator in the first area indicating when the link has been selected, wherein in response to the user'"'"'s selection, the selected data is displayed in the second area;

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area and said second area within a single application window of said application program, wherein when the user selects said control, the visible indicator indicates that the data corresponding to said link is being displayed in said second area whereby the user observing the display screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

2. The method of claim 1 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

creating said template of substantially static data on said display screen prior to a request of said data; and

creating multiple composite copies formed from said template and a plurality of differing portions of said variable data.

3. The method of claim 2 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the step of:

saving said composite copies with links reflected in a composite page, said links linking the order and user selectivity for subsequent composite pages.

4. The method of claim 1 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a single template page;

selecting a multiplicity of pages of variable data arranged in linked order preferred by the user; and

creating a composite document by merging said template and each page of variable data when called for by the user.

5. The method of claim 4 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said composite pages in linked files.

6. The method of claim 1 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

initializing a database in accordance with a user selected topic;

creating links to sections of data base information or data in accordance with a data base query by user.

7. The method of claim 6 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

sorting said linked sections of data base information or data in accordance with user commanded sort order.

8. The method of claim 7 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

constructing or building a composite dynamic page on the fly; and

retrieving successive composite pages by said links at the designation.

9. A method of displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of pages of data by a browser program, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a template page having a first predetermined substantially static area on a display screen;

creating a second predetermined area on said template page to simulate the appearance of a variable-data window on said display screen within said browser program, said second predetermined area having the capability of receiving a user requested subsection of data therein;

generating a plurality of subsections linked to said template;

providing a user selectable control on said first predetermined area for permitting the user to select specific linked subsections of data for viewing in said second predetermined area on said template page in response to a selection by the user;

said control having a visible indicator in said first predetermined area indicating when the specified linked subsection of data is displayed in the second predetermined area; and

creating a multiplicity of composite pages comprising said template page and said subsections for call by users with said browser program and for display on said display screen;

displaying said composite pages with a single application window of said browser program to simulate simulating a windowed-data display on said screen; and

activating the visible indicator in the first predetermined area when the specified linked subsection of data is displayed in the second predetermined area, whereby the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

10. The method of claim 9 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of pages of data, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said composite pages for later recall by a user.

11. A method of creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display monitor in a networking environment, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a template page having a first area of substantially static data;

creating a second static area within said template page to introduce subsections of variable data;

creating ordered and linked subsections of data;

creating a composite page for viewing in said display screen by merging said template page and said subsections in linked order;

rationalizing said subsections and said template page to permit selection of subsections on said composite page when viewed on said display screen by a viewer/user;

providing a user selectable control in said first area for permitting the user to select specific linked subsections of data for viewing in said second area on said template page in response to the user'"'"'s selection, said control having a visible indicator in said first area indicating when the specified linked subsection of data is displayed in the second;

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area within at least a single application window; and

activating the visible indicator in the first area when the specified linked subsection of data is displayed in the second area, whereby the first area provides a structural or navigational framework to the viewer/user for the second static area and the variable subsections that the viewer/user can direct to be changed.

12. Apparatus for creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display monitor in a computing system, the computer system having a processor, memory, input/output section, a keyboard, display monitor and a storage subsystem for storing programs and data therein and an operating system for said computer system, said apparatus comprising:

a template page storage device for storing a template page simulating a window data display of an application program, said template page having a first area of substantially static data and a second area for displaying variable data selected by a user on said page, the static data in said first area providing for a structural or navigational framework to the viewer/user for data contained in said second area;

link controls configured to link a plurality of ordered and linked subsections of data stored in said storage subsystem;

a retrieving device configured to receive said template page and one by one pages of linked subsections of data into said memory and for merging said template and individual ones of said pages of linked subsections into said second static area of said template to thereby create a plurality of composite pages in memory; and

a rationalizer configured to rationalize said subsections and said template to permit selection of selected composite documents when called up for viewing on a display by the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 for creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display, said apparatus further comprising:

a browser control configured to control said retrieving device to create said composite pages.

14. A computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable code thereon, said medium for causing data to be written into at least the memory of a computer system, comprising:

computer readable code configured to permit user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document to be displayed on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of selected data from a network by a browser program;

computer readable code configured to create at least one template, said template for simulating a windowed-data display within said browser program, said template comprising substantially static user data defining a predetermined area on a display screen;

computer readable code configured to create a window on said screen having the capability of receiving a variable but requested grouping of data therein;

computer readable code configured to create a control on aid static portion of said display screen for permitting the user to specify groupings of data for viewing in said variable window in response to a selection by the user, said control having a visible indicator indicating when the specified data is displayed in said variable window, said visible indicator comprising a directional area;

computer readable code configured to simulate a windowed-data display on said display screen by displaying said static user data and said variable data within at least a single application window, whereby when the computer readable program code is loaded into a computer and is operating, the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

15. A computer program storage medium readable by a computing system and encoding a program of instructions for executing a computer process for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of from a network by a browser program, said computer process comprising the steps of:

creating a template for simulating a windowed-data display within said browser program, said template having a first area for displaying substantially static data on said display screen and a second area for displaying variable data there;

providing a control on said static first area for permitting the user to specify data for viewing in said second area in response to the user'"'"'s selection of data for display, said control having a visible indicator in said static first area indicating when the specified linked subsection of data is displayed in the second area; and

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area and said second area within a single application window of said browser program wherein when the user selects said control, the visible indicator indicates that the data corresponding to said link is being displayed in said second area, whereby the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein said computer process further comprises the steps of:

preparing said template of substantially static user data defining a predetermined area on a display screen prior to a request of said data; and

creating multiple composite copies of said templates and selected and differing portions of said variable data in multiples, not necessarily in consecutive order.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 16 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

saving said composite copies with links in said composite page, said links linking order and user selectivity for subsequent composite pages.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

selecting a single template page;

selecting a multiplicity of pages of variable data arranged in linked order preferred by the user; and

creating said composite document by merging said template and each page of variable data when called for by the user.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

storing said composite pages in linked files for later use by others.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein said computer process further comprises the steps of:

initializing a database in accordance with a user selected topic;

creating links to sections of data base information or data in accordance with a preselected data base query by user;

sorting said linked sections of data base information or data in accordance with user commanded sort order;

constructing or building a composite dynamic page on the fly by said user, and

retrieving successive composite pages by said links at the designation by said user.

21. A method of displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method comprising the steps of

creating a template for simulating a windowed-data display within an application program, said template having a first area for displaying substantially static data on said display screen, and a second area for displaying variable data therein;

and

providing a control on said first area for permitting a user to specify data for viewing in said second area;

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area and said second area within a single application window of said application program, said control in said first area providing a visual link to said second area, and said control actuating the loading of new data into said second area responsive to selection of said control by the user, whereby the user observing the display screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

22. The method of claim 21 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

creating said template of substantially static user data defining a predetermined area on a display screen prior to a request of said data; and

creating multiple composite copies of said templates and selected and differing portions of said variable data in multiples, not necessarily in consecutive order.

23. The method of claim 22 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the step of:

saving said composite copies with links reflected in a composite page, said links linking the order and user selectivity for subsequent composite pages.

24. The method of claim 21 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a single template page;

selecting a multiplicity of pages of variable data arranged in linked order preferred by the user; and

creating a composite document by merging said template and each page of variable date when called for by the user.

25. The method of claim 24 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said composite pages in linked files.

26. The method of claim 21 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

initializing a database in accordance with a user selected topic;

creating links to sections of data base information or data in accordance with a data base query by user.

27. The method of claim 26 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

sorting said linked sections of data base information or data in accordance with user commanded sort order.

28. The method of claim 27 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for viewing of data, said method further comprising the steps of:

constructing or building a composite dynamic page on the fly; and

retrieving successive composite pages by said links at the designation.

29. A method of displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of pages of data by a browser program, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a template page having a first predetermined substantially static area on a display screen;

creating a second predetermined area on said template page to simulate the appearance of a variable-data window on said display screen within said browser program, said second predetermined area having the capability of receiving a user requested subsection of data therein;

generating a plurality of subsections linked to said template;

providing a user selectable control on said first predetermined area for permitting the user to select specific linked subsections of data for viewing in said second predetermined area on said template page in response to selection by a user; and

creating a multiplicity of composite pages comprising said template page and said subsections for call by users with said browser program and for display on said display screen;

displaying said composite pages with a single application window of said browser program to simulate simulating a windowed-data display on said screen, whereby the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

30. The method of claim 29 for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of pages of data, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said composite pages for later recall by a user.

31. A method of creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display monitor in a networking environment, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a template page having a first area of substantially static data;

creating a second static area within said template page to introduce subsections of variable data in response to a viewer/user selection;

creating ordered and linked subsections of data;

creating a composite page for viewing in said display screen by merging said template page and said subsections in linked order;

rationalizing said subsections and said template page to permit selection of subsections on said composite page when viewed on said display screen by the viewer/user; and

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area and said second static area within at least a single application window, whereby the first area provides a structural or navigational framework to the viewer/user for the second static area and the variable subsections that the viewer/user can direct to be changed.

32. Apparatus for creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display monitor in a computing system, the computer system having a processor, memory, input-output section, a keyboard, display monitor and a storage subsystem for storing programs and data therein and an operating system for said computer system, said apparatus comprising:

a template page storage device for storing a template page simulating a windowed-data display of an application program, said template page having a first area of substantially static data and a second area for displaying variable data selected by a user on said page, the static data in said first area providing for a structural or navigational framework to the viewer/user for data contained in said second area;

link controls configured to link a plurality of ordered and linked subsections of data stored in said storage subsystem;

a retrieving device configured to receive said template page and one by one pages of linked subsections of data into said memory and for merging said template and individual ones of said pages of linked subsections into said second static area of said template to thereby create a plurality of composite pages in memory; and

a rationalizer configured to rationalize said subsections and said template to permit selection of selected composite documents when called up for reviewing on a display by the user.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 for creating composite pages of static and variable data for receipt on a display screen associated with a display, said apparatus further comprising:

a browser control configured to control said retrieving device to create said composite pages.

34. A computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable code thereon, said medium for causing data to be written into at least the memory of a computer system, comprising:

computer readable code configured to permit user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document to be displayed on a display screen adopted for web or network viewing of selected data from a network by a browser program;

computer readable code configured to create at least one template, said template for simulating a windowed-data display within said browser program, said template comprising substantially static user data defining a predetermined area on a display screen;

computer readable code configured to create a window on said screen having the capability of receiving a variable but requested grouping of data therein;

computer readable code configured to create a control on said static portion of said display screen for permitting the user to specify groupings of data for reviewing in said variable window in response to a selection by a user;

computer readable code configured to simulate a windowed-data display on said display screen by displaying said static user data and said variable data within at least a single application window, whereby when the computer readable program code is loaded into a computer and is operating, the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

35. A computer program storage medium readable by a computing system and encoding a program of instructions for executing a computer process for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one multi-paged document on a display screen adapted for web or network viewing of from a network by a browser program, said computer process comprising the steps of:

creating a template for simulating a windowed-data display within said browser program, said template having a first area for displaying substantially static data on said display screen and a second area for displaying variable data therein;

providing a control on said static first area for permitting the user to specify data for viewing in said second area in response to a selection of data for display; and

simulating a windowed-data display on said display by displaying said first area and said second area within a single application window of said browser program, whereby the user observing the screen receives the perception of a dynamic information display while preserving the navigational or location context of the data being viewed.

36. The computer storage medium of claim 35 wherein said computer process further comprises the steps of:

preparing said template of substantially static user data defining a predetermined area on a display screen prior to a request of said data; and

creating multiple composite copies of said templates and selected and differing portions of said variable data in multiples, not necessarily in consecutive order.

37. The computer storage medium of claim 36 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

saving said composite copies with links in said composite page, said links linking order and user selectivity for subsequent composite pages.

38. The computer storage medium of claim 35 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

selecting a single template page;

selecting a multiplicity of pages of variable data arranged in linked order preferred by the user; and

creating said composite document by merging said template and each page of variable date when called for by the user.

39. The computer storage medium of claim 38 wherein said computer process further comprises the step of:

storing said composite pages in linked files for later use by others.

40. The computer storage medium of claim 35 wherein said computer process further comprises the steps of:

initializing a database in accordance with a user selected topic;

creating links to sections of data base information or data in accordance with a preselected data base query by user;

sorting said linked sections of data base information or data in accordance with user commanded sort order;

constructing or building a composite dynamic page on the fly by said user, and retrieving successive composite pages by said links at the designation by said user.