Persistent usage context

• US 6,670,974 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Glen J., Richard, Joseph G., McKnight, Russell F., Vossler, Stephen P., Calvillo, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/415,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 345/738, 345/739, 345/853, 345/854, 345/855, 345/835
• US Class Current: 715/855
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

A system and method for generating a persistent usage context is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of generating a persistent usage context includes monitoring usage of an information handling system and generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to at least one of the first item of usage and a second item of usage. The first representation and second representation are communicated so as to communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation and to enable a determination of at least one of the prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.

Claims

1. A method of generating a persistent usage context, comprising:

monitoring usage of an information handling system;

generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage, a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage, and a third representation corresponding to a third item of usage; and

generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval; and

communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein the first and the second items of usage are related to one application, and the third item of usage is related to an other application.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said one application is configured for browsing the World Wide Web, and said other application is configured for at least one of printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.

48. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the time range is a scrollable time range.

49. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said at least one icon is configured to be depicted in a graphic user interface (GUI).

3. A method of generating a persistent usage context, comprising:

monitoring usage of an information handling system;

generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;

generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval;

storing the first representation and the second representation;

communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein at least one of the first stored representation and the second stored representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

8. The method as described in claim 3, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and the second representation.

9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.

11. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to execute steps for a persistent usage context, the steps comprising:

monitoring usage of an information handling system;

generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage, a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage, and a third representation corresponding to a third item of usage; and

generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval;

communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein the first and the second items of usage are related to one application, and the third item of usage is related to an other application.

12. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.

14. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.

15. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

16. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.

17. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.

20. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein said one application is configured for browsing the World Wide Web, and said other application is configured for at least one of printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.

13. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to execute steps for a persistent usage context, the steps comprising:

monitoring usage of an information handling system;

generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;

storing the first representation and the second representation;

generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval; and

communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein at least one of the first stored representation and the second stored representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

18. The program of instructions as described in claim 13, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and the second representation.

19. The program of instructions as described in claim 18, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.

21. An information handling system for a persistent usage context, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

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 information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to

monitor usage of the information handling system;

generate, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage, a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage, and a third representation corresponding to a third item of usage;

generate, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval; and

communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein the first and the second items of usage are related to one application, and the third item of usage is related to an other application.

22. The information handling system as described in claim 21, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.

24. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.

25. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

26. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.

27. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.

30. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein said one application is configured for browsing the World Wide Web, and said other application is configured for at least one of printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.

23. An information handling system for persistent usage context, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

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 information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to

monitor usage of the information handling system;

generate, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;

generate, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during selected time interval; and

communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein at least one of the first stored representation and the second stored representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

28. The information handling system as described in claim 23, wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to search data relating to at least one of the first representation and the second representation.

29. The information handling system as described in claim 28, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.

31. An information handling system for persistent usage context, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

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 information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to include

means for monitoring usage of the information handling system;

means for generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage, a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage and a third representation corresponding to a third item of usage;

means for general, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval; and

means for communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein the first and the second items of usage are related to one application, and the third item of usage is related to an other application.

32. The information handling system as described in claim 31, further comprising means for storing the first representation and second representation.

34. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.

35. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

36. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.

37. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.

40. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein said one application is configured for browsing the World Wide Web, and said other application is configured for at least one of printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.

33. An information handling system for persistent usage context, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

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 information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to include

means for monitoring usage of the information handling system;

means for generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;

means for generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval; and

means for communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of the information handling system;

wherein at least one of the first stored representation and the second stored representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.

38. The information handling system as described in claim 33, wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to search data relating to at least one of the first representation and the second representation.

39. The information handling system as described in claim 38, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.

41. A method of generating a persistent usage context, comprising:

monitoring navigation of a resource during a first navigation session to obtain navigation data;

storing first navigation data pertaining to the first navigation session;

initiating a second navigation session after termination of the first navigation session, the second navigation session comprising at least one of the first resource and a second resource;

loading the stored first navigation data in at least one of the first resource and second resource during the second navigation session so as to enable the utilization of the stored first navigation data during the second navigation session;

generating, within a detailed description area, a first representation associated with the first navigation session and a second representation associated with the second navigation session;

storing the first representation and the second representation; and

generating, within a time range area, at least one icon representing a type of resource being utilized by the system during a selected time interval.

42. The method as described in claim 41, wherein at least one of the first resource and the second resource includes at least one of a web browser and operating system.

43. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the utilization of the stored first navigation data during the second navigation session includes at least one of a forward and backward button.

44. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the storing step includes storing the first navigation data in a format so as to be capable of being selectively accessed.

45. The method as described in claim 44, wherein the storing step includes a user defined identification.

46. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the stored first navigation data includes the utilization of navigation functions of at least one of the first resource and second resource.

47. The method as described in claim 46, wherein the navigation functions include at least one of forward button, a backward button, a favorites list, a bookmark, and a history list of resources accessed.