Method and system for facilitating viewer navigation through online information relating to chemical products

• US 6,745,179 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shipley Company, LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shipley Company, LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Narayanan, Rajan, Planchet, David P., Laronge, Joshua N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/975,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/739, 345/764, 705/26, 705/39, 705/40, 707/1, 707/3, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system for facilitating viewer navigation through online information relating to chemical products is provided. The system includes a server in communication with at least one database; a link to an order fulfillment system; a link to a payment processing system; and a rink to a client system. The system is executing web server and application server software; a commerce tool for ordering one or more chemical products; database management and security tools; and a navigation tool. The navigation tool includes a user interface displaying objects relating to the chemical products in a form of a periodic table. Each objects is linked to information or services concerning the chemical products and each object is represented as an abbreviation of a function provided by the navigation tool.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating viewer navigation through online information, comprising:

at least one database;

a server in communication with said at least one database;

a link to an order fulfillment system;

a link to a payment processing system; and

a link to a client system;

wherein said system is executing software including;

a web server application;

an application server tool;

a commerce tool for ordering one or more chemical products;

a database management tool;

a security tool; and

a navigation tool including a user interface, said user interface displaying objects relating to said chemical products in a form of a periodic table, wherein each of said objects is linked to information or services concerning said chemical products and each said object is represented as an abbreviation of a function provided by said navigation tool.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one database stores product related information including:

technical data;

flows article;

material safety data sheets;

graphical presentations;

product abstracts;

product availability;

product usages;

product prices; and

product bulletins.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one database stores customer information;

name and business address;

contact information;

account status;

shipping information;

account history; and

payment data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one database stores product catalogs, including:

product trade name;

product code; and

unit of sale.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said commerce tool provides business and transaction services including:

customer registration;

product purchasing;

payment processing; and

account updating.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said database management tool includes a search engine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said navigation tool includes a hierarchical navigation structure with levels of access linking said objects within said hierarchical navigation structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said order fulfillment system is a warehouse associated with a vendor of said chemical products.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said order fulfillment system is a supplier associated with a vendor of said chemical products.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said payment processing system is a financial institution.

11. A method for navigation within a graphical user interface of a computer system over a network, comprising:

providing objects relating to information services concerning one or more chemical products in a form of a periodic table on a display device of said computer system, wherein each said object is represented as an abbreviation of a function provided by a navigation tool;

linking each of said elements objects to an item stored in a storage;

upon selecting one or said objects, performing said corresponding function including retrieving said item from said storage; and

presenting said item on said display device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing objects includes:

arranging each of said objects in an asymmetric tabular form; and

each said abbreviation includes a two-letter abbreviation comprising an upper case alphabetic character followed by a lower case alphabetic character.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said item is a text file.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said item is a software application.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said item is a database.

16. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for navigating within a graphical user interface of a computer system over a network, the storage medium including instructions for causing said computer to implement a method comprising:

providing objects relating to information or services concerning one or more chemical products in a form of a periodic table on a display device of said computer system, wherein each said object is represented as an abbreviation of a function provided be a navigation tool;

linking each of said elements objects to an item stored in a storage;

upon selecting one of said objects, performing said corresponding function including retrieving said item from said storage; and

presenting said item on said display device.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein providing objects includes:

arranging each of said elements objects in an asymmetric tabular form; and

each said abbreviation includes a two-letter abbreviation comprising an upper case alphabetic character followed by a lower case alphabetic character.

18. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said item is a text file.

19. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said item is a software application.

20. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said item is a database.