Proactive internet searching tool

• US 6,996,564 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lester, Edward, Stewart, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US10/051,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 725/40, 725/42, 725/45, 709/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A system and method for providing an Internet user that has no pre-conceived notion of the specific subject matter he or she wishes to initially view, with a graphical user interface which assists the user in locating a web site of interest by first displaying a variety of general categories, each corresponding to a plurality of content-related web sites, and gradually guiding the user to a web page of interest. The system allows an Internet user to review information that has been acquired solely to stimulate their imagination. The invention utilizes an “Imagination Guide”, which presents, on the use'"'"'s computer screen, a plurality of subject category headings, each heading identifying a unique area of interest. The user can select a preferred language, and is then presented by the list of subject categories corresponding to the selected language. Each subject category corresponds to an “Imagination” Data Base containing accessible web page URLs, each represented by a specific channel number, and all having subject matter related to the user'"'"'s selected subject category.

Claims

1. A method for use in a communications network to proactively assist a user in locating one or more web pages stored on servers connected to said communications network, each web page containing subject matter related to the user'"'"'s chosen general area of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

presenting the user with an option of selecting at least one of a specific web page and at least one subject category of a plurality of subject categories;

displaying a plurality of said subject categories, each said subject category identified by a subject heading and being associated with a set of at least one web page, each said web page represented by a separate channel number, wherein each said set of web pages contain content related to a particular said subject category;

if the user selects said one of said plurality of subject categories,

displaying said channel numbers, each said channel number corresponding to a web page containing subject matter related to said selected subject category;

allowing the user to initially select one of a plurality of classifications wherein upon said initial selection, and prior to a subsequent selection of a different classification, a different set of subject categories is presented for each said selected classification;

allowing the user to select said one of said displayed channels, wherein said steps of selecting said subject category, selecting said channel, and/or selecting said classification is performed by pointing and clicking on a button on a remote control image situated on the user'"'"'s computer screen; and

displaying web page content corresponding to said selected channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying channel content summary descriptions to enable the user to identify subject matter content or each said channel; and

displaying subject category information comprising subject matter related to said selected subject category.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said classification is a language and wherein upon said initial selection, text in each subsequent display will be in the selected language.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said subject category information comprising subject matter related to said selected subject category includes advertisements, logos and/or text.

5. A system for use in a communications network to proactively assist a user in locating at least one web page stored on servers connected to said communications network, each web page containing subject matter related to the user'"'"'s chosen general area of interest, said system comprising:

means for providing the user with an option of selecting at least one of a specific web page or one of a plurality of subject categories;

means for presenting the user with a list of said plurality of said subject categories, each said subject category being associated with a set of at least one web page wherein each said set of web pages contain content related to a particular said subject category;

means for selecting said one of said plurality of subject categories,

means for displaying at least one said channel numbers, each said channel number corresponding to at least one web page containing subject matter related to said selected subject category;

means for allowing the user to select said one of said displayed channels; and

means for displaying web page content corresponding to said selected channel, wherein said means for selecting said one of said plurality of subject categories, means for allowing the user to select said one of said displayed channels and means for allowing the user to initially select one of a plurality of classifications comprises a remote control image displayed on the user'"'"'s computer screen.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

channel content summary descriptions to enable the user to identify subject matter content of each said channel; and

subject category information comprising subject matter related to said selected subject category.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said subject category information comprising subject matter related to said selected subject category includes advertisements, logos an/or text.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for allowing the user to initially select one of a plurality of classifications wherein upon said initial selection, and prior to a subsequent selection of a different classification, a different set of subject categories is presented for each said selected classification.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said classification is a language and wherein upon said initial selection, text in each subsequent display will be in the selected language.

10. A method for use in a communications network to proactively assist a user in locating at least one web page stored on servers connected to said communications network, each web page containing subject matter related to the user'"'"'s chosen general area of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality at subject categories, each said subject category being identified by a subject heading and associated with a set of web pages, each said web page represented by a separate channel number, wherein each said set of web pages contain content related to a particular said subject category;

allowing the user to initially select one of a plurality of languages wherein upon said initial selection, and prior to a subsequent selection of a different language, a different set of subject categories is presented for each said selected language;

displaying at least one said channel numbers, each said channel number corresponding to a web page containing subject matter related to a selected one of said subject catagories;

displaying channel content summary descriptions to enable the user to identify subject matter content of each said channel;

displaying subject category information comprising subject matter related to said selected subject category;

allowing tho user to select said one of said displayed channels, wherein the user uses a remote control image in order to select one of the plurality of languages and one of the displayed channels; and

displaying web page content corresponding to said selected channel.