Electronic content search and delivery based on cursor location
First Claim
1. A method for automatically delivering electronic content related to text appearing in a display, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a cursor location within a target window in which the text is displayed;
(b) defining an update region as a function of the cursor location;
(c) invalidating the update region such that a target process associated with the target window is caused to re-render the text to the target window in the update region that includes the cursor location;
(d) determining a primary word that occurs at the cursor location from the re-rendered text;
(e) searching a first electronic data store for content related to the primary word; and
(f) displaying a result of the search in a semitransparent window that is persistently visible and that enables content displayed underlying the result to be visible.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic search is automatically initiated when a cursor hovers in one location for a predetermined time. A target process associated with a target window is forced to re-render data to the target window in an update region that includes the detected cursor location. From the re-rendered data, a primary word and context words near the cursor location are determined. One or more local or remote electronic data stores are searched for substantive content related to the words. The content is prioritized according to user preference and displayed in a semitransparent window that is persistently visible to a user, yet does not obscure other content in an underlying window and does not shift the focus from an active window. Re-rendering is accomplished by invalidating an update region of the target window, and forcing the operating system to issue a paint message, causing the target process to redraw the update region.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for automatically delivering electronic content related to text appearing in a display, comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a cursor location within a target window in which the text is displayed; (b) defining an update region as a function of the cursor location; (c) invalidating the update region such that a target process associated with the target window is caused to re-render the text to the target window in the update region that includes the cursor location; (d) determining a primary word that occurs at the cursor location from the re-rendered text; (e) searching a first electronic data store for content related to the primary word; and (f) displaying a result of the search in a semitransparent window that is persistently visible and that enables content displayed underlying the result to be visible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for automatically delivering electronic content related to text appearing in a display, comprising:
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(a) a processor; (b) a display in communication with the processor, said display displaying a cursor location and a target window that includes text; (c) a pointing device adapted to be controlled by a user and coupled in communication with the processor, said pointing device producing a signal indicating the cursor location on the display; (d) a user input device having at least one key, said user input device being coupled in communication with the processor; and (e) a memory in communication with the processor and storing machine instructions that cause the processor to; (i) detect the cursor location indicated by the signal produced by the pointing device on the display device; (ii) invalidate an update region, wherein the update region is defined within the target window as a function of the cursor location, such that a target process associated with the target window is caused to re-render the text to the target window in the update region of the display that includes the cursor location disposed proximate to the text being re-rendered; (iii) determine from the re-rendered text a primary word that is disposed proximate to the cursor location; (iv) search a first electronic data store for content related to the primary word; and (v) display a result of the search in a semitransparent window that is persistently visible and that enables content of the result to remain visible in the display. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for capturing data displayed near a cursor location controlled with a pointing device in an electronic display, comprising the steps of:
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(a) hooking into an operating system output module that renders data to the electronic display; (b) defining an update region as a function of the cursor location in the electronic display; (c) invalidating the update region of the electronic display, such that the operating system output module is forced to re-render the data to the update region of the electronic display; and (d) copying the data from the operating system output module while the operating system output module is re-rendering the data to the update region of the electronic display. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for capturing data displayed near a cursor location in an electronic display, comprising:
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(a) a processor; (b) a display in communication with the processor, said display displaying a cursor at a location in the display; and (c) a memory in communication with the processor and storing machine instructions that cause the processor to; (i) hook into an operating system output module that renders data to the electronic display; (ii) define an update region as a function of the cursor location in the electronic display; (iii) invalidate the update region of the electronic display, wherein the update region is defined as a function of the cursor location in the electronic display such that the operating system output module is forced to re-render the data to the update region of the electronic display; and (iv) copy the data from the operating system output module while the operating system output module is re-rendering the data to the update region of the electronic display. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification