Method for processing links and device for the same

• US 7,107,517 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, It Factory Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Kazumi, Muramoto, Takahide, Suzuki, Toshimitsu, Yashiro, Sadao, Goto, Masatomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ludwig, Matt
• Application Number:
  US09/414,942
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 715/512, 715/513, 715/501.1, 715/511, 715/526
• US Class Current: 715/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/88 Mark-up to mark-up conversion conversion for visualization in web browsing G06F16/9577
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions

Abstract

A link-processing device for displaying a summary of linked information before the link is called up is disclosed. The link processing device includes an acquisition module, an extracting module, and a displaying module. The acquisition module acquires structured information containing: link-generating information for generating links between multiple resources; and predetermined supplemental information indicating characteristics of the resource. A setting is provided for whether all resources are to be acquired or not. Based on this setting at least one resource is acquired and displayed. If all resources are to be acquired, the extracting module extracts a section of each resource except for the resource display object and/or extracts from the structured information supplemental information regarding each resource except for the resource display object. If any of the resources have been acquired, supplemental information for each of the resources other than the acquired resources is extracted from the structured information. The displaying module displays extracted information for each resource.

Claims

1. A document link-processing method utilized in a display device capable of displaying a structuralized document based on predetermined structural elements, the link-processing method comprising:

acquiring structured information containing links to resources serving as information sources, the resources comprising said structured document or a part thereof and/or comprising other structured or non-structured documents, and the structured information containing information indicating characteristics of said resources;

storing a setting for;

determining whether all of said resources are to be automatically acquired, acquiring at least one resource when all are not acquired, and sending to and displaying in said display device any said acquired resources;

acquiring, without user input, at least one resource determined to be displayed when the structured document is displayed;

simultaneously displaying in the display device the at least one acquired resource and the structured document;

when the setting indicates that all of said resources are to be acquired, for each non-displayed resource, either (1) extracting at least a part of such resource, or (2) extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for such resource;

when the setting indicates that not all but rather any resource is to be acquired, extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for resources other than said acquired resource; and

while displaying the structured document, visually outputting said extracted resource part and/or said extracted information indicating characteristics of said resources for each resource that is not displayed with said structured document.

2. In a structured document link-processing device utilized in a display device capable of displaying a document structuralized based on predetermined structural elements, a resource-information display device comprising:

a first acquisition unit to acquire structured information containing links to resources serving as information sources, the resources comprising said structured document or a part thereof and/or comprising other structured or non-structured documents, and the structured information containing information indicating characteristics of said resources;

a second acquisition unit to store a setting for;

determining whether all of said resources are to be automatically acquired, acquiring at least one resource, and sending to and displaying in said display device any said acquired resources;

a third acquisition unit to acquire, without user input, at least one resource determined to be displayed when the structured document is displayed;

a display unit to simultaneously display in the display device the at least one acquired resource and the structured document;

a first extracting unit to, when the setting indicates that all of said resources are to be acquired, for each non-displayed resource, either (1) extracting at least a part of such resource, or (2) extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for such resource;

a second extracting unit to, when the setting indicates that not all but rather any resource is to be acquired, extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for resources other than said acquired resource; and

an output unit to, while displaying the structured document, visually output said extracted resource part and/or said extracted information indicating characteristics of said resources for each resource that is not displayed with said structured document.

3. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a composing unit to compose information extracted by said first or said second extracting unit with said resource being displayed and to send the composed information to said display device.

4. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a selection unit to create, and to send to said outputting unit, a list of information extracted by said first or second extracting units, and for accepting a resource selection and reporting the selected resource to said second acquisition unit;

wherein

if the reported resource has not been acquired, said second acquisition unit acquires said resource, and sends the reported resource to said displaying device.

5. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a storage unit to coordinate with each resource a call-up count of said resource and for storing the call-up count;

a log administration unit to send to said outputting unit said call-up counts for resources other than said resource being displayed, and to accept a resource selection, to notify said second acquisition unit of the selected resource, and to update the resource call-up count in said storing unit;

Wherein

if the reported resource has not been acquired from said log administration unit, said second acquisition unit acquires said resource, and sends the reported resource to said displaying device.

6. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and said second extracting units are capable of extracting said supplemental information together with said link-generating information.

7. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains information indicating reference links and cross-reference links.

8. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains information suggesting resource contents.

9. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains information indicating resource author.

10. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains resource-indicating audio information.

11. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains resource copyright-holder indicating information.

12. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains resource trademark-indicating information.

13. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains optional information added in link generation.

14. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said supplemental information contains information specific to storage units wherein resources are stored.

15. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first extracting unit extracts a predetermined amount of information from the head of said acquired resources.

16. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first extracting unit parses terms from said acquired resources and extracts the parsing results.

17. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein if said acquired resources include meta-information, said first extracting unit extracts said meta-information.

18. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2,

wherein said first extracting unit extracts initial information apart from tags and attributes appearing among said acquired resources.

19. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first extracting unit reads style information associated with said acquired resources and based on said style information extracts data described in tags designating maximum font size among said resources.

20. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first extracting unit stores predetermined keywords and, if said acquired resources have a tag name containing any of said keywords, extracts information described in said tags.

21. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein if information for generating links is contained in said acquired resources, said first extracting unit extracts said information for generating links.

22. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit further includes a configuration unit accepting timing settings for outputting information extracted by said first or second extracting units.

23. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit detects position of a cursor over said displayed resource and outputs said extracted information based on said detection results.

24. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit further comprises a window unit to display a new window separate from a window wherein said resource is displayed and outputting said extracted information in the window.

25. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit further includes a frame unit to display a new frame either by splitting a window, wherein the resource display object is displayed or by creating a new window, and to output said extracted information in said frame.

26. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit further includes a balloon unit to display a balloon within a window wherein said resource is displayed and to output said extracted information in said balloon.

27. A link-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said outputting unit further includes a display control unit to output said extracted information in a display form different from that of said resource being displayed.

28. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for processing links in a structured document, used in display devices capable of displaying the structured document based on predetermined structural elements, the computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded the link-processing program for executing:

acquiring structured information containing links to resources serving as information resources, the set of resources comprising said structured document or a part thereof and/or comprising other structured or non-structured documents, and the structured information containing information indicating characteristics of said resources;

storing a setting for;

determining whether all of said resources are to be automatically acquired, acquiring at least one resource when all are not acquired, and sending to and displaying in said display device any said acquired resources;

acquiring, without user input, at least one resource determined to be displayed when the structured document is displayed;

simultaneously displaying in the display device the at least one acquired resource and the structured document;

when the setting indicates that all of said resources are to be acquired, for each non-displayed resource, either (1) extracting at least a part of such resource, or (2) extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for such resource;

when the setting indicates that not all but rather any resource is to be acquired, extracting from said structured information at least said information indicating characteristics of said resources for resources other than said acquired resource; and

while displaying the structured document, visually outputting said extracted resource part and/or said extracted information indicating characteristics of said resources for each resource that is not displayed with said structured document.