Object-oriented framework for hyperlink navigation
First Claim
1. A method of computer software execution to support browsing documents of a plurality of different application programs in a computer system having a video display, comprising:
- displaying a view in a first window associated with a first application program on the video display, the view including a hyperlink which designates a target associated with a second different application program, the first window having a window position on the video display;
on user activation of the hyperlink, performing the steps of;
causing the second application program to be loaded on the computer system;
passing the window position from the first application program to the second application program;
positioning a second window associated with the second application program at the window position on the video display; and
displaying a view of the target in the second window on the video display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object-oriented framework comprises system services, objects, and integration interfaces which unify retrieval and browsing of data among multiple different application programs, document formats, and local and remote data storage sites. The framework provides a hyperlink object which encapsulates general hyperlink navigation functions. The hyperlink object has a moniker which references a hyperlink'"'"'s target, and a location string which designates a location in the target. The hyperlink object uses the moniker to retrieve the target as an object in the framework, and causes the object to display a view of the target at the location. The framework also provides a browse context object which maintains a navigation stack of navigated hyperlink targets, and allows passing of window and navigation tool bar position information to a frame in which the target is displayed to effect the appearance of window reuse when navigating between frames. The framework also includes a cache and table of running objects to speed return navigation to recently navigated targets.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method of computer software execution to support browsing documents of a plurality of different application programs in a computer system having a video display, comprising:
-
displaying a view in a first window associated with a first application program on the video display, the view including a hyperlink which designates a target associated with a second different application program, the first window having a window position on the video display; on user activation of the hyperlink, performing the steps of; causing the second application program to be loaded on the computer system; passing the window position from the first application program to the second application program; positioning a second window associated with the second application program at the window position on the video display; and displaying a view of the target in the second window on the video display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. At least one computer-readable program carrying medium having a computer-executable system software program carried thereon, the system software having an object-oriented architecture for navigating a hyperlink, the system software comprising:
-
a hyperlink object containing a hyperlink target indicator and a hyperlink target location indicator, and having a navigating function for navigating to a location in a target of the hyperlink identified by the indicators; a container of the hyperlink object, the container providing a first display having a representation of the hyperlink; a first frame object for providing a first display frame in a first window, the first display frame having a first area in which the container presents the first display; the hyperlink target providing a second display; a second frame object for providing a second display frame in a second window, the second display frame having a second area in which the hyperlink target presents the second display; a browse context object having functions for registering a position of the first window and for retrieving the position; and the second frame object operating to retrieve the position of the first window from the browse context object when the target is navigated, and to position the second window in place of the first window to thereby create an appearance of window reuse by the hyperlink target. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A computer system with support for browsing documents of a plurality of different application programs, the computer system comprising:
-
a video display for presenting views of documents; a program memory for storing loaded application programs and multi-application document browsing navigation software; a processor programmed by the software stored in the program memory to; cause the video display to display a view in a first window associated with a first application program on the video display, the view including a hyperlink which designates a target associated with a second different application program, the first window having a window position on the video display; on user activation of the hyperlink, performing the steps of; causing the second application program to be loaded in the program memory; passing the window position from the first application program to the second application program; positioning a second window associated with the second application program at the window position on the video display; and displaying a view of the target in the second window on the video display. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
Specification