System and method to configure and provide a network-enabled three-dimensional computing environment

• US 7,168,051 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ADDnCLICK, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ADDnCLICK, Inc.
• Inventors: Cardaci, II, Thomas Alonzo, Blandford, Kristin, Robinson, Jack D., James, Linda R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/745,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 345848-852, 345748-749, 345/760, 345/757, 345/836, 345/419, 345/427, 345/423, 345/652, 345/663, 345/678, 345/6, 715848-852, 715/757, 715/836, 715748-749, 715/760, 715/746, 715762-763, 715/772
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A computer network-based system and method to configure and provide network-enabled three-dimensional computing environments is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a three-dimensional (3D) computing environment representing a 3D desktop of a first computer system in a 3D environment, wherein one or more icons of the desktop are displayed on a plurality of surfaces of the 3D desktop;

receiving a two-dimensional web page from a Web server over the Internet;

converting the two-dimensional web page to a form useable in the three-dimensional computing environment; and

presenting the converted web page in the 3D desktop to allow a first user of the first computer system to navigate content of the converted web page in a 3D manner, including displaying at least a portion of the content of the converted web page in a persistent client window of the 3D desktop that is persistent even if a connection between the first computer system and the Internet has been terminated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first user navigating the content displayed within the persistent client window in a 3D manner; and

communicating within the persistent client window with a second user who is navigating the same content from a second computer system over the Internet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating with the second user includes exchanging messages between the persistent client window of the first user of the first computer system with a persistent client window of the second user of the second computer system over the Internet.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the first user communicating with an avatar representing an owner of the content displayed within the persistent client window, including inquiring and/or acquiring an item displayed within the persistent client window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first computer system is offline, content displayed within the persistent client windows is buffered within the first computer system, and wherein in response an input from the first user within the persistent client window, a connection is automatically established between the first computer system and a server hosting the buffered content over the Internet to allow the first user continue to navigate the buffered content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading a search engine and installing the search engine within the first computer system to allow the first user to search in the Internet within the 3D desktop without having to access a remote search facility.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a search result in the 3D desktop, wherein the content displayed in the persistent client window is selected from the search result in response to an activation of the first user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a persistent client module associated with the persistent client window is configured to capture a navigation behavior of the first user and wherein information regarding the navigation behavior of the first user is sent to the server hosting the content displayed within the persistent client window to allow the hosting server to provide further information tailored to the navigation behavior of the first user.

9. A data processing system-readable medium having a plurality of instructions executable by a data processing system embodied therein, wherein said instructions when executed cause said data processing system to:

provide a three-dimensional (3D) computing environment representing a 3D desktop of a first computer system in a 3D environment, wherein one or more icons of the desktop are displayed on a plurality of surfaces of the 3D desktop;

receive a two-dimensional web page from a Web server over the Internet;

convert the two-dimensional web page to a form useable in the three-dimensional computing environment; and

present the converted web page in the 3D desktop to allow a first user of the first computer system to navigate content of the converted web page in a 3D manner, including displaying at least a portion of content of the converted web page in a persistent client window of the 3D desktop that is persistent even if a connection between the first computer system and the Internet has been terminated.

10. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the data processing system to:

navigate the content displayed within the persistent client window in a 3D manner; and

communicate within the persistent client window with a second user who is navigating the same content from a second computer system over the Internet.

11. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 10, wherein communicating with the second user includes exchanging messages between the persistent client window of the first user of the first computer system with a persistent client window of the second user of the second computer system over the Internet.

12. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the data processing system to have the first user communicating with an avatar representing an owner of the content displayed within the persistent client window, including inquiring and/or acquiring an item displayed within the persistent client window.

13. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 9, wherein when the first computer system is offline, content displayed within the persistent client windows is buffered within the first computer system, and wherein in response an input from the first user within the persistent client window, a connection is automatically established between the first computer system and a server hosting the buffered content over the Internet to allow the first user continue to navigate the buffered content.

14. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the data processing system to download a search engine and installing the search engine within the first computer system to allow the first user to search in the Internet within the 3D desktop without having to access a remote search facility.

15. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the data processing system to display a search result in the 3D desktop, wherein the content displayed in the persistent client window is selected from the search result in response to an activation of the first user.

16. The data processing system-readable medium of claim 9, wherein a persistent client module associated with the persistent client window is configured to capture a navigation behavior of the first user and wherein information regarding the navigation behavior of the first user is sent to the server hosting the content displayed within the persistent client window to allow the hosting server to provide further information tailored to the navigation behavior of the first user.

17. A data processing system, comprising

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, which when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform a method, the method including

providing a three-dimensional (3D) computing environment representing a 3D desktop of a first computer system in a 3D environment, wherein one or more icons of the desktop are displayed on a plurality of surfaces of the 3D desktop;

receiving a two-dimensional web page from a Web server over the Internet;

converting the two-dimensional web page to a form useable in the three-dimensional computing environment; and

presenting the converted web page in the 3D desktop to allow a first user of the first computer system to navigate content of the converted web page in a 3D manner, including displaying at least a portion of the content of the converted web page in a persistent client window of the 3D desktop that is persistent even if a connection between the first computer system and the Internet has been terminated.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

the first user navigating the content displayed within the persistent client window in a 3D manner; and

communicating within the persistent client window with a second user who is navigating the same content from a second computer system over the Internet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein communicating with the second user includes exchanging messages between the persistent client window of the first user of the first computer system with a persistent client window of the second user of the second computer system over the Internet.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises the first user communicating with an avatar representing an owner of the content displayed within the persistent client window, including inquiring and/or acquiring an item displayed within the persistent client window.