Simplified design for HTML

• US 7,213,202 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kagle, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US09/299,724
• Time in Patent Office: 2,926 Days
• Field of Search: 707/513, 707/501.1, 345/700, 715/501.1, 715/513, 715/500, 715/517, 715/530
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/117 Tagging; Marking up details of markup languages G06F40/143; Designating a block; Setting of attributes style sheets, e.g. eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation [XSLT], G06F40/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

A method for generating a hypertext markup language (HTML) page in which a style template is selected for a predetermined region of a web page layout. The predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout. The selected style template can be, for example, a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template or a navigational bar template, and is selected by selecting a graphical icon representing the style of the template. The selected style template includes at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template and can include a space for information that is related to the style of the style template. Information related to the style of the template, such as a title, text, hypertext link information, a pointer to a file containing information that is to be inserted into the selected template, image information, graphical information and/or audio information, is inserted into the space before uploading the finished web page layout to a server. Typically, a plurality of selected style templates are concatenated to generate the finished web page layout. A finished web page layout is then uploaded to the server.

Claims

1. A method for generating a hypertext markup language (HTML) page, the method comprising steps of:

generating a web page layout;

receiving a predetermined selection signal indicative of a user interface selection device pointing at a selected predetermined region of the web page layout;

receiving a style template selection signal indicative of the user selection device pointing at a selected style template for the predetermined region, the selected style template including at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template; and

automatically displaying an updated web page layout responsive to receiving the style template selection signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of uploading the updated web page layout to a server, the updated web page layout including at least one selected style template.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the selected style template includes a space for information that is related to the style of the style template,

the method further comprising a step of inserting the information related to the style of the template into the space before the step of uploading the updated web page layout.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information related to the style of the template is a title.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information related to the style of the template is textual.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes hypertext link information.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes at least two of image information, graphical information, textual information, and audio information.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information related to the style of the style template is a pointer to a file containing information that is to be inserted into the selected template.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the file contains image information.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the file contains graphical information.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the file contains audio information.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected style template is one of a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template and a navigational bar template.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the style template selection signal includes a step of selecting a graphical icon representing the style of the template.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of concatenating a plurality of selected style templates to automatically display the updated web page layout.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of recording the updated web page layout as a macro style template.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising steps of:

selecting the macro style template;

inserting information related to the style of each style template forming the macro style template; and

uploading the updated web page layout to a server.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

selecting a second predetermined region of the web page layout; and

selecting a style template for the second predetermined region.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of updating the web page layout responsive to receiving the style template selection signal.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving a second predetermined selection signal indicative of the user interface device pointing at a second selected predetermined region of the updated web page layout;

receiving a second style template selection signal indicative of the user selection input device pointing at a second selected style template for the second predetermined region, the second selected style template including at least one HTML code defining a style of the second style template; and

automatically displaying a newly-updated web page responsive to receiving the second style template selection signal.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first and second predetermined regions are the same region.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first and second selected style templates are different style templates.

23. A method for generating a hypertext markup language (HTML) page, the method comprising steps of:

generating a web page layout;

receiving a predetermined selection signal indicative of a user interface selection device pointing at a selected predetermined region of the web page layout;

receiving a macro style template selection signal indicative of the user selection device pointing at a selected macro style template for the web page layout, the selected macro style template including at least one style template for the predetermined region, each style template including at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template; and

automatically display an updated web page layout responsive to receiving the macro style template selection signal.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one style template of the macro style template includes a space for information related to the style of the style template,

the method further comprising a step of inserting the information related to the style of the template into the space before the step of automatically generating the updated web page layout.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the information related to the style of the template is one of a title, text, a pointer to a file containing image information, a pointer to a file containing graphical information, a pointer to a file containing audio information, and hypertext link information.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the macro style template includes a style template that is one of a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template and a navigational bar template.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of receiving the macro style template selection signal includes a step of selecting a graphical icon representing the selected macro style template.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of uploading the updated web page layout to a server.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

generating a web page layout;

receiving a predetermined selection signal indicative of a user interface selection device pointing at a selected predetermined region of the web page layout;

receiving a style template selection signal indicative of the user selection device pointing at a selected style template for the predetermined region, the selected style template including at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template; and

automatically displaying an updated web page layout responsive to receiving the style template selection signal.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the selected style template includes a space for information that is related to the style of the style template,

the computer-executable instructions further performing a step of inserting the information related to the style of the template into the space before the step of automatically displaying the updated web page layout.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the style of the template is a title.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the style of the template is textual.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes hypertext link information.

36. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes at least two of image information, graphical information, textual information, and audio information.

37. The computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the style of the style template is a pointer to a file containing information that is to be inserted into the selected template.

38. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the file contains image information.

39. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the file contains graphical information.

40. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the file contains audio information.

41. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the selected style template is one of a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template and a navigational bar template.

42. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the step of receiving the style template selection signal includes a step of selecting a graphical icon representing the style of the template.

43. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the computer-executable instructions further perform a step of concatenating a plurality of selected style templates to automatically display the updated web page layout.

44. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the computer-executable instructions further perform a step of recording the updated web page layout as a macro style template.

45. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, wherein the computer-executable instructions further performing steps of:

selecting the macro style template;

inserting information related to the style of each style template forming the macro style template; and

uploading the updated web page layout to a server.

46. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

generating a web page layout;

receiving a predetermined selection signal indicative of a user interface selection device pointing at a selected predetermined region of the web page layout;

receiving a macro style template selection signal indicative of the user selection device pointing at a selected macro style template for a web page layout, the selected macro style template including at least one style template for the predetermined region, each style template including at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template; and

automatically displaying an updated web page layout responsive to receiving the macro style template selection signal.

47. The computer-readable medium according to claim 46, wherein the predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout.

48. The computer-readable medium according to claim 46, wherein at least one style template of the selected macro style template includes a space for information related to the style of the style template,

the computer-executable instructions further performing a step of inserting the information related to the style of the template into the space before the step of automatically displaying the updated web page layout.

49. The computer-readable medium according to claim 48, wherein the information related to the style of the template is one of a title, text, a pointer to a file containing image information, a pointer to a file containing graphical information, a pointer to a file containing audio information, and hypertext link information.

50. The computer-readable medium according to claim 46, wherein the at least one style template is one of a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template and a navigational bar template.

51. The computer-readable medium according to claim 46, wherein the step of receiving the macro style template selection signal includes a step of selecting a graphical icon representing the selected macro style template.

52. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for providing and selecting items for generating a hypertext markup language (HTML) page, the method comprising steps of:

displaying a web page layout on a display;

displaying a plurality of style templates on the display, each style template representing a layout style for a predetermined region of the web page layout;

receiving a predetermined region selection signal indicative of a user interface selection device pointing at a selected predetermined region on the display;

receiving a style template selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device pointing at a selected style template on the display, the selected style template associated with at least one HTML code defining a style of the style template; and

automatically displaying an updated web page layout in response to the received style template selection signal.

53. The method according to claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an uploading layout command selection on the display;

receiving an uploading layout entry selection signal indicative of the user interface device pointing at the uploading layout entry command selection; and

uploading the updated web page layout to a server in response to the uploading layout entry selection signal, the updated web page layout including at least one selected style template.

54. The method according to claim 52, wherein the predetermined region of the web page layout is a horizontal region spanning an entire width of the web page layout.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the selected style template includes a space for information that is related to the style of the style template,

the method further comprising a step of receiving the information related to the style of the template for entry into the space.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the style of the template is a title.

57. The method according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the style of the template is textual.

58. The method according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes hypertext link information.

59. The method according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the style of the template includes at least two of image information, graphical information, textual information, and audio information.

60. The method according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the style of the style template is a pointer to a file containing information that is entered into the selected template.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the file contains image information.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein the file contains graphical information.

63. The method according to claim 60, wherein the file contains audio information.

64. The method according to claim 52, wherein the selected style template is one of a title template, a text template, an audio template, a picture template, a parallel column template and a navigational bar template.

65. The method according to claim 52, wherein each style template displayed on the display is a graphical icon representing the style of the template.

66. The method according to claim 52, further comprising a step of concatenating a plurality of selected style templates in response to the received style template selection signal.

67. The method according to claim 52, further comprising steps of

displaying at least one macro style template on the display, each macro style template representing a stored web page layout;

receiving a macro style template selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device pointing at a selected macro style template on the display; and

displaying the stored web page layout in response to the received style template selection signal.

68. The method according to claim 67, wherein the selected macro style template includes a style template having a space for information that is related to the style of the style template, the method further comprising a step of receiving the information related to the style of the template for entry into the space.