Web browser system

• US 7,251,682 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moir, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US10/264,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/226, 709/229, 455/3.03, 719/330
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

A broadcast data receiver (BDR) is provided with a web browser system. A service provided by the web browser system si selectable by a user of the BDR and, when selected, is controllable by the user via a remote control handset, thereby allowing an Internet web site page for display on a display screen connected to or forming part of the BDR to be determined and one or more user options can be selected if required. One or more icons are generated on at least a portion of the display screen and each of the icons represents a button on the remote control handset. Each icon is mapped to a specific control function or option of the web browser, thereby allowing user selection of a web browser control function or option by selection of the appropriate button on the remote control handset.

Claims

1. A web browser system for a broadcast data receiver for generation of internet site displays on a connected display screen, said system comprising:

a remote control device having a plurality of dedicated buttons;

a service provided by the web browser system selectable and controllable by a user via the remote control device to select an internet web site page having one or more user options being generated on the display screen;

a user selecting an icon display option while the web site page is displayed having fast linking means providing a plurality of user selected icons, the user selected icons being displayed adjacent to the user options, the plurality of user selected icons selectively corresponding with the plurality of dedicated buttons on said remote control and selectively corresponding with the adjacent user option on the display screen each icon being mapped to a specific function on the web browser, wherein said plurality of user selected icons represent one or more numbered keys on said remote control device; and

a smart engine means in said broadcast data receiver for linking of the plurality of dedicated buttons on said remote control with the user selected icons and to present an additional number of options for dynamically linking the remaining user options with the user selected icons upon depression of a pre-designated button on said remote control.

2. A web browser system according to claim 1 wherein said user selected icon is displayed next to a mapped control function on the web page.

3. A web browser system according to claim 2 wherein the control functions to which said user selected icons are mapped are spaced throughout a plurality of control functions available for selection on the web page.

4. A web browser system according to claim 2 wherein once a control function is selected via selection of a mapped user selected icon and a new web page is displayed, the plurality of user selected icons are provided on the new web page.

5. A web browser system according to claim 2 wherein said icons are allocated to the most commonly selected control function on the web page.

6. A web browser system according to claim 2 wherein the one or more plurality of user selected icons can be mapped to specific control functions selected by the user.

7. A web browser system according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of user selected icons are mapped to specific control functions via introduction of HTML tags into graphical interface associated with those control functions.

8. A web browser system according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of user selected icons are provided as part of a graphics display layer, the graphics layer being substantially transparent apart from the icons.

9. A web browser system according to claim 1 wherein said user selected icon is or includes the number of the key which it represents on the remote control device.

10. A web browser system according to claim 1 wherein said one or more plurality of user selected icons are moved to the next consecutive available control functions on the web page, the next available control functions on the web page linked to the relevancy of the previous mapped control functions, or the next available control functions which form a pre-specified set on the display screen.