System and method for enabling at least one independent data navigation and interaction activity within a document

• US 7,284,208 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scott Matthews
• Inventors: Matthews, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US11/680,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 715/854, 715/760, 715/851, 715/738, 715/501.1, 715/513, 715/515
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

The inventive system and method are directed to novel embodiments of various tools and infrastructures that enable a user of a document viewed on a data processing system using a document handling application, to engage in at least one additional concurrent data navigation/interaction activity in the document, and/or in the application handling the document, without affecting the user'"'"'s document interaction activities. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the inventive system and method are implemented by enabling the handling application to present the document along with at least one Independent Data Interaction/Navigation Element (IDINE), that includes a display component for displaying and optionally enabling interaction with any data (content) provided thereto, and a control component for navigating the provided content. Advantageously, the novel system and method ensure that utilizing any particular IDINE to navigate content provided thereto, does not affect the user'"'"'s ability to navigate or interact with content in the document, or in other IDINEs (if any are present). The system and method of the present invention also provide a number of novel techniques for implementing and modifying IDINEs, and also provide multiple advantageous IDINE-related infrastructures, having additional benefits to parties involved in IDINE use, implementation, and content provision thereto.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user of an interactive data processing application, comprising at least one application feature and at least one application setting, to engage in a first content interaction activity, within a content structure presented by the application to the user, and to contemporaneously engage in at least one content navigation activity, within at least one of the application and the content structure, independently of the first content interaction activity, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining at least one independent content navigation interface, in addition to, and independent from, the at least one application feature of the application and having at least one interface setting independent from the at least one application setting, within at least one of;

an application content presentation region occupied by the content structure, and an application region outside said application content presentation region, but within a region defined by said interactive data processing application;

(b) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, at least one content interaction region for interaction therewith by the user;

(c) presenting, to the user, at least one of a plurality of discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region, for selective navigation therethrough by the user in a user-determined sequence;

(d) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, and proximal to said at least one content interaction region, at least one proximal content navigation control selectively operable, when presented with a plurality of discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region, to enable selective navigation between said plural discrete content elements within said at least one content interaction region in said user-determined sequence, without interfering with the first content interaction activity, and without affecting the displayed portion of the content structure;

(e) in response to utilization, by the user, of said at least one independent content navigation interface to navigate between at least a portion of the plural discrete content elements, generating a historical record of at least one previously viewed discreet content element and of a navigation sequence therethrough; and

(f) enabling the user to utilize said at least one independent content navigation interface to navigate backward, only to said plural discrete content elements recorded in said historical record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) selectively providing content to the content structure, for interaction therewith during the first content interaction activity; and

(e) selectively providing at least one of said plural discrete content elements to said at least one independent content navigation interface, during the at least one content navigation activity, in response to interaction by the user with at least one of;

said at least one content interaction region, and said at least one proximal content navigation control, and when necessary, selectively subjecting said at least one of said plural discrete content elements to at least one content transformation process, prior to provision thereof to said at least one independent content navigation interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one content navigation activity further comprises at least one additional content interaction activity, and, wherein said content in the content structure comprises at least one of said plural discrete content elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one content navigation control comprises:

a first control operable by the user to selectively navigate backward through said plural discrete content elements, and a second control operable by the user to selectively navigate forward through said plural discrete content elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one independent content navigation interface comprises a plurality of components, said plural components at least comprising:

said at least one content interaction region, and said at least one proximal content navigation control, and wherein said at least one independent content navigation interface further comprises a plurality of characteristics selected from a group of;

shape, size, position, visual appearance, functionality, behavior, status, category, identifier, authorship, security, lifetime, duplicability, modifiability, restrictions on modification of at least one of said plural characteristics, navigation history, starting location of an initial content element of said plural content elements, information representative of a location of at least a portion of said plural content elements, at least one relationship with at least one other independent content navigation interface operable for utilization by at least one of;

the user and at least one third party, and at least one of size, shape, relative position to said at least one other independent content navigation interface, selection of specific additional or replacement plural components of said independent content navigation interface, and at least one contextualization function operable to modify, in accordance with at least one predetermined contextualization rule, at least one of;

at least one of said plural characteristics,

at least one of said plural discrete content elements,

operation of said at least one content navigation control, and

operation of said at least one content interaction region.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(f) prior to said step (a), selectively designating, by a first authorized party, a specific value for each definable plural characteristic of at least a portion of said plural characteristics, such that said step (a) is performed in accordance with said defined plural specific values, and wherein each characteristic of at least a portion of said plural characteristics, comprises predetermined default values,

wherein when said plural characteristics comprise at least one modifiable plural characteristic, the method of claim 5, further comprises the step of;

(g) selectively modifying, by at least one of;

changing, and configuring, by a second authorized party, at least one value of at least one corresponding modifiable plural characteristic,

and wherein each of at least one of;

said first authorized party and said second authorized party, comprises at least one of;

the user, a content structure provider, an interactive data processing application provider, an independent content navigation interface provider, an independent content navigation interface component provider, and a content provider that provides at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) prior to said step (g), selectively designating, by at least one predetermined first authorized party, at least one specific characteristic of said plural characteristics, as said at least one modifiable plural characteristic; and

(i) selectively defining said second authorized party as comprising at least one of;

the user, said content structure provider, said interactive data processing application provider, said independent content navigation interface provider, said independent content navigation interface component provider, and said content provider that provides at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(j) selectively modifying said at least one independent content navigation interface in accordance with a predetermined component alteration procedure, said selective modification procedure comprising at least one of;

removing at least one said plural component from said at least one independent content navigation interface, or providing at least one additional component to said at least one independent content navigation interface, each said at least one additional component having at least one characteristic with a corresponding value that improves the user'"'"'s at least one content navigation activity experience, by at least one of;

providing at least one new function to said at least one independent content navigation interface, improving the ergonomic qualities of said at least one independent content navigation interface, providing access to at least one additional discrete content element, improving the appearance of said at least one independent content navigation interface, and enabling the user to modify at least one value of at least one previously unmodifiable plural characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each at least one of said steps (a) to (j), is performed by a provider party, each comprising at least one of:

said content structure provider, said interactive data processing application provider, said independent content navigation interface provider, said independent content navigation interface component provider, said content provider that provides at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements, a premium discrete content element provider, and a service provider, further comprising the steps of;

(k) establishing and maintaining a first compensation arrangement between a using party and at least one said provider party, and/or selectively establishing and maintaining a second compensation arrangement between different provider parties, in consideration for at least one of;

provision of said at least one independent content navigation interface, continued utilization of said at least one independent content navigation interface, enhancement of said at least one independent content navigation interface in accordance with said step (j), access to at least one premium plural discrete content element, addition of advertising content to at least one of;

at least one said plural discrete content element and at least one plural component of said at least one independent content navigation interface capable of exposing said using party to advertising, and removal of advertising content from said independent content navigation interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said using party and said provider party each comprise at least one of:

the user, said content structure provider, said content structure provider, said interactive data processing application provider, said independent content navigation interface provider, said independent content navigation interface component provider, said content provider that provides at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements, a premium discrete content element provider, and a service provider.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(l) selectively adding advertising content, received from at least one of;

an advertising party and a brand partner, to at least one of;

at least one said plural discrete content element, or at least one said plural component of said at least one independent content navigation interface capable of exposing said using party to advertising,

(m) in consideration of performance of said step (l) by said provider party, selectively establishing and maintaining a third compensation arrangement between said provider party and at least one of;

said advertising party and a brand partner party and at least one said provider party;

(n) selectively removing advertising content, received from at least one of;

an advertising party and a brand partner, from at least one of;

at least one said plural discrete content element, or at least one advertising exposure plural component of said at least one independent content navigation interface, and

(o) in consideration of performance of said step (n) by said provider party, selectively establishing and maintaining a fourth compensation arrangement between said provider party and said using party.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

(p) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, a secure compensation component, comprising a payment control operable to selectively;

enable said using party to satisfy at least one predetermined compensation arrangement with said provider party; and

enable said using party to make an electronic payment, to another party, for at least one of goods or services purchased therefrom.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(q) generating, in said at least one independent content navigation interface, at least one component selected from a group of;

at least one control operable to selectively modify at least a portion of said plural characteristics;

a first control operable to display at least a portion of current values of said plural characteristics;

a second control operable to save at least a portion of current values of said plural characteristics;

a third control operable to display at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements in a hierarchical navigable directory format;

a fourth control operable to enable the user to enter a location from which at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements may be retrieved for interaction therewith in said at least one content interaction region;

a fifth control operable to enable the user to search for at least one plural discrete content element;

a sixth control operable to provide secure access to at least a portion of said plural discrete content elements;

a seventh control operable to enable the user to directly return to a first plural discrete content element presented at said step (c) to the user;

an eighth control operable to generate a new at least one independent content navigation interface;

a ninth control operable to generate a copy of said at least one independent content navigation interface as an additional independent content navigation interface such that the user may utilize said additional independent content navigation interface to engage in at least one additional content navigation activity, independently of both the first content interaction activity, and of the least one content navigation activity, wherein said additional independent content navigation interface is positioned in one of;

within the content structure, within an application region positioned outside said application content presentation region, or outside of both said application content presentation region and said content structure;

a tenth control operable to enable secure verification of the identity of the user; and

at least one display region for displaying to the user at least one information item selected from a group of;

status of said at least one independent content navigation interface, identification of said at least one independent content navigation interface, identification of a plural discrete content element currently presented in said at least one content interaction region, information relating to said currently displayed plural content element, information relating to at least one other content element, identification of the content structure, promotional content, advertising content, a logo, a static decorative graphical element, and a dynamic decorative graphical element;

a contextualization detector operable to determine whether a opportunity exists to automatically modify at least one of said plural characteristics of said independent content navigation interface, in response to detection of at least one predetermined contextualization opportunity based on information related to at least one of the following;

the user, the user'"'"'s environment, content in at least one of said plural discrete content elements being interacted therewith by the user, the interactive data processing application, the content structure, at least one predetermined first content interaction activity, or at least one predetermined content navigation activity; and

a contextualization control, responsive to said contextualization detector, operable to selectively or automatically modify at least one value of at least one plural characteristic of said at least one independent content navigation interface having a predetermined relationship with a detected context opportunity.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the interactive data processing application comprises an application functionality representative of plural application functions for interacting with at least one of a plurality of content structures, and wherein the content structure comprises plural content presentation parameters representative of the particular manner in which the interactive data processing application presents content in the content structure to the user, and also comprises a content structure code that provides instructions representative of said plural content presentation parameters to the interactive data processing application, and that determines at least one particular application function selected from said plural application functions, made available to the user for selective utilization thereof during the first content interaction activity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one independent content navigation interface comprises a navigation interface code representative of at least one modification to at least one of:

said content structure code of the content structure and said application functionality of the interactive data processing application, that, when implemented, causes the interactive data processing application to provide said at least one independent content navigation interface having desired functionality, usability, appearance, configurability, and usefulness, and capable of a desired scope of user-accessible content navigation interaction activities.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said navigation interface code comprises at least one of:

interface configuration data representative of at least a portion of specific desirable values of said plural characteristics applicable to each particular desired independent content navigation interface of said at least one independent content navigation interface, and also comprises a specific selection of a particular plurality of desirable components that jointly determine the functionality, usability, appearance, configurability, and usefulness of each said corresponding at least one particular independent content navigation interface, and that jointly define a scope of content navigation and additional interaction activities available to the user thereof;

interface implementation code that provides instructions representative of said interface configuration data to at least one of the interactive data processing application and an interface provision application, to enable at least one of the interactive data processing application and said interface provision application, to define, generate, and support operation of each said corresponding at least one particular independent content navigation interface in accordance with said interface configuration data; and

interface provision code that provides instructions to the interactive data processing application to enable the interactive data processing application to obtain at least one of;

said interface configuration data, and said interface implementation code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step (a) comprises the step of:

(r) modifying, in accordance with said navigation interface code, at least one of;

said content structure code of the content structure and said application functionality of the interactive data processing application.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (r) comprises the steps of:

(s) selectively obtaining said navigation interface code configured to providing said interface implementation code representative of said interface configuration data, to the interactive data processing application;

(t) selectively inserting said navigation interface code into at least one of;

said content structure code of the content structure and application code representative of said application functionality and providing;

(u) selectively obtaining said interface implementation code; and

(v) selectively defining, generating, and supporting operation of each said at least one independent content navigation interface, by at least one of the interactive data processing application and said interface provision application, in accordance with said obtained interface implementation code, and in accordance with said corresponding interface configuration data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said step (s) comprises the step of;

(w) obtaining said interface configuration data by at least one of;

manual generation, at least partial copying from another interface configuration data, responding to an offer for provision of interface configuration data, purchasing, activating a predefined control element in a predefined independent content navigation interface, filling out an electronic form, selecting from a plurality of available interface configuration data elements, extracting from an existing interface implementation code, retrieving, in accordance with said interface provision code, from a database of interface configuration data records, and retrieving, in accordance with said interface provision code, from a predefined location;

said step (u) comprises the step of;

(x) obtaining said interface implementation code by at least one of;

manual generation, at least partial copying from another interface implementation code, responding to an offer for provision of interface implementation code, purchasing, activating a predefined control element in a predefined independent content navigation interface, filling out an electronic form, selecting from a plurality of available interface implementation code elements, extracting at least a portion of an existing interface implementation code, retrieving, in accordance with said interface provision code, from a database of interface implementation code records, and retrieving, in accordance with said interface provision code, from a predefined location; and

said step (v) comprises the step of;

(z) executing, by at least one of the interactive data processing application and said interface provision application, instructions corresponding to said obtained interface implementation code.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein each said at least one independent content navigation interface comprises a unique identifier, further comprising the step of:

(aa) prior to said step (r), providing a content navigation interface database, comprising a plurality of records, each corresponding to a particular unique identifier, wherein each said plural record comprises at least one of;

said interface configuration data, said navigation interface code, said interface implementation code, and said interface provision code, corresponding to said particular independent content navigation interface, associated with said unique identifier;

and wherein said step (r), further comprises the steps of;

(bb) retrieving at least a portion of a specific plural record, from said content navigation interface database by utilizing a specific corresponding unique identifier, said at least a portion of said specific plural record comprising at least a portion of at least one of a specific navigation interface code configured for obtaining a specific interface implementation code, said specific interface implementation code;

a specific interface configuration data, and a specific interface provision code;

(cc) generating, from said at least a portion of said specific plural record, and utilizing, in at least one of;

said content structure code of the content structure and application code representative of said application functionality, at least one of;

a desired navigation interface code configured for obtaining a desired interface implementation code, said desired interface implementation code;

a desired interface configuration data, and a desired interface provision code;

(dd) defining, generating, and supporting operation of a desired at least one independent content navigation interface, by at least one of the interactive data processing application and said interface provision application, in accordance with at least a portion of said desired interface configuration code;

(ee) assigning a new unique identifier to each said desired at least one independent content navigation interface, and selectively linking at least one of said new unique identifiers to said specific unique identifier, such that any changes to said particular independent content navigation interface may be at least partially propagated to said at least one desired at least one independent content navigation interface linked thereto, to establish at least one relationship therewith;

(ff) selectively tracking and recording said at least one relationship established at said step (dd); and

(gg) deriving at least one desirable data item from said recorded and tracked at least one relationship.