Automated scrolling of browser content and automated activation of browser links

• US 7,308,653 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2002
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Original Assignee: Catherine Lin-Hendel
• Inventors: Lin-Hendel, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Bautista, X. L.
• Application Number:
  US10/052,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,152 Days
• Field of Search: 345/786, 345/785, 709/217, 715784-786, 715/854, 715/856, 715/862, 715/833, 715/501.1, 715/512
• US Class Current: 715/785
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/07 Guided tours
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An automatic scrolling mechanism that converts the passive browser/web/computer media or any other information repository into an active media that can actively present and “push” information to the users/viewers while retaining the browser/web media'"'"'s existing “pull” and interactivity functions. The same mechanism applied in TV/Video Media can give the TV/Video Media interactivity. The automatic scrolling can be controlled by placing a cursor on various control icons, such as a respective end of a floating border structure. The structure may be a box or a line. Furthermore, the structure may be a cluster of arrows, or other symbols. In operation, while the cursor is on the respective end, automatically scrolling occurs to bring forth the content that extends beyond the field of view of the browser display window into view. As the content is scrolled, the content is moved into the field of view of the browser display window in a predetermine direction designated by the respective end. Sub-windows are also designed to be independently and automatically scrolled or floated with respect to the content of the main browser window. Furthermore, this invention automatically activates links created in an information repository, actively retrieves the linked information, and automatically present and scroll the retrieved information to the users/viewers of the repository. As the content is automatically scrolled, the repository is pushed to the user and allured to further navigate there through the repository.

Claims

1. A method of automatically scrolling comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a cursor on a respective end of a floating border structure;

(b) in direct response to step (a), automatically scrolling through content extending beyond a display window into a field of view of the display window in a predetermined direction designated by the end, wherein the step of automatically scrolling continues to be performed without user input;

(c) during the step (b). determining if a full-screen shift of the content has occurred;

(d) in response to the sten (c) automatically Pausing the step (b);

(e) after Lhe step (d), clicking a left key of a mouse; and

(f) in response to the sten (e), resuming the sten (b).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end; and

the step (b) includes;

when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view; and

,

when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end;

and

wherein the step (b) further includes the steps of;

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(g) moving the cursor away from the respective end; and

(h) directly in response to the step (g), automatically stopping the step (b).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display window is a browser window, and the content is a page.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the floating border structure is a floating line or floating box.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of activating a user control to perform one of:

begin automatic scrolling, stop automatic scrolling, advance scrolling a page, increase scrolling speed and decrease scrolling speed.

8. A computer configured to display a browser display window having a field of view, the browser display window comprising:

a first floating border structure having first and second ends oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the field of view in direct response to a cursor being placed on a respective one of the first and second ends, wherein automatically scrolling vertically is effectuated continuously without user input; and

a second floating border structure having third and fourth ends oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends, wherein automatically scrolling horizontally is effectuated continuously without user input;

wherein the content is a page, wherein the page comprises at least one link to additional linked information, and wherein the computer is further configured to automatically retrieve and display the additional linked information when the user does nothing.

9. The computer according to claim 8, wherein, the first floating border structure has a top end and a bottom end such that when the respective end is the top end, the content is automatically scrolled down to bring the content within the field of view, and when the respective end is the bottom end, the content is automatically scrolled up to bring the content within the field of view.

10. The computer according to claim 9, wherein:

the second floating border structure has a right-side end and a left-side end;

when the respective end is the right-side end, the content is automatically scrolled left to bring the content within the field of view; and

when the respective end is the left-side end, the content is automatically scrolled right to bring the content within the field of view.

11. The computer according to claim 8, wherein each floating border structure of the first and second floating border structures is a floating line.

12. The computer according to claim 8, wherein each floating border structure of the first and second floating border structures is a floating box.

13. The computer according to claim 8, wherein the automatic scrolling is limited to a full-screen shift.

14. The computer according to claim 8, wherein the automatic scrolling is automatically stopped when the cursor is moved away from the first floating border structure or the second floating border structure.

15. The computer according to claim 8, wherein the browser display window is a main display window, the computer being further configured to display a second display window having a second field of view within the main display window, the second display window comprising:

a first floating sub-border structure having first and second ends of the first floating sub-border structure oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the second field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the first and second ends of the first floating sub-border structure; and

a second floating sub-border structure having third and fourth ends of the second floating sub-border structure oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the second field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends of the second floating sub-border structure.

16. A computer configured to display a browser display window having a field of view, the browser display window comprising:

a first floating border structure having first and second ends oriented in a vertical plane for effectuating automatic scrolling vertically through content within the field of view in direct response to a cursor being placed on a respective one of the first and second ends, wherein automatically scrolling vertically is effectuated continuously without user input; and

a second floating border structure having third and fourth ends oriented in a horizontal plane for effectuating automatic scrolling horizontally through content within the field of view in direct response to the cursor being placed on a respective one of the third and fourth ends, wherein automatically scrolling horizontally is effectuated continuously without user input;

wherein the browser display window further comprises a plurality of autoscrolling controls, the plurality of autoscrolling controls including;

a go button for beginning automatic scrolling and resuming automatic scrolling from current position when the go button is clicked;

a stop button for stopping automatic scrolling when the stop button is clicked;

a page button for advancing the window to display next full-page that is out of the field of view when the page button is clicked;

a slow down button for decreasing automatic scrolling speed when the slow down button is clicked; and

,

a speedup button for increasing automatic scrolling speed when the speedup button is clicked.

17. A method of displaying and navigating through a website wherein the website has multiple categories wherein each category has multiple sub-categories, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display of a computer a page of the website;

during the displaying step, automatically scrolling the page while the user of the computer does nothing;

displaying a floating dynamic instruction box overlaid on the page that displays navigational links for alluring the user to further navigate to a category or to a sub-category, the floating dynamic instruction box remaining stationary on the display.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the page is a website home page.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the page includes at least one blinking picture or link;

and

further comprising the step of;

dynamically changing the floating dynamic instruction box in response to the at least one blinking picture to entice the user to further navigate.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the page includes at least two independent windows.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of automatically scrolling independently the at least two independent windows.

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

automatically scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows at a first speed; and

,

automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows at a second speed different from the first speed.

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

manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

,

continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.

24. A method of displaying and navigating through a website comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display of a computer a page of the website;

during the displaying step, automatically scrolling the page while the user of the computer does nothing;

automating sequences of blinking links in the page; and

,

activating the blinking links of the sequences to automatically and sequentially retrieve additional information linked by the blinking links and present the additional information on the display, thereby pushing navigation within the website.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sequences are based on user demographics or profile.

26. An apparatus for displaying and navigating through a website, the apparatus comprising a computer configured to perform steps comprising:

displaying on a computer display a browser window having a field of view for displaying a webpage of the website within the field of view; and

automatically scrolling the webpage in response to placement of a cursor on a floating structure displayed on the display to push and allure navigation through the website, wherein the step of automatically scrolling continues to be performed when the user of the computer does nothing;

wherein the website has multiple categories wherein each category has multiple sub-categories, the computer being further configured to display a floating dynamic instruction box overlaid on the webpage, the floating dynamic instruction box displaying navigational links for alluring the user to further navigate to a category to a sub-category, the floating dynamic instruction box remaining stationary on the display.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the webpage is a website home page.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

the webpage includes at least one blinking picture or link;

the computer is further configured to implement means for dynamically changing the floating dynamic instruction box in response to the at least one blinking picture or link to entice the user to further navigate.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for automating sequences of blinking links in the webpage; and

means for activating the blinking links of the sequences to automatically and sequentially retrieve additional information linked by the blinking links and present the additional information on the display, thereby pushing navigation within the website.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the webpage includes at least two independent windows.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the at least two independent windows are automatically scrolled independently.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

a first one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolled at a first speed; and

a second one of the at least two independent windows is automatically scrolled at a second speed different from the first speed.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

means for manually scrolling a first one of the at least two independent windows; and

means for continuously, automatically scrolling a second one of the at least two independent windows.