Technique for changing views of web content

• US 7,487,185 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lomelin-Stoupignan, Mauricio, Calbucci, Marcelo Aizenstein Furman
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B.
• Application Number:
  US10/373,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,171 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 348/563, 709217-219, 715/516, 715/700, 715/736, 715/513, 715/500, 725 9- 10, 725/110
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system for presenting web content that allows the user to select and change the view of the content. A page of content, which is viewable on a web browser, contains a user-operable element, such as a pull-down menu, that allow the user to select a view for that content. The page is generated in a default view, by using a content-generation program that receives parameters from a first configuration file. The page includes a user-operable element such as a pull-down menu that allows the user to select a different view for the content. The user'"'"'s selection is transmitted to the content provider. The content provider then re-runs the content-generation program using a second configuration file that corresponds to the selected view. The second configuration file contains different parameters from the first configuration file. The re-generated content is then re-delivered to the user'"'"'s computer for display on the web browser.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of offering plural content views to a user comprising:

running a program to generate an item of content in a first view, wherein said item of content comprises at least one of;

text and graphics;

transmitting said item of content for display on a user'"'"'s machine, said item of content including a user-operable element that allows said user to select from a plurality of views;

receiving, from said user, a selection of a second view different from said first view; and

re-running the program to generate said item of content in said second view,

wherein a first set of input parameters generated in response to input from the user corresponds to said first view, wherein a second set of input parameters generated in response to input from the user corresponds to said second view, and wherein said program generates said item of content in said first view or said second view according to whether said program receives as input said first set of input parameters or said second set of input parameters, and

wherein said first set of input parameters is stored in a first configuration file, wherein said second set of input parameters is stored in a second configuration file, wherein said program is caused to generate said content item in said first view by directing said content program to receive input from said first configuration file, and wherein said program is caused to generate said content item in said second view by directing said content program to receive input from said second configuration file.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises an Hypertext Markup Language(HTML) web page.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said item of content comprises a plurality of web pages responsive to a search query.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises information relating to a first set of said plurality of web pages, and wherein said item of content in said second view comprises information relating to a second set of said plurality of web pages, said second set not being identical to said first set.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the item of content in each of said first and second views comprises a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) web page.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the item of content comprises results that are responsive to a search query, wherein the first and second views comprise information based on said results, said first and second views not being identical to each other.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein said results comprise information relating to a plurality of web pages, wherein said first view comprises information relating to a first set of said plurality of web pages, wherein said second view comprises information relating to a second set of said plurality of web pages, said first set and said second set not being identical to each other.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,

wherein said item of content comprises results responsive to a query.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises first information about said results, and wherein said item of content in said second view comprises second information about said results, said second information not being identical to said first information.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said first information comprises titles of at least some of the results, and wherein said second information comprises graphics relating to at least some of the results.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said first information is based on a first set of said results, wherein said second information is based on a second set of said results, and wherein said first set is not identical to said second set.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said user operable element comprises a view-change menu, and wherein said selection of said second view different from said first view is received from said user via said view-change menu.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said item of content in said second view includes another view-change menu.

14. A computer-readable storage medium on which computer-executable instructions are stored, the computer-executable instructions, when executed on a computer, causing the computer to perform a method of allowing a user to change content views, the method comprising:

running a program to generate an item of content in a first view, wherein said item of content comprises at least one of;

text and graphics;

transmitting said item of content for display on a user'"'"'s machine, said item of content including a user-operable element that allows said user to select from a plurality of views;

receiving, from said user, a selection of a second view different from said first view; and

re-running the program to generate said item of content in said second view,

wherein a first set of input parameters generated in response to input from the user corresponds to said first view, wherein a second set of input parameters generated in response to input from the user corresponds to said second view, and wherein said program generates said item of content in said first view or said second view according to whether said program receives as input said first set of input parameters or said second set of input parameters, and

wherein said first set of input parameters is stored in a first configuration file, wherein said second set of input parameters is stored in a second configuration file, wherein said program is caused to generate said content item in said first view by directing said content program to receive input from said first configuration file, and wherein said program is caused to generate said content item in said second view by directing said content program to receive input from said second configuration file.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) web page.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said item of content comprises a plurality of web pages responsive to a search query.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises information relating to a first set of said plurality of web pages, and wherein said item of content in said second view comprises information relating to a second set of said plurality of web pages, said second set not being identical to said first set.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said item of content comprises results responsive to a query.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein said item of content in said first view comprises first information about said results, and wherein said item of content in said second view comprises second information about said results, said second information not being identical to said first information.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein said first information comprises titles of at least some of the results, and wherein said second information comprises graphics relating to at least some of the results.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein said first information is based on a first set of said results, wherein said second information is based on a second set of said results, and wherein said first set is not identical to said second set.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said user operable element comprises a view-change menu, and wherein said selection of said second view different from said first view is received from said user via said view-change menu.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein said item of content in said second view includes another view-change menu.