Dynamic browser interface

• US 7,502,819 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consultores Ub57, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Consultores Ub57, S.L.
• Inventors: Alonso, Antonio Used
• Primary Examiner(s): Avellino; Joseph E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taha; Shaq
• Application Number:
  US10/476,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 705/27, 705/15, 705/26, 701/201
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

A dynamic browser interface that is designed to increase information search speed and capability and to make the search more intuitive. It has three basic elements: a multidimensional arrangement and presentation system (1) that is used to generate a navigation map (2): and to represent in at least more than one dimension the following items on the navigation map (2): access nodes (3); multiple categories (4) which are associated with each of the nodes (3); sensory designs (6) such that each node (3) is associated with the corresponding categories (4) thereof and symbols of the operators (11) on the nodes (3) and categories (4). It also includes a system for pre-selecting and visually searching for information (9) that is designed to provide operators (11) (Boolean, Venn, conditional, etc.) with a way for preselecting the desired nodes (3) and categories (4) and a system (7) for presenting the requested information (8) that provides the user with the information found (18) in a new navigation map (for more in-depth categorization), or a combination of both.

Claims

1. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, compatible with at least one interface selected among visual, acoustic, tactile, olfactory interfaces and combinations thereof, allowing a user to access information according to at least one criterion selected among categorization, ordering, systematization and sectoring criteria and combinations thereof, this system wherein:

multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) to generate at least one navigation map (2) previously to launch a query, having means to distribute and display help elements on the navigation map which help accessing the information, these help elements comprising;

a plurality of information elements (3, 4) selected from among;

a plurality of information access nodes (3) which allow individual access to the information represented by each one;

a plurality of dimensions comprising categories (4) to which each node (3) may be associated, these categories (4) including sub-categories (5) which derive from the various information levels of a categorization resulting from a deeper categorization;

wherein

the different dimensions are distributed in an Euclidean space of at least two dimensions, and the methods to implement said graphic differentiation or categorization in an automatic manner include linear programming algorithms and tools which allow a graphical representation of at least two Euclidean dimensions;

wherein

a subset of said information elements (3,4) or all of these incorporates a system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) which includes at least one activation operator (11) for the search process, and it also includes search operators (13) to allow preselecting at least one information element (3,4);

sensory designs (6) selected among graphic, audible, tactile, olfactory designs and designs which can be perceived by the user, complying with at least the requirement that each information access node (3) is associated by means of said sensory designs (6) with each and all categories (4) with which this node is associated;

a system (7) for displaying information (8) which is activated after receiving at least one information selected among;

the requested information (8), at least one event related to said information and combinations thereof;

with said system (7) for displaying the requested information (8) having means to show the user at least one presentation selected from among;

the requested information that has been extracted;

as many subsequent navigation maps that may derive from the various categorisation levels corresponding to a deeper categorisation;

invoking the multidimensional ordering and presentation system to generate subsequent navigation maps;

and combinations thereof;

wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) with means allowing a subset of information elements (3, 4) or all of these to be pre-selected and allow access to the information relative to said information elements (3, 4), so that the result of the query complies only with the pre-selected information elements (10);

the search operators (13) allow pre-selecting at least one information element (3, 4) so that the result of the search corresponds to the criteria established by said search operators (13), selected from among algebraic, Boolean, Venn, conditional, quantitative, ordering or truncation operators, these operators determining criteria for the information search and combinations thereof.

2. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the activation operator (11) for the search process which, when activated by the user, generates a query file (12) containing the pre-selected information elements (10).

3. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 2, wherein

in order to activate the operators (11, 13) the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with man-machine interfaces, among which are first means selected among a keyboard, mouse, voice, touch, allowing interaction between the user and the system (14), and combinations thereof, as well as second means selected among combinations, repetitions, sequences and frequencies of activation of said first means, to activate said operators (11, 13).

4. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 2, wherein

the query file (12) generated when activating the operator (11) that activates the search process contains the search operators (13) relating the pre-selected information elements (10) as an additional parameter for establishing the search criteria.

5. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the navigation map (2) includes one or more areas (15) from where it is possible to activate the aforementioned operators (11, 13).

6. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the navigation map (2) consists of at least one computer file which includes the parameters defining said navigation map (2) in a format compatible with the user'"'"'s system (14).

7. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 6, wherein

the file or files forming the navigation map (2) are written in at least one format selected among the following:

html, xml, wml, jpeg, gif, bmp, mov, avi, mp3, mpeg, way, java, text, image, sound, video, smell and touch.

8. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 6, wherein

the file or files forming the navigation map (2) reside in one or more locations selected among:

the user'"'"'s system (14);

a remote system (16, 17), so that said files are sent to the user'"'"'s system (14) from said remote system (16, 17);

a combination of the above locations (14, 16, 17).

9. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the means of the multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) for generating the navigation map (2) include linear programming algorithms whose calculations consider elements selected among:

information access nodes (3), categories (4), areas (15) of the navigation map (2) meant for operators (11, 13), configuration parameters, restrictions of the above elements, constraints among them, graphical criteria and combinations thereof.

10. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the means of the multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) for generating the navigation map (2) resides in one or more locations selected among a remote system (16, 17), the user'"'"'s system (14) and a combination of these locations (14, 16, 17).

11. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with sensory stimulus means selected among visual means, auditory means, tactile means, olfactory means, means appreciable by the user and combinations thereof, in order to intensify or dim by at least one degree of intensity those information elements (3, 4) which are pre-selected (10) or unselected by the user in the navigation map (2).

12. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11, wherein

the system for pres-election and visual search of information (9) means include at least one computer routine written at least partially in an event-oriented programming language, so that said routine is invoked and executed by said events.

13. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12, wherein

the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) are invoked by events selected from among:

positioning events on the navigation map (2), displacement events on the nv2, time events, user segmentation events, previous navigation states and combinations thereof.

14. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12, wherein

the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) reside in at least one location selected from among:

the user'"'"'s system (14)

a remote system (16, 17), so that these routines are downloaded from a remote system (16, 17) and executed in the user'"'"'s system (14),

a combination of the above locations (14, 16, 17).

15. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12, wherein

the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) are written, at least partially, in at least one programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C and Java.

16. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information according to claim 2, wherein

the query file (12) is written in a language selected among SQL, DB2, Access, text, languages oriented to accessing databases (17) and combinations thereof;

and it is generated by the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) by executing at least one computer routine written, at least partially, in a programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C and Java.

17. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 16, wherein

the query file (12) is processed to extract the requested information (8) in at least one location selected among the user'"'"'s system (14), a remote system (16, 17) and a combination of the two.

18. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system to access information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8) acts as a sequential state machine dependent on parameters selected among:

the information found (18) corresponding to the current state of the search;

previous search states (19);

type of information extracted;

user segmentation (20);

time parameters;

configuration parameters of the system for presenting the requested information and combinations thereof.

19. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8) is provided with at least one computer routine able to process, after receiving it, the data file (8) containing the requested information and events related to said information, so that it is possible to display on the user'"'"'s system (14) a presentation selected among the requested information, a new navigation map (2) and a combination thereof.

20. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system access information, according to claim 19, wherein

the computer routines of the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8) are written, at least in part, in at least one programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C, and Java;

and wherein said computer routines can process the data file (8) containing the requested information in a language selected among SQL, DB2, Access, text, and languages oriented towards accessing databases (17).

21. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

as an extension of the basic operation of the invention there is a model of operation in parallel consisting of a plurality of navigation maps (2, 21, 22) where it is possible to select at least one information element (3, 4) of at least one of the navigation maps (2, 21, 22) to allow a combined information search, according to the criteria specified in at least one of the navigation maps (2, 21, 22) that are simultaneously available.

22. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

as an extension of the basic operation of the invention there is a model of operation in series wherein, by means of a sequential state machine, a selection of information elements (3, 4) belonging to a navigation map (2) generates in turn a subsequent navigation map which can in turn generate as many subsequent navigation maps are required to increase the depth of categorisation;

the subsequent navigation maps depending on at least one parameter selected among;

information found corresponding to the current state of the search;

previous search states (19);

content of the extracted information;

user segmentation (20);

time parameters;

system configuration parameters and combinations thereof.

23. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

as an extension of the basic operation of the invention there is a model of simultaneous-independent operation wherein at least two navigation maps (2, 21, 22) operate simultaneously in a conditioned manner, so that when the user changes the pre-selection state of the information elements (3, 4) of at least one of the aforementioned maps (2, 21, 22) the content of at least one of the remaining navigation maps (2, 21, 22) also changes.

24. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 21, wherein

as an extension of the basic operation of the invention there is a combined operation mode consisting of combinations of the above-described operation modes in order to create multiple complex systems.

25. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 21, wherein

the individual operation of each navigation map of the operational models described above is basically the same as that of a navigation map (2) operating independently, except that each navigation map (2, 21, 22) communicates with the other navigation maps (2, 21, 22) by means of a system of interruptions managing a message queue, where a plurality of messages are stored containing information related to the form of mutual interaction of the navigation maps (2,21,22).

26. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 25, wherein

the messages for communication among the navigation maps (2, 21, 22) consist of messages selected among commands, files and a combination thereof including at least one indication selected among:

the map of origin of the message, the destination map of the message, information, requirement and combinations thereof.

27. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

both the information elements (3, 4) and the sensory designs (6) are spatially distributed in a navigation map (2) to form figures which use analogies selected among real and abstract figures, logos, corporate images, elements of corporate images, natural systems, artificial systems, figurative, conceptual, simple, complex, random, cause-effect and combinations thereof.

28. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

when moving on the navigation map (2) an element selected among a mouse pointer (23), a cursor, a joystick and a sensory user interface, positioning it on or near an information elements (3, 4) at least one additional information area (24) appears consisting of an indication selected among text, image, sound, color, tactile sensations and combinations thereof related to said information elements (3, 4).

29. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 28, wherein

the additional information area (24) appears by means of at least one computer routine written, at least in part, in at least one event-oriented computer language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C, Java and event-oriented code;

so that when the user positions an element selected among mouse pointer (23), a cursor, a joystick and a sensory user interface on or near an information elements (3, 4) the aforementioned program or programs are invoked and executed.

30. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the information access nodes (3) are organised into multiple “

dimensions”

corresponding to categories (4) which can overlap each other, so that each node (3) can belong to at least one category (4).

31. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the information access nodes are organised into open categories (4), where said nodes (3) are categorised according to at least one criterion for categorising information access nodes (3) that can be both dependent and independent.

32. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 31, wherein

the categorization criteria are based on relations between the information elements (3, 4) to be classified, these relations being selected among relations of order, geometrical, spatial, affinity, chronological, alphabetical, priority, qualitative, quantitative, sequential, methodological, group, ideological, functional, temporal, mathematical, physical, chemical, Venn, simple, compound, conditional, functional, constructive, of origin, of brand, limited, unlimited, direct, by analogy, by criteria, by the graphical content supporting them, by characteristics of the elements, by the relations between the elements inferred directly, by the relations between the elements inferred indirectly and by combinations thereof.

33. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

to implement a graphical differentiation corresponding to a categorisation of the access information nodes (3) are used elements of Euclidean space of at least one dimension, combining them with resources selected among sensory designs (6), graphical resources, color codes, textures, patters, thickness, flashing, increased visibility, reduced visibility, graphical-visual relations among elements and combinations thereof.

34. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, that wherein

the multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) of the navigation map (2) allows both inserting and superposing advertising elements (25) in certain areas of the navigation map (2);

these advertising elements (25) being selected among advertising elements (25) of indiscriminate nature and segmented nature (20), in which case they are intended for a specific target public.

35. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 34, wherein

the computer routines of the multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) of the navigation map (2) communicate with a remote system (16, 17) which stores advertising contents (25) to convey to the remote information system (16, 17) information relative to search historical records (19) and user navigation habits, so that after processing said information the remote system (16, 17) can send to the user'"'"'s system (14) advertising elements (25) adapted to the user'"'"'s navigation habits, so that they are incorporated to the navigation map (2) by the multidimensional ordering and presentation system(1).

36. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 9, wherein

the linear programming algorithms that allow a graphical representation of at least two dimensions, are selected among Euclidean spaces, algebraic spaces, straight lines, curves, complex lines, flat surfaces, surfaces of revolution, ruled surfaces, imaginary spaces, finite functions, infinite functions, discontinuous functions, and combinations thereof, so that the overlaps and dependence constraints among the information access nodes (3) and the categories (4) are included in the navigation map (2).

37. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11, wherein

the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) process computer files compatible with the interfaces in charge of transforming these computer files into sensory stimuli selected among visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory stimuli, stimuli perceivable by the user and combinations thereof.

38. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the computer routines of the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8) allow processing and displaying the content of the computer files in at least one format selected among text, image, sound, video, tactile, olfactory and combinations thereof.

39. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11, wherein

the intensification and dimming of the pre-selected and unselected information elements (10) includes, at least, one level of intensity selected among total illumination, partial illumination, totally off, totally enabled, partially enabled, totally disabled and partially disabled.

40. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

this navigation system is provided with at least one editable configuration file allowing the user to select among various sensory levels of man-machine accessibility depending on his/her preference and handicaps, the sensory accessibility levels selected among levels of size, color, brightness, contrast, volume, language, touch, smell and combination thereof.

41. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

this navigation system operates within a browser from which it is possible to invoke this and other search engines operating in the browser can be invoked.

42. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with at least one fixed or configurable computer file establishing the ordering criteria for the information to be shown after being found.

43. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with at least one computer routine allowing the user to establish the order in which the information requested (8) is shown after being found, by means of search operators (13) associated to the information elements (3, 4) whose information is to be ordered.

44. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information according to any of claim 42, wherein

said operation obeys at least one ordering criterion selected among:

the title of the information, the content of the sections into which the information is divided, visible key words, non-visible key words, words contained in the information, discrimination by plurals, by capital letters, by accents and by combinations of these criteria.

45. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information according to claim 42, wherein

the ordering criteria are attached to the file including the search criteria, so that after receiving said file the database where the information resides proceeds to order the information which complies with the search criteria.

46. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with at least one fixed or configurable computer file establishing the criteria for truncating the set of information to be shown which comply with the search criteria.

47. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with at least one computer routine allowing the user to establish the criteria for truncating the set of information to be shown which comply with the search criteria.

48. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 46, wherein

the truncation obeys at least one ordering criterion selected among:

the title of the information, the content of the sections into which the information is divided, visible key words, non-visible key words, words contained in the information, discrimination by plurals, by capital letters, by accents and by combinations of these criteria.

49. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 46, wherein

the truncation criteria are attached to the file including the search criteria, so that after receiving said file the database (17) where the information resides proceeds to truncate the information which complies with the search criteria.

50. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1, wherein

the multidimensional ordering and presentation system for the navigation map is provided with means allowing the user to move all or part of the navigation map (2) in order to show or hide parts of it;

this movement being selected among translating, rotating, approaching, distancing, separating, joining and combinations thereof.

51. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information according to claim 50, wherein

the navigation map (2) has a spheroid form provided with at least one movements selected among translating, rotating, approaching, distancing, separating, joining and combinations thereof.

52. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a navigation system for accessing information according to claim 50, wherein

the functionality of moving the navigation map (2) is supported by computer routines written, at least in part, in at least one programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C and Java.