Click-to-add, jot-it-down, and add banner

• US 7,627,830 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugarbaker, Mike, Espinoza, Tony, Lavoy, Debra, Quigley, Ben, Sobotka, Dave, Wolf, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/415,720
• Time in Patent Office: 3,318 Days
• Field of Search: 715/780, 715748-749, 715/760, 715771-772, 715/769, 715/767, 715/770, 715802-805, 715823-825, 715/764, 709/217, 709/219, 709/203, 709/226, 707/10, 707/102, 707/3
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided that allows a user to automatically add content, such as an event, to a container, such as, a calendar without directly accessing the container. Second and third preferred embodiments are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for an end user to capture information from a World Wide Web (Web) page and to store said information in a container, comprising the steps of:

providing a tool for a webmaster, or the like to generate an insert in HTML format and residing on said Web page, for said first party, said insert associated with said capturable information and said information source, wherein capturable information is embedded in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), said insert HTML incorporating said URL;

said first party interacting with said insert, when said first party desires said capturable information to be stored in said container;

said insert actuating adding said capturable information to said container, upon said insert interaction;

providing a success indicator to said first party, thereby indicating success in adding said capturable information to said container; and

providing options associated with said success indicator to said first party, said options comprising, but are not limited to, said first party interacting with said container,

wherein said capturable information comprises, but is not limited to;

text;

images; and

hyperlinks wherein said container is said end-user'"'"'s online calendar and said information is an event from a webpage other than and not associated with the online calendar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said end-user interacts with said insert by selecting said insert by, but not limited to, clicking a mouse pointer on said insert.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said success indicator is a GUI window, said GUI window indicating that said capturable information is added successfully to said container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided options associated with said success indicator comprise, but are not limited to, a first option directing said end-user to said container, and a default option, wherein said end-user remains at said Web page.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is any of, but is not limited to:

an online address book;

an online calendar;

an online appointment book; and

an online container for discount coupons.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturable information comprises a link to said Web page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a correlation exists between said capturable information and said container.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for said first party to add personal information to said capturable information.

9. A method for a party to capture information from an information source and to store said information in a container, comprising the steps of:

said party interacting with an insert, said insert associated with said information and said information source;

said interaction actuating adding said information to said container;

providing an indicator to said party, thereby indicating success in adding said information to said container; and

providing an option to said party for said party to access container directly, wherein

said party is an end-user on a computer;

said information is incorporated within a Uniform Resource Locator (URL);

said information source is a World Wide Web (Web) page;

said insert is in HTML format and is added to said Web page, said insert HTML incorporating said URL;

said end-user interacts with said insert by selecting said insert by, but not limited to, clicking a mouse pointer on said insert; and

said indicator is a success message pop-up window wherein said container is said end-user'"'"'s online calendar and said information is an event from a webpage other than and not associated with the online calendar.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said success window is small and is located at the upper left hand corner of said end-user'"'"'s Web page.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a link to said information source from said container to be used at any subsequent time by said party whenever said party is directly accessing said container.