Methods and devices for reconstructing visual stimuli observed through browser-based interfaces over time

• US 7,882,444 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Schlucktronix LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Vanover, William K., Crain, Kenneth H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US12/264,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 715760-765, 715853-855, 715740-742, 715/851, 709/203, 709/229
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention allows an operator to identify a specific article of online-content to be reconstructed and displayed, and specify a duration of time to be used when graphically representing what areas of the visual stimuli were actually visible to the user. First, the operator selects an article of online-content based on its original network address, or from a substitute name from a database that contains a record of all online-content visited by the original user. Next, the operator enters a specific duration of time to reconstruct, preferably by using slider-bar, a timeline equal to duration, preferably the maximum duration, that the online content was visible to the original user. Next, the user selects from various compositions that can be used to represent the visual stimuli as it was originally displayed to the user. Finally, the original visual stimuli displayed to the user is recreated based on the article of online content and period of time specified, using the selected form of composition. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a method for retrieving multiple instances of an article of online content from a database of previously recorded content. In yet a further embodiment, the invention is a method for reconstructing visual stimuli as originally displayed to a user as one form of composition. Still another embodiment of the invention is a method for reconstructing a field of visual stimuli that could be observed by a user as one form of composition.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a storage module configured to store at least one user-displayed visual stimulus observable through a browser-based interface; and

a processing module coupled to the storage module and configured to execute code capable of reconstructing data relating to the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus based on user-defined parameters, wherein the reconstructed user-displayed visual stimulus data represents at least a portion of the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus, wherein a visual indication comprising a plurality of different colorizations is generated to distinguish the reconstructed user-displayed visual stimulus data from a first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual indication comprises masking.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual indication comprises a first colorization and a second colorization.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual indication comprises a colorization and a masking.

5. A method, comprising:

storing in an electronic device at least one user-displayed visual stimulus observable through a browser-based interface;

electronically reconstructing data relating to the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus based on user-defined parameters, wherein the reconstructed data represents at least a portion of the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus; and

generating a visual indication comprising a plurality of different colorizations to distinguish the reconstructed data from a first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein generating the visual indication comprises masking one or more of the reconstructed data or the first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein generating the visual indication comprises colorizing the reconstructed data and colorizing the first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein generating the visual indication comprises colorizing one or more of the reconstructed data or the first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed and masking one or more of the reconstructed data or the first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

9. A system, comprising:

an electronic storage system for storing at least one user-displayed visual stimulus observable through a browser-based interface;

a processing module coupled to the electronic storage system for reconstructing data relating to the stored user-displayed visual stimulus based on user-defined parameters, wherein the reconstructed data represents at least a portion of the stored user-displayed visual stimulus; and

a module for generating a visual indication comprising a plurality of different colorizations to distinguish the reconstructed data from a first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the visual indication comprises masking.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the visual indication comprises a first colorization and a second colorization.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the visual indication comprises a colorization and a masking.

13. A system, comprising:

means for storing at least one user-displayed visual stimulus observable through a browser-based interface;

means for executing code capable of reconstructing data relating to the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus based on user-defined parameters, wherein the reconstructed user-displayed visual stimulus data represents at least a portion of the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus; and

wherein a visual indication comprising a plurality of different colorizations is generated to distinguish the reconstructed user-displayed visual stimulus data from a first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.

14. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

storing in an electronic device at least one user-displayed visual stimulus observable through a browser-based interface;

electronically reconstructing data relating to the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus based on user-defined parameters, wherein the reconstructed data represents at least a portion of the previously stored user-displayed visual stimulus; and

generating a visual indication comprising a plurality of different colorizations to distinguish the reconstructed data from a first visual stimulus that was not originally displayed.