Automated content scheduler and displayer

• US 8,965,932 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robocast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robocast, Inc.
• Inventors: Torres, Damon
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, KIMBERLY LOVEL
• Application Number:
  US11/316,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,352 Days
• Field of Search: 707/687
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/07 Guided tours
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A method of sequencing and scheduling web resources, via a software application that collects URLs and feeds them to a Web browser, so that the amount of clicks and decisions are reduced when browsing the Internet. The method begins after a computer user with Net-access encounters a URL that leads to a collection of other URLs that the software application has arranged to be presented in a continuous, show manner. This collection of resources then plays automatically, going from one resource to the next without the user being required to make a decision or click. The decision-making process is not inhibited, it is made optional. A method of inserting full-screen advertising, public service announcements, news, etc. has been developed. The server software application module described herein allows a publisher to stream URLs to a user who does not have the client-side software. The publishing module allows a user to format resources to a particularly desirable size and characteristic that promotes readability during a show viewing session. This same module can publish collections of nodes for others to view as a whole sequence, accessible via e-mail, screen saver or as a web resource.

Claims

1. A method for providing content via a communications network on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing a plurality of said network accessible resources identified by a corresponding node; and

causing content from said network accessible resources corresponding to each of said accessed resources to be automatically accessed and presented through said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed,

wherein said step of creating further comprises the step of providing interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that said content corresponding to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of providing interactively variable duration information further comprises the step of providing interactively variable duration information for each of said accessed resources, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is presented.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes comprises a URL.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said nodes of said show structure of nodes identifies a network accessible resource located on a remote computer.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes identities a resource accessible via the Internet.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies a resource accessible via an Internet website.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies video content.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies audio content.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies displayable content.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said show structure is displayed to the user.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactively variable duration information is displayed to the user.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said display of said interactively variable duration information to the user occurs during presentation of said content.

13. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a play bar to enable the user to vary said duration that said content is being presented.

14. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing control buttons to enable the user to vary said duration that said content is being presented.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said control buttons provide for pause, fast forward and rewind functions to be applied to said content being presented.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said control buttons provide for skipping of said content being presented.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer is a mobile device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said content is presented through said user'"'"'s computer using a web browser.

19. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of altering the show structure in response to user action.

20. The method in accordance with claim 1,wherein said show structure includes a sequential path of nodes.

21. The method in accordance with claim 1,wherein said show structure includes a concurrent path of nodes.

66. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of accessing further comprises the step of executing an application file residing in the user'"'"'s computer.

67. The method in accordance with claim 66 further comprising the step of generating a data tile resulting from said executing step.

22. A method for providing in a sequential arrangement to a user'"'"'s computer, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a user defined online search from a remote user;

providing a plurality of search results and their corresponding resource locators in response to said request, automatically creating a show structure of nodes based on said search results, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network;

without requiring user input automatically accessing a plurality of said resources;

retrieving content corresponding to each of said accessed resources; and

automatically accessing and presenting said retrieved content through said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed.

23. The method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of causing said content to be presented through said user'"'"'s computer.

24. The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein said step of presenting said content further comprises the step of providing duration information, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said step of providing duration information provides an interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

26. The method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said step of providing an interactively variable duration information further comprises providing a duration information for each of said accessed resources, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented.

27. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said step of accessing said resources further comprises the step of downloading a file from a server residing within said communications network.

28. The method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting to said user dynamic content.

29. The method in accordance with claim 28, further comprising the step of inserting resource identifiers interspersed within said show structure relating to said dynamic content.

30. The method in accordance with claim 29, wherein said dynamic content is an advertising message.

31. The method in accordance with claim 29, further comprising the step of providing said dynamic content in accordance with a user'"'"'s profile.

32. The method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of storing said content for each resource accessed.

33. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies video content.

34. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies audio come.

35. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies displayable content.

36. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said computer is a mobile device.

37. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said content is presented through said user'"'"'s computer using a web browser.

38. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said user request comprises a search of accessible Internet content.

39. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said user request comprises a search of a web site.

40. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said user request comprises a search of a remote server.

41. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said show structure is presented to said user.

42. The method in accordance with claim 41, wherein said show structure is presented to said user while said content is being delivered.

43. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said show structure includes a sequential path of nodes.

44. The method in accordance with claim 22,wherein said show structure includes a concurrent path of nodes.

45. The method in accordance with claim 22,wherein said show structure of nodes is customized based on user specified information.

46. A method for providing in a sequential arrangement to a user'"'"'s computer, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a predefined list of categories;

providing a plurality of search results based on user selections and their corresponding URLs in response to a user request related to a category among said predefined list of categories;

automatically creating a show structure of nodes based on said search results, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network, wherein said show structure is provided in response to said user request;

without requiring user input automatically accessing a plurality of said resources; and

automatically accessing and presenting content corresponding through said accessed resources to said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed.

47. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of providing a duration information, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented.

48. The method in accordance with claim 47, wherein said step of providing a duration information provides an interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

49. The method in accordance with claim 48, wherein said step of providing an interactively variable duration information further comprises providing a duration information for each of said accessed resources, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is being displayed.

50. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of transmitting to said user dynamic content.

51. The method in accordance with claim 50, further comprising the step of inserting resource identifiers interspersed within said show structure relating to said dynamic content.

52. The method in accordance with claim 51, wherein said dynamic content is an advertising message.

53. The method in accordance with claim 52, further comprising the step of providing said dynamic content in accordance with a user'"'"'s profile.

54. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies video content.

55. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein one or more of said nodes identifies audio content.

56. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein one or more of said nodes identities displayable content.

57. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said computer is a mobile device.

58. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said content is presented through said user'"'"'s computer using a web browser.

59. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said user request comprises a search of accessible Internet content.

60. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said user request comprises a search of a web site.

61. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said user request comprises a search of a remote server.

62. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said show structure is displayed to said user.

63. A method for presenting in an ordered arrangement on a user'"'"'s display, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing the selection of at least one resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network, wherein each of said resources is associated with a corresponding identifier displayed on a first section of said user'"'"'s display;

providing an interface for creating a show structure of nodes each node identifying a corresponding resource, by allowing generation of a list of said resources by dragging and dropping said identifiers on a second section of said user'"'"'s display;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing each of said resources identified by each of said nodes from said network accessible resources in accordance with said show structure;

automatically retrieving content corresponding to each of said accessed resources; and

causing the presentation of said retrieved content automatically accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed.

64. The method in accordance with claim 63, further comprising the step of providing an interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that corresponding content to said resource is presented.

65. The method in accordance with claim 63, wherein the step of causing the presentation of said retrieved content automatically in accordance with said show structure includes the presentation of content from at least two nodes presented simultaneously.