E-mail embedded textual hyperlink object

• US 9,092,535 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gough, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ludwig, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/400,712
• Time in Patent Office: 5,789 Days
• Field of Search: 707/501.1, 715/501.1, 715/207, 715/208, 715/752, 715/760, 715/203, 715/108, 715/109, 717/108, 717/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and article of manufacture for a computer implemented textual hyperlink. A string of text is first displayed. Upon receipt of an indication of a selection of the string of text, a link is effected to a predetermined site. The string of text is then automatically entered as a parameter of input to the site upon linking thereto.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computer with a processor and a display;

receiving an electronic message that is sent over a network, the electronic message including

a body of text including one or more words to be displayed to a receiving user, and

a first portion of a first application program, the first application program including functionality for displaying advertisements on the display;

after receiving the electronic message, detecting selection of the electronic message; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the electronic message;

opening the electronic message,

displaying the body of text on the display, and

executing the first portion of the first application program, which calls a second portion of the first application program using as a parameter at least a portion of the one or more words displayed to the receiving user, the second portion of the first application program being located at a site on the network that is remote from the computer, thereby retrieving an advertisement and displaying the advertisement on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first application program is included in the electronic message and is not an attachment to the electronic message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the first application program in response to detecting selection of the electronic message includes displaying an object on the display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the object is an image or video.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the object is a graphic or icon and selection of the object initiates linking to a predetermined site on the network.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the object interacts with the body of text on the display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the object moves from word to word in the body of text on the display.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a computer program, the computer program including instructions for:

at a computer with a processor and a display;

receiving an electronic message that is sent over a network, the electronic message including

a body of text including one or more words to be displayed to a receiving user, and

a first portion of a first application program, the first application program including functionality for displaying advertisements on the display;

after receiving the electronic message, detecting selection of the electronic message; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the electronic message;

opening the electronic message,

displaying the body of text on the display, and

executing the first portion of the first application program, which calls a second portion of the first application program using as a parameter at least a portion of the one or more words displayed to the receiving user, the second portion of the first application program being located at a site on the network that is remote from the computer, thereby retrieving an advertisement and displaying the advertisement on the display.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8,

wherein the first portion of the first application program is included in the electronic message and is not an attachment to the electronic message.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein executing the first application program in response to detecting selection of the electronic message includes displaying an object on the display.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the object is an image or video.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the object is a graphic or icon and selection of the object initiates linking to a predetermined site on the network.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the object interacts with the body of text on the display.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the object moves from word to word in the body of text on the display.

15. A computer system, comprising

one or more processors;

and

memory for storing a computer program for execution by the one or more processors, the computer program including instructions for;

receiving an electronic message that is sent over a network, the electronic message including

a body of text including one or more words to be displayed to a receiving user, and

a first portion of a first application program, the first application program including functionality for displaying advertisements on the display;

after receiving the electronic message, detecting selection of the electronic message; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the electronic message;

opening the electronic message,

displaying the body of text on the display, and

executing the first portion of the first application program, which calls a second portion of the first application program using as a parameter at least a portion of the one or more words displayed to the receiving user, the second portion of the first application program being located at a site on the network that is remote from the computer system, thereby retrieving an advertisement and displaying the advertisement on the display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the first application program is included in the electronic message and is not an attachment to the electronic message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein executing the first application program in response to detecting selection of the electronic message includes displaying an object on the display.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the object is an image or video.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the object is a graphic or icon and selection of the object initiates linking to a predetermined site on the network.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the object interacts with the body of text on the display.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the object moves from word to word in the body of text on the display.