Graphical user interface providing access to files downloaded over a network

• US 6,133,916 A
• Filed: 04/08/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bukszar, Anna Elizabeth, Pickover, Clifford Alan, Winarski, Daniel James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/056,915
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/339, 345/346, 345/348, 345/356, 345/357, 707/3, 707/10, 707/513, 707/531
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for displaying and accessing information on files, such as HTML web pages, downloaded from a server over a network, such as the Internet. A monitor linked to a computer displays a graphical user interface, such as web browser. The computer is linked to the network. The graphical user interface is used to download a plurality of files from the server over the network. The files downloaded from the server are stored in a cache associated with the computer. At least one graphical representation of a file stored in the cache is displayed in a display region of the graphical user interface. An input means may be used to select a file by selecting with the input means one of the displayed graphical representations of the files. The input means is further used to cause the display of data stored in the selected file in the display region of the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method for displaying and accessing files downloaded from servers over a network, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a monitor linked to a computer, wherein the computer is linked to the network;

using the graphical user interface to download a plurality of files from multiple servers over the network, wherein at least two of the downloaded files have network addresses for different servers;

storing the files downloaded from the servers in a cache associated with the computer;

displaying content of one file in a display region;

displaying graphical representations of at least two of the files stored in the cache in the display region, wherein at least two of the graphical representations are associated with files downloaded from different servers over the network, and wherein the graphical representations continue to be displayed in the display region if the display region is updated to display content from another file;

selecting one of the files by selecting with an input means one of the displayed graphical representations of the files; and

executing an action with the input means to cause the display of data stored in the selected file in the display region of the graphical user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of selecting a file and executing an action with the input means to cause the display of data occurs during the execution of a single action with the input means.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation of a file stored in the cache further includes the step of displaying in the graphical representation data stored in the file associated with the graphical representation.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the steps of:

executing an action with the input means to magnify the data displayed in the selected graphical representation; and

displaying the magnified data on the monitor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface and display regions are displayed within a resizable, movable window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the files downloaded from the server and stored in cache are in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each file downloaded from the servers is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies the route to the server in the network providing the file, wherein the step of storing the files downloaded from the servers further includes the step of storing the URL for each file, further comprising:

executing an action with the input means to request the data maintained at the URL location in the network for the selected file;

downloading the requested data from the URL location in the network to the computer; and

displaying the downloaded data in the display region of the graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

entering with the input means display properties for the files stored in the cache; and

displaying the graphical representation of files in the cache in accordance with the display properties entered with the input means.

9. The method of claim 1, further including:

displaying data from a file downloaded from one server over the network in the display region of the graphical user interface;

executing a saving action with the input means to store the file displayed in the display region and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at the server from where the file was downloaded for the displayed file in the cache, wherein the

graphical representation of the file stored in the cache is displayed in response to the saving action.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation comprises the step of displaying a graphical representation that is a member of the set of graphical representations comprising:

a miniature graphical representation of the page;

an image included in the page;

an image included in the page that is tagged to be displayed;

an image associated with the page that is not displayed when the page is displayed;

an alpha-numeric string;

an arrangement of at least one color;

a display of a sequence of images; and

an image associated with a sound file, wherein the sound file is executed to produce sound when the image graphical representation is selected.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the most recently downloaded files.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting files in the cache, wherein displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the selected files in cache.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region, further comprising:

receiving user selection of a new file, wherein there is no graphical representation of the new file displayed in the second display region; and

displaying the content of the new file in the first display region to replace the content currently displayed in the first display region, wherein the graphical representations in the second display region continue to be displayed when the content from the from the new file is displayed in the first display region.

14. A computer apparatus for displaying and accessing files downloaded from servers over a network, comprising:

a computer linked to the network;

a display monitor linked to the computer;

a graphical user interface displayed on the display monitor for downloading a plurality of files from multiple servers over the network, wherein at least two of the downloaded files have network addresses for different servers;

a cache in the computer for storing the files downloaded from the network;

a display region in the graphical user interface for displaying content of one file in a display region and graphical representations of files stored in the cache, wherein at least two of the graphical representations are associated with files downloaded from different servers over the network, and wherein the graphical representations continue to be displayed in the display region if the display region is updated to display content from another file;

input means for selecting one of the files by selecting with the input means one of the displayed graphical representations of the files; and

means for displaying data stored in the selected file in the display region.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including means for displaying in the graphical representation data stored in the file represented by the graphical representation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including:

magnification means to magnify data displayed in the selected graphical representation; and

means for displaying the magnified data in the display monitor.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further including means to display the graphical user interface and display regions within a resizable, movable window.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further including:

means for storing with each file stored in the cache a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies the route to the file in the servers in the network;

means for downloading data maintained at the URL location in the network for the selected file; and

means for displaying the downloaded data in the display region of the graphical user interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further including the steps of:

means, performed by the input means, for entering display properties for the files stored in the cache; and

means for displaying the graphical representation of files in the cache in accordance with the display properties entered with the input means.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further including:

means for displaying data from a file downloaded from one server over the network in the display region of the graphical user interface;

means, performed by the input means, for storing the file displayed in the display region and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at the server from where the file was downloaded for the displayed file in the cache, wherein the

graphical representation of the file stored in the cache is displayed in response to the saving action.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, further including means for generating a graphical representation that is a member of the set of graphical representations comprising:

a miniature graphical representation of the page;

an image included in the page;

an image included in the page that is tagged to be displayed;

an image associated with the page that is not displayed when the page is displayed;

an alpha-numeric string;

an arrangement of at least one color;

a display of a sequence of images; and

an image associated with a sound file, wherein the sound file is executed to produce sound when the graphical representation is selected.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the most recently downloaded files.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for selecting files in the cache, wherein the means for displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the selected files in cache.

24. The system method of claim 14, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region, further comprising:

means for receiving user selection of a new file, where there is no graphical representation of the new file displayed in the second display region; and

means for displaying the content of the new file in the first display region to replace the content currently displayed in the first display region, wherein the display the graphical representations continue to be displayed in the second display region when the content from the from the new file is displayed in the first display region.

25. An article of manufacture for use in programming a computer linked to servers over a network, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium including at least one program that causes the computer to perform:

displaying a graphical user interface on a monitor linked to the computer;

downloading a plurality of files from multiple servers over the network, wherein at least two of the downloaded files have network addresses for different servers;

storing the files downloaded from the servers in a cache of the computer;

displaying in a display region of the graphical user interface content of one file and graphical representations of at least two of the files stored in the cache, wherein at least two of the graphical representations are associated with files downloaded from different servers over the network, and wherein the graphical representations continue to be displayed in the display region if the display region is updated to display content from another file;

selecting one of the files in response to an input means linked to the computer selecting one of the displayed graphical representations of the files; and

displaying data stored in the selected file in the display region of the graphical user interface in response to an action from the input means.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the steps of selecting a file and executing an action with the input means to cause the display of data occurs during the execution of a single action with the input means.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation of a file stored in the cache further includes the step of displaying in the graphical representation data stored in the file represented by the graphical representation.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, further including the steps of:

magnifying the data displayed in the selected graphical representation in response to action by the input means; and

displaying the magnified data in the monitor.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further including the step of displaying the graphical user interface and display regions within a resizable, movable window.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein each file downloaded from the servers is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies the route to the file in the network, wherein the step of storing the files downloaded from the server further includes the step of storing the URL for each file, further comprising:

requesting the data maintained at the URL location in the network for the selected file in response to action by the input means;

downloading the requested data from the URL location in the network to the computer; and

displaying the downloaded data in the display region of the graphical user interface.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further including the steps of:

storing display properties for the files stored in the cache in response to information entered by the input means; and

displaying the graphical representation of files in the cache in accordance with the display properties entered with the input means.

32. The article of manufacture of claims 25, further including:

displaying data from a file downloaded from one server over the network in the display region of the graphical user interface;

storing the file displayed in the display region and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at the server from where the file was downloaded for the displayed file in the cache in response to action by the input means, wherein the

graphical representation of the file stored in the cache is displayed in response to the saving action.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation comprises the step of displaying a graphical representation that is a member of the set of graphical representations comprising:

a miniature graphical representation of the page;

an image included in the page;

an image included in the page that is tagged to be displayed;

an image associated with the page that is not displayed when the page is displayed;

an alpha-numeric string;

an arrangement of at least one color;

a display of a sequence of images; and

an image associated with a sound file, wherein the sound file is executed to produce sound when the image graphical representation is selected.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the most recently downloaded files.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 25, further comprising selecting files in the cache, wherein displaying the graphical representations comprises displaying the graphical representations associated with the selected files in cache.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region, further comprising:

receiving user selection of a new file, where there is no graphical representation of the new file displayed in the second display region; and

displaying the content of the new file in the first display region to replace the content currently displayed in the first display region, wherein the graphical representations continue to be displayed in the second display region when the content from the new file is displayed in the first display region.

37. A method for displaying and accessing files downloaded from servers over a network, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a monitor linked to a computer, wherein the computer is linked to the network;

storing files downloaded from the servers in a cache associated with the computer;

displaying first content from a first file in a display region;

displaying graphical representations of files previously downloaded from the server over the network in the display region; and

displaying second content from a second file in the display region, wherein the second content replaces the display of the first content;

continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the second content is displayed.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving user selection of one of the displayed graphical representations; and

displaying in the display region third content from the file represented by the selected graphical representation in response to receiving the user selection, wherein the display of the third content replaces the display of the second content in the display region; and

continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the third content is displayed.

40. A system for displaying and accessing files downloaded from servers over a network, comprising:

a computer linked to the network;

a display monitor linked to the computer;

means for displaying a graphical user interface on the display monitor;

means for storing files downloaded from the servers in a cache associated with the computer;

means for displaying first content from a first file in a display region of the graphical user interface;

means for displaying graphical representations of files previous downloaded from the server over the network in the display region;

means for displaying second content from a second file in the display region, wherein the second content replaces the display of the first content; and

means for continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the second content is displayed.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for receiving user selection of one of the displayed graphical representations; and

means for displaying in the display region third content from the file represented by the selected graphical representation in response to receiving the user selection, wherein the display of the third content replaces the display of the second content in the display region; and

means for continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the third content is displayed.

43. An article of manufacture for use in displaying and accessing files downloaded from servers over a network, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium including at least one program that causes the computer to perform:

displaying a graphical user interface on a monitor linked to a computer, wherein the computer is linked to the network;

storing files downloaded from the servers in a cache associated with the computer;

displaying first content from a first file in a display region;

displaying graphical representations of files previously downloaded from the server over the network in the display region; and

displaying second content from a second file in the display region, wherein the second content replaces the display of the first content;

continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the second content is displayed.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 43, wherein the display region comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein the content of the file is displayed in the first display region and the graphical representations are displayed in the second display region.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving user selection of one of the displayed graphical representations; and

displaying in the display region third content from the file represented by the selected graphical representation in response to receiving the user selection, wherein the display of the third content replaces the display of the second content in the display region; and

continuing to display the graphical representations in the display region while the third content is displayed.