Automatically generate and displaying metadata as supplemental information concurrently with the web page, there being no link between web page and metadata

• US 6,282,548 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alexa Internet (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alexa Internet (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marvit, David L., Kahle, Brewster, Tanenbaum, Ronna C., Burner, Michael G., Gilliat, Bruce C., OʼDriscoll, Niall, Smith, Z E., Jaquith, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetting, Anton W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US08/880,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,529 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100-104, 707/200-206, 707/501, 707/511-514, 707/526, 707/907, 709/203, 709/231-232, 709/248-250, 705/26-27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and apparatus that displays metadata about a web page currently being displayed by a browser. While the web browser is communicating with a web server to obtain the requested web page, client software communicates with a database metadata server to obtain metadata about the requested page. After the browser receives its requested information from the web server, it displays the requested web page in a conventional manner. The client concurrently displays its received metadata on the same computer as the web page, and concurrently with the web page. A preferred embodiment of the present invention opens a button bar in conjunction with the web page display. This button bar allows the user to view various portions of the metadata for the displayed web page.

Claims

1. A method of presenting information that augments the information on a web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

receiving information identifying the web page to be displayed;

sending, to a metadata server, a request for automatically generated metadata, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page to be displayed, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information, the metadata server being different from the server providing the web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request, the automatically generated metadata including at least one link to a web page provided by a third party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a request occurs automatically when the web page is displayed by the browser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is displayed in a first window by the browser, and wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying at least some of the metadata, the metadata being supplemental information about the web page being displayed in the window provided by the browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of opening a popup menu containing at least one link to another web page, the link being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of opening a popup menu containing supplemental information about a group to which the web page belongs, the supplemental information being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of opening a popup menu listing a cluster of URLS to which the web page belongs, the listing being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, an advertisement targeted at users who request a URL of the web page, the advertisement being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, an advertisement targeted at users who request any URL in a group of URLs to which the URL of the web page belongs, the advertisement being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, an advertisement targeted at users who request any URL that is in a predetermined group, the advertisement being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving, sending, and displaying are all performed via a single browser window, where the browser has been altered to allow it to simultaneously connect to both the web site selected by the user and the metadata server, the metadata server being distinct from the web site.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed by the browser and wherein the sending step and the displaying step are performed by client software, separate from the browser, but communicating with the browser.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step is performed by browser and wherein the sending step and the displaying step are performed by plug-ins to the browser.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step is performed by the browser, wherein the sending step is performed by a proxy server, and wherein the displaying step is performed by client software, separate from the browser, and communicating with the proxy server.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the receiving step is performed by a first instance window of the browser connected with the web site,

wherein the sending step is performed by a second instance window of the browser, and

wherein the displaying step is performed by the second instance window of the browser communicating with the metadata server, the metadata server being distinct from the web site.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, “

Where you are”

metadata, the “

Where you are”

metadata not being provided by the web page.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, “

Where to go next”

metadata, the “

Where to go next”

metadata being based on usage trails in the world wide web, and not being provided by the web page.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying metadata about the web page being displayed obtained from a third party in addition to metadata about the web page being displayed obtained from the metadata server.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting step includes the steps of:

receiving a URL of a web page of metadata for the displayed page, the web page of metadata being distinct from the web page being displayed;

requesting the web page of metadata for the displayed page,

receiving a web page of metadata for the displayed page, and

wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying the web page of metadata via the browser.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata is based on data mining operations performed prior to the requesting step, the metadata being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata identifies at least one web page that points to the displayed web page, the metadata not being provided by the displayed web page, and not being provided by the pointing web page.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes a number of web pages that point to the displayed web page, the metadata not being provided by the displayed web page, and not being provided by the pointing web pages.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata identifies at least one web page to which the displayed web page points, the metadata not being provided by the displayed web page, and not being provided by the web page to which the displayed web page points.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes a number of web pages to which the displayed web page points, the metadata not being provided by the displayed web page, and not being provided by the web page to which the displayed web page points.

24. The method of claim 1, further including the step of requesting information as to whether the web page has been previously archived;

and

if the web page has been previously archived, indicating that fact on the display screen.

25. The method of claim 24, further including the step of allowing the user to decide whether to view an archived version of the web page.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying “

Where to go next”

metadata, in accordance with the received information, wherein the “

Where to go next”

metadata is based on analysis of the content of pages in the world wide web and is not provided by the web page.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying “

Where to go next”

metadata, in accordance with the received information, wherein the “

Where to go next”

metadata is based on information relating to the organization or individuals associated with the displayed web page and is not provided by the web page.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

examining, by the metadata server, all parent web pages above the web page in the web site hierarchy; and

classifying metadata of a parent of the web page as also being metadata of the web page.

29. A method of directing a user to at least one web page related to a web page displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

receiving information describing the contents of the displayed web page;

sending, to a metadata server, a request for an automatically generated identification of the related web page in accordance with the contents of the displayed web page, the metadata server being different from the server providing the displayed web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, automatically generated metadata about the web page including at least one link directing a user to a web page related to the web page being displayed, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, but instead received from the metadata server in response to the request, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one web page to which the user is directed is not referenced by the web page currently being displayed.

31. A computer program product, on a computer readable medium, which presents information augmenting the information on a web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, the computer program product comprising:

program code for receiving information identifying the web page to be displayed;

program code for sending, to a metadata server, a request for automatically generated metadata, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page to be displayed, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information, the metadata server being different from the server providing the web page; and

program code for displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request, the automatically generated metadata including at least one link to a web page provided by a third party.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the program code for sending includes program code for sending the request automatically when the web page is displayed by the browser.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the program code for displaying includes program code for displaying, to supplement the web page being displayed, an advertisement targeted at users who request a URL of the web page, the advertisement being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

34. An apparatus for augmenting the information on a web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, the apparatus comprising:

a software portion configured to receive information identifying the web page to be displayed;

a software portion configured to send, to a metadata server, a request for automatically generated metadata, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page to be displayed, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information, the metadata server being different from the server providing the web page; and

a software portion configured to display, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request, the automatically generated metadata including at least one link to a web page provided by a third party.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, including a software portion for opening a popup menu containing at least one link to another web page, the link being provided by the metadata server, not by the web page.

36. A computer program product on a computer readable medium which directs a user to at least one web page related to a web page displayed on a display device by a browser, the computer program product comprising:

program code for receiving information describing the contents of the displayed web page;

program code for sending, to a metadata server, a request for an automatically generated identification of the related web page in accordance with the contents of the displayed web page, the metadata server being different from the server providing the displayed web page; and

program code for displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata about the web page including at least one link directing a user to a web page related to the web page being displayed, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, but instead received from the metadata server in response to the request, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information.

37. An apparatus for directing a user to at least one web page related to a web page displayed on a display device by a browser, the apparatus comprising:

a software portion for receiving information describing the contents of the displayed web page;

a software portion for sending, to a metadata server, a request for an automatically generated identification of the related web page in accordance with the contents of the displayed web page, the metadata server being different from the server providing the displayed web page; and

a software portion for displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata about the web page including at least one link directing a user to a web page related to the web page being displayed, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, but instead received from the metadata server in response to the request, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information.

38. A method of presenting information augmenting the information on a web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

determining the address of the web page currently being displayed;

sending, to a metadata server the address of the web page currently being displayed, and a request for automatically generated metadata describing the web page currently being displayed, the automatically generated metadata being supplemental information about the web page being displayed, the automatically generated supplemental information not being provided by the web server and not being provided by a member of a group to which a viewer of the web page belongs, there being no link between the web page and the automatically generated supplemental information, the metadata server being different from the server providing the web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request, the automatically generated metadata including at least one link to a web page provided by a third party.

39. A method of presenting information that augments the information on any web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to display a first web page;

sending, to a metadata server, a request for metadata indicating which web page a substantial number of previous users viewed next after viewing the requested first web page, the metadata not being provided by the first web page and not being provided by a member of a group to which the requesting user of the first web page belongs, there being no link between the first web page and the metadata, the metadata server being different from a server providing the web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the first web page and concurrently with the first web page, the requested metadata indicating which web page a substantial number of previous users viewed next after viewing the requested first web page.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

gathering information about which web page a substantial number of previous users viewed next after viewing the first web page.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the information about which web page a substantial number of previous users viewed next after viewing the requested first web page includes a plurality of links to the web pages that were most often viewed next.

42. The method of claim 39, further including allowing the user to add a one-way link to the metadata that specifies a “

where to go”

page for the first web page.

43. The method of claim 39, further including allowing the user to add a two-way link to the metadata that specifies another page as a “

where to go”

page for the first web site and that specifies the first web site as a “

where to go”

page for the other page.

44. A method of presenting information that augments the information on any web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising:

receiving information identifying the web page to be displayed;

sending, to a metadata server, a request for metadata, the metadata being supplemental information about the web page to be displayed, the supplemental information being automatically generated thy a computer program associated with the metadata server, the metadata not being provided by the web page to be displayed and not being provided by a member of a group to which the requesting user of the web page belongs, there being no link between the web page and the metadata, the metadata server being different from a server providing the web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the web page and concurrently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request.

45. A method of presenting information that augments the information on any web page being displayed on a display device by a browser, comprising:

receiving information identifying the web page to be displayed;

sending, to a metadata server, a request for metadata, the metadata being supplemental information about the web page to be displayed, the supplemental information comprising at least one link to a web page provided by a third party, the link being automanticaly generated by a computer program associated with the metadata server, there being no link between the web page and the metadata, the metadata server being different from a server providing the web page; and

displaying, on the same display device as the web page and courently with the web page, the automatically generated metadata received from the metadata server in response to the request.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the link to the web page provided by a third party is automatically generated based upon a statistic indicating that a substantial number of past users viewing the web page to be displayed subsequently requested to view the web page provided by a third party.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the link to the web page provided by a third party is automatically generated based upon the fact that the web page to be displayed and the web page provided by a third party both contain a link to a second web page provided by a third party.