Web information presentation structure for web page authoring

• US 7,246,306 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ma, Wei-Ying, Chen, Jinlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stork; Kyle R.
• Application Number:
  US10/177,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501.1, 715/517, 715/513, 715/760, 715/523, 715/530
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226

Abstract

A web page can be designed to reflect its author'"'"'s presentation intentions using a Web Information Presentation Structure (WIPS). WIPS represents the web page by its layout and logic structures. A web page authored without WIPS can be subjected to a WIPS detection algorithm to discern the author'"'"'s presentation intentions by deriving the layout and logic structures of the web page. Once derived, these layout and logic structures can be used to create a re-authored WIPS web page. The re-authored WIPS web page can also be adapted for presentation from one device to a different device in a manner that preserves, to a desirable degree, the author'"'"'s original intentions. The WIPS detection algorithm uses a function-based object model which attempts to understand the web page author'"'"'s intention by identifying and using object functions and categories contained in the web page.

Claims

1. A web information presentation structure method comprising:

analyzing one or more functions associated with a first web page on the basis of;

a layout structure of each said function, the layout structure is determined by steps comprising;

grouping one or more objects associated with the first web page into a shape that contains one said function of the one or more functions; and

separating each said shape from the other shapes by a separator, the separating comprising;

inserting blanks between the shapes;

projecting each of the shapes onto two perpendicular axes;

quantifying the projections along each said axis; and

identifying each said separator as being normal to each section along each said axis where the quantity of the projections is less than a predetermined threshold; and

a logic structure of each said function; and

displaying a second web page having a different content layout derived as a result of said analyzing the first web page.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the logic structure of each said function is determined by the step comprising determining a position on the first web page for each said shape.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

each said shape is a rectangle having sides parallel or normal to that of the other rectangles and to the separators;

each said function is selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information;

the position on the first web page for each said shape is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the first web page has a layout style different from that of the second web page.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the layout structure of each said function is determined by steps comprising:

configuring each said function into a rectangle;

projecting each rectangle normally onto each of perpendicular axes; and

determining one or more separators that are each normal to the axes as a function of the sum of the projections on each axis.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the layout structure of each said function is determined by steps comprising:

configuring each said function into a rectangle; and

determining the position of each rectangle with respect to the first₁₃ web page.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the position is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the first web page.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said generating comprises:

identifying one or more Basic Objects associated with the first web page, Basic Objects comprising an information body that cannot be further divided; and

grouping a set of said one or more Basic Objects into respective Composite Objects associated with the first web page, Composite Objects comprising objects that contain other objects and that achieve one said function.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said displaying comprises:

positioning each said Composite Object on the second web page on the basis of the corresponding function achieved thereby as determined from the logic structure of each said function; and

identifying visual separators between adjacent Composite Objects as determined from the layout structure of each said function.

11. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A web content information presentation structure method comprising:

detecting objects (Basic Objects) comprising a first web page designed for display on a first device;

grouping the detected objects (Composite Objects) into shapes each having an area;

deriving a layout structure of the first web page by;

quantifying a normal projection from each said shape onto two axes normal one to another;

summing the quantified projections along each said axis;

identifying one or more separators (φ

) normal to each said axis from the sum of the quantified projections along each said axis; and

quantifying (δ

), using the identified one or more separators, the distance between each said shapes and other shapes;

deriving a logic structure of the first web page by;

generating one or more function-based object models (f(O)) representing the objects in each said shape; and

deriving a position (p(O)) on the fist web page for each said shape with respect to the other shapes;

mapping onto a second web page for display on a second device using;

the identified one or more separators; and

each said shape using the respective quantified distance from the other shapes and the respective position with respect to the first web page;

displaying the second web page.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said detecting objects comprises:

identifying one or more Basic Objects associated with the first web page, Basic Objects comprising an information body that cannot be further divided; and

identifying one or more Composite Objects associated with the first web page, Composite Objects comprising objects that contain other objects.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein each said function-based object model is selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information.

15. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the position on the first web page is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

16. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein each said shape is a rectangle.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first web page has a layout style different from that of the second web page.

18. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 12.

19. A web information presentation structure method comprising:

processing a first web page designed for display on a first device with boundaries to provide multiple different functions associated with the web page, individual functions being contained in an individual two-dimensional shape on the first web page, each individual shape having;

a weight of a normal projection onto each of a pair of axes normal one to the other;

a position with respect to the boundaries of the first web page; and

a distance from the other individual shapes;

detecting separators between adjacent said shapes from the combined weights of the projections of the shapes onto the pair of axes, the detecting comprising;

inserting blanks between the shapes;

projecting each of the shapes onto two perpendicular axes;

quantifying the projections along each said axis; and

identifying each said separator as being normal to each section along each said axis where the quantity of the projections is less than a predetermined threshold; and

mapping onto a second web page for display on a second device;

the detected separators; and

each said shape as a function of the respective distance from other shapes and the respective position with respect to the first web page;

displaying the second web page.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein each said function is selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information.

21. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the position with respect to the first web page is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

22. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein each said shape is a rectangle.

23. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the first web page has a layout style different from that of the second web page.

24. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 19.

25. A web content information presentation structure method comprising:

analyzing one or more functions associated with a first web page having a first layout style by generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the web page, individual objects comprising;

one or more Basic Objects associated with the web page, Basic Objects comprising an information body that cannot be further divided, said one or more Basic Objects being configured to perform one or more of the following functions;

(1) providing semantic information, (2) navigating to other objects, (3) providing a visual effect on the web page, and (4) enabling user interaction; and

one or more Composite Objects associated with the web page, Composite Objects comprising objects that contain other objects, said one or more Composite Objects having a clustering function that is associated with a design of the web page; and

combining two or more of the objects into rectangles, individual rectangles having one or more properties relating to;

a weight of a normal projection therefrom onto each of a pair of normal axes; and

a position (p(O)) with respect to the first web page and selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body;

a function-based object model (f(O)) representing the objects therein and selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information;

deriving one or more separators between adjacent shapes from a sum of the weights of the projections along each said axis, each said separator being normal to one of the axes;

measuring the distance between respective said shapes using the one or more separators;

mapping to a second web page using a second layout style;

the separators; and

each said rectangle using;

the position (p(O)) thereof; and

the distance thereof from the other shapes; and

displaying the second web page.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein the individual objects can have a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among any root children of an object.

27. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein the individual objects can have a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with any root children of an object.

28. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 25.

29. A method of web information presentation comprising:

detecting a layout structure of a first web page designed for display on a first device as a function of objects (O), horizontal and vertical separators (φ

), and spatial relationships (δ

) by steps comprising;

identifying objects (O) in the first web page;

identifying horizontal and vertical separators (φ

) between the objects (O) comprising;

dividing the objects into a plurality of separate rectangles based upon the relative position of, and the function accomplished by, each said object with respect to the other objects;

projecting each rectangle normally onto each of perpendicular axes; and

determining the horizontal separators (φ

) and the vertical separators (φ

) between the objects (O) as a function of the sum of the projections on each axis;

identifying a spatial relationship (δ

) between each said object (O);

the at least one of horizontal and vertical separators in φ

between the objects in O; and

the other objects in O;

detecting a logic structure of the first web page for each said object (O) by steps comprising;

identifying a functional property f(O) with respect to the first web page and selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information; and

identifying the positional property p(O) of each said object (O) and selected from the group consisting of information a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body;

displaying the layout structure and the logic structure onto a second web page for display on a second device.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the identifying the functional property f(O) of each said object comprises identifying an overall function accomplished by the objects in each rectangle and selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information.

31. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the identifying the positional property p(O) of each said object comprises identifying the position of each rectangle with respect to the web page and selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

32. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 29.

33. A web content adaptation method comprising:

receiving multiple web pages that are configured for display on a first device type;

processing the multiple web pages to provide multiple different objects associated with the web pages, individual objects having one or more properties relating to functions of the individual object;

analyzing the functions of the individual objects associated with each said web page on the basis of a layout structure of each said function and on the basis of a logic structure of each said function, wherein;

the layout structure of each said function is analyzed by;

grouping one or more objects associated with the web page into a shape that contains one said function of the one or more functions; and

separating each said shape from the other shapes by a separator comprising;

inserting blanks between the shapes;

projecting each of the shapes onto two perpendicular axes;

quantifying the projections along each said axis; and

identifying each said separator as being normal to each section along each said axis where the quantity of the projections is less than a predetermined threshold;

the logic structure of each said function is analyzed by determining a position on the web page for each said shape;

applying one or more rules to the objects sufficient to provide multiple different web pages, individual web pages of said multiple web pages being associated with two or more of said multiple different web pages, each said different web page having a different layout that is;

based on said analyzing; and

configured for display on a second device type that is different from the first device type.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, further comprising presenting the multiple different web pages on the second device based on said analyzing.

35. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein:

each said shape is a rectangle having sides parallel or normal to that of the other rectangles and to the separators;

each said function is selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information;

the position on each said web page for each said shape is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

36. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein said analyzing further comprises generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the web page.

37. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein said generating comprises:

identifying one or more Basic Objects associated with the web page, Basic Objects comprising an information body that cannot be further divided; and

grouping a set of said one or more Basic Objects into respective Composite Objects associated with the web page, Composite Objects comprising objects that contain other objects and that achieve one said function.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein said presenting comprises:

positioning each said Composite Object on the web page on the basis of the corresponding function achieved thereby as determined from the logic structure of each said function; and

identifying visual separators between adjacent Composite Objects as determined from the layout structure of each said function.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a semanteme property associated with the content of an object.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a decoration property pertaining to the extent to which an object serves to decorate a web page.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which another object points via a hyperlink.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of an object.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among any root children of an object.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual objects can have a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with any root children of an object.

46. The method of claim 33, wherein said processing comprises defining a representation of an object that includes any children of said object.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said assigning comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category for said one or more objects.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said assigning comprises assigning a category from a set of object categories comprising:

(1) an information object that presents content information, (2) a navigation object that provides a navigation function, (3) an interaction object that provides for user interaction, (4) a decoration object that serves a decoration function, (5) a special function object that performs a defined function, and (6) a page object that is associated with presentation of related information.

49. The method of claim 33, wherein said processing comprises assigning a category to one or more objects.

50. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the layout structure of each said function is further analyzed by:

configuring each said function into a rectangle;

projecting each rectangle normally onto each of perpendicular axes; and

determining one or more separators that are each normal to the axes as a function of the sum of the projections on each axis.

51. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the layout structure of each said function is further analyzed by:

configuring each said function into a rectangle; and

determining the position of each rectangle with respect to the web page.

52. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the position is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

53. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 33.

54. A computer architecture for use in adapting web content for display on a computing device implemented at least in part by a computing device, the architecture comprising:

an analysis module for;

receiving multiple web pages that are configured for display on a first device type;

processing the multiple web pages to provide multiple different objects associated with the web pages, individual objects having one or more properties relating to functions of the individual object;

analyzing the functions of the individual objects associated with each said web page on the basis of a layout structure of each said function and on the basis of a logic structure of each said function, wherein;

the layout structure of each said function based on a projection profile of one or more objects associated with the web page is analyzed by;

 

grouping one or more objects associated with the web page into a shape that contains one said function of the one or more functions; and

 

separating each said shape from the other shapes by a separator, the separating comprising;

 

inserting blanks between the shapes;

 

projecting each said shape onto two perpendicular axes;

 

quantifying the projections along each said axis; and

 

identifying each said separator has being normal to each section along each said axis where the quantity of the projections is less than a predetermined threshold; and

the logic structure of each said function is analyzed by determining a position for each said shape on each said web pages;

generating, for each said web page, one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising each said web page;

one or more rules modules containing rules that are to be used to adapt content contained in each said webpage; and

a content adaptation module configured to process the one or more function-based object models in accordance with one or more rules contained in the one or more rules modules to produce multiple different web pages, individual web pages of said multiple web pages being associated with two or more of said multiple different web pages, each said different web page having a different layout that is;

based on said analyzing; and

configured for display on a second device type that is different from the first device type.

55. The architecture as defined in claim 54, further comprising a presentation module for receiving said multiple different web pages produces by the content adaptation module and for presenting the multiple different web pages on the second device based on the rules of the one or more rules modules.

56. The architecture as defined in claim 54, wherein:

each said shape is a rectangle having sides parallel or normal to that of the other rectangles and to the separators;

each said function is selected from the group consisting of decoration, interaction, navigation, information, and a mixture that includes interaction plus navigation or information;

the position on each said web page for each said shape is selected from the group consisting of a header, a footer, a left region, a right region, and a body.

57. The architecture as defined in claim 55, wherein said generating comprises:

identifying one or more Basic Objects associated with the web page, Basic Objects comprising an information body that cannot be further divided; and

grouping a set of said one or more Basic Objects into respective Composite Objects associated with the web page, Composite Objects comprising objects that contain other objects and that achieve one said function.

58. The architecture as defined in claim 57, wherein said presenting comprises:

positioning each said Composite Object on the web page on the basis of the corresponding function achieved thereby as determined from the logic structure of each said function; and

identifying visual separators between adjacent Composite Objects as determined from the layout structure of each said function.

59. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a presentation property that defines a way in which the object is presented.

60. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a semanteme property associated with the content of an object.

61. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a decoration property pertaining to the extent to which an object serves to decorate a web page.

62. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a hyperlink property pertaining to an object to which another object points via a hyperlink.

63. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a interaction property pertaining to an interaction method of an object.

64. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a clustering relationship property pertaining to a relationship among any root children of an object.

65. The architecture of claim 54, wherein the individual objects can have a presentation relationship property pertaining to a presentation order associated with any root children of an object.

66. The architecture of claim 54, wherein said processing comprises defining a representation of an object that includes any children of said object.

67. The architecture of claim 54, wherein said processing comprises assigning a category to one or more objects.

68. The architecture of claim 67, wherein said assigning comprises using a rule-based decision tree to ascertain a category for said one or more objects.

69. The architecture of claim 67, wherein said assigning comprises assigning a category from a set of object categories comprising:

(1) an information object that presents content information, (2) a navigation object that provides a navigation function, (3) an interaction object that provides for user interaction, (4) a decoration object that serves a decoration function, (5) a special function object that performs a defined function, and (6) a page object that is associated with presentation of related information.

70. The architecture as defined in claim 54, wherein said analyzing further comprises generating one or more function-based object models that represent objects comprising the web page.