Data networking system and method for interfacing a user

• US 7,305,625 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Kotab, Dominic M., Zilka, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/691,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/739, 715/740, 715/760
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Abstract

An interface is provided for data networking. Included is a network browser window associated with a network browser for displaying content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) during network browsing. Also displayed is a plurality of identifiers adjacent to or separate from the window in which the content is displayed. In use, a user is allowed to pre-select at least one of the identifiers. Moreover, after the pre-selection, content associated with at least one URL displayed during use of the network browser is correlated with the pre-selected identifier.

Claims

1. A system for use in association with network data, comprising:

a server,

computer code for working in association with a network browser window associated with a network browser for displaying Internet content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) during network browsing; and

computer code for displaying a plurality of identifiers adjacent to the window in which the content is displayed;

wherein a user is allowed to select at least one of the identifiers, for correlating one of the URLs with the selected identifier;

wherein, after the selection, at least one of the URLs selected during use of the network browser is correlated with the selected identifier and stored in a manner that is dependent on a selection of the selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the at least one selected URL;

wherein the user is allowed to manually enter the selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the at least one selected URL; and

computer code for storing the identifiers and the at least one selected URL on a user device that has the network browser implemented thereon;

wherein the server is capable of being in communication with the user device via a network, the server for storing the identifiers;

wherein information associated with the identifiers is stored at both the user device and the server.

2. A system, comprising:

a server;

computer code for working in association with a network browser including a back button, a forward button, a refresh button, and a home button, and for displaying a plurality of identifiers in a portion of a graphical user interface separate from a window in which content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) is displayed; and

computer code for allowing a user to select, during use of the network browser, one of the identifiers in the portion of the graphical user interface separate from the window in which the content associated with the URLs is display, for correlating, after the selection, at least one of the URLs with the selected identifier in a manner that is based on the selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the at least one URL;

wherein the user is allowed to manually enter the selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the at least one URL;

wherein the identifiers and the at least one URL are stored on a user device with the network browser executable thereon; and

the server being in communication with the user device via a network, the server for storing the identifiers;

wherein the identifiers and information associated with the identifiers are stored at both the user device and the server.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers are capable of being selected for identifying further information associated therewith.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the network includes the Internet.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, and further comprising allowing the user to subsequently access the at least one URL.

6. A system as recited in claim 2, and further comprising allowing the user to subsequently access the at least one URL utilizing the identifier.

7. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers have associated displayed buckets.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the identifiers identify the buckets.

9. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers are accessed via menus.

10. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers are accessed via sub-menus.

11. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers are selected by being clicked.

12. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifiers include intellectual property identifiers.

13. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the content includes an entire web page.

14. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the content includes documentation in a portable document format.

15. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein a date is stored with the at least one URL.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the date includes a date at which time selected displayed content was discovered.

17. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one URL is stored with associated content.

18. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the content involves competing activity.

19. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the information includes at least one of one or more of the URLs, the content, and information on intellectual property.

20. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for use in association with a network browser, to cause display of a plurality of identifiers in a portion of a graphical user interface different from a window in which content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) is displayed;

computer code to permit, during use of the network browser, the receipt of a selection of one of the identifiers in the portion of the graphical user interface different from the window in which the content associated with the URLs is displayed, for correlating, after the selection at least one of the URLs with the selected identifier in a manner that is based on the selection of one of the identifiers which is separate from the at least one URL, the selection of one of the identifiers including manual entry of one of the identifiers which is separate from the at least one URL;

computer code to cause the identifiers and the at lest one URL to be stored on a user device with the network browser executable thereon;

computer code to cause the identifiers to also be stored on a server in communication with the user device via a network; and

the identifiers and information associated with the identifiers being stored at both the user device and the server.

21. A computer implemented method, comprising:

in association with a network browser, displaying a plurality of identifiers in a portion of a graphical user interface different from a window in which content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) is displayed;

receiving, during use of the network browser, a selection of one of the identifiers in the portion of the graphical user interface different from the window in which the content associated with the URLs is displayed, for correlating, after the selection, at least one of the URLs with the selected identifier in a manner that is dependent on the selection of one of the identifiers which is non-inclusive of any portion of the at least one URL, wherein the selected one of the identifiers which is non-inclusive of any portion of the at least one URL is capable of being manually entered by a user, wherein the identifiers and the at least one URL are stored on a user device with the network browser executable thereon; and

storing the identifiers on a sever in communication with the user device via a network;

wherein the identifiers and information associated with the identifiers are stored at both the user device and the server.

22. A system, comprising:

a server;

computer code for working in association with a network browser including a back button, a forward button, a refresh button, and a home button; and

for displaying a list including a plurality of identifiers in a portion of a graphical user interface separate from a window in which content associated with uniform resource locators (URLs) is displayed; and

computer code for allowing a user to select, by clicking, during use of the network browser, one of the identifiers in the portion of the graphical user interface separate from the window in which the content associated with the URLs is displayed, for correlating, after the selection, a plurality of the URLs with the selected identifier in a manner that is based on the selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the plurality of URLs;

wherein the user is allowed to manually enter at least one of the identifiers which is distinct with respect to the plurality of URLs;

wherein the identifiers and the plurality of URLs are stored on a user device with the network browser executable thereon; and

the server being in communication with the user device via the Internet, the server for storing the identifiers;

wherein the identifiers and information associated with the identifiers are stored at both the user device and the server;

wherein the portion of the graphical user interface includes another window that is situated, at least in part, in front of the window in which the content associated with the URLs is displayed, the other window being displayed in response to a mouse click.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein any content selected during use of the network browser results in automatic correlation of the content with the manually entered selected identifier which is distinct with respect to the plurality of URLs.