Server side web browsing and multiple lens system, method and apparatus

• US 7,996,766 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDN Innovations, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gutenberg Printing LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chiang, Hiang Swee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faber; David
• Application Number:
  US11/515,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-204, 715/209, 715234-243, 715251-255, 715/273, 715/249, 709/203
• US Class Current: 715/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• 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 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A user may access a host server and receive display information within a single browser window. The display information includes at least one lens, wherein each lens controls server side web browsing and allows the user to view a separate web page from the Internet. The host server provides personalized web browsing capability specific to a particular user independent of the browser, device or location of the user. After the user submits a request to view a particular web page, the web page information is retrieved by the host server and transmitted to the user for display within a selected lens. Each lens controls server-side web browsing through independent navigational controls, such as a horizontal and vertical scroll bar, a resize button and the like. One lens may also control the web content displayed in another lens. The host server may reformat entire web pages so that they can be displayed within a lens without the need for scrolling. Additionally, each lens may have multiple cookies associated therewith. Users may further submit bookmarks which are applicable to one or more of the lenses. Bookmarks may be recognized through initiating a single command.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, performed by a host server, the computer-implemented method comprising:

electronically receiving an identifier from a remote device;

electronically verifying the identifier;

in response to verifying the identifier, electronically transmitting to the remote device via a network display information comprising;

information for creating at least a first lens for presentation within a window of a browser on the remote device and a second lens for presentation within the window of the browser on the remote device;

the first lens comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area; and

the second lens comprising a second display area and second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area;

electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device for a web page;

in response to receiving the request for the web page, electronically transmitting via the network the web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, the transmitted web page comprising display data and specifying a display size for the display data, only a portion of the display data being visible within the first display area of the first lens using the first display size;

electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted web page, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the first display area of the first lens; and

in response to the request to reformat the transmitted web page;

electronically reformatting the transmitted web page, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a second display size; and

electronically transmitting via the network the reformatted web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, all of the display data being viewable within the first display area without use of the first navigation controls.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

electronically receiving a first uniform resource locator through the first lens; and

electronically transmitting the reformatted web page in response to receiving the first uniform resource locator.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising electronically receiving the display data from a second server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

electronically receiving the display data in a first language; and

electronically translating the display data into a second language prior to transmission for display on the remote device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the first language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language, cascading style sheet language, extensible markup language, extensible style sheet language, extensible hypertext markup language or wireless markup language.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the second language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language or wireless markup language.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each lens has at least one navigation control.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the first navigation controls further comprise at least one of a horizontal scroll bar, a vertical scroll bar, a minimize command button, a maximize command button, a close lens command button, a forward command button, a backward command button, a bookmark command button, a reformat command button, or a menu command button.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each lens has full browser control capability.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first lens controls web content displayed in the second lens.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each lens is operative to present web page display data for any uniform resource locator received.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an identification code and a password.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

electronically receiving a single command to bookmark the web page; and

electronically storing a bookmark identifier for the web page.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the single command is received through a bookmark command button associated with the first lens.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising electronically storing at least one cookie associated with each lens.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising electronically storing at least one cookie associated with the identifier.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the web page is transmitted such that only a portion of display data associated with the reformatted web page can be viewed within the first display area of the first lens without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the display data of the reformatted web page can be viewed within the display area without using the horizontal scroll bar or the vertical scroll bar.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising electronically transmitting the web page reformatted to a percentage of its original size selected by a user.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

electronically determining whether the display data has a size greater than or less than the first display area of the first lens; and

electronically reformatting the web page if the size is greater than or less than the first display area.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein display data of the reformatted web page can be viewed within the first display area without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising electronically transmitting the web page reformatted to a percentage of its original size selected by a user.

23. A host server, comprising:

computing memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the computing memory, the computing memory having stored thereon a program for controlling the processor;

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an identifier from a remote device;

verify the identifier; and

in response to verifying the identifier, transmit display information to the remote device via a network, the display information comprising;

information for creating at least a first lens for presentation within a window of a browser on the remote device and a second lens for presentation within the window of the browser on the remote device;

the first lens comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area; and

the second lens comprising a second display area and second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area;

electronically receive via the network a request from the remote device for a web page;

in response to receiving the request for the web page, electronically transmit via the network the web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, the transmitted web page comprising display data and specifying a first display size for the display data, only a portion of the display data being visible within the first display area of the first lens using the first display size;

electronically receive via the network a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted web page, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the first display area of the first lens; and

in response to the request to reformat the transmitted web page;

electronically reformat the transmitted web page, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a second display size; and

electronically transmit via the network the reformatted web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, all of the display data being viewable within the first display area without use of the first navigation controls.

24. The host server of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive a first uniform resource locator through the first lens; and

transmit the reformatted web page in response to receiving the first uniform resource locator for display in the first lens.

25. The host server of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to receive the display data from a second server.

26. The host server of claim 25, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive the display data in a first language; and

translate the display data into a second language prior to transmission for display on the remote device.

27. The host server of claim 26, wherein the first language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language, cascading style sheet language, extensible markup language, extensible style sheet language, extensible hypertext markup language, or wireless markup language.

28. The host server of claim 26, wherein the second language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language or wireless markup language.

29. The host server of claim 23, wherein each lens has at least one navigation control.

30. The host server of claim 29, wherein the first navigation controls comprise at least one of a horizontal scroll bar, a vertical scroll bar, a minimize command button, a maximize command button, a close lens command button, a forward command button, a backward command button, a bookmark command button, a reformat command button, or a menu command button.

31. The host server of claim 23, wherein each lens has full browser control capability.

32. The host server of claim 23, wherein the first lens controls web content displayed in the second lens.

33. The host server of claim 23, wherein each lens is operative to present web page display data for any uniform resource locator received.

34. The host server of claim 23, wherein the identifier comprises an identification code and a password.

35. The host server of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive a single command to bookmark the web page; and

store a bookmark identifier for the web page.

36. The host server of claim 35, wherein the single command is received through a bookmark command button associated with the first lens.

37. The host server of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to store at least one cookie associated with each lens.

38. The host server of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to store at least one cookie associated with the identifier.

39. The host server of claim 24, wherein only a portion of display data associated with the reformatted web page can be viewed within the first display area of the first lens without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

40. The host server of claim 39, wherein the display data of the reformatted web page can be viewed within the first display area without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

41. The host server of claim 39, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to transmit the web page reformatted to a percentage of its original size selected by a user.

42. The host server of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

determine whether the display data of the web page has a size greater than or less than the display area of the first lens; and

reformat the web page if the size is greater than or less than the display area.

43. The host server of claim 42, wherein the display data can be viewed within the first display area without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

44. The host server of claim 43, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to transmit the web page reformatted to a percentage of its original size selected by a user.

45. A memory having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving an identifier from a remote device;

verifying the identifier;

in response to verifying the identifier, transmitting to the remote device via a network display information to a user, the display information comprising;

at least a first lens for presentation within a window of a browser on the remote device and a second lens for presentation within the window of the browser on the remote device, the first lens comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area;

the first navigation controls comprising a first uniform resource locator entry field for receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a web page to be retrieved and displayed in the first display area; and

the second lens comprising a second display area and second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area;

electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device for the web page;

in response to receiving the request for the web page, electronically transmitting via the network the web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, the transmitted web page comprising display data and specifying a display size for the display data, only a portion of the display data being visible within the first display area of the first lens using the first display size;

electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted web page, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the first display area of the first lens; and

in response to the request to reformat the transmitted web page;

electronically reformatting the transmitted web page, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a second display size; and

electronically transmitting via the network the reformatted web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, all of the display data being viewable within the first display area without use of the first navigation controls.

46. The memory of claim 45, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a uniform resource locator through the first lens; and

transmitting the reformatted web page in response to receiving the uniform resource locator.

47. The memory of claim 46, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the display data from a second server.

48. The memory of claim 47, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the display data in a first language; and

translating the display data into a second language prior to transmission for display on the remote device.

49. The memory of claim 48, wherein the first language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language, cascading style sheet language, extensible markup language, extensible style sheet language, extensible hypertext markup language, or wireless markup language.

50. The memory of claim 48, wherein the second language comprises at least one of hypertext markup language or wireless markup language.

51. The memory of claim 45, wherein each lens has at least one navigation control.

52. The memory of claim 51, wherein the first navigation controls comprise at least one of a horizontal scroll bar, a vertical scroll bar, a minimize command button, a maximize command button, a close lens command button, a forward command button, a backward command button, a bookmark command button, a reformat command button, or a menu command button.

53. The memory of claim 45, wherein each lens has full browser control capability.

54. The memory of claim 45, wherein the first lens controls web content displayed in the second lens.

55. The memory of claim 45, wherein each lens is operative to present web page display data for any uniform resource locator received.

56. The memory of claim 45, wherein the identifier comprises an identification code and a password.

57. The memory of claim 46, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a single command to bookmark the web page; and

storing a bookmark identifier for the web page.

58. The memory of claim 57, wherein the single command is received through a bookmark command button associated with the first lens.

59. The memory of claim 45, wherein the operations further comprise storing at least one cookie associated with each lens.

60. The memory of claim 45, wherein the operations further comprise storing at least one cookie associated with the identifier.

61. The memory of claim 46, wherein only a portion of the display data of the web page can be viewed within the first display area of the first lens without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

62. The memory of claim 61, wherein the operations further comprise reformatting the web page in response to the request such that the display data of the reformatted web page can be viewed within the display area without using the horizontal scroll bar or the vertical scroll bar.

63. The memory of claim 61, wherein the operations further comprise reformatting the web page to a percentage of its original size selected by the user.

64. The memory of claim 46, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the display data of the web page has a size greater than or less than the first display area of the first lens; and

reformatting the web page if the size is greater than or less than the first display area.

65. The memory of claim 63, wherein the operations further comprise reformatting the web page such that the display data can be viewed within the first display area without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar.

66. The memory of claim 63, wherein the operations further comprise reformatting the web page to a percentage of its original size selected by the user.

67. A computing device, comprising:

means for receiving an identifier from a remote device;

means for verifying the identifier;

means for, in response to verifying the identifier, transmitting to the remote device via a network display information comprising;

information for creating at least a first lens for presentation within a window of a browser on the remote device and a second lens for presentation within the window of the browser on the remote device;

the first lens comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area; and

the second lens comprising a second display area and second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area;

means for electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device for a web page;

means for in response to receiving the request for the web page, electronically transmitting via the network the web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, the transmitted web page comprising display data and specifying a display size for the display data, only a portion of the display data being visible within the first display area of the first lens using the first display size;

means for electronically receiving via the network a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted web page, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the first display area of the first lens; and

means for in response to the request to reformat the transmitted web page;

electronically reformatting the transmitted web page, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a second display size; and

electronically transmitting via the network the reformatted web page for display in the first display area of the first lens, all of the display data being viewable within the first display area without use of the first navigation controls.

68. A computer-implemented method performed by a host server, the computer-implemented method comprising:

electronically receiving an identifier from a remote device;

electronically verifying the identifier;

in response to verifying the identifier, electronically transmitting display information comprising;

information for creating at least a first lens for presentation within a window of a browser on the remote device and a second lens for presentation within the window of the browser on the remote device;

the first lens comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area and the second lens comprising a second display area;

the first navigation controls comprising a first uniform resource locator entry field for receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a web page to be retrieved and displayed in the first display area; and

second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area, the second navigation controls comprising a second uniform resource locator entry field for receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a web page to be retrieved and displayed in the second display area;

in response to a request received from the first lens directing that requested information be retrieved and displayed in the second lens, electronically communicating the requested information to the second lens, the communicated information comprising display data and specifying a first display size for the display data, only a portion of the display data being visible within the first display area of the first lens using the first display size;

electronically receiving a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted information, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the second display area of the second lens; and

in response to the request to reformat the transmitted information;

electronically reformatting the transmitted information, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a second display size; and

electronically transmitting the reformatted information for display in the second display area of the second lens, all of the display data being viewable within the second display area without use of the second navigation controls.

69. A computer implemented method performed by a host server, the computer-implemented method comprising:

electronically receiving an identifier from a remote device;

electronically verifying the identifier;

in response to verifying the identifier, electronically transmitting to the remote device display information comprising;

information for creating a first content display area and a second content display area rendered in a single instantiation of a browser application program and displayed within a single operating system window;

the first content display area comprising a first display area and first navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the first display area, the first navigation controls comprising a first uniform resource locator entry field for receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a web page to be retrieved and displayed in the first display areas; and

the second content display area comprising a second display area and second navigation controls adapted to control information displayed in the second display area, the second navigation controls comprising a second uniform resource locator entry field for receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a web page to be retrieved and displayed in the second display area;

electronically receiving a first uniform resource locator via the first uniform resource locator entry field;

electronically transmitting a first web page corresponding to the first uniform resource locator for display in the first content display area, the first web page being transmitted such that only a portion of display data associated with the first web page can be viewed within the first display area of the first content display area without using a horizontal scroll bar or a vertical scroll bar;

electronically receiving via a network a request from the remote device to reformat the transmitted first web page, the request to reformat specifying to fit all of the display data into the first display area of the first content display area;

in response to the request to reformat the transmitted first web page;

electronically reformatting the transmitted first web page, the reformatting comprising specifying that at least a portion of the display data be displayed using a display size different from that originally used; and

electronically transmitting via the network the reformatted first web page for display in the first display area of the first content display area, all of the display data being viewable within the first display area without use of the first navigation controls.