US5794006A — System and method for editing content in an on-li…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by a computer network, comprising: a plurality of on-line services existing in a computer network, said plurality of services comprising hierarchically organized services and non-hierarchically organized services, each of said services having a plurality of offerings accessible by a plurality of users; a database existing in said network, said database containing a plurality of access identifiers, said access identifiers specifying access levels for said users with respect to said offerings, said access identifiers identifying one or more general access levels for said users and one or more editing access levels for one or more operators; and a plurality of editing modules, said editing modules in communication with said services, each of said editing modules configured to edit said offerings in one of said services, wherein said one or more of said operators are capable of accessing said editing modules to edit said offerings, each of said editing modules configured to provide editing functions based on said editing access levels.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 169 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by a computer network, comprising: a plurality of on-line services existing in a computer network, said plurality of services comprising hierarchically organized services and non-hierarchically organized services, each of said services having a plurality of offerings accessible by a plurality of users; a database existing in said network, said database containing a plurality of access identifiers, said access identifiers specifying access levels for said users with respect to said offerings, said access identifiers identifying one or more general access levels for said users and one or more editing access levels for one or more operators; and a plurality of editing modules, said editing modules in communication with said services, each of said editing modules configured to edit said offerings in one of said services, wherein said one or more of said operators are capable of accessing said editing modules to edit said offerings, each of said editing modules configured to provide editing functions based on said editing access levels.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system operator editing system of claim 1, further comprising a network shell module existing in said end-user station, said network shell module in communication with said network and said editing modules, said network shell module adapted to identify which of said editor modules are configured to edit said offerings.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 2, wherein said network shell module accesses one of said editing modules in response to one of said users selecting one of said offerings.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 1, wherein said on-line services are uniquely identified with a service identifier and wherein said offerings associated with said services contain said service identifiers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system operator editing system of claim 4, wherein said end-user station contains an editor list that associates each of said service identifiers with one of said editing modules executing in said end-user station.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system operator editing system of claim 5, further comprising a network shell module in said end-user station, said network shell module in communication with said on-line service, said network shell module adapted to access said offerings and to obtain said service identifiers from said offerings and wherein said network shell module is further adapted to communicate with said editor list to identify said editing modules associated with said service identifiers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system operator editing system of claim 2, further comprising an offering information list existing in said end-user station, said offering information list containing a name for each of said offerings provided by said services.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system operator editing system of claim 7, wherein said editing modules communicate with said offering information list to create an editing menu.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system operator editing system of claim 8 further comprising a computer shell module stored in said end-user station, said computer shell module in communication with said plurality of editing modules, wherein said computer shell module and said plurality of editing modules interact to display said editing menu.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 139 words

A system operator editing system for an interactive network, comprising: a plurality of editing modules, each of said editing modules in communication with a corresponding interactive service existing in a computer network, each of said editing modules configured to edit and organize a plurality of offerings associated with one of said interactive services; and a network shell module stored in said end-user station, said network shell module in communication with said editing modules and said network, said network shell module having a data structure that associates each of said editing modules with one or more of said interactive services, wherein said network shell module provides access to said editing modules when a user of said end-user station has access rights to edit and organize said offerings, said editing modules providing different editing interfaces in response to different access rights.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 139 words

A system operator editing system for an interactive network, comprising: a plurality of editing modules, each of said editing modules in communication with a corresponding interactive service existing in a computer network, each of said editing modules configured to edit and organize a plurality of offerings associated with one of said interactive services; and a network shell module stored in said end-user station, said network shell module in communication with said editing modules and said network, said network shell module having a data structure that associates each of said editing modules with one or more of said interactive services, wherein said network shell module provides access to said editing modules when a user of said end-user station has access rights to edit and organize said offerings, said editing modules providing different editing interfaces in response to different access rights.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are adapted to receive copies of said offerings from said interactive services, said editing modules editing said copies within said end-user station before sending said copies back to said interactive services.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of editing modules contain a plurality of data values that identify a plurality of properties associated with said offerings.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein each of said editing modules contains a plurality of editing functions, said editing functions customized to edit said offerings in said corresponding interactive service.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to create editing menus.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to edit a plurality of properties associated with said offerings.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to obtain a name of one of said interactive services associated with one of said offerings.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to communicate with hierarchically organized on-line services.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to communicate with non-hierarchically organized interactive services.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to determine whether an interactive service is hierarchically organized.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to communicate with hierarchically organized interactive services in said interactive network.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to obtain a list of properties associated with at least one of said offerings.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to display a set of property pages associated with each of said offerings.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to create an icon for each of said offerings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to determine a name of one of said offerings.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted create a new offering in said end-user station and wherein said editing modules direct said on-line services to add said new offering to said on-line network.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 25, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to direct a hierarchically organized on-line service to add said new offering to said on-line network.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 25, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to direct a non-hierarchically organized interactive service to add said new offering to said on-line network.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to delete an offering from a hierarchically organized interactive service in said on-line network.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system operator editing system of claim 10, wherein said editing modules are further adapted to delete an offering from a non-hierarchically organized interactive service in said interactive network.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 170 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network, comprising: a computer network providing a plurality of services having a plurality of offerings associated therewith; an access database in said network, said access database adapted to store a plurality of access values, said access values specifying different access levels for a plurality of users with respect to said offerings, said access levels including a general access level for said users and a plurality of editing access levels for limited groups of said users; a content data structure in said network which organizes said offerings into different content categories, said content categories linking offerings associated with one service with offerings associated with a second service; and a plurality of editing modules, said editing modules in communication with said services, each of said editing modules configured to edit said offerings associated with one of said services, wherein said editing modules process different editing commands based on said access level assigned to said limited group of said users.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 170 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network, comprising: a computer network providing a plurality of services having a plurality of offerings associated therewith; an access database in said network, said access database adapted to store a plurality of access values, said access values specifying different access levels for a plurality of users with respect to said offerings, said access levels including a general access level for said users and a plurality of editing access levels for limited groups of said users; a content data structure in said network which organizes said offerings into different content categories, said content categories linking offerings associated with one service with offerings associated with a second service; and a plurality of editing modules, said editing modules in communication with said services, each of said editing modules configured to edit said offerings associated with one of said services, wherein said editing modules process different editing commands based on said access level assigned to said limited group of said users.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system operator editing system of claim 30, wherein said content categories are adapted to link offerings associated with a non-hierarchically organized service with offerings associated with a hierarchically organized service.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system operator editing system of claim 30, wherein said access values specify said general access level for one of said users with respect to said offerings existing in one of said content categories, whereby said user can access said editing modules when said user selects said offerings in said content category.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system operator editing system of claim 32, further comprising a network shell module existing in said end-user station, said network shell module in communication with said network and said editing modules, said network shell module adapted to identify which of said editor modules are configured to edit said offerings in said content category.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system operator editing system of claim 33, wherein said network shell module accesses one of said editing modules in response to said user selecting one of said offerings in said content category.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 94 words

The system operator editing system of claim 30, wherein said network further comprises: a plurality of servers interconnected by a local area network, each server running at least one of said services, different groups of said servers providing different types of said services; and a plurality of gateway computers connected to said servers by said local area network and connected to said end-user station via a wide area network, each gateway computer programmed to receive service requests from said end-user station and to route said service requests to application servers running corresponding service applications.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 151 words

An object-oriented system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network, comprising: a computer shell object stored in an end-user station, said computer shell object part of an operating system in said end-user station, said computer shell object adapted to display a user interface; a plurality of network shell objects stored in said end-user station, said network shell objects in communication with said computer shell object, said network shell objects corresponding to different offerings in a computer network; and a plurality of editing objects stored in said end-user station, said editing objects in communication with said network shell objects, said computer shell object and a plurality of services, each of said editing objects adapted to edit said offerings within one of said services, each of said editing objects configured to provide a different graphical user interface based on access rights to said offering granted to an end-user.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 151 words

An object-oriented system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network, comprising: a computer shell object stored in an end-user station, said computer shell object part of an operating system in said end-user station, said computer shell object adapted to display a user interface; a plurality of network shell objects stored in said end-user station, said network shell objects in communication with said computer shell object, said network shell objects corresponding to different offerings in a computer network; and a plurality of editing objects stored in said end-user station, said editing objects in communication with said network shell objects, said computer shell object and a plurality of services, each of said editing objects adapted to edit said offerings within one of said services, each of said editing objects configured to provide a different graphical user interface based on access rights to said offering granted to an end-user.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 26 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 36 wherein each of said editing objects includes elements for creating new offerings in one of said services.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 36 wherein each of said editing objects includes elements for modifying said offerings in one of said on-line services.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 26 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 36 wherein each of said editing objects includes elements for deleting said offerings in one of said services.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 57 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 36, wherein said network shell object contains a data structure that associates each of said editing objects with one of said services, wherein said network shell object provides access to said editing objects when said user of said end-user station has access rights to edit and organize said offerings.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 36 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 36, further comprising an offering information list existing in said end-user station, said offering information list containing a name for each of said offerings provided by said services.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

The object-oriented system operator editing system of claim 41, wherein said editing objects communicate with said offering information list to create an editing menu.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 168 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network to a user, comprising: a plurality of editing means for communicating with services in computer network, each of said services containing a data structure that organizes a plurality of offerings into a plurality of content categories, each of said editing means configured to modify the organization of said offerings in one of said services, each of said editing means further identified with a unique identifier; and a network shell means for storing a plurality of identifiers corresponding respectively to one of said editing means, said network shell means in communication with said offerings, said network shell means obtaining an identifier from one of said offerings, wherein said network shell means responds to said identifier to direct said identified editing means to edit said offering, said editing means providing a plurality of editing command sets to edit said offering said editing means using a user access code to select one of said editing command sets.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 168 words

A system operator editing system for modifying the services provided by an interactive network to a user, comprising: a plurality of editing means for communicating with services in computer network, each of said services containing a data structure that organizes a plurality of offerings into a plurality of content categories, each of said editing means configured to modify the organization of said offerings in one of said services, each of said editing means further identified with a unique identifier; and a network shell means for storing a plurality of identifiers corresponding respectively to one of said editing means, said network shell means in communication with said offerings, said network shell means obtaining an identifier from one of said offerings, wherein said network shell means responds to said identifier to direct said identified editing means to edit said offering, said editing means providing a plurality of editing command sets to edit said offering said editing means using a user access code to select one of said editing command sets.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system operator editing system of claim 43 further comprising a computer shell means stored in an end-user station, said computer shell means part of an operating system in said end-user station, said computer shell means adapted to display a user interface, said computer shell means and said plurality of editing means interact to display properties associated with said offerings in said user interface.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 62 words

The system operator editing system of claim 43 further comprising a computer shell means stored in an end-user station, said computer shell means part of an operating system in said end-user station, said computer shell means adapted to display a user interface, said computer shell means and said plurality of editing means interact to display an editing menu in said user interface.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system operator editing system of claim 45 wherein said editing menu lists the types of said offerings said editing means can create.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of modifying the services provided by an interactive, on-line network comprising the steps of: accessing an offering in a computer network, said offering associated with a service; determining that a user at an end-user station has an access right to edit at least one property associated with said offering; sending an identifier to said end-user station, said identifier identifying said offering, said identifier further identifying an editor residing in said end-user station; and invoking said identified editor in said end-user station to permit the editing of said property associated with said offering, said editor adjusting a user interface based on said access right.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of modifying the services provided by an interactive, on-line network comprising the steps of: accessing an offering in a computer network, said offering associated with a service; determining that a user at an end-user station has an access right to edit at least one property associated with said offering; sending an identifier to said end-user station, said identifier identifying said offering, said identifier further identifying an editor residing in said end-user station; and invoking said identified editor in said end-user station to permit the editing of said property associated with said offering, said editor adjusting a user interface based on said access right.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 47, wherein said step of invoking said identified editor further comprises the step of accessing an editor list that associates said identifier with said editor.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 47, further comprising the steps of: creating a copy of said offering in said end-user station; editing the properties associated with said copy; and sending said copy of said offering back to said on-line network.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of displaying a set of property pages associated with said offering.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of deleting said offering with said editor.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of editing the name of said offering.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 91 words

The method of claim 47, further comprising the steps of: accessing a second offering in said on-line network, said second offering associated with a second service; determining that said user has an access right to modify at least one property associated with said second offering; sending a second identifier to said end-user station, said second identifier identifying said second offering, said second identifier further identifying a second editor residing in said end-user station; and invoking said second editor in said end-user station to modify said property associated with said second offering.

Claim 60

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of modifying the services in an interactive, computer network comprising the steps of: accessing one of a plurality of offerings in a computer network, said network providing a data structure that organizes said offerings into different content categories, said offerings within said content categories associated with a plurality of access rights; determining in said network that a user at an end-user station has an access right to modify offerings to a particular content category; invoking an editor in said end-user station; and providing editing capabilities corresponding to said access rights.

Claim 61

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of modifying the services in an interactive, computer network comprising the steps of: accessing one of a plurality of offerings in a computer network, said network providing a data structure that organizes said offerings into different content categories, said offerings within said content categories associated with a plurality of access rights; determining in said network that a user at an end-user station has an access right to modify offerings to a particular content category; invoking an editor in said end-user station; and providing editing capabilities corresponding to said access rights.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of accessing an offering information list, said offering information list associating said new offering with a unique identifier.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 55 wherein said step of invoking said editor invokes said editor identified by said editing information list.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of determining whether said new offering is associated with a hierarchically organized service.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of determining whether said new offering is associated with a non-hierarchically organized service.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of creating a new offering in said end-user station and directing one of said services to add said new offering to said content category.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-10	2002-02-09	2002-08-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-10	2006-02-09	2006-08-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-10	2010-02-09	2010-08-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for editing content in an on-line network

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag