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US5854630A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Prospective view for web backtrack

Assignee: Oracle America Inc
•
Filing: 1996-07-01
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Granted: 1998-12-29
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Expires: 2016-07-01
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Abstract

Abstract When a cursor is placed over a "back" button or a "forward" button, a list of URLs that have been recently visited, is displayed. This enables the user to immediately visualize the information space accessible using the back and forward buttons. Each URL listed is accompanied by a page title or other descriptive information. A user can select one of the URL's on the list and immediately reconnect to that page.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jakob Nielsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 07:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9558; G06F16/9562; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/969

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for navigating through information space in a network environment, comprising: a. a computer having a network access port; b. browser software running on said computer, said browser software maintaining a list of network addresses to which a user has connected over said network access port and having a user interface implementing back and forward functionality activated by a back button and a forward button, respectively, on a display screen, said browser software displaying said list when a cursor is positioned over said back button or said forward button for a period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for navigating through information space in a network environment, comprising: a. a computer having a network access port; b. browser software running on said computer, said browser software maintaining a list of network addresses to which a user has connected over said network access port and having a user interface implementing back and forward functionality activated by a back button and a forward button, respectively, on a display screen, said browser software displaying said list when a cursor is positioned over said back button or said forward button for a period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said back button and said forward button are activated by clicking on said buttons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which connection to a member of said list of network addresses is initiated by clicking on an entry in said list.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said list of network addresses includes descriptive information about the respective information found at said network addresses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said list includes one or more entries, each entry comprising: a field listing the network address; a field containing a pointer to a stored page of information; and a field containing descriptive information about the information found at the network addresses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein activation of said back functionality by said back button connects to a last user-connected network address on said list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein activation of said back functionality by said back button connects to a higher level of a previously user-connected network address on said list.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein activation of said forward functionality by said forward button connects to a lower level of a previously user-connected network address on said list.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein activation of said forward functionality by said forward button connects to a higher level of a previously user-connected network address on said list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said descriptive information comprises title page information regarding said user-connected network address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said descriptive information comprises title page information regarding said user-connected network address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said descriptive information comprises a first markup heading regarding said user-connected network address if said user-connected network address does not contain any title page information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said descriptive information comprises a first markup heading regarding said user-connected network address if said user-connected network address does not contain any title page information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said descriptive information comprises a second markup heading regarding said user-connected network address if said user-connected network address does not contain at least one of a first markup heading and any title page information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said descriptive information comprises a second markup heading regarding said user-connected network address if said user-connected network address does not contain at least one of a first markup heading and any title page information.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5297253A Cited
US5524201A Cited
US5724506A Cited
US5706507A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-12-28 2002-06-29 2002-12-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-12-28 2006-06-29 2006-12-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-12-28 2010-06-29 2010-12-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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