Patent US5908467A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5908467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for displaying file parameters
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-05-31
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2016-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are provided, for use with network communication systems such as Internet terminals having World Wide Web browsers, for indicating to the user a parameter related to a piece of remote information, such as an estimation of a length of time required to download a given piece of information resident at a remote site. Hyperlinks, icons, or menu items are displayed, as in conventional systems. Also provided are indicia which give the user the length of time estimate. The indicia may be displayed concurrently with the displayed hyperlink, or otherwise provided, such as by audio or tactile user feedback. In one preferred embodiment, each hyperlink is accompanied by a red, yellow, or green dot, the color of the dot being representative of the estimated download time.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Carl Barrett
- 👤 Daniel Clark Kellem
- 👤 Paul Philip Maglio
- 👤 Edwin Joseph Selker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/75; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for facilitating a display, at a local display unit as a client of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the local display unit, the method comprising; displaying a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, obtaining by said client, information related to the parameter of the desired information and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and providing an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for facilitating a display, at a local display unit as a client of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the local display unit, the method comprising; displaying a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, obtaining by said client, information related to the parameter of the desired information and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and providing an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a user-selectable link includes displaying one of (i) an icon, and (ii) a menu item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein: the communication network includes the Internet; and the step of displaying a user-selectable link includes displaying a hyperlink as part of a displayed World Wide Web page.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining includes: sending a test message to the remote site; and receiving a response message from the remote site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the parameter, whose related information is obtained by the step of obtaining, includes a length of time required to download the second information from the remote site.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of obtaining further comprises extracting a parameter contained within the response message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the step of extracting includes extracting a parameter related to one of: (i) a size of the desired information, (ii) a cost of the desired information, (iii) a quality of the desired information, and (iv) a language of text within the desired information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein: the local display unit is operating in accordance with an operating context, for which different information items have differing degrees of appropriateness therewithin; and the step of extracting includes extracting a parameter related to an appropriateness of the desired information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein: the parameter has a range of possible values; and the step of providing an indicator includes providing one of a set of different indicia, each one of the indicia representing a respective portion of the range of values of the parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step of providing an indicator includes one of (i) displaying a visible indicator, (ii) providing an audible indicator, and (iii) providing a tactile indicator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein: the parameter includes an estimated length of time for downloading the desired information; and each successive one of the indicia represents a successively longer length of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 11, wherein: a set of time delay threshold values delimit ranges of delay times, each range corresponding with one of the indicia; and the step of providing an indicator includes determining within which range the estimated time falls, and displaying the one of the indicia corresponding with that range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of providing an indicator includes displaying one of a set of indicia, the indicia of the set being distinct from each other in terms of at least one of (i) shape, and (ii) color.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein: the method further comprises the step of the user positioning a cursor on the displayed user-selectable link; and the step of providing an indicator includes one of (i) providing an audible signal, and (ii) providing tactile feedback through a cursor positioning device used by the user to perform the step of positioning.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein: the parameter includes one of: (i) a cost, within a portion of a range of costs, associated with the desired information; (ii) a price, the indicator therefor being expressed in terms of a character string; and (iii) a language, the desired information including text in the language.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein: the system has a current state, for which different information items have different degrees of appropriateness; and the parameter includes an indication of appropriateness of the desired information based on the current state of the system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 9, the method further comprises the steps of: obtaining information related to a second parameter of the desired information; and providing a second indicator related to the second parameter, concurrently with the first-recited parameter, in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for facilitating a display, at a local display unit as a client of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site as a server and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the local display unit, the system comprising: means for displaying a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network; means for obtaining by said client, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, information related to the parameter of the desired information and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and means for providing an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for facilitating a display, at a local display unit as a client of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site as a server and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the local display unit, the system comprising: means for displaying a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network; means for obtaining by said client, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, information related to the parameter of the desired information and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and means for providing an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for displaying a user-selectable link includes means for displaying one of (i) an icon, and (ii) a menu item.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 18, wherein: the communication network includes the Internet; and the means for displaying a user-selectable link includes means for displaying a hyperlink as part of a displayed World Wide Web page.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the means for obtaining includes: means for sending a test message to the remote site; and means for receiving a response message from the remote site.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the parameter, whose related information is obtained by the means for obtaining, includes a length of time required to download the second information from the remote site.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the means for obtaining further comprises means for extracting a parameter contained within the response message.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the means for extracting includes means for extracting a parameter related to one of: (i) a size of the desired information, (ii) a cost of the desired information, (iii) a quality of the desired information, and (iv) a language of text within the desired information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as recited in claim 23, wherein: the local display unit is operating in accordance with an operating context, for which different information items have differing degrees of appropriateness therewithin; and the means for extracting includes means for extracting a parameter related to an appropriateness of the desired information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as recited in claim 18, wherein: the parameter has a range of possible values; and the means for providing an indicator includes means for providing one of a set of different indicia, each one of the indicia representing a respective portion of the range of values of the parameter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as recited in claim 26, wherein the means for providing an indicator includes one of (i) means for displaying a visible indicator, (ii) means for providing an audible indicator, and (iii) means for providing a tactile indicator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as recited in claim 26, wherein: the parameter includes an estimated length of time for downloading the desired information; and each successive one of the indicia represents a successively longer length of time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as recited in claim 28, wherein: a set of time delay threshold values delimit ranges of delay times, each range corresponding with one of the indicia; and the means for providing an indicator includes means for determining within which range the estimated time falls, and for displaying the one of the indicia corresponding with that range.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the means for providing an indicator includes means for displaying one of a set of indicia, the indicia of the set being distinct from each other in terms of at least one of (i) shape, and (ii) color.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as recited in claim 25, wherein: the means for providing an indicator includes means, operable responsive to the user positioning a cursor on the displayed user-selectable link, for one of (i) providing an audible signal, and (ii) providing tactile feedback through a cursor positioning device used by the user to perform the step of positioning.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as recited in claim 26, wherein: the parameter includes one of: (i) a cost, within a portion of a range of costs, associated with the desired information; (ii) a price, the indicator therefor being expressed in terms of a character string; and (iii) a language, the desired information including text in the language.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as recited in claim 26, wherein: the system has a current state, for which different information items have different degrees of appropriateness; and the parameter includes an indication of appropriateness of the desired information based on the current state of the system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as recited in claim 26, further comprising: means for obtaining information related to a second parameter of the desired information; and means for providing a second indicator related to the second parameter, concurrently with the first-recited parameter, in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
193 words
A computer program product, for use with a processing system having a local display unit as a client, for facilitating a display, at the local display unit, of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site as a server and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the processing system, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable medium; means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to display a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network; means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to obtain by said server, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, information related to the parameter of the desired information, and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to provide an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
193 words
A computer program product, for use with a processing system having a local display unit as a client, for facilitating a display, at the local display unit, of a parameter related to desired information, wherein said parameter is associated with at least one of a file type, a file size, and a file length of said desired information, the desired information residing on a remote site as a server and being accessible over a communication network coupled to the processing system, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable medium; means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to display a user-selectable link to the desired information which is coupled to the network; means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to obtain by said server, at a time other than creation of the user-selectable link, information related to the parameter of the desired information, and editing the desired information retrieved from the remote site by the client in accordance with the parameter information; and means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to provide an indicator related to the parameter in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the means for directing to display a user-selectable link includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to display one of (i) an icon, and (ii) a menu item.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein: the communication network includes the Internet; and the means for directing to display a user-selectable link includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to display a hyperlink as part of a displayed World Wide Web page.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the means for directing to obtain includes: means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to send a test message to the remote site; and means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to receive a response message from the remote site.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 38, wherein the parameter, whose related information is obtained by the means for directing to obtain, includes a length of time required to download the second information from the remote site.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 38, wherein the means for directing to obtain further comprises means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to extract a parameter contained within the response message.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the means for directing to extract includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to extract a parameter related to one of: (i) a size of the desired information, (ii) a cost of the desired information, (iii) a quality of the desired information, and (iv) a language of text within the desired information.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein: the local display unit is operating in accordance with an operating context, for which different information items have differing degrees of appropriateness therewithin; and the means for directing to extract includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to extract a parameter related to an appropriateness of the desired information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein: the parameter has a range of possible values; and the means for directing to provide an indicator includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to provide one of a set of different indicia, each one of the indicia representing a respective portion of the range of values of the parameter.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein the means for directing to provide an indicator includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to one of (i) display a visible indicator, (ii) provide an audible indicator, and (iii) provide a tactile indicator.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein: the parameter includes an estimated length of time for downloading the desired information; and each successive one of the indicia represents a successively longer length of time.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 45, wherein: a set of time delay threshold values delimit ranges of delay times, each range corresponding with one of the indicia; and the means for directing to provide an indicator includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to determine within which range the estimated time falls, and to display the one of the indicia corresponding with that range.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 42, wherein the means for directing to provide an indicator includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to display one of a set of indicia, the indicia of the set being distinct from each other in terms of at least one of (i) shape, and (ii) color.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
69 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 42, wherein: the means for directing to provide an indicator includes means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system, responsive to the user positioning a cursor on the displayed, user-selectable link, to one of (i) provide an audible signal, and (ii) provide tactile feedback through a cursor positioning device used by the user to perform the step of positioning.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein: the parameter includes one of: (i) a cost, within a portion of a range of costs, associated with the desired information; (ii) a price, the indicator therefor being expressed in terms of a character string; and (iii) a language, the desired information including text in the language.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein: the system has a current state, for which different information items have different degrees of appropriateness; and the parameter includes an indication of appropriateness of the desired information based on the current state of the system.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 43, further comprising: means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to obtain information related to a second parameter of the desired information; and means, recorded on the medium, for directing the processing system to provide a second indicator related to the second parameter, concurrently with the first-recited parameter, in association with the displayed, user-selectable link.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining of information comprises a step separate from that of creation of the user-selectable link.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining of information originates from a source different from that of said user-selectable link.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining of information comprises a step performed at a time after creation of said user-selectable link.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for obtaining information obtains said information separately from that of creation of the user-selectable link.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein said information, obtained by said means for obtaining, originates from a source different from that of said user-selectable link.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for obtaining information obtains said information at a time after creation of said user-selectable link.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product according to claim 35, wherein said information, obtained by said processing system, is separate from information at creation of the user-selectable link.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program product according to claim 35, wherein said means for directing directs said processing system to obtain said information from a source different from that of said user-selectable link.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product according to claim 35, wherein said means for directing directs said processing system to obtain said information at a time after creation of said user-selectable link.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |