US6065047A — System for providing subscriber with access to a …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for a subscriber to navigate a computer information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, comprising the steps of: providing a computer application program for prompting said subscriber and determining said subscriber's responses; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of topics; determining said subscriber's response to said topic prompt; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of subtopics; determining said subscriber's response to said subtopic prompt; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of actions; determining said subscriber's response to said action prompt; and providing said subscriber with access to a content area customized for the combination of said subscriber's responses to said topic prompt, said subtopic prompt, and said action prompt to said computer application program.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for a subscriber to navigate a computer information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, comprising the steps of: providing a computer application program for prompting said subscriber and determining said subscriber's responses; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of topics; determining said subscriber's response to said topic prompt; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of subtopics; determining said subscriber's response to said subtopic prompt; prompting said subscriber to select one of a plurality of actions; determining said subscriber's response to said action prompt; and providing said subscriber with access to a content area customized for the combination of said subscriber's responses to said topic prompt, said subtopic prompt, and said action prompt to said computer application program.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, wherein prompting said subscriber of an action occurs before prompting said subscriber for a topic.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, wherein prompting said subscriber for a topic occurs before prompting said subscriber for an action.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber is prompted to select a topic and subtopic pair.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber is prompted for topic, subtopic, and action responses using icons that represent said topics, said subtopics, and said actions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1, wherein display characteristics of said topic icons or said subtopic icons are distinguishable from said action icons.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber may select one of four topics, one of ten subtopics, and one of six actions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber is prompted for additional information based on said subscriber's previous response.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 5, wherein said icons may be selected using a single operation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber may perform in said content area specific tasks related to said subscriber's responses to said topic prompt, said subtopic prompt, and said action prompt.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 10, wherein said specific tasks may be selected from the group of reading and composing electronic messages, reading online news, chatting online with subscribers, electronic shopping, and navigating a foreign electronic information service.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 148 words

An online information service navigation system, said online information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, said system comprising: a graphical user interface on a subscriber's computer for prompting a subscriber for a topic response, a subtopic response, and an action response; a connection between said subscriber's computer and a host computer that is part of said online information service for transmitting and receiving packets; at least one request packet for communicating said subscriber's topic response, subtopic response, and action response to said host computer, said request packet assembled and transmitted to said host computer by said subscriber's computer; and at least one return packet assembled and transmitted by said host computer for providing said subscriber with access to a content area information customized for the combination of topic response, subtopic response, and actions response in said at least one request packet.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 148 words

An online information service navigation system, said online information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, said system comprising: a graphical user interface on a subscriber's computer for prompting a subscriber for a topic response, a subtopic response, and an action response; a connection between said subscriber's computer and a host computer that is part of said online information service for transmitting and receiving packets; at least one request packet for communicating said subscriber's topic response, subtopic response, and action response to said host computer, said request packet assembled and transmitted to said host computer by said subscriber's computer; and at least one return packet assembled and transmitted by said host computer for providing said subscriber with access to a content area information customized for the combination of topic response, subtopic response, and actions response in said at least one request packet.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 12, wherein said topic response, said subtopic response, and said action response are represented by icons.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said icons may be selected using a single operation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said topic and said subtopic icons are distinguishable from said action icons.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 12, wherein said subscriber may perform additional tasks within said content area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said additional tasks may be selected from the group of reading and composing electronic messages, reading online news, chatting online with subscribers, electronic shopping, and navigating a foreign electronic information service.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 55 words

A computer information service navigation system, comprising: a plurality of content areas, each of said content areas related to a topic, a subtopic, and an action; a selected topic, subtopic, and action; a content area based on said selected topic, subtopic, and action; and a display for presenting said content area to a computer user.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 55 words

A computer information service navigation system, comprising: a plurality of content areas, each of said content areas related to a topic, a subtopic, and an action; a selected topic, subtopic, and action; a content area based on said selected topic, subtopic, and action; and a display for presenting said content area to a computer user.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 18, wherein one of four topics, one of ten subtopics, and one of six actions may be selected.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said topic, said subtopic, and said action are represented by icons.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 20, wherein said icons may be selected using a single operation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said content areas have similar appearances and behavioral characteristics.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 83 words

A system for navigating a computer information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, comprising: a plurality of content areas; a plurality of paths of equal length for traversing to said content areas; a plurality of icons for traversing one of said plurality of paths; means for selecting icons associated with one of said plurality of paths; and a display for presenting one of said plurality of content areas customized for the combination of said icon selections.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 83 words

A system for navigating a computer information service adapted to offer at least information retrieval, electronic mail, and chat services, comprising: a plurality of content areas; a plurality of paths of equal length for traversing to said content areas; a plurality of icons for traversing one of said plurality of paths; means for selecting icons associated with one of said plurality of paths; and a display for presenting one of said plurality of content areas customized for the combination of said icon selections.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said plurality of content areas have similar appearance and behavioral characteristics.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said icons represent topics, subtopics, and actions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said icons may be selected in one of several orders.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said paths are of length three or less.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 155 words

A product for enabling users to access content areas on a computer network, at least one content area adapted to offer electronic mail services and at least one content area adapted to offer chat services, said product comprising: a first entry selection point, including a navigational grid containing a plurality of rows and columns, wherein said rows define a first set of entry options and said columns define a second set of entry options; means for selecting one of said set of first entry options or one of said set of second entry options on said first entry selection point; and means for selecting one of said set of first entry options if one of said set of second entry options has been previously selected, or for selecting one of said set of second entry options if one of said set of first entry options has been previously selected on said first entry selection point.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 155 words

A product for enabling users to access content areas on a computer network, at least one content area adapted to offer electronic mail services and at least one content area adapted to offer chat services, said product comprising: a first entry selection point, including a navigational grid containing a plurality of rows and columns, wherein said rows define a first set of entry options and said columns define a second set of entry options; means for selecting one of said set of first entry options or one of said set of second entry options on said first entry selection point; and means for selecting one of said set of first entry options if one of said set of second entry options has been previously selected, or for selecting one of said set of second entry options if one of said set of first entry options has been previously selected on said first entry selection point.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The product of claim 28, wherein said navigational grid is transparent to said user.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

The product of claim 28, further comprising a second selection point, said second selection point including a plurality of third options, said third options having a dependent relationship to one of said first or second entry options.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

The product of claim 28, wherein said first set of entry options and said second set of entry options are presented to said user in a single presentation format.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

The product of claim 28 in which said users may accomplish additional tasks at said content areas selected from said entry options.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 32, wherein said specific tasks may be selected from the group of reading and composing electronic messages, reading online news, chatting online with subscribers, electronic shopping, and navigating a foreign electronic information service.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-16	2003-11-15	2004-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-16	2007-11-15	2008-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-16	2011-11-15	2012-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for providing subscriber with access to a content area customized for the combination of subscriber's responses to topic prompt, subtopic prompt, and action prompt

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