US6145000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for creating and navigating a linear hypermedia resource program
Assignee: SBC Holdings Properties LP
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Filing: 1998-10-06
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2018-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the linear program having only one forward link to the next media element. The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download and display the next media element in the linear program.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Edward Stuckman
- 👤 Barry James Sullivan
- 👤 Wayne Robert Heinmiller
- 👤 Richard Omanson
- 👤 Jordan Howard Light
- 👤 Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr.
- 👤 James Richard Morse
- 👤 Kent E. Genin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G06F3/165; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/10; G06Q50/20; G06F16/00; G06F16/60; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/954; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F3/0482; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26258; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/80; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/14; H04L12/1432; H04L12/1485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of navigating a linear Web program at a user location in a distributed hypermedia data network, the distributed hypermedia network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, including a base media element, associated by a indexed tree, the linear Web program comprising selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources associated by a series of exclusive forward links, the method comprising: downloading and displaying a first base media element of a first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on a display device at the user location; responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device, the first hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program; displaying a forward link button on the display device; receiving a first signal in response to an action of the user indicating an activation of the forward link button; downloading and displaying a second base media element of the second hypermedia resource on the display device; and responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device at the user location, the second hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a third hypermedia resource of the linear Web program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of navigating a linear Web program at a user location in a distributed hypermedia data network, the distributed hypermedia network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, including a base media element, associated by a indexed tree, the linear Web program comprising selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources associated by a series of exclusive forward links, the method comprising: downloading and displaying a first base media element of a first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on a display device at the user location; responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device, the first hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program; displaying a forward link button on the display device; receiving a first signal in response to an action of the user indicating an activation of the forward link button; downloading and displaying a second base media element of the second hypermedia resource on the display device; and responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device at the user location, the second hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a third hypermedia resource of the linear Web program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the hypermedia data network is the World Wide Web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of hypermedia resources includes a website.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource includes displaying the selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource in a viewing area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of displaying the forward link button includes displaying the forward link button outside of the viewing area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein commands include a subset of advanced commands and a subset of basic commands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of: displaying a experience level menu to the user; receiving a desired user experience level selected from a plurality of user experience levels; and modifying the set of commands available to the user in response to the selected user experience level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of user experience levels include at least an advanced user experience level and a basic user experience level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of modifying the set of commands includes removing the subset of advanced commands if a basic user experience level is selected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: displaying to the user a map of a selected portion of the linear program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of displaying includes displaying a map including a plurality of indicators, each indicator representative of a respective hypermedia resource of the selected portion of the linear program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the selected portion of the linear program includes a linear segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein at least one indicator includes text indicative of the respective hypermedia resource.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein at least one indicator includes at least a portion of at least one individual media element of the respective hypermedia resource.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the indicator includes a graphical media element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein at least one indicator includes a topical icon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: receiving a second signal in response to an action of the user indicating selection of a selected hypermedia resource of the selected portion of the linear program; downloading and displaying a base media element for the selected hypermedia resource on the display device; and responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the selected hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device at the user location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of receiving the second signal includes recognizing an action of the user to select an indicator corresponding to the selected hypermedia resource.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second hypermedia resource includes a Web page and wherein the step of responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource includes displaying the Web page of the second hypermedia resource.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of the selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources is stored at a remote information node.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the step of responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource includes downloading the selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource from the common remote information node.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: displaying a back link button on the display device; and receiving a first signal in response to an action of the user indicating an activation of the back link button.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a distributed hypermedia data network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, including a base media element, associated by a indexed tree, a system for navigating a linear Web program comprising selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources at a user location associated by a series of exclusive forward links, the system comprising: a common remote information node, coupled to the distributed hypermedia network, for storing each of the selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources; and a subscriber station, in communication with the common remote information node, for displaying a base media element of a first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on a display device at the user location, for responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device, the first hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a second hypermedia resource of the linear program, for displaying a forward link button on the display device, for receiving a first signal in response to an action of the user indicating an activation of the forward link button, for displaying the base media element of the second hypermedia resource on the display device, and for responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device at the user location, wherein the second hypermedia resource has an exclusive forward link to a third hypermedia resource of the linear program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a distributed hypermedia data network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, including a base media element, associated by a indexed tree, a system for navigating a linear Web program comprising selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources at a user location associated by a series of exclusive forward links, the system comprising: a common remote information node, coupled to the distributed hypermedia network, for storing each of the selected ones of the plurality of hypermedia resources; and a subscriber station, in communication with the common remote information node, for displaying a base media element of a first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on a display device at the user location, for responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the first hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device, the first hypermedia resource having an exclusive forward link to a second hypermedia resource of the linear program, for displaying a forward link button on the display device, for receiving a first signal in response to an action of the user indicating an activation of the forward link button, for displaying the base media element of the second hypermedia resource on the display device, and for responding to commands of a user to download and display selected individual media elements of the second hypermedia resource of the linear Web program on the display device at the user location, wherein the second hypermedia resource has an exclusive forward link to a third hypermedia resource of the linear program.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of creating a Web program comprising a linear linked-sequence of program elements in a distributed hypermedia data network the distribute hypermedia network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, associated by a indexed tree, the method comprising: selecting a first base media element corresponding to a first individual media element; selecting a second base media element corresponding to a second individual media element; and assigning each of the first and second base media elements to a respective program element in the linear-linked sequence of program elements, wherein each program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements is associated by at least one of an exclusive forward link and an exclusive backward link with a respective one of the other program elements.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of creating a Web program comprising a linear linked-sequence of program elements in a distributed hypermedia data network the distribute hypermedia network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, associated by a indexed tree, the method comprising: selecting a first base media element corresponding to a first individual media element; selecting a second base media element corresponding to a second individual media element; and assigning each of the first and second base media elements to a respective program element in the linear-linked sequence of program elements, wherein each program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements is associated by at least one of an exclusive forward link and an exclusive backward link with a respective one of the other program elements.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
35 words
The method of 24 wherein the step of selecting a first base media element includes responding to a command of a user to select the first individual media element as the first base media element.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
35 words
The method of 24 wherein the step of selecting a first base media element includes responding to a command of a user to select the first individual media element as the first base media element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of selecting a first base media element further comprises automatically selecting a first individual media element as the first base media element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: assigning the first base media element to a first program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: responding to a command of a user to assign the first base media element as a selected one of the linear linked-sequence of program elements; and assigning the first base media element to the selected one of the linear linked-sequence of program elements.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of creating a Web program comprising a linear linked-sequence of program elements in a distributed hypermedia data network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, associated by a indexed tree, the method comprising: receiving at least one search criteria from a user at a user location; evaluating, using an intelligent agent, a plurality of individual media elements; selecting a first base media element corresponding to a first individual media element, that meets the search criteria, of the plurality of individual media elements; selecting a second base media element corresponding to a second individual media element that meets the search criteria; and assigning each of the first and second base media elements to a respective program element in the linear-linked sequence of program elements, wherein each program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements is associated by at least one of an exclusive forward link and an exclusive backward link with a respective one of the other program elements.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of creating a Web program comprising a linear linked-sequence of program elements in a distributed hypermedia data network including a plurality of hypermedia resources at respective remote information nodes, each hypermedia resource having a plurality of individual media elements, associated by a indexed tree, the method comprising: receiving at least one search criteria from a user at a user location; evaluating, using an intelligent agent, a plurality of individual media elements; selecting a first base media element corresponding to a first individual media element, that meets the search criteria, of the plurality of individual media elements; selecting a second base media element corresponding to a second individual media element that meets the search criteria; and assigning each of the first and second base media elements to a respective program element in the linear-linked sequence of program elements, wherein each program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements is associated by at least one of an exclusive forward link and an exclusive backward link with a respective one of the other program elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of: assigning the first base media element to a first program element of the linear linked-sequence of program elements.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one search criteria includes: a search topic; information relating to a content file format; and information relating to a content information format.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the intelligent agent independently operates on a processor remote from the user location.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of: transmitting the linear linked-sequence of program elements to the user at the user location.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of transmitting is performed automatically after the linear-linked-sequence of program elements is complete.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of transmitting is performed in response to a retrieve message received from the user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of receiving a desired time frame from the user.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the steps of evaluating and selecting are processed on the remote processor based on a processing priority dependent on the desired time frame.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of: generating a billing record having a billed amount.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the billed amount is dependent on the desired time frame.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the step of generating a billing record comprises comparing the desired time frame to a billing information table.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |