US6704024B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual content browsing using rasterized representations
Assignee: Digimedia Tech LLC
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Filing: 2000-11-29
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Granted: 2004-03-09
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Expires: 2020-11-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to display of visual content on a client device using server-side rasterization of visual content. Visual content is rendered on a server system, transformed into bitmaps compatible with the display attributes of a client device, and transmitted for display on the client device. The invention allows the server to perform, in effect, as a remote browser for displaying Web pages, e-mail, e-mail attachments, electronic document and forms, database queries and results, drawings, presentations, and images at the client device. The approach is “remote” because the server does the rendering and the client provides the interface; “multi-level” because rendered visual content is represented as a multi-level set of raster representations; and constitutes a “browsing system” because the client and server share data about the source visual content element being browsed, and the client performs a specific browsing function assisted by the server.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Robotham
- 👤 Charles Lee Johnson
- 👤 Howard P. Weiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5005; G06F9/5027; G06F9/5055; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06F16/9577; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/1454; G06F2209/00; G06F2209/50; G06F2209/509; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device, the attribute comprising data describing a constituent component of the visual content element, in which the constituent component is localized to a sub-region of a proxy display surface; and transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device, the attribute comprising data describing a constituent component of the visual content element, in which the constituent component is localized to a sub-region of a proxy display surface; and transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a sub-region coordinate of the constituent component to the client device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of modifying a sub-region of a user interface of the client device in response to the sub-region coordinate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device, the attribute comprising data describing a constituent component of the visual content element, wherein the data describing the constituent component comprises location coordinates in the proxy display surface; and transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device, the attribute comprising data describing a constituent component of the visual content element, wherein the data describing the constituent component comprises location coordinates in the proxy display surface; and transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; defining a data element describing an attribute of the visual content element; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon; receiving the bitmap and the data element at the client device; and generating a display surface in a display memory at the client device in response to the bitmap and the data element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; defining a data element describing an attribute of the visual content element; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon; receiving the bitmap and the data element at the client device; and generating a display surface in a display memory at the client device in response to the bitmap and the data element.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; defining a data element describing an attribute of the visual content element; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon; receiving the bitmap and the data element at the client device; and generating a display surface in an allocated client viewport at the client device in response to the bitmap and the data element.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; defining a data element describing an attribute of the visual content element; transforming the represented visual content element to a bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon; receiving the bitmap and the data element at the client device; and generating a display surface in an allocated client viewport at the client device in response to the bitmap and the data element.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; selecting a pixel region of an input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on the pixel region to generate a first bitmap; defining a data element corresponding to a second bitmap, the data element defining a relationship of the first bitmap to the second bitmap; and transmitting to the client the first bitmap, the second bitmap representation, and the data element.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; selecting a pixel region of an input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on the pixel region to generate a first bitmap; defining a data element corresponding to a second bitmap, the data element defining a relationship of the first bitmap to the second bitmap; and transmitting to the client the first bitmap, the second bitmap representation, and the data element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of selecting comprises recalling a stored selection identifying the pixel region.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; identifying a plurality of pixel regions of an input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on each of the plurality of pixel regions to generate a plurality of bitmaps; defining a plurality of data elements, each data element corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of bitmaps, each of the data elements defining a relationship of the respective bitmap to the input bitmap; and transmitting to the client the plurality of bitmaps and the plurality of data elements.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; identifying a plurality of pixel regions of an input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on each of the plurality of pixel regions to generate a plurality of bitmaps; defining a plurality of data elements, each data element corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of bitmaps, each of the data elements defining a relationship of the respective bitmap to the input bitmap; and transmitting to the client the plurality of bitmaps and the plurality of data elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting to the client in a predetermined order the plurality of bitmaps and the plurality of data elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of performing a first transform operation comprises performing a scaling operation on the pixel region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of performing, in response to the display attribute of the client device, a second transform operation on the pixel region to generate the second bitmap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the second bitmap is the input bitmap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating a first display of at least a portion of one of the first bitmap and the second bitmap on a client device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of selecting from the first display at least a portion of the other of the first bitmap and the second bitmap and generating a second display in response thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A server for providing a visual content element to a client device comprising: a proxy module for representing a proxy display; a transformation module in communication with the proxy module, the transformation module generating a bitmap in response to an input bitmap and a display attribute of the client device; and a communications module in communication with the transformation module, the communications module transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
A server for providing a visual content element to a client device comprising: a proxy module for representing a proxy display; a transformation module in communication with the proxy module, the transformation module generating a bitmap in response to an input bitmap and a display attribute of the client device; and a communications module in communication with the transformation module, the communications module transmitting the bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The server of claim 16 wherein the transformation module comprises a scaling module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The server of claim 16 further comprising a client attribute module in communication with the transformation module, the client attribute module determining the display attribute of the client device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The server of claim 16 further comprising a data element generator in communication with the transformation module, the data element generator producing a data element based on the display attribute.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The server of claim 16 wherein the communications module is configured to transmit the data element to the client device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The server of claim 16 wherein the display attribute comprises data describing a constituent component of the visual content element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The server of claim 21 wherein the communications module is configured to transmit a sub-region coordinate of the constituent component.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
104 words
A server for generating a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap comprising: a proxy module for representing a proxy display; a communications module configured to receive pixel region selection data from a client device; and a transformation module in communication with the proxy module and the communications module, the transformation module performing a transform operation on a pixel region of the input bitmap to generate a first bitmap in response to the pixel region selection data, the transformation module generating a data element corresponding to a second bitmap, the data element defining a relationship of the first bitmap to the second bitmap.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
104 words
A server for generating a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap comprising: a proxy module for representing a proxy display; a communications module configured to receive pixel region selection data from a client device; and a transformation module in communication with the proxy module and the communications module, the transformation module performing a transform operation on a pixel region of the input bitmap to generate a first bitmap in response to the pixel region selection data, the transformation module generating a data element corresponding to a second bitmap, the data element defining a relationship of the first bitmap to the second bitmap.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The server of claim 23 wherein the communications module is configured to transmit the first bitmap, the second bitmap and the data element to the client device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The server of claim 23 wherein the transformation module comprises a scaling module.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The server of claim 23 wherein the transformation module is configured to perform a second transform operation on the pixel region to generate the second bitmap.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: receiving an input bitmap at a client device; selecting a pixel region of the input bitmap; determining a display attribute of the client device; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on the pixel region to generate a first bitmap; and transmitting to the client device the first bitmap.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for generating on a server a multi-level set of bitmaps from an input bitmap, comprising the steps of: receiving an input bitmap at a client device; selecting a pixel region of the input bitmap; determining a display attribute of the client device; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a first transform operation on the pixel region to generate a first bitmap; and transmitting to the client device the first bitmap.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of: defining a data element corresponding to a second bitmap, the data element defining a relationship of the first bitmap to the second bitmap; and transmitting to a client the second bitmap representation and the data element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting a watermark in the bitmap prior to the step of transmitting the bitmap.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the watermark is not visible to a user of the client device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the watermark is an active visual control.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating a selection bookmark in response to the selection of a pixel region.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the selection bookmark comprises a composite selection bookmark.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the selection bookmark specifies a prioritization of the type of rendering for application to the selected pixel region.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating a transaction bookmark in response to the selection of a pixel region, the transaction bookmark being associated with an executable action including transmission of data from the client to a server.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the transaction bookmark is a composite transaction bookmark including specifications for at least two transactions related to at least one visual content element.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the transaction bookmark comprises a transaction trigger, the transaction trigger initiating the executable action based on one of an associated input action applied to a pixel location and a value defined within an input filed.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the transaction trigger comprises an automatic trigger, the associated input action being automatically generated to initiate the executable transaction.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the transaction bookmark comprises an executable input action to be applied to a rendered reference visual content element.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for generating on a server a composite rasterized image from a set of input images, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; selecting a pixel region of a first input bitmap; selecting a pixel region of a second input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a transform operation on the first and second input bitmaps to generate a composite bitmap; and transmitting the composite bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for generating on a server a composite rasterized image from a set of input images, comprising the steps of: determining a display attribute of a client device; selecting a pixel region of a first input bitmap; selecting a pixel region of a second input bitmap; in response to the display attribute of the client device, performing a transform operation on the first and second input bitmaps to generate a composite bitmap; and transmitting the composite bitmap to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming a first part of the represented visual content element to a first bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the first bitmap to the client device for display thereon; transmitting a second part of the represented visual content element to the client device; and transforming the second part of the represented visual content element to a second bitmap at the client device for display thereon.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; transforming a first part of the represented visual content element to a first bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; transmitting the first bitmap to the client device for display thereon; transmitting a second part of the represented visual content element to the client device; and transforming the second part of the represented visual content element to a second bitmap at the client device for display thereon.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the second part of the represented visual content is text-related content.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of transcoding the second part of the represented visual content element prior to transmission.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; performing a first transformation on a first portion of the represented visual content element to generate a first bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; performing a second transformation on a second portion of the represented visual content element to generate a second bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; and transmitting the first and second bitmaps to the client device for display thereon.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of displaying visual content on a client device, comprising the steps of: establishing a communications link between the client device and a server; determining a display attribute of the client device; representing a visual content element on a proxy display surface of the server; performing a first transformation on a first portion of the represented visual content element to generate a first bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; performing a second transformation on a second portion of the represented visual content element to generate a second bitmap based on the display attribute of the client device; and transmitting the first and second bitmaps to the client device for display thereon.
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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) | 2007-03-09 | 2007-09-08 | 2008-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-09 | 2011-09-08 | 2012-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-09 | 2015-09-08 | 2016-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |