US6952799B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
User interface for network browser including pre-processor for links embedded in hypermedia documents
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1997-06-17
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Granted: 2005-10-04
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Expires: 2017-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An interface for a World Wide Web (WWW) browser is described which recognizes HyperText Markup Language (HTML) links embedded in WWW pages. Normally, such links are highlighted on a graphics screen and are activated using a pointing device such as a computer mouse. When each HTML link is recognized by the interface, it is assigned an identifier which can be selected by a user of a system incorporating the interface by means defined by the interface other than a mouse, for example by a keypad.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas Hector Edwards
- 👤 Martin Russ
- 👤 Paul Garner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An access system for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, which system comprises: i) means for retrieving one or more files; ii) means for searching a file so retrieved to locate one or more links embedded therein; iii) means for assigning a different respective identifier to any link so located; iv selection means for use by the user to select an assigned identifier from among the different respective identifier(s) assigned to any link so located and presented to the user for selection thereof; v) activating means responsive to selection of an identifier to activate the associated link; a display control output for use in displaying the file containing the link to be activated; and means for determining spatial co-ordinates for links located in a file, said spatial coordinates relating each link to its location in the file when displayed, and the means for assigning an identifier assigns an identifier to each link in accordance with its spatial coordinates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An access system for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, which system comprises: i) means for retrieving one or more files; ii) means for searching a file so retrieved to locate one or more links embedded therein; iii) means for assigning a different respective identifier to any link so located; iv selection means for use by the user to select an assigned identifier from among the different respective identifier(s) assigned to any link so located and presented to the user for selection thereof; v) activating means responsive to selection of an identifier to activate the associated link; a display control output for use in displaying the file containing the link to be activated; and means for determining spatial co-ordinates for links located in a file, said spatial coordinates relating each link to its location in the file when displayed, and the means for assigning an identifier assigns an identifier to each link in accordance with its spatial coordinates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said spatial co-ordinates are based on perpendicular axes and the means for assigned an identifier gives preference to the co-ordinate for one of the perpendicular axes, in assigning identifiers to a respective link.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An access system according to claim 1 wherein the selection means comprises a command-based interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
An access system for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, which system comprises: i) means for retrieving one or more files; ii) means for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; iii) means for assigning, to each of a plurality of links so located, a respective different identifier for presentation to a user; iv) input means, comprising a command-based interface, for use by the user to input an identifier from among the respective different identifiers presented to the user; and v) activating means responsive to input of an assigned identifier to activate the associated link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
An access system for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, which system comprises: i) means for retrieving one or more files; ii) means for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; iii) means for assigning, to each of a plurality of links so located, a respective different identifier for presentation to a user; iv) input means, comprising a command-based interface, for use by the user to input an identifier from among the respective different identifiers presented to the user; and v) activating means responsive to input of an assigned identifier to activate the associated link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the activating means activates the associated link so as to retrieve a file located at an address contained in or identified by that link.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the activating means activates the associated link so as to launch an application associated with the link.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the system further comprises a display control output for use in displaying the file containing the link to be activated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 7 wherein the system is further provided with a user input for display control commands, and control means to receive such control commands and to control the display in accordance with said control commands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 7 wherein means is provided to process at least one activatable link in a retrieved file, prior to display, so as to modify the on-screen appearance of the link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 9 wherein the on-screen appearance of the link is modified by the addition of the identifier assigned to that link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system as in claim 10 wherein the identifier comprises a number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system as in claim 10 wherein the identifier comprises a color.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 7 wherein means is provided to process at least one activatable link in a retrieved file so as to generate a second on-screen appearance of the link.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein means is provided to process at least two activatable links in a retrieved file so as to generate second on-screen appearances of each respective link, and means is provided to display a set of said second on-screen appearances of the links, separately from other content of said retrieved file.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 14 wherein said set comprises a smaller number of second on-screen appearances of processed links than the number of links in a retrieved file.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 15 said system being provided with link input control means for use by the user to input the links in a retrieved file whose second on-screen appearances appear in said set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as in claim 16 wherein the system has means to respond to a scroll input, by means of the link input control means, to scroll the set of second on-screen appearances of links.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system as in claim 17 wherein the means to respond to a scroll input comprises: i) means to compare the currently displayed set of second on-screen appearances of links with the currently displayed first on-screen appearances of the links in a retrieved file; and ii) means to scroll the portion of the retrieved file currently displayed in the event that the last of said set and the last of the first on-screen appearances of the links, in the scroll direction, both relate to the same link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein each said second on-screen appearance(s) of a processed link is different from the first on-screen appearance(s) of the associated processed link.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein the means for processing links comprises a truncation device for generating a truncated version of a link, for inclusion for said second on-screen appearance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the system is provided with a translation data store for use in translating an identifier, when inputted by use of said input means, to an activatable link.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the input means comprises a remote control device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 22 wherein said remote control device is based on infra-red transmission.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the file is written in HyperText Markup Language.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the system further comprises display control means to control the on-screen appearance of a file, in addition to the on-screen appearance of one or more links embedded in the file.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein the activating means activates the associated link so as to set up a communication connection in one or more communication networks.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 4 comprising a television display output for displaying a retrieved file.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
An information network browser comprising a system as in claim 4 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
A browser as in claim 28 further comprising means to process a retrieved file comprising means to identify an activatable link embedded in said file, to generate an identifier for a link so identified, and to display the identifier together with the link.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
A browser as in claim 28 comprising input means including a keypad.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A browser according to claim 4 further comprising control means for use by the user to control the display.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
An access system as in claim 4 wherein the input means is a keypad.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
An access system as in claim 32 wherein the assigned identifier is a number.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
An access system as in claim 32 wherein the assigned identifier is a colour and the user inputs the assigned identifier by activating a coloured button on the keypad.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
An access system as in claim 4 wherein the input means comprises a voice recognition apparatus.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer terminal for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, the terminal comprising: i) a retriever for retrieving one or more files; ii) a searcher for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; iii) an assignor for assigning, to each of a plurality of links so located, a respective different identifier; iv) display for displaying said identifiers; v) a keypad for use by the user to input an identifier from among the displayed identifiers; and vi) activator responsive to input of an assigned identifier to activate the associated link.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer terminal for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, which link contains a location address or an identifier for a location address, the terminal comprising: i) a retriever for retrieving one or more files; ii) a searcher for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; iii) an assignor for assigning, to each of a plurality of links so located, a respective different identifier; iv) display for displaying said identifiers; v) a keypad for use by the user to input an identifier from among the displayed identifiers; and vi) activator responsive to input of an assigned identifier to activate the associated link.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A terminal as in claim 36 wherein the display is operable to display the contents of the retrieved file and to display the assigned identifiers as a modification of the displayed file.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A terminal as in claim 37 wherein the modification is the addition of the display of characters constituting one of said identifiers, whereby said characters may be input via said keypad.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
A terminal as in claim 37 wherein the modification is the display of links in said retrieved file in respective different colors, constituting said identifiers, and said keypad has keys bearing said colors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
70 words
A terminal as in claim 36 wherein the assignor is operable to assign up to a predetermined number of said identifiers, and in the event that the number of links in the retrieved file exceeds said predetermined number: (a) to assign said identifiers to first links in said retrieved file; and (b) upon receipt of a user input command, to reassign said identifiers to further links in said retrieved file.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
A terminal as in claim 40 wherein the identifiers are a plurality of different colors and are arranged to display those links to which identifiers are currently assigned in the colors assigned to them, and to display further links, to which identifiers are not currently assigned, in a further distinctive color.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
A terminal as in claim 36 operable in response to a scroll command to scroll said display and reassign said identifiers to links lying within that part of the retrieved file which becomes displayed following said scrolling.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
51 words
A terminal as in claim 42 wherein the identifiers are a plurality of different colors and are arranged to display those links to which identifiers are currently assigned in the colors assigned to them, and to display further links, to which identifiers are not currently assigned, in a further distinctive color.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
A terminal as in claim 36 wherein the display is operable to display the contents of the retrieved file in a first display area and to display the assigned identifiers in a second, separate display area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
A terminal as in claim 44 wherein each identifier is also marked upon a keypad key allocated thereto.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
103 words
An access system for accessing location in a network by activating a link in a file, the system comprising: a retriever for retrieving one or more files; a searcher for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; assignor for assigning a respective different identifier to each of a plurality of links so located for display to a user; a command-based interface for use by the user to input an assigned identifier from among the respective different identifiers displayed to the user; and an activator, responsive to an input of the assigned identifier, to activate the link associated with the identifier.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
103 words
An access system for accessing location in a network by activating a link in a file, the system comprising: a retriever for retrieving one or more files; a searcher for searching a file so retrieved to locate links embedded therein; assignor for assigning a respective different identifier to each of a plurality of links so located for display to a user; a command-based interface for use by the user to input an assigned identifier from among the respective different identifiers displayed to the user; and an activator, responsive to an input of the assigned identifier, to activate the link associated with the identifier.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as in claim 46 , further comprising a processor which modifies the retrieved file so that the on-screen appearance of the retrieved file is modified by the addition of the identifier respectively assigned to each link, the identifier comprising at least one of a number and a color, so that the on-screen appearance of the retrieved file includes both the identifier and the link.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, the method comprising: retrieving one or more files; searching a retrieved file to locate links embedded therein; assigning a respective different identifier to each of a plurality of links so located; presenting the respective different identifiers to a user; receiving an input from the user through a command-based interface to receive an assigned identifier associated with one of the links from among the respective different identifiers; and activating the associated link responsive to the reception of the identifier.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, the method comprising: retrieving one or more files; searching a retrieved file to locate links embedded therein; assigning a respective different identifier to each of a plurality of links so located; presenting the respective different identifiers to a user; receiving an input from the user through a command-based interface to receive an assigned identifier associated with one of the links from among the respective different identifiers; and activating the associated link responsive to the reception of the identifier.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 48 further comprising displaying the retrieved file including and displaying the assigned identifiers as a modification of the retrieved file.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 49 wherein the modification includes the addition of the display of characters constituting one of the identifiers.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 49 wherein the modification is the display of links in the retrieved file in respective different colors and the input received through the command-based interface involves a selection of one of the colors.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, the method comprising: retrieving one or more files; searching a file so retrieved to locate one or more links embedded therein; assigning a respective different identifier to any link so located; presenting the identifier to any link so located to a user; receiving a selection of an assigned identifier from among any identifier respectively assigned to any link so located; in response to the selection of the identifier, activating the associated link; and determining spatial coordinates for links located in a file, said spatial coordinates relating each link to its location in the file when displayed and wherein assigning the identifier includes assigning an identifier to each link in accordance with its spatial coordinates.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of accessing a location in a network by activating a link in a file, the method comprising: retrieving one or more files; searching a file so retrieved to locate one or more links embedded therein; assigning a respective different identifier to any link so located; presenting the identifier to any link so located to a user; receiving a selection of an assigned identifier from among any identifier respectively assigned to any link so located; in response to the selection of the identifier, activating the associated link; and determining spatial coordinates for links located in a file, said spatial coordinates relating each link to its location in the file when displayed and wherein assigning the identifier includes assigning an identifier to each link in accordance with its spatial coordinates.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-03 | 2013-04-04 | 2013-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-03 | 2017-04-04 | 2017-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |