Data processing: presentation processing of document – operator i – Presentation processing of document – Layout
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-06
2004-08-31
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2178)
Data processing: presentation processing of document, operator i
Presentation processing of document
Layout
C715S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06785865
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to data processing systems and, more particularly, to the discoverability and navigation of hyperlinks within a hypertext document using tabs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Usage of the Internet has increased dramatically in the last few years. Most users of the Internet access web pages that are stored at web sites. The web pages are typically hypertext documents that are downloaded from an Internet server to a client computer system. These hypertext documents are encoded in the hypertext markup language (HTML). HTML is a simple markup language that enables the development of hypertext documents that are platform independent.
HTML documents follow a particular syntax. An example document is helpful to illustrate this syntax.
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “—//IETF//DTD HTML 2.0//EN”>
<HTML>
<!——Here's a good place to put a comment.——>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Structural Example</TITLE>
</HEAD><BODY>
<H
1
>First Header</H
1
>
<P>This is a paragraph in the example HTML file. Keep in mind that the title does not appear in the document text, but that the header (defined by H
1
).does.</P>
<OL>
<L
1
>First item in an ordered list.
<LI>Second item in an ordered list.
<UL COMPACT>
<LI>Note that lists can be nested;
<LI>Whitespace may be used to assist in reading the HTML source.
</UL>
<LI>Third item in an ordered list.
</OL>
<P>This is an additional paragraph. Technically, end tags are not required for paragraphs, although they are allowed. You can include character highlighting in a paragraph. <EM>This sentence of the paragraph is emphasized. </EM>Note that the <:/P>: end tag has been omitted.
<P>
<IMG SRC=“triangle.xbm” alt=“Warning: ”>
Be sure to read these <b>bold instructions</b>.
</BODY></HTML>
As can be seen in the above example, hypertext documents typically contain a number of tags. The tags are delimited by “<” and “>.” Tags delimit elements such as headings, paragraphs, lists, character highlighting and links. Most HTML elements are identified in the document by a start tag, which gives the element name and attributes, followed by the content, which in turn is followed by an end tag. Start tags are delimited by “<” and “>,” whereas end tags are delimited by “</” and “>.” An example of a start tag in the above example document is “<H
1
>” and an example of an end tag is “</H
1
>.” In the above example document, the tags used to delimit lists, paragraphs, the head of the document, and the body of the document.
One of the elements that may be included in a document written in HTML is a hyperlink or link. A hyperlink enables the user to gain access to another web site by activating the hyperlink. Each hyperlink includes an anchor and a URL. The anchor specifies the text or other content that will be displayed to a user when the hypertext document is displayed on the user's computer. The anchor may include text or graphics. The URL is a uniform resource locator that specifies the location of the associated web site or Internet resource. An example of a URL is “http://www.msn.com.”
When a hypertext document is rendered on a user's computer, the hypertext document may include a number of hyperlinks. A user utilizes the hyperlink by positioning a mouse cursor to point within a hot region associated with the anchor and clicking a mouse button. The web browser translates this action into a request to gain access to the resource specified by the URL contained within the hyperlink. In the simplest case, the hyperlink appears to the user as text that is differentiated from other text by being highlighted, boldfaced or distinctly colored. The hyperlink, however, may also appear to the user as a graphical image. The hot region or the hyperlink may encompass the image. In such a case, if the user positions the mouse cursor to point within the hot region and clicks the mouse, the resource associated with the URL contained in the hyperlink will be accessed. In the most complex case, the hyperlink is contained within an image map. An image map is a construct that represents a set of hyperlinks. The image may appears as an image that is segmented into respective hot regions that are associated with respective hyperlinks. Thus, when the user positions the mouse cursor to point inside a given hot region that is part of an image map and clicks the mouse button, the resource identified by the URL for the associated hyperlink is accessed.
One of the difficulties with such hyperlinks is that they are often difficult to discover. Sometimes, the visual cues for delineating hyperlinks within a hypertext document are not very effective. This problem is especially acute with image maps where it is difficult to discern the boundaries of the respective hot regions. Typically, a user is able to identify the presence of hyperlinks by moving the mouse cursor throughout the body of the document and noticing when the mouse cursor changes form. In at least one conventional system, the mouse cursor changes from an arrow to a hand when the hot region of a hyperlink is encountered. One limitation of this approach is that a user must navigate the entire document in order to be certain that he has located each hyperlink within the document. In addition, a user may not know the extent of the hot region and which hyperlink is associated with a given portion of the screen. Furthermore, users who have difficulty using a mouse, such as handicapped users, cannot readily discern the location of the hot regions for the hyperlinks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method of navigating among hyperlinks is performed in a computer system having an output device and a document with hyperlinks. In accordance with this method, the document is displayed on the output device and a tab request is received. In response to receiving the tab request, focus is given to a first of the hyperlinks in the document.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,sa hypertext document is displayed on a video display that is part of a computer system. Hyperlinks within the hypertext document are organized into a sequence. When a user depresses a predefined key on an input device, a next one of the hyperlinks in the sequence is given focus.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, a method is performed in a computer system such that a visual representation of a hyperlink that is part of a hypertext document is displayed on a video display. Focus is given to the hyperlink and a non-rectangular focus shape is drawn around the visual representation of the hyperlink to indicate that the hyperlink has focus. The focus shape may be, for example, a circle or a non-rectangular polygon.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, an image map is provided at a client from a server. The image map includes multiple hyperlinks. The image map is displayed on a display device at the client. A user presses a selected key on an input device and in response, a visual indication of the presence of a hyperlink in the image map is displayed.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer system has a server that downloads a hypertext document to a client computer system.
The client computer system includes a display device on a keyboard. A method is performed such that a hypertext document is displayed on the display device of the client computer system. At least one image of the document is not immediately downloaded but a placeholder for the image is displayed. The user uses the keyboard to indicate that the user does not wish for the image to be downloaded. In response, the system determines that the image should not be downloaded and continues to display the document on the display device. The user may, for example, press a tab key to tab to
Brown Christopher R.
Cordell John P.
Cote Joseph Paul-Emile Pierre
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Hong Stephen S.
Microsoft Corporation
Paula Cesar B.
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