Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-11-06
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to web browsers and more particularly to a web browser that displays a current web page along with past web pages and/or future web pages in a unique browsing environment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The Internet has dramatically changed the manner in which we access, gather, and collect information. Often referred to as the “World Wide Web,” the Internet provides a user with a host of “web pages.” A web page is rendered from web page data that is downloaded from a source of web page data via the Internet using various well-known protocols. The web page data is often in the form of a hypertext mark-up language (e.g., HTML, DHTML, XML, etc.) or a scripting language (e.g., Java, JavaScript, etc.), and often includes a reference or hyperlink (i.e., a URL address) to another web page. The web page data may include other forms of source language and other forms of data as would be apparent. Once the web page data is rendered, the web page may be displayed to the user for viewing. The actions of selecting a web page, downloading web page data associated with the web page, rendering that data, and displaying the web page to the user is often referred to as “web browsing.”
Various conventional web browsing engines, or web browsers as they are commonly referred, are available. These web browsers may, for example, include Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ and Netscape's Navigator™. These web browsers facilitate web browsing and provide the user with a host of browsing features including bookmarks and history functions.
However, one of the problems associated with conventional web browsers is that typically, only one web page is rendered at any given time for display to the user. Conventional methods for overcoming this problem include the user opening a second instance of the web browser and manually switching back and forth between the instances, or alternately, the user manually moving and/or resizing a window in which each instance operates so that the respective instances can be contemporaneously viewed.
Another problem associated with conventional web browsers is navigating to previously visited web pages. Conventional web browsers typically maintain a list of previously visited or “past” web pages. This list of past web pages provides a history of the web pages visited by the user during a particular session. At various times, the user may return to a past web page, for example, by using a pull down menu to select a particular past web page from the history list. However, the list is cumbersome to use as the past web page is not always readily identifiable among the references maintained in the history list. As a result, the user must often navigate backwards through the history list in order to return to the desired past web page. The user may also return to a past web page by selecting a “backward” navigation button available on a tool bar of conventional web browsers. The backward button navigates the user sequentially through the history list as is well known.
Another problem associated with conventional web browsers is that future web pages are not viewable from a currently displayed web page. A future web page is a web page that is referenced via a hyperlink on a current web page. Future web pages are not viewable with conventional web browsers until the user selects that hyperlink. In order to determine whether a particular web site includes anything of interest, the user must manually select each hyperlink to have the web browser retrieve and render the hyperlinked web pages.
What is needed is an improved system and method for web browsing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for web browsing. Generally speaking, the present invention contemporaneously displays multiple web pages, preferably within a single window, for the user to view. In one embodiment of the present invention, a current web page and a past web page are contemporaneously displayed in a single window. In this embodiment, the present invention tracks a past web page and renders it in a first panel, and renders the current web page in a second panel, all preferably embedded within a single window. In this manner, the user contemporaneously views both the current web page and the past page in a single window.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a current web page and a future web page are contemporaneously displayed. In this embodiment, the present invention locates a hyperlink to a future web page in web page data associated with the current web page and automatically retrieves the corresponding web page data associated with the future web page. The present invention renders the current web page in a first panel, and renders the future web page in a second panel, preferably embedded within a single window. In this manner, the user contemporaneously views both the current web page and the future web page in a single window.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a past web page, a current web page, and a future web page are contemporaneously displayed within a single window. This embodiment of the present invention incorporates both the past web page as well as the future web page aspects of the previously described embodiments. According to this embodiment, the present invention renders the current web page in a first panel, renders the past web page in a second panel, and renders a future web page in a third panel.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the panels for rendering the various web pages are provided in a three-dimensional space. Preferably, these panels are provided as walls in a browsing room in which a user is able to navigate. In this embodiment, the user is able to navigate in the room using well-known techniques whereby the user may change his perspective (i.e., view different walls from various angles), zoom in, zoom out, etc., in the three-dimensional space. Preferably, in an embodiment employing a room with three walls, the left wall includes the past web page, the center wall includes the current web page, and the right wall includes the future web page. In other embodiments of the present invention, any number of panels for displaying various web pages within the three-dimensional space may exist.
In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of past web pages are rendered in a panel. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of past web pages is rendered as a thumbnail image. In another embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of past web pages is rendered as a fully functional web page in an active web browser. Preferably, the number and/or organization of these web pages may be configured according to user preference.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of future web pages are rendered in a panel. Preferably, each of the future web pages referenced via a hyperlink on the current web page is rendered in the panel. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of future web pages is rendered as a thumbnail image. In another embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of future web pages is rendered as a fully functional web page in an active web browser. Preferably, the number and/or organization of these web pages may be configured according to user preference.
One of the features of the present invention is that the past web page may be viewed contemporaneously with the current web page. This feature also preferably allows the user to return to the past web page by selecting it, for example, by clicking on it, in its respective panel.
Another feature of the present invention is that the future web page may be viewed contemporaneously with the current web page. This feature allows the user to navigate a web site more rapidly by viewing a future web page from its appearance rather than by some obtuse description. This feature also preferably allows the user to go to the future web page by sele
Johnson William R.
Shuping David T.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Browse3d Corporation
Cooley & Godward LLP
LandOfFree
System and method for web browsing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for web browsing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for web browsing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2581893