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AssigneeCorel Corporation
InventorsRobert Reid, Donald Slaunwhite, Richard Mutzke
Estimating the term…
A connector unit connects information on a network with one or more software applications. The connector unit has a network access controller for providing information access functions for allowing users to access information on a network. It uses a configurable connector user interface for displaying, on an output device, information accessed through the network access controller and one or more user interface elements for controlling the information access functions of the network access controller. The settings of the connector user interface is configurable by the user.
A connector unit for connecting information on a network with one or more software applications, the connector unit comprising:
A method for managing access to information on a network from one or more software applications, the method comprising steps of:
A computer readable medium storing the instructions and/or statements for use in the execution in a computer of a method for managing access to information on a network from one or more software applications, the method comprising steps of:
Electronic signals for use in the execution in a computer of a method for managing access to information on a network from one or more software applications, the method comprising steps of:
A computer program product for use in the execution in a computer of a method managing access to information on a network from one or more software applications, the computer program product comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks: comprising specially…
Protecting data: protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
Configuration management of networks or network elements: configuration setting
Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security: for controlling access to devices or network resources
Term end not estimated
This invention relates to a system and method for managing access to information, and more particularly, to a system and method for managing access to information on a network from applications.
There exist software applications that allow users to access the Internet from the applications. Some applications provide a button in their toolbar to launch a new instance of user's default web browser, such as Netscape Communicator (™ of Netscape Communications Corporation) or Internet Explorer (™ of Microsoft Corporation). These web browsers typically use up a large amount of real estate or size on the screen, and require user manipulation in order to have their size reduced. Also, this approach provides inconsistent results, depending on which browser(s) is installed, and which is set to be the default browser.
Some software applications include Internet connectivity built into them. When the Internet connectivity is called from the application, it opens a new window containing a web browser. The new window typically has a predetermined size and displayed at a predetermined location on the screen. The advantage of having a web browser in a predetermined window is that screen real estate is kept to a minimum or smaller compared to those launching a new instance of user's default web browser.
The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connector unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the connector unit;
Referring to FIG. 1, a connector unit 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described.
A connector unit 10 is installed in a computer system 20. The computer system 20 has one or more input devices 22 and one or more output devices 24. Input devices 22 may be a keyboard, pointing device, such as mouse or pen, and/or any other devices for inputting data by users. One of the output devices 24 is a display device for displaying output data on a screen. There may be other output devices, such as a printer, recording device and speaker.
In the computer system 20, there are also one or more software applications 30 installed. These applications 30 use the connector unit 10 to allow users to access information on a network 40 from the applications. The computer system 20 may have other applications (not shown) which do not use the connector unit 10. Hereinafter the term “application” is used to represent an application that is capable of using the connector unit 10, unless otherwise indicated.