Method and system for HTML-driven interactive image client

A method for interactive viewing of a digital image by a user, said viewing being controlled by a client computer, employing digital data residing on a server computer, comprising:

• receiving by said client computer a first HTML page from said server computer, said first HTML page including a view window within which a first image is displayed, said view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels;
• selecting by said user, using a pointing device, a location within said view window corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-regions;
• receiving by said client computer a second HTML page, generated by said server computer, in response to said sub-region which was selected, wherein said second HTML page contains a link to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the selected location;
• and
• repeating said selecting and said receiving of said second HTML page at least once, with the second HTML page being used in place of the first HTML page in each successive repetition.

A method for generating dynamic HTML pages on a server computer, to enable a user to interactively view a digital image on a client computer within a view window which is partitioned into imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels, by interactive selecting of said sub-regions by said user, comprising:

• receiving from said client computer an indication of which of said sub-regions is selected by said user;
• creating, using server-side software, a modified HTML page with a link to an image, the image being a portion of the digital image, and the portion of the digital image corresponding to the selected sub-region;
• and
• sending said modified HTML page to said client computer.

An archival system for archiving digital data on a server computer, and enabling a user, by means of a client computer, to interactively view a digital image derived from said digital data, comprising:

• a receiver for receiving by said client computer from said server computer an HTML page, said HTML page including a view window within which a first image is displayed, said view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels;
• a pointing device for selecting by said user a location within said view window corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-regions;
• a first transmitter for sending by said client computer to said server computer an indication of the sub-region selected by said user;
• a processor for modifying, by said server computer using server-side software, the HTML page to generate a new HTML page with a link to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the selected location;
• and
• a second transmitter for sending by said server computer to said client computer said new HTML page.

A client viewing system for interactive viewing of a digital image by a user, said viewing being controlled by a client computer, employing digital data residing on a server computer, comprising:

• a receiver for receiving by said client computer a first HTML page from said server computer, said first HTML page including a view window within which a first image is displayed, said view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels;
• a pointing device for repeatedly selecting by said user a location within said view window corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-regions;
• and
• a receiver for repeatedly receiving by said client computer a second HTML page, generated by said server computer, in response to said sub-region which was selected, wherein said second HTML page contains a link to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the selected location, and wherein the second HTML page is used in place of the first HTML page when the pointing device is next used to select a location within said view window.

A server dynamic HTML system for generating dynamic HTML pages on a server computer, to enable a user to interactively view a digital image on a client computer within a view window which is partitioned into imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels, by interactive selecting of said sub-regions by said user, comprising:

• a receiver for receiving from said client computer an indication of which of said sub-regions is selected by said user;
• a processor for creating, using server-side software, a modified HTML page with a link to an image, the image being a portion of the digital image, and the portion of the digital image corresponding to the selected sub-region;
• and
• a transmitter for sending said modified HTML page to said client computer.

A method for archiving digital data on a server computer and enabling a user to interactively view a digital image derived from said digital data, comprising:

• receiving from said server computer a first layout including a view window within which a first image is displayed, said view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels;
• selecting by said user, using a pointing device, a location within said view window corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-regions;
• and
• providing by said server computer to said user, using server-side software, a second layout, generated by said server computer by modifying the first layout, including a reference to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the location selected by said user.

A system for archiving digital data on a server computer and enabling a user to interactively view a digital image derived from said digital data, comprising:

• a first layout including a view window within which a first image is displayed, said view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels;
• a pointing device for selecting by said user a location within said view window corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-regions;
• and
• a second layout, generated by said server computer using server-side software, by modifying the first layout, including a reference to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the location selected by said user.