User interface for network browser including pre-processor for links embedded in hypermedia documents
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications plc
InventorsNicholas Hector Edwards, Martin Russ, Paul Garner
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims52
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.