United States Patent [19]
`Rosen et al.
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US005995102A
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`5,995,102
`*Nov. 30, 1999
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`SERVER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`MODIFYING A CURSOR IMAGE
`
`Inventors: James Samuel Rosen, New York, N.Y.;
`Thomas A. Schmitter, Cambridge,
`Mass.; Mark S. Hall, South Orange,
`N.J.
`
`[73] Assignee: Comet Systems, Inc., New York, N.Y.
`
`[ *] Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros(cid:173)
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53( d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/882,580
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jun. 25, 1997
`
`Int. Cl.6
`........................................................ G06F 3/14
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 345/339; 345/334; 345/145;
`707/513
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 345/302, 328,
`345/329, 331, 348, 145, 339, 334, 335,
`345; 395/200.33, 200.47, 200.48, 200.49
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,672,575
`4,841,291
`4,984,152
`5,157,768
`5,179,656
`5,347,628
`
`6/1987 Stephens ................................. 364/900
`6/1989 Swix et al. .............................. 340/725
`1/1991 Muller ..................................... 364/200
`10/1992 Roeber et al. .......................... 395/157
`1/1993 Lisle ........................................ 395/159
`9/1994 Brewer et al. .......................... 395/159
`
`5,544,295
`5,559,943
`5,572,643
`5,596,694
`5,710,897
`5,737,619
`5,740,549
`5,801,698
`
`8/1996 Capps ...................................... 395/152
`9/1996 Cyr et al. ................................ 395/155
`11/1996 Judson .................................... 395/793
`1/1997 Capps ...................................... 395/152
`1/1998 Schneider ................................ 345/334
`4/1998 Judson .................................... 395/761
`4/1998 Reilly et al. .............................. 705/14
`9/1998 Lection et al. .......................... 345/347
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`M. Brown , "WWW Plug-In Companions", 1996, pp.
`14--18.
`The Java Language Environment -A White Paper Gashing
`et al., May 1995, pp. 6-64.
`
`Primary Examiner-Raymond J. Bayerl
`Assistant Examiner-Chadwick A. Jackson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Weingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin
`& Hayes LLP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system for modifying a cursor image, as displayed on a
`video monitor of a remote terminal, to a specific image
`having a desired shape and appearance. The system stores
`cursor image data corresponding to the specific image, and
`a cursor display code. The cursor display code contains
`information in response to which the cursor image is modi(cid:173)
`fied to the specific image. A server computer transmits
`specified information to the remote terminal. The informa(cid:173)
`tion includes at least one cursor display instruction. The
`cursor display instruction is operable to modify, in conjunc(cid:173)
`tion with the cursor information and the cursor image data,
`a cursor image displayed by a display of the remote terminal
`in the shape and appearance of the specific image.
`
`75 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`_11..-ox
`
`~60 a
`
`l@J
`II Enter
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`Welcome to SnortsNews
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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 1
`
`

`

`16
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`Computer
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`14
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`18
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`On-line
`Service
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`FIG.1
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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`5,995,102
`
`Disk Drive
`
`Memory
`
`28
`
`---------------------------------------------------1
`:
`21
`20
`Client Terminal :
`:
`32
`~ -~ - -~ I
`I
`I
`Browser
`I
`.__ ____ ___, I
`~----~,
`I
`----
`Browser Extension
`or Plug-in
`
`Processor
`
`23
`
`Operating
`System
`
`14--11>1 API
`
`1
`
`38
`
`36
`
`40
`
`Mouse Driver
`
`Display Driver
`
`Audio Driver
`
`Mouse Adapter
`
`Display Adapter
`
`Audio Adapter
`
`44
`
`34
`
`46
`
`Communication
`Driver
`
`Communication
`Adapter
`
`22
`
`Video Monitor
`24
`l-------------------------------------------
`
`r------------------------------------------~
`48
`Server Computer
`58
`
`48
`
`Internet
`
`10
`
`50
`
`Memory
`
`HTML Page
`containing Cursor
`Display Instructions
`52
`54
`56
`L-------------------------------------------
`
`Cursor
`Information
`
`Cursor
`Display
`Code
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`5,995,102
`
`102
`Load file containing the Cursor Display
`Instructions from remote WWW server
`
`104~-\
`
`Is Cursor Display
`Code resident in local
`
`106
`Retrieve Cursor Display Code
`No
`>-------9'1 Referenced in the Cursor Display
`Instructions from WWW server
`
`Store Cursor Display Code
`in local memory
`
`Store current cursor display
`configuration in local memory
`
`110
`
`No
`
`No
`
`r-·--
`
`114
`
`Retrieve cursor information
`from local memory
`- - - - - - -
`
`Change cursor in manner
`consistant with retrieved
`Cursor Display Instructions
`
`Send usage data to
`statistic-gathering server
`
`122
`
`124
`
`116
`Retrieve cursor
`information from
`WWW server to
`local memory
`
`108
`
`120
`
`Yes
`
`Store info object
`onlocalnon-
`volatile storage
`medium
`
`128
`
`Set timer for period specified
`in Cursor Display Instructions
`
`130
`
`132
`
`Revert to initial cursor state
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`5,995,102
`
`<OBJECT
`202.ID=ccl
`203.TYPE="application/x-oleobject"
`204.CLASSID="clsid:CB005660-DOC7-11cf-B7F6-00AA00A3F278"
`205.CODEBASE="http://cometsystems.com/controls/cc.cab#ver=4, 70,
`0, 1122"
`206.<PARAM NAME="CursorType" VALUE="l"
`207.<PARAM NAME="Cursorlmage"
`VALUE="http://cometsystems.com/library/images/acme.cur">
`208.<PARAM NAME="Counter" VALUE="http://
`cometsystems.com/accounting">
`209.<PARAM NAME="DisplayDuration" VALUE="5">
`210.<PARAM NAME="CacheCursor" VALUE="l">
`211.<PARAM NAME="ServerSignature" VALUE="54F5254A23BD988AB54">
`212.<PARAM NAME="DormantDelay" VALUE="600">
`213.<PARAM NAME="CursorTrajectoryMap" VALUE="http://
`cometsystems.com/maps/trajectory">
`214.<PARAM NAME="CursorPositionMap" VALUE="http://
`cometsystems.com/maps/position">
`215.<PARAM NAME="CursorVelocityMap"
`VALUE="http://cometsystems.com/maps/velocity">
`216.<PARAM NAME="CursorPositionMap" VALUE="http://
`cometsystems.com/maps/velocity">
`217.<PARAM NAME="CursorButtonMap" VALUE="http://
`cometsystems.com/maps/buttonstate">
`218.<PARAM NAME="ContentType" VALUE="5">
`219.<PARAM NAME="PriorityLevel" VALUE="l">
`220.<PARAM NAME="StreamBufferSize" VALUE="O">
`221.<PARAM NAME="Satellitelmage"
`VALUE="http://cometsystems.com/library/images/acmesat.bmp">
`222.<PARAM NAME="SatelliteXDisplacement" VALUE="-50">
`223.<PARAM NAME="SatelliteYDisplacement" VALUE="50">
`224.<PARAM NAME="ExtraDisplayParameters"
`VALUE="http://cometsystems.com/library/params/acme.prm">
`
`</OBJECT>
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`5,995,102
`
`<script language="VBScript">
`<!--\1';
`302.Sub window onLoad()
`303.
`ccl.RememberCurrentCursor()
`304.
`ccl.SetNormalCursor("http://cometsystems.com/library/
`images/acme.cur")
`305.end sub
`
`306.Sub window onUnload()
`307.
`eel.Reset()
`308.end sub
`-->
`</script>
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 6
`
`

`

`46
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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 7
`
`

`

`Welcome to SoortsNews
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`60
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`Everybody's game:
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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 8
`
`

`

`Welcome to SportsNews
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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 9
`
`

`

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`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 10
`
`

`

`5,995,102
`
`1
`SERVER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`MODIFYING A CURSOR IMAGE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to computer networks and software,
`and more particularly, to a server system capable of modi(cid:173)
`fying a cursor image displayed on a remote client computer.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The World Wide Web ("WWW" or "web") and online
`services such as America Online, in conjunction with faster
`and more powerful personal computers, have rendered the
`Internet and other interactive online computer networks
`accessible to millions of people all over the world. Con(cid:173)
`comitant with the emergence of this new communication
`medium, digital content providers have proliferated, provid(cid:173)
`ing online news, entertainment, games and all sorts of other
`content. As with other mass mediums, such as television,
`radio, and print publications, the entities that create such
`content seek to offset their expenses by selling advertising.
`With reference to the WWW, online advertising has become
`a multimillion dollar business, to the amount of approxi(cid:173)
`mately $300 million dollars in 1996.
`The most common type of online advertisement exists in
`the form of "banner advertisements". Users of online ser(cid:173)
`vices routinely encounter banner ads on the top, sides,
`and/or bottom of their video monitor screens when viewing
`a web page. Banner ads are generally square or rectangular
`boxes provided with some combination of graphics, color
`and text directed to the product or service being advertised.
`As such, the intention of these banner advertisements is to
`create impressions among online users and to convey some
`advertising message and/or logo. Banner ads are usually
`provided on a web page in the form of a "hyperlink", in 35
`which users who yield to the advertisements solicitation to
`"Click Here" are transported to the web site of the manu(cid:173)
`facturer of the product or service being advertised, or to
`some other screen which provides additional information
`about the product or service.
`Unfortunately, banner ads occupy only a small portion of
`a web page. As the user scrolls down a page the banner ad
`disappears. Although online advertisers and content publish-
`ers have attempted to optimize the visibility of banner
`advertisements by placing them on a popular web page 45
`where they will have a greater chance of being seen, Internet
`users, nevertheless, can easily ignore or find ways to remove
`and eliminate from their view the banner ads which exist on
`the web pages they are viewing. As such, the banner ads are
`rendered ineffective in their aim to provide information 50
`about a product or service. Additionally, money spent to
`advertise a product may be wasted if users are able to ignore
`or remove the advertisements from the web pages they are
`viewing.
`Another method of online advertising involves the use of ss
`"frames" on a web page. Frames are a feature supported by
`the recent versions of leading web navigating programs
`known as browsers, such as Netscape Navigator® and
`Microsoft's Internet Explorer®. Frames generally divide up
`a user's screen so that the user can, for example, indepen- 60
`dently scroll down each of numerous frames which appear
`on the web page being viewed on the user's screen. Like
`banner advertisements, frames can be aesthetically unap(cid:173)
`pealing as well as confusing to the user. Additionally,
`placement of advertising frames on a web page generally 65
`results in cramping or decreasing the size of the main
`content frame which oftentimes renders the content in the
`
`2
`main frame difficult to read. As a result, users have devel(cid:173)
`oped ways to reduce the size or even eliminate frames from
`the web page being viewed.
`Another type of online advertising involves the self-
`s appearing window which generally appears on its own as a
`user is using the Internet or browsing on the WWW. Such
`advertisements are relatively easy for a user to avoid as a
`user may simply re-size the window to make it smaller, drag
`another window or object in front of it to obscure it from
`10 view, close the advertising window, or simply ignore it and
`continue with the task being undertaken online. Recently,
`online advertisers have begun using self-appearing screens
`which are delivered via dialog boxes which dominate the
`main part of the screen. Although these dialog boxes can be
`15 removed when the user clicks on the appropriate place(s) on
`the dialog box, the self-appearing dialog boxes have a much
`higher rate of being seen by users. This follows because the
`dialog boxes take control of the user's screen for a preset
`amount of time and/or until the user clicks on the appropriate
`20 place(s) to make the dialog box disappear. The recent
`prevalence in the use of self-appearing dialog box advertis(cid:173)
`ing has resulted in a more intrusive method of advertising
`which has resulted in resentment among users who are
`accustomed to more passive online advertising methods
`25 such as the frames and banner advertisements which are
`more easily avoided and/or ignored.
`Accordingly, there is a need for a simple means to deliver
`advertising elements, i.e. logos, animations, sound,
`impressions, text, etc., without the annoyance of totally
`interrupting and intrusive content delivery, and without the
`passiveness of ordinary banner and frame advertisements
`which can be easily ignored.
`
`30
`
`40
`
`OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`It is thus a general object of the present invention to
`provide a means for delivering online advertisements which
`are unintrusive and which are not easily ignored by a user.
`A more specific object of the present invention is to
`provide a server system for modifying a cursor image to a
`specific image displayed on a video monitor of a remote
`user's terminal.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`server system for modifying a cursor image to a specific
`image displayed on a video monitor of a remote user's
`terminal for the purposes of providing on-screen advertising.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`means for providing on-screen advertising transmitted
`online which does not interrupt the delivery of content and
`which is aesthetically appealing and which affords the
`advertiser a great degree of unintrusive exposure.
`It is still a further object of the present invention to
`provide a system and a method for causing a remote user
`terminal to display a cursor image as specified by a server
`terminal.
`It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
`system and method for causing a remote user terminal to
`display a cursor image as specified by a server terminal,
`wherein the cursor image corresponds to the content
`retrieved by the user terminal.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`system and method for causing a remote user terminal to
`display a cursor image such as a corporate name or logo, a
`brand logo, an advertising or marketing icon or slogan, an
`animated advertising image, and a related audio clip, that
`
`Ralph Lauren Corp., Exhibit 1001 Page 11
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`

`

`5,995,102
`
`3
`relate to an advertisement, such as a banner advertisement,
`that is included in the information content being retrieved by
`the user terminal.
`It is an additional object of the present invention to
`provide a means for changing a cursor's appearance by
`sending data and control signals from a remote computer so
`that the cursor or pointer's appearance is associated with a
`portion of, or the entire content being displayed on the user's
`screen.
`It is still an additional object of the present invention to
`provide a means for changing the appearance of a comput(cid:173)
`er's cursor or pointer by sending data and control signals
`from a remote computer so that the cursor or pointer's
`appearance is associated with advertising messages.
`These and other objects of the invention are realized in
`various embodiments of the present invention by providing
`a system for delivering advertising elements online without
`the annoyance resulting from the interruption of content
`delivery and without the passiveness of ordinary banner and
`frame advertisements which can be too easily ignored or
`bypassed or removed. An exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention is directed to a system that provides online
`advertising content using the on-screen cursor which is
`generally controlled by an input of positioning device 25
`known as a "mouse" or "mouse pointer". Nearly all online
`computer interfaces utilize a wired or remote control posi(cid:173)
`tioning device such as a mouse or roller or track ball which
`controls the cursor's movement on the screen. It is the cursor
`controlled by the mouse or positioning device which a user
`uses to "navigate" or move the cursor over objects, buttons,
`menus, scroll bars, etc., which appear on-screen and then
`clicking or in some cases double-clicking in order to activate
`a screen or task, or to commence an application or some
`function.
`As a result of the prevalence of the use of the mouse, by
`many millions of users of online systems, a great deal of
`time is spent focused on the icons which represent the cursor
`or pointer as it may appear in some cases. Presently, pointer
`icons change from application to application and can also 40
`change within an application depending upon where on the
`screen the pointer is located, what state the computer exists
`in at a given moment, and what tools are being used, among
`other factors. Generally, pointers change shape to reflect an
`internal state of the computer or the present function within 45
`an application. While it is not new for pointers and cursors
`to change shape, pointers are not presently used to convey
`advertising. In conventional systems, the appearance of the
`cursor or pointer does not change to correspond with on-line
`content being displayed on the screen.
`The present invention provides a means for enabling
`cursors and pointers to change color, shape, appearance,
`make sounds, display animation, etc., when the user's ter(cid:173)
`minal or computer, known as the "client" or "user" terminal,
`which has a network connection, receives certain instruc- ss
`tions from a remote or "server" computer attached to the
`network. In an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention, the generic cursor or pointer icons used in many
`networking applications, such as black arrows, hands with a
`pointing finger, spinning wheels, hourglasses, wristwatches, 60
`and others, will change appearance, and in some cases may
`incorporate sound or animation, in a way that is linked and
`related to the content, such as a web page, which is being
`transmitted to and displayed on the client computer. The
`cursor or pointer may appear as a corporate or a brand logo 65
`which relates to advertising content within the web page
`being transmitted and displayed. The cursor or pointer image
`
`4
`may also appear in a specified shape or color that is intended
`to convey a message that relates to the advertising content
`within the web page being transmitted and displayed.
`An exemplary embodiment of the present invention corn-
`s prises a combination of hardware and enabling software
`residing on the transmitting (server) computer or network
`server and/or on the receiving (client or user) computer or
`terminal which brings about the stated effect of enabling a
`computer's cursor or pointer to change appearance and in
`10 certain cases provide sound and animation which is linked
`and related to the content being transmitted to and displayed
`on the client computer or terminal. The transmitting com(cid:173)
`puter and receiving computer or terminal advantageously
`include a processor, an operating system (OS) loaded
`15 thereon, a video monitor used to display a graphical user
`interface (GUI) and a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
`compliant web browser capable of loading and displaying
`hypertext documents transmitted over the Internet, although
`the invention is not limited in scope in that respect. For
`20 example, the receiving terminal may be any device that is
`able to communicate with a remote server, such as a user
`computer terminal, a user dumb terminal, or a television
`based system, such as a Web TV® terminal and other
`devices.
`Preferably, coded information for bringing about the
`change in appearance of the cursor are embedded within the
`web page being loaded and viewed. In one embodiment of
`the present invention, the web page is written in Hypertext
`Markup Language (HTML) which is one of the most com-
`30 mon standard page description languages used to develop
`web pages. Typically a web browser retrieves a web page to
`be loaded on a user's terminal. The retrieved web page in
`accordance with one embodiment of the invention contains
`a set of predetermined instructions referred to herein as
`35 cursor display instructions. The browser or browser exten(cid:173)
`sion interprets the information contained in cursor display
`instructions and instructs the operating system of the user's
`terminal via an application programming interface (API) to
`check its memory to determine if the user terminal is capable
`of loading the coded image, animation, and/or soundbite. If
`the image, etc. has been previously cached in the client
`computer memory, the cursor display instructions instruct
`one or more of the many devices controlled by the operating
`system in the user's terminal, such as the video monitor and
`audio speakers to display the desired images, animation and
`play desired sounds. If the image, etc. has not been previ-
`ously cached in the client computer's memory, the browser
`or browser extension retrieves the information correspond(cid:173)
`ing to the desired image from a remote server.
`The present invention may serve to enhance banner
`advertisements which appear on a web page so as to remind
`users which company is sponsoring the particular page being
`viewed and to draw the user's attention to the banner
`advertisement. The present invention can also serve as a
`stand-alone branding vehicle as part of a "ubiquity cam(cid:173)
`paign" to generate massive impressions among an audience
`of online users or can be simply used to make web sites more
`entertaining by providing animated, colorful cursors which
`may incorporate sound and/or animation, and which are
`configured so as to connote a relationship with the topic or
`subject of the web site.
`The foregoing sets forth certain objects, features and
`advantages provided by exemplary embodiments of the
`present invention. Other objects and features of the present
`invention will become apparent from the following detailed
`description considered in conjunction with the accompany-
`ing drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the
`
`50
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`

`5,995,102
`
`5
`drawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration
`and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for
`which reference should be made to the appended claims.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In the drawings in which like reference characters denote
`similar elements throughout the several views:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a
`computer network illustrating the interconnection of a plu(cid:173)
`rality of computers in which the present invention is imple(cid:173)
`mented;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a client-server computer network sup(cid:173)
`porting the hardware and software of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary
`method of the present invention for obtaining information
`from a remote site for modifying a cursor image and
`implementing such information at numerous user sites;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the Cursor Display Instruc(cid:173)
`tions which is referenced as a resource within an HTML
`document according to one embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a set of exemplary codes that cause the
`user terminal's cursor to be modified, then revert to its
`original shape in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of user interface attributes
`that may be remotely modified in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the appearance of a cursor prior to,
`during and after linking to a web page that contains cursor
`display instructions.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 illustrates a computer network, such as Internet 10,
`based on the client-server model. Internet 10 comprises a
`worldwide network of computers known as "servers" 12
`which are accessible by "client computers" or "user termi(cid:173)
`nals" 14, which are typically used by individual users or
`comprise a collection of personal computers interconnected
`via a Local Area Network or LAN, which are capable of
`accessing the Internet via a private Internet service or access
`provider (ISP) 16, such as the AT&T Worldnet Service® or
`the IBM Global Network®, or via an online service provider
`18, such as America Online®, Compuserve®, the Microsoft
`Network® or Prodigy® (to name the most popular online
`service providers). One of the most common applications of
`the Internet is to support the World Wide Web ("WWW" or 50
`"the web"), which is a collection of servers on the Internet
`that utilize the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a
`known application protocol that facilitates data exchange
`between client and server and provides users or clients 14
`access to files which can include text, graphics, sound, 55
`video, etc., using a standard page description language
`referred to as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
`Each client computer 14 as indicated in FIG. 1, includes
`a "web browser" or browser loaded on the client computer's
`hard drive 21. A browser is a common software tool which 60
`allows graphical user interface (GUI)-based access to Inter(cid:173)
`net network servers 12 through Internet Service Providers,
`ISPs, 16 or online service providers 18. A server 12 func(cid:173)
`tions as a so-called "web site" which supports and maintains
`a plurality of files in the form of documents and pages. A 65
`Uniform Resource Locator or URL identifies a specific
`network path to a server 12 or some resource located on that
`
`6
`server which has a known syntax for defining the network
`connection. The fundamental intrinsic capabilities of the
`browser are: (1) the ability to communicate with other
`computers using HTTP, and (2) the ability to process and
`5 present HTML documents to the user via a graphical user
`interface, GUI.
`Recent versions of most browsers provide a plethora of
`other features beyond these two capabilities. For example, to
`increase its flexibility, the browser's intrinsic capabilities
`10 may be further extended through the use of software
`components, often called "controls" or "plug-ins". While the
`intrinsic capabilities of the browser are linked at compile(cid:173)
`time ("statically"), the code which implements the capabili(cid:173)
`ties of the control or plug-in component is linked with the
`15 browser's code at run-time ("dynamically"). By supporting
`these components through standard interface definitions, the
`browser's capabilities can be extended in ways never antici(cid:173)
`pated by its original manufacturer.
`Another type of flexibility is offered when the browser
`20 implements some sort of command interpreter which is
`capable of interpreting and executing a code stream at
`run-time. In this case, the browser acts as a sort of "virtual
`machine" whose run-time behavior is completely governed
`by the code stream which it processes. The total scope of
`25 capabilities which can be realized with this approach is
`defined by the set of operations supported by the command
`interpreter.
`Individually and collectively, these mechanisms provide a
`30 powerful and flexible platform which supports a wide range
`of Internet-based applications. Currently, some of the
`emerging standards gov