as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0054114 Al
`(43) Pub. Date:
`May9, 2002
`Shuping etal.
`
`US 20020054114A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB
`BROWSING
`
`(52) U.S. Ch.
`
`cecesessssssssstsnsiessetnstvassetstnsssense 345/764
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: David T. Shuping, Chantilly, VA (US);
`William R. Johnson, Leesburg, VA
`(US)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides a system and method for web
`Correspondence Address:
`browsing. Generally speaking, the present invention con-
`COOLEY GODWARD LLP
`temporaneously displays multiple web pages, preferably
`ATTN: PATENT GROUP
`within a single window, for a user to view. In a preferred
`11951 FREEDOM DRIVE, SUITE 1700
`embodiment, a current web page, a past web page, and a
`ONE FREEDOM SQUARE- RESTON TOWN
`future web page are contemporaneously displayed in a
`CENTER
`single window. In this embodiment, the present invention
`RESTON,VA 20190-5061 (US)
`tracks a past web page and rendersit inafirst panel, renders
`the current web page in a second panel, and identifies a
`hyperlink in the current web pageto retrieve and render the
`future web page in a third panel. Preferably, all of these
`panels are embedded within a single window.In this manner,
`the user contemporaneously views the current web page, the
`past page, and the future web page in the single window.
`Preferably, the present invention is implemented as a web
`browsing room in a three-dimensional space where walls of
`the rooms correspondto various onesof the aforementioned
`panels. The user can view the web pages in the browsing
`room using various three-dimensional navigation tech-
`niques.
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/498,079,filed on
`Feb. 4, 2000, now patented.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(SL) Ute C17 ciceccscsscssssssssssensssesnesneenessee G09G 5/00
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/985,415
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 2, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`
`User Selects a Web Page
`
`410
`
`
`
`
`
` Receive Web Page Data for
`
`Selected Web Page
`
`Update Past
`WebPagein a First Pane!
`
`430
`
`440
`
`450
`
`“a
`
`a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Render Selected Web Page as
`a Current Web Page
`in a Second Panel
`
`aa
`
`
`
`
`Update Future Web
`Page ina Third Panel
`
`
`460
`
`bhSoOo
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1032
`
`APPLE 1032
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`FIG.1
`
`o —
`
`130
`
`
`
`
`NETWORK 140
`
`
`
` 110
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
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`Patent Application Publication May 9, 2002 Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 A1
`
`300
`
`FIG.3
`
`310
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`
`
`
`User Selects a Web Page
`
`
`410
`
`
`Request Selected Web Page
`
`
`
`420
`
`|
`
`Receive Web Page Data for
`Selected Web Page
`
`
`
`430
`
`440
`
`450
`
`
`
`
`Update Past
`
`WebPageinaFirst Panel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Render Selected Web Page as
`
`a Current Web Page
`in a Second Panel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Update Future Web
`
`
`Page ina Third Panel
`
`
`460
`
`400
`
`5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 A1
`
`
`
`Shift Past Web Page in First
`Panel
`
`
`510
`
`
`Render Old Current Web
`Pagein First Panel
`
`
`
`520
`
`220, 320
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 A1
`
`
`
`Locate a Hyperlink in Current
`Web Page Data
`
`710
`
`
`720
`Automatically Request Future
`
`Web Page Referenced by the
`
`Hyperlink
`
`730
`
`||
`
`Receive Web Page Datafor
`Referenced Web Page
`
`460
`
`FIG. 7
`
`740
`
`|
`
`
`Render Future Web
`
`Page in Third Panel
`
`Generate Web Page from
`Web Page Data
`
` 810
` 820
`
`
`Convert Generated Web Page
`into a Thumbnail Image
`
`
`Render Thumbnail Image
`in the Panel
`
`
`
`830
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 9,2002 Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
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`

`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`May 9, 2002
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB BROWSING
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0001]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`invention relates generally to web
`[0002] The present
`browsers and more particularly to a web browser that
`displays a current web page along with past web pages
`and/or future web pages m a unique browsing environment.
`
`[0003]
`
`2. Discussion of the Related Art
`
`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 whethera particular website includes anything
`of interest, the user must manually select each hyperlink to
`have the web browserretrieve and render the hyperlinked
`web pages.
`
`[0009] What is needed is an improved system and method
`for web browsing.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0004] The Internet has dramatically changed the manner
`in which we access, gather, and collect information. Often
`invention provides a system and
`[0010] The present
`referred to as the “World Wide Web,” the Internet provides
`method for web browsing. Generally speaking, the present
`a user with a host of “web pages.” A web page is rendered
`invention contemporaneously displays multiple web pages,
`from web page data that may beretrieved from a source of
`preferably within a single window, for the user to view. In
`web page data, often via the Internet using various well-
`one embodiment of the present invention, a current web
`knownprotocols. The web page data is often in the form of
`a hypertext mark-up language (e.g., HTML, DHTML, XML,
`page and a past web page are contemporaneously displayed
`etc.) or a scripting language (e.g., Java, JavaScript, etc.), and
`in a single window.In this embodiment, the present inven-
`often includes a reference or hyperlink (i.e., a URL address)
`tion tracks a past web pageand rendersit inafirst panel, and
`to another web page. The web page data may include other
`renders the current web page in a second panel, all prefer-
`forms of source language and other forms of data as would
`ably embedded within a single window.In this manner, the
`be apparent. Once the web page data is rendered, the web
`user contemporaneously views both the current web page
`page may be displayed to the user for viewing. The actions
`and the past page in a single window.
`of selecting a web page, retrieving web page data associated
`with the web page, rendering that data, and displaying the
`webpageto the user is often referred to as “web browsing.”
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, a
`{0011]
`current web page and a future web page are contemporane-
`ously displayed. In this embodiment, the present invention
`[0005] Various conventional web browsing engines, or
`locates a hyperlink to a future web page in web page data
`associated with the current web page and automatically
`web browsers as they are commonlyreferred, are available.
`retrieves the corresponding web page data associated with
`These web browsers may, for example, include Microsoft’s
`the future web page. The present
`invention renders the
`Internet Explorer™ and Netscape’s Navigator™. These web
`
`browsers facilitate web browsing and provide the user with current web pageinafirst panel, and renders the future web
`a host of browsing features including bookmarksandhistory
`page in a second panel, preferably embedded within a single
`functions.
`window.In this manner, the user contemporaneously views
`both the current web page andthe future web page in a single
`window.
`
`[0006] 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 respec-
`tive instances can be contemporaneously viewed.
`
`[0007] 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. Thislist of past web
`pages providesa 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 cumbersometo use as the past web
`page is not alwaysreadily identifiable among the references
`maintained in the history list. As a result, the user must often
`navigate backwards throughthe history list in order to return
`to the desired past web page. The user may also return to a
`past web page byselecting 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.
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, a
`[0012]
`past web page, a current web page, and a future web pageare
`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 inven-
`[0013]
`tion,
`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 embodi-
`ment 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.
`
`[0008] Another problem associated with conventional web
`browsers is that future web pages are not viewable from a
`
`In yet still another embodiment of the present
`[0014]
`invention, a plurality of past web pages are rendered in a
`
`9
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`May 9, 2002
`
`panel. In one embodimentof the present invention, each of
`the plurality of past web pages is rendered as a thumbnail
`image. In another embodimentof 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 inven-
`[0015]
`tion, a plurality of future web pagesare 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 embodimentof 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.
`
`[0016] 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.
`
`[0017] 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 byselecting it in its respective panel.
`
`‘Yet still another feature of the present invention is
`[0019]
`that a user may designate a past web page as a “sticky” web
`page. Such a designation indicates that the sticky web page
`remains in its respective panel (and at its designated posi-
`tion, if appropriate) regardless of additional past web pages
`generated by subsequent browsing. In other words, the past
`web page so designated “sticks” on the panel until the user
`releases the designation.
`
`[0020] Still another feature of the present inventionis that
`a user may designate a future web page as a sticky web page.
`Such a designation indicates that
`the sticky web page
`remains in its respective panel (and at its designated posi-
`tion,
`if appropriate) regardless of new future web pages
`generated by the selection of a new current web page as a
`result of subsequent browsing. In other words, the future
`web page so designated “sticks” on the panel until the user
`releases the designation.
`
`[0021] These and other features and advantages of the
`present invention will become apparent from the following
`drawings and description.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0022] The present invention is described with reference
`to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like refer-
`
`[0018] Yet another feature of the present invention is that
`the browsing room in the three-dimensional space may
`includeafloor, for example, that may display various system
`[0032] The present invention is directed to a system and
`information such as number of bytes downloaded, number
`method for web browsing that displays multiple web pages
`of bytes to download, download rate, download time, down-
`thereby allowing a user to contemporaneously view more
`load time remaining,etc.
`than a single web page in a single window. Moreparticu-
`larly,
`the present
`invention is directed to a system and
`method for web browsing that contemporaneously displays
`a past web page, a current web page, and a future web page
`for viewing by the user, preferably within a three-dimen-
`sional space.
`
`ence numbersindicate identical or functionally similar ele-
`ments. Additionally,
`the left-most digit(s) of a reference
`numberidentifies the drawing in which the reference num-
`ber first appears.
`
`[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a computer network that facili-
`tates web browsing.
`
`FIG.2 illustrates a web browser according to one
`[0024]
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a web browser according to a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIG.4 illustrates an operation of the web browser
`[0026]
`according to a preferred embodimentof the present inven-
`tion.
`
`[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of updating past
`web pages according to one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG.6 illustrates an organization of past web pages
`[0028]
`according to one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIG.7 illustrates an operation of updating future
`[0029]
`web pages according to one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates an operation of generating a
`thumbnail
`image from web page data according to one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIG.9 illustrates a web browser according to one
`[0031]
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a computer network 100 includ-
`ing a user 110 participating in a web browsingsession via a
`computer 120 connected to at least one server 130 via a
`network 140. Computer 110 may be any electronic commu-
`nicating device capable of interfacing with network 140.
`Such devices may include computers, laptops, telephones,
`cellular phones, personal data accessories (“PDA”), pagers,
`web enabled televisions (“WebTV”), or other similar elec-
`tronic communication devices, as would be apparent. Net-
`work 140 may be any form of interconnecting network
`including an intranet, such as a local or wide area network,
`or an extranet, such as the World Wide Web, or the Internet.
`Such networks 140 may include various wireless connec-
`tions as would be apparent. Server 130 may beanysort of
`storage device for providing web pagedata to users as would
`be apparent.
`
`[0034] During a browsing session, user 110 accesses a
`particular web page using a web browser(also referred to as
`web browsing engine)
`such as Microsoft’s
`Internet
`Explorer™ or Netscape’s Navigator™ operating on com-
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`May 9, 2002
`
`puter 120. In order to access a web page, the web browser
`sends a request to a particular web site using a Uniform
`Resource Locator (“URL”) address associated with the
`desired web page. The request is passed through network
`140 using an appropriate network protocol. For example,
`when network 140 comprises the Internet, a Hyper Text
`Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) is used that encapsulates the
`request to facilitate its transmission through network 140.
`Other network protocols may also be used as would be
`apparent.
`
`[0035] Using the URL address, the request is routed to a
`server (or servers) 130 hosting the web page. Once located,
`the appropriate server 130 analyzes the request and sends
`web page data corresponding to the request back to com-
`puter 120 using the appropriate network protocol (e.g.,
`HTTP). The browser receives the web page data at computer
`120. This process of requesting and retrieving web page data
`is well known.
`
`[0036] The web page data includes various markup lan-
`guage data (e.g, HTML, DHTML, XML,etc.), scripting
`language data (e.g., Java, JavaScript, etc.), and various other
`data and orfiles (e.g., image files) that comprise the content
`of the web page as is well known. The web page data may
`also include a reference, sometime referred to as a “hyper-
`link.” Typically, the hyperlink is an embedded URL address
`to another web page. The web browserrenders the web page
`data into a web page andfacilitates the display of the web
`page in a “window” on computer 120 in a well-known
`manner.
`
`[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a web browser 200 operating in
`a single window according to the present invention. Web
`browser 200 includes a current panel 210 andat least one of
`a past panel 220 and a future panel 230. Preferably, web
`browser 200 includes both past panel 220 and future panel
`230.
`
`[0038] Current panel 210 includesa current web page 215.
`Current panel 210 preferably operates in a mannersimilar to
`a conventional web browser. In a preferred embodimentof
`the present invention, an active conventional web browseris
`mapped onto current panel 210. From current panel 210,
`user 110 may access various web pages in a conventional
`manner using the conventional web browser. In a preferred
`embodimentof the present invention, the conventional web
`browser “plugs in” to web browser 200 thereby providing
`web browser 200 with a web browsing engine to perform
`these conventional aspects of the present invention. This
`concept of plugging a conventional web browser into web
`browser 200 is referred to as a “reverse plug-in.” Plug-ins
`are generally well known.
`[0039] Past panel 220 operates in connection with current
`page 210 to display at least one past web page 225(illus-
`trated in FIG. 2 as past web pages 225A-C). In a preferred
`embodiment of
`the present
`invention, past panel 220
`includes one or more web browsing engines embedded
`therein (i.e., its own instances of the web browsing engine)
`for managing past web page 225. In another embodiment,
`the present invention generates a thumbnail image using the
`web page data associated with past web page 225 and
`renders the thumbnail image in panel 220 using various
`well-knowntechniques.
`[0040]
`In this manner, user 110 may view oneor morepast
`web pages 225 in past panel 220 contemporaneously with
`
`current web page 215 in current panel 210. Preferably, user
`110 may configure past panel 220 to display, for example,
`“X” numberof past web pages 225 organized in a “m by n”
`matrix. In one embodimentof the present invention, during
`a browsing session, the present invention shifts the least
`recent past web page 225off past panel 220 to accommodate
`more recent past web pages 225.
`
`In operation, when user 110 selects a new web
`[0041]
`page, current web page 215is transferred to past panel 220.
`To accommodate this transfer, the present invention shifts
`past web pages 225 by one web page location thereby
`eliminating one web page from past panel 220. For example,
`past web page 225C mayrepresentthe least recent past web
`page, and past web page 225A mayrepresent the most recent
`past web page. In this example, when user 110 selects a new
`web page, past web page 225C is shifted off past panel 220,
`past web page 225B is shifted to the location formerly
`occupied by past web page 225C, and past web page 225A
`is shifted to the location formerly occupied by past web page
`225B. Current web page 215is thentransferred to past panel
`220 andpositioned at the location formerly occupied by past
`web page 225A.The present invention then renders the new
`selected web page as current web page 215 in current panel
`210.
`
`In addition to displaying past web pages 225, web
`[0042]
`browser 200 provides a mechanism whereby any of past web
`pages 225 maybe recalled as current web page 215. This
`mechanism is in addition to other mechanismsfor selecting
`webpagesin with a conventional web browser. In particular,
`user 110 may “click on” a past web page 225 in past panel
`220 to restore that web page as current web page 215 in
`current panel 210. In one embodiment, the present invention
`maintains an associated URL address for each of past web
`pages 225 so that they maybe recalled in this manner.
`
`[0043] Future panel 230 operates in connection with cur-
`rent page 210 to display at least one future web page 235
`(illustrated in FIG. 2 as future web pages 235A-C). Future
`web page 235 is a web page referenced in a hyperlink 240
`included in current web page 215. In other words, future web
`page 235 may be thought of as a preview of the web page
`that would otherwise be conventionally retrieved if user 110
`selected hyperlink 240. In a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, future panel 230 includes one or more
`web browsing engines embedded therein (i.e., instances of
`the web browsing engine) for managing future web pages
`235. In another embodiment, the present invention generates
`a thumbnail image using the web page data associated with
`future web page 235 and renders the thumbnail image in
`future panel 230 using well-known techniques.
`
`In this manner, user 110 may view one or more
`[0044]
`future web pages 235 in future panel 230 contemporane-
`ously with current web page 215 in current panel 210.
`Preferably, user 110 may configure future panel 230 to
`display, for example, “X” numberof future web pages 235
`organized in a “m by n” matrix.
`
`In operation, when user 110 selects a new web
`[0045]
`page, web browser searches the web page data associated
`with the new web page for any hyperlinks 240 included
`therein. If a hyperlink 240 is located, web browser auto-
`matically retrieves the web page data referenced by hyper-
`link 240 and rendersit as future web page 235 in future panel
`
`11
`
`11
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`

`US 2002/0054114 Al
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`May 9, 2002
`
`230. In this manner, user 110 may view future web pages
`235 without having to manually “drill down” to them via
`hyperlinks 240.
`
`In addition to displaying future web pages 235,
`[0046]
`web browser 200 provides a mechanism whereby any of
`future web pages 235 may be selected as current web page
`215. In particular, user 110 may “click on”a future web page
`235 to select the web page as current web page 215 in
`current panel 210. In one embodimentof the present inven-
`tion, web browser 200 maintains an associated URL address
`for each of future web pages 235 so that user 110 can access
`them from future panel 230.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, web
`[0047]
`browser 200 controls separate display devices, one for each
`of past panel 220, current panel 210 and future panel 230,
`organized as a so-called “tri-monitor” for web browsing. A
`single computer 120 may control the output to each of the
`display devices providing a full screen view for each of
`panels 210, 220, 230. Techniques for providing separate
`outputs to multiple display devices are well known.
`
`[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention. In particular, FIG.3 illustrates a browsing
`room 300 operating in a three-dimensional environment or
`space. Browsing room 300 includes a current wall 310 and
`at least one of a past wall 320 and a future wall 330.
`Preferably, browsing room 300 includes both past wall 320
`and future wall 330. These walls 310, 320, and 330 operate
`in a mannersimilar to their counterpart panels 210, 220 and
`230 as described above. In one embodiment of the present
`invention, browsing room 300 mayalso include a floor 340.
`
`invention,
`In one embodiment of the present
`[0049]
`browsing room 300 and the three-dimensional environment
`are implemented using various well known three dimen-
`sional rendering tools such as OpenGL™available from
`Silicon Graphics Incorporated or DirectX™available from
`Microsoft. These tools allow various abstractions including
`active objects (e.g., web browsers) and passive objects (e.g.,
`images) to be embedded on objects in the three-dimensional
`environment.
`
`[0050] Preferably, user 110 is able to navigate in browsing
`room 300 according to well-known three-dimensional navi-
`gation techniques. In browsing room 300, user 110 may,for
`example, change his perspective to view only one of walls
`310, 320, 330. User 110 may also zoom in to a particular
`wall to get a closer view of, for example, past web page
`225A or future web page 235A. User 110 mayalso zoom out
`to simultaneously view all walls 310, 32, 330 and floor 340.
`Other features associated with navigating a three-dimen-
`sional space such as browsing room 300 are also contem-
`plated as would be apparent.
`
`Ina preferred embodiment, each of walls 310, 320,
`{0051]
`and 330 include one or more instances of active conven-
`tional web browsers. For example, each of past web pages
`225 would include the active web browser, as well as each
`of future web pages 235,
`in addition to the active web
`browser operating in current wall 320. In this embodiment,
`each web page 215, 225 and 235 is active and dynamic,
`capable of receiving updates, etc., in a conventional manner.
`Other embodiments of the present invention, specifically
`those constrained by, for example, processing power or
`network bandwidth, may berestricted to a single active
`
`conventional web browser operating in current web page
`215. In these embodiments, web pages 225 and 235 are
`preferably thumbnail images rendered in walls 320 and 330,
`respectively.
`
`[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 3, browsing room 300 pro-
`vides user 110 with a visualization of where he has been
`
`and/or where he is going during a particular browsing
`session. For example, past wall 320 includes one or more
`past web pages 225 including a past web page 225A.In a
`preferred embodiment, past web page 225A,as illustrated in
`FIG.3, occupies a location of the most recently visited past
`web page. In other words, user 110 visited past web page
`225A just prior to selecting current web page 215. Other
`arrangements of past web pages 225 in past wall 320 may be
`made as would be apparent.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, past
`[0053]
`web page 225Aincludes a reference or hyperlink to current
`web page 215. In this embodiment, user 110 arrives at
`current web page 215 by selecting the hyperlink on past web
`page 225A whenit was the current web page. This relation-
`ship is illustrated in FIG. 3 by a dotted arrow connecting
`past web page 225A with current web page 215. Other
`mechanisms exist for arriving at current web page 215
`without using the hyperlink on past web page 225A as would
`be apparent.
`
`[0054] Future wall 330 includes one or more future web
`pages 235 including, for example, a future web page 235A
`and a future web page 235B. In one embodiment, future web
`page 235A,as illustrated in FIG. 3, occupies a location of
`the first reference or hyperlink found in web page data
`associated with current web page 215. Future web page
`235B occupies a location of the second reference or hyper-
`link found in the web page data associated with current web
`page 215. In an alternate embodimentof the present inven-
`tion, future web pages 235 occupy locations in future wall
`330 based on various indicia associated with each future
`
`web page 235. For example, future web pages 235 may be
`organized by their respective popularity as determined by a
`numberof hits each receives. Alternately, future web pages
`235 may be organized based on their respective dates of
`being updated. Other arrangements of future web pages 235
`in future panel 330 using these and other criteria may be
`made as would be apparent.
`
`[0055] As discussed above, current web page 215 includes
`a reference or hyperlink 240 to a future web page 235.
`Current web page 215 includes hyperlinks 240A and 240B
`that correspondto future web pages 235A and 235B, respec-
`tively, as indicated by dotted arrowsin FIG. 3. User 110 may
`arrive at current web page 215 in any manner. Once web
`page data associated with current web page 215 is received,
`the present invention locates any of hyperlinks 240 included
`therein. The present invention retrieves and renders future
`web page 235 corresponding to each of the located hyper-
`links 240 included in the web page data and displays them
`in future wall 330.
`
`Ina preferred embodimentof the present invention,
`[0056]
`any of past web pages 225 or future web pages 235 may
`becomecurrent web page 215 by clicking on past web page
`225 in past wall 320 or future web page 235 in future wall
`330, respectively. The present invention stores or otherwise
`maintainsa reference (i.e., a URL address) for each past web
`page 225 in past wall 320 and for each future web page 235
`
`12
`
`12
`
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`

`US 2002/0054114 Al
`
`May 9, 2002
`
`in future wall 330. Thus, when user 110 selects a particular
`past web page 225 (for example, past web page 225A), the
`particular past web page 225 on past wall 320 becomes
`current web page 215 on current wall 310. Likewise, when
`user 110 selects a particular future web page 235 (for
`example, future web page 235A), the particular future web
`page 235 on future wall 330 becomes current web page 215
`on current wall 310.
`
`In one embodimentof the present invention, any of
`[0057]
`past web pages 225 and future web pages 235 may become
`sticky web pages on their respective walls 320 and 330.
`When a user 110 designates a particular web page 225, 235
`as a sticky web page, that web page 225, 235 remainsat the
`designated location on the respective wall 320, 330 regard-
`less of changes in current web page 215. For example, if user
`110 designates past web page 225A as a sticky web page,
`past web page 225A remains in the illustrated location
`regardless of additional past web pages 225 generated as a
`result of subsequent browsing. Likewise, if user 110 desig-
`nates future web page 235A as a sticky web page, future web
`page 235A remainsin the illustrated location regardless of
`new future web pages 235 generated from hyperlinks 240 on
`any new current web pages 215 selected during subsequent
`browsing.
`
`In one embodiment, sticky web pages may be
`[0058]
`transferred to a separate panel in browsing room 300 (e.g.,
`another wall, a ceiling, a floor, etc.). In this embodiment, the
`user may also “drag and drop” the web page 225, 235 to a
`so-called “sticky surface” to designate the web page as a
`sticky web page. Once onthe sticky surface, web page 225,
`235 remains there until removed by user 110.
`
`[0059] User 110 may designate web page 225, 235 as a
`sticky web page, for example, by nght clicking on web page
`225, 235 and selecting an appropriate choice from a menu to
`designate the web page as a sticky window. Other mecha-
`nisms for designating web page 225, 235 as a sticky web
`page are available as would be apparent. The sticky web
`page remains in its designated location until user 110
`releases the sticky web page.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, user
`[0060]
`110 may bookmark current web page 215. According to one
`embodimentof the present invention, when user 110 book-
`marks current web page 215, an entire scene of browsing
`room 300 is stored for later recall. In other words,
`the
`bookmark includes not only a reference to current web page
`215, but also to each of past web pages 225 and future web
`pages 235 as well as their respective locations so that the
`entire scene of browsing room 300 may berecrea