I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US009772814B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Stuckman et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`*Sep.26,2017
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING
`AND NAVIGATING A LINEAR
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM
`
`(71) Applicant: TQ Alpha, LLC, Austin, TX (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Bruce Edward Stuckman, Austin, TX
`(US); Barry James Sullivan, Long
`Grove, IL (US); Wayne Robert
`Reinmiller, Elgin, IL (US); Richard
`Omanson, Naperville, IL (US); Jordan
`Howard Light, Chicago, IL (US);
`Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., St.
`Charles, IL (US); James Richard
`Morse, Plainfield, IL (US); Kent E.
`Genin, Chicago, IL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: HYPERMEDIA NAVIGATION LLC,
`Dallas, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 228 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/728,576
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 2, 2015
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2016/0019022 Al
`
`Jan. 21, 2016
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/552,282, filed on
`Jul. 18, 2012, now Pat. No. 9,083,672, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 15116
`G06F 3116
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............ G06F 31165 (2013.01); G06F 310482
`(2013.01); G06F 3104817 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC . G06F 17/30; G06F 17/3074; G06F 17/30873
`(Continued)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,303,367 A
`5,408,655 A
`
`411994 Leenstra, Sr. et al.
`4/1995 Oren et al.
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Expanding Unidirectional Ring of Pages", dated Dec. 22, 1994,
`obtained at the internet address: http://wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk/europa.
`html, printed Mar. 11, 2004, 2 pages.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Bharat N Barnt
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Garlick & Markison;
`Bruce E. Stuckman
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method and system for creating and navigating linear
`hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system
`includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having
`a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more
`remote information nodes. A common remote information
`node is in communication with a subscriber station and the
`remote information nodes in the distributed network. The
`common remote information node contains at least one
`linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-se(cid:173)
`lected media elements from one or more hypermedia
`resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media
`element in the linear program having only one forward link
`to the next media element. The method includes the steps of
`downloading and displaying a media element in the linear
`(Continued)
`
`1 of 23
`
`

`

`US 9,772,814 B2
`Page 2
`
`program and responding to user commands to download and
`display the next media element in the linear program.
`
`20 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 13/116,421, filed on
`May 26, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,250,173, which is a
`continuation of application No. 12/426,428, filed on
`Apr. 20, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,250,170, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/784,305, filed on
`Apr. 6, 2007, now Pat. No. 7,539,738, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/884,187, filed on
`Jul. 1, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,216,155, which is a
`continuation of application No. 09/964,104, filed on
`Sep. 26, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,779,026, which is a
`continuation of application No. 09/680,899, filed on
`Oct. 6, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,330,596, which is a
`continuation of application No. 09/167,514, filed on
`Oct. 6, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,145,000.
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2011.01)
`(2011.01)
`(2011.01)
`(2011.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2013.01)
`(2013.01)
`(2013.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 17130
`G06Q 50120
`H04N 211262
`H04N 211472
`H04N 2114782
`H04N 211858
`H04L 29108
`G06F 310481
`G06F 310482
`G06F 310484
`H04L 12114
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... G06F 3104842 (2013.01); G06F 17130
`(2013.01); G06F 1713074 (2013.01); G06F
`17130873 (2013.01); G06Q 50120 (2013.01);
`H04L 67102 (2013.01); H04N 21126258
`(2013.01); H04N 2114782 (2013.01); H04N
`21147202 (2013.01); H04N 2118586 (2013.01);
`H04L 1211432 (2013.01); H04L 1211485
`(2013.01)
`
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ................ 709/201-203, 217-219, 227-229,
`709/231-232, 245-246
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`5,809,247 A
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`6,810,409 Bl*
`
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`7,424,523 B2
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`7,769,830 B2
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`9,083,672 B2 *
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`
`2 of 23
`
`

`

`US 9,772,814 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Internet Article: Java-Based Apps-Mapuccino:, http://www.ibm.
`com/java/mappucion; dated May 18, 1998, 1 page.
`Marlatt, Andrew, "Web Rings' Emerge as Alternative to Search
`Engines", dated Oct. 20, 1997, obtained at the internet address:
`http;//uhoh.org/internet.sub.--dot.sub.--com.sub. -19971020 .htm,
`printed Mar. 11, 2004, 3 pages.
`McKean, Maureen, Web Rings: Raising the Bar on Web Searches,
`dated 1997, obtained at the internet address: http://webserver.cpg.
`comlfeatures/fll2.lll, printed May 22, 2003, 3 pages.
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`lication entitled:Guides: Characterizing the Interface; pp. 1-9;
`Believed to have been published before Oct. 6, 1998, 5 pages.
`Wall Street Journal Article, "A Guide to the Web", May 28, 1998,
`p. B7, 1 page.
`Hypermedia Navigation LLC v. Yahoo!, Inc.; Notice of Motion and
`Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c) for Lack of
`Patentable Subject Matter Under 35 U.S.C. Section 101; Memo(cid:173)
`randum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof; Case No.
`4:17-cv-03188-HSG; In the United States District Court, Northern
`District of California; Filed Jun. 26, 2017; 28 pages.
`* cited by examiner
`
`3 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`REMOTE
`INFORMATION
`NODE
`
`16
`
`14
`
`COMMON
`REMOTE
`INFORMATION
`NODE
`
`14
`
`REMOTE
`INFORMATION
`NODE
`
`/ 10
`
`12
`
`Fig. I
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`STATION
`
`18
`
`4 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`24
`
`22
`
`20
`
`24
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`22
`
`Fig. 2
`
`5 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 3of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`22
`
`24
`
`27
`
`~
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`24
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`~ 27
`
`22
`
`~23
`
`25
`
`Fig. 3
`
`6 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 4of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`32
`
`AMERITECH® CORPORATION
`
`IN A WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY,
`PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE™
`
`AMERITECH®
`CORPORATION
`
`SECURITY LINK
`FROM
`AMERITECH®
`
`F.C.C.
`
`U.S.P.T.O.
`
`31
`
`BACK
`
`30
`
`I
`
`28
`
`34
`
`Fig. 4
`
`7 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 5of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`38
`
`40
`
`42
`
`46
`
`48
`
`START
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY A FIRST
`BASE MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY OTHER
`MEDIA ELEMENTS FROM THE
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PER
`USER COMMAND
`
`DISPLAY FORWARD LINK BUTION
`
`NO
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY ANOTHER
`BASE MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY OTHER
`MEDIA ELEMENTS FROM THE NEW
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE
`
`Fig. 5
`
`8 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 6of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`START
`
`DISPLAY EXPERTISE LEVEL MENU
`
`RECEIVE DESIRED EXPERTISE LEVEL
`
`MODIFY SET OF AVAILABLE COMMANDS
`
`54
`
`56
`
`58
`
`60
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY FIRST BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`62
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY FIRST HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE PER USER COMMANDS
`
`64
`
`DISPLAY FORWARD AND BACK
`COMMAND BUTIONS
`
`66
`
`68
`
`NO
`
`DISPLAY LINEAR PROGRAM MAP
`
`DOWNLOAD AND
`DISPLAY SECOND
`BASE MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`DOWNLOAD AND
`DISPLAY SECOND
`HYPERMED~ RESOURCE
`PER USER COMMAND
`
`YES
`
`70
`
`72
`
`78
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY
`SELECTED PROGRAM ELEMENT
`
`NO
`
`80
`
`74
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PER USER COMMAND Fig. 6
`
`DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY REMAINDER OF
`
`9 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 7of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20/i
`
`WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL?
`
`52~ NOVICE
`
`EXPERT
`
`INTERMEDIATE
`
`Fig. 7
`
`10 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 8of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`START
`
`SELECT FIRST BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`SELECT SECOND BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`Fig. 8
`
`START
`
`SELECT FIRST BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`ASSIGN FIRST BASE MEDIA
`ELEMENT AS FIRST
`PROGRAM ELEMENT
`
`SELECT SECOND BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`ASSIGN SECOND BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT AS SECOND
`PROGRAM ELEMENT
`
`Fig. 9
`
`82
`
`84
`
`86
`
`88
`
`90
`
`92
`
`11 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 9of13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`START
`
`SELECT FIRST BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`RECEIVE ASSIGNMENT
`COMMAND AND ASSIGN
`SELECTED MEDIA ELEMENT TO
`SELECTED PROGRAM ELEMENT
`
`SELECT SECOND BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`RECEIVE ASSIGNMENT
`COMMAND AND ASSIGN
`SELECTED MEDIA ELEMENT TO
`SELECTED PROGRAM ELEMENT
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE SEARCH CRITERIA
`
`EVALUATE MEDIA ELEMENTS
`
`SELECT FIRST BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`SELECT SECOND BASE
`MEDIA ELEMENT
`
`94
`
`96
`
`98
`
`100
`
`102
`
`104
`
`106
`
`108
`
`Fig. 10
`
`Fig. 11
`
`12 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE SEARCH CRITERIA
`
`RECEIVE DESIRED
`TIME FRAME
`
`EVALUATE MEDIA ELEMENTS
`
`ASSIGN BASE MEDIA ELEMENTS
`TO PROGRAM ELEMENTS
`
`TRANSMIT PROGRAM TO USER
`
`GENERATE BILLING RECORD
`
`Fig. 12
`
`110
`
`112
`
`114
`
`116
`
`118
`
`120
`
`13 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`122
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`27
`
`~
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`~27
`
`20
`
`22
`
`22
`
`Fig. 13
`
`14 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`24
`
`/
`
`/
`
`/
`
`I
`
`I
`
`22
`
`I
`I
`INTERNET
`I
`SEARCH ~1
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`20
`
`22
`
`Fig. 14
`
`15 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.26,2017
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`20
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`24
`
`22
`
`HYPERMEDIA
`RESOURCE
`
`24
`
`22
`
`Fig. 15
`
`16 of 23
`
`

`

`US 9,772,814 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING
`AND NAVIGATING A LINEAR
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM
`
`CROSS REFERENCES TO PRIORITY
`APPLICATIONS
`
`5
`
`2
`some websites provide links to similar sites, however they
`typically do not offer more than a cursory indication of what
`the linked sites contain.
`In addition, even sophisticated Web users are often frus-
`trated by the amount of useless, undesirable material that
`appears on the Web. Take, for example, a user who wishes
`to look at pictures of classic automobiles. A search on classic
`automobiles may yield 10,000 hits. A website-by-website
`search for interesting material may yield many sites that do
`10 not meet the user's expectations as to the content, properties
`or quality. Some sites may be a single page that prompts a
`user to order a catalog. Other sites may have text but no
`pictures.
`Accordingly, there is a need for creating entertaining Web
`15 programs that appeal to a wide cross section of potential
`viewers.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority
`pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility
`application Ser. No. 13/552,282, entitled "SYSTEM AND
`METHOD FOR CREATING AND NAVIGATING A LIN(cid:173)
`EAR HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed Jul.
`18, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application
`Ser. No. 13/116,421, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD
`FOR CREATING AND NAVIGATING A LINEAR
`HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed May 26,
`2011, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,173 on Aug. 21, 2012,
`which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.
`12/426,428, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CRE(cid:173)
`ATING AND NAVIGATING A LINEAR HYPERMEDIA 20
`RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed Apr. 20, 2009, issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,170 on Aug. 21, 2012, which is a
`continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/784,305,
`entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND
`NAVIGATING A LINEAR HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE
`PROGRAM", filed Apr. 6, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No.
`7,539,738 on May 26, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S.
`Utility application Ser. No. 10/884,187, entitled "SYSTEM
`AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND NAVIGATING A
`LINEAR HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed 30
`Jul. 1, 2004, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,155 on May 8,
`2007, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser.
`No. 09/964,104, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`CREATING AND NAVIGATING A LINEAR HYPERME-
`DIA RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed Sep. 26, 2001, issued 35
`as U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,026 on Aug. 17, 2004, which is a
`continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 09/680,899,
`entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND
`NAVIGATING A LINEAR HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE
`PROGRAM", filed Oct. 6, 2000, issued as U.S. Pat. No.
`6,330,596 on Dec. 11, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S.
`Utility application Ser. No. 09/167,514, entitled "SYSTEM
`AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND NAVIGATING A
`LINEAR HYPERMEDIA RESOURCE PROGRAM", filed
`Oct. 6, 1998, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,000 on Nov. 7,
`2000, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by refer(cid:173)
`ence in their entirety and made part of the present U.S.
`Utility Patent Application for all purposes.
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for use in creating and
`navigating a linear hypermedia resource program according
`to a preferred embodiment.
`FIG. 2 illustrates hypermedia resources that may reside on
`information nodes in the distributed hypermedia network of
`25 FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a linear hypermedia
`resource program and the selected base media elements in
`each of the desired hypermedia resources of the hypermedia
`resource data network.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface for use in navigating a
`hypermedia resource program in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for navigating a
`linear hypermedia resource program.
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative method
`for navigating a linear hypermedia resource program in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a user interface for prompting a user for
`an experience level in accordance with one embodiment of
`40 the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a method of generating a linear hyper(cid:173)
`media resource program utilizing the system of FIG. 1 in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a method
`45 of generating linear hypermedia resource program.
`FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a third embodiment
`of a method for generating a linear hypermedia resource
`program.
`FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment
`50 of a method for generating a linear hypermedia resource
`program.
`FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method for generating a
`linear hypermedia resource program in billing a user.
`FIG. 13 diagrammatically
`illustrates one preferred
`55 embodiment of navigating a linear hypermedia resource
`program.
`FIG. 14 diagrammatically
`illustrates one preferred
`embodiment of a method for creating a linear hypermedia
`resource program.
`FIG. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment for of a
`method for creating a linear hypermedia resource program.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The World Wide Web (the "Web") provides an alternative
`source of information for consumers and business users.
`Some users also view the Web as a source of entertainment.
`Surfing the Web, cybercafes, etc. appeal to the sophisticated
`Web user as a way of having a good time.
`Many Americans raised in the television age view enter(cid:173)
`tainment as a serial event. Specifically, generations of view-
`ers have experienced television shows, movies, radio pro(cid:173)
`grams, and concerts which all proceed linearly from a 60
`beginning to an end. Some potential Web users of this
`generation view surfing the Web as intimidating from per(cid:173)
`haps two respects: (1) the use of technology; and (2) the
`increasingly unorganized, virtually unlimited number of
`choices that are available. The Web is not inherently a linear 65
`entertainment medium. A Web user may typically go directly
`from any given site to a large number of other sites. At best,
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention addresses the need for creating and
`navigating entertaining Web programs
`that filter out
`
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`3
`unwanted information and present desired information in a
`series oflinearly linked websites. In one embodiment of the
`present invention, a user starts with the first site and in a
`guided tour fashion, when finished, is directed exclusively to
`the second site. When done with the second site, the user is
`directed exclusively to the next site, etc. The progression of
`sites defines a programmed linear hypermedia resource path
`that is geared towards the entertainment of the user. Users
`may also implement the system and method described in
`more detail below for educational purposes or as a research 10
`tool.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for use in navigating and
`generating a linear hypermedia resource program is shown.
`The system 10 includes a distributed hypermedia data net(cid:173)
`work 12 having a plurality of information nodes 14 and a
`common remote information node 16 all in communication
`with each other. A subscriber station 18 is in communication
`with the common remote information node 16 over a com(cid:173)
`munication line. In one embodiment, the distributed hyper(cid:173)
`media data network 12 may be the Web where the informa(cid:173)
`tion nodes and common remote information node 14, 16 are
`servers, memory devices, personal computers, or the like
`that are capable of storing, processing, and exchanging data
`with other information nodes. The subscriber station 18 may
`be a personal computer or other device having capability of
`communicating with the common remote information node
`16 and presenting audio, visual, or tactile information
`received from the common remote information node 16.
`As shown in FIG. 2, each information node may contain
`a plurality of hypermedia resources 20. Each hypermedia
`resource 20 contains a plurality of individual media ele(cid:173)
`ments 22, including a base media element 24, that are
`associated by an indexed tree 21. In one embodiment, each
`hypermedia resource 20 may be a website on the Web. The
`base media element 24 can comprise a selected Web page of
`the website that serves as a logical entry point to the website.
`The plurality of other media elements 22 can include the
`additional pages of the website along with other media that
`may include audio and video clips and, optionally, tactile
`records that are convertible to tactile information by means
`of a user interface device that includes tactile or force
`feedback. Each of the information nodes 14 in the distrib(cid:173)
`uted hypermedia data network 12 may contain one or more
`hypermedia resources 20.
`Unlike a typical search result from an Internet search
`engine on the Web, a linear hypermedia resource program
`includes a selected group of media elements that are asso(cid:173)
`ciated by a series of exclusive forward and backward links
`that are, in one embodiment, accessible at all times as the
`hypermedia resources are browsed. FIG. 3 pictorially rep(cid:173)
`resents an embodiment of a preferred linear hypermedia
`resource program in the context of the media element or
`elements in hypermedia resources connected by the linear
`hypermedia resource program 23. As shown in FIG. 3, a
`linear program may include a selected base media element
`from each of a number of hypermedia resources of interest.
`Each base media element 24 is placed in a particular
`program element 25 in the linear hypermedia resource
`program 23 such that the program will move the user
`between hypermedia resources in a predetermined manner
`along an exclusive chain of linear links 27, each selected
`base media element having one exclusive forward link and
`one exclusive backward link. Each program element 25
`maybe a media element 22 from a hypermedia resource 20.
`In one embodiment, the program element 25 maybe the
`universal resource locator (URL) for each selected media
`
`4
`element 24. In an alternative embodiment, each program
`element 25 may be the entire content of a base media
`element 24.
`Preferably, the program elements 25 of a linear hyperme(cid:173)
`dia resource program 23 are stored in the common remote
`information node 16 controlled by the internet service
`provider used by a subscriber at a subscriber station 18 (FIG.
`1). To accelerate the accessibility of each program element
`in a linear hypermedia resource program, each program
`element is preferably fully cached in the common remote
`information node so that all the information of the media
`element comprising each program element is retrieved prior
`to executing the linear hypermedia resource program. In this
`manner, variations in communication speeds between the
`15 common remote information node 16 and the information
`nodes 14 containing selective hypermedia resources are
`minimized. As mentioned above, each media element mak(cid:173)
`ing up a program element may contain textual, visual, audio
`and tactile information. The program elements 27 of the
`20 linear hypermedia resource program may each come from a
`different hypermedia resource,
`the same hypermedia
`resource, or a combination of the two.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a user
`interface operable by a user at a subscriber station 18 to view
`25 a linear hypermedia resource program. Preferably the user
`interface 28 comprises a collection of areas 30, 32, 34 that
`each provide a user with separate functionality. A map area
`30 displays information representative of media elements in
`the linear program for all or a portion of the media elements
`30 22 in the order arranged in the linear hypermedia resource
`program. This information representative of the media ele(cid:173)
`ments that make up the program elements of the linear
`program may be text, icons, graphical depictions or other
`indicators capable of conveying the subject of the repre-
`35 sented media element. The map area 30 may display the
`entire linear path comprised of all the elements in the linear
`program or simply a linear segment 31 of the entire linear
`path. A display area 32 shows the contents of a selected
`media element in the linearly linked chain of the hypermedia
`40 resource program. A command area 34 preferably contains
`backward and forward directional buttons 36 that allow a
`user to send signals to the common remote information node
`to change the media element displayed in the display area 32
`to a subsequent or previous media element in the linear
`45 hypermedia resource program as shown in the map area 30.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, any or all of the
`areas 30, 32 and 34 are implemented using Web frames.
`Dynamic pages that utilize templates and tables are alter(cid:173)
`native implementations of the areas 30, 32 and 34 described
`50 above.
`Utilizing the system of FIGS. 1-2 and 4, methods for
`navigating and creating a linear hypermedia resource pro(cid:173)
`gram are described below. Referring to FIG. 5, one preferred
`embodiment of a method of navigating a linear hypermedia
`55 resource program is shown. A user may download and
`display a first base media element in the linear hypermedia
`resource program (at step 38). In one embodiment, the
`contents of each program element of the linear hypermedia
`resource program are cached in memory at the common
`60 remote information node. The system, via the user interface
`28, responds to additional user commands to download and
`display other media elements of the first hypermedia
`resource (at step 40). Although the entire hypermedia
`resource from which one or more media elements were
`65 preselected as program elements may also be cached at the
`common remote information node 16, the media elements
`that do not make up the linear hypermedia resource program
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`5
`are preferably accessed using links to the respective remote
`information node containing the hypermedia resource.
`A forward direction button 36 is displayed to the user on
`the display device of the subscriber station 18 and the
`subscriber station receives a first signal in response to an
`action of the user that indicates an activation of the forward
`link button (at steps 42, 44). If a signal is received indicating
`that the user has selected the forward directional button, a
`second base media element is downloaded and provided to
`the subscriber station (at step 46). As with the first hyper- 10
`media resource, the user may download and display selected
`media elements from the second hypermedia resource until
`satisfied (at step 48). The steps of responding to the user
`command to display a base media element of a hypermedia 15
`in a linear hypermedia resource program and, in response to
`subsequent commands of a user, to download and display
`other media elements from that hypermedia resource may be
`repeated many times. In this fashion, the user can traverse all
`of the program elements of the linear hypermedia resource 20
`program including all of the base media elements and any
`desired media elements of each hypermedia resource.
`By way of an example for implementing the method
`described above and shown in FIG. 5, consider a linear
`hypermedia resource program directed to hypermedia 25
`resources on the Internet related to a television celebrity. In
`this example, the linear hypermedia resource program 23 is
`an Internet Web path implemented by an internet service
`provider at a common remote information node 16. The user
`starts on the Web path at the first website, for example, a 30
`website showing a type of automobile driven by the celeb(cid:173)
`rity along with specifications and prices. The presentation of
`the website is within the display area 32 of the user interface
`28. Outside the display area 32, a map area 30 showing other
`sites along the celebrity Web path is displayed and identifies 35
`the current site. In one embodiment of the present invention,
`a map of the entire linear path is presented. In an alternative
`embodiment, a selected linear segment 31 of the map is
`shown. In this fashion, the user (by means of map zoom-in
`and zoom-out buttons not shown) can select a portion of the 40
`map of selected size to view by zooming into a particular site
`and reviewing it with more detail or zooming out and
`reviewing the map with more sites but with optionally less
`detail being displayed per site. In a further alternative, a user,
`by means of highlighting and selecting a particular program 45
`element from the map area 30, can selectively skip forward
`or backward to a particular program element and its corre(cid:173)
`sponding base media element.
`The user can activate the forward direction button 36 to go
`to a second website on the tour. The second website may 50
`display subject matter relevant to the real life of, or a movie
`character portrayal by, the celebrity. If, for example, the
`celebrity was known to smoke cigars, a cigar store website
`having a variety of cigars for sale via mail order can be
`displayed. As the user progresses through the linear pro- 55
`gram, the user may come across a website having little
`appeal to the user and so the user may simply hit the forward
`direction button 36 to proceed along to the next in the
`serially linked series of websites. In addition, a skip next
`button (not shown) can likewise allow a user to skip the next 60
`program element in the linear program 23 and proceed
`directly to the program element after the next program
`element. The remaining program elements 25 in the linear
`program 23 can include website pages for Broadway plays
`the celebrity acted in, vacations in exotic locations associ- 65
`ated with the celebrity, pictures of the celebrity in favorite
`roles, and so on.
`
`6
`It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present
`invention the user is free to engage hyperlinks that are
`present in each hypermedia resource. This allows the user to
`browse any of the individual hypermedia elements of the
`hypermedia resource as well as other linked hypermedia
`resources that may not be on the linear path. In this embodi(cid:173)
`ment, the activation of the forward or back buttons directs
`the user to the next or previous hypermedia resource,
`respectively, and therefore allows the user to return to the
`path provided by the linear program 23.
`FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the method
`illustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the common
`remote information node 16 solicits the user for an experi(cid:173)
`ence level. The user interface 28 preferably contains a user
`experience level screen 50 that inquires as to a user's
`experience level in browsing hypermedia resources such as
`the Web. The experience level screen 50 provides an expe(cid:173)
`rience level menu having multiple experience level indica(cid:173)
`tors 52 (see FIG. 7). In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the system
`displ