United States Patent (19)
`Bauersfeld
`
`USOO5917491A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,917,491
`Jun. 29, 1999
`
`54 PAGE PROXY
`75 Inventor: Kristin Bauersfeld, Half Moon Bay,
`Calif.
`
`73 Assignee: Netscape Communications
`Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/920,960
`22 Filed:
`Aug. 29, 1997
`(51) Int. Cl." ........................................................ G06F 3/00
`52 U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 345/352
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 345/348, 349,
`34.5/352, 353, 356, 357
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,737,619 4/1998 Judson .................................... 395/761
`5,848,410 12/1998 Walls et al. ................................. 707/4
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Cortinas, M., “Beller Navigator Bookmarks,” MacWeek,
`v10, n21, p. 12(1), 1996.
`Buchanan, L., “Power Bookmarking in Netscope-... ',
`Multimedia Schools, Jan. 1997, v.4, n.1, pp. 38-40.
`Schorr, J., “Slogging Through the Net,” MacWorld, v 14, n5,
`p. 137(2), May 1997.
`
`“2,001 Tips: The Web-Browse Fooler, . . . .” Windows
`Magazine 1998, n.911A, p. 123.
`
`Primary Examiner A. Katbab
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Michael A. Glenn
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A page proxy manages representations of page information,
`such as Web page locations in the form of Uniform Resource
`Locators (URLs), which are presented as Web page book
`marks. A proxy tool is provided by which a URL proxy for
`a Web page displayed in a browser, Such the Netscape
`Navigator, may be readily manipulated by the use of any
`well known gestures, Such as mouse-over and click and drag
`and drop (where a cursor is moved over the Web page proxy
`by use of a mouse, a button on the mouse is clicked to attach
`the proxy to the cursor, and the mouse is used to drag the
`proxy to a desired location, where it is then dropped by
`releasing the button on the mouse). The proxy tool operates
`in conjunction with a navigation aid that provides an orga
`nization view of destination locations and actions in the
`form of a drop down menu. The proxy tool may be a page
`proxy icon, which is located on a menu bar proximate to a
`Web page location field, and the navigation aid may be a
`drop down menu that includes hierarchically arranged
`contents, including multiple levels of Sub-menus, and that
`also includes various actions, Such as editing functions.
`
`20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`4. Order Records
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 29, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
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`5,917,491
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 29, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,917,491
`
`
`
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`2 ExCite
`Project Links
`Corporate Links
`42 Order Records
`2Ihe Concer Club
`2 Big Yellow
`2 NSF 2 University of Podunk
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 29, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
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`5,917,491
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`4.
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`7. Add Bookmark
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`42 Yahoo
`2 Web. Crawlers
`2 Excite
`Project Links
`Corporate Links
`4 Order Records
`2Ihe Cancer Club
`2 Big Yellow
`22 NSF 2 University of Podunk
`
`41b
`41c
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`
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`
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`5,917,491
`
`
`
`p??SIN?SOTTOETUOI EDOTTOE_BUDNI
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 29, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,917,491
`
`Whot's New?
`
`Look for documents that have changed on:
`O All bookmarks
`O Selected bookmorks
`
`Start Checking
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`
`
`DOne checking 155 bookmarks.
`122 documents were reached.
`34 documents have changed and ore marked.
`
`Stop Checking
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`

`

`1
`PAGE PROXY
`
`5,917.491
`
`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Technical Field
`The invention relates to a proxy mechanism for identify
`ing and using documents within electronic networks. More
`particularly, the invention relates to a proxy mechanism for
`bookmarking uniform resource locators, for example in a
`Web browser.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`The World Wide Web (“Web”) has become an important
`and popular tool. Every day, many new Web pages are
`added, Such that accessing the Shear Volume of information
`available on the Web becomes a daunting task. While search
`engines, Such as Yahoo and Alta Vista, make finding specific
`Web pages a more Straightforward task, Such Search engines
`do not provide instant access to the desired location. Rather,
`one must navigate through a hierarchical menu with their
`Web browser until the desired location is displayed. It is
`therefore a common feature of the de facto standard Web
`browser, i.e. Netscape Navigator (manufactured by
`Netscape Communications Corp. of Mountain View, Calif.),
`to provide bookmarks for those Web pages that are fre
`quently visited.
`Bookmarks allow users to capture their current location
`easily for quick return later. Current bookmark designs make
`it easy for users to capture the location, but not to organize
`or make sense of what they captured. It would be desirable
`to retain the ability within a browser for bookmarks to be
`easily acquired and revisited. It would also be desirable to
`provide more information to users when organizing and
`making sense of their bookmarks. It would further be
`desirable to provide quick, up front categorization of Such
`bookmarks.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The invention provides a page proxy for managing rep
`resentations of page information. One Such proxy manages
`Web page locations in the form of Uniform Resource
`Locators (URLS) as Web page bookmarks. AS discussed
`above, bookmarks provide convenient and immediate acceSS
`to specific Web pages. The preferred embodiment provides
`a proxy tool by which a URL proxy for a Web page
`displayed in a browser, Such the Netscape Navigator, may be
`readily manipulated by the use of any well known gestures,
`Such as mouse-over and click and drag and drop (where a
`cursor is moved over the Web page proxy by use of a mouse,
`a button on the mouse is clicked to attach the proxy to the
`cursor, and the mouse is used to drag the proxy to a desired
`location, where it is then dropped by releasing the button on
`the mouse).
`The proxy tool operates in conjunction with a navigation
`aid that provides an organization view of destination loca
`tions and actions in the form of a drop down menu. In the
`preferred embodiment of the invention, the proxy tool is a
`page proxy icon, which is located on a menu bar proximate
`to a Web page location field, and the navigation aid is a drop
`down menu that includes hierarchically arranged contents,
`including multiple levels of Sub-menus, and that also
`includes various actions, Such as editing functions.
`In accordance with the invention, a technique is provided
`that allows one to retain the ability within a browser for
`bookmarks to be acquired and revisited easily, while pro
`Viding more information to users when organizing their
`bookmarks, and while providing quick, up front categoriza
`tion of Such bookmarkS.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`FIG. 1 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing a page proxy for bookmarking
`uniform resource locators (URLS) according to the inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing a page proxy for a folder window
`according to the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing the operation of a page proxy for
`bookmarking URLS according to the invention;
`FIGS. 4a–4c provide a schematic representation of a
`portion of a browser display showing a Sequence of Steps for
`using a page proxy for bookmarking URLS according to the
`invention;
`FIG. 5 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing a bookmark window according to
`the invention; and
`FIGS. 6a-6b provide a schematic representation of a
`portion of a browser display showing a Sequence of Steps for
`checking bookmarks according to the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The invention provides a page proxy for managing rep
`resentations of page information. One Such proxy manages
`Web page locations in the form of Uniform Resource
`Locators (URLS) as Web page bookmarks. AS discussed
`above, bookmarks provide convenient and immediate access
`to specific Web pages. The preferred embodiment provides
`a proxy tool by which a URL proxy for a Web page
`displayed in a browser, Such the Netscape Navigator, may be
`readily manipulated by the use of any well known gestures,
`Such as mouse-over and click and drag and drop (where a
`cursor is moved over the Web page proxy by use of a mouse,
`a button on the mouse is clicked to attach the proxy to the
`cursor, and the mouse is used to drag the proxy to a desired
`location, where it is then dropped by releasing the button on
`the mouse).
`The proxy tool operates in conjunction with a navigation
`aid that provides an organization view of destination loca
`tions and actions in the form of a drop down menu. In the
`preferred embodiment of the invention, the proxy tool is a
`page proxy icon, which is located on a menu bar proximate
`to a Web page location field, and the navigation aid is a drop
`down menu that includes hierarchically arranged contents,
`including multiple levels of Sub-menus, and that also
`includes various actions, Such as editing functions. It should
`be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, although the
`invention is described herein in connection with the manipu
`lation and organization of Web page bookmarks, the inven
`tion is readily adapted for use in other applications, Such as
`email message management.
`The invention provides a robust mechanism for using
`bookmarks. For example, when a bookmark is entered using
`the page proxy mechanism described herein, information
`about the bookmarked location may be collected and Stored
`for later use. Further, information may be added by the user
`at the time the bookmark is entered.
`The following is a table of information concerning a
`bookmark that is collected when the bookmark is visited or
`added in accordance with the invention.
`
`

`

`Information Collected Regarding A Bookmark
`Description
`
`Type
`
`Page Name
`URL
`Date Acquired
`
`Date Last Visited
`
`Text string in the tag <TITLEs.
`The URL to the page location.
`The date that the user added the
`bookmark to their bookmark list in
`Day Month Day Time Year.
`The date the user last visited the
`bookmarked site in # days ago
`format.
`
`The following is a table of fields that are available for the
`user to edit in accordance with the invention.
`
`15
`
`TABLE 2
`
`User Editable Fields
`
`Type
`
`Description
`
`Informative Name
`
`Notes
`
`A text string the user can type in place
`of the provided page name.
`An arbitrarily long text field where
`users can type in information about
`the page.
`
`Bookmark quick file
`
`Bookmark window
`
`Customizable Tool bar
`
`Browser icon in taskbar
`
`Another browser window
`Compose Window
`File system (Desktop)
`
`Print icon
`Editor window
`
`Single click
`Double click
`Mouse-down?hold
`
`25
`
`Mouse over and pause, no click
`
`Create a link to that page in a
`bookmark file.
`Create a link to that page in a
`bookmark file.
`Create a link to that page in a tool bar
`and adds the link to the tool bar folder
`in the bookmarks window.
`Open that page in another browser
`window.
`Open that page.
`Attaches the page in line.
`Create a link to that page, e.g. an
`alias or shortcut.
`Print the page.
`To a selection: Make the selection a
`link to that page.
`At any insertion point: Paste the title of
`the page and makes a link to it.
`No action.
`Make a bookmark to the page.
`Icon is animated to indicate that it is
`draggable.
`Icon is animated to indicate
`draggable tool tip text: “Click on this to
`drag a copy of the page.”
`
`3
`
`TABLE 1.
`
`5,917.491
`
`4
`The following is a table of drag and drop actions that can
`be performed with the proxy icon.
`
`TABLE 3
`
`Proxy Icon Drag and Drop Actions
`
`Action
`
`Behavior
`
`The following types of information/documents are
`examples of what Sort of things can be bookmarked in
`accordance with the invention:
`Web pages;
`Mail/News messages;
`Categories,
`Mail Folders;
`Newsgroups, and
`Files.
`Bookmarks are added to messages and categories in the
`following way:
`Newsgroups/Mail Folders: Choose “Add Bookmark” or a
`Similar function from a bookmark icon located in or
`proximate to a folder window.
`Categories: Get focus and Selection (or Similar) functions in
`a category pane and choose “Add Bookmark' in a thread
`window.
`Messages: Get focus and Selection (or similar) functions in
`a message pane and choose “Add Bookmark' in a thread
`window/message window.
`FIG. 1 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing a page proxy for bookmarking
`uniform resource locators (URLS) according to the inven
`tion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the page
`proxy is implemented as an icon which represents a given
`window. For example, in a Web browser (FIG. 1), the proxy
`icon 16 represents a current location shown in a location
`field 12, for example a Web page, e.g. http://
`home.netscape.com. Various actions can be preformed on
`the proxy through direct manipulation.
`Icon Behavior
`The proxy icon 16 is animated when a gesture, Such as the
`manipulation of a cursor by a mouse, is used to give a user
`an indication that the proxy icon can be manipulated. User
`help information, Such as a tool tip, may also be displayed
`on mouse-over-pause, e.g. “Click on this to drag a copy of
`the name of item.”
`Browser Window
`The proxy icon 16 is preferably presented next to the
`location field 12 that acts as a representative of the page, as
`shown in FIG. 1.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Mail/News
`The proxy icon may also be used in the folder, thread, and
`message windows of a network interface product, Such as a
`browser. FIG. 2 is a Schematic representation of a portion of
`a browser display showing a page proxy for folder, thread,
`and message windows according to the invention. The proxy
`20 appears in the banner part of the window, as shown in
`FIG. 2, adjacent to an Inbox field 22.
`The following is a table of actions that can be performed
`in a folder window, Such as the Inbox window shown in FIG.
`2.
`
`TABLE 4
`
`Folder Window Actions
`
`Action
`
`Behavior
`
`Bookmark quick file or bookmark Create a link to that window in
`window
`bookmarks.
`Dragging to the File System
`Create a shortcut or alias to that page.
`Compose Window
`Attach the folder and all folder
`contents.
`Thread/Message Window
`Open compose window and attach
`thread or message; or move folder
`and contents to a thread window.
`Open contents of folder and display
`in browser window in list view
`format.
`
`Browser Window
`
`Thread/Message Window
`Where a second pane in the thread window is opened to
`reveal a Selected message, the proxy icon Still represents the
`thread window as a whole.
`The following is a table of actions that can be performed
`in a thread/message window.
`
`

`

`5,917.491
`
`S
`
`TABLE 5
`
`Thread/Message Window Actions
`
`6
`
`TABLE 6-continued
`
`Bookmark Menu Actions
`
`Action
`
`Behavior
`
`Action
`
`Behavior
`
`Compose Window
`Thread/Message Window (other
`than sent, drafts, or Outbox)
`
`Drafts. Thread Window
`
`Bookmark quick file or bookmark Create a link to that window in
`window
`bookmarks.
`Dragging to the File System
`Create a shortcut or alias to that
`window.
`Attach the message when it is from a
`message window, otherwise N/A.
`Move that message to that folder
`when it is from a message window
`(copy in the case of a news article),
`otherwise NAA
`Copy that message to that folder and
`make it a draft (e.g. "save as draft)
`when it is from a message window,
`otherwise NAA
`N/A
`N/A
`
`Message Window
`Browser Window
`
`Bookmark Quick File
`In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a button 10
`(see FIG. 1) located to the left of the location bar and that
`contains the text “bookmarks' 14 is provided to users to
`capture and file their bookmarks quickly using a drag and
`drop gesture. The button also provides quick access to saved
`bookmarks. The button allows users to perform different
`actions with bookmarkS.
`
`Accessing Bookmarks
`FIG. 3 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing the operation of a page proxy for
`bookmarking URLS according to the invention. The top
`level bookmark menu item is replaced with bookmark
`access on the location bar. The bookmark button 10 drops
`down to reveal the bookmark menu 3.0. The bookmark menu
`provides a navigation aid that allows a list of hierarchically
`organized folders and Sub-menus to be accessed and to
`provide a repository in which to drop a bookmark that has
`been dragged to the button 10. The bookmark menu also
`provides a list of actions that may be taken Such as, for
`example “Add Bookmark,” “File Bookmark,” or “Edit
`Bookmark.”
`FIGS. 4a–4c provide a schematic representation of a
`portion of a browser display showing a Sequence of Steps for
`using a page proxy for bookmarking URLS according to the
`invention. In FIG. 4a, a cursor gesture 40 is used to drag a
`location proxy 16 from the location field 12 to the proxy icon
`10 (FIG. 4b). As a result, the bookmark button 10 is
`actuated, causing the bookmark menu 30 to drop down. The
`bookmark may then be dropped into an appropriate folder
`within the list of folders that appears in the bookmark menu,
`or within a folder in a Sub-menu (as indicated by the arrows
`41a–41c), or an action may be taken (as discussed above).
`The following table provides a list of actions and behav
`iors of the bookmark menu.
`
`TABLE 6
`
`Bookmark Menu Actions
`
`Behavior
`
`Borderless button feedback
`(see FIG. 1).
`Drop-down menu displays itself (see
`FIG. 3).
`
`Action
`
`Mouse-over
`
`Mouse click (down-up)
`
`Mouse-down, hold
`
`Drop-down menu displays itself (see
`FIG. 3).
`Mouse click outside (menu) when Close drop-down bookmark menu.
`drop-down menu displayed
`Other gesture, e.g. keystroke or
`Drop-down bookmark menu.
`control character
`Other gesture, e.g. keystroke or
`control character
`Other gesture, e.g. keystroke or
`control character
`Arrow keys when drop-down is
`open
`Esc key when drop down is open
`
`Add the current page as a bookmark.
`
`Open the bookmark window.
`Up/Down keys traverse the list of
`bookmark.
`Close the drop-down.
`
`15
`
`Bookmark Menu
`In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the book
`mark list is available from two locations, i.e. the bookmark
`drop-down menu in the location bar, and as Sub-menu in the
`Window menu. Both menus are identical and contain the
`items shown in the following table.
`
`25
`
`TABLE 7
`
`Bookmark Drop-DOwn Menu
`
`Name
`
`Action
`
`Gesture
`
`Shortcut
`
`alt+B, A
`
`alt+B, F
`
`Add Bookmark
`
`File Bookmark
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`Edit Bookmarks . . .
`Open the
`bookmark
`window.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`Bookmark list -
`folders and
`individual items
`
`ctrl+D
`Add the current
`page as a bookmark (cmd.--D on
`at the bottom of the Mac)
`bookmark list below
`the separator.
`Pull-right menu with ctrl+E (cmd--E
`a list of bookmark on Mac)
`folders and
`individual
`bookmarks.
`Selecting a folder
`places the currently
`displayed page as
`selected by the user
`as a bookmark
`relative to a
`visual cue.
`There is a folder
`called “Top-level”
`bookmarks.
`ctrl+B (cmd.--
`B on Mac)
`
`alt+B, E
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`A separator line,
`divides above
`commands from
`bookmark list.
`A list of single
`bookmarks and
`folders based on
`user defined order in
`the bookmark
`window
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Filing Bookmarks
`One feature of the invention is the ability to file book
`marks. There are two ways to file bookmarks in the preferred
`embodiment of the invention, i.e. via a drag and drop gesture
`to the bookmark icon in the location bar and the menu item
`in the BookmarkS Sub-menu.
`
`

`

`5,917.491
`
`8
`
`Edit an existing bookmark,
`Create a user defined bookmark Structure;
`Insert a separator; and
`Sort by column criteria.
`The bookmark window includes bookmarks, folders, Sort
`able columns, and a tool bar. The bookmark window retains
`the ability to order bookmarks.
`Actions on bookmarks and folders that may be performed
`in the bookmark window and that are similar to those found
`in state of the art browsers include:
`Bookmark:
`Single click: Selection; and
`Double click: Load bookmark in browser.
`Folder:
`Single click: Selection; and
`Double click: Expand hierarchy.
`
`15
`
`7
`The drag and drop gesture to the bookmark button
`behaves as described in the following table.
`
`TABLE 8
`
`Drag and Drop To Bookmark Menu
`
`Mouse Action
`
`Behavior
`
`Mouse down and drag the proxy
`icon over the bookmark button and
`hold for 0.5 sec.
`
`Mouse down and drag proxy icon
`over the bookmark button, mouse
`up before 0.5 sec.
`Mouse up over drop-down with
`proxy icon.
`
`Drops down the menu to the right of
`the button while dragging, an Outline
`of bookmark icon follows the mouse
`pointer. Options highlight in the list
`as they are passed over by the arrow
`cursor to provide a visual cue to the
`user of the location at which the
`bookmark is to be placed
`(see FIG. 3).
`A link to the page is added to the
`bookmark list at a user selected
`location as indicated by a visual cue.
`A bookmark is added below the
`currently selected item. For example,
`if a bookmark Foo in folder Bar is
`highlighted, the new bookmark is
`added below Foo in the folder Bar.
`
`Bookmark Window
`FIG. 5 is a Schematic representation of a portion of a
`browser display showing a bookmark window according to
`the invention. Users open the bookmark window via the
`“Edit Bookmarks . . .
`. command in the Bookmark menu.
`The top-level bookmark container reads “Bookmarks
`for . . . . . Users can perform the following operations in this
`window (see FIG. 5):
`Create a new bookmark,
`
`Default Folders
`
`The bookmark window contains the following folders by
`default, i.e. Guide and Tool bar Items. When there is no
`bookmark.html file on the system at installation a default file
`is installed.
`
`25
`
`Sortable Columns
`
`The columns in the window are mirrored from a book
`mark property dialog. A column show/hide feature allows
`users to choose which columns to display. The columns and
`Sort criteria include those features Set forth in the following
`table.
`
`TABLE 9
`
`Sortable Columns
`
`Column
`
`Sort Criteria
`
`Behavior
`
`Name
`
`Sorted by user
`defined order - not
`alphabetical
`
`Location
`(URL) - minus
`the protocol
`
`Alphabetical (second
`order sort by date
`last visited)
`
`Last Visited
`
`Chronologically
`
`Date Created
`
`Chronologically
`descending is
`default, a second
`click on the sort order
`column changes to
`ascending.
`Alphabetical (second
`order sort by date
`last visited)
`
`Maintains the hierarchical list
`based on user sort order. Does
`nothing if it is the current sort
`criteria and the user accesses
`it again. This order is
`remembered and returned to if
`the list is flattened. This is the
`only sort in which users can
`move and reorder
`foldersfitems.
`Flattens the list and sorts
`descending on first click, sorts
`ascending on second click.
`The protocol is removed (http,
`ftp, etc) from the address.
`Flattens the lists and sorts
`descending by default. A
`second click on the sort order
`column changes the sort to
`ascending.
`Flattens the lists and sorts
`descending by default, a
`second click on the sort order
`column changes to ascending.
`
`Displays the protocol for the
`page - http, ftp, or lclap.
`Flattens the lists and sorts
`descending by default, a
`second click on the sort order
`column changes to ascending.
`
`Default State
`
`Shown
`
`Shown
`
`Shown
`
`Shown
`
`Hidden
`
`

`

`5,917.491
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`9
`Users can reorder their bookmarkS via a drag and drop
`gesture, as well as via a menu item that moves the Selection
`up or down in the hierarchy. The name Sort order is based on
`the user defined order, not alphabetical order. When the sort
`order is other than Name, users are not able to reorder the
`bookmarks.
`
`Find in the Bookmark Window
`The find dialog allows a user to find a text String in, for
`example name, location, and description (checkbook
`options) fields, and match the case and whole word (also
`checkbox icons).
`
`10
`8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein information may be
`added by a user at the time a bookmark is entered.
`9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said information
`about a bookmarked location includes any of page name,
`URL, data acquired, and date last Visited.
`10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said user added
`information includes any of The following is a table of
`informative name and notes.
`11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the types of
`information/documents that can be bookmarked include any
`of Web pages, mail/news messages, categories, mail folders,
`newsgroups, and files.
`12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said page proxy is
`implemented as an icon which represents a given window.
`13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein Said icon is
`animated when a gesture is used, to give a user an indication
`that Said icon can be manipulated.
`14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein Said gesture is a drag
`and drop gestures with which any of the following actions
`can be performed with the page proxy: create a link to a page
`in a bookmark file, create a link to a page in a tool bar and
`add said link to a tool bar folder in a bookmarks window,
`open a page in another browser window, open a page, attach
`a page in line, create a link to a page, print a page, make a
`Selection a link to a page, paste a page title and make a link
`to Said page title, make a bookmark to a page.
`15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said page proxy
`may be used in folder, thread, and message windows of a
`network interface device.
`16. A method for managing representations of page
`information, comprising the Steps of:
`manipulating a page proxy displayed in a window with a
`proxy tool; and
`providing an organization view of page proxy destination
`locations and actions with a navigation aid.
`17. The method of claim 16, wherein said manipulating
`Step comprises the Step of:
`using a cursor gesture to drag a location proxy from a
`location field to a proxy icon, wherein a button is
`actuated, causing a menu to drop down, wherein Said
`page proxy may then be dropped into an appropriate
`folder within a list of folders that appears in Said menu,
`within a folder in a Sub-menu, or wherein an action may
`be taken.
`18. The method of claim 16, wherein said manipulating
`Step comprises the Steps of
`mouse down and drag a proxy icon over a button and hold
`to drop down a menu;
`mouse down and drag Said proxy icon over Said button
`and mouse up to add a link to a page, and
`mouse up over drop-down with Said proxy icon to add a
`bookmark below a currently Selected item.
`19. The method of claim 16, wherein said manipulating
`Step comprises any of the following operations create a new
`bookmark, edit an existing bookmark, create a user defined
`bookmark Structure, insert a separator, and Sort by column
`criteria.
`20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step
`of:
`providing a bookmark window that includes any of
`bookmarks, folders, Sortable columns, and a tool bar.
`
`k
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`k
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`k
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`k
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`k
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`Checking Bookmarks
`FIGS. 6a-6b provide a schematic representation of a
`portion of a browser display showing a Sequence of Steps for
`checking bookmarks according to the invention. The "Check
`Bookmarks' command allows a user to check a bookmark
`list for updates. Choosing the command brings up the dialog
`shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b.
`Property Dialog
`The URL is automatically entered in the Location field in
`the Bookmarks ItemProperties dialog. The title of the object
`being added is automatically entered in the Title field in the
`Bookmarks Item Properties dialog, but the text field is
`preSelected when the dialog is opened to afford editing. The
`button page defaults to the URL of the current page.
`Although the invention is described herein with reference
`to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will
`readily appreciate that other applications may be Substituted
`for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit
`and Scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the inven
`tion should only be limited by the Claims included below.
`I claim:
`1. A page proxy apparatus for managing representations
`of page information, comprising:
`a proxy tool for manipulating a page proxy displayed in
`a window; and
`a navigation aid that provides an organization view of
`page proxy destination locations and actions.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said page proxy is
`manipulated by the use of a gesture.
`3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein Said gesture com
`45
`prises:
`mouse-over and click, and
`drag and drop,
`wherein a cursor is moved over Said page proxy by use of
`a mouse, a button on Said mouse is clicked to attach
`Said page proxy to Said cursor, and Said mouse is used
`to drag Said page proxy to Said navigation aid, where
`Said page proxy is then dropped by releasing Said
`mouse button.
`4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said proxy tool
`comprises a page proxy icon, which is located on a menu bar
`proximate to a page location field.
`5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said navigation aid
`comprises a drop down menu that includes hierarchically
`arranged contents, including multiple levels of Sub-menus,
`and that also includes various actions.
`6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said page proxy
`manages Web page locations in the form of Uniform
`Resource Locators (URLs) as Web page bookmarks.
`7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein information about a
`bookmarked location may be collected and Stored for later
`Sc.
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