KR19990023314A - Data processing system and method for implementing a graphical user interface with a unique representation of a URL address - Google Patents

Abstract

The data processing system and method of the present invention is implemented to provide a user interface that provides a unique graphical identifier to be associated with a web page URL. By using this method, external users can easily recognize web page URLs and are not forced to rely on simple identification through text titles. The visual distinction of URL objects on the user's data processing system results in a greater usability and flexibility of the graphical user interface. In addition, the web page provider has more control in determining the representation of the desktop icon assigned to the web page on the external user's system.

Description

Data processing system and method for implementing a graphical user interface with a unique representation of a JR address

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to graphical user interfaces for representing individual URL addresses within a computer network.

Over the years, worldwide computer networks, commonly known as the Internet, have exploded. This growth has been accelerated by the proliferation of the introduction and use of web browsers that allow simple graphical user interface-based access to network servers. The network server supports documents formatted as web pages. The World Wide Web (www) is generally used to refer to a set of servers on the Internet using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP uses a standard page description language, known as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), to provide users with access to a myriad of formats, in particular text, graphics, sound, and video. Application protocol. HTML provides basic document formatting and allows developers to specify links to other servers and files. Using a client browser that is HTML compliant involves specifying a link using a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). When specifying a link via a URL, a client can make a tcp / ip request to the server identified in the link and receive a web page in response. Note that the web page is a document formatted according to HTML.

Because users access different types of web pages, users may implement some techniques for storing web page URLs in a format readily available on the display device of their data processing system. Typically, techniques used to store web page URLs include bookmarks or shortcuts. Bookmarks, shortcuts or other similar means are implemented in the most widely available operating systems. Such operating systems include UNIX, OS / 2, and Windows '95. When a bookmark or shortcut is created, the operating system creates a default icon corresponding to the web page URL. The title for this icon is created from the title specification of the HTML code corresponding to the web page. Also, the graphics associated with the default icon are the same for all bookmarks and shortcuts. In other words, whenever a user creates a shortcut or bookmark for a web page URL, the same icon is used, only the text title associated with that icon is visually different.

For a user with a plurality of bookmarks and shortcuts, the inability of the user to graphically distinguish the icons associated with the web page adversely affects the user's conversation with the data processing system. Thus, in current implementations, users are forced to search through a large number of titles associated with similar icons, rather than simply glance at them and access a web page. This situation is similar to requiring a person to enter a parking area where 20 identical red cars are parked and merely identify their vehicles by looking at their license plates.

Therefore, a URL object that can be easily recognized needs to be provided to the user of the data processing system.

The foregoing needs are met using the present invention. Accordingly, the data processing system provided in the first form includes a communication interface for accessing a plurality of documents from an external network and a central processing unit for assigning a corresponding one of a plurality of unique representations to each of the plurality of documents. It includes.

In addition, the method of operating a data processing system provided in a second form includes accessing a URL associated with a first document stored on an external network. The method also includes accessing a software code segment corresponding to the URL. The method also includes evaluating the software code segment to determine when a graphics tag value is identified in the software code segment. The graphics tag value represents a unique representation corresponding to the document.

These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings are not intended to represent the only form of the invention.

1 is a block diagram of a data processing system according to one embodiment of the invention.

2 is a flow diagram of a method implemented by the data processing system of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of the HTML source code listing in text form in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

100: data processing system 110: CPU

112: system bus 114: RAM

116: ROM 118: I / O Adapter

120: disk storage 122: user interface adapter

124: Keyboard 126: Mouse

128: Speaker 132: Trackball

134: communication adapter 136: display adapter

138: display

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is made to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The data processing system and method of the present invention implements a user interface that provides unique graphical identifiers to be associated with a web page URL. By using the method of the present invention, the user can easily recognize the web page URL. Furthermore, in the present invention, the visual distinction of URL objects on the user's data processing system results in a greater usability and flexibility of the graphical user interface. In addition, the web page provider has more control in determining the representation of the desktop icon assigned to that web page on the system of an external user through the implementation of the present invention. Subsequently, the data processing system and method implemented by the present invention will be described.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention with unnecessary details. For the most part, details regarding timing issues and the like have been omitted since they are not necessary to fully understand the present invention and are within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art.

First, referring to FIG. 1, an example of a data processing system 100 that can be used in the present invention is shown. The system is a central processing unit (CPU) 110 such as a PowerPC microprocessor (PowerPC is a trademark of IBM Corporation) in accordance with The PowerPC Architecture: A Specification for a New Family of RISC Processors, 2nd Edition (1994) by Casey May et al. Which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A more specific implementation of a PowerPC microprocessor is described in IBM's PowerPC 604 RISC Microprocessor Users Manual (1994), which is also incorporated herein by reference. The history buffer (not shown) of the present invention is included in the CPU 110. CPU 110 is connected to various other components by system bus 112. Read-only memory (ROM) 116 is connected to system bus 112 and includes a basic input / output system (BIOS) that controls certain basic functions of data processing system 100. Random access memory (RAM) 114, I / O adapter 118, and communication adapter 134 are also connected to system bus 112. I / O adapter 118 may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter that communicates with disk storage 120. The communication adapter 134 interconnects the bus 112 with an external network, allowing the data processing system to communicate with such other systems. In addition, an input / output device is also connected to the system bus 112 via the user interface adapter 122 and the display adapter 136. In addition, the keyboard 124, trackball 132, mouse 126, and speaker 128 are also interconnected to the bus 112 via the user interface adapter 122. Display monitor 138 is connected to system bus 112 by display adapter 136. In this manner, a user may enter the system via keyboard 124, trackball 132 or mouse 126 and receive output from the system via speaker 128 and display 138. In addition, an operating system such as AIX (AIX is a trademark of IBM Corporation) is used to adjust the functions of the various components shown in FIG.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention include embodiments such as computer systems and computer program products programmed to carry out the methods described herein. According to a computer system embodiment, a set of instructions for executing a method resides in the random access memory 114 of one or more computer systems that are generally configured as described above. These instruction sets may include, for example, other computer memory within the disk drive 120 (such as an optical disk or a floppy disk for use with the disk drive 120) until needed by the computer system. May be stored as a computer program product. In addition, the computer program product may be stored on another computer and, if desired, transmitted to a user's workstation by an external network such as a network or the Internet. Those skilled in the art will understand that physical storage of a set of instructions physically changes the medium on which it is stored so that the medium conveys computer readable information. Such changes can be electrical changes, magnetic changes, chemical changes, or other physical changes. Although it is convenient to describe the invention in terms of commands, symbols, characters, etc., the reader should remember that both these and other similar terms must be associated with appropriate physical elements.

Note that the present invention describes a comparison, validation, selection or other terminology that may be associated with an operator (person). However, no action by an operator is required for at least a number of operations that form part of the invention described herein. The operations described are mostly mechanical operations that process electrical signals to generate other electrical signals.

Suppose that during operation of the data processing system 100 of the present invention, an external user decides to save a web page URL as a shortcut or bookmark. Pointers to web page URLs are stored in accordance with well known techniques currently available in the data processing art. Since such techniques are well known, they are not described in detail here. This step of storing the web page URL corresponds to step 202 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the user saves the web page URL as a shortcut or bookmark, the CPU 110 of the data processing system 100 queries the web page for the icon tag via the communication adapter 134. When CPU 110 queries a web page for an icon tag, CPU 110 effectively accesses the HTML source code corresponding to that web page to determine if the icon tag value is identified therein. The CPU 110 queries the web page for the icon tag in a manner similar to the step that is executed when the CPU 110 queries the web page for the title tag (step 204).

However, in the present invention, not only the title value but also the icon tag is accessed. Note that the title value is typically stored in a string of HTML code. However, the icon tag of the present invention indicates a path within an internet network where a unique page icon can be retrieved.

If the icon tag is not identified by the HTML source code associated with the web page (step 204), or if a unique image does not exist (step 205), the CPU 110 uses the currently available data processing techniques to access the web page. Assign a default image to be displayed in association with the URL shortcut or bookmark (step 206).

However, if a unique image exists, the CPU 110 stores the image accessed by the icon tag at step 208 in an image directory stored in a memory such as RAM 114 of the data processing system 100. . Subsequently, in step 210, an image corresponding to the queried icon tag is assigned to a shortcut or bookmark associated with the web page URL. In step 212, unique icons and associated titles are displayed to external users. This display step occurs when the CPU 110 provides the appropriate control and data signals to the display adapter 136. Display adapter 136 then enables display device 138 to display the icon and its associated title. Methods used to display information on the display device 138 under the control of the CPU 110 are well known to those of ordinary skill in the data processing arts and therefore are not described in detail herein.

By using the method of the flowchart shown in Fig. 2, the data processing system of the present invention can store an icon in the system icon directory, and then indicate whether a shortcut or bookmark has been created by the operating system associated with the data processing system. This unique icon can be used instead of the default browser icon of prior art systems. In addition, a web page that provides an icon implements a unique pictorial representation of a URL web page that allows a user to visually distinguish one web page from another web page.

Figure 3 illustrates a display device 138 in operation of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the web browser 302 has been activated and is being used to access other web pages. Item 310 of FIG. 3 illustrates an IBM Aptiv web page 310 accessed by web browser window 302. When a shortcut is created for an IBM Aptiva web page 310, the CPU 110 determines that the HTML associated with the web page to determine if the Apti web page has a unique icon identified by the icon tag therein. Query the source code. If an icon tag is present in the HTML source code associated with the IBM Aptiva web page 310, the icon tag is accessed to indicate the path associated with the unique web page icon. This unique web page icon is then accessed according to well-known methods. After the unique web page icon is accessed, the CPU 110 stores the icon in the system icon directory within the data processing system 100. The CPU 110 then uses this unique icon rather than the default browser icon to display the bookmark or shortcut on the display device 138.

Therefore, as can be seen by element 304, a unique icon associated with IBM Aptiva web page 310 has been accessed and displayed on display device 138. Similarly, a unique icon 306 associated with the web page URL previously stored as a shortcut to the Windows'95 web page is also displayed on the display device 138. Such visuals help the user in distinguishing one icon from all other URL icons displayed on the display device 138.

4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in which the icon image is improved to more accurately represent the content of a web page. For example, with respect to FIG. 4, assume that the user has chosen to save a URL associated with the application's support web page (element 402 of FIG. 4). In addition, assume that this web page 402 is designed to provide an interactive communication device to allow an individual to communicate with an expert regarding that web page. In one embodiment, a realistic phone may be used to connect an individual directly to a technical support provider. Such a realistic phone can be implemented in accordance with the following pending patent application, which is incorporated herein by reference.

* DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCALING A REALISTIC OBJECT ON A USER INTERFACE, filed November 20, 1996 by Vaden et al.

* SIZING NON-RECTANGULAR, REALISTICALLY-RENDERED OBJECTS, filed November 20, 1996 by Vaden et al.

* DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VIEW OF A REALISTIC OBJECT IN A DISPLAY DEVICE, filed November 20, 1996 by Vaden et al.

* DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIEWING OBJECTS ON A USER INTERFACE, filed November 20, 1996 by Vaden et al.

* MULTIFUNCTIONAL OBJECT, filed November 20, 1996 by Issensi et al.

* DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AUTOMATIC ACTIONS IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE, filed November 20, 1996 by Isensi et al.

* PRIORITIZATION OF BACKGROUND DISPLAY DURING ANIMATION, filed by Morgan on November 20, 1996.

* SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING SIZE AND POSITION RELATIONSHIPS FOR NON-RECTANGULAR REAL WORLD OBJECTS, filed November 11, 1996 by Morgan et al.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 does not require the graphical user interface to be rectangular or to have a particular shape typically associated with an icon. Rather, the image may reflect other file types that the current operating system does not yet support. Such file types may include .gif and .jpg files.

5 illustrates another example of the display device 138 implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention can be modified to access icons having a three-dimensional interface rather than just two-dimensional icons. Such a three-dimensional interface allows a user to directly access the application and is not limited to the icon embodiment.

6 illustrates one embodiment of HTML source code for specifying a URL icon or URL image to be displayed on a display device 138 associated with a user data processing system. By inserting iconhttp: //path/to/icon/image.icoicon in the head of the HTML source code, the HTML source code indicates that the operating system that accesses the corresponding web page must access its own graphics file on the network server. . This unique graphics file corresponds to the URL address specified in the accessed HTML source code. For example, in the source code described above, the URL address associated with the graphics file is http: //path/to/icon/image.ico and the file being accessed is image.ico . These .ico files may be downloaded from the server just as other files, such as .gif and .html, are currently accessed from the server. Also note that other options for specifying your own icon may follow the HTML standard for meta elements, such as meta name = icon content = http: //path/to/icon/image.ico . Note that meta elements can be easily implemented solutions. In addition, some web browsers may support icon tags as HTML extensions in the same way that Netscape and Internet Explorer support their own extensions. The added extension may eventually become the HTML standard.

Although the principles of the invention have been described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such description has been made by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

According to the data processing system and method of the present invention as described above, by visually distinguishing the URL objects on the user's data processing system, the result is that the graphical user interface has greater usability and flexibility.

Claims (20)

A communication interface for accessing a plurality of applications from an external network; And A central processing unit for assigning a corresponding one of a plurality of unique representations to each of said plurality of applications Data processing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, Display device for displaying the plurality of unique representations in response to a plurality of control signals generated by the central processing unit Data processing system further comprising. The method of claim 1, The network is the Internet Data processing system. The method of claim 1, The plurality of applications includes a plurality of web pages on the Internet. Data processing system. The method of claim 4, wherein Each of the plurality of web pages has a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Data processing system. The method of claim 5, The central processing unit assigns each of the plurality of unique representations to a plurality of URLs corresponding to the plurality of web pages. Data processing system. The method of claim 1, The communication interface accesses a first software code segment corresponding to a first application of the plurality of applications, the first software code segment specifying a location of a first representation of the plurality of unique representations. Data processing system. The method of claim 7, wherein The location of the first representation of the plurality of unique representations is a URL to a data processing system on the network. Data processing system. The method of claim 7, wherein The first software code segment is a hypertext markup language (HTML) code segment. Data processing system. The method of claim 7, wherein The central processing unit accesses a location of a first representation of the plurality of unique representations to obtain a first representation of the plurality of unique representations. Data processing system. The method of claim 10, The central processing unit generates a plurality of control signals that allow a first representation of the plurality of unique representations to be displayed on a graphical user interface. Data processing system. The method of claim 1, The plurality of unique representations include a plurality of icons Data processing system. In the method of operating a data processing system, Accessing a URL associated with a first document stored on a network; Accessing a software code segment corresponding to the URL; And Evaluating the software code segment to determine when a graphics tag value in the software code segment, wherein the graphics tag value represents a unique representation corresponding to the document, is identified. Data processing system operating method comprising a. The method of claim 13, Selectively accessing a unique representation corresponding to the first document from a second document stored in the network Data processing system operating method further comprising. The method of claim 14, Storing the unique representation in a memory in the data processing system Data processing system operating method further comprising. The method of claim 14, Assigning the unique representation to an object corresponding to the URL Data processing system operating method further comprising. The method of claim 14, Displaying the unique representation on a graphical user interface of the data processing system. Data processing system operating method further comprising. The method of claim 13, Selectively assigning a default representation to the first document when the software code segment fails to identify a graphics tag value Data processing system operating method further comprising. The method of claim 13, The graphics tag value is identified by a meta element How data processing systems operate. The method of claim 13, The graphics tag value is identified by an element in the form of an icon. How data processing systems operate.