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Method of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interfaceRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Database And File Management Or Data Structures, Database Or File Accessing, Privileged AccessMethod of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060112102, Method of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to computer display interfaces and, more particularly, to a method of dynamically controlling an Internet browser interface and a dynamically controllable browser interface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] When accessing the Internet (i.e., the worldwide web, the web, etc.), an Internet user typically executes, via a computer, a browser software program such as, for example, Netscape Navigator.TM. or Microsoft Internet Explorer.TM.. The browser program (i.e., a browser) establishes a physical link to the Internet (via a modem and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for example) and also provides a textual and graphical user interface, i.e., a browser interface, having a predetermined look and functionality, neither of which can currently be significantly changed by the Internet user. Thus, the browser interface remains relatively static as the Internet user navigates the Internet and moves from application to application or HTML (Hyper-text Mark-up Language) page to HTML page. [0003] Limited control of the browser interface is currently available via an executable software program that may, for example, add functional buttons to the interface. However, the additional functionality is added to the browser interface when the browser is initially activated and remains static thereafter. Thus, it is not possible for a browser displaying a browser interface modified as just-described to dynamically download information from an Internet site and customize itself, either when the browser is initiated or as the users traverses the Internet. Such a modified browser interface also does not provide access to the various browser Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for Plug-ins and interfaces. [0004] The proliferation of Internet sites makes it increasingly difficult for content providers (i.e., owners of Internet sites) to maximize the time an Internet user spends at a particular Internet site. It is, of course, desirable for a content provider to be able to maximize that time an Internet user spends at that provider's Internet site, or to ensure that an Internet user returns to the content provider's site; this being generally referred to in the art as stickiness. It is also desirable to maximize the number of Internet users accessing a content provider's site. Briefly stated, an Internet content provider wants to attract a maximum number of Internet users to that provider's Internet site, and to maximize the amount of time those Internet users remain at that site; neither of which is possible using current Internet browsers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling an Internet browser interface and to a dynamically controllable browser interface. The present invention is also directed to a method of increasing the number of times an Internet user accesses a predetermined Internet site, and to a method of increasing the amount of time an Internet user spends at a predetermined Internet site. [0006] As used herein, the term controlling and controllable refer to, by way of non-limiting example, adding to, removing from, and modifying an Internet browser interface. An Internet browser interface, as referred to herein, means the visual or aural presentation presented to a browser user, and via which a user interacts with the browser. The term customize (and variations thereof) may also be used herein to describe the controllability provided in accordance with the present invention. As used herein, the term dynamically controlling (and variations thereof) refers to a method by which a part of an Internet browser interface (i.e., an interface object) may be displayed and periodically changed or updated while a browser displaying the interface object is activated. [0007] A browser, as used herein, is given its general, art recognized meaning, and generally refers to a software program that provides an interface to the World Wide Web or Internet. The browser enables an Internet user to navigate the Internet and establish a connection to various Internet sites and view the web page(s) provided at the various Internet sites by content providers. A browser is specifically capable of calling, i.e. loading onto the Internet user's computer, an ActiveX control or Plug-in via an Internet site. The browser also enables an Internet user to navigate between and among Internet sites, i.e., to surf the web. The browser provides a browser interface to the Internet user that is formatted by the provider of the browser software program. The browser interface typically defines the layout (e.g., color, size, number and location) and functionality provided by the browser to the Internet user. The browser interface may comprise a first parent window that typically defines the general size, color, and layout of the browser interface and includes window control buttons (e.g., minimize, close, etc.). The browser interface may also comprise a second parent window (a child to the first parent window), and one or more windows dependent from the second parent (i.e., children). The second parent and its dependent windows may provide, for example, various information (e.g., advertisements, coupons, news, HTML links, etc.) and functionality (i.e., toolbars, pull-down menus, Plug-ins, applications, etc.) to the Internet user. [0008] An ActiveX control, as used herein, refers to a tool for linking desktop applications for the Internet and is based on art recognized, Microsoft-developed specifications. A Plug-in, as used herein, refers to a type of program developed for use with Netscape browsers and that integrates with a larger application (e.g., a browser software program) to add a specific functionality or capability to that larger program. An ActiveX control and a Plug-in as described above and as referred to herein may be used with any Internet browser. [0009] As used herein, the term Internet site refers to a location (i.e., node) on the Internet defined by an Internet address or URL (uniform or universal resource locator). As used herein, the term Internet web page refers to a collection of hypertext markup language (HTML) commands provided at an Internet site and that provide formatting information for the text, graphics, and functionality to create a hypertext document that may be displayed on an Internet user's computer display via a browser. For example, an Internet user enters a URL to establish a connection to an Internet site, and that Internet site provides HTML commands to the user's browser to enable display of that Internet site's web page on the user's computer display. The browser interprets hypertext markup language (HTML) commands embedded in a web page and uses the HTML commands to format the text and graphics for that web page. [0010] The present invention provides advantages to an Internet user, an Internet content provider (i.e., an owner of an Internet site), and to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). For an Internet user, the present invention provides a method of dynamically controlling or customizing that user's Internet browser interface. The Internet user may now customize the browser interface so that each time the user accesses the Internet using a browser, user-defined information and/or functionality (also collectively referred to herein as information) will be displayed with the browser interface. For example, the user may include bookmarks, address and phone books, personal financial information, personalized news, and various functionality such as is available via ActiveX control and Plug-ins. [0011] In addition, if an Internet user has an account with a content provider, that user's specific account information (e.g., investment portfolio, news headlines, bookmarks, address book, etc.) may now be dynamically displayed with the browser interface by the browser. Currently, an Internet user can only access that user's specific account information while connected to the content provider's Internet site. The user must return to the content provider's site to receive updated account information. The account information is not displayed with the browser interface once user leaves that Internet site. The present invention provides a method of dynamically controlling and a dynamically controllable browser interface that enables an Internet user to display with the browser interface and continuously update information and/or functionality specific to that user. [0012] For a content provider, the present invention ensures that an Internet user (via a browser) automatically establishes a connection to that content provider's Internet site every time that user accesses the Internet using a browser. Thus, as soon as an Internet user causes a browser to execute (by selecting a browser icon, for example), the browser automatically establishes a connection to the content provider's Internet site to load that user's customized browser interface information. The present invention may also periodically and automatically cause the user's browser to connect to the content provider's Internet site while the browser is active, i.e. while the user surfs the web. In one embodiment, the content provider may provide an Internet user with access to a program for controlling the browser interface. Once the Internet user has accessed that controlling program to customize that user's browser interface, a connection to that content provider may be automatically established by that user's browser every time that user accesses the Internet. Thus, and in contrast to currently available browsers which establish a connection to an Internet site only when the user enters a URL (or otherwise positively acts to cause a connection to be established such as, for example, by selecting a link or banner advertisement), the present invention automatically establishes a connection to the content provider when the browser is initiated, independent of any home web page selection pre-programmed into the browser, whether by the Internet user or browser vendor. Once that initial connection is established, the content provider may load user-specific information and/or functionality to the Internet user's computer for display with that user's browser interface. [0013] In addition, the content provider can also periodically cause the browser to automatically reconnect to that content provider's Internet site to update, download new, or otherwise communicate information and/or functionality for the Internet user's browser interface. For example, if an Internet user subscribes to an email service of the content provider, email messages for that Internet user received by the content provide may be automatically communicated lo the Internet user even though the user is "surfing" elsewhere. When the user's browser initially establishes a connection to the content provider's Internet site upon execution of that user's browser, the information communicated by the content provider to the Internet user includes instructions for the browser to periodically reconnect to the content provider's Internet site. Thus, regardless of the number of Internet sites the user accesses, and regardless of the particular Internet site currently accessed by a user, a connection back to the content provider's Internet site will be automatically established at intervals determined by the content provider; those reconnections being transparent to the Internet user except when the user receives a notification from the content provider (i.e., new mail has arrived). Thus, the browser interface may be dynamically controlled as the Internet user surfs the web. For an ISP, the benefits are at least as great as for a content provider. [0014] Initially, the browser interface for an Internet user must be customized using a software program that may be provided by the content provider or ISP, or that may be available on the user's computer. The software program, referred to hereinafter as a controlling program or a program for controlling (and other variations thereof), changes the manner in which the user's browser functions. More specifically, the controlling program downloads or creates a library file on the Internet user's computer. The library file may be, for example, a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) (for a Windows operating system) that creates a shell (or plurality of shells) within the browser and within which various information and/or functionality may be loaded as an ActiveX control or Plug-in. The library file includes ActiveX control or Plug-in functionality that defines an interface object added to the browser interface in accordance with the present invention. When an Internet user activates a browser, the library file is opened and the ActiveX control or Plug-in code contained within that file is made available to the browser and incorporated into the browser interface, thus causing the interface object to be displayed with the browser interface. The library file, and consequently, the shell (or shells), remain open as long as the browser is activated, generally as long as the user is surfing the web. Thus, the information and/or functionality for customizing the browser interface and loaded in the shell remain active even as the user moves from Internet site to Internet site. When used in this context herein, the terms information and functionality refer to any information, data, and/or software-driven functionality that can be contained in or part of the library file. [0015] The library file also causes the browser to establish a connection to the content provider's Internet site when the browser is initially activated by the user. The content provider's Internet site will load information and/or functionality for the interface object to the user's computer for use in the browser and for display in the browser interface. The information and/or functionality loaded by the content provider may be specific to an Internet user if, for example, that user has an account with the content provider. Alternatively, the content provider may load general information and/or functionality if, for example, the Internet user does not have an account with the content provider (i.e., is a guest). [0016] The present invention uses an object linking and embedding (OLE) in-process server to control the information and/or functionality of a browser interface. Using an ActiveX control or a browser Plug-in (each being referred to herein as a browser interface overlay (BIO) Library) contained in a library file, virtually any information and/or functionality available with an ActiveX control or Plug-in may be added to a browser interface using the present invention. The library file (via the BIO Library) thus includes the code required to customize, i.e., add, remove and/or modify, the browser interface. [0017] Once an Internet user has accessed the controlling program and customized the operation of that user's browser, the customized browser interface is displayed when the browser is activated. In contrast to prior art browser modification methods, the present invention provides a method and browser interface that may be dynamically controlled. Updated or changed information and/or functionality may be communicated to the browser and displayed in the browser interface as the Internet user surfs the web and while maintaining the customized information and/or functionality of the browser interface. Thus, an Internet user may automatically receive up-to-date information such as, for example, stock quotes, email, new headlines, at that user's browser interface, at any Internet site and as long as the user is surfing the web using the browser. [0018] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] In the drawing figures, which are merely illustrative, and wherein like reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: [0020] FIG. 1 depicts a view of a prior art Internet browser interface; Continue reading about Method of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface... Full patent description for Method of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of controlling an internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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