Patent ID: 6292813
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of displaying information on a display screen for a user, the method comprising the acts of:retrieving over a network a first hypertext document, wherein the first hypertext document is retrieved over the network from a first server that is operated by a first publisher;displaying the first hypertext document on the display screen for the user, wherein the first hypertext document is published by the first publisher, and wherein the first hypertext document contains links to a plurality of documents;detecting that the first hypertext document is being displayed on the screen for the user;upon detecting that the first hypertext document is being displayed, automatically sending information identifying the first hypertext document being displayed for the user over the network to a supplemental information server, wherein the supplemental information server is operated by an entity that is different than the first publisher;displaying a supplemental information display element on the display screen;monitoring the user's selection of the supplemental information display element;displaying supplemental information for the first hypertext document on the display screen when the user selects the supplemental information display element, wherein the supplemental information for the first hypertext document is published by an entity that is different than the first publisher, wherein the supplemental information for the first hypertext document is relevant to the contents of the first hypertext document, wherein the supplemental information for the first hypertext document includes a link to a second hypertext document that is relevant to the contents of the first hypertext document and is not linked to by the first hypertext document as published by the first publisher, and wherein the second hypertext document is published by a second publisher, which is an entity that is different than the first publisher;automatically removing the supplemental information for the first hypertext document from the display screen when the user requests a third hypertext document;retrieving over the network the third hypertext document, wherein the third hypertext document is retrieved over the network from a third server that is operated by a third publisher;displaying the third hypertext document on the display screen for the user, wherein the third hypertext document is published by the third publisher, and wherein the third hypertext document contains links to a plurality of documents;detecting that the third hypertext document is being displayed on the screen for the user;upon detecting that the third hypertext document is being displayed, automatically sending information identifying the third hypertext document over the network to the supplemental information server;monitoring the user's selection of the supplemental information display element; anddisplaying supplemental information for the third hypertext document on the display screen when the user selects the supplemental information display element, wherein the supplemental information for the third hypertext document is published by an entity that is different than the third publisher, wherein the supplemental information for the third hypertext document includes a link to a fourth hypertext document, wherein the fourth hypertext document is relevant to the contents of the third hypertext document and is not linked to by the third hypertext document as published by the third publisher, and wherein the fourth hypertext document is published by a fourth publisher, which is an entity that is different than the third publisher.