INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESENTATION SOFTWARE AND METHOD

Abstract: The invention includes a method for providing a presentation (60) to a user of the Internet web browser (110), by directing the browser to access preselected Internet resources (50), such as web pages, in a preselected order, while preventing the user from employing the browser to move to resources other than those selected, or to change the order of presentation. Modifications may be provided to the content of the Internet resources as received by the user, as well as additional content. The method may include for real-time creation of a presentation; such real-time creation may be used while in communication, such as by telephone or another method, so that the composer and recipient may simultaneously view the selected Internet resources. The presentation may be in the form of a file that is readable by a general purpose web browser, without the need for specialized software. The presentation file provides a series of commands to the browser running on the user's computer to create the presentation. The presentation displays the current content of various preselected web sites for a selected time in a selected order, modifications of such content, and presentation of additional textual, graphic, and auditory content. During the presentation, the browser is connecting to and receiving information from web sites or other Internet resources. During the presentation, the user cannot access links on the web sites or other Internet resources, so that the particular displayed resources are controlled by the presentation.

Description: INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESENTATION SOFTWARE AND METHOD Field of the Invention. This invention relates to communications over computer networks, including the Internet, and in particular to networks employing hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). Background of the Invention. The Internet is emerging as a dynamic new communications tool. Two major reasons for its explosive growth are the volume of information that can be published and searched and uniformity standards in accessibility; i.e. standard tools allow anyone to access the information. One such standard is the world wide web browser, which permits information stored in an appropriate format to be searched and displayed from anywhere in the world. The browser is an application that runs on a computer that has an operating system on it . One way to communicate information contained on the world wide web is to provide the addresses of websites to the recipient of the communication. This presents various difficulties. One means of attempting this would be to: 1. Paste into an E-mail the Internet addresses needed 2. Compose a message in the E-mail relating to each address describing what is germane within each site. 3. Attach files with similar messages. 4. E-mailing it to the person that you wish to receive this communication. The recipient may or may not follow the sequence of hyperlinks, will be inconvenienced by the need to copy or type the addresses, may follow hyperlinks within sites, and may or may not review the comments in the E-mail simultaneously with viewing the site. Objects and Advantages of the Invention. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, system, and software for creating and viewing presentations including resources on a network, such as world wide web pages on the Internet, that overcomes the foregoing disadvantages. It is an advantage of the present invention that the foregoing objects are achieved. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows. Summary of the Invention. In summary, the invention includes a method for providing a presentation to a user of an Internet web browser, having a general purpose computer, including, as is conventional, a central processing unit, memory devices, input and output devices and displays, and buses and controllers, with an operating system and an Internet web browser program running, by directing the browser to access preselected Internet resources, such as web pages, in a preselected order, while preventing the user from employing the browser to move to resources other than those selected, or to change the order of presentation. The method may include providing modifications to the content of the Internet resources as received by the user, and providing additional content. The method may include providing for multiple users simultaneously to access the same presentation. The method may include providing for realtime creation of a presentation; such real-time creation may be used while in communication, such as by telephone or another method, so that the composer and recipient may simultaneously view the selected Internet resources. The presentation may be in the form of a file that is readable by a general purpose web browser, without the need for specialize software. The presentation file provides a series of commands to the browser running on the user's computer to create the presentation. The presentation may include displaying the current content of various preselected websites for a selected time in a selected order, modifications of such content, and presentation of additional textual, graphic, and auditory content. During the presentation, the browser is connecting to and receiving information from web sites or other Internet resources. During the presentation, the user cannot access links on the web sites or other Internet resources, so that the particular displayed resources are controlled by the presentation. According to another aspect of the invention, a method, system and software are provided for creating presentations. The software, running on a conventional general purpose computer with a running operating system, provides selectable functions, such as the selection of Internet resources to include in the presentation, the selection of pre-existing or new content other than Internet resources, the selection of the order and timing of viewing of Internet resources and other content, viewing of existing presentations, recall and editing of existing presentations, and storage of the presentation as a file on a memory device. The presentations may control conventional browsers. The system includes a general purpose computer having the foregoing functions. A method for creating, recall, and editing of presentations that can control a web browser program includes selecting Internet resources, determining an order of presentation of Internet resources, modifying the presentation of Internet resources, incorporating content other than Internet resources in the presentation, and storing the presentation on a memory device. A method, software and system may also include providing for real-time creation of presentations and transmission of presentations to the computer of a user for determining the web sites or other resources accessed and displayed by the browser. Brief Description of the Figures. Figure 1 is a schematic depiction of computer systems on networks employing methods according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic depiction of principal modules of software in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment. Referring now to Figure 1 , there are depicted various computer systems on networks employing methods according to the invention. Figure 1 depicts presentation composer's computer system 10. Presentation composer's computer system 10 may be any general purpose computer system, such as an Intel-based system running an operating system, such as Windows 98. This is merely an example, and any other system would be possible. Presentation composer's computer system 10 has running thereon presentation creating and editing program 20. Presentation creating and editing program 20 causes a presentation to be created. The presentation is stored on storage device associated with computer system 10. Computer system 10 has access to a network having resources. In the example of Figure 1, the network is the Internet, and the resources are pages on the world wide web. The nature of the network is not limited, and may be, for example, a corporate or other institution's Intranet. The nature of the resources is not limited to world wide web pages, or to pages accessible through hypertext transfer protocol, and may include resources accessible through other communications standards. Computer system 10 has running thereon a browser 30. The term browser is used herein to connote a computer program for obtaining access to resources over a network, and is not limited to browsers employing hypertext transfer protocol. A user of presentation creating and editing program 20 employs browser to access resources. Presentation creating and editing program 20 is preferably configured to readily copy resource addresses from browser 30 and store those addresses in a file of a presentation. Presentation creation and editing program 20 is stored on a storage medium, which may include a fixed magnetic disk, floppy magnetic disk, CD-ROM, or other known or future storage medium. During the creation of a presentation, the user causes browser 30 to access resources. In the example of Figure 1, the resources are world wide web pages 50, accessed through Internet 40. The URL's of world wide web pages 50 are stored in a presentation file by presentation creating and editing program 20. The user of the presentation creator and editing program 20 selects the order in which the resources are presented. The user may also include a time for the viewer to view a given resource, or such options as a button for the viewer to press to move to the next item. The user may import images or text to add to the presentation. Such items may be included as separate items in a presentation before or after resources, or may be superimposed on resources. For example, a note may appear in a graphical display of contrasting color over a portion of the displayed resource. The presentation creating and editing program may include text creating and editing capability, for example, to facilitate the addition of text to a presentation. The program may also include drawing capability, or image manipulation capabilities. The presentation file includes instructions to prevent a browser running the presentation from independently selecting resources. For example, the user is prevented from selecting a web page by typing a URL in a window, or by clicking on a hyperlink, until the presentation is concluded or ceased. Although a site is displayed on the browser, hyperlinks are not activated. The user may or may not choose to accept automated redirection, as is common when a site has changed its URL. Standard programming techniques may be applied to create this result. It will be understood that the presentation may provide some choice of resources. For example, the presentation may provide the user with a selection of two or more resources, at some point in the presentation. These resources would have been selected by the composer of the presentation. For example, alternative resources may be provided depending upon the particular interest of the viewer. Viewer's computer system 100 is also depicted. Viewer's computer system 100 has a processor and other conventional requirements. Viewer's computer system 100 has browser 110 running thereon. Presentation file 60 is provided to viewing computer system 100 through a variety of methods. For example, presentation file 60 may be sent in an e-mail message. Presentation file 60 may be downloaded from a bulletin board or website. Presentation file 60 is stored on a storage medium accessible to viewer's computer system 100. While presentation file 60 is running, browser 30 displays resources 50 in accordance with instructions set forth in presentation file 60. The time of viewing each resource may be previously selected. The presentation editor may also be used to create presentations for simultaneous viewing. The viewer may be directed to a particular site, from which the presentation can be periodically downloaded. Referring to Figure 2, the principal features of presentation creation and editing software, also called presentation creation software, 20 are shown. Those features are browser interface 21, resource select/delete 22, additional content select/delete 23, select order 24, and manipulate content overlay 25. The browser interface permits the page to which browser 30 is directed to be stored by the user in a presentation file. The interface also permits a presentation to be demonstrated from presentation creation software 20. Resource select/delete 22 permits the user to select resources, and in particular resource address information, for inclusion in a presentation file. Resources already stored in a presentation file may be deselected. Additional content select/delete 23 permits the user to select content other than resources. Such content may include text or images in an appropriate format. Select order 24 permits the selection of the order of resource and other material for display. Manipulate content overlay 25 permits the user to position additional content as an overlay over the displayed web page identified by the resource address. For example, text and an arrow may be provided to draw the user's attention to a particular portion of a displayed page. A color overlay may be provided to present a portion of the page to be highlighted in a contrasting color. Numerous other examples are possible. The present invention solves the difficulties both in the creation of a communication employing Internet or other network resources, and in viewing and understanding the communication. For example, rather than copying shortcuts and trying to describe what the viewer should focus on within an E-mail, the creator of the presentation uses presentation creation and editing software 20. A viewer in the presentation creation and editing software 20 permits the composer of the presentation to have each resource or website in the presentation presented in order. The order of playback could be edited by suitable editing tools. As noted above, for example, a graphical display similar to a small note of contrasting color could be included in the viewer's experience of the site. The experience of the site could also be modified by highlighting specific areas, text, or other information in the resource as displayed to the viewer. Audio files could also be included, with suitable instructions in the presentation file for playing of the audio portion through the audio capabilities of the viewer's machine. The audio may include newly-recorded or created material, specific to the presentation. Video would be technically practical to include as well, although the inclusion of video would undesirably increase the size of the presentation file for most users. The resource or website itself is of course not affected by such modifications and additional information. These functions make identifying the information the composer wants the reader to focus on much less complicated to describe. Once the composer has finished his presentation, he may use any number of distribution methods. He could E-mail the presentation file to an individual, or through a contact management system he could broadcast a presentation to any number of recipients, such as clients, customers or prospects. The capability may also be provided for the composer to print the presentation, with printouts of the then-current content of each site, in hard copy or fax it. Any person or entity with a website could post presentations to the site for downloading. For example, companies could post presentations to their online customer access web site. Presentations could be targeted to specific users, classes of users or globally for general consumption by using already existing security structures on their web site. The presentation file could be posted to an Internet address making it available to electronic bulletin boards and hyperlinks from other web sites. The presentation creation software and method of the present invention makes it much easier for the composer to create presentations. The experience for the viewer is also very advantageous. The viewer or user is giving up control of its browser to the presentation file. Other than escaping the presentation, the user can only, if the option is provided in the presentation file, move forward or reverse through the content. This ensures that the information presented is indeed presented to the user in the order and way, with editorial, that the composer intended. In the absence of the presentation of the present invention, communicating information from a single web page through today's conventional means like E-mailing a link or posting a hyperlink to a web site, still allows the viewer full access to any other links on the web site. Quite simply, in the absence of the presentation of the invention, much of the information that would otherwise be usable to create a communication is practically unusable because sending the link to the page with the desired content exposes the risk of the viewer activating links to other sites containing undesirable content. Using prior technology, composers of Internet based communications must carefully weigh the risk of the inclusion of any hyperlink or shortcut because once activated the user can go anywhere that the linked site allows. Viewers can easily get distracted while in linked sites and often wander about unrelated information that confuses the intended communication. The invention may also be used to permit two or more users connected to one browser session and the same time, over the Internet, with both seeing the same session and communicating either by telephone, via messaging (like a chat room) or over a video conferencing system. The invention will also be of use in the providing of customer information and service by businesses from their web sites. For example, a customer of an electronic securities brokerage firm reviews his or her account on line. There is something the customer has a question about; for example, the value of the account seems to have dropped significantly. Clicking the live web presentation customer service icon posted on the E-brokerage site pulls up an 800 call center number, which the customer calls. The call center would have a list of currently active customer live web presentations, would answer the phone, and ask the customer's name, ID, or whatever method they prefer to identify the customer and would then assumes control of the live presentation. The customer and call center could then exchange control of the session, starting for example with the client showing the call center the screen that showed this unexpectedly low total account value. The call center agent might then assume control and move to the portfolio detail section of the company's web site which showed for example that there was a bond in the account which was currently unpriced. Of course, this is only one example of the use of the invention for simultaneous viewing of the same page. This type of service may be used for any field, such as online product catalogs, technical service and support, reviewing account information and transactions, electronic learning, sales and marketing, and entertainment. It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of the methods and systems which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and spirit of the invention.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A method for providing a presentation to a user of a browser running on a processor, comprising the steps of: directing, through instructions created at a second processor the browser to access preselected resources on a network, while limiting the browser from accessing other resources on the network other than those selected. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of directing comprises directing the browser to select preselected resources in a preselected order. 3. The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of permitting the user of the browser to select resources. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying the content as viewed by the user of one or more of said preselected resources. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding content to the presentation. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation is provided simultaneously to browsers on multiple processors. 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation is created substantially simultaneously with the providing thereof to the user. 8. A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor, cause a browser running on the processor to perform the steps of: accessing preselected resources on a network, while not accessing resources on the network other than those selected, except as permitted by the instructions. 9. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein said instructions cause said browser to access said preselected resources in a preselected order. 10. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein said instructions cause the browser to display content in addition to said resources. 11. A method of creating presentations for viewing on a network browser comprises the steps of: selecting one or more resources on a network; including the address of each of said one or more resources in the presentation, and providing with the presentation instructions to cause the browser to access at least one of said resources. 12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of selecting the order of viewing said resources. 13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of selecting each resource for viewing. 14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of incorporating additional content in said presentation. 15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing the presentation as a presentation file on a memory device. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of communicating the presentation file to a presentation viewer's computer system. 17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of selecting the time interval for viewing of each of said selected resources. 18. A system for creating presentations for viewing on a network browser comprises the steps of: means for selecting one or more resources on a network; means for including the address of each of said one or more resources in a presentation file, and means for including in the presentation file instructions to cause a browser on which the presentation file is executed to access at least one of said resources. 19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for selecting the order of viewing said resources. 20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for causing a presentation based on the presentation file to display each selected resource. 21. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for incorporating in the presentation file content in addition to said addresses of said resources. 22. A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: selecting one or more resources on a network; including the address of each of said one or more resources in a presentation file, and providing in the presentation file instructions to cause the browser to access at least one of said resources. 23. The storage medium of claim 22, wherein said steps further comprise the step of selecting the order of viewing said resources. 24. The storage medium of claim 22, wherein said steps further comprise the step of incorporating additional content in said presentation file.

Inventors: LOEPER DAVID B, LOEPER, DAVID, B.
Applicants: LOEPER DAVID B, LOEPER, DAVID, B.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G06F12, G06F13, G06F17, H04N1