Abstract:
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for splitting a screen in a Web browser window. User input is received requesting splitting of the screen in the Web browser window. A position for a split in the screen is identified. The screen is split at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window. An instance of a document is displayed in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to Web browsers. More specifically, the present invention relates to dynamically splitting a screen of a Web browser window or table within a Web browser window into multiple pages or tables. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A Web browser is a software application that enables users to access the World Wide Web (WWW). To access the World Wide Web, a Web browser must provide certain capabilities:
       A Web browser must be able to understand data protocols utilized by Web servers, such as HTML and XHTML.   A Web browser must be able to format (or render) the output of these languages.       
 
         [0007]    A Web browser user depends on the implementation of a Web page to dictate the function the user may use on a specific Web page. Specifically, users depend on frames to be implemented on a Web page in order to scroll through content in different panes. Even if a Web page is enabled with frames, the frames are set at a certain location and cannot be moved by the user if the NORESIZE attribute is set and also the content viewable in each pane is set by the Web page programmer. 
         [0008]    While some existing solutions allow the user to split the screen of the Web browser, the Web browser is limited to splitting into only two or four equal split screens. Additionally, the sides of each pane must be flush with the edge of the browser. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The different aspects of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code for splitting a screen in a Web browser window. User input is received requesting splitting of a screen in the Web browser window. A position is identified for a split in the screen and the screen is split at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window. An instance of a document is displayed in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of a browser program in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a JavaScript™ implementation of screen or table splitting in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts a browser implementation of splitting a screen or table in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary splitting of a table within a browser screen in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  depicts a Web screen split in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  depicts a table split within a separate screen in a Web browser window in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts a flowchart of a browser screen or a table within a browser splitting operation using a JavaScript™ implementation in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    The aspects of the present invention relate to dynamically splitting a screen of a Web browser window a table within a Web browser window to present more than one page or different views of the same page or table.  FIGS. 1-2  are provided as exemplary diagrams of data processing environments in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. It should be appreciated that  FIGS. 1-2  are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which aspects or embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0021]    With reference now to the figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  is a network of computers in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  contains network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. 
         [0022]    In the depicted example, server  104  and server  106  connect to network  102  along with storage unit  108 . In addition, clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  connect to network  102 . These clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server  104  provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  110 ,  112 , and  114 . Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  are clients to server  104  in this example. Network data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. 
         [0023]    In the depicted example, network data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for different embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0024]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a data processing system is shown in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system  200  is an example of a computer, such as server  104  or client  110  in  FIG. 1 , in which computer usable code or instructions implementing the processes for embodiments of the present invention may be located. 
         [0025]    In the depicted example, data processing system  200  employs a hub architecture including north bridge and memory controller hub (MCH)  202  and south bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (ICH)  204 . Processing unit  206 , main memory  208 , and graphics processor  210  are connected to north bridge and memory controller hub  202 . Graphics processor  210  may be connected to north bridge and memory controller hub  202  through an accelerated graphics port (AGP). 
         [0026]    In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  212  connects to south bridge and I/O controller hub  204 . Audio adapter  216 , keyboard and mouse adapter  220 , modem  222 , read only memory (ROM)  224 , hard disk drive (HDD)  226 , CD-ROM drive  230 , universal serial bus (USB) ports and other communications ports  232 , and PCI/PCIe devices  234  connect to south bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  238  and bus  240 . PCI/PCIe devices may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-in cards and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card bus controller, while PCIe does not. ROM  224  may be, for example, a flash binary input/output system (BIOS). 
         [0027]    Hard disk drive  226  and CD-ROM drive  230  connect to south bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  240 . Hard disk drive  226  and CD-ROM drive  230  may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE) or serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface. Super I/O (SIO) device  236  may be connected to south bridge and I/O controller hub  204 . 
         [0028]    An operating system runs on processing unit  206  and coordinates and provides control of various components within data processing system  200  in  FIG. 2 . As a client, the operating system may be a commercially available operating system such as Microsoft® Windows® XP (Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both). An object-oriented programming system, such as the Java programming system, may run in conjunction with the operating system and provides calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  200  (Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both). 
         [0029]    As a server, data processing system  200  may be, for example, an IBM eServer™ pSeries® computer system, running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX®) operating system or LINUX operating system (eServer, pSeries and AIX are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both while Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, or both). Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors in processing unit  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. 
         [0030]    Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programming system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  226 , and may be loaded into main memory  208  for execution by processing unit  206 . The processes for embodiments of the present invention are performed by processing unit  206  using computer usable program code, which may be located in a memory such as, for example, main memory  208 , read only memory  224 , or in one or more peripheral devices  226  and  230 . 
         [0031]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in  FIGS. 1-2  may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. 
         [0032]    In some illustrative examples, data processing system  200  may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), which is configured with flash memory to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. 
         [0033]    A bus system may be comprised of one or more buses, such as bus  238  or bus  240  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Of course the bus system may be implemented using any type of communications fabric or architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the fabric or architecture. A communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as modem  222  or network adapter  212  of  FIG. 2 . A memory may be, for example, main memory  208 , read only memory  224 , or a cache such as found in north bridge and memory controller hub  202  in  FIG. 2 . The depicted examples in  FIGS. 1-2  and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  200  also may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephone device in addition to taking the form of a PDA. 
         [0034]    Turning next to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a browser program is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. A browser is an application used to navigate or view information or data in a distributed database, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web. 
         [0035]    In this example, browser  300  includes a user interface  302 , which is a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to interface or communicate with browser  300 . This interface provides for selection of various functions through menus  304  and allows for navigation through navigation  306 . For example, menus  304  may allow a user to perform various functions, such as saving a file, opening a new window, displaying a history, and entering a uniform resource locator. Navigation  306  allows for a user to navigate various pages and to select Web sites for viewing. For example, navigation  306  may allow a user to see a previous page or a subsequent page relative to the present page. Preferences such as those illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be set through preferences  308 . 
         [0036]    Communications  310  is the mechanism with which browser  300  receives documents and other resources from a network such as the Internet. Further, communications  310  is used to send or upload documents and resources onto a network. In the depicted example, communications  310  uses hypertext transfer protocol. Other protocols may be used depending on the implementation. Documents that are received by browser  300  are processed by language interpretation  312 , which includes a hypertext markup language unit  314  and a JavaScript™ unit  316 . Language interpretation  312  will process a document for presentation on graphical display  318 . In particular, hypertext markup language statements are processed by hypertext markup language unit  314  for presentation while JavaScript™ statements are processed by JavaScript™ unit  316 . 
         [0037]    Graphical display  318  includes layout unit  320 , rendering unit  322 , and window management  324 . These units are involved in presenting Web pages to a user based on results from language interpretation  312 . Graphical display  318  may be any type of known display. 
         [0038]    Browser  300  is presented as an example of a browser program in which the present invention may be embodied. Browser  300  is not meant to imply architectural limitations to the present invention. Presently available browsers may include additional functions not shown or may omit functions shown in browser  300 . A browser may be any application that is used to search for and display content on a distributed data processing system. Browser  300  may be implemented using known browser applications, such as Netscape Navigator® or Microsoft® Internet Explorer. Netscape Navigator® is available from Netscape® Communications Corporation while Microsoft® Internet Explorer is available from Microsoft® Corporation. 
         [0039]    Aspects of the present invention provide for screen splitting a browser into multiple sections and splitting a table within a browser into multiple sections to present more than one page or different views of the same page or table. Both the page splitting of the browser into multiple sections and the splitting of a table within a browser into multiple sections may be implemented using a browser based implementation and a JavaScript™ implementation. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  depicts a JavaScript™ implementation of screen or table splitting in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In normal operation  400 , browser  402 , which is a browser such as browser  300  of  FIG. 3 , receives hypertext markup language statements  404  in hypertext markup language parser  406 . Hypertext markup language parser  406 , which is similar to hypertext markup language unit  314  of  FIG. 3 , parses the hypertext markup language statements  404  into document object model  408 . Rendering engine  410 , which is similar to rendering unit  322  of  FIG. 3 , renders document object model  408  on display  412 . Display  412  may be any display, such as graphical display  318  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    In splitting operation  414 , aspects of the present invention operate much the same way as normal browser operation  400 . In that, browser  402  receives hypertext markup language statements  404  in hypertext markup language parser  406  and hypertext markup language parser  406  parses the hypertext markup language statements  404  into document object model  408 . However, in splitting operation  414 , JavaScript™ modifier  416  receives a split request of a browser screen or a table within a browser from user  418 . JavaScript™ modifier  416  processes the request by modifying document object model (DOM)  408 . The modified document object model contains all of the splitting information. Rendering engine  410  may display the page or table with the desired split, presenting more than one page or different views of the same page or table on display  412 . 
         [0042]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , a browser implementation of splitting a screen or table is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In normal operation  500 , browser  502 , which is a browser such as browser  300  of  FIG. 3 , receives hypertext markup language statements  504  in hypertext markup language parser  506 . Hypertext markup language parser  506 , which is similar to hypertext markup language unit  314  of  FIG. 3 , parses the hypertext markup language statements  504  into document object model  508 . Rendering engine  510 , which is similar to rendering unit  322  of  FIG. 3 , renders document object model  508  on display  512 . Display  512  may be any display, such as graphical display  318  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    In splitting operation  514 , aspects of the present invention operate much the same way as normal browser operation  500 . In that, browser  502  receives hypertext markup language statements  504  in hypertext markup language parser  506  and hypertext markup language parser  506  parses the hypertext markup language statements  504  into document object model  508 . However, in splitting operation  514 , enhanced rendering engine  516  receives split request of a browser screen or a table within a browser from user  518 . Enhanced rendering engine  516  receives the request from the user. Then enhanced rendering engine  516  renders document object model  508  presenting more than one page or different views of the same page or table on display  512 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary splitting of a table within a browser screen in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Table  600  has dimensions of x  602  and y  604 . Table  606 , indicated by the dashed rectangle, is the size of the table the user wishes to see the table at, or the determined size the table should be changed to. The size of table  606  may be dynamically determined based on the size of the Web browser window. Table  606  within screen  600  has dimensions x′  608  and y′  610 . A user is able to indicate a split of table  606  into multiple tables by the use of vertical split bar  612  and/or horizontal split bar  614 . Aspects of the present invention calculate a vertical split dimension v  616  and/or horizontal split dimension h  618  depending on the placement of vertical split bar  612  and/or horizontal split bar  614  by the user. The use of dimensions x′  608  and y′  610  and vertical split dimension v  616  and horizontal split dimension h  618  will be described in further detail in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  depicts a Web screen split in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In screen  702 , document  704  is displayed and includes scroll bar  706 . In screen  708 , a horizontal screen split  710  is indicated that splits document  704  into document  704  and document  712 . Each of documents  704  and  712  has their own independent scroll bars  706 , which allows separate manipulation of documents  704  and  712 . Screen  714  shows horizontal screen split  710  being moved down to a different position. While only one screen split is indicated in screen  708 , multiple screen splits may also be performed to form subscreens. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  depicts a table split within a separate screen in a Web browser window in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In screen  802 , table  804  is displayed within screen  802 . Screen  802  also includes scroll bar  806 . In screen  808 , a horizontal table split  810  is indicate that splits only table  804  into table  804  and table  812  within a separate screen of the Web browser window. Each of tables  804  and  812  has their own independent scroll bars  806 , which allows separate manipulation of tables  804  and  812 . Screen  814  shows horizontal table split  810  being moved down to a different position. While only one table split is indicated in screen  808 , multiple table splits may also be performed to form subtables. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  depicts a flowchart of a browser screen or a table within a browser splitting operation using a JavaScript™ implementation in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The operation depicted in  FIG. 9  only initiates when a screen split or table split is indicated by a user. As the operation begins, the table objects for each table within a given Web screen are identified (step  902 ). The table objects are identified by a HTML parser, such as HTML parser  406  of  FIG. 4 . The dimensions, such as dimensions x′  608  and y′  610  of  FIG. 6 , of each identified table are determined by analyzing each of the table objects (step  904 ). The JavaScript™ modifier determines if the split is a vertical split (step  906 ). If the split is a vertical split, the JavaScript™ modifier separates the original table columns into two tables per the desired vertical split, such as vertical split dimension v  616  of  FIG. 6  (step  908 ). Returning to step  906 , if the split is not a vertical split, then the split is assumed to be a horizontal split and the JavaScript™ modifier separates the original table rows into two tables per the desired vertical split, such as horizontal split dimension h  618  of  FIG. 6  (step  910 ). 
         [0048]    Whether the split is vertical or horizontal, the operation wraps each newly created sub table with divisional &lt;div&gt; tags (step  912 ). The JavaScript™ language is inserted for scroll synchronization and the table is resized to the desired container size (step  914 ), with the operation ending thereafter. The modified document object model is then rendered, using a rendering engine, such as rendering engine  410  of  FIG. 4 , on a display for the user. 
         [0049]    In another aspect of the present invention an enhanced rendering engine is provided that performs the same functionality to that of the JavaScript™ modifier implementation described in  FIG. 9 . In the enhanced rendering engine implementation the screen or table splitting is performed on the displayed table rather than on the actual table objects. 
         [0050]    Thus, the present invention provides for page splitting a browser into multiple sections and splitting a table within a browser into multiple sections. Both the page splitting of the browser into multiple sections and the splitting of a table within a browser into multiple sections may be implemented using a browser based implementation and a JavaScript™ implementation. 
         [0051]    The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any tangible apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0053]    The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk - read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD. 
         [0054]    A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. 
         [0055]    Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. 
         [0056]    Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters. 
         [0057]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.