Abstract:
A system and method for designating and retrieving information over the internet. At least one webpage is accessed and individual portions of the at least one webpage are designated, each of the individual portions being associated with an underlying information content. The designated individual portions of the at least one webpage are positioned within a single configuration display screen and the format of the single configuration display screen including the designated individual portions of each webpage are stored in a configuration file. The configuration file and underlying information content associated with each of the designated individual portions are retrieved and positioned on an output display screen in accordance with the configuration file.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to the customizing of information for retrieval over a computer network. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The advent of computer networks and the increasing amount of information that is available over these networks has given rise to a growing number of computer network users. Traditionally, the users gain access to computer networks through mainframe or desktop computers. However, in order to meet the varying needs of individual users, many alternative systems for accessing computer networks have been developed. For example, devices commonly known as “palm-top computers”, which are not much bigger than cellular telephones, often come with internet access capability. 
     However, with the advent of these alternative access devices, in order to provide them at a low cost, and having a small overall size, the computing power of these devices has been reduced, and may be far less than is currently available on a fully operable desktop computer. Additionally, data transfer rates for portable devices, which may be wireless, may be substantially lower than that achievable through a direct access line as in a local area network, T1 line to the internet, or other direct modem connection. This reduced computing capability and reduced data transfer rate resulting in increased access time often results in extensive time periods waiting for information to be transmitted to or from such an alternative access device, and also renders the transmission or receipt of superfluous information, which is not necessary for the user, extremely undesirable. 
     Accordingly, designers of network access systems must consider how their systems will accommodate varying users and user access devices. That is, designers must consider how to gather and present network information given a user&#39;s needs and the capabilities of the user&#39;s access device. In one example, designers must consider how internet information—which is most commonly provided in the form of “web pages”—can be efficiently retrieved and displayed to meet a particular user&#39;s needs. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for determining information to be transmitted over a computer network so as to optimize the transmission process. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for formatting information received from various information sources for view by a user on a display apparatus. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a network access system to allow users to customize the format and display of retrieved network information. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus which allows users to specify the information to be received from the internet, and the manner in which this information will be displayed on a highly portable internet access device. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, the improved information collection and dissemination apparatus and method is provided for obtaining information from various input sources, configuring this information in accordance with a predefined user format, and transmitting the information to a remote location. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus may collect information from various web pages from the worldwide web internet, configure this various information in accordance with a predefined user configuration file, defined by a particular user, and transmit the configured various information to a highly portable internet access device. The configuration file is created by the user and is stored in a centralized database server. This configuration file specifies the information the user would like to retrieve from the network and how that information is to be displayed. Such a configuration file may be generated by a user using the highly portable internet access device, or more preferably through a general, commercially available product which allows access to the internet and a particular website dedicated for the design of such configuration files. 
     When a user attempts to retrieve information from the network, the system server of the network responds to the user&#39;s request by uploading one or more request servicing software modules. The requesting user is then identified, and a predetermined user configuration file corresponding to the user making the request is loaded from the database server. The information requested by the user is formatted in accordance with the user&#39;s configuration file, and forwarded to the user&#39;s access device for display. 
     By providing network users with a simplified manner for designating a personalized information retrieval scheme, the invention allows each user to tailor the retrieval of information to the user&#39;s personal needs and to the capabilities of the user&#39;s network access device, thereby decreasing the time necessary for a user to obtain wanted information while reducing the amount of received, unwanted information. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such step, or as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows an information retrieval system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram depicting various steps through which a user may proceed in order to edit a configuration file in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen that may be used during configuration file editing according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 shows an example of a display screen displaying a personal administration screen according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen displaying a source level high view for constructing a configuration file in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen displaying a source detail view for constructing a configuration file in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 7 shows an example of a “personalized page” in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 8-10 show examples of web pages from which information is culled to form the exemplary personalized page of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an information retrieval system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The information retrieval system includes a system server  2  that is coupled to a computer network  4 . The coupling of the system server and network may take many forms, for example, a telephone wire, a coaxial cable, a twisted-pair wire, a fiber optic link, and/or a wireless link. Also coupled to the system server are a user access device  6  and a database server  8 . Like the network coupling, access device coupling and database coupling may take various forms. Finally, a desktop computer system  9  is coupled to computer network  4 . This coupling may also take various forms. 
     User access device  6  may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a personal organizer, a palm-top computer, or any other device that is equipped for communication with system server  2 . Although there are many possible embodiments that user access device  6  may take, for purposes of the following description user access device  6  will be considered to be a hand-held portable access device (e.g., a palm-top computer) and will be referred to as a handset. 
     Handset  6  depicted in FIG. 1 includes at least a display screen  10  and antenna  12 . Display screen  10  may be used to display information retrieved from the network through system server  2 , as well as information pertaining to the use of handset  6  itself, such as handset  6 &#39;s battery level. Antenna  12  allows handset  6  to communicate with system server  2  when the two are coupled by a wireless link or the like. 
     Database server  8  may comprise any system capable of electronically storing data including, but not limited to systems that store data on optical disks, magnetic disks, and magnetic tape. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, database server  8  will be utilized to store various user configuration files as will be described below. 
     Network  4  of FIG. 1 may be the internet, a local area network (LAN), or any other network that enables a transfer of data. For purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, the network will be presumed to be the internet. Furthermore, the description will be focused on the world-wide-web aspect of the internet. Accordingly, to facilitate understanding the invention it should be noted that the current world-wide-web operation groups information into “web pages”; and that the standard format for such pages is the “HTML” format, which enables a web user to create “hypertext links” through the “HTTP” protocol. 
     System server  2  is central to the invention&#39;s operation. It is depicted in FIG. 1 as being a collection of software modules  14 - 20 . These modules may be software modules which reside within a single computer, or alternatively, may be distributed among multiple computers. Module  20  is an “HTTP” daemon which runs in the background of the system and controls software and which is capable of enabling access to HTTP facilities. Modules  14 ,  16  and  18  are request-servicing modules. When the daemon receives an information request, it uploads into module  20 , one of the request-servicing modules  14  and the uploaded module then carries out the processing necessary to honor the request. 
     Finally, a desktop computer system  9  may access system server  2  through network  4 . In the preferred embodiment, network  4  acts as the internet, and then therefore a desktop computer system  9  may access system server  2  through this internet communications link. Through this access, a user using desktop computer system  9  is able to construct and define configuration files within system server  2 , which are then stored on database server  8 . 
     Operation of the system will now be described in detail. Personalized information retrieval according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is enabled through the use of various configuration files. Through the use of desktop computer system  9 , each system user may generate any number of configuration files, each of which is stored in database server  8 . Each of these configuration files specifies what information the user would like to retrieve and how the retrieved information is to be formatted. Thus, for example, a user may want to retrieve information from three different internet pages, the CNN web page, the ESPN web page and the NASDAQ web page. Further, the user may want to retrieve only specific information from each page, and may want all the information retrieved from the pages to be formatted such that it can be displayed within one display screen  10  of handset  6 . That is, the user may want “Headline News” from the “CNN” page, particular stock quotes from the NASDAQ page, and the latest score for a particular sports team from the ESPN page, and may want these items displayed simultaneously on display screen  10  of handset  6 . Accordingly, the configuration file is created/edited to retrieve and format the specified CNN, NASDAQ and ESPN information, and the configuration file then is stored in database server  8 . 
     An example of a formatted (or “personalized”) page that may be displayed on display screen  10  of handset  6  in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG.  7 . The formatted page of FIG. 7 incorporates information from three different web pages, a CNN web page (illustrated in FIG.  8 ), an ESPN web page (illustrated in FIG. 9) and a NASDAQ web page (illustrated in FIG.  10 ). As can be seen from the figures, the formatted page  740  is made up of three portions, a CNN portion  742 , an ESPN portion  744  and a NASDAQ portion  746 . These portions are culled from their respective web pages. That is, the CNN portion  742 , ESPN portion  744  and NASDAQ portion  746  of the formatted page correspond respectively to portion  848  of CNN web page  850 , portion  952  of ESPN web page  954  and portion  1056  of NASDAQ web page  1058 —the layout and content of the formatted page having been determined according to the configuration file creation/editing operation which will now be described. 
     Any configuration file associated with a particular user may be created and/or edited by the user, or by a particular service provider. In either case, in addition to creating or editing this configuration file with desktop computer system  9 , handset  6  may also be used for creation or editing. 
     The method of using desktop computer system  9  for the creation, editing and other manipulation of configuration files will now be described. As is shown in FIG. 2, when a user enters the appropriate program for manipulating configuration files, which is preferably maintained on a specific website within the internet, the user is first greeted by a welcome page  201 . Welcome page  201  contains greeting information, and the ability to access the tutorial screens, or enter the authentication section of the cite. If a user wishes to view the tutorial, control proceeds to tutorial pages  202 , which preferably provide an interactive tutorial for a user in order to become familiar with the use of the website and how to generate and edit configuration files. Upon completion of tutorial pages  202 , control is returned to welcome page  201 . Thereafter, if the user wishes to manipulate any configuration files, the user selects authentication from the welcome page. 
     Authentication is the doorway to the application for valid subscribers to the service. Upon selection of the authentication choice from welcome page  201 , control passes to authentication server  203 , in which a user is challenged with a user name and password screen. Subscribers of the service must provide a user name and password in order to enter the system. This material is entered at authentication server  203 , and a decision is made of whether a proper user name and associated password have been entered at step  204 . If not, control passes to step  204   a  in which it is determined whether this authentication process has failed three or more times. If not, control passes once again to welcome page  201 , where a user may once again try to authenticate. If at step  204   a  it is determined that authentication has failed three or more times, control is forwarded to error page  206  and the user is instructed to contact technical support to correct any errors or to subscribe to the service. 
     If at step  204  authentication succeeds, the user name and password entered at authentication server  203  are used to obtain access to database  205  which contain information regarding a particular user&#39;s profile. Database  205  is maintained on database server  8  of FIG.  1 . Information such as the user&#39;s real name, device bookmarks, various associated configuration files and various network links are extracted from the database and used to dynamically build the user&#39;s personal administration page at step  205   a . The dynamic generation of this personal administration web page is important since the information thereon may change based upon an editing session by a user, or based upon service provider changes, or changes by any other authorized entity. 
     A personal administration page constructed at step  205   a , is shown in the preferred embodiment as depicted in FIG. 4. A personal administration page  205   a ′ comprises a list of existing configuration files  410 , which is configured in a pull-down menu format. As is further shown in both FIGS. 2 and 4, personal administration page  205   a ′ includes choices for generating a new configuration file  206 , opening an existing configuration file  207 , deleting an existing configuration file  208 , and renaming an existing configuration file  209 . An upload bookmarks choice  210  is also provided which allows a  30  user to upload bookmarks from the user&#39;s web browser, such as those known commercially as Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer, and allows a user to incorporate these bookmarks into various configuration files. Finally, a user is provided with an exit choice  412  for exiting the program and website all together, and a help button  414  for providing various on-line help features. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, when a user selects the new selection  206 , control passes to source high level view  211 , and the user is shown a screen such as that depicted in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment. FIG. 5 includes a web page editing screen  500 , a bookmark listing  550 , and a target screen  570 . In web page editing screen  500 , a user enters a website address in a URL portion  515 , and then selects the submit button in order to access the website for use. This request is then transmitted from desktop computer system  9 , through internet network  4  to system server  2  as shown in FIG.  1 . System server  2  then retransmits this request back to internet network  4 , and accesses the requested web page. In addition to identifying a web page at URL portion  515 , a user may select a particular web page from bookmark section  550 . Bookmark section  550  includes a plurality of bookmarks  555  set by a user at desktop computer system  9 , a plurality of bookmarks  560  set by a user at handset  6 , and a plurality of bookmarks  555  set in accordance with system server  2  by the operator thereof. In order to select any of these websites, the user simply needs to select the appropriate bookmark, and the website will automatically be accessed. 
     Upon accessing the web page, the website is broken down into its component portions by system server  2  and is transmitted back to desktop computer system  9 . As is shown in the main portion of website editing page  500 , these portions are listed, element by element  505 , so that they may be incorporated by the user into a unitary editing screen. A target screen  570  is a simulation of display screen  10  of handset  6 , and depicts what a user will actually see in real size thereon. Thus, if each of elements  1 ,  2 , . . . n is selected, the actual picture of these elements is depicted in target screen  570 . Additionally, in order to remove an element from target screen  570 , a user may select one of the delete buttons  510  associated with that element. Thus, in this manner, a user may select various portions of one or more websites to be included in the target screen  570 . After completing the generation or editing of a particular configuration file, an estimated download time portion  520  indicates the amount of time it is estimated it will take to download this information to handset  6  upon its request. Finally, a user may save an edited configuration file by selecting save button  525 , may exit the configuration screen and return to personal administration page  205   a  by selecting done button  530 , and may obtain help by selecting help button  414 . 
     If, after selecting various web page elements to be included in a particular configuration file, a user wishes to further edit and manipulate these elements, control is passed to source detail view  212  (see FIG.  2 ), and a display such as that shown at FIG. 6 is depicted to the user. Such advance features might be accessed by a user if the estimated download time is too long, or for other reasons. 
     As is shown in FIG. 6, a viewing page  600  replaces website editing page  500 , while the remainder of the screen depicted to a user at source detail view  212  continues to include bookmark section  550  and target display  570 . Web page viewing screen  600  allows a user to utilize various aspect choices  610  in order to provide different compression ratios for any selected portion of the web components in the configuration file. By providing for different compression ratios for various portions of the information to be downloaded, a user can reduce the estimated download time to within a reasonable manner. In order to further reduce the download time, the user may utilize font choice  640  in order to select different fonts and font sizes in order to speed up the estimated download time. Additionally, a refresh target button  625  is provided so that after changing various compression ratios and the like, a user can review in target screen  570  a simulation of what the information on display  10  of handset  6  will look like to insure that quality has not been degraded to too great a degree. A user may exit the screen and return to source high level view  211  by actuating done button  630 , or may obtain help by actuating help button  414  as noted above. Thus, a user may select various portions from any number of websites, incorporate them into a single configuration file which then is saved in database  205  by system server  2  on database server  8 , for future use. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, from personal administration page  205   a , a user may also select an open step  207 , which opens an existing configuration file. The existing configuration file is open in source high level view  211   a , and may also be opened in source detail view  212   a . These screens operate similarly to source high level view  211  and source detail view  212  as noted above, except that rather than starting with an empty configuration file, the existing configuration file is displayed upon entering the screen. 
     From personal administration page  205   a , a user may also select a delete step  208 , which allows a user to delete a selected configuration file. Upon selection of delete step  208 , a confirmation page  215  requires a user to confirm the deletion of a selected configuration file. Upon confirmation, the file is deleted from data base  205  on database server  8 . 
     From personal administration page  205   a , a user may also select a rename step  209 , in which case the name of an existing configuration file is changed to a new name. At confirmation page  215   a , a user is asked to confirm the new name of the selected configuration file, and this new name is associated and saved with the configuration file in database  205  on database server  8 . 
     Finally, from personal administration page  205   a  a user may request an uploading of new bookmarks at step  210 . As noted in FIGS. 5 and 6, these uploaded bookmarks reside in client bookmark section  550 . Upon uploading of these bookmarks, a user is asked to confirm that he wishes these bookmarks to be saved, and thereafter these bookmarks are saved at database  205  on database server  8 . Thus, through the use of desktop computer system  9 , a user is able to generate, edit, and otherwise manipulate configuration files, which are then stored by database server  8  for future use. 
     While one specific format for editing the configuration files has been shown, there are several programming technologies that may be used to perform configuration file editing. Among them are the commercially available programs known as: Netscape Navigator Plug-Ins, which provide a plug-in module that is embedded within the navigator browser; Netscape Composer Plug- Ins, which provide a plug-in module embedded within Netscape Composer; Microsoft Active X, which provides complete programming control for windows applications; and Dynamic HTML. Any of these technologies may be used to design a configuration file and that will allow users to modify the “look and feel” of their personalized information retrieval file. As shown above, the configuration file has a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) feature, as is depicted in part in the target screens. 
     In addition to editing, generating or otherwise manipulating configuration files via desktop computer system  9 , it is possible to perform similar manipulations using handset  6  (or to provide similar graphical interface technology on desktop computer system  9  or other access device). Thus, the above-mentioned procedure and screens may be accessed through handset  6 . The functionality of the desktop is provided to the user through handset  6 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a modified display for handset  6  may be provided. FIG. 3 shows a display screen  322  of a configuration file editing platform for handset  6  using WYSISYG (What You See Is What You Get) type editing in accordance with this alternative embodiment. The screen is divided into five portions  324 ,  326 ,  328 ,  330  and  332 . Portion  332  is a screen header which includes general information, such as an indication that the screen pertains to a configuration editor. Portions  324 - 330  are used to provide “drag and drop” style editing by letting the user drag and drop images, HTML tables, hypertext links, applets, etc. from one portion of display screen  322  to another. More specifically, the user may select particular items from portions  326 ,  328  and  330 , which represent the contents of various previously selected web pages, and may drag and drop the items into portion  324 , which represents the contents of the user&#39;s configuration file. In the illustrated embodiment, the user may edit the configuration file by selecting item  334  (headline news) from the CNN portion of display screen  322  and dragging and dropping it in the configuration file portion; 
     selecting item  336  (Chicago team score) from the ESPN portion and dragging and dropping it in the configuration file; and 
     selecting item  338  (stock quote) from the NASDAQ portion and dragging and dropping it in the configuration file. As an added feature, configuration file portion  324  of screen  322  may be set to the full size of display screen  10  of handset  6  so that the user can see how the display will look following an actual information retrieval. 
     Upon completion of configuration file editing by desktop computer system  9 , by handset  6 , or by another access device, as shown in FIG. 3, the configuration file is transmitted to system server  2  to verify any hypertext links that are embedded in the file. Once all hypertext links are verified, system server  2  stores the configuration file in database  205  on database server  8 . If the hypertext links are not verified, system server  2  notifies the editing platform (either desktop computer system  9  or handset  6 ) that one or more hypertext links could not be reached (e.g., an internet web server may be located behind a corporate fire wall and thus is not accessible). Once the configuration file is stored in database server  8 , the system is prepared to honor information requests utilizing this configuration file. 
     The user may initiate an information request through the use of handset  6  of FIG. 1, or alternatively through desktop computer system  9 . However, normally a user will utilize handset  6  at a remote location for such a request. Handset  6  may provide this function via a “pulldown”, menu that opens up a hypertext link connection to system server  2  through HTTP protocol. For instance, access device  6  may open up the connection by using a special flag, such as “HTTP://access.domain/pir” (the “pir” standing for “personal information request”,). Alternatively, handset  6  may open the connection by using a unique IP address. In any event, the user is responsible only for opening a personalized information request connection and for receiving the information as specified in the user&#39;s configuration file. The remainder of the necessary processing is performed by the system, and not on handset  6 , which may have more limited computing power. 
     As mentioned above, the system server  2  includes an HTTP daemon which runs in the background of the system control software and functions to recognize and service user information requests. After a user has been authenticated, when system server  2  recognizes a request through the daemon, it uploads the appropriate request-servicing software module to handle the request (elements  14 ,  16  and  18  of FIG. 1) such as a web browser if searching for web pages or an editor for editing configuration files by way of example, identifies the requesting user, and retrieves the user&#39;s configuration file from database server  8 . Depending on the information contained in the user&#39;s configuration file, the uploaded module opens the appropriate HTTP connection, fetches the appropriate web pages from the internet, and selects the appropriate predefined portions therefrom, and formats them into a single page in a predefined user format in accordance with the configuration file that is viewable on display screen  10  of handset  6 . Finally, this formatted page is transmitted to handset  6  for viewing by the user, and the uploaded module notifies the HTTP daemon that the request has been honored. Alternatively, rather than providing individual software modules, integrated software may be used to provide similar functionality. 
     There are several Web Proxy server technologies suitable for implementing the daemon-module of the system server. These include at least those known commercially as the Netscape Web Proxy Server, Spyglass Prism, and Apache. 
     By implementing the invention through a daemon-module scheme as opposed to a common gateway interface (CGI) scheme, several benefits are realized. For one, the modules of the present invention may be made substantially smaller than comparable CGI software, thereby conserving system memory. Also, since the modules are smaller than comparable CGI software and are integrated within the HTTP daemon, they can be uploaded from their storage location to the computer in which they run in less time than it would take to upload the comparable CGI software. Moreover, the modules can be uploaded at any time, even if there are no requests, and they do not have to be shut down following a request. Thus, the modules can be kept at the ready in memory and the process speed throughout can be increased. Still another benefit is that various types of modules can be inserted into the HTTP daemon, such as modules that perform web statistic analysis, web censorship, image conversion and encryption. 
     It should be noted that the user is not limited to viewing only a single formatted page (e.g. the formatted page depicted in FIG. 3 as element  324 ). For instance, once a formatted page is received, the user may select (or “click on”,) one of the items in the page (e.g. FIG. 3, item  334  “headline news”) to request additional information concerning that item. An example of how to provide such a service is to include hypertext links in the information of a formatted page. The user can then use the hypertext links to request display of additional web pages containing information supplementary to the information of the formatted page. An alternative approach to providing this service is to respectively link one or more items in the formatted page to one or more second formatted pages in a hierarchical manner. Thus, for example, a user may create a second formatted page including items such as “headline financial news”, “headline sports news”, and “headline science news”, and thereafter the second formatted page is retrieved in response to a selection of “headline news” in the first formatted page. Of course, it is possible to link any second formatted page to one or more third formatted pages, and so on. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently obtained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statement of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.