Abstract:
A website accessible on the Internet includes images submitted by a third party and arranged in a predetermined configuration on the website; and an embedded link in one or more of the images each link respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of third party websites created by the third party, and the link is activated when a user indicates a preference for one of the images.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to the field of websites on the Internet and, more particularly, to such websites having a plurality of images submitted by consumers wherein each image includes a direct or an indirect link to one of a plurality of third-party websites.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Currently, websites are available on the Internet for displaying information to consumers. As is well known in the art, such web sites may have images and/or text that may be linked for viewing another website containing additional information or images. Such user-friendly images on the websites, however, are not navigational tools for searching a collection of webpages.  
           [0003]    Consequently, a need exists for a website that permits consumers to use user-friendly images as a navigational tool for searching a collection of webpages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, the invention resides in a website accessible on the Internet comprising: (a) a plurality of images submitted by a third party and arranged in a predetermined configuration on the website; and (b) an embedded link in one or more of the images each link respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of third party websites created by the third party, and the link is activated when a user indicates a preference for one of the images.  
           [0005]    These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.  
           [0006]    Advantageous Effect of the Invention  
           [0007]    It is an advantage of the present invention to use images as a navigational tool, which enhances the user-friendliness of on-line searching.  
           [0008]    It is that feature of the present invention to provide an embedded link in images of a website, each link respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of third party websites.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a website that searches a collection of webpages using images as the navigational tool. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective of a computer system for displaying a website of the present invention to a consumer;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a webpage of the website having a plurality of thumbnail images thereon; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an on-line form having query information into which a user inputs information related to the thumbnail images; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the links from the thumbnail images to either a third-party website or a high-resolution version of the thumbnail image with a text description and link to a third party website. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    In the following description, a portion of the present invention will be described in the preferred embodiment as a software program. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the equivalent of such software may also be constructed in hardware.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a computer system  10  for displaying a website to a user. The computer system  10  includes a microprocessor-based unit  20  for receiving and processing software programs and for performing other processing functions. A display  30  is electrically connected to the microprocessor-based unit  20  for displaying user-related information associated with the software. A keyboard  40  is also connected to the microprocessor based unit  20  for permitting a user to input information to the software. As an alternative to using the keyboard  40  for input, a mouse  50  may be used for moving a selector  52  on the display  30  and for selecting an item on which the selector  52  overlays, as is well known in the art.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an illustration of a typical webpage  60  of a website of the present invention. The webpage  60  includes a plurality of color thumbnail images (low-resolution images)  70  positioned in an adjacent side-by-side manner, hereinafter collectively referred to as a photoquilt  75 . These thumbnails images  70  are not, however, discernible when viewed therefrom. These images  70  may be made disceruable by clicking a zoom on icon  76  and returned to the their original state by clicking a zoom-out icon  77 . Each image  70  includes an embedded link to either a third-party website or a high-resolution version of the image, as described in detail hereinbelow. It is instructive to note that the original images are submitted by consumers. In this regard, the user would click on a tab  80  at a top portion of the webpage  60  and follow the illustrated directions therein. Referring briefly to FIG. 3, there is shown an example of typical instructions  90 . The instructions include a title section  93  for the title, a story section  96  for a short narrative of the image, and a predefined category section  99  from which the user indicates the one or more applicable categories. Independent of submitting images to the website, the owner of the photographs creates their own website, or on-line photopages, related to the submitted image that may be accessed from the website, as described hereinbelow. These photopages are a collection of images arranged in a predetermined manner. This user-created website resides on a server and may be implemented and maintained by any of a number of commercially available web-hosting companies.  
         [0017]    The images and text information are reviewed by the owner of the website for searching for undesirable images and text, such as obvious copyrighted images and text, morally undesirable images and text and the like. After this review, the low-resolution images, high-resolution images and text (title  93  and story  96 ) are input into the website. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, such software for submitting the images and text and inputting them into the website can be accomplished by those skilled in the art without an undue burden.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an illustration of the various links from the thumbnail images  70 . To obtain further information about an image  70 , the selector  52  is moved over the  70  image and the mouse  50  is clicked which actives the embedded link for preferably viewing a third-party website  100  residing on a server  110 . The third-party website  100  includes a plurality of webpages or photopages that may be viewed for obtaining further information. As may be apparent, the images  70  are a visual indication or representation of a subject matter for which the user wishes to search the photopages. Alternatively, when the mouse  52  is clicked, a high-resolution version of the image  120  along with story text  96  is displayed. This high-resolution image  120  also contains a link to the third-party website  100 , and likewise when the selector  52  is moved over the high-resolution image  120 , the link is activated for linking to the third-party website  100 .  
         [0019]    In addition to the visual searching via the images, the user may search via a keyword. The inputted keyword causes the text of the narrative stories to be searched and displays in a preferred manner, such as by the number of hits, the related websites that may then be accessed. Similarly, the user may search by inputting a category that causes the categories to search for any matches. This information is then displayed for access, if desired.  
         [0020]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.