WO2001059974A2

WO2001059974A2 - Method for displaying rich content

Info

Publication number: WO2001059974A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/040078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Babineau; Ralph E. Machesky
Original assignee: Sell It 3D
Priority date: 2000-02-09
Filing date: 2001-02-08
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Also published as: AU2001261817A1; WO2001059974A3

Abstract

A method is disclosed which permits several instances of rich content (12-24) to be viewed simultaneously, each in its own separate, re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable display window. In a preferred embodiment, a program, player or plug-in which displays the rich content (12-24) is delivered via an Internet browser (10), such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. The browser window (10) containing the rich content is spawned by a Web Scripting Language, such as Javascript, running within an HTML document, and the Web Scripting Language specifically formats the browser window (10) to display the rich content. The rich content, when embedded in a browser window (10) in accordance with the present invention, becomes proportionally scalable within the window in which it is displayed by virtue of defining the height and width of the rich content as a dual axis scalable percentage of the window within which it is displayed.

Description

METHOD FOR DISPLAYING RICH CONTENT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the display of Rich Content in computer devices and, more particularly, concerns a method for displaying single or simultaneous multiple instances of re-scalable, re-sizeable and re-shapeable Rich Content in separate, re-scalable, re-shapeable and re- sizeable display windows.

Background of the Invention The World Wide Web has introduced to computer users an expanding source of Rich Content, such as video, audio, animation, three- dimensional objects, photographs, graphic images and other multi-media content. As the public's appetite for rich content has grown, so has the demand for high-speed communication links, higher quality video and audio cards for computers, improved displays and speaker systems, and ever faster and more powerful processors.

Most delivery and display methods and systems for rich content available today utilize a player, program, or plug-in devoted to enabling the viewing of such content on a display. Examples of these include, Windows Media Player, Real Networks Real Player, Apple QuickTime Player,

Macromedia Flash/Shockwave, Metastream, ImagePump applet, and others. Another method of delivering and enabling the display of rich content is to offer the content (and/or ;he player, program, or plug-in) within a web page or a file viewable by using a web browser or other viewing program. While these methods represent the state of current technology, each has drawbacks and limitations that are overcome by the present invention. Such limitations and drawbacks include, the inability to scale content both vertically and horizontally within a display, and the inability to function on multiple platforms and/or multiple operating systems.

Furthermore, the methods and systems existing today have a number of other limitations that interfere with the most desirable presentation of rich content. For example, the current players, programs and plug-ins all have limitations regarding their ability to simultaneously display multiple sessions of rich content. In many cases, it is not even possible to launch multiple sessions of a particular player, program or plug-in simultaneously. Moreover, with the powerful computers available today, this is not a limitation of the computer, but of the underlying player, program or plug-in.

These limitations are overcome by the present invention.

In addition, although existing content delivery and display methods and systems often allow the display window to be resized, reshaped, and re-scaled, the rich content within the display window has limitations on its ability to resize, reshape and rescale proportionately within the window. In fact, it is often the case that neither the content nor the window within which it is displayed will be re-sizeable, re-shapeable or re- scalable by the user. An example of one of the drawbacks of existing technologies is that a user who is viewing rich content, such as video (for example, using RealNetworks RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, or Apple

QuickTime), animation (for example, using Macromedia Flash/Shockwave), a graphic image (such as a photograph), a three-dimensional object (such as those encountered with Metastream software), and others, will often have to use scroll bars to navigate vertically and/or horizontally within a resized display window to view content because the content is unable to resize, reshape or rescale proportionately within the space provided by the resized window. For example, Fig. 2 illustrates a browser program displaying a rich content file in a window full-screen ( 1 5) . In this case the rich content is in a JPEG file and is viewed by a multimedia viewing program which is built into the browser. After the browser window is resized and reshaped (1 5'), the underlying rich content within the resized window is unaffected and the image must be scrolled to view portions not visible in the resized window as shown in Fig. 2.

Typically, users would like to be able to resize a display window when they wish for the window to occupy more or less of the space available on their display device. For example, a user may wish to view multiple sessions of rich content simultaneously or may wish to view rich content in one portion of the screen, while using the another portion of the screen for other purposes, such as Word Processing, e-mailing, or surfing the web.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid shortcomings currently experienced with existing methods of displaying rich content. It is specifically an object of the present invention to enable the display of single or simultaneous multiple instances of rich content, each in a separate, re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable display window, in such a way that any content appearing within the window is resized, reshaped, and re-scaled proportionately within the window, as the window is resized and reshaped.

In accordance with the present invention, several instances of rich content can be viewed simultaneously, each in its own separate, re- sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable display window. In a preferred embodiment, the program, player or plug-in which displays the rich content is accessed via an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. The browser window containing the rich content is spawned by a web scripting language, such as Javascript, running, for example, within an HTML document, and the web scripting language specifically formats the browser window to display the rich content. The rich content, when embedded in a spawned browser window in accordance with the present invention, becomes proportionally scalable in two dimensions within the window in which it is displayed by virtue of defining the height and width of the rich content as a dual axis scalable percentage of the window within which it is displayed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing brief description, as well as further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood more completely from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a computer screen consisting of multiple instances of proportionately re-scalable, re-sizeable, re-shapeable rich content, each displayed within their own separate, two-dimensionally re-scalable, re- sizeable, and re-shapeable browser window;

Figure 2 shows a conventional browser window displaying a rich content image in a full-size window (1 5) and after the window has been re- scaled to a reduced size ( 1 5');

Figure 3 shows the browser window of Fig. 2 when generated in accordance with the present invention, full-size ( 1 5) and drastically re- scaled ( 1 5") and reshaped and resizedd 5 ' ") .

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the preferred environment in which the present invention is utilized; and

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating the processed performed by a server which is in communication with a user requesting rich content.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the preferred environment in which the present invention is utilized. Illustrated are a plurality of users, user 1 ... user n, connected to the internet through their computers. Also shown are two servers, server A and server B, also connected to the internet. The number of users and servers has been limited for purposes of illustration. Also for purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that all users are in communication with server A. When a user, say user 1 , requests a particular rich content object, such as a movie, from server

A, the server will either handle the request and provide the object directly or, alternatively, may transfer the user to another server, such as server B, to provide the rich content object. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional servers like server B could be provided to handle object requests and that server A could selectively transfer to any one of them to respond a user's request.

Figure 5 is a flow chart of the preferred process followed by server A (or any of the other servers) in responding to a user request. Initially, the server detects a request of a rich content object by the user at block 1 02. Such request is typically initiated by the user's clicking on a particular location and a page provided to him by server A. At block 1 06, a test is performed to determine whether the user has met certain predefined conditions. Conditions tested for would be, for example, whether the user is authorized to access the particular object, or whether he has been transferred from a site (e.g. another server) on which he is authorized to access the object. If the conditions are not met, the object is denied at block 1 04, an error message is issued to the user at block 1 1 0, and the process ends at block 1 1 6. If all of the conditions are met, the server grants the user access to the object at block 1 08. At block 1 1 2, an object appropriate for delivery to the user is created, and at block 1 1 4, the object is delivered.

Thereafter, the process ends at block 1 1 6.

Turning now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a user's computer screen 1 0 which includes seven different windows (web browsers) of different size and shape, each displaying rich content. The top three windows 1 2, 1 4, 1 6 each display different instances of rich content in the form of video footage via the Microsoft Media Player plug-in. Window 1 8 contains a graphic imag a displayed via ImagePump applet. Window 20 contains a display of a three-dimensional object via a Metastream plug-in. Window 22 displays a cartoon via a Flash Animation plug-in. Window 24 is a movie trailer being displayed via Apple QuickTime plug-in. Item 26 is the usual task bar that appears on a Microsoft Windows 98 screen.

In studying screen 1 0, it should be noted that the user has selectively sized each of the displayed windows and placed them in a pattern that fills the entire screen. Despite the size and shape of each window, the content inside of each window has scaled proportionately to fit entirely within the window, regardless of the size or shape to which the window has been adjusted. Specifically, each window in screen 1 0 is a different instance of a browser program. While the windows were each resized and reshaped and selectively placed on the screen by the user to create a collage effect that would encompass the entire screen, it should be noted that each window can be reshaped and/or resized in any manner the user desires (subject to the size and shape of the screen being used), and the content within each window will scale accordingly, such that all of the content will be visible within the window without any of the content being obscured from view.

Table 1 presents the HTML code for producing the content window 1 6. The purpose of this code is to cause the receiving computer to define the content of the new browser window in which the rich content (in this instance, via Microsoft Media Player) is called as an embedded object. Preferably, the code of Table 1 is called in a Javascript which spawns a new window, for example, when a user clicks on an area of the screen. The relevant portion of the Javascript is preferably as follows:

function REALVIEW (Link, WindowName, Properties) { window. open (Link, WindowName, 'resιzeable = yes, width = 400, height = 400' );

}

Basically, this defines a function, called REALVIEW, which spawns a new window using a standard routine, "window. open." The parameter "Link" is the URL for the file which defines the window content, which will be derived when the user clicks on a portion of a window being displayed. The window name will be assigned by default if none is specified, and the default properties of the window are contained in the function call. In the example, only three properties of the spawned window are set, so the window will be free of space consuming features normally present in a browser window, maximizing the space available for rich content. To proceed with this description, it will be assumed that a URL has been specified for a file which defines the content of window 1 6 in Fig .1 , which is to be spawned. Table 1 contains the HTML code for that file.

Table 1

1 <html>

2 <head>

3 <title>Untitled Document</title> 4 <meta http-equiv- 'Content-Type" content- 'text/html; charset=iso-8859-l">

5 </head>

6 <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0"

7 marginheight="0">

8 <OBJECT LD="MediaPlayer"

9 classid="CLSID:22d6G12-b0f6-l Id0-94ab-0080c74c7e95"

10 CODEBASE="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/mplayer/en/nsmp

1 1 2inf.cab#Version=6,4,5,715" 12 standby="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components..."

13 TYPE="application/x-oleobject" width="100%" height="100%">

14 < P N R A M Ν N M E = " F i l e Ν a m e "

15 NNLUE="http://www.sellit3d.com/showcase/avi/christina_4003.wmv">

16 <PNRNM ΝNME="NnimationatStart" VALUE="true"> 17 <PNRNM ΝNME="TransparentatStart" VNLUE="true">

18 <PNRNM ΝNME="NutoStart" VALUE="true">

19 <PNRAM ΝAME="ShowControls" VALUE=" 1 ">

20 <EMBED TYPE="application/x-mplayer2" 21 PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=windows&sb

22 p=mediaplayer&ar=Media&sba=Plugin&"

23 SRC="http://www. sellit3d.com/showcase/avi/christina_4003.wmv"

24 NAME=MediaPlayer

25 SHOWCONTROLS=l 26 WIDTH="100%"

27 HEIGHT="100%"

28 </EMBED>

29 </OBJECT>

30 </body>

31 </html>

The code in lines 1 -7of Table 1 creates and formats a browser window in which specific browser elements are removed and the Microsoft

Media Player occupies the window.

The " < OBJECT > ... < /OBJECT > " tag indicates that the rich content identified therebetween is to be "embedded as an object" in Internet

Explorer. The " < EMBED > ... < /EMBED > " tag is similarly used for Netscape Navigator. Internet Explore will ignore the code between "< EMBED >...< /EMBED >", and Netscape will ignore the code between " < OBJECT>... </OBJECT> " which is not between "< EMBED >...< /EMBED >." In both cases, the information contained within the respective tag provides variables that are passed to the player, program or plug-in that is to be embedded, and defines how the player, program or plug-in appears and how the content is to be displayed in the window.

Table 2 contains the HTML file for window 18 in Fig.1. In this case a window is spawned in which the ImagePump applet is utilized.

Table 2

1 <html>

2 <head>

3 <title>Untitled Document</title>

4 </head>

5 <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0"

6 marginheight="0">

7 <APPLET CODE="PiAnimation.class" WIDTH=" 100%" HEIGHT=" 100%"> 8 <PARAM NAME="AppletTile" NALUE="NONE">

9 <PARAM NAME="BackgroundColor" VALUE="0,0,0">

10 <PARAM NAME="ProductImage"

11 V ALUE="images/00012r002/00012p002v">

12 <PARAM NAME="TotalImages" VALUE="33"> 13 <PARAMNAME="ImageDelay"VALUE="150">

14 <PARAM NAME="Sequence" V ALUE=" 10, 1,19,5,14,22,7, 16,20">

15 <PARAM NAME="GroupSize" VALUE="3">

16 <PARNM ΝAME="LeftButton" VALUE="images/leftanthro.jpg">

17 <PARAM NAME="RightButton" VALUE="images/rightanthro.jpg"> 18 </APPLET>

18 </body> </html>

In Tables 1 and 2, the parameters "width = "100%"" and "height = "100%"" cause the content in the spawned window of the preferred embodiment to occupy the entire window in width and height, respectively. While the variable 100% was chosen for both the width and height of the preferred embodiment, it should be noted that any valid percentage could be chosen. For example, the parameter "width = "60%"" and the parameter "height = "80%"" causes the content in the spawned window to occupy 60% c f the width and 80% of the height of the spawned window. In addition, a c ual axis proportionately scalable viewing mode is achieved by embedding the rich content as an object in a spawned window and expressing the embedded object parameters of width and height as percentages. When the window is resized, reshaped or re-scaled by the user, all the rich content will continue to occupy the spawned window proportionately, regardless of the size, shape or scale of the window.

Figure 3 illustrates a browser window with a full-size, rich content image 1 5 as displayed in accordance with the present invention. In this case, the JPEG file of Fig. 2 has been embedded in a browser window with space consuming features deleted, as discussed above. The multimedia viewing program is the viewer built into the browser program. Even when the window 1 5 is drastically rescaled ( 1 5") or resized and reshaped (1 5 '"), the image resizes and reshapes in proportion to the window. Thus, three features of the code have made window 1 6 and the other windows in Figs. 1 and 3 particularly effective. Initially, the spawned window was created and defined to eliminate space consuming elements of the usual browser window. In addition, the parameters defining width and height of the content were set to 1 00%, causing the rich content to occupy the full spawned browser window. Also, the rich content was defined as an embedded object in a section of the web code, which permits multiple instances of the present invention to run simultaneously. The dual axis proportionately scalable result of the present invention insures that the embedded object will be proportionately resized, reshaped and re-scaled, so that the embedded object is fully presented within the spawned window, regardless of the size, shape or scale of that window, as set by a user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that being able to view single or simultaneous multiple instances of re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re- scalable rich content in fully re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable windows is not an inconsequential capability. It could, for example, enhance the ability of a user to simultaneously watch multiple Web casts on a single screen, each in its own proportionately re-scalable, re-sizeable, and re- shapeable browser window (for example, multiple sporting events) . Or, it could facilitate comparison shopping by permitting a user to simultaneously open multiple re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable windows, each displaying one of several products that the user wishes to compare prior to making a buying decision. Or, one could place multiple graphic images (e.g . photographs) on a screen, each in a separate re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re- scalable window, allowing for close examination of each graphic image prior to deciding which the user likes best. As illustrated in Fig.1 , it would permit a user to simultaneously watch a combination of media types, such as a music video, two videos of a jewelry display for comparison-shopping purposes, a graphic image, a movie trailer, a three-dimensional object, and a cartoon. A user can resize, reshape, and rescale each window whenever and as often as the user chooses.

There are countless consumer and professional applications that flow from the ability of a computer user to watch and interact with numerous instances of content simultaneously, each fitting within whatever size or shape display window that the user desires. It will also be appreciated that, because the content is being displayed in its own web browser, full Internet functionality and interactivity is available within each window. This is also important for the provider of the content as it allows enhanced statistical tracking capabilities, because the user is able to interact with more instances of rich content. More specifically, the content provider now has the ability to easily track what content a user prefers, as in the case of side-by-side comparison-shopping. The current invention allows each instance of delivered content to be tracked independently, since it is present in its own browser window.

Another use of the current invention is related to a visual search engine. For example, a user would be able to search for items (e.g. automobiles) meeting specific criteria, with the resulting data returned as a series of separate re-sizeable, re-shapeable and re-scalable display windows, each window containing content based on the user's search criteria. The user could then view, compare, and selectively resize, reshape or close those windows containing content produced by the search.

Throughout the description, reference has been made to the term "browser. " Although, an Internet browser has been described for convenience, it is not intended that the term "browser" be so limited. Also, the browsers described in the disclosure all utilize HTML code to define browser pages. Clearly, a "browser" may use any other page or window description language, so long as it enables a user to create code that will control the appearance of pages or windows containing rich content.

Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, users can be offered the features and benefits described herein in any computer device,

(e.g., a Computer, Web TV, PDA, Cellular phone, etc.) program, application, or other medium that is capable of including an active hyperlink or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) . Examples of these include, a link in an E-mail message, a hyperlink or URL in a Microsoft Word Document, Excel Spreadsheet or other program, file or document. In each instance, user interaction would cause a window to be spawned, as described above.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1 . A method for executing a multimedia program so as to display rich content information on a computer device display, said multimedia program being of the type which normally can be executed only in a single instance, such method permitting plural instances of the same multimedia program to be run in different windows and comprising the step of running an additional instance of said multimedia program from within an executable program segment which spawns a browser window in which the multimedia program is called as an embedded object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable program segment is provided in a first Internet browser page, the executable program segment spawning an additional copy of the browser in which the multimedia program is an emedded object.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the height and width of the image produced by the multimedia program is defined within the embedded object as a percentage of at least one of the height and width of the spawned window, whereby the multimedia program display occupies a constant percentage of at least one of the spawned window height and width as the spawned window is one of resized and reshaped.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein both the height and width of the image produced by the multimedia program are defined within the embedded object as a percentage of the height and width of the spawned window, whereby the multimedia program display occupies a constant percentage of the spawned window area as the spawned window is one of resized and reshaped, the multimedia display also conforming to shape changes of the spawned window.

5. A method for executing a multimedia program to display rich content on a compute r device display so that an image in the multimedia program display occupies a constant percentage of the multimedia program display as a window containing the program display is one of resized and reshaped, said method comprising the steps of running the multimedia program from within an executable program segment in a browser page which spawns a further browser window, and defining at least one of the height and width of the image produced in the further window as a percentage of the height and width, respectively, of the further window.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein both the height and width of the image produced in the further window are defined as a percentage of the height and width, respectively, of the further window.

7. A browser code segment for producing a window displaying rich content from a multimedia program on a computer device display, such that an image in the window occupies a constant percentage of the display as the window is one of resized and reshaped, said code segment including a sub-segment defining at least one of the height and width of the image produced in the window as a percentage of the height and width, respectively, of the window.

8. The code segment of claim 7 wherein both the height and width of the image produced in the window are defined as a percentage of the height and width, respectively, of the window.

9. The code segment of claim 8 wherein the sub-segment defines the multimedia program producing the rich content for the window as an embedded object.