Method and system for rendering hyper-link information in a printable medium

Field of the invention

0001The present invention relates to information retrieval in data processing systems, particularly in such systems which use markup languages to link documents residing in a network. In a typical network such documents are created using a markup convention known as hyper-text, and include embedded information, referred to as hyper-link information, to enable links to be effected using a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Background of the invention

0002The development of computerized information resources, such as the "Internet" and the proliferation of "web" browsers allow users of data processing systems to link with other servers and networks, and thus retrieve vast amounts of electronic information heretofore unavailable in an electronic medium. Such electronic information is increasingly displacing more conventional means of information transmission, such as newspapers, magazines, and even, television. In communications, a set of computer networks which are possibly dissimilar from one another are joined together by "gateways" that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network, with packets if necessary. A gateway is a device used to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizing different communication protocols) so that electronic information can be passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronic information, converting such information to a form compatible with the protocols used by the second network for transport and delivery. The term "internet" is an abbreviation for "internetwork," and refers commonly to the collection of networks and gateways that utilize the TCP/IP suite of protocols, which are well-known in the art of computer networking. TCP/IP is an acronym for "Transport Control Protocol/Interface Program," a software protocol developed by the United States Department of Defense for communication between computers.

0003Electronic information transferred between data processing networks is usually presented in hyper-text, a metaphor for presenting information in a manner in which text, images, sounds, and actions become linked together in a complex non-sequential web of associations that permit the user to "browse" through related topics, regardless of the presented order of the topics. These links are often established by both the author of a hyper-text document and by the user, depending on the intent of the hyper-text document. For example, travelling among links to the word "iron" in an article displayed within a graphical user interface in a data processing system might lead the user to the periodic table of the chemical elements (i.e., linked by the word "iron"), or to a reference to the use of iron in weapons in Europe in the Dark Ages. The term "hyper-text" was coined in the 1960s to describe documents, as presented by a computer, that express the nonlinear structure of ideas, as opposed to the linear format of books, film, and speech.

0004The term "hyper-media," on the other hand, more recently introduced, is nearly synonymous with "hyper-text" but focuses on the nontextual components of hyper-text, such as animation, recorded sound, and video. Hyper-media is the integration of graphics, sound, video, or any combination into a primarily associative system of information storage and retrieval. Hyper-media, as well as hyper-text, especially in an interactive format where choices are controlled by the user, is structured around the idea of offering a working and learning environment that parallels human thinking -- that is, an environment that allows the user to make associations between topics rather than move sequentially from one to the next, as in an alphabetic list. Hyper-media, as well as hyper-text topics, are thus linked in a manner that allows the user to jump from one subject to other related subjects during a search for information. Hyper-link information, such as "World Wide Web" address sites, are contained within hyper-media and hyper-text documents, which allow a user to go back to the "original" or referring Web site by the mere "click" (i.e., with a mouse or other pointing device) of the hyper-linked topic.

0005A typical networked system which utilizes hyper-text and hyper-media conventions follows a client/server architecture. The "client" is a member of a class or group that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. Thus, in computing, a client is a process (i.e., roughly a program or task) that requests a service provided by another program. The client process utilizes the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. Thus, in a client/server architecture, particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (i.e., a server).

0006In such a client/server architecture, a request by a user for news can be sent by a client application program to a server. Such a server is typically a remote computer system accessible over the Internet or other communication medium. The server scans and searches for raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups). Based upon such requests by the user, the server presents filtered electronic information as server responses to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system, and communicate with one another over a communication medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.

0007Client and server can communicate with one another utilizing the functionality provided by Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web (WWW) or, simply, the web, includes all the servers adhering to this standard which are accessible to clients via Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). For example, communication can be provided over a communication medium. In particular, the client and server may be coupled to one another via Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or TCP/IP connections for high-capacity communication. Active within the client is a first process, known as a "browser," which establishes the connection with the server and presents information to the user. The server itself executes corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses. The HTTP responses correspond to web "pages" constructed from a Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), or other server-generated data.

0008The client and server typically display browsers and other internet data for a user via a graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is a type of display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can generally be activated either with a keyboard or a mouse.

0009Sometimes a user desires to print a hardcopy of a document provided in hyper-text format with hyper-link information (i.e., links to other documents and Web sites). Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML) is typically utilized to create such documents. However, much of the document's usefulness is lost when it is printed as hardcopy. The difference between a screen-rendered hyper-text document and the same document printed as hardcopy is that the hyper-link information in the hardcopy no longer has a graphical user interface visual cue or an application function to "jump" to a linked web page or web site. In fact, a user cannot ascertain, based on the rendered hardcopy document printout, that a hyper-link existed in the screen-displayed document or to which site the document was linked. A need thus exists for allowing users to ascertain, based on any document rendered as hardcopy, such hyper-link information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0010In accordance with the invention there is provided a method and system for rendering in a printable medium hyper-link information contained in a document displayed within a graphical user interface within a data processing system linked to other data processing systems in a data processing network. A document constructed from data generated at a data processing network server is selected and displayed within a graphical user interface. Thereafter, in response to the selection of the document, if the document includes hyper-link information, a reference object is generated. Next, the reference object is associated with the hyper-link information. Thereafter, in response to a user input, the document is automatically printed in a printable medium, in association with the reference object, such that the hyper-link information is automatically presented in association with the printed document.

0011The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

0012<b>FIG. 1</b> is a pictorial representation of a data processing system which can be implemented in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0013<b>FIG. 2</b> depicts a block diagram illustrative of selected components in a personal computer system which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0014<b>FIG. 3</b> illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0015<b>FIG. 4</b> depicts a detailed block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0016<b>FIG. 5</b> illustrates a high-level logic diagram illustrative of a method for selecting and rendering hyper-text documents which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0017<b>FIG. 6</b> depicts an example hyper-text document contained within a graphical user interface window which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

0018<b>FIG. 7</b> illustrates a hardcopy printout of a hyper-text document with footnoted hyper-link information.

0019<b>FIG. 8</b> depicts a logic flowchart illustrative of a method for rendering a printed hyper-text document with footnoted hyper-link information which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0020With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to <b>FIG. 1,</b> there is depicted a pictorial representation of a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A personal computer <b>10</b> is depicted which includes a system unit <b>12,</b> a video display terminal <b>14,</b> an alphanumeric input device (i.e., keyboard <b>16)</b> having alphanumeric and other keys, and a mouse <b>18.</b> An additional input device (not shown) such as a trackball or stylus can also be included with personal computer <b>10.</b> Personal computer <b>10</b> can be implemented utilizing any suitable computer such as an IBM Aptiva<b>→</b> computer, a product of International Business Machines corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. "Aptiva" is a registered trademark of International Business Machines corporation. Although the depicted embodiment involves a personal computer, the present invention may be implemented in other types of data processing systems, such as, for example, intelligent workstations or mini-computers. Computer <b>10</b> also preferably includes a graphical user interface that resides within a machine-readable media to direct the operation of computer <b>10.</b>

0021Referring now to <b>FIG. 2</b> there is depicted a block diagram of selected components in personal computer <b>10</b> of <b>FIG. 1</b> in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Personal computer 10 of <b>FIG. 1</b> preferably includes a system bus <b>20</b>, as depicted in <b>FIG. 2</b>. System bus <b>20</b> is utilized for interconnecting and establishing communication between various components in personal computer <b>10</b>. Microprocessor <b>22</b> is connected to system bus <b>20</b> and also may have numeric coprocessor <b>24</b> connected to it. Direct memory access ("DMA") controller <b>26</b> is also connected to system bus <b>20</b> and allows various devices to appropriate cycles from microprocessor <b>22</b> during large input/output ("I/O") transfers. Read Only Memory ("ROM") <b>28</b> and Random Access Memory ("RAM") <b>30</b> are also connected to system bus <b>20</b>. ROM <b>28</b> is mapped into the microprocessor <b>22</b> address space in the range from 640K to 1 megabyte. CMOS RAM <b>32</b> is attached to system bus <b>20</b> and contains system configuration information. Any suitable machine-readable media may retain the graphical user interface of computer <b>10</b> of <b>FIG. 1</b>, such as RAM <b>30</b>, ROM <b>28</b>, a magnetic diskette, magnetic tape, or optical disk.

0022Also connected to system bus <b>20</b> are memory controller <b>34</b>, bus controller <b>36</b>, and interrupt controller <b>38</b> which serve to aid in the control of data flow through system bus <b>20</b> between various peripherals, adapters, and devices. system unit <b>12</b> of <b>FIG. 1</b> also contains various I/O controllers such as those depicted in <b>FIG. 2:</b> keyboard and mouse controller <b>40</b>, video controller, <b>42</b>, parallel controller <b>44</b>, serial controller <b>46</b>, and diskette controller <b>48</b>. Keyboard and mouse controller <b>40</b> provide a hardware interface for keyboard <b>50</b> and mouse <b>52</b>. Video controller <b>42</b> provides a hardware interface for video display terminal <b>54</b>. Parallel controller <b>44</b> provides a hardware interface for devices such as printer <b>56</b>. Serial controller <b>46</b> provides a hardware interface for devices such as a modem <b>58</b>. Diskette controller <b>48</b> provides a hardware interface for floppy disk unit <b>60</b>.

0023Expansion cards also may be added to system bus <b>20</b>, such as disk controller <b>62</b>, which provides a hardware interface for hard disk unit <b>64</b>. Empty slots <b>66</b> are provided so that other peripherals, adapters, and devices may be added to system unit <b>12</b> of <b>FIG. 1</b>. A network card <b>67</b> additionally can be connected to system bus <b>20</b> in order to link system unit <b>12</b> of <b>FIG. 1</b> to other data processing system networks in a client/server architecture, or to groups of computers and associated devices which are connected by communications facilities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in <b>FIG. 2</b> may vary for specific applications. For example, other peripheral devices such as: optical disk media, audio adapters, or chip programming devices such as a PAL or EPROM programming devices, and the like also may be utilized in addition to or in place of the hardware already depicted. Note that any or all of the above components and associated hardware may be utilized in various embodiments. However, it can be appreciated that any configuration of aforementioned system may be used for various purposes according to a particular implementation.

0024<b>FIG. 3</b> illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. In <b>FIG. 3</b>, user requests <b>91</b> for news are sent by a client application program <b>92</b> to a server <b>88</b>. server <b>88</b> can be a remote computer system accessible over the Internet or other communication medium. Server <b>88</b> performs scanning and searching of raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups) and, based upon these user requests, presents the filtered electronic information as server responses <b>93</b> to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system, and communicate with one another over a communication medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.

0025<b>FIG. 4</b> illustrates a detailed block diagram of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. Although the client and server are processes which are operative within two computer systems, these processes being generated from a high-level programming language (e.g., PERL), which is interpreted and executed in a computer system at runtime (e.g., a workstation), it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that they may be implemented in a variety of hardware devices, either programmed or dedicated.

0026Client <b>92</b> and server <b>88</b> communicate using the functionality provided by Hyper-text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The WWW or the "web" includes all the servers adhering to this standard which are accessible to clients via Uniform Resource locators (URLs). Active within client <b>92</b> is a first process, browser <b>72</b>, which establishes the connections with server <b>88</b>, and presents information to the user. Any number of commercially or publicly available browsers may be used, in various implementations, such as the Mosaic-brand browser available from the National centre for supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Other browsers, such as the Netscape, Netcruiser, or the Lynx-brand browsers, or others which are available and provide the functionality specified under HTTP and the Mosaic browser can be utilized with the present invention.

0027Server <b>88</b> executes the corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses <b>90</b>. The HTTP responses <b>90</b> correspond with the Web "pages" represented using Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), or other data which is generated by the server. For example, under the Mosaic brand browser, in addition to HTML functionality <b>94</b> provided by server <b>88</b> (i.e., display and retrieval of certain textual and other data based upon hyper-text views and selection of item(s)), a Common Gateway Interlace (CGI) <b>96</b> is provided which allows the client program to direct server <b>88</b> to commence execution of a specified program contained within server <b>88</b>. This may include a search engine which scans received information in the server for presentation to the user controlling the client. Using this interface, and HTTP responses <b>90</b>, the server may notify the client of the results of that execution upon completion.

0028<b>FIG. 5</b> depicts a high-level logic diagram <b>101</b> illustrative of a method for selecting and rendering hyper-text documents which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the following method can be implemented in special-purpose hardware devices, such as discrete logic devices, large scale integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits, or other specialized hardware. The description herein has equal application to systems having similar function. As depicted at block <b>100</b>, a hyper-text document is selected. When a graphical user interface selects its data, it renders such data to the screen for viewing by a user of the graphical user interface. such data rendered to the screen for viewing can be in the form of hyper-text (i.e., a hyper-text document). When the user selects the next hyper-text document, the hyper-text document is then rendered, as illustrated at block <b>102</b>. When the user selects the hyper-text document to be printed, the document is rendered for printing instead of viewing on the screen.

0029For example, from a graphical interface application menu, a user select "open" from a "file" pulldown menu. An example of a raw HTML document is depicted below: <HTML> Visit <A HREF="http://www.austin.ibm.com>IBM</A> on the world wide web. </HTLM>

0030The document can then be opened by the user and rendered on the screen by the graphical user interface for viewing. Thus, the "raw" HTML document depicted above is rendered on the screen for viewing by the user, as follows:    Visit <b><i><u>IBM</u></i></b> on the world wide web.

0031The string text "IBM" is rendered in such a manner as to stand out from the surrounding text. The different font format indicates that the text is hyper-linked to another document, which allows the user to "jump" to the other document by "clicking" with a mouse or other pointing device to the string text "IBM."

0032From the same pulldown menu, the user can select "print" with a mouse or other pointing device so that the hyper-text document rendered for printing is:    Visit <b><i><u>IBM</u></i></b> on the world wide web.

0033The difference between the screen-rendered hyper-text document and the same document printed as hardcopy is that the hyper-text links in the hardcopy no longer have a graphical user interface visual queue or an application function to "jump" to another page. Below is the same hardcopy text, but with a printed reference number or footnote to reference the actual hyper-link information.    Visit IBM [1] on the world wide web. - - - - - - - - - 1. http://www.austin.ibm.com

0034Thus, the hyper-text document retains its hyper-link information even in hardcopy form. The user can now ascertain the location of the original on-line hyper-links utilizing the hardcopy printout.

0035<b>FIG. 6</b> illustrates an example hyper-text document <b>123</b> contained within a graphical user interface window <b>104</b> which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. Window <b>104</b> displays a portion of a hyper-text document <b>123</b> constructed from a mark-up language such as Hyper-Text Mark-up Language (HTML). The size and position of elevator <b>120</b> within scroll bar <b>116</b> corresponds to the size and position of the current viewable page in relation to hyper-text document <b>123</b>.

0036In the example of <b>FIG. 6</b>, because hyper-text document <b>123</b> includes too many pages to view simultaneously, the user can position a mouse cursor over up-arrow section <b>106</b> or arrow section <b>108</b> of scroll bar <b>116</b> and click a pointing device (e.g., a mouse) to scroll the hyper-text document <b>123</b> upward or downward, as appropriate. A vertical scroll bar <b>118</b> includes arrow sections <b>112</b> and arrow sections <b>110</b> for scrolling hyper-text document <b>123</b> respectively left or right. Also, an optional arrow section <b>114</b> allows a user to scroll the document right. Thus, the graphical user interface that contains window <b>104</b> and hyper-text document <b>123</b> is a type of computer display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can generally be activated either with a keyboard or a mouse.

0037Hyper-text document contains specific string text <b>124</b> rendered on the screen by the graphical user interface to stand out from the surrounding text. string text <b>124</b> is rendered in a different format. In the example of <b>FIG. 6,</b> string text <b>124</b> is rendered as <b><i><u>IBM</u></i></b><i>.</i> The different font format of string text <b>124</b> is an indication that the text is hyper-linked to "jump" to another document. When a user clicks on string text <b>124</b> with a mouse or other pointing device, the graphical user interface will shift the presently viewed hyper-text document <b>123</b> to another hyper-linked document.

0038<b>FIG. 7</b> depicts a hardcopy printout of a hyper-text document <b>132</b> with footnoted hyper-link information. Hyper-text document <b>132</b> is analogous to hyper-text document <b>123</b> of <b>FIG. 6</b>, only rendered in a hardcopy format instead of on screen via a graphical user interface. Normally, when printing a hyper-text document, hyper-text links in the hardcopy no longer contain visual cues or an application function to "jump" to another page. A user thus is unable to determine from the hardcopy format the hyper-link information or address links. In <b>FIG. 7</b> hyper-text document <b>132</b> is rendered upon a printed hardcopy <b>128</b>. String text <b>134</b> is referenced to a footnote <b>130</b> indicating the actual "web" hyper-link address. In the example of <b>FIG. 7</b>, the hyper-link address is: http://www.austin.ibm.com.

0039<b>FIG. 8</b> illustrates a logic flow chart <b>136</b> illustrative of a method for rendering a printed hyper-text document with footnoted hyper-link information which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As illustrated at block <b>138</b>, the graphical user interface selects the hyper-text document. As depicted at block <b>140</b>, the graphical user interface renders the hyper-text document to a screen for viewing by a user. As described at decision block <b>142</b>, a decision is made determining whether or not hyper-link information such as hyper-text address links (also referred to as hyper-link addresses) are contained within the hyper-text document. If not, then, as depicted at block <b>148</b>, the hyper-text document is rendered as hardcopy (i.e., printed). If it is determined that such hyper-link information is contained within the document, then appropriate reference objects which can be footnotes, are generated as depicted at block <b>144</b>.

0040As illustrated at block <b>146</b>, the reference object or footnote is associated with the hyper-link information. As described at block <b>148</b>, the document is rendered as hardcopy, including reference objects or footnotes. As depicted at decision block <b>150</b>, a decision is made whether or not to select another hyper-text document. Based on the printed hardcopy and the rendered footnotes available on the printed hardcopy document, the reader of the hardcopy printout can ascertain the location and address of the original hyper-links referred to in the hyper-text document by studying the footnotes.