Method for parallel selection of URLs

<b>Field of the Invention</b>

The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically to a method and system for accessing interrelated computer files, particularly files distributed across a network, such as pages on the World Wide Web of the Internet, using viewing software such as a web browser that provides hypertext links between interrelated pages.

<b>Description of Related Art</b>

A generalized client-server computing network 2 is shown in <b>Figure 1</b>. Network <b>2</b> has several nodes or servers <b>4, 6, 8</b> and <b>10</b> which are interconnected, either directly to each other or indirectly through one of the other servers. Each server is essentially a stand-alone computer system (having one or more processors, memory devices, and communications devices), but has been adapted (programmed) for one primary purpose, that of providing information to individual users at another set of nodes, or workstation clients <b>12</b>. A client is a member of a class or group of computers or computer systems that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. Clients <b>12</b> can also be stand-alone computer systems (like personal computers, or PCs), or "dumber" systems adapted for limited use with network <b>2</b> (like network computers, or NCs). A single, physical computer can act as both a server and a client, although this implementation occurs infrequently.

The information provided by a server can be in the form of programs which run locally on a given client <b>12</b>, or in the form of data such as files that are used by other programs. Users can also communicate with each other in real-time as well as by delayed file delivery, i.e., users connected to the same server can all communicate with each other without the need for the network <b>2</b>, and users at different servers, such as servers <b>4</b> and <b>6</b>, can communicate with each other via network <b>2</b>. The network can be local in nature, or can be further connected to other systems (not shown) as indicated with servers <b>8</b> and <b>10</b>.

The construction of network <b>2</b> is also generally applicable to the Internet. In the context of a computer network such as the Internet, a client is a process (i.e., a program or task) that requests a service which is provided by another program. The client process uses the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. Based upon requests by the user, a server presents filtered electronic information to the user as server responses to the client process.

Conventional protocols and services have been established for the Internet which allow the transfer of various types of information, including electronic mail, simple file transfers via FTP (file transfer protocol), remote computing via Telnet, "gopher" searching, Usenet newsgroups, and hypertext file delivery and multimedia streaming via the World Wide Web (WWW). A given server can be dedicated to performing one of these operations, or running multiple services. Internet services are typically accessed by specifying a unique address, or universal resource locator (URL). The URL has two basic components, the protocol to be used, and the object pathname. For example, the URL "http://www.uspto.gov" (home page for the United States Patent &amp; Trademark Office) specifies a hypertext transfer protocol ("http") and a pathname of the server ("www.uspto.gov"). The server name is associated with a unique numeric value (a TCP/IP address, or "domain").

The present invention relates to accessing computer files, particularly those that are distributed on a network like the Internet, and more particularly to those accessed using the WWW, which provides files that are conveniently linked for user access. For example, as illustrated in <b>Figure 2</b>, a group <b>14</b> of files or pages <b>16a-16h</b> are interrelated by providing hypertext links in each of the files (group <b>14</b> may thus be considered a typical web site). A hypertext link is any image that is viewable on the workstation's display <b>18</b>, which can be selected by the user (e.g., using a pointing device or "mouse") and which then automatically instructs client workstation <b>12</b> to request another page associated with that particular hypertext link (i.e., issue another URL) . A hypertext link may appear as a picture, or as a word or sentence, possibly underlined or otherwise accentuated to indicate that it is a link and not just normal, informative text.

A WWW page may have text, graphic (still) images, and even multimedia objects such as sound recordings or moving video clips. A hypertext page, if more than just text, is usually constructed by loading several separate files, e.g., the hypertext file "main.html" might include a reference to a graphic image file "picture.gif" or to a sound file "beep.wav". When a client workstation <b>12</b> sends a request to a server for a page, such as page <b>16a</b>, the server first transmits (at least partially) the main hypertext file associated with the page, and then loads, either sequentially or simultaneously, the other files associated with the page. A given file may be transmitted as several separate pieces via TCP/IP protocol. The constructed page is then displayed on the workstation monitor <b>18</b> as shown in <b>Figure 2</b>. A page may be "larger" than the physical size of the monitor screen (i.e., larger than the software-programmed "window" provided for viewing the page), and techniques such as scroll bars are used by the viewing software (the web browser) to view different portions of the page. Selection of a hypertext link sometimes opens a new (second) browser window to receive the requested page.

One problem that frequently occurs during navigation of a web site relates to the repetitious and slow process of viewing multiple links within a web page. For example, a user might want to review several chapters of a book or instruction manual that is provided on the WWW in the form of a main page that acts as a table of contents, and many other pages which each constitute one of the chapters of the book or manual. The web site may be constructed such that the user can only access a particular chapter from the main (table of contents) page. Thus, the user would be required to enter a cumbersome sequence of multiple mouse clicks to examine multiple links in a page. When a user clicks on a URL which is brought up in the current window, and after the user is finished with the retrieved page, the user must select the "Back" button in the browser to reload the previous page (a keystroke combination entered on the keyboard may also be used to activate the "Back" feature), and then select another page from the table of contents. This back-and-forth sequence between viewing a particular chapter and viewing the table of contents page must be repeated for each chapter.

This problem is aggravated if several links are taken from the main page, e.g., to footnotes that are provided as links within a given chapter. If this occurs, then the "Back" button will have to be hit for each page visited, which can be very time consuming, especially with the growing use of the Internet and since the user has to wait until the previous page has started to download to the browser before the "Back" button can be pressed again. Although the pages are often stored in a cache memory locally in the computer, many web pages now require reconnection with the host server before the page can be fully reloaded, which can take a significant amount of time.

Another method that can be used return to a previous page, without using the "Back" button, is the "history" window or menu which is available on most browsers. The history window is essentially a list of URLs visited in a given session. The history table, however, has its limitations. First, the average user is not familiar with the history feature, because it is embedded within a pull-down window (i.e., not presented in the main browser window as a button). Secondly, the user must locate the URL of the desired previous page from among the list of possibly many URLs in the history table. Finally, even if the user can jump directly back to the desired page, this window must reload within the browser, which can again take several minutes, and slows down the computer since more resources are being used to present the page (audibly and/or visually).

With current web browsers, link selection methods are thus very limited, and no support is provided to simplify accessing multiple links on a given page. It would, therefore, be desirable to devise a method and system of accessing computer files, such as WWW pages, which allowed multiple links to be selected. It would be further advantageous if the method and system supported such multiple link selection without having to backtrack to the page that contains multiple selections.

<b>Disclosure of the Invention</b>

The present invention provides a method of accessing files located in a computer system, generally comprising the steps of creating a browser window on a display of the computer system, selecting a plurality of embedded links (such as hypertext links) from at least one page displayed in the browser window, and processing the plurality of embedded links concurrently. The embedded links may include at least two embedded links from a single page displayed in the browser window, or may include at least one embedded link from a first page and at least one other embedded link from a second page. A graphical pointer may be used to select the embedded links. In one implementation, a pop-up menu is displayed once the links have all been selected, wherein the pop-up menu has a plurality of menu items associated with different types of link processing. For example, the processing step may include: the step of concurrently displaying pages associated with the plurality of embedded links in a plurality of respective browser windows on the display; the step of concurrently printing pages associated with the plurality of embedded links using a printing device of the computer system; or the step of concurrently downloading pages associated with the plurality of embedded links, to a storage device of the computer system. Selection of the links may be facilitated by allowing the user to switch to a multi-link selection mode.

<b>Brief Description of the Drawings</b>

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><b>Figure 1</b> is a diagram of a conventional computer network, including interconnected servers and client workstations;</li><li><b>Figure 2</b> is a pictorial representation of the retrieval of an object from a set of linked objects residing on the network, such as a page on the World Wide Web;</li><li><b>Figure 3</b> is an illustration of one embodiment of a data processing system in which the present invention can be practised;</li><li><b>Figure 4</b> is a high-level block diagram illustrating selected components that can be included in the data processing system of <b>Figure 3</b> according to the teachings of the present invention; and</li><li><b>Figures 5A-5D</b> are elevational views of a graphical user interface employed by a browser program constructed in accordance with the present invention.</li></ul>

<b>Description of the Invention</b>

The present invention is directed to a method of accessing files located in a computer system, particularly files that are distributed across a computer network such as the network of <b>Figure 1</b>. The invention may, however, be implemented in other networks besides the Internet so, while the present invention may be understood with reference to <b>Figure 1</b>, this reference should not be construed in a limiting sense.

With further reference to <b>Figure 3</b>, a data processing system <b>20</b> is shown in which the present invention can be practised. The data processing system <b>20</b> includes processor <b>22</b>, keyboard <b>82</b>, and display <b>96</b>. Keyboard <b>82</b> is coupled to processor <b>22</b> by a cable <b>28</b>. Display <b>96</b> includes display screen <b>30</b>, which may be implemented using a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electrode luminescent panel or the like. The data processing system <b>20</b> also includes pointing device <b>84</b>, which may be implemented using a track ball, a joy stick, touch sensitive tablet or screen, track path, or as illustrated a mouse. The pointing device <b>84</b> may be used to move a pointer or cursor on display screen <b>30</b>. Processor <b>22</b> may also be coupled to one or more peripheral devices such a modem <b>92</b>, CD-ROM <b>78</b>, network adapter <b>90</b>, and floppy disk drive <b>40</b>, each of which may be internal or external to the enclosure or processor <b>22</b>. An output device such as a printer <b>100</b> may also be coupled with processor <b>22</b>.

It should be noted and recognized by those persons of ordinary Skill in the art that display <b>96</b>, keyboard <b>82</b>, and pointing device <b>84</b> may each be implemented using any one of several known off-the-shelf components.

Reference now being made to <b>Figure 4</b>, a high level block diagram is shown illustrating selected components that can be included in the data processing system <b>20</b> of <b>Figure 3</b> according to the teachings of the present invention. The data processing system <b>20</b> is controlled primarily by computer readable instructions, which can be in the form of software, wherever, or by whatever means such software is stored or accessed. Such software may be executed within the Central Processing Unit (CPU) <b>50</b> to cause data processing system <b>20</b> to do work.

Memory devices coupled to system bus <b>5</b> include Random Access Memory (RAM) <b>56</b>, Read Only Memory (ROM) <b>58</b>, and nonvolatile memory <b>60</b>. Such memories include circuitry that allows information to be stored and retrieved. ROMs contain stored data that cannot be modified. Data stored in RAM can be changed by CPU <b>50</b> or other hardware devices. Nonvolatile memory is memory that does not lose data when power is removed from it. Nonvolatile memories include ROM, EPROM, flash memory, or battery-pack CMOS RAM. As shown in <b>Figure 4</b>, such battery-pack CMOS RAM may be used to store configuration information.

An expansion card or board is a circuit board that includes chips and other electronic components connected that adds functions or resources to the computer. Typically, expansion cards add memory, disk-drive controllers <b>66</b>, video support, parallel and serial ports, and internal modems. For lap top, palm top, and other portable computers, expansion cards usually take the form of PC cards, which are credit card-sized devices designed to plug into a slot in the side or back of a computer. An example of such a slot is PCMCIA slot (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) which defines type I, II and III card slots. Thus, empty slots <b>68</b> may be used to receive various types of expansion cards or PCMCIA cards.

Disk controller <b>66</b> and diskette controller <b>70</b> both include special purpose integrated circuits and associated circuitry that direct and control reading from and writing to hard disk drive <b>72</b>, and a floppy disk or diskette <b>74</b>, respectively. Such disk controllers handle tasks such as positioning read/write head, mediating between the drive and the CPU <b>50</b>, and controlling the transfer of information to and from memory. A single disk controller may be able to control more than one disk drive.

CD-ROM controller <b>76</b> may be included in data processing <b>20</b> for reading data from CD-ROM <b>78</b> (compact disk read only memory). Such CD-ROMs use laser optics rather than magnetic means for reading data.

Keyboard mouse controller <b>80</b> is provided in data processing system <b>20</b> for interfacing with keyboard <b>82</b> and pointing device <b>84</b>. Such pointing devices are typically used to control an on-screen element, such as a graphical pointer or cursor, which may take the form of an arrow having a hot spot that specifies the location of the pointer when the user presses a mouse button. Other pointing devices include a graphics tablet, stylus, light pin, joystick, puck, track ball, track pad, and the pointing device sold under the trademark "Track Point" by International Business Machines Corp. (IBM).

Communication between processing system <b>20</b> and other data processing systems may be facilitated by serial controller <b>88</b> and network adapter <b>90</b>, both of which are coupled to system bus <b>5</b>. Serial controller <b>88</b> is used to transmit information between computers, or between a computer and peripheral devices, one bit at a time over a single line. Serial communications can be synchronous (controlled by some standard such as a clock) or asynchronous (managed by the exchange of control signals that govern the flow of information). Examples of serial communication standards include RS-232 interface and the RS-422 interface. As illustrated, such a serial interface may be used to communicate with modem <b>92</b>. A modem is a communication device that enables a computer to transmit information over standard telephone lines. Modems convert digital computer signals to interlock signals suitable for communications over telephone lines. Modem <b>92</b> can be utilized to connect data processing system <b>20</b> to an on-line information service or an Internet service provider. Such service providers may offer software that can be down loaded into data processing system <b>20</b> via modem <b>92</b>. Modem <b>92</b> may provide a connection to other sources of software, such as a server, an electronic bulletin board (BBS), or the Internet (including the World Wide Web).

Network adapter <b>90</b> may be used to connect data processing system <b>20</b> to a local area network <b>94</b>. Network <b>94</b> may provide computer users with means of communicating and transferring software and information electronically. Additionally, network <b>94</b> may provide distributed processing, which involves several computers in the sharing of workloads or cooperative efforts in performing a task. Network <b>94</b> can also provide a connection to other systems like those mentioned above (a BBS, the Internet, etc.).

Display <b>96</b>, which is controlled by display controller <b>98</b>, is used to display visual output generated by data processing system <b>20</b>. Such visual output may include text, graphics, animated graphics, and video. Display <b>96</b> may be implemented with CRT-based video display, an LCD-based flat panel display, or a gas plasma-based flat-panel display. Display controller <b>98</b> includes electronic components required to generate a video signal that is sent to display <b>96</b>.

Printer <b>100</b> may be coupled to data processing system <b>20</b> via parallel controller <b>102</b>. Printer <b>100</b> is used to put text or a computer-generated image (or combinations thereof) on paper or on another medium, such as a transparency sheet. Other types of printers may include an image setter, a plotter, or a film recorder.

Parallel controller <b>102</b> is used to send multiple data and control bits simultaneously over wires connected between system bus <b>5</b> and another parallel communication device, such as a printer <b>100</b>.

CPU <b>50</b> fetches, decodes, and executes instructions, and transfers information to and from other resources via the computers main data-transfer path, system bus <b>5</b>. Such a bus connects the components in a data processing system <b>20</b> and defines the medium for data exchange. System bus <b>5</b> connects together and allows for the exchange of data between memory units <b>56, 58,</b> and <b>60,</b> CPU <b>50,</b> and other devices as shown in <b>Figure 4</b>. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a data processing system constructed in accordance with the present invention may have multiple components selected from the foregoing, including even multiple processors.

Referring now to <b>Figures 5A-5D</b>, one embodiment of the present invention allows data processing system <b>20</b> to explore files located on system <b>20</b>, or located on networks which are connected to system <b>20</b> (such as local area network <b>94</b>, or the Internet which may be connected via modem <b>92</b>). The depicted implementation provides one or more browser windows to view interrelated files, that is, files having embedded links such as hypertext links.

As seen in <b>Figure 5A</b>, browser software constructed in accordance with this implementation displays a main browser window <b>110</b> on monitor <b>30</b>. Browser window <b>110</b> includes an image of a currently viewed page, such as a user's home page, a page that was retrieved using a search engine, etc. The page may contain textual material as well as multimedia content, and further includes a plurality of hypertext links. The present invention allows for selection of multiple links within such a web page, so that concurrent processing may be applied to the links, such as by opening separate browser windows for each of the links so selected. Selection of multiple URLs may be achieved by pointing the graphical pointer to each desired URL selectable field (hypertext or image link) on the web page using mouse <b>84</b>, and then actuating (clicking) one of the mouse buttons while entering a unique control key sequence (e.g., depressing the "ctrl" and "alt" keys of a typical keyboard). Selected URLs could be de-selected by repeating the same selection method on a link to a URL which has already been selected.

Once all desired links have been so specified, the user presses the "Enter" key on keyboard <b>82</b>, or clicks on an appropriate button displayed by browser window <b>110</b>. The browser software then opens as many sessions (sockets) as are needed to present the number of pages requested by the user, and concurrently fetches the requested pages. The number of additional windows opened could be N-1, where N is the number of links selected by the user via the special control key sequence, with the first newly selected page being retrieved into the original browser window <b>110</b>, or the number could be N, with the original page maintained in the original window, and a new window opened for each newly selected page, as shown in <b>Figures 5B-5C</b>.

<b>Figure 5B</b> depicts the selection of three links: "hypertext link 2" <b>112a</b>, "hypertext link 4" <b>112b</b>, and "hypertext link 5" <b>112c</b>. These links are displayed with boldface font in <b>Figure 5B</b> to indicate that they are visually highlighted for the user, but this highlighting can take other forms, such as displaying selected links in a different colour (e.g., a link is normally displayed in blue colour, but changes to purple colour when it has been selected for multi-link processing). When the user then hits the "Enter" key, three new windows <b>114a, 114b</b> and <b>114c</b> appear as shown in <b>Figure 5C,</b> which retrieve the pages (entitled "LINK 2," "LINK 4," and LINK 5") respectively associated with links <b>112a, 112b</b> and <b>112c</b>. While windows <b>114a, 114b</b> and <b>114c</b> are shown as less than the full size of monitor <b>30</b>, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these windows can also operate in a full-sized ("maximized") mode. Although text fields are shown in <b>Figure 5B</b> for the selected hypertext links, it is understood that the present invention can provide for the selection of multiple links wherein one or more of the links are also associated with graphic items (image fields).

The method of the present invention applies to both mouse selection and keyboard selection of links. For example, conventional browsers use the tab key to move between (focus on) hypertext links in a page. The present invention may be implemented in a novel browser which allows multi-link selection by entering a special keystroke after focusing on a link using the tab key, or by hitting the tab key in combination with other keys.

In an alternative implementation, the browser software of the present invention allows a user to enter a multi-link selection mode, using various techniques. For example, a special keystroke combination might be used to initiate the multi-link selection mode and, while this mode is in effect, clicking the mouse on any link (in an otherwise normal manner) will cause the link to be selected for eventual multi-link processing. Similarly, a special field or button in the browser may be used to switch the program into the multi-link selection mode, such as the "Multi-link" button <b>116</b> depicted in <b>Figures 5A-5D</b>. In this implementation, when the user first clicks on button <b>116</b>, the program enters the multi-link selection mode and, after the links have been selected, clicking on button <b>116</b> a second time results in the selected links being retrieved (if no links have been selected, then clicking on button <b>116</b> the second time will have no effect other than to disable the multi-link selection mode, i.e., return the browser to the direct link mode wherein clicking on a link immediately loads the single associated page).

In a variation of this embodiment, a small window or input box (not shown) can appear which records a list of the URLs selected while the browser is in multi-link selection mode. Selected URLs could be de-selected by deleting a line from the input box. This approach also allows a user to conveniently designate a URL for multi-link processing even when the URL is not present on the displayed web page, by directly entering the URL in the input box (i.e., using keyboard <b>82</b> to type the URL, or using the mouse to copy the URL from some other source and "paste" it into the input box).

The present invention contemplates other forms of multi-link processing besides simply opening the selected pages. <b>Figure 5D</b> depicts a further embodiment wherein selected links can be concurrently printed or downloaded as well. In this embodiment, a small window or pop-up menu <b>118</b> provides a means for specifying what type of multi-link processing is desired. In the previously described implementation using "Multi-link" button <b>116</b>, menu <b>118</b> might appear when the user clicks on button <b>116</b> the second time (after one or more links have been selected). The user then selects the appropriate menu item in menu <b>118</b> (using the mouse or keyboard), and the browser executes the requested type of processing.

Thus, if the "Print" item in menu <b>118</b> is selected, then the pages associated with all selected links will be retrieved and printed automatically (the browser may first present an additional window (not shown) that allows the user to enter various print options, such as the number of copies, print quality, etc.). Similarly, if the "Download" item in menu <b>118</b> is selected, then the pages associated with all selected links will be retrieved and saved on a designated storage device (e.g., a local hard disk, or a remote network disk drive). Printing and downloading may be carried out without opening the pages (creating the extra browser windows on monitor <b>30</b> and displaying the pages in the windows) in order to save system resources and speed up multi-link processing.

In the embodiment of <b>Figure 5D</b>, menu <b>118</b> is also provided with an "Options" item. This line may be selected to allow the user to specify various parameters for multi-link processing. For example, the user may desire to print only textual material in the pages associated with the selected links (that is, the user may wish to omit graphic images in the printout). Similarly, the user might want to download all files associated with a page, except for files of certain types, e.g., audio files. Another option could postpone multi-link processing until additional links had been selected from other pages. In other words, the user could selected one or more links from a first page, then indicate in the options parameters that other links were to be provided from other pages, which would allow the user to load these other pages and select additional links, so that a plurality of links from several different pages could be processed in one batch. This convenience allows the user to select a very large number of links, and then undertake some other task while all of those links are being processed.

All of the foregoing functions can be programmed directly into the browser. Alternatively (or additionally), the functions could be implemented using other indirect programming techniques that are supported by the browser. For example, many conventional browsers support Java (a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems) or Javascript (a scripting language developed by Netscape Communications and Sun Microsystems that can be used in conjunction with Java). Thus, a Java "applet" may be constructed to provide these functions.

The present invention accordingly provides an easy-to-use method for conveniently processing multiple requests from one or more pages, without having to backtrack to a page that contain multiple selections. A browser constructed in accordance with the present invention can retain the current behaviour and user interaction of conventional browsers, and provide this extended functionality without increasing the visual complexity of browser (or with only slight additions to the graphical interface). It also possesses the flexibility of achieving this functionality using either keyboard commands or pointer interactions.

The present invention has been explained in the context of a file system distributed over a network, but the invention is equally applicable to systems in which all (or a portion) of the files are maintained on a local storage medium.