Displaying content from multiple servers

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for integrating an on-line service community with a foreign service such as the Internet World Wide Web. To take advantage of the present invention, on-line service subscribers access a membership module to complete a membership process in which they join communities each of which represents a specific area of interest. The present invention operates as an extension to a user's preferred Web browser and is manifested as a toolbar comprised of control buttons and a viewer on a computer user's screen. By interacting with the control buttons of the toolbar and the menus of the viewer, on-line service content is delivered to the user in response to the URLs specified by the user as he or she browses the Web. In addition, control buttons on the toolbar present opportunities for interacting with other community members. Although the user may change URLs and Web sites frequently, the present invention maintains a context—via a persistent connection between a Community Server at the on-line service and a Community Client on the user's computer—for the user's interactions so that on-line service content may be presented and interactions with other community members facilitated. The benefit of the present invention for end-users is a transformation of the Web to a community.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 079,228 filed Feb. 20, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 455,652 filed Dec. 7, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,795 issued Aug. 13, 2002, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 135,694 filed Aug. 18, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,884 issued Feb. 1, 2000, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 745,294 filed Nov. 8, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,393 issued Aug. 18, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to systems for human-computer interaction. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for enhancing a computer user's Internet browsing experience by determining a user's preferences and facilitating the user's interaction with a community of users (community members) sharing similar preferences via community content annotations ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention—the Community Browser—enhances a user's on-line experience by enabling those with similar interests or shared circumstances to enjoy on-going social relations. Social relations in an on-line environment translate to both real-time interactive methods or options, such as chat and gaming, and static interaction methods, such as viewing annotations (e.g., threaded messaging) and shared bookmarks. The enabling technology of the Community Browser augments the available content on the Internet / Web that is accessed via a browser with interaction opportunities for on-line service members and for Community-created content by on-line service members. The on-line community environment is integrated with a user's browser so that messaging and interaction components of the on-line service are available while the user browses the Internet.

[0012] The Community Browser is a set of tools and capabilities that enable Web users to benefit from a focused view of the Web based on shared interest, an available group of people accessible for interactions, and a repository for relevant and pertinent information discovered while browsing or navigating the Web. The tools may be segmented into two groups: core components and interaction components. The core components enable a community to exist and are generally transparent to the user. Interaction components enable various capabilities and user interactions and facilitate the creation of community content by users.

[0013] The core components comprise a Community Server and a Community Client. The Community Server maintains communications with the Community Client which operates on the user's computer. Together the Community Server and Community Client notify the user of annotations by community members affiliated with whatever Web page (as identified by a particular URL) he or she happens upon. The Community Server serves requests from the Community Client by initiating sessions between the appropriate annotation components and the Community Client, thus enabling annotations to be created and interactions with community members to occur in conjunction with navigating the Web. The primary function of the Community Server is as a community communication hub for facilitating interaction with a community while the user's browser is running.

[0014] The Community Client serves primarily as an access mechanism to the community services, annotations, and interactions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is manifested as a toolbar on the user's computer screen when used in conjunction with a Web browser selected by the user. In another embodiment of the present invention, it may also be used independently of a Web browser. Toolbar options facilitate the user's community interaction options by, for example, allowing the user to access a Web page for the community or initiate a chat session with another community member.

[0020] Voting enables community managers and members to understand the temperament of the community based on input gathered through voting. There are two types of voting. (1) Votes may be registered for or against community bookmarks, thus creating a community rating system for the bookmarks. (2) A real-time polling mechanism enables community managers to ask questions and get immediate feedback from the community members while on-line.

[0021] The present invention allows Web users to form on-line relationships with Community members, to communicate with others of similar interest or backgrounds, and to view Community content. The Communities of the present invention may serve as a starting or focal point for Web navigating. The present invention provides a structure for a Web experience and helps users avoid being overwhelmed or overloaded by the complexity of the Web. The features and benefits of the present invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Problems solved by technology

Few, if any opportunities for interacting with others are presented to Web users.

What is further confusing to many computer users is the fact that they must learn and use different user interface software for interacting with or navigating / browsing the information service (i.e., information service communication software) than they use for interacting with or navigating / browsing the Web.

Users' on-line experiences are compromised because they must switch between applications to access information service content and then Internet / Web content.

Images