Method and Apparatus for Consolidating Network Information

Abstract

A method and apparatus for consolidating network information, in some cases for use as a start/portal page. The invention provides means for “framing” Internet content, as well as creating links on the fly, to a single web-page that can be accessed by a single user, or by a set of users in a cooperative relationship with each other.

1 . A computer-implemented method of adding an indicator of network-accessible information to a network-accessible display page, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing, by a server computer, via the internet, the contents of at least one display page, wherein:
 i. said display page is displayed in a network browser window; 
 ii. said display page is accessible via a uniform resource locator; 
 iii. said display page contains a plurality of links to internet web sites; 
 iv. at least one link presented on said display page can be automatically added using instructions sent over the internet from an internet browser; and 
 v. the contents of said display page are stored on computer readable storage media accessible to said server computer at a first network location; 
   b. providing first computer instructions wherein:
 i. said first computer instructions are provided via the internet, to a client computer at a network location distinct from said first network location; 
 ii. said first computer instructions can be associated with a network browser window; 
 iii. said first computer instructions can be invoked by user action on a a network browser window; 
 iv.—when invoked, said first computer instructions cause information in a pre-specified format to be sent over the internet to a server computer at a server network address specified by said first computer instructions, said information comprising:
 A) information sufficient to identify the network address of the web page currently displayed in the browser window associated with said first computer instructions, wherein said web page is served from a network location distinct from said first network location wherein said web page is not a display page of step (a); and 
 B) information sufficient to identify a display page of step (ai), said display page not comprising said web page of step (b)(iv)(A); and 
 
   c. executing second computer instructions different from said first computer instructions, wherein:
 i. said second computer instructions are executed after receipt of said information of step (b)(iv) via a computer network by a server computer at said server network address of step (b)(iv); 
 ii. when said second computer instructions are executed on said server computer, said server computer can access the computer readable storage media of step (a); and 
 iii. when a computer executing said second computer instructions receives, via the internet, input information in the pre-specified format of step (b), the contents of the specified display page are modified to include a link to the network address of the page being browsed in step (b)(iv)(A); and 
   d) providing, via the internet to a client computer different from that of step (b)(i), a modified display page that includes the link added to said display page as a result of steps (a)-(c).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises modifying the contents of the specified display page to include a location for display of the link to the network address of the page being browsed in step (b). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said display page comprises information stored on a plurality of network servers located at a plurality of network addresses. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said added link comprises graphical information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information of step (d) comprises the user's opinion about the web page being displayed in the browser window of step (b)(iv)(A). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein links displayed on said display page as a result of action by different users are distinguished on said display page by differences unique to each user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user of a client computer the ability to change the specific screen location at which said link is displayed on said display page, while said user is viewing said display page via the internet on said client computer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information of step (b) includes additional user-supplied information related to said web page; and wherein said additional information is used in step (c) to modify the contents of said display page. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising modifying the contents of said display page such that it includes visual cues that distinguish additional user-supplied information contributed by different users. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising information about the number of times step (b)(iv) was invoked for specific web content by distinct users. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying said information on a web page. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on an additional web page, information about the selection of web content by a user invoking step (b)(iv). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said information includes a link to a display page associated with said user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user action comprises a single mouse click. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said network browser window of step (b) (iii) comprises a toolbar. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein additional user activity related to said web page of step (b) contributes information to said display page. 
     
     
         17 . A computer system that adds an indicator of network-accessible information to a network-accessible display page, comprising at least one computer and one computer-implemented program that:
 a. provides, by a server computer, via the internet, the contents of at least one display page, wherein:
 i. said display page is displayed in a network browser window; 
 ii. said display page is accessible via a uniform resource locator; 
 iii. said display page contains a plurality of links to internet web sites; 
 iv. at least one link presented on said display page can be automatically added using instructions sent over the internet from an internet browser; and 
 v. the contents of said display page are stored on computer readable storage media accessible to said server computer at a first network location; 
   b. provides first computer instructions wherein:
 i. said first computer instructions are provided via the internet, to a client computer at a network location distinct from said first network location; 
 ii. said first computer instructions can be associated with a network  982  browser window; 
 iii. said first computer instructions can be invoked by user action on a a network browser window; 
 iv.—when invoked, said first computer instructions cause information in a pre-specified format to be sent over the internet to a server computer at a server network address specified by said first computer instructions, said information comprising:
 A) information sufficient to identify the network address of the web page currently displayed in the browser window associated with said first computer instructions, wherein said web page is served from a network location distinct from said first network location wherein said web page is not a display page of step (a); and 
 B) information sufficient to identify a display page of step (ai), said display page not comprising said web page of step (b)(iv)(A); and 
 
   c. executes second computer instructions different from said first computer instructions, wherein:
 i. said second computer instructions are executed after receipt of said information of step (b)(iv) via a computer network by a server computer at said server network address of step (b)(iv); 
 ii. when said second computer instructions are executed on said server computer, said server computer can access the computer readable storage media of step (a); and 
 iii. when a computer executing said second computer instructions receives, via the internet, input information in the pre-specified format of step (b), the contents of the specified display page are modified to include a link to the network address of the page being browsed in step (b)(iv)(A); and 
   d) provides, via the internet to a client computer different from that of step (b)(i), a modified display page that includes the link added to said display page as a result of steps (a)-(c).   
     
     
         18 . Computer readable media containing computer instructions to add an indicator of network-accessible information to a network-accessible display page, that when executed by a computer system:
 a. provide, by a server computer, via the internet, the contents of at least one display page, wherein:
 i. said display page is displayed in a network browser window; 
 ii. said display page is accessible via a uniform resource locator; 
 iii. said display page contains a plurality of links to internet web sites; 
 iv. at least one link presented on said display page can be automatically added using instructions sent over the internet from an internet browser; and 
 v. the contents of said display page are stored on computer readable storage media accessible to said server computer at a first network location; 
   b. provide first computer instructions wherein:
 i. said first computer instructions are provided via the internet, to a client computer at a network location distinct from said first network location; 
 ii. said first computer instructions can be associated with a network browser window; 
 iii. said first computer instructions can be invoked by user action on a a network browser window; 
 iv.—when invoked, said first computer instructions cause information in a pre-specified format to be sent over the internet to a server computer at a server network address specified by said first computer instructions, said information comprising:
 A) information sufficient to identify the network address of the web page currently displayed in the browser window associated with said first computer instructions, wherein said web page is served from a network location distinct from said first network location wherein said web page is not a display page of step (a); and 
 B) information sufficient to identify a display page of step (ai), said display page not comprising said web page of step (b)(iv)(A); and 
 
   c. execute second computer instructions different from said first computer instructions, wherein:
 i. said second computer instructions are executed after receipt of said information of step (b)(iv) via a computer network by a server computer at said server network address of step (b)(iv); 
 ii. when said second computer instructions are executed on said server computer, said server computer can access the computer readable storage media of step (a); and 
 iii. when a computer executing said second computer instructions receives, via the internet, input information in the pre-specified format of step (b), the contents of the specified display page are modified to include a link to the network address of the page being browsed in step (b)(iv)(A); and 
   d) provide, via the internet to a client computer different from that of step (b)(i), a modified display page that includes the link added to said display page as a result of steps (a)-(c).