U.S. patent application number 14/549883 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for click-to-add, jot-it-down, and add banner.
The applicant listed for this patent is FACEBOOK, INC.. Invention is credited to TONY ESPINOZA, DEBRA LAVOY, BEN QUIGLEY, DAVE SOBOTKA, MIKE SUGARBAKER, MARY WOLF.
Application Number | 20150082185 14/549883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21741949 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150082185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ESPINOZA; TONY ; et
al. |
March 19, 2015 |
CLICK-TO-ADD, JOT-IT-DOWN, AND ADD BANNER
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided that allows a user to
automatically add content, such as an event, to a container, such
as, a calendar without directly accessing the container. Second and
third preferred embodiments are also provided.
Inventors: |
ESPINOZA; TONY; (San
Francisco, CA) ; LAVOY; DEBRA; (San Jose, CA)
; QUIGLEY; BEN; (Burlingame, CA) ; SOBOTKA;
DAVE; (Redwood City, CA) ; SUGARBAKER; MIKE;
(Oakland, CA) ; WOLF; MARY; (Oak Hill,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FACEBOOK, INC. |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
21741949 |
Appl. No.: |
14/549883 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13618470 |
Sep 14, 2012 |
8924860 |
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14549883 |
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12576883 |
Oct 9, 2009 |
8327275 |
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13618470 |
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10415720 |
Nov 12, 2003 |
7627830 |
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PCT/US00/30099 |
Oct 31, 2000 |
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12576883 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/744 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04842 20130101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101; G06F 3/04812 20130101; G06F 3/04847 20130101;
G06Q 10/109 20130101; G06Q 30/0277 20130101; G06Q 10/1093 20130101;
Y10S 715/963 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/744 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G06F 3/0481 20060101 G06F003/0481 |
Claims
1. A method for a first party to capture information from an
information source and to store said information in a container,
comprising the steps of: providing a tool for a second party to
generate an insert for said first party, said insert associated
with said capturable information and said information source; said
first party interacting with said insert, when said first party
desires said capturable information to be stored in said container;
said insert actuating adding said capturable information to said
container, upon said insert interaction; providing a success
indicator to said first party, thereby indicating success in adding
said capturable information to said container; and providing
options associated with said success indicator to said first party,
said options comprising, but are not limited to, said first party
interacting with said container.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said first party is an end-user;
said capturable information is embedded in a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL); said information source is a World Wide Web (Web)
page; said second party is a webmaster, or the like; said insert is
in HTML format and resides on said Web page, said insert HTML
incorporating said URL; and said end-user interacts with said
insert by selecting said insert by, but not limited to, clicking a
mouse pointer on said insert.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said success indicator is a GUI
window, said GUI window indicating that said capturable information
is added successfully to said container.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said provided options associated
with said success indicator comprise, but are not limited to, a
first option directing said end-user to said container, and a
default option, wherein said end-user remains at said Web page.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is any of, but is
not limited to: an online address book; an online calendar; an
online appointment book; and an online container for discount
coupons.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturable information
comprises, but is not limited to: text; images; and hyperlinks.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturable information
comprises a link to said Web page.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein a correlation exists between said
capturable information and said container.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for said first
party to add personal information to said capturable
information.
10. An apparatus for a first party to capture information from an
information source and to store said information in a container,
comprising: a tool for a second party to generate an insert for
said first party, said insert associated with said capturable
information and said information source; means for a first party
interacting with said insert, when said first party desires said
capturable information to be stored in said container; means for
said insert actuating adding said capturable information to said
container, upon said insert interaction; a success indicator for
displaying to said first party, thereby indicating success in
adding said capturable information to said container; and options
associated with said success indicator to said first party, said
options comprising, but are not limited to, said first party
interacting with said container.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said first party is an
end-user; said capturable information is embedded in a Uniform
Resource Locator (URL); said information source is a World Wide Web
(Web) page; said second party is a webmaster, or the like; said
insert is in HTML format and resides on said Web page, said insert
HTML incorporating said URL; and said end-user interacts with said
insert by selecting said insert by, but not limited to, clicking a
mouse pointer on said insert.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said success indicator is a
GUI window, said GUI window indicating that said capturable
information is added successfully to said container.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said options associated with
said success indicator comprise, but are not limited to, a first
option directing said end-user to said container, and a default
option, wherein said end-user remains at said Web page.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said container is any of,
but is not limited to: an online address book; an online calendar;
an online appointment book; and an online container for discount
coupons.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said capturable information
comprises, but is not limited to: text; images; and hyperlinks.
16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said capturable information
comprises a link to said Web page.
17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a correlation exists between
said capturable information and said container.
18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for said
first party to add personal information to said capturable
information.
19. A method for incorporating an adding actuating insert into a
Web page, wherein said adding actuating insert facilitates
gathering information on said Web page and adding said information
to an associated container, comprising the steps of: obtaining an
account identifier from an account manager, such that any
subsequent use of said insert is tracked; accessing an online tool
on the World Wide Web; filling in predetermined fields of said
tool; creating a resulting Uniform Resource Locator (URL), wherein
said URL is associated with said insert on said Web page; and
incorporating said URL into said Web page.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said identifier is a business
partner identifier used to identify and track effectiveness of a
business promotion, said promotion associated with said
information.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/618,470, filed Sep. 14, 2012, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/576,883, filed Oct. 9, 2009, now
issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,327,275, which is a divisional of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/415,720, filed Nov. 12, 2003, now issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,830, which is a 371 National Stage Entry of
PCT/US00/30099, filed Oct. 31, 2000. The entire contents of the
foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to gathering information and
putting the information into associated containers. More
particularly, the present invention relates to gathering
information from an information source, such as, for example, a Web
page, and storing the information in an associated online
container, such as, for example, an online calendar, for the
convenience of an end-user.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] As more and more people use the Internet to attain
information relevant to their lives, more Internet tools and
utilities are created for such users to help them be better
organized. More specifically, Web features of Web products have
been created that link with other features of Web products. For
example, the generic online address book application operates in
this fashion. To wit, a user opens an email letter sent to him or
her within a particular email application. At that point, the user
is provided the opportunity to add the sender's email address to
that application's online address book that belongs to the
user.
[0006] Yahoo! Inc., (Yahoo!) has an online package of applications
comprising, for example, a calendar and a bookmarking application.
A user can enter event dates and appointments in the calendar, and
can enter links to particular Web pages in Yahoo! Bookmarks.
[0007] Similarly, 1calendar.com provides an application that
calendar-enables a user's events and contact listings. A user can
add events or contacts to his or her calendar/addressbook with a
single click. 1calendar teaches encoding the required data once,
and 1calendar translates it into the required code for each user's
favorite application.
[0008] L. A. Lisle; S. L. Martin, and J. M. Mullaly, Data
processing system for automatic storage of objects of an object
type within a logical containment system and method therefore, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,104,394 (Aug. 15, 2000) discloses a data processing
system, software program and method that effectively and
intuitively display a storage space of a data processing system to
an end-user to allow the end-user to create a filing system which
has an easily usable interface. In implementing this methodology,
the user is allowed to simply request that all objects within an
entire file system of a data processing system be placed in a
logical container. A user sets the parameters for defining the
desired characteristics of each of the objects stored within the
logical container. Thus, a user is able to organize representations
of desired objects in various storage locations without requiring
extra steps by a user or excess memory. Furthermore, the contents
of a logical container are dynamically updated in real-time to
ensure that the filed information is current and accurate. The
ability of a user to modify the containment settings and to have
such modifications immediately reflected in the logical container
rendered on a display device allows a user great flexibility in
obtaining a desired graphical user interface.
[0009] All of the prior art to date is limited by a specific system
environment. For example, Yahoo!'s linkages are all performed
within, that is, are limited by, the Yahoo! Community. 1calendar is
limited by Web calendars.
[0010] It would be advantageous to advance the level of and improve
online services provided on the Web by providing functionality on
the Web that allows a user to gather content from one Web
information source, such as, for example, a Web page, and add the
information to any online container of a corresponding type, such
as, for example, a calendar, an address book, a shopping list, and
the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A method and apparatus is provided that allows a user to
automatically add content, such as an event, to a container, such
as, a calendar with a single mouse click, and without directly
accessing the container. In a second embodiment, the user opens a
dialog box to automatically add personalized information, such as
an appointment, to the container, such as the calendar, without
entering the calendar application. In a third embodiment, an
advertisement banner having an associated entity, such as, for
example, an electronic coupon, scrolls horizontally across a Web
page, and when the user clicks on the entity on the banner, a copy
of the entity is placed in the user's associated container, such
as, for example, a shopping list, without the user having to click
to the container's site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram from a user's perspective,
according to the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 2a and 2b are screen prints of the tool, according to
a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a screen print of an appointment corresponding to
entries in the tool in FIGS. 2a and 2b, according to the invention;
and
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of the use of the Jot-it-Down
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A method and apparatus is provided that allows a user to
automatically add content, such as an event, to a container, such
as, a calendar with a single mouse click, and without directly
accessing the container. In a second embodiment, the user opens a
dialog box to automatically add personalized information, such as
an appointment, to the container, such as the calendar, without
entering the calendar application. In a third embodiment, an
advertisement banner having an associated entity, such as, for
example, an electronic coupon, scrolls horizontally across a Web
page, and when the user clicks on the entity on the banner, a copy
of the entity is placed in the user's associated container, such
as, for example, a shopping list, without the user having to click
to the container's site.
[0017] It is noted herein that in the appropriate context, the
terms, link, insert, and logo are used interchangeably.
[0018] In the first preferred embodiment, a click-to-add invention
makes it easy for channels, brands, partners, and individuals to
integrate with a generic container application, such as, for
example, a calendar application. From a user's perspective, the
click-to-add invention taught herein allows the user to easily,
quickly, and without disruption add content information, such as,
for example, dates and events from World Wide Web (Web) sites to
the user's container, such as, for example, a calendar. From
channels', brands', and partners' perspectives, the invention
herein is a valuable promotional tool. The invention makes channel,
brand, partner, and an individual's content more relevant to the
user, and encourages traffic to be driven or directed from the
container application to the channel's, brand's, partner's, and
individual's respective Web sites.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of an implementation from a
user's perspective, according to the invention. In one preferred
embodiment, a partner has placed a click-to-add link or insert
beside an event on a page on their Web site. At some later point in
time, a user clicks on the event (1), and the event is added to the
user's personal calendar. A small success message (2) is displayed
subsequently and provides the user an option to link to the
personal calendar, from wherein the user can open the added event
(3). A link back to the partner's site from the added event is
provided according to the invention, and is shown in the magnified
image.
[0020] It is noted that in the preferred embodiment, channels,
brands, partners, and individuals can add text, images, or
hyperlinks but are by no means limited to these common programming
objects. Specifically, in one embodiment, a More Info section is
suggested as a conventional place within which to add the
programming objects cited herein above.
EXAMPLE 1
[0021] Again, referring to FIG. 1, a user clicks on a click-to-add
insert (1). The event is added to the user's calendar and a small
success message pops up in the upper left hand corner of an
election guide page (2). The user stays within the election guide
page, but has the option to go to the calendar. When the user
chooses to go to the calendar, the user sees the event, as well as
a link, such as in the More Info section, that serves the purpose
of driving or directing the user back into the content, i.e. the
election guide page.
[0022] It is noted that implementing the click-to-add invention
claimed herein on a Web site is easy, and comprises four main
steps. The four steps are requesting a click-to-add partner
identifier (ID) from an appropriate account manager; going to a
proprietary Web site to access a tool for creating an insert, also
referred to herein as a link, when creating one link at a time;
filling in the fields of the tool; and publishing the link, or the
insert. For producing a relatively large quantity of links at a
time, an alternative embodiment is taught herein below.
[0023] In the preferred embodiment, the ID is used to identify and
track the effectiveness of click-to-add promotions.
[0024] In the preferred embodiment, the tool provides an option to
create links for Web pages that are not proprietary Web pages, i.e.
that are business partners' Web pages, and the tool provides an
option to create links for proprietary Web pages, such as, for
example, America OnLine Web pages.
[0025] FIGS. 2a and 2b are screen prints of the tool, according to
a preferred embodiment of the invention. The first category of
fields comprises a click-to-add ID 201 and a choice of two options:
full service 202 or link only 203. The full service option 202
allows the user to enter more detailed content information, while
the link only option 203 only allows the user to enter link
information. Following is a second category of information,
comprising the various entry fields: title 204; date 205; time 206;
untimed event 207; and duration 208. Following is a third category
of information, comprising the main HTML block: the image source
field 209 which is for a full, published entered URL and wherein
referenced images must be 50.times.50 pixels; an event description
field 210; an entry field for the text for a first link 211; an
entry field for the source URL of the first link 212; an entry
field for the text for a second link 213; and an entry field for
the source URL of the second link 214.
[0026] Following is a fourth category comprising an initiator,
specifically, a click-to-add link button 215, for publishing the
insert, or URL, according to the invention. Following is a fifth
category comprising an output text field 216, specifically showing
the resulting URL according to the invention. Herein below is a
more detailed description of a preferred embodiment the tool.
Detail Description of Fields of an Implementation of a Preferred
Embodiment of the Tool
[0027] Title. Names the title of an associated event. It is
preferred to be unique and descriptive to avoid being out of
context the next time a viewer reads or sees it. This is a required
field. Example: 8 p.m. ET: Season Finale of "XXXXX," on XYZ.
[0028] Time. It is noted that while in the preferred embodiment,
times are not translated for different time zones, the
functionality to translate for different time zones is an
improvement within the scope of the invention. If an event is
national, or is expected to be viewed in different time zones at
the same time, for example, the World Series game airing, the event
is marked as an untimed event. The associated time and time zones
are added to the title field. For example, the title field could
read, Live World Series game airing at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. This is
not a required field.
[0029] Date. The event is added to users' calendars on this date.
This is a required field.
[0030] Duration. Add the duration in this field if the duration of
the event is known. If the duration is not known, this field is
left blank.
[0031] Event Description. Text description of the event is added
here.
[0032] Image. A selected image on a Web site or any other image
that can be referenced on the appointment page is added here. The
image is 50.times.50 pixels and is published somewhere on the Web
site where it going to stay for some time to avoid users
referencing broken images on an appointments page, for example.
[0033] Create Links. The first link field is for containing a link
to a page where a user can find more useful or additional
information. The second link field comprises text that will be
hyper-linked to this useful page with more or additional
information. It is preferred that the link be descriptive of the
page to which it links.
[0034] Submit, Test, and Output. After all of the desired
information is entered, the information is submitted. An "Add this
to My Calendar" link is displayed. A user can click on this link to
preview and test how the link works. The process is iterative. That
is, if the link does not display all of the information in an
appointment as intended, then return to the tool and edit the
information, resubmit once again, and retest the link. When the
test is satisfactory, the HTML code that is displayed in an Output
field is ready for publishing on the Web site.
EXAMPLE 2
[0035] It is noted that in the preferred embodiment, fields in the
tool used to create the links and inserts correspond simply to
fields in the container. For example, fields in a click-to-add link
correspond simply to fields in an appointment.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a screen print of an appointment information page
corresponding to entries in the tool in FIGS. 2a and 2b, according
to an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the invention. A
first section shows corresponding fields Title 304, Date 205, Time
206, Duration 208, and, the first link, Click Here for More Info
311. The appointment page allows a wide variety of other
functionality and options, such as, for example, a Tell a Friend
section wherein a user can type in email addresses or screen names
in a box 320.
[0037] Publishing the Insert or Link.
[0038] The preferred embodiment allows for a wide variety of means
for publishing the insert or link. Listed below are suggested
examples, but the invention is by no means limited to such
suggested examples: [0039] Give the link or insert to the webmaster
of the Web page containing the content; [0040] Highlight the HTML
code in the Output field, copy it, and give the copied HTML code to
the webmaster to publish on the Web site; and [0041] Have users
embed the HTML code in the Web page as follows: [0042] Highlight
the HTML code in the Output field; [0043] Copy the HTML code;
[0044] Paste the insert or link beside or underneath a promotion
for an event on the user's HTML page; and [0045] Publish the page
on the Web site, and be ready to have end-users add the event to
their calendars.
[0046] An Important Note About Inserting.
[0047] In the preferred embodiment, when placing links or inserts
on a channel, brand, or partner page, the links or inserts are
required to be faithful to the proprietor's brand. Following in
Table A is an example displaying two options for placing
click-to-add inserts behind a calendar logo. It is appreciated that
the example is by no means limited to the container being a
calendar.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A Option A: Option B: Create a Key and Single
Calendar Logos Skip the Key, Create All-In-One Logo/Links The key
explains what the single logos are and The button itself explains
the feature and what they do. displays the Calendar logo. Example
of the Key: Example of the Button: Add these appointments to My
Calendar_ by Add this to My Calendar clicking the . Place this
beside or under events to be added This should appear at the top or
bottom of any to Calendars. page that carries the Calendar button.
Place the Calendar buttons (that the key describes) beside or under
events to be added to Calendars. The button would look like
this.
[0048] It is noted that in an implementation of a preferred
embodiment, the Full Service option available in the click-to-add
(CTA) tool creates a small chunk of HTML that includes the CTA
link, as well as the My Calendar logo.
[0049] Technical Guidelines for Producing Dynamic Container-Ready
Links.
[0050] In the preferred embodiment, if a lot of published links or
inserts are desired on a particular Web site that may be
impractical to create with the publishing tool cited herein above,
the following information is given to a software engineer to use to
create the claimed links or inserts for any and every event on the
Web site in an automatic fashion.
[0051] It is noted that the project described herein is by no means
limited to the click-to-add embodiment, but can be applied in a
much broader context without deviating from the scope and spirit of
the invention.
[0052] Description of Click-to-Add Projects.
[0053] The channel, brand, partner, or individual must pass URLs to
a container, such as, a calendar in order to allow users to access
the content, such as, for example, scheduling appointments in
personal calendars. No matter how these URLs are generated on a
page, they must be constructed in a particular manner, described
herein below in the section entitled, Parameters for Created
URLs.
[0054] Starting a Click-to-Add Project.
[0055] The preferred embodiment comprises the steps herein below:
[0056] Design a Click-to-Add program, such as where inserts appear
on the Web site, what information they will contain, and the like;
[0057] Request a partner id number; [0058] If added appointments
are of a specific type exclusively, ask for a type ID number; and
[0059] Follow the parameters according to predetermined
construction, such as those within this document, to create the
links or inserts on the Web site.
[0060] Parameters for Created URLs.
[0061] In the preferred embodiment, the claimed URLs, such as, for
example, the CTA URLs must conform to a specific construction in
order for the data therein to pass properly to the intended
containers, such as, for example, personal calendars. Total
character length of the URLs should not exceed 1000 characters.
URLs greater in length may be truncated.
[0062] A list of required URL elements in an implementation of a
preferred embodiment are as follows in Table B.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE B 1. DNS Root: http://calendar.aol.com/cgi-
bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+XA?_W=CTA; 2. Partner ID: _ID=n, wherein n is a
specific identification number. It is noted that if these links are
to be published on Rainman pages, then n must be preceded by 0.
That is, the parameter is required to read, _ID=0n, wherein n is
the partner identification number given. Otherwise, if the links
are going to be simply on HTML pages, then do not precede the
partner ID number with 0; 3. Date: _D=MM/DD/YYYY, wherein if month
or day is a single digit, precede with a zero; 4. Time: Use either
a or b herein below: a._H=HH&_M=MM, if the event takes place at
a specific time, or b._H=NT, if the event does not occur at a
specific time during the day, or if the time of day is put in the
title as text; 5. Event Type: _ET= <event type>; 6. Title:
_T=<text>, wherein up to 60 characters is recommended, and
the entire URL must be equal to or less than 1000 characters; 7.
Information: _I= <text>, wherein up to 525 characters
recommended. It is important that the information goes last, so
that if the URL is over 1000 characters, then something in the
information will be cut short rather than a piece of the URL that
is actually essential for the link to work. Optional Fields 8.
Duration Hour: _DH=; and 9. Duration Minute: _DM=;
[0063] It is noted that the URLs are constructed using these items,
and that each should be separated by an "&". See example herein
below. The URLs should be constructed in the order shown above,
each current one appended to the last.
[0064] The following is also noted:
[0065] 1. Do not put targets in URLs;
[0066] 2. Certain characters do not work in URLs. For instance, a
URL cannot contain spaces. Substitutes must be used for these types
of characters. Following is a sample list of suggested
substitutes.
TABLE-US-00003 Spaces %20 or + Colons %3A Commas %2C # %23
Semicolon %3B $ %24 % %25 ! %21 & %26 ( %28 ) %29 ? %3F " %22
< %3C > %3E Line Break %20 (See next section, Section 4.)
[0067] 3. The character % OD occurs when line breaks are escaped in
links. This character breaks CTA links, therefore, it is
recommended to avoid this character in links.
[0068] Optional: Allowing Users to Generate Some of the Information
for CTA Links.
[0069] In another preferred embodiment, partners choose to allow
users to generate some of the information created in the links and
inserts, such as, for example, the click-to-add links.
[0070] While allowing users to generate some of the information in
the link is an exciting application of invention, such as, for
example, the click-to-add embodiment, there is nevertheless an
important item with which to be careful. That is, when users insert
line breaks into a field, such as, for example, an Event
Description or any other field, most scripts will transform the
line break into a default character in the resulting URL. The
default character typically is % OD.
[0071] The % OD character breaks links, such as, for example, the
claimed click-to-add links. Therefore, when implementing the
interactive CTA feature comprising the functionality to incorporate
user input, either the user is prohibited to enter line breaks in
the fields via, for example, a pop-up that reminds the user to
remove line breaks, or by overriding the % OD character with some
other character or set of characters in the resulting CTA link,
such as, for example, % 20, which is a space.
[0072] More on Programming Information into Added Appointments.
[0073] In the preferred embodiment, regular text or HTML text can
be placed into a Notes field of the claimed URL, following
substitution rules, such as, for example, those cited herein above.
Following is an example of guidelines for an implementation of a
preferred embodiment. [0074] Plain or HTML text information is
displayed in a More Info field just below the title on added
appointments. HTML text can include links back to the Web site.
Referenced images are no larger than 50.times.50 pixels in size. An
example of such HTML text is provided in a sample URL herein below;
[0075] The More Info field is restricted to 60 pixels in height and
265 pixels in width; [0076] HTML characters, such as, for example,
< and > should be escaped in the URL according to the
characters cited herein above; and [0077] All <open> commands
must be </closed>, except for <br>, <img src>,
and <p>. Any <open> commands that are not closed will
cause the URL to be truncated just before the unclosed <open>
command.
[0078] Example of Created URL.
[0079] Herein below in Table B is a sample URL according to the
invention, and constructed with the following information embedded
in it.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE B Event Details Title: One Wild and Crazy
Netscape Event Date: 12/31/00 Time: 11:30pm Duration: 1 hour
Partner ID Number: 15 More Information Details Image:
http://home.netscape.com/images/nc_ha_AIM30.gif Text for event
description: This is going to be one wild and crazy Netscape event.
You will not want to miss it! Text for a link: Click here for more
Netscape information. Link back to partner site:
http://www.netscape.com\ Sample URL Following is the URL created by
inputting the above event information into the claimed tool:
http://calendar.aol.com/cgi- bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+XA? W=CTA&
ET=0& ID=15& D=12/31/2000& H= 23& M=30&
DH=1& DM=00& T=One+Wild+and+Crazy+Event& I=%3C
table+border%3D0%3E%3Ctr+valign%3Dtop%3E%3Ctd%3E%3Cimg+src
%3Dhttp%3A//home.netscape.com/images/nc ha AIM30.gif+height%3D50+
width%3D50+alt%3D%22%22%3E%3C/td%3E%3Ctd%3E%3Cfont+size
%3D1+face%3DArial%3EThis+is+going+to+be+one+wild+and+crazy+
Netscape+event.++You+will+not+want+to+miss+
it%21%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca+
href%3Dhttp%3A//www.netscape.com%3EClick+here+for+more+
Netscape+information.%3C/a%3E%3C/font%3E%3C/td%3E%3C/tr%3E%
3C/table%3E
[0080] Embedded within the URL link herein above is the event
information and the More Information in an HTML format for display
in an added appointment. The HTML tags are escaped in order to pass
to the calendar in the URL.
[0081] It is noted that the claimed URL herein, as sampled herein
above, instead of taking a user away to another Web site or Web
page, the URL adds value to a client's product, because from the
client's end-user's perspective, the URL serves to add the client's
information into the user's container.
[0082] It is noted that the claimed invention herein provides a way
for end-users to collect information of a certain type into the
end-users' particular container.
[0083] Jot-it-Down.
[0084] Jot-it-Down is a second preferred embodiment of the
invention. Jot-it-Down behaves as a dynamic click-to-add. That is,
the claimed URL is created dynamically.
[0085] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of the use of the Jot-it-Down
embodiment. A user clicks the Jot-it-Down link from a Web page 400
and a pop up window 401 opens. The pop up window comprises input
fields (402-405) for the user to input information. Examples of
such input fields are title, date, time, and notes. After the user
enters the desired information, including notes, the user then
closes the Jot-it-Down pop up window. Shortly thereafter, a success
window 406 opens stating that the user-entered information has been
successfully added to the desired container and providing the user
with two options (407 and 408). The first option is the user closes
the success window and defaults to remaining at the Web page 400.
The second option is from the success window, the user links to the
container.
[0086] An application of the Jot-it-Down (JID) embodiment of the
invention is a company decides what information is put in the pop
up JID window. Then, when the employee clicks on the JID link, the
predetermined information by the company is put into the employee's
container.
[0087] Add Banner. Add Banner is a third preferred embodiment of
the invention. An advertisement banner having an associated entity,
such as, for example, an electronic coupon scrolls horizontally
across a Web page, and when the user clicks on the entity on the
banner a copy of the entity is placed in the user's associated
container, such as, for example, a shopping list, without the user
having to click to the container's site. It is noted that clicking
the link on the banner puts the entity in the user's entity
container. From a technical perspective, functionality is added to
Add Banner.
[0088] In the preferred embodiment, the Add Banner feature also
provides a success window the use thereof results in two options
for the user. The first option is the user closes the success
window and remains on the current Web page. The second option is
the user links from the success window to the appropriate
container.
[0089] An example of a container in the Add Banner embodiment of
the invention is a shopping list. In this example, the user's
workflow is not disrupted, because the user has the option to
click-to-add a desired coupon to the user's shopping list, instead
of the user having to link to the corresponding merchant's Web
site.
[0090] It is noted that all three significant preferred embodiments
of the invention provide a success indicator, which comprises, but
is not limited to, a first option directing the end-user to a
container, and a default option, wherein the end-user remains at
the original information source, such as, for example, a Web
page.
[0091] It is noted that there are four typical types of users:
[0092] Internal partner; [0093] external partners; [0094] any
product; and [0095] any individual.
[0096] It is noted that the use of the invention claimed herein
provides an important advantage to the user in that it does not
disrupt the user's workflow.
[0097] It is noted that the invention provides a link for the user
from the container to the original information source, such as, for
example, an original Web page or Web page corresponding to an
entity, such as, for example, a coupon in the Add Banner
embodiment.
[0098] It is noted that beyond the standard links and logos, a wide
variety of implementation options of the invention herein is
possible as well as practical.
[0099] Accordingly, although the invention has been described in
detail with reference to particular preferred embodiments, persons
possessing ordinary skill in the art to which this invention
pertains will appreciate that various modifications and
enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the claims that follow.
* * * * *
References