EP0834853A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for presenting client side image maps
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed that provide enhancements to client-side image maps in HTML based documents. These enhancements provide audio feedback to a user of a HTML capable application as to the hyperlinks associated with an area in an image. These enhancements also provide a visual representation of the areas defined by a client-side image map when the image is not available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A computer controlled method for enhancing human-computer interactions
comprising steps of: (a) detecting an image map associated with an image, said image map having an
audio attribute associated with a selectable area of said image; (b) detecting a preselection condition on said selectable area within said image; and (c) presenting a first sound associated with said audio attribute through a sound
production facility.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises: (b1) detecting a hit condition on a relevant active area of said image; and (b2) detecting existence of said hit condition for longer than a period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer controlled method of claim 2 wherein said hit condition exists when
activation of a cursor will cause selection of said relevant active area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein said audio attribute is a string
defined within said image map.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer controlled method of claim 4 wherein step (c) further comprises
processing said string by a speech synthesis facility to create said first sound
representing said string through said sound production facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer controlled method of claim I wherein said audio attribute is a
reference to sound data, said reference defined within said image map.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer controlled method of claim 6 wherein step (c) further compnses
playing said sound data using said sound production facility to create said first
sound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer controlled method of claim 6 wherein step (a) further comprises
loading said sound data into a memory using said reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer controlled method of claim 8 wherein step (c) further comprises: (c1) detecting unavailability of said sound data in said memory; and (c2) presenting an error sound through said sound production facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer controlled method of claim 9 wherein step (c) further comprises: (c3) detecting availability of said sound data in said memory; (c4) terminating presentation of said error sound; and (c5) playing said sound data through said sound production facility to create said first
sound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
An information display system for enhancing human-computer interactions
comprising: an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image, said image map having an audio attribute associated
with a selectable area of said image; a preselection condition detection mechanism configured to detect a preselection
condition on said selectable area within said image; and a sound presentation mechanism configured to present a first sound associated
with said audio attribute through a sound production facility upon detection of
said preselection condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
An information display apparatus for enhancing human-computer interactions
having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and comprising: an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image, said image map having an audio attribute associated
with a selectable area of said image; a preselection condition detection mechanism configured to detect a preselection
condition on said selectable area within said image; and a sound presentation mechanism configured to present a first sound associated
with said audio attribute through a sound production facility upon detection of
said preselection condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The information display system of claim 11 or apparatus of claim 12
wherein the preselection condition detection mechanism further comprises: a hit detection mechanism configured to detect a hit condition on a relevant
active area of said image; and a delay completion mechanism configured to detect existence of said hit condition
for longer than a period of time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 13 wherein said hit
condition exists when activation of a cursor will cause selection of said
relevant active area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The information display system of claim 11 or apparatus of claim 12
wherein said audio attribute is a string defined within said image map.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 15 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises a speech synthesis facility
mechanism configured to process said string to create said first sound.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The information display system of claim 11 or apparatus of claim 12
wherein said audio attribute is a reference to sound data, said reference
defined within said image map.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 17 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises a play mechanism
configured to play said sound data using said sound production facility to
create said first sound.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 17 wherein the
image map detection mechanism further comprises a load mechanism
configured to load said sound data into a memory using said reference.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 19 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises an error sound
presentation mechanism configured to present an error sound through said
sound production facility if said sound data in said memory is unavailable
after a period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 20 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises: a sound load complete detection mechanism configured to detect availability of
said sound data in said memory; an error sound termination mechanism configured to terminate presentation of
said error sound; and a sound playback mechanism configured to play said sound data through said
sound production facility to create said first sound.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied
therein for causing a computer to present a hypertext markup language (HTML)
data stream on a computer controlled device, said computer having a central
processing unit (CPU) and a memory, said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image, said image map having an audio attribute associated
with a selectable area of said image; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a preselection condition detection mechanism configured to detect a
preselection condition on said selectable area within said image; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a sound presentation mechanism configured to present a first sound
associated with said audio attribute through a sound production facility upon
detection of said preselection condition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
149 words
A signal for causing a computer to present a hypertext markup language
(HTML) data stream on a computer controlled device, said computer
having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, said signal causing
said computer to implement: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image, said image map having an audio attribute associated
with a selectable area of said image; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a preselection condition detection mechanism configured to detect a
preselection condition on said selectable area within said image; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a sound presentation mechanism configured to present a first sound
associated with said audio attribute through a sound production facility upon
detection of said preselection condition.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of storing data on a recording medium, the method comprising
storing data representative of a signal, which signal causes a computer to
present a hypertext markup language (HTML) data stream on a computer
controlled device, said computer having a central processing unit (CPU)
and a memory, said signal causing said computer to implement: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image, said image map having an audio attribute associated
with a selectable area of said image; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a preselection condition detection mechanism configured to detect a
preselection condition on said selectable area within said image; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a sound presentation mechanism configured to present a first sound
associated with said audio attribute through a sound production facility upon
detection of said preselection condition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
The computer program produce of claim 22, signal of claim 23 or method
of claim 24 wherein the preselection condition detection mechanism
further comprises: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a hit detection mechanism configured to detect a hit condition on a
relevant active area of said image; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a delay completion mechanism configured to detect existence of said hit
condition for longer than a period of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program produce, signal or method of claim 25 wherein
said hit condition exists when activation of a cursor will cause selection
of said relevant active area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program product of claim 22, signal of claim 23 or method
of claim 24 wherein said audio attribute is a string defined within said
image map.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 27 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises computer readable
program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a speech
synthesis facility mechanism configured to process said string to create
said first sound.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product of claim 22, signal of claim 23 or method
of claim 24 wherein said audio attribute is a reference to sound data, said
reference defined within said image map.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 29 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises computer readable
program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a play
mechanism configured to play said sound data using said sound production
facility to create said first sound.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 29 wherein the
image map detection mechanism further comprises computer readable
program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a load
mechanism configured to load said sound data into said memory using said
reference.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 31 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises computer readable
program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an error
sound presentation mechanism configured to present an error sound
through said sound production facility if said sound data in said member
is unavailable after a period of time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 32 wherein the
sound presentation mechanism further comprises: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a sound load complete detection mechanism configured to detect
availability of said sound data in said memory; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an error sound termination mechanism configured to terminate
presentation of said error sound; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a sound playback mechanism configured to play said sound data through
said sound production facility to create said first sound.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer controlled method of enhancing human-computer interactions, said
method comprising steps of: detecting an image map associated with an image area; detecting a height attribute and a width attribute for said image area; and displaying a border around said image area, said border having a first status
representation, and said image map specifying at least one selectable area in said
image area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer controlled method of claim 34 wherein said selectable area
is a default area having a link and said first status representation is a color
that indicates whether said link has been visited.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer controlled method of claim 34 wherein said image map does
not include a default area element and first status representation is a color
that indicates whether a link defined in said at least one selectable area has
not been visited.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer controlled method of claim 34 further comprising: (d) displaying in said image area said at least one selectable area having a
second status representation, said at least one selectable area having a link.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer controlled method of claim 34 wherein said second status
representation is a color that indicates whether said link has been visited.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
81 words
An information display system for enhancing human-computer interactions, said
system comprising: an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image area; an image size detection mechanism configured to detect a height attribute and a
width attribute for said image area; and a border display mechanism configured to display a border around said image
area, said border having a first status representation and said image map
specifying at least one selectable area in said image area.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
90 words
An information display apparatus for enhancing human-computer interactions,
said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and
comprising: an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image area; an image size detection mechanism configured to detect a height attribute and a
width attribute for said image area; and a border display mechanism configured to display a border around said image
area, said border having a first status representation and said image map
specifying at least one selectable area in said image area.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
The information display system of claim 39 or apparatus of claim 40
wherein said selectable area is a default area having a link and said first
status representation is a color that indicates whether said link has been
visited.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
The information display system of claim 39 or apparatus of claim 40
wherein said image map does not include a default area element and first
status representation is a color that indicates whether a link defined in said
at least one selectable area has not been visited.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
The information display system of claim 39 or apparatus of claim 40
further comprising a display mechanism configured to display in said
image area said at least one selectable area having a second status
representation, said at least one selectable area having a link.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The information display system or apparatus of claim 43 wherein said
second status representation is a color that indicates whether said link has
been visited.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied
therein for causing a computer to present a hypertext markup language (HTML)
data stream on a computer controlled device, said computer having a central
processing unit (CPU) and a memory, said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image area; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image size detection mechanism configured to detect a height attribute
and a width attribute for said image area; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a border display mechanism configured to display a border around said
image area, said border having a first status representation and said image map
specifying at least one selectable area in said image area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
144 words
A signal for causing a computer to present a hypertext markup language
(HTML) data stream on a computer controlled device, said computer
having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, said signal causing
said computer to implement: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image area; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image size detection mechanism configured to detect a height attribute
and a width attribute for said image area; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a border display mechanism configured to display a border around said
image area, said border having a first status representation and said image map
specifying at least one selectable area in said image area.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of storing data on a recording medium, the method comprising
storing data representative of a signal, which signal causes a computer to
present a hypertext markup language (HTML) data stream on a computer
controlled device, said computer having a central processing unit (CPU)
and a memory, said signal causes the computer to implement: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image map detection mechanism configured to detect an image map
associated with an image area; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect an image size detection mechanism configured to detect a height attribute
and a width attribute for said image area; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to
effect a border display mechanism configured to display a border around said
image area, said border having a first status representation and said image map
specifying at least one selectable area in said image area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer program product of claim 45, signal of claim 46 or method
of claim 47 wherein said selectable area is a default area having a link and
said first status representation is a color that indicates whether said link
has been visited.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program product of claim 45, signal of claim 46 or method
of claim 47 wherein said image map does not include a default area
element and first status representation is a color that indicates whether a
link defined in said at least one selectable area has not be visited.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer program product of claim 45, signal of claim 46 or method
of claim 47 further comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said
computer to effect a display mechanism configured to display in said
image area said at least one selectable area having a second status
representation, said at least one selectable area having a link.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product, signal or method of claim 50 wherein said
second status representation is a color that indicates whether said link has
been visited.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
A signal according to claim 23 or 46, or any one of claims 25 to 33 or 48
to 51, wherein the signal is recorded on a recording medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
A signal according to claim 52, wherein the recording medium comprises
a magnetic disc, a magnetic tape, an optical disc or an electronic memory
device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.