US6281899B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for displaying traversing and playing content in a multi-dimensional topic space
Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-08
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Granted: 2001-08-28
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Expires: 2019-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A computer system utilizing software to map content by determining a field of relevance and at least one topic in the field of relevance is presented. The system determines at least one content pertaining to the topic, retrieves a representation of the content and maps the representation of the content onto the field of relevance. Then, it provides an extremely flexible presentation mechanism where the content is organized by multi-dimensional mappings to present the information effectively. The system also provides a navigation aid for traversing multi-dimensional information utilizing a variety of features and tools for effectively visualizing the information. One of the features allows a vector to be assigned to each entity, queries a user or software agent for a particular focal element and displays the multiplicity of distinguishable entities based upon the assigned vectors utilizing the focal vector as a reference point to view the information. The system facilitates the organization of results of database interrogations, web searches and other large data situations, creating a multi-dimensional topic space of content and the tools to navigate the space effectively. The topic space is traversed by dynamically modifying the focal vector, which modifies the visualization of the information to conform the user or software agent's directions. The invention represents a novel, unique approach that matches nicely with the requirements of the Internet to efficiently examine the results from search engines in an efficient manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Justin Gould
- 👤 Rachel M. Strickland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/903; G06F16/9038; G06F16/904; G06F16/95; G06F16/954
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising the steps of: determining at least one topic; retrieving content associated with the at least one topic; assigning a vector to the at least one topic; determining a focal point based on the at least one topic; mapping the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point: and navigating amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising the steps of: determining at least one topic; retrieving content associated with the at least one topic; assigning a vector to the at least one topic; determining a focal point based on the at least one topic; mapping the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point: and navigating amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising the step of responding to a user indicia to traverse the multi-dimensional topic space on the display, wherein traversing at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view of the content.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 2 , wherein a topic influences navigation through the information on the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , wherein content influences navigation to a view exposing additional detail pertaining to the display of information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , wherein a field of relevance includes detecting a change of the field of relevance and navigating to information pertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , wherein mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance, includes the steps of: determining relative salience of the content; calculating a spatial location for the content based upon the relative salience of the content; displaying the content at the spatial location of the content; and navigating to the content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 2 , wherein the user indicia is supplied by positioning a cursor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , including the steps of utilizing a user position to map the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display and navigating to a field of relevance on the display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner and navigating to a topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1 , including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces on the display and navigating to a topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 10 , including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedron on a display and traversing the polyhedron to navigate to the topic in the field of relevance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising: code that determines at least one topic; code that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic; code that assigns a vector to the at least one topic; code that determines a focal point based on at least one topic; code that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point; and code that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising: code that determines at least one topic; code that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic; code that assigns a vector to the at least one topic; code that determines a focal point based on at least one topic; code that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point; and code that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view of the content.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 13 , wherein a topic influences navigation through the information on the display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , wherein content influences navigation to a view exposing additional detail pertaining to the content on the display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , wherein a field of relevance includes detecting a change of the field of relevance and navigating to information pertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , wherein mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display in a manner centering attention on the content, includes: code that determines relative salience of the content; code that calculates a spatial location for the content based upon the relative salience of the content; code that displays the content at the spatial location of the content; and code that navigates among the content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , and further comprising code that responds to a user indicia to traverse the multi-dimensional topic space on the display, wherein the user indicia is supplied by positioning a cursor and selecting the area on the display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , including code that utilizes a position to map the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display and code that navigates to a field of relevance on the display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for Navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner and navigates to the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces on the display, navigates to the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces and presents the information in the field of relevance utilizing multimedia presentation techniques.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12 , including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedron on the display and code that traverses the polyhedron to navigate to the topic in the field of relevance.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising: a processor with an attached memory; a display coupled to the processor that displays information; logic that determines at least one topic in the relevant field; logic that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic; logic that assigns a vector to the at least one topic; logic that determines a focal point based on the at least one topic; logic that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based upon the vector as the vector correlates with the focal point; and logic that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising: a processor with an attached memory; a display coupled to the processor that displays information; logic that determines at least one topic in the relevant field; logic that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic; logic that assigns a vector to the at least one topic; logic that determines a focal point based on the at least one topic; logic that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based upon the vector as the vector correlates with the focal point; and logic that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |