US6801227B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and user interface supporting user navigation and concurrent application operation
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 2001-05-04
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Granted: 2004-10-05
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Expires: 2021-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A processing and user interface system supports Internet application and web page navigation for sequential task oriented processes, workflow management and user specific, customizable, interactive and other organizable processes. A network (Internet, Intranet or other network) compatible user interface system supports a process including a sequence of subtasks. The system initiates display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page (or application) windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page or application window associated with a particular subtask of the sequence of subtasks. The visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with the sequence of subtasks. The system initiates display of a subtask web page or application window in the foreground of the composite window in response to user selection of a visible tab corresponding to the subtask web page or application window.
Inventors
- 👤 Siegfried Bocionek
- 👤 Ajit Singh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0483; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/954; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of an ordered sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and initiating display of a subtask web page in the foreground of said composite window in response to user selection of a visible tab corresponding to said subtask web page.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of an ordered sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and initiating display of a subtask web page in the foreground of said composite window in response to user selection of a visible tab corresponding to said subtask web page.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 1 , including the activity of initiating display of command menu items supporting at least one function of, (a) ordering tabbed web pages, (b) providing a template tabbed web page sequence, and (c) assigning a tabbed web page sequence to particular web page universal resource locators (URLs).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sequence of subtasks comprise a process involving an ordered sequential user interaction with said web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and said Internet compatible user interface system comprises a web browser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said ordered sequence of subtasks comprises a workflow process including at least two functions from (a) browsing web pages, (b) searching for information, (c) configuring web page features, (d) providing capability to contact a human agent and (e) initiating a commercial transaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said ordered sequence of subtasks comprises a workflow process supporting at least two functions from, (a) browsing for educational course offerings, (b) searching for information about a course of a selected course provider, (c) enrolling in an on-line educational course, (d) learning about a specific course curriculum, (e) accessing a selected course, (f) providing course practice exercises and (g) obtaining course credit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said process involves a particular ordered sequential user interaction with an individual web page of said web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and said identifier comprises at least one of (a) text and (b) a symbol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said visible tab is at least one of, (a) incorporated in a window used for displaying a retrieved web page and (b) embedded within said web page associated with a particular subtask of said sequence of subtasks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said composite window supports a plurality of concurrently operating Internet based applications each corresponding to one of said plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 1 , including the activity of sharing context information between subtasks corresponding to different overlaid tabbed web pages, said context information comprising at least one of, (a) user identification information, (b) user authorization information, and (c) commercial transaction identification information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A The method according to claim 1 , including the activities of receiving user preference data determining display image characteristics and in response to said received user preference data, adaptively re-ordering at least one of, (a) said overlaid tabbed web page windows and (b) functions provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein, a first subtask comprises a plurality of subsidiary subtasks, and including the activity of initiating display of a second composite window representing a second plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a subsidiary subtask of said plurality of subsidiary subtasks in response to user selection of a visible tab associated with said first subtask.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A user interface system supporting management of a workflow including a sequence of subtasks, comprising: a first menu for use in assigning individual subtasks of said sequence to corresponding sequentially ordered tabbed web page windows; and a composite window representing said overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A user interface system supporting management of a workflow including a sequence of subtasks, comprising: a first menu for use in assigning individual subtasks of said sequence to corresponding sequentially ordered tabbed web page windows; and a composite window representing said overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A user interface system according to claim 12 , including a second menu for use in entering identifier data for incorporation in a visible tab of a user selected web page window of said sequentially ordered tabbed web page windows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A user interface system according to claim 12 , including a second menu for use in allocating web page universal resource locators (URLs) to corresponding windows of said sequentially ordered overlaid tabbed web page windows.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A user interface system according to claim 12 , wherein said ordered sequence of subtasks comprising a process involving ordered sequential user interaction with said web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and said user interface system comprises a web browser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and sharing context information between subtasks corresponding to different overlaid tabbed web pages.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and sharing context information between subtasks corresponding to different overlaid tabbed web pages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A user interface system according to claim 16 , wherein said context information comprises at least one of, (a) user identification information, (b) user authorization information, and (c) commercial transaction identification identification information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A user interface system according to claim 16 , wherein said composite window supports a plurality of concurrently operating Internet based applications each corresponding to one of said plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows, and said context information is shared between said concurrent applications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a menu for use in decomposing a process into a sequence of individual subtasks corresponding to sequentially ordered tabbed web page windows; and initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an Internet compatible user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a menu for use in decomposing a process into a sequence of individual subtasks corresponding to sequentially ordered tabbed web page windows; and initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed web page windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by a web page associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
A user interface system according to claim 19 , wherein said activity of initiating display of a menu for use in decomposing a process into a sequence of individual subtasks comprises initiating generation of a menu for partitioning subtasks into two or more functions selected from (a) browsing web pages, (b) searching for information, (c) configuring web page features, (d) providing capability to contact a human agent and (e) initiating a commercial transaction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed application windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by an application associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and initiating display of a subtask application window in the foreground of said composite window in response to user selection of a visible tab corresponding to said subtask application.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a user interface system supporting a process including a sequence of subtasks, a method comprising the activities of: initiating display of a composite window representing a plurality of overlaid tabbed application windows each including a visible tab incorporating an identifier identifying a function provided by an application associated with a particular subtask of a sequence of subtasks, said sequence of subtasks being specifically ordered to perform a particular process involving user interaction with web pages associated with corresponding subtasks and wherein visible tabs and corresponding overlaid tabbed windows are sequentially ordered in accordance with said sequence of subtasks; and initiating display of a subtask application window in the foreground of said composite window in response to user selection of a visible tab corresponding to said subtask application.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-10-05 | 2008-04-05 | 2008-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-05 | 2012-04-05 | 2012-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-05 | 2016-04-05 | 2016-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |