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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at
least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark information; a creating unit creating the corresponding user bookmark information for the at least one user that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the
WWW browser and address information of the page; a storing unit; a bookmark registering unit registering the corresponding user bookmark information created by said creating unit in said storing unit for each user designated by the user designating
unit; a reading unit reading, in response to an operation by the at least one user, the corresponding user bookmark information stored in said storing unit; a bookmark display controlling unit displaying the reduced image for identifying the page on a
screen corresponding to the image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information that has been read by said reading unit; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the corresponding
user bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display prohibiting unit prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for
selecting the reduced image displayed corresponding to the image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information in accordance with the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
2. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user authority defining unit defines the user-specific authority to register and add the corresponding user bookmark information for each user.
3. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user authority defining unit defines the user-specific authority to change the corresponding user bookmark information for each user.
4. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user authority defining unit defines the user-specific authority to define the corresponding user bookmark information for each user.
5. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 1, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
6. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark information
that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page; a storing unit storing the corresponding user bookmark information for the at least one user; a reading unit
reading, when the image information displayed on a screen is selected by the at least one user, the corresponding user bookmark information including the image information corresponding to the at least one user from said storing unit; an obtaining unit
obtaining a full image of the page corresponding to the address information included in the corresponding user bookmark information that has been read by said reading unit; a WWW page display controlling unit displaying the full image of the page
obtained by said obtaining unit on a screen; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the user bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display prohibiting unit
prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the reduced image displayed corresponding to the image information included in the corresponding user bookmark
information in accordance with the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
7. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 1, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
8. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at least one user who can respectively use user bookmark information that
includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page; a storing unit storing the user bookmark information for each user designated by the user designating unit; a bookmark
editing unit editing the user bookmark information; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the user bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display
prohibiting unit prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the reduced image displayed corresponding to image information included in the user bookmark
information corresponding to the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
9. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said bookmark editing unit changes the address information included in the user bookmark information.
10. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said bookmark editing unit newly adds the user bookmark information.
11. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said bookmark editing unit deletes the user bookmark information.
12. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 8, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
13. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark information
that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page; a storing unit; a bookmark registering unit registering the corresponding user bookmark information for each user
designated by the user designating unit in said storing unit; a bookmark display controlling unit reading, in response to an operation by the at least one user, the corresponding user bookmark information stored in said storing unit and displaying the
reduced image for identifying the page corresponding to the image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the corresponding user
bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display prohibiting unit prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the
reduced image displayed corresponding to image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information in accordance with the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
14. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a title information display controlling unit for displaying the title information of the page in the user bookmark information registered in said storing unit in
such a manner that the title information correlates with the image for identifying the page that has been displayed.
15. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 13, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
16. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark information
that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and update information representing whether or not title information of the page, address information of the page or content of the page has been changed
after preceding accessing operation has been performed; a storing unit; a bookmark registering unit registering the corresponding user bookmark information for each user designated by the user designating unit in said storing unit; a bookmark display
controlling unit reading, in response to an operation made by the at least one user, the corresponding user bookmark information stored in said storing unit and displaying the reduced image for identifying the page corresponding to the image information
included in the corresponding user bookmark information and information corresponding to the update information together on a screen; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the corresponding user
bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display prohibiting unit prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the
reduced image displayed corresponding to image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information in accordance with the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
17. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 16, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
18. An image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: a user designating unit enabling a specified operator to designate at least one user who can respectively use user bookmark information
that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page; a storing unit storing the user bookmark information for each user designated by the user designating unit; an
accessing unit automatically accessing, according to predetermined time information, a page of an address designated by the address information included in the user bookmark information for each user stored in said storing unit, and obtaining update
information of the image of the page when available; a registering unit updating the image information included in the user bookmark information according to the update information when obtained by said accessing unit and registering the updated user
bookmark information in said storing unit; a user authority defining unit defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the user bookmark information by each user designated by the user designating unit; and a display prohibiting unit
prohibiting each user designated by the user designating unit from displaying a full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the reduced image displayed corresponding to image information included in the user bookmark information
corresponding to the user-specific authority for each user defined by said user authority defining unit.
19. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the change information is information that represents that a display content of the page has been changed.
20. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the change information is information that represents that an address of the page has been changed.
21. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the change information is information that represents that a title of the page has been changed.
22. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the change information is information that represents that at least two of a display content of the page, an address thereof, and a title thereof have been changed.
23. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said accessing unit accesses an address of address change information that represents a new address of the page and obtains change information of the page when the page of
the address represented by the address information of the page included in the user bookmark information stored in the storing unit is accessed.
24. The image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 18, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use said user authority defining unit.
25. A method for displaying and selecting bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising: designating at least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark information that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a
page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page; registering the corresponding user bookmark information for each designated user in a storing unit; displaying, according to an operation by the designated user, the reduced image
for identifying the page corresponding to the image information included in the corresponding user bookmark information registered in the storing unit on a screen of a displaying unit; reading, when the reduced image for identifying the page is selected
by the designated user, the corresponding user bookmark information including image information corresponding to the selected image from the storing unit, obtaining a full image of the page at an address designated by the address information included in
the user bookmark information that has been read, and displaying on the screen the full image of the page obtained at the address; defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the corresponding user bookmark information by each
designated user; and prohibiting each designated user, according to the user-specific authority for each designated user, from displaying the full image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the reduced image for identifying the page.
26. A computer-readable storage medium used to direct a computer to perform a method for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, the method comprising: designating at least one user who can use corresponding user bookmark
information that includes at least image information for a reduced image of a page displayed on a screen of a displaying unit by the WWW browser program and address information of the page; registering the corresponding user bookmark information for
each designated user in a storing unit; reading, according to an operation by the designated user, the image information of the page included in the corresponding user bookmark information from the storing unit and displaying the reduced image for
identifying the page corresponding to the image information on the screen of the displaying unit; reading, when the reduced image for identifying the page is selected by the designated user, the corresponding user bookmark information including image
information corresponding to the selected image from the storing unit, obtaining a full image of a page at an address designated by address information included in the corresponding user bookmark information that has been read, and displaying the full
image of the page on the screen of the displaying unit; defining user-specific authority for an editing operation of the corresponding user bookmark information by each designated user; and prohibiting each designated user, according to the
user-specific authority for each designated user, from displaying an image of the page in other than an operation for selecting the reduced image for identifying the page. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE
INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a WWW (World Wide Web) browser system for browsing the WWW on the Internet, in particular, an image display bookmark system for registering each WWW page as a reduced image so as to allow a user to more visually
and effectively select a desired WWW page.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an increasing number of WWW pages has been browsed and created on the Internet. Many tools and books for browsing and creating WWW pages have been marketed. The WWW is a global information network structured on the Internet.
The WWW page is a unit of information composing a web document. The WWW page is composed of an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document, related image data, and so forth that are stored in a WWW server on the WWW. The HTML is a kind of format based
on SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) used in CALS (Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support).
A WWW browser receives a WWW page corresponding to a protocol referred to as HTTP (Hyper Text Transmission Protocol) from a web site and causes a display of a computer that operates the WWW browser to display the received page. With a WWW page,
the WWW browser provides the user with text information (such as ASCII character data), image information composed of graphics data, audio information, moving picture information, and so forth. Thus, the user of the WWW browser can browse global
information at home. In addition, the user can transmit a page that he or she has created to the world.
In the following description, it is assumed that a displaying operation for a page performed by the WWW browser includes an output operation of so-called multimedia information such as audio information and moving picture information as well as
text information and image information.
Data such as an HTML document and image data for the above-described web page is stored in a directory for each user of the WWW server on the WWW. Users include people, governments, companies, and other organizations. Each user can
hierarchically structure pages by designating them on the HTML document. The top page of each user is especially referred to as "home page". Each user can designate links (entrances) to other pages on the "home page". Each linked page may have several
links to other pages. These links are normally referred to as "hyper-links". The "hyper-links" are displayed as symbols representing the linked pages (for example, addresses of the pages and images that indirectly represent the contents of the pages).
The user of the WWW browser generally clicks a symbol with a mouse so as to switch the current page to a desired page (namely, jump to a linked page). As the linked page, the user can designate a higher hierarchical page and any desired page of
another web site as well as a lower hierarchical page. To designate a desired page in the above-described HTML document, an address for identifying an individual page on the Internet is used. This address is referred to as a URL (Uniform Resource
Locator). An example of this address is "http://www.xxx.co.jp/Sample/Sample.html".
When the user of the WWW browser clicks a symbol that represents another page on the current page displayed by the WWW browser, he or she can switch the current page to another page. The user can repeat this operation to display pages one after
another. At this point, the WWW browser obtains the URL of the relevant page correlated to the clicked symbol with an HTML code (tag) referred to as an ANCHOR from the HTML document that is currently being displayed. Thereafter, the WWW browser
accesses the WWW server with the address represented by the URL through the Internet. The WWW browser downloads the relevant data (namely, an HTML document of the relevant page and other data in association therewith) stored in the WWW server to the
memory or storing unit of the computer that operates the WWW browser through the Internet.
Next, after the WWW browser has downloaded such data or while downloading, the WWW browser displays the data or a part of the data as a page on the display unit of the computer.
As currently common WWW browsers, there are Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and so forth. These WWW browsers have the above-described function.
Instead of the browsing method for switching pages one after the other (this method is referred to as "net-surfing"), when the user knows a URL of a desired page, he or she can directly type the URL in the location designation area on the GUI
(Graphical User Interface) screen of the WWW browser. However, depending on a user, he or she may daily browse particular pages for stock market information, news, and so forth. In this situation, it is inconvenient and inefficient for the user to type
long character strings for such URLs. To solve such a problem, the WWW browsers generally have a "bookmark function".
The "bookmark" function of the WWW browsers serves to register favorite sites and pages on the Internet. With the "bookmark" function, the user registers the URL of a desired page as one element of the bookmark data. After displaying a list of
pages registered as bookmarks, the user can click a desired page with the mouse or the like to select that page. Thus, the user can directly see the desired page without needing to type a long character string for the URL that represents the desired
page, and without any waste of time due to a typing error.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a typical bookmark display screen 10. As shown in FIG. 1, bookmarks can be hierarchically managed. A set of bookmarks 12 can be managed and can comprise a folder 11. Thus, the user can categorize the
bookmarks 12 as groups. Thus, even if there are many bookmarks, the user can effectively access a desired bookmark 12. For example, in the bookmark display screen 10 shown in FIG. 1, bookmarks 12 that are "People" and "Yellow Pages" have been
registered in a folder 11 that is called "Lookup". When the user clicks the folder "Lookup" with the mouse or the like, the bookmarks "People" and "Yellow Pages" are displayed as a list as shown in FIG. 1.
As titles for identifying the bookmarks "People" and "Yellow Pages", titles of pages corresponding to the bookmarks are directly used. When the user of the WWW browser double-clicks a line (object) of a desired bookmark 12 such as "People" on
the bookmark display screen 10 with the mouse or clicks a line of a desired bookmark 12 on a pop-up window (not shown) that simply displays bookmarks 12 with the mouse, he or she can easily select and display the desired page.
When the user wants to add a bookmark 12 of which he or she found a desired page after typing a URL in the location area of the WWW browser or performing the net-surfing, he or she clicks "Add Bookmark" with the mouse or the like while the WWW
browser is displaying the desired page. At this point, the URL of the page and the title thereof are automatically registered as a bookmark 12. The title of the page is used as the title of the registered bookmark 12. When the user newly adds a
bookmark 12 on the bookmark display screen 10 shown in FIG. 1, he or she can type the URL, the title, and so forth so as to add a new bookmark 12 to the desired folder 11.
The bookmarks 12 displayed on the bookmark display screen 10 shown in FIG. 1 include information such as the URLs of the pages, the titles thereof, and the comments of the users of the WWW browser. The user can edit such information on a
bookmark edit screen (not shown) that is displayed by selecting a property of a relevant bookmark 12 with the mouse on the bookmark display screen 10 shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the user can delete or move a bookmark 12 (to the current folder or
another folder) on the bookmark display screen 10 shown in FIG. 1.
As described above, with the bookmark function of the conventional browser, the user can select a desired bookmark from those that have been registered with the mouse or the like so that the WWW browser displays a desired page.
However, titles of bookmarks are designated by those who created pages thereof. Thus, many titles are composed of long or obscure character strings. In addition, many URLs of pages are composed of long character strings. Thus, with these
titles and URLS, the user cannot easily identify bookmarks (or pages thereof). For example, the titles of bookmarks displayed on the bookmark display screen are the same as the titles of the pages. The titles may be displayed in very small fonts or
foreign characters. Thus, with such titles, aged people and children cannot easily distinguish pages.
In addition, the bookmark function of the conventional WWW browsers allows all the users thereof to register (add), delete, and correct all bookmarks. Thus, these browsers do not prohibit specific users from performing such operations. For
example, when the conventional WWW browsers with such a bookmark function are used in the educational field, the registering operation and correcting operation of bookmarks cannot be restricted to teachers. In addition, pupils cannot be prohibited from
performing the registering operation and correcting operation for pages that are not suitable in the educational field.
Moreover, in the conventional WWW browsers, even if only authorized people can register and correct bookmarks to deal with such problems, when other people directly input a URL of such an improper page in the location designation area on the GUI
screen of the WWW browser, they can access it.
In addition, in the bookmark function of the conventional WWW browsers, when a URL or a title of a page on the Internet is changed, the URL or the title of the page is not automatically reflected in the corresponding bookmark. In recent years,
providers and WWW servers on the Internet are being merged and closed every day. Thus, the URLs and the titles of web pages are being changed every day. In such a situation, with the conventional bookmark function, the changes of URLs or titles of
pages do not automatically affect URLs or titles of pages registered as bookmarks. Thus, information of URLs or titles of pages registered as bookmarks become out-of-date information in short time. In particular, when a URL of a page was changed,
unless the user of the WWW browser corrects the URL on the bookmark edit screen, or accesses the page of the changed URL and re-registers a bookmark thereof, he or she cannot properly access the page whose URL was changed. In addition, when a title of a
page was changed, although the user can access it without a difficulty, the title registered as a bookmark does not match the title of the page he or she has accessed before.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a function for registering a reduced image of a page to be registered as bookmark data, a function for displaying the reduced images for all pages registered as bookmarks as
icons for selecting a desired page, a function for restricting each user of the WWW browser from performing the registering (adding), deleting, and correcting bookmarks, a function for prohibiting each user from directly inputting an address of a page, a
function for automatically traveling pages that have been registered as bookmarks and obtaining the latest information of the images, URLs, or titles of pages, and a function for reflecting the latest information to bookmark data of the relevant pages.
A first aspect (claim 1) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising a creating unit for creating bookmark information that includes at least image information
for an image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page, a bookmark registering unit for registering the bookmark information created by the creating unit to storing unit, a reading unit for reading the bookmark
information stored in the storing unit, and a bookmark display controlling unit for displaying an image for identifying the page on a screen corresponding to image information included in the bookmark information that has been read by the reading unit.
Thus, a bookmark can be registered in such a manner that it correlates to the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. In addition, a bookmark can be displayed on the screen in such a manner that the bookmark correlates to the image of the page
displayed by the WWW browser.
A second aspect (claim 2) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising a reading unit for reading bookmark information that includes information of an image from
storing unit when the image is selected corresponding to the information of the image for a page displayed by the WWW browser on a screen, an obtaining unit for obtaining the image of the page corresponding to address information registered in the
bookmark information that has been read by the reading unit, and a WWW page display controlling unit for displaying the image of the page obtained by the obtaining unit on a screen. Thus, when a user selects a bookmark that is displayed in such a manner
that it correlates to an image of a page, a page corresponding to the bookmark can be displayed on the screen.
A third aspect (claim 3) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising bookmark information that is stored in storing unit and that includes at least image
information of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page, and a bookmark editing unit for editing the content of the bookmark information. Thus, the content of the bookmark information can be edited.
A fourth aspect (claim 4) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bookmark editing unit changes the address information included in the bookmark information. Thus, the address information
included in the bookmark information can be changed.
A fifth aspect (claim 5) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bookmark editing unit newly adds the bookmark information. Thus, the bookmark information including the address
information can be newly added.
A sixth aspect (claim 6) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bookmark editing unit deletes the bookmark information. Thus, the bookmark information that is stored can be deleted.
A seventh aspect (claim 7) of the present invention is an bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising a bookmark registering unit for registering the bookmark information that includes at least image
information for an image of a page displayed by the WWW browser, address information of the page, and title information of the page to storing unit, and a bookmark display controlling unit for reading the bookmark information stored in the storing unit
and displaying an image for identifying the page corresponding to image information for the image of the page that is included in the bookmark information and that is displayed by the WWW browser. Thus, the image information for the image of the page
displayed by the WWW browser and the bookmark information including the title information of the page can be registered. In addition, a bookmark can be displayed on the screen in such a manner that the bookmark correlates to the image of the page
displayed by the WWW browser.
An eighth aspect (claim 8) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a title information display controlling unit for displaying the title information of the page in the bookmark
information registered in the storing unit in such a manner that the title information correlates with the image for identifying the page that has been displayed. Thus, the title information of the page can be displayed in such a manner that it
correlates to the image of the page.
A ninth aspect (claim 9) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising a bookmark registering unit for registering bookmark information to storing unit, the
bookmark information including at least image information of a page displayed by the WWW browser, title information of the page, and update information that represents whether or not the address information of the page or the content of the page has been
changed after the preceding accessing operation has been performed, and a bookmark display controlling unit for reading the bookmark information stored in the storing unit and displaying an image for identifying a page created corresponding to image
information for an image of the page that is included in the bookmark information and that is displayed by the WWW browser and information corresponding to the update information together on a screen. Thus, the image of the update information can be
displayed along with the image information of the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A tenth aspect (claim 10) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising an accessing means for automatically accessing a page of an address designated by address
information of a page included in each record of bookmark information stored in storing unit corresponding to predetermined time information and obtaining change information of the page, and a registering unit for updating information included in the
record of the bookmark information having the address information of the page corresponding to change information of the page obtained by the accessing unit. Thus, the page at the address included in the bookmark can be automatically accessed. The
bookmark information can be updated to the latest information.
An eleventh aspect (claim 11) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the change information is information that represents that a display content of the page has been changed. Thus, the
information that represents that the display content of the page was changed can be displayed along with the image information of the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A twelfth aspect (claim 12) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the change information is information that represents that an address of the page has been changed. Thus, the information
that represents that the address of the page was changed can be displayed along with the image information of the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A thirteenth aspect (claim 13) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the change information is information that represents that a title of the page has been changed. Thus, the information
that represents that the title of the page was changed can be displayed on the screen along with the image information of the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A fourteenth aspect (claim 14) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the change information is information that represents that at least two of a display content of the page, an address
thereof, and a title thereof have been changed. Thus, the information that represents that at least two of the display content of the page, the address thereof, and the title thereof can be displayed on the screen along with the image information of the
image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A fifteenth aspect (claim 15) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the accessing unit accesses an address of address change information that represents a new address of the page and
obtains change information of the page when the page of the address represented by the address information of the page included in the bookmark information is accessed. Thus, even if the address of the page was changed, the new address can be accessed.
Consequently, the latest page can be displayed on the screen.
A sixteenth aspect (claims 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in one of claims 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9, wherein the image information of the image that is included in the bookmark
information and that is displayed by the WWW browser includes information of a reduced image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. Thus, a bookmark can be displayed with the reduced image of the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser.
A seventeenth aspect (claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in one of claims 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10, wherein the storing unit stores the bookmark information for each user, and
wherein the operation for the bookmark information is performed for each user. Thus, the bookmark information can be managed for each user.
An eighteenth aspect (claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in one of claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, further comprising a user authority defining unit for defining the
authority for an editing operation for bookmark information for each user, and a controlling unit for prohibiting each user from displaying an image of a page in other than an operation for selecting an image displayed corresponding to image information
included in the bookmark information corresponding to the authority for each user defined by the user authority defining unit. Thus, the editing operation of the bookmark information is defined for each user. Each user is restricted from displaying
other than the image of the page registered as the bookmark.
A nineteenth aspect (claim 33) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the user authority defining unit defines the authority to register and add the bookmark information for each user.
Thus, authority to register and add the bookmark information can be defined for each user.
A twentieth aspect (claim 34) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the user authority defining unit defines authority to change the bookmark information for each user. Thus, authority to
change the bookmark information can be defined for each user.
A twenty-first aspect (claim 35) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the user authority defining unit defines the authority to define the bookmark information for each user. Thus, the
authority to delete the bookmark information can be defined for each user.
A twenty-second aspect (claims 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41) of the present invention is an image display bookmark system as set forth in one of claims 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32, wherein only a predetermined administrator can use the user
authority defining unit. Thus, only the predetermined administrator can define the authority for each user to edit the bookmark information.
A twenty-third aspect (claim 42) of the present invention is a method for displaying and selecting bookmark information used by a WWW browser, comprising the steps of registering bookmark information including at least image information for an
image of a page displayed by the WWW browser and address information of the page to storing unit, displaying an image for identifying a page corresponding to the image information for the image of the page included in the bookmark information registered
in the storing unit on a screen of displaying unit, and reading the bookmark information including image information for the image of the selected page from the storing unit, obtaining an image of a page at an address designated by address information of
the page registered in the bookmark information that has been read, and displaying the image of the obtained page on a screen when the image for identifying the page is selected by the selecting unit. Thus, a bookmark can be registered in such a manner
that it correlates to the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. In addition, a bookmark can be displayed on the screen in such a manner that the bookmark correlates to the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. Moreover, when a user
selects a bookmark that is displayed in such a manner that it correlates to an image of a page, a page corresponding to the bookmark can be displayed on the screen.
A twenty-fourth aspect (claim 43) of the present invention is a storage medium from which a computer reads a program that causes the computer to accomplish a bookmark system for managing bookmark information used by a WWW browser, the bookmark
system having the functions of registering bookmark information including at least image information for an image of a page displayed on a screen of displaying unit by the WWW browser and address information of the page to the storing unit, reading the
image information for the image of the page included in the bookmark information from the storing unit and displaying an image for identifying the page corresponding to the image information on the screen of the displaying unit, and reading the bookmark
information corresponding to the page from the storing unit, obtaining an image of a page at an address designated by the address information of a page registered in the bookmark information, and displaying the image of the obtained page on the screen of
the displaying unit when an image for identifying the page is selected on the screen. Thus, a bookmark can be registered in such a manner that it correlates to the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. In addition, a bookmark can be displayed
on the screen in such a manner that the bookmark correlates to the image of the page displayed by the WWW browser. Moreover, when a user selects a bookmark that is displayed in such a manner that it correlates to an image of a page, a page corresponding
to the bookmark can be displayed on the screen.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional bookmark display screen;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image display bookmark system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a bookmark display screen of the image display bookmark system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing a menu structure of the image display bookmark system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation control parameter designation screen;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a user ID designation screen on the bookmark display screen of the image display bookmark system;
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an attribute change screen;
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an image size change screen;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a password designation screen for a system administrator on the bookmark display screen of the image display bookmark system;
FIG. 8 is a user ID designation screen and a password designation screen of a general user on the bookmark display screen of the image display bookmark system;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a bookmark registering process;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reducing method of a captured image;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a bookmark display screen;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a bookmark display screen of a general user ID;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a bookmark data file edit screen;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processes from a bookmark selecting process to a page displaying process;
FIG. 15A is a table showing operation control parameters;
FIG. 15B is a table showing a user management file;
FIG. 15C is a table showing a bookmark data file;
FIG. 15D is a schematic diagram showing a reduced image data file;
FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a bookmark display screen of an image display bookmark system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16B is a diagram showing a title and update information display portion of the image display bookmark system according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the structure of a computer that executes the image display bookmark system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described. For simplicity, similar portions are denoted by similar reference numerals.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an image display bookmark system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image display bookmark system 100 is composed of a bookmark processing unit 111 and a data storing
unit 120. The bookmark processing unit 111 is disposed in a processing unit 110. The processing unit 110 is normally a CPU of a personal computer, a UNIX workstation, or the like. The data storing unit 120 is normally a hard disk unit or another
storing unit of the personal computer, the UNIX workstation, or the like. The processing unit 110 and the data storing unit 120 are connected to a bus 140 through | | |
