Framework for providing visual context to www hyperlinks

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for presenting Internet information to a user comprising: providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and at least partially concurrently providing a thumbnail visual image of the home page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image.

2. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

3. A method according to claim 2 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

4. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

5. A method according to claim 4 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

6. A method according to claim 1 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

7. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said web page comprises an HTML page.

8. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said providing a-thumbnail visual image comprises: employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with said image server.

9. A method according to claim 8 and wherein said visualization functionality is operative to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

10. A method according to claim 8 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page; elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page; determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

11. A method according to claim 8 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: receiving a list of hyperlinks; splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component; trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

12. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said providing a-thumbnail visual image comprises: employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

13. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said visualization functionality is operative to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

14. A method according to claim 13 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

15. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

16. A method for generating an image server database of thumbnail visual images of web pages, the method comprising: receiving a list of URLs corresponding to said web pages, the thumbnail visual images of which it is desired to supply to said image server database; operating a multiplicity of downloaders simultaneously to retrieve from the Internet, web pages and embedded objects corresponding to URLs from said list; causing a thumbnail generator to render retrieved web pages retrieved simultaneously by said multiplicity of downloaders; and causing said thumbnail generator to shrink said rendered images of said retrieved web pages and supply them to said image server database.

17. A method according to claim 16 also comprising deleting executable content from said retrieved web pages.

18. A system for presenting Internet information to a user comprising: first functionality providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and second functionality operative at least partially concurrently with said first functionality for providing a thumbnail visual image of the home page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image.

19. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

20. A system according to claim 19 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

21. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

22. A system according to claim 21 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

23. A system according to claim 18 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

24. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said web page comprises an HTML page.

25. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said second functionality comprises third functionality employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with said image server.

26. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said visualization functionality is operative to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

27. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page; elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page; determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

28. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: receiving a list of hyperlinks; splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component; trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

29. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said second functionality comprises fourth functionality employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

30. A system according to claim 29 and wherein said visualization functionality is operative to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

31. A system according to claim 30 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

32. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

33. A system for generating an image server database of thumbnail visual images of web pages, the system comprising: a multiplicity of downloaders, each receiving at least one URL from a list of URLs corresponding to said web pages, the thumbnail visual images of which it is desired to supply to said image server database, and simultaneously retrieving from the Internet web pages and embedded objects corresponding to said at least one URL; and at least one thumbnail generator operative to render the web pages, shrink said rendered images of the web pages and supply said rendered images to said image server database.

34. A system according to claim 33 and wherein said multiplicity of downloaders are operative to delete executable content from the web pages.

35. A method for presenting Internet information to a user comprising: providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and at least partially concurrently providing a thumbnail visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image, said providing a thumbnail visual image comprising employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server, separated from said image server, including visualization functionality, said visualization functionality being operative to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

36. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

37. A method according to claim 36 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

38. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

39. A method according to claim 38 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

40. A method according to claim 35 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

41. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said web page comprises an HTML page.

42. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

43. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page; elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page; determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

44. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: receiving a list of hyperlinks; splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component; trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

45. A method according to claim 35 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

46. A system for presenting Internet information to a user comprising: first functionality providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and second functionality operative at least partially concurrently with said first functionality for providing a thumbnail visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image, said second functionality comprising third functionality employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server, separated from said image server, including visualization functionality, said visualization functionality being operative to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

47. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

48. A system according to claim 47 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

49. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

50. A system according to claim 49 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

51. A system according to claim 46 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

52. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said web page comprises an HTML page.

53. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

54. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page; elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page; determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

55. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises: receiving a list of hyperlinks; splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component; trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

56. A system according to claim 46 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

The material on the compact discs labeled COPY 1 and COPY 2 is incorporated by reference. The compact discs are identified in the LIST OF APPENDICES below.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Internet methodologies and systems generally and more particularly to systems and methodologies for displaying information received over the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following U.S. patents are believed to represent the current state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,101,510; 6,016,494; 6,011,537; 5,973,692.

The following disclosures are also believed to be relevant to the subject matter of the present invention: R. J. Yarger, G. Reese, and T. King "MySQL & mSQL," O'REILLY & Associates Inc, 1999, ISBN 1-56592-434-7; B. Laurie, and P. Laurie "Apache the Definitive Guide, 2nd edition," O'REILLY & Associates Inc. 1999, ISBN 1-56592-528-9; C. Musciano, and B. Kennedy "HTML the Definitive Guide, 3rd edition," O'REILLY & Associates Inc, 1998, ISBN 1-56592-492-4; Libwww http://www.w3.org/Library; T. Berners-Lee, R. Fielding, and L. Masinter "Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI): Generic Syntax", RFC 2396, August 1998.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a particularly beneficial methodology and system for displaying information received over the Internet.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for presenting Internet information to a user. The method includes providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink, and at least partially concurrently providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual image of said another web page is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

Preferably the visual image of another web page appears hovering over said hyperlink.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual image of said another web page is displayed within the visual image of said web page. The visual image of another web page appears hovering over said hyperlink.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual images of a plurality of other web pages represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

Furthermore in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the web page comprises an HTML page.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes providing a visual image of another web page includes employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with an image server.

Preferably the visualization functionality is operative to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which are referenced in hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

Additionally or alternatively the annotated web page includes the web page having alongside it images of homepages linked with the web page.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a visual image of another web page and includes employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

Preferably the visualization functionality operates to embed commands to the web browser to download, via an image server, images of web pages which are referenced in hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

Additionally the annotated web page may include the web page having within it images of homepages linked with the web page.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visualization functionality includes generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page, elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page, determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, visualizing an ultimate destination thereof and visualizing remaining hyperlinks.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visualization functionality may also include receiving a list of hyperlinks, splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component, trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page and constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

There is also thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for generating a web page image database. The method includes receiving a list of URLs corresponding to web pages, the images of which it is desired to download into an image database, operating a multiplicity of downloaders simultaneously by supplying to each downloader one URL at a time, causing each downloader to retrieve from the Internet, a web page and embedded objects corresponding to the URL supplied to it, causing a thumbnail generator to render the web page and causing said thumbnail generator to shrink said rendered image of the web page and supply it to the downloader.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes deleting executable content from the web page.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes causing each downloader to retrieve from the Internet, a web page and embedded objects corresponding to the URL supplied to it and causing a thumbnail generator to operate a corresponding web browser to render the web page employ a locally stored copy of said web page and said embedded objects.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes employing a web server for providing said locally stored copy of said web page and of said embedded objects to said web browser.

Furthermore in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual image of another web page appears hovering over said hyperlink.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for presenting Internet information to a user including a first functionality providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink and a second functionality operative at least partially concurrently with said first functionality for providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual image of said another web page is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual images of said another web page is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

Furthermore in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visual images of a plurality of other web pages represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the web page comprises an HTML page.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second functionality comprises third functionality employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with an image server.

Preferably the visualization functionality is operative to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which are referenced in hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page. Additionally or alternatively the annotated web page includes the web page having alongside it images of homepages linked with the web page.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second functionality comprises fourth functionality employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

Preferably the visualization functionality is operative to embed commands to the web browser to download, via an image server, images of web pages which are referenced in hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page. Additionally or alternatively the annotated web page includes the web page having within it images of homepages linked with the web page.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the visualization functionality includes the generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page, the elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page, the determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, visualizing an ultimate destination thereof and the visualizing remaining hyperlinks.

Still further in ac