JP3131150B2 - Communication network access systems and interfaces - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication network such as a wide area network. A communication network includes nodes interconnected to a backbone network. Communication is achieved by transmitting a bit stream structured into packets between nodes via a backbone network. The invention particularly relates to enhancing the graphic user interface of nodes communicating packets to facilitate structuring of information obtained from other nodes via packet communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a conventional communication network 1. One example of the communication network 1 is the Internet, but the present invention is also applicable to other networks. As shown in the figure, the communication network includes a wide area network (WAN) W. The wide area network W can be formed by the backbone of the Internet. As shown in the figure, a number of sub-networks a, b, c and d are connected to a wide area network. The sub-network includes a stand-alone computer, a local area network (LA).
N) or a campus / corporate network. A campus / corporate network is typically the same geographical campus or a collection of independent LANs at a corporate location connected by a local backbone network.

[0003] The communication network 1 has a number of nodes including router nodes or routers, host nodes or hosts, and server nodes or servers. As shown in the figure, a wide area network W includes a number of interconnected routers r1, r2, r3, r4, r5, r
6 and so on. For example, the router nodes r1 to r6 of the wide area network W are structured into separate backbone networks and access points according to the backbone model of the Internet. For simplicity, the details of the structure of the wide area network W have been omitted without loss of generality. Connection means include any combination of wires, coaxial cables, optical fibers, packets and circuit switches. The sub-network a includes a host h1 connected to a router r1 of the wide area network W. Sub-network b is a wide area network W
Server s1 connected to the router r2. The sub-network c has a router r7 connected to the router r5 of the wide area network W, and a number of servers s2, s3 and s4 connected to the router r7 in the LAN structure. For example, LAN is an Ethernet type L
AN, or token ring LAN, AT
An M-type LAN or the like may be used. The sub-network d includes a router r8 connected to the router r6 of the wide area network W, a server s5 connected to the router r8 in the LAN structure, and hosts h2 and h3.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional host, router, or server node 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a node 10 includes a CPU or a processor 11, a memory 12 (ie, a combination of a main memory, a disk memory, a cache memory, and the like), and at least one I / O port 13-1, 13-2. ,. . . , 13-N. In addition, optional devices typically present at the host node and including a graphic controller 14, a display monitor 15, and a manual input device 16 are shown. Their purpose is described in detail below. Device 11,
12, 13-1,. . . , 13-N, 14 and 16
They are interconnected by a bus 17 for transferring data and instructions between the various devices connected thereto. Each I /
O ports 13-1,. . . , 13-N are connected to other nodes 10 by unshielded stranded pairs, coaxial cables, optical fibers, switches, satellite transponders, etc.
Is connected to at least one I / O port. I / O
Ports 13-1,. . . , 13-N transmit and receive data communicated in the form of a bitstream structured into at least one packet (or cell). The exemplary packet 40 shown in FIG. 3 has a header 42 that contains information that conveys the packet to the destination, and a payload 44 that conveys communication data or messages to be transmitted to the destination. The I / O ports 13-1,. . . , 13-N are temporarily buffered in the memory 12. The processor 11 processes the packet, for example, to determine to which node the packet should be sent, as described below. Under the control of the processor 11, the packets are transmitted according to the order specified by the processor 11.

[0005] The host or server that originates a packet, ie originates first, is a source node, a source host,
Or called the source server, end the packet,
That is, the host or server that ultimately receives the data is called a destination node, a destination host, or a destination server. Communication is performed by transmitting packets through a sequence of nodes including a source node, zero or more intermediate nodes (typically router nodes), and a destination node. This sequence is called a pass.
Packets are transmitted between each successive pair of nodes on the path in a bucket brigade fashion. For example, the packet
The source node h1 communicates with the router node r1, the router node r3, the router node r5, the router node r7, and the server s2.

According to the Internet Protocol (IP), each node of the (Internet) communication network 1 is given a unique address. In the above packet transmission, (the processor 11 of) the source node h1 generates a packet 40 and writes a message to be propagated to the destination node s2 in the payload 44. The source node h1 (the processor 11 thereof) has its I
The P address is written in the source address field of the packet header 42, and the I address of the destination node s2 is
The P address is written in the destination address field of the packet header 42. The host node h1 is
Next, the packet is transmitted to the router r1. The processor 11 of the source node h1 sends an I /
The packet is transmitted to the O port 13-1. Router r1
Receives a packet (i.e., via its one I / O port 13-1). Router r1 (processor 11) uses the at least one route table then stored (in memory 12) to determine the next node (ie, node r3) on the path to destination node s2. . Table 1 below is an example of the route table of the router r1.

[0007]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, 'h1', 'h2', 'h
3 ',' s1 ',' s2 ',' s3 ',' s4 'and'
s5 ′ is a node h1, h2, h3, s1, a
2, s3, s4 and s5 IP addresses, "h
"1", "r2" and "r3" are the indications of the nodes h1, r2 and r3, respectively, to which the received packet is to be supplied, which, for example, conveys the packet to the corresponding next node. Identifies the I / O port 13 or telephone number / address that is used for the router r1 (the processor 11) uses the packet header 4 as an index to obtain an entry in the matching route table.
2 uses the destination address in the destination address field, and the entry of the matching route table includes the same IP address as the destination IP address of the packet in the destination address field. The indication stored in the next node field of the obtained matching route table entry indicates the next node to which the received packet should be sent. (Appropriate I
The / O port 13) then sends the packet to the next node specified, in this case node r3. Node r
3, r5 and r7 perform a similar route table lookup using the destination address in the packet's header to determine the next node to which the packet should be sent. Eventually, the packet reaches the destination node s2.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the host node illustratively includes a graphic controller 14, a display monitor 15 connected to the graphic controller 14, and a keyboard or keypad and pointing device (eg, a mouse, joystick, etc.). , Trackball, trackpad, pen stylus, etc.). For example, processor 11 and graphics controller 14 may execute appropriate software steps to enhance the communication capabilities of the host node. Processor 11 may execute software that, in combination with graphic controller 14, provides a graphical user interface that simplifies the communication process. Republic of China Patent No. 250554 issued to IBM® and Microsoft
The Republic of China 237454 and 238450 issued to (registered trademark) describe a general-purpose graphical user interface not for two-way packet communication. U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,295 discloses a pen-writing operating system that organizes documents and graphical data into tabbed books. The user can navigate to a particular data entry or file by selecting the appropriate tab. U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,903 teaches a programming aid with a graphical user interface. In particular, the display of an object is performed using a "hierarchical" display that represents information directly related to the object, including defined functions. "Dip" switches, such as toolbars, are provided with various displayable attributes. Selecting another switch activates another display filter to simultaneously display only certain attributes of each object. US Patent 5,38
No. 4,911 teaches a system for converting a program written for a command line graphical user interface (DOS) to an image oriented user interface (Windows). This patent provides a graphical user interface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,836 teaches a programming platform where a common graphical user interface programming module is provided. This allows the user to reduce the amount of code to be created. Organizer from Lotus®
Release 2 of (Organizer) provides a systematic means of using book-shaped images in a graphical user interface to organize information.

A particular use of the communication network 1 is to communicate on the World Wide Web (Web).
The web searches for information on multiple remote nodes, obtains information from remote nodes based on the search or other criteria,
Used by the host to display textual and graphical information obtained from remotely accessed nodes.

[0011] Further, the web communication is provided by a game console,
Several products have been published that combine with other products such as computers, disc players, personal digital assistants, pagers, video phones, set-top boxes, and televisions. "Prime-Time Player (P.C.)" by John Zilber
rime-Time Player) ”, MacUser magazine, 1
April 996 (http // www.zdnet.com / macuser / mu_0496
/features/feature.html) and “Network Computer (The Network C)” by Oracle (registered trademark).
omputer) (TM): Intelligent Client for the Network Computing Generation (Intelligent)
Clients for the Age of Network Computing) ”, 19
January 23, 1996 (http // www.oracle.com / headlines / ht
ml / ncwp.html # The Network Computer), iBox (R) Advertisement, ViewCall (R) Advertisement, PowerTV (R) White Paper on PowerTV: Open Platform Architecture for Interactive Digital Set Top Box (The PowerTV White Paper: Open-Platform Arch
itecture for Interactive Digital Set-Top Boxes) ”
(http // www.powertv.com / Product / Complete / White.htm
See l). An important product is "WebTV (R)" or a combination of a web access device with normal consumer television. Such web access devices include a modem or network interface (typically included in the top box of a cable television set), a basic processor capable of performing Internet access, and the resulting information to a normal consumer. A graphic generator capable of outputting in a format suitable for display on a television. Other important web access devices include Webputer® (a basic Web scalable full computer).
TV (registered trademark) device) and Webman (registered trademark)
(A personal digital assistant with web access through a cellular or wireless network) and Webk
iosk.RTM. (a public web access terminal setup similar to an ATM).

A software application executed on a host capable of accepting a question and searching for / displaying information generated at a remote node is a web browser (b).
The software application running on the server node that queries the database stored on the server node or obtains information to communicate to the interrogating node is called web "server" software. Called Lycos
(Registered trademark), Open Text (registered trademark),
Infosek®, Archiext
Software (registered trademark), America On
line (registered trademark), Yahoo (registered trademark)
Web browsers and web server software are provided by a number of organizations such as Microsoft Corporation, TradeWave®, University of Washington, Netscape®, Misaic®, and Twinbridge®. .

Generally speaking, all web servers have an acronym or "domain name" for an Internet address that conforms to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) protocol. A central committee, called the Internic, manages the assignment of domain names to web servers, in particular to ensure the uniqueness of the domain names throughout the Internet. A domain name is nothing less than a unique acronym that can be translated into an IP address. The user of the web browser running on the host node, e.g., host h1, types in a character communication command (using a manual input device) according to the following URL protocol: http: //www.domain name.entity type Allows input of a request to connect to a particular remotely accessible server, for example server s2. Where "http" identifies the transmission protocol to be used in combination with the IP protocol, "www" represents the World Wide Web, "domain name" is a specific domain name specified by the user, “Entity ty
"pe" can be "mil" (military), "edu" (educational institution), "gov" (government agency), "org" (other organizations), "net" (network management organization), or
"Com" (company). The communication command of the character is often called "URL". In response, host h1 performs one of a multi-step sequence of communicating with a server node corresponding to the domain name. If host h1 has an available translation of the domain name to the corresponding IP address in memory 12, then host h1 can communicate packets directly with the server node to be contacted. The processor 11 of the host h1 translates the domain name into the IP address of the server node to be contacted. Processor 11 creates a packet and writes the IP address of the server node to be contacted to the destination address field. The host h1 then writes a message requesting a logon to the server node to be contacted according to the URL protocol.

Alternatively, if host h1 has no translation information available, processor h1 creates a packet and writes the IP address of the domain name server of host h1 in the destination address field of the packet. The domain name server typically comprises at least one router in the wide area network W, such as the internet access provider (router r1) of the host h1, in the communication network 1 connecting the host h1 to the wide area network. Server sponsored by an inclusive network. (The IP address of the domain name server is known in advance by the host h1). Host h1 then writes a request to get a translation from the domain name to the IP address of the server node to be contacted. The I / O port 13-1 of the host h1 is
Send the packet to its domain name server, eg, server s1. When server s1 receives a packet from the host, processor 11 of server s1 looks up the domain name in the IP address translation table (stored in memory 12). The server s1 returns a domain name for the IP address conversion of the server s2 to be contacted to the host h1 in a packet. Host h1 receives the translation and then generates a packet for direct transmission to server s2.

The packet including the request to log on to the server s2 propagates on the path in the above-described format, and reaches the server s2. According to the web server software running on the server s2, the processor 11 of the server s2
Generates at least one message packet for sending back to the host h1. For example, a packet of messages may be in a hypertext make-up language, or
Contains textual / graphical document information formed according to the "HTML" format. The HTML format provides a general-purpose, display-monitor-independent description of information, so specifications for how to resize and fit text and images can be selected for each individual host depending on its display capabilities. It is.

For example, the host s1 receives information transmitting a packet from the server s2. The processor 11 of the host h1 acquires the information and translates the information into its HTML format. Next, the graphic controller 14
Displays information on the display monitor 15 in an appropriate format. Most HTML documents contain "hypertext". The hypertext describes a topic of information to which the web server s2 may store additional information, or to which the web server s2 may provide a URL of another server that has stored information about the topic. Is selectable text (of information provided by server s2). Typically, the selectable hypertext is shown in a highlighted form within the body of the information displayed on the screen of the display monitor to inform the user that the text corresponds to the hypertext. For example, a user can select / activate hypertext using a pointing device of a manual input device. In response to the selection of the hypertext, the web server software causes the processor 11 of the host h1 to correspond to the hypertext (stored in HTML format in the information obtained from the response packet first returned from the web server s2). ) Run the script. Typically, the script causes the host h1 to log on to another server node or to send a command to the same node that the host is currently logging in to obtain information corresponding to the text of the hypertext. . here,
When the user of the host node selects hypertext that triggers the execution of a script that includes sending at least one packet containing a command to access the information at the same server node that the user is currently logging;
The user says that the HTML link is "running". On the other hand, the user of the host node inputs the URL, or
When a user selects a hypertext that causes a packet containing a request to log on to the server node to be sent to the server node, the user is said to be "running" the URL. Once the URL has been executed by execution of the hypertext, host h1 logs off the current server node and logs on to the server node specified by the script (as described in the script related to the hypertext). Perform the above steps. When the HTML link is executed by executing the hypertext, the host h1 sets the IP address of the same server node as a packet and at least one information acquisition command as described in a script related to the hypertext. Write to. Next, the host h1 transmits a packet carrying a command for obtaining information related to the hypertext. This packet propagates on the path to the specified server. For example, assume that the selected hypertext executes an HTML link that sends a packet containing a command to obtain information from the same server s2 to the server s2. Server s2 receives the packet, and the web server software running thereon responds to the packet by obtaining the corresponding information (making processor 11 of web server s2 respond to the packet). Web server s2
Processor 11 generates a packet, and similarly (HT
The information (in ML format) is written into the payload of the packet, and the IP address of host h1 is written into the header of the packet. The web server s2 (I / O port 13-1 thereof) transmits the packet to the host h1. The packet propagates on the path to the host h1, as described above. The web browser software executed on the host h1 is:
The information in the packet is obtained (by the processor 11), and the information is displayed on the display monitor 15.

When the host h1 first executes the URL, and thereby logs on to the server node, the server node typically provides a secondary side where the server can provide additional information using an HTML link. Care must be taken to convey general information (sometimes called a "homepage") that specifies a particular topic. When the HTML link is executed by the host node, the server is provided with additional information, including an additional HTML link itself, to obtain more specific or relevant information from the server. That is, HTML links can "nest" in a hierarchical format that typically evolves from more general information to more specific information provided by the server.

The user may not know in advance the domain name of the web server with which he wants to communicate. Instead, the user may only know the topic of the desired information. For example, host h1 can communicate with a server such as server s1 that holds a searchable index of the domain name. Using a manual input device, a user can input a search item and perform a search. The web browser responds by sending a query packet to the server s1 along with the search item (the processor 11 responds). In response to the packet, the server s1 (the processor 11) searches the index and at least one domain name that includes a keyword and topic whose index matches the search term specified in the packet received for that domain name. Get. The server s1, for example, generates a packet, writes the IP address of the host h1 in the destination address field of the packet header, and writes the obtained domain name in the payload of the packet. Server s1 then
The packet is transmitted to the host h1. In response to receiving the packet, the web server software
And causing the graphic controller 14 to display the obtained domain name on the display monitor 15 for selection by the user. Each server s1 that can perform an index search in the above format is called a "gopher" server.

In addition to the logon and search functions, a URL
Supports a file transfer protocol for file transfer called FTP and a newsgroup subscription protocol (eg, Internet Group Management Protocol, or IGMP). Both of the above protocols are well known and need not be described here. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,283 and S. Deer
ing) "Internet network and extended LA
N for multicast routing (Multicast R
outing in Internet Networks and Extended LANs) ”
See SIGCOMM, page 55, August 16, 1988. Newsgroups are hosts, for example,
This is a multicast routing group to which the host h1 can join. After joining the newsgroup, host
All messages sent to a particular newsgroup by 1 are distributed to all member nodes of the newsgroup in a multicast routing fashion. Similarly, the host h1 receives a message transmitted from another member node to the newsgroup. As with domain names, each newsgroup is given an identifying acronym. The user may or may not be familiar with the name of the newsgroup that he wants to subscribe to. The names of such newsgroups are stored on the Gopher server in a keyword / topic searchable format.

FIG. 4 shows Netscape (registered trademark).
An image displayed on a display screen of a typical browser such as Navigator. A window 31 for displaying information obtained from the web server is provided. Various selectable control button icons 33 for initiating communication with the remote web server or stopping communication with the web server
Is provided on the window 31. Icon 33
Above is a title bar 35 with a selectable drop-down menu.

A user seeking an unknown web server that provides a certain topic of information, or an unknown Gopher server or newsgroup related to a specific topic typically performs the following process. The user performs a search using the Gopher server and the selected keyword. This allows web servers, newsgroups,
A domain name such as a gopher server is obtained. The obtained URL of the domain name is displayed in a list form on the display screen of the display monitor 15 for selection by the user. The user then attempts to log on or subscribe to the selected one of the servers or newsgroups obtained during the search. During the logon to the server, the user continues searching by executing hypertext in an effort to obtain information of interest. As described above, the execution of such hypertext confirms more HTML links, URLs, domain names of web servers and gofor servers, newsgroups, and the like.

Suppose a user logs on to multiple servers and executes multiple URL and HTML links during any search. During or after performing the search, the user may wish to re-logon and / or re-execute the selected URL or HTML link. Most conventional web browsers provide a history list of URLs and HTML links used by a user during a session. The user displays the history list, scrolls through the list to a desired position, and selects an appropriate URL or HT.
The ML link can be selected. The web browser responds by sending an appropriate message packet to the corresponding web server to regain the information of interest to the user. However, such URL and HTML link history lists are not stored between sessions. Certain web browsers give users the ability to record their favorite URLs and HTML links (and corresponding IP addresses and messages to access) for use in the next session. Other web browsers record the information obtained. However, recording of information is performed strictly in the order in which the information was obtained.

[0023]

There are a number of problems associated with conventional browsers. First, the historical record of URLs and HTML links is a sequential, uniform list of exact user usage order,
If the HTML and HTML links are used multiple times during a session, duplicate URLs and HTML links are included. Users often access URLs and HTMs during a session.
The list immediately relaxes any ordering idea, or search hierarchy, according to the interrelationship of the separate URL and HTML links in the list, since L-links can be reused. Simply put, most servers configure their HTML links in a hierarchical fashion from general topics to highly specific topics. However, the user does not execute the HTML links in the hierarchical order described above, but rather, especially if the user searches for information on at least two unrelated topics.
Link execution may be skipped. Second, even though the preferred URL and HTML links may be recorded by the user, the graphical user interface typically requires the user to re-establish communication with such preferred or frequently accessed nodes. Need to perform a number of "point-and-click" steps using a pointing device.
For example, the user may click on the "preferred location" icon to first display the preferred location. The user then needs to search through the preferred locations listed to select the appropriate URL or HTML link. Since no mechanism is provided for displaying icons in a number of preferred locations in a selectable format, an easy one-step acquisition of information corresponding to the preferred URL / HTML link is realized. Third, the UR used
The preferred or historical record of an L / HTML link is that the URL or HTML entry is a URL, HT
It does not indicate whether it is an ML link, a Gopher index, a newsgroup, or the like. Fourth, index ordering is not provided to users who revisit the information obtained. Rather, the user needs to scroll through the displayed information in the same order as it was obtained.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0025]

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention. One example environment for using the present invention is a communication network such as the Internet, where remotely accessible server nodes are connected to at least one host node via a backbone network. Communication is performed by transmitting a bit stream structured into packets between a host node and a server node via a backbone network.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the host node is provided with an I / O port and a display monitor. The I / O port sends a packet containing a request for information to a particular one of the remotely accessible server nodes. In response, the I / O port sends a packet containing the requested information, an entry describing another topic of information that may be provided by a particular server node, and an entry describing another server node. Receive. The display monitor has a view area on which an image is displayed. The display monitor displays a hierarchically structured table. The table includes entries that describe remotely accessible server nodes and entries that describe topics of information that can be obtained from the remotely accessible server nodes. The entries are hierarchically structured to show the hierarchical structure of the entries as provided for searching on a remotely accessible server node, the hierarchical order of the search being the specific search by the host node. Has nothing to do with the order.

For example, consider structuring information as obtained from an exemplary server node. The host node indicates the server node, and the URL corresponding to the server node
When the server node first logs on to the server node, the server node obtains so-called "homepage" information (in the form of a packet) of general characteristics that describe another type of information topic that can be obtained from the server node. so)
Transmit. Topics are provided as additional URLs and HTML links (indicating secondary topics of information obtained from a given server node), ie, hypertext, and that the display monitor can select the hypertext. Display in the format shown. When the user selects one of the above topics, for example, a hypertext indicating an HTML link, a set of instructions of an HTML script related to the selected hypertext is executed, and information of information corresponding to the selected topic is displayed. A packet containing the request is sent. The server receiving the packet sends back at least one packet including the acquisition information corresponding to the selected topic to the host node. The newly obtained information can be included in a selectable HTML link corresponding to related information or a secondary topic of the information.

The representation of the above information to obtain from the server node defines a hierarchy of structure from the highest generality to the highest specificity. For example, the URL of the server node
Is at the highest level of the hierarchy. UR on homepage
The L and HTML links are at the next level of the hierarchy. If one of the HTML links on the home page is executed, the URL and the HTML link in the information obtained by the above execution are at the next hierarchical level, and so on. The display monitor displays a hierarchical table of entries showing the history of URLs and HTML links executed, which table reflects the hierarchical structure as provided by the server node. For example, the display monitor displays each URL and HTML obtained using the server homepage corresponding to the executed URL.
One table entry for the link, its URL
Display immediately below the entry for. Entries for URLs and HTML links obtained on the home page are, for example, one tab stop indented to indicate that they are at a lower hierarchical level than the URL. If one of the homepage HTML links is executed, the display monitor displays, for example, a list of URL and HTML link entries in the obtained information immediately below the entry corresponding to the executed HTML link. I do. The list of this second entry is the HTML on which the HTML link was executed.
It may be indented with two tab stops to indicate that it is at a level below the link.

For example, a display monitor displays the above information using a book image having a number of index tab images and a structure. The image on the index tab can be defined by the user. Each tab is associated with information in HTML format obtained from a remotely accessible server node, and such information is maintained in historical order. One tab showing a table of contents includes an overall hierarchical tabular list of URLs and HTML links organized into chapters (top level of the hierarchy) and sections (lower levels of the hierarchy). The user scrolls through the table of global entries in the table of contents. Using a pointing device, the user selects the entry displayed for that information in the table of contents, or selects an image on the index tab using the pointing device to create the respective URL or HTML link. Proceed to the information obtained by executing. Thus, the hierarchical structure provides an index for the acquired information.

That is, a host node that facilitates communication with a remotely accessible server node is obtained.
In particular, the host node maintains a structured history of the remotely accessible access server and information topics obtained therefrom, and the information topics are the information of the information from such remotely accessible servers. The acquisition is structured in a parallel hierarchical format. Thus, the user can more easily determine the selection of the topic of the obtained information, so that the search for the desired information is easily performed.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For simplicity of description, the description of the present invention will be made in sections. Hardware FIG. 5 shows a host node 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2, the node 50 includes a processor 51, a memory 52, and at least one I / O.
It comprises an O port 53, a graphic controller 54, a display monitor 55, and a manual input device 56. Processor 51, memory 52, I / O port 5
3, the graphics controller 54, and the manual input device 56 are all connected to a system bus 57 that transfers data and instructions between the various devices. Processor 5
1 is an Intel® Pentium® processor or a Motorola® P
It is a microprocessor such as lowerPC 603e (registered trademark) or 604e (registered trademark). Memory 5
2 includes a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a CD, an SRAM, a DRAM memory, and the like. The I / O port 53 is a modem, an Ethernet interface, or the like, and includes a cellular telephone, an analog telephone line, or a leased digital line. The graphic controller 54 is a Diamond
Any suitable graphic controller, such as d (R) Steelth (R), may be used. The display monitor 55 is a liquid crystal display or a cathode ray tube. The manual input device 56 includes a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse or a trackball), or a stylus pen. Bus 57
PCI bus, ISA bus, EISA bus, Nubus,
Alternatively, any other type of bus.

The “host node” 50 may be in the form of a set top box, in which case the display monitor 5
5 is a normal consumer television that can optionally display video. The I / O device 53 includes an interface for connecting to a television network that carries both video and other communication services to the set's top box. Alternatively, the "host node" forms part of a game console or scalable computer. I / O
Device 53 may be part of a cable television network as described above, or a modem that connects to a telephone network. Alternatively, host node 50 may be part of a personal digital assistant, where I / O device 53 includes, for example, a cellular or cordless telephone transceiver. The host node may be incorporated into a public access terminal such as a kiosk, or may be a digital versatile disc or CD-ROM.
It may be combined with a consumer electronic device such as a ROM.

Overview of Communication / User Interface The processor 51 and the graphic controller 54
The software that implements packet communication with a server that can be remotely accessed via the I / O port 53 is executed. For web communications, the processor 51 can generate packets requesting information, subscribe to newsgroups, interrogate the Gopher index, and execute HTML links according to the URL protocol. The packet thus generated contains the appropriate IP address of the server to receive the packet. I / O port 53
Transmits the packet via a wide area network similar to the wide area network W. Packets propagate from node to node on the wide area network and are passed to the appropriate server. The server generates at least one packet in response and transmits the generated packet to the host 50 via the wide area network.
To the I / O port 53. Processor 51 and graphics controller 54 obtain the information in HTML format from the packets received from the remote server, translate the information, and display the information on display monitor 55 in a consistent format.

Display of Graphical User Interface FIGS. 6 and 7 show images 10 displayed on a display screen of a display monitor 55 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
0 is shown. FIG. 6 shows an image 10 actually displayed.
0, while FIG. 7 shows the display image 100 of FIG.
Are shown with an explanatory legend provided for the following description.

As shown in FIG.
Is a book-shaped sub-image 110 and a bookshelf
And an icon row 120 referred to as the icon row. A list of icons and buttons displayed on the display screen 100 (as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 11) is shown in FIG. The bookshelf 120 has a number of smaller book icons 1
21-125, ie, the labeled library (l
ibrary) 121 and travel 1
22, shopping (shopping) 123,
A game (game) 124 and an empty book (blank b
(OK) 125. Bookshelf 120 further includes a printer icon 126, an accessories icon 127, and a filling icon 128.
And a translation icon 129. Each book icon 121-125 corresponds to a distinct structure of URL and HTML links to distinct topics of interest. When a book icon 121-125 is selected, the URL and H recorded for that topic
An image 110 in the form of a book with the TML displayed is displayed as described below. Hereinafter, selecting an icon means using the pointing device of the manual input device 56, positioning the pointer cursor over the icon, and "clicking on", that is, pressing the select button of the pointing device at least once. . Alternatively, the icon causes the point of the stylus to touch a portion of the display screen on which the icon to be selected is displayed,
The selection may then be made by removing points from contact with the display screen. The empty book 125 is a URL
Or, the icon has no HTML link stored yet. When the printer icon 126 is selected by the user, the printer attached to the host 50 prints the information specified by the user, such as a part of the information displayed on the display monitor 55. When the accessory icon 127 is selected, the display monitor 55 operates / selects by selecting each icon.
Display windows of other icons corresponding to various other applications and tools that can be used. The writing icon 128 includes a number of URLs / HTMs.
From the L link structure, the obtained information is related,
Selected to control one to be structured. The translation icon 129 is selected to translate the obtained information from one language to another language, for example, from Chinese to English.

When the web server of the host 50 is executed for the first time, a "workbook"
A specific URL / HTML link structure, referred to as, is first used by the processor 51. Any UR
When the L / HTML link structure is activated, a book-shaped image 110 is displayed. The title of a particular URL / HTML link structure, in this case "Workbook", is displayed in the title bar 130 of the image 110 in the form of a book. Workbook is a kind of Gopher server UR
L, newsgroup URL, and other common search U
Preloaded URL / HTML link organization including RL. As the user progresses through the communication session, the activated URLs and the received / activated URLs and HTML links are recorded in the workbook in a hierarchical format as described below. U thus recorded
RL and HTML links are selectively mapped to other URL / HTML link structures. When a session ends, the URLs and HTML links of the workbooks acquired and not pre-loaded during the session are deleted. This allows the user to perform an arbitrary search and then later retrieve the desired information (library 121, travel 122, shopping 123 or game icon 12).
4 or an empty URL / HTML link structure (represented by the empty book icon 125).

Continuing with the description of the image 100, next to the title portion 130 of the title bar are a back and forward button image 131 and a close button image 132. The backward and forward button images 131 are displayed in the display area 1 of the book image.
Used to scroll through the information shown at 50. Each entire area 150 of information is considered a page. When the back and forward buttons 131 are selected by the pointing device of the manual input device 56, the display monitor 55 may be, for example, hierarchically structured and U-shaped.
The RL / HTML link information or the previous or next page of the acquired document information is displayed in the display area 150.
The pages are numbered sequentially, and the number of the currently displayed page is displayed between the images 131 of the back and forward buttons, as shown in FIG. Close button 132
Is selected, the processor 151 and the graphic controller 154 terminate the execution of the web browser software.

Below the title bar are a number of buttons / indicators 141-145. Connection indicator 1
41 displays a moving image when communication with a remotely accessible server node is in progress. The gauge 142 is
It graphically displays the percentage of the information to be obtained that is actually received by the host 50. Typically, U
When performing an RL or HTML link, the server node sends an indication of the amount of information transmitted so far, while transmitting a packet containing the requested information.
The processor 51 and the graphic controller 54
Update the displayed gauge graphic 142 to reflect the indication received from the server. The stop button image 143 is selected by the user to end the communication with the server. In response, I / O port 53
Stops receiving packets from the server, including possibly performing a step of terminating the current communication connection with the server (such as hanging up). The input URL area 144 is selected to accept a URL keystroke. The user types in the URL of the server he wants to communicate with,
3 selects the execute button image 145 to execute the URL input to the area 144 (that is, requests the I / O port 53 to convert the URL to the IP address, and if it is not available, inputs it to the area 144). And send an appropriate packet requesting to log on to the server corresponding to the entered URL).

The vertical and horizontal scroll bars 146 are provided so that the user can scroll the information displayed in the display area 150 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The zoom corner 147 is provided to adjust the size of the display area 150. Finally, an image of a user-selectable index tab 148 is provided. Hereinafter, the purpose will be described in detail.

Basic Information Acquisition Operation FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the host 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Step 202
, The processor 51 stores certain information in the memory 5.
2 and initializes the I / O port 53 and, if necessary, initializes the host node 50 by establishing a communication connection with the Internet access point. The graphic controller 54, as shown in FIG.
Workbook image 110 on display monitor 55
And an image 120 of the bookshelf. Step 204
At, the user provides keystrokes or point and click input commands using the keyboard and / or pointing device of the manual input device 56. Next, in step 206, the processor 51 determines whether the input command provided by the user is intended to obtain information, that is, whether the user has indicated a desire to execute a URL or HTML link. If the purpose is not to obtain information,
The user can display the information obtained earlier, or
You may have given the command entered to restructure the URL / HTML link structure. In this case, the processor 51 branches to a step generally indicated by "A".

Assume that the user has not given an information acquisition command. Such a command is given in one of four separate ways. As shown in step 208, the user may have typed in only the URL to be executed. For example, the user places the pointing device over the input URL area 144 and "clicks" the pointing device selection button to display the URL.
And put the cursor of the pointing device on the execution button 145, and click the selection button of the pointing device.

In the case of the second example shown in step 210, the user uses one of the displayed tabs 148 to perform the associated URL or HTML link. As noted above, each tab 148 is associated with information obtained when the corresponding URL or HTML link was performed. The user can proceed to the relevant acquisition information simply by selecting the corresponding tab 148. For example, the user places the cursor of the pointing device on the desired tab 148 and clicks the pointing device select button. This allows the user to
The L or HTML link can be executed again. Therefore, the user selects the execution button image 145 by placing the pointer cursor on the execution button and clicking the selection button of the pointing device.

A third example is shown in step 212. In this example, the user scrolls through the URL and HTML links displayed in the display area 150.
As described above, the user can use the scroll bar image 146 or the back and forward button images 131 to scroll through separate pages of information obtained from the remotely accessible server node. The user can further select a separate one of the tab images 148 to move through the acquired information more quickly. The acquired information includes an HTML (hypertext) link and a URL. Desired URL or HTML
When the link is displayed on the page, the user selects it using a pointing device. That is, the user moves the cursor of the pointing device to a desired URL.
Alternatively, move on the entry of the HTML link and click the selection button of the pointing device. A double click may be required, or the user may click once on the entry of the desired URL or HTML link to highlight the entry, and then
There is a case where the icon 145 of the execution button is clicked to select / execute the L or HTML link.

A fourth example is shown in step 214. This example is similar to step 212 except that a table of contents is used. As described below, the table of contents includes a hierarchical history of all URL and HTML link entries that have been executed or obtained. URL and HT on the highest level of the hierarchy
The advantage is that only ML links are initially displayed in the table of contents. Links on the lower levels of the hierarchy can be systematically displayed by moving the pointing device cursor over a particular entry in the table of contents and double-clicking the pointing device select button. In response, the display monitor 55
URLs and HTML links at the next level of the hierarchy are displayed under a particular entry. FIG. 1 shows the image 100 ′ displayed on the display screen of the display monitor when the tab image of the table of contents is selected.
0 is shown. As shown in the title bar 130 ', the library 121 has been selected. Bookshelf 1
It is necessary to pay attention to the change of the icon image of the library icon 121 'in 20'. Further, instead of the connection indicator 141, the gauge 142, the stop button 143, and the image 145 of the execution button, the date 151 and the clock 15 are replaced.
Two images are shown. Images 141, 142, 143
And 145 are not displayed. The reason is that such information is considered unnecessary. Image 14
1, 142, 143 and 145 relate to the processing of communication,
On the other hand, the table of contents relates to the information obtained earlier.

Display area 150 'of book-shaped image 110'
Shows three entries 161, 162 and 163 at the highest level. Each of the three entries is associated with a separate URL. URL entry 1
62 is an entry 171 of the Gopher URL, entries 172 and 173 of the newsgroup URL,
Pertaining to entries 174 and 175 of the HTML link. General login URL and Gopher URL
It should be noted that different icons are used for newsgroup URLs and HTML links to distinguish them. In addition, URL entry 1
76 and 177 are associated with the URL entry 162. As will be described in more detail below, when the URL of entry 162 is executed for the first time, the server contacted is the Gopher URL of entry 171 and the newsgroup URL of entries 172 and 173.
And the HTML links of entries 174 and 175,
The URLs of entries 176 and 177 were returned. Since each entry 171-177 was created from information obtained from the access server in response to execution of the URL of entry 162, entry 171-177 is one to indicate that it is at the second lower level of the hierarchy. It is shown indented with three tab stops. In addition, these entries 171-177 are URL entry 1
It is listed below entry 162 to indicate that it is related to 62.

The URL entry 181 is associated with the HTML link 175. For example, when the HTML link is executed, the server
return it. Thus, the entry 181 of this URL is
It is indented with two tab stops to indicate that it is at a hierarchical level below the HTML link of entry 175. The URL entry 181 is further listed below to indicate that it is associated with the HTML link entry 175. Similarly, when the URL of entry 181 was executed, the accessed server returned the HTML link associated with entries 182 and 183. These are entries 181
Are shown indented with three tab stops to indicate that they are at a lower hierarchical level than the URL associated with. Entries 182 and 18 shown above
3 is listed under the URL entry 181.

Given the hierarchical list shown in FIG. 10, the user can recognize the hierarchical structure / display of information at the server node. For example, the user executes the URL of entry 162 (which causes the HTML link of entry 175 to be obtained from the server), executes the HTML link of entry 175 (which causes the URL of entry 181 to be obtained from the server), and then executes the HTML link of entry 181. By executing the URL, entry 1
It can be seen that 82 HTML links are found. This can help the user determine how the information was located and the hierarchical structure of obtaining the information at the various server nodes. Furthermore, if the user is interested in examining the information obtained earlier, the user can immediately identify the information due to the hierarchical structure of the table of contents. Thus, the user can immediately select an appropriate page on which the acquired information is displayed.

Referring again to FIG. 9, step 21
4, when the user selects the tab of the table of contents, the display monitor 55
Only 61, 162 and 163 are displayed in the display area 150 '. In response to the user selecting entry 162, display monitor 55 displays entries 171-17.
7 is further displayed. In response to the user selecting entry 175, display monitor 55 further displays entry 181. In response to the user selecting entry 181, display monitor 55 further displays entries 182 and 183. When the user places the desired URL or HTML to execute, the URL or HTML link is executed simply by selecting the appropriate entry and using a pointing device to select the execute command from the optional drop down menu 153 '. You.

Next, in step 216, the processor 51 translates the selected URL or HTML link. In particular, the execution of the HTML link depends on the selected HT
According to the script associated with the ML link, it is necessary to execute the appropriate URL to contact the appropriate server, and then send the corresponding command. Moreover,
Each URL needs to be translated to a corresponding IP address. Such URL-to-IP address translation information is held locally in memory 52 and then stored in processor 51.
Performs the translation. Alternatively, processor 51 must first create a packet for transmission to the domain name server of host node 50 to perform the required translation. After creating at least one packet suitable for implementing the selected URL or HTML link, processor 51 converts the at least one packet to an I / O packet.
The packet is transmitted to the O port 53, and the packet is transmitted to the I / O port 53 via the wide area network.

At least one packet propagates over the backbone network of the wide area network. Wide area network routers use the IP address of the packet to supply the packet. The at least one packet eventually reaches the server node to which the packet was directed. The server node responds by sending at least one packet back to the host 50 via the wide area network.

The packet transmitted by the server node propagates on the wide area network until reaching the I / O port 53. For example, the transmitted packet includes information in HTML format. At step 218, the processor 51 extracts the obtained information from the received packet and interprets the obtained information. This information is structured and stored in a display memory 5.
2 is stored. In particular, URLs and HTML links
The translations of the associated scripts and addresses are recorded / stored in the memory 52 in a hierarchical format. The processor 51 displays information on a display monitor 55 in combination with the graphic controller 54. Such information is displayed in a scrollable format in the display area 150 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Executable URL and HTML links are identified and represented in a highlighted form in display area 150 to inform the user of its feasibility.

Next, at step 220, the processor 51 determines whether any of the obtained URLs or HTML links in the information received at step 218 replace new or existing information. Examine the table of contents to make sure. If the information is already accurately reflected in the table of contents, the processor 5
1 only updates the date and time of receipt of such information (the date and time of the received information is shown in FIG. 10). Further, if necessary, the processor 51 may change the information of the page number in which the acquired information is arranged,
Update the information of the page number.

When new URL and / or HTML link information is obtained, the processor 51 adds an entry to the table of contents corresponding to such information. Entries are added in a hierarchical format and the URL or HTM executed to obtain such a new URL or HTML link
Associated with the L link. This is shown in FIG. Before executing the HTML link of entry 183, entry 1 is displayed in display area 150 of the table of contents.
No entry can be displayed below 83. Entry 18
Execution of the third HTML link causes the server node to return, among other things, a new URL and a new HTML link. For example, the processor 51 creates one entry 184 for a new URL and creates one entry 185 for a new HTML link. Next, if a table of contents is displayed, a new entry 184
And 185 are entries 183 in display area 150 ".
Can be displayed directly below. Entry 18 above
4 and 185 are four tab stops indented to indicate that they are at a hierarchical level below entry 183.

After execution of step 220, execution returns to step 204. Once again, the processor 51 becomes available to receive and process the entered command. Note that in addition to the above URL and HTML links, the information obtained may include more basic hypertext links. For example, consider the case where the received information contains several pages of information at length. Sometimes hypertext links are provided just enough to advance the display of information within the currently obtained text, i.e. when the hypertext link is selected, the display of the information will be another starting point in the obtained information. "Jump" to Such hypertext links are accepted in a number of ways. For example, if a hypertext link directs the user to another page of displayed information (other than the page where the selectable text of the hypertext link appears), such hypertext link is recorded in the table of contents. Is done. In other cases, hypertext links are not recorded because they do not provide substantial indexing. In determining whether a hypertext link should be recorded, the processor 51 determines the location of the selectable text and the location of the “jump point” where the display proceeds in response to the selection of the hypertext link. Look for hypertext links that contain. Based on the relative distance (in terms of display screen area occupancy), processor 51 determines whether to record the hypertext link as an HTML link.

Displaying Information In addition to transmitting packets requesting the acquisition of information, the present invention can be used to easily display previously obtained information. For example, the user can select the tab image 148 without selecting the image 145 of the execution button. As a result, the processor 51 and the graphic controller 54 communicate with the URL or H associated with the selected tab image.
By executing the TML link, the first page of the obtained information can be easily displayed. Alternatively, the user can scroll through a hierarchical list of URLs and HTML links. The user then selects the View drop down menu 15
Select a Goto command from 5 '(see FIG. 10). This again allows the processor 51 and the graphic controller 54 to display the first page of information obtained from executing the URL or HTML link associated with the selected entry. After the user displays the first page of information, the user may see the scroll bar 146 and the back and forward button image 1
31 to scroll through the information.

Modification of Structure As described above, the processor 51 receives a command other than the information acquisition command. For example, the processor 51 can receive a command to edit the structure of the entry and / or the information obtained. An example of such a command is a command for deleting the entry corresponding to the selected URL or HTML link. Thereby, UR
When an L or HTML link deletion request is executed, all acquired information is deleted. Such a delete command is executed using a pointing device.
For example, consider the table of contents in FIG. If the user wishes to delete the text associated with entries 181-183, the user first positions the pointing device cursor over entry 181. The user presses the pointing device select button and holds it, and the user moves the pointing device cursor over the entry 183. As a result, the entries 181-183 are selected. The user then selects a delete command from the Edit drop down menu 154 '. In response, processor 51 responds to URLs (including IP address translations and scripts) corresponding to entries 181-183.
And all the information obtained during the execution of the URL and the HTML link.

Alternatively, the user can simply “cut and paste” the entry in the structure corresponding to the predetermined book.
However, it is possible to move the entry and related information between the URL / HTML link structures corresponding to different books. For example, after selecting entries 181-183, the user may see the Edit drop-down menu 15
It is assumed that a cut command is easily selected from 4 '. The user then positions the pointing device cursor at the newly desired location in the table of contents. Next, the user selects a paste command from the Edit drop-down menu 154 '. The selected entries 181-183 are moved from the original location to the new desired location. The relevant information obtained at the time of execution of the entry is the resulting new page number corresponding to the new location of entry 181-183 in the table of contents (ie, entry 18 of the new location).
3 before the information of the entry after (and after the information before the entry 181 at the new location). Note that the user can change the hierarchical level of the entry in the above manner.

After the entry 181-183 is selected, another book icon, for example, a book icon travel
If (Travel) 122 is selected, the entry 181-
183 and related information can be found in Book Icon Travel 12
It is possible to move to the URL / HTML link structure related to 2. Therefore, Travel Book Icon 1
After selecting 22, the user selects a tab image of the table of contents. The user then scrolls through the table of contents, moves the pointer cursor to the desired location, and selects paste from the Edit drop down menu 154 '.

Hierarchical Record / Display Filtering When information is obtained from a server node, the information is recorded / stored in memory 52 for later display. As described above, the table of contents of the URL / HTML link structure is as follows:
Provides a way to index information. For example, how to structure / associate the acquired information is defined by the user. In particular, a "filter" is provided in the URL / HTML link structure corresponding to each book icon 121-125. Each filter is a list of pattern matching terms called reference terms. When information is obtained from the server node, the processor 51 replaces the heading text or title in the obtained information with each URL /
Compare with the list of reference terms of the filter of the HTML link structure. If the acquired heading information includes text that matches any one of the reference terms in the filter, the processor 51 determines whether the icon 1
Information is recorded in the URL / HTML link structure corresponding to 21-125. When the information is recorded or stored in a particular URL / HTML link structure, the processor 51 follows the above steps to create a table of contents of the URL / HTML structure (where the URLs and HTML links are hierarchically structured) in a hierarchical manner. Change to It should be noted that the processor 51 records the obtained information so as to be associated with two or more URL / HTML link structures.
Nevertheless, the processor 51 stores the information in the memory 52 only once, for example. Many URL / HT
To enable recording of the ML link structure, the processor, for example, creates and stores a pointer to the stored information and associates such a pointer with each URL / HTML link structure where the obtained information is to be recorded. . If there is no term in the filter that matches the retrieved information, the processor 51 maps the retrieved information to the currently opened URL /
Record in HTML link structure.

The filter is used as follows. The user has the URL / HTM for the filter to be changed
The icon 121-125 of the book having the L link structure is selected. Using the pointing device, the user selects the filling icon 128. Alternatively, the selected U
While the table of contents of the RL / HTML link structure is being visualized, the user can select an option.
From the drop-down menu, a template command can be selected using a pointing device. This is shown in FIG. When the template command is selected, another filterable option, eg, “Library”,
“Book”, “Paper”
r) "," News ", etc. A second expanded pop-up menu appears, with the user opening the book to change the list of reference terms used for pattern matching against the currently open book. For example, the processor 51 provides the title associated with each URL / HTML link structure as a default pattern matching reference term (ie, by default, the structure of the library book has the reference term “library” and the travel book The structure of
1 ", and so on.) The user can enter alternative and additional reference terms into the filter template. The user then saves the changes to the filter template.

It is necessary to note the advantages provided to the user. First, the user may use the appropriate URL / HTML associated with the appropriate information associated with the appropriate book icon.
There is no need to actively cut, copy, or paste the acquired information to structure it into a link structure.
Rather, the template and filtering characteristics of the filter allow processor 51 to perform such structuring automatically. Second, the template for the filter is stored in the memory 52 between sessions. Thus, the user does not need to devise a filtering strategy and does not need to enter filter template terms during the session for use in structuring the record of acquired information. Third, the reference terms used as a basis for performing pattern matching may be modified according to user requirements and design in order to more accurately classify the information into the appropriate URL / HTML link structure.

Conclusion Briefly, the above description has disclosed the structuring of URL and HTML links to a host node having an I / O port and a display monitor. The I / O port provides remote access to packets containing requested information, entries describing other information topics available from a particular server node, and entries describing other server nodes. Send to a specific one of the possible server nodes. The display monitor has a view area on which an image is displayed. The display monitor displays a hierarchically structured table. The table includes an entry describing a remotely accessible server node and an entry describing a topic of information obtainable from the remotely accessible server node. The entries are hierarchically structured to show a hierarchical structure of entries as provided for acquisition from a remotely accessible server node, the hierarchical order of acquisition being by the host node. It is independent of the particular acquisition order.

[0063]

According to the present invention, the following aspects are realized: (1) URLs executed or returned in information packets from a remotely accessible server node.
And entries describing HTML links are recorded independent of the order in which they are executed. Rather, the entries are hierarchically structured depending on the URL or HTML link, allowing the detection of such additional URL and HTML links. (2) By hierarchically recording the contents of URL and HTML link entries in a table, the index of the arranged relationship acquisition information can be immediately obtained. Such information can be easily rearranged to meet the needs of the user.

Finally, the above description is only intended to illustrate embodiments of the present invention without being limited to that example. Numerous other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional communication network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional node.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional packet.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display monitor using a conventional web browser.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a host node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display monitor of a host node according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display monitor of a host node according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a picture of an icon displayed on a display monitor according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process executed by the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the recording of an automated hierarchical structure of URL and HTML links according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a URL / HTML according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure showing the image displayed when changing the filter template of the link.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication network 10 node 11, 51 processor 12, 52 memory 13-1, 13-2,. . . , 13-N, 53 I /
O port 14, 54 Graphic controller 15, 55 Display monitor 16, 56 Manual input device 17 Bus 40 Packet 42 Header 44 Payload 50 Host node 57 System bus 100, 100 'Image 110, 110' Sub-image 120, 120 'Icon sequence ( (Book shelf) 121 library icon 122 travel icon 123 shopping icon 124 game icon 125 empty book icon 126 printer icon 127 accessory icon 128 filling icon 129 translation icon 130, 130 'title bar 131 retreat and forward button image 132 close button image 141 connection Indicator 142 Gauge 143 Stop button 144 Input URL area 145 Execute button 146 Scroll bar -147 Zoom corner 148 Index tab 150, 150 ', 150 "Display area 151 Date 152 Clock 153', 154 ', 155' Drop down menu 161, 162, 163, 176, 177, 181, 1
82,183,184,185 URL entry 171 Gopher URL entry 172,173 Newsgroup URL entry 174,175 HTML link entry a, b, c, d Subnetwork h, h2, h3 Host r1, r2, r3 , R4, r5, r6 router s1, s2, s3, s4, s5 server W wide area network

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G06F 17/30 419 G06F 17/30 419A H04L 12/24 H04L 11/08 12/26 Chutung Kinstreet Lane 113 No. 3 (56) References JP-A-7-98682 (JP, A) JP-A-6-176081 (JP, A) Computer Network and ISDN Systems 27 (1995) p1075-1087 Sougata Mukajames D. Foley "Visualizing the World-Wide Web with the Navigative View Builder" Computer Network and ISDN Systems 28 (1996) p1345-1353. Jones "nif-T-nav: A Hierarchical nvigator for WWW pages" Dr. Dobb's Journal vol. 21 no. 2 Feb. 1996 p18-25 Michael Doyle et. al. "Proposing a standard Web AP I." (58) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^7, DB name) G06F 15/00 310 G06F 3/14 320 G06F 12/00 547 G06F 13/00 354 G06F 17/30 110 G06F 17/30 419 H04L 12/24 H04L 12/26 INSPEC (DIALOG) JICST file (JOIS) WPI (DIALOG)

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. At least via a backbone network
One remotely accessible server node and packet
Host node of the communication network that can communicate
hand,  Remotely accessible via the backbone network
One of the various server nodespluralRequest for Information
includingrequestSend packets,RequiredRequestKett'sEach request
Of the remotely accessible server node in response to the
From the specific one inThrough the backbone network,
Obtain the requested information from the specific server node
Entries describing other information topics that can be
Entry representing the server node of theresponsePake
An I / O port for receiving packets,Connected to the I / O port, receiving the entry,
Remotely accessible server received on request
An entry representing the node and received in response to the request.
Obtaining from the remotely accessible server node
And an entry representing a topic of information that can be
Generate hierarchically structured tables to store trees
Processor and Connected to the processor and generated by the processor
For storing the hierarchically structured table created
And Connected to the memory and received in response to the most recently issued request
The information received or the remotely accessible server
-The hierarchy of the entry provided for acquisition by the node
To each hierarchically structured requirement to show
In the memory containing the received entry
Select the hierarchically structured table
And a display monitor for displaying. The hierarchical structure of the table of entries is
In a particular order issued or received in response to the request.
That the information is displayed regardless of the particular order
Feature Host node. Wherein said display mode including the remotely accessible information obtained one or more displayable a selectable topics from a packet transmitted from one of the nodes
Has information that can be displayed on Nita,該得The information includes instructions related with respective selectable topics, the I / O ports, one topic among the selectable topics
In response to the selection, in accordance with the instruction corresponding to the topic that is the selected request to obtain information for the topic which is the selected
The request packet for accommodating sends to one in the remotely accessible server nodes, the display monitor, the first representing the該得The information
Are displayed as table entries at the first level of the hierarchy, and a list of table entries including a separate table entry for each selectable topic included in the obtained information is provided for the table of the hierarchy. The host node of claim 1, wherein the host node is displayed as a second level of the hierarchy below the first level and directly below the first table entry. 3. The display monitor further comprising a manual input device for selectively scrolling through a hierarchical list of the entries displayed on the display monitor and selecting one of the entries. , The manual input device, and the I / O
The host node of claim 1, wherein the ports cooperate to send at least one request packet requesting information from a remotely accessible server node corresponding to the selected entry. 4. The display monitor displays, in the area of the screen, an icon selectable to stop packet communication with the remotely accessible server node with which the I / O port is currently communicating. The host node according to claim 1. 5. The host node of claim 1, wherein said entries of said table are selectively reconfigurable to change said hierarchical structure of said table. Wherein said display monitor additionally displays at least one icon corresponding to hierarchically structured tables, depending on the selection of the at least one icon, the display monitor, the selected 2. The host node of claim 1, wherein a portion of said entry in said additionally hierarchically structured table corresponding to said icon is displayed in an area of a screen . 7. The host of claim 1, wherein the at least one entry indexes information obtained from one of the remotely accessible server nodes corresponding to the entry. node. 8. the display monitor, the first area of the screen of the display monitor to display the specific portion of the entry scrollable said table, said display monitor, one by one in the entry at least one tab image is displayed on a second different area of the screen, select regardless of whether the said entry related to said tab image is displayed on the first region of the screen were associated with possible der Ru claim 1 host node according. 9. In response to selecting one of the entries , the display monitor displays information obtained from a server node represented by one of the entries or information relevant to a topic. The host node according to claim 1, which displays the following. 10. The obtained information is subjected to pattern matching with a list of patterns of a filter template given to each structure of the information, and the obtained information includes a pattern to which the obtained information conforms. host node of claim 1, further comprising a processor to structure the structure that have a filter template. 11. The local host nodeas well asMultiple remote
Accessible server nodesTheMultiple nodes including
When,Interconnecting the plurality of nodes, from one of the nodes
Receiving the generated packet, and
The packet to another node that terminates the packet
 Backbone network andincludingA communication network,  The host node is,  Remotely accessible via the backbone network
One of the various server nodespluralRequest for Information
includingrequestSend packets,RequiredRequestKett'sEach request
Of the remotely accessible server node in response to the
From the specific one inThrough the backbone network,
Obtain the requested information from the specific server node
Entries describing other information topics that can be
Entry representing the server node of theresponsePake
An I / O port for receiving packets,Connected to the I / O port, receiving the entry,
Remotely accessible server received on request
An entry representing the node and received in response to the request.
Obtaining from the remotely accessible server node
And an entry representing a topic of information that can be
Generate hierarchically structured tables to store trees
Processor and Connected to the processor and generated by the processor
For storing the hierarchically structured table created
And Connected to the memory and received in response to the most recently issued request
The information received or the remotely accessible server
-The hierarchy of the entry provided for acquisition by the node
To each hierarchically structured requirement to show
In the memory containing the received entry
Select the hierarchically structured table
And a display monitor for displaying. The hierarchical structure of the table of entries is
In a particular order issued or received in response to the request.
That the information is displayed regardless of the particular order
Feature Communication network. 12. A plurality of server nodes and host nodes.
DoIncludingThe host node has at least one packet.
By sending the report to the designated server node,
Log on to the specified server node or information
Server in a communication network requesting the acquisition of
Node indication and can be obtained from the server node
Is a method of structuring hierarchical information,  At least one of the I / O ports of the host node
From the server node, at least some of the packets
Is executable on the at least one server node
Information acquisition command indication and other server node indication
Receiving a plurality of packets, including: the indication of the server node or the server
Related to the command transferred to the bar node, and
So that the indication is received in a packet at the host node.
Recording the indication hierarchically, wherein the host node forwards the command to the server node
Or each sign obtained, regardless of the order in which you log on
With one tab stop from under the relevant sign
Listed indented, providing a hierarchical list of the signs
Displaying on the display device of the host node;To
HaveWay.