International Business Machines Corporation v. Airbnb, Inc.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT - filed with Jury Demand against Airbnb, Inc. - Magistrate Consent Notice to Pltf. ( Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0311-2875017.) - filed by International Business Machines Corporation. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A, #2 Exhibit B, #3 Exhibit C, #4 Exhibit D, #5 Civil Cover Sheet)(mal)

Exhibit D

USOO696.6038B1

(12) United States Patent

(10) Patent No.:

Shaver et al.

US 6,966,038 B1

(45) Date of Patent:

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED

Nov. 15, 2005

5,463,726. A

(75) Inventors: Robert Shaver, Watertown, MA (US);
Douglas Walter Conmy, Nashua, NH

10/1995 Price .......................... 395/155

5,463,727
5,469,540
5,497.455
5,500.936

NAVIGATION USING BOOKMARKS FOR
MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOCATIONS INA
WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT

10/1995
11/1995
3/1996
3/1996

A
A
A
A

Wiggins et al........ ...
Powers, III et al. ........
Suga et al. ...
...
Allen et al. ....
...

395/156
395/158
395/159
395/156

E. A
5555,370 A

(73) Assignee: International Business Machines
Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)

- - - S.E.
... 395/161

5,588,105. A
5,594,857 A

(US)

: W. et al. ....
9/1996 Lietal...
12/1996 Foster et al. ...
1/1997 King et al. .......

... 395/326
... 395/352

5,600,779 A
5,602,981 A

2/1997 N. et al. ....
2/1997 Hargrove ..........

... 395/340
... 395/352

5,617,526 A

4/1997 Oran et al. ................. 395/326

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this

5,621,880 A

4/1997 Johnson ...................... 345/700

patent is extended O adjusted under 35

5,623,589 A

4/1997 Needham et al.

U.S.C. 154(b) by 557 days.

(*) Notice:

5,644,737 A
5,657,049 A

7/1997 Tuniman et al. ...... ... 395/352
8/1997 Ludolph et al. ..
... 345/145

- - - 395/160

5,708,787 A
1-1.

(22) Filed:

5,748.927 A

(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. G06F 3/00
(52) U.S. CI.

715/854; 715/762; 715/835;
s
(58) Field of Search ................................. 345/854, 738,
345/739; 707/5011; 709/217; 715/854,
738, 739, 762, 835, 781, 716
(56)
References Cited
s

715/7s. 715/71 6

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

A
A
A
A
A
A
A

3/1989
9/1992
4/1993
8/1993
3/1994
4/1994
12/1994

... 345/340

5/1998 Stein et al. .......

... 395/333

5757.371 A

(60) Provisional application No. 60/112.203, filed on Dec. 14,
1998.

4,813,013
5,146,556
5,204,947
5,241,655
5,297.253
5,301,348
5,371,844

3/1998 Adams et al. ....

5,745,109 A

Related U.S. Application Data

- ------ ----- --------- --

3/1998 O’Rourke et al. .......... 345/349

5,734,380 A

Jun. 22, 1999

1/1998 Nakano et al. ............. 395/352

5,731,813 A

(21) Appl. No.: 09/337,539

Dunn .........................
Hullot et al. ...............
Bernstein et al. ...........
Mineki et al. ..............
Meisel .......................
Jaaskelainen ...............
Andrew et al. .............

364/900
395/159
395/157
395/156
395/160
395/800
395/155

5,375,200 A

12/1994 Dugan et al. ............... 395/159

5,404,442 A

4/1995 Foster et al. ................ 395/159

5,420,976 A
5,430,839 A

5/1995 Schell et al................. 395/159
7/1995 Jagannathan et al. ....... 395/159

2 -

4/1998 Nakano et al. ............. 345/340

5/1998 Oran et al. .

. . 345/348

a e a
(Continued)

Primary Examiner Heather R. Herndon
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP

Assistant Examiner

(57)

Mylinh Tran

ABSTRACT

A System and method for providing a bookmark Section
within each program GUI. The bookmark Section contains
one or more Selectable portions that enable a user to Select
one or more bookmarks corresponding to programs, files
within programs, views within programs or files, or any
other graphical presentation that is accessible within the
System. The user Selects a bookmark and proceeds directly
to the desired location in the System corresponding to that
bookmark with a single Step. The user may create book
marks So that locations within the System may be quickly
accessed.

30 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets

2

US 6,966,038 B1
Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,796.404 A
5,815,152 A

5,825,357.
5,841,435
5,854,630
5,864.815

A
A
A
A

8/1998 Gentner ...................... 345/352
9/1998 Collier et al. ............... 395/348

10/1998
11/1998
12/1998
1/1999

Malamud et al. ........... 345/340
Dauerer et al. ............. 345/339
Nielsen ...................... 345/352
Rozak et al. ............... 704/275

6,028,600 A

6,069,628 A

2/2000 Rosin et al. ................ 345/327

5/2000 Farry et al. ................. 345/348

6,072,485 A
6,147,684 A

6/2000 Barnes et al. ............... 345/339
11/2000 Nielsen et al.
345/344

6,184,886 B1
6,246,406 B1

2/2001 Bates et al. ................. 345/357
6/2001 Nielsen et al. .............. 345/340

* cited by examiner

U.S. Patent

Nov. 15, 2005

Sheet 1 of 7

US 6,966,038 B1

U.S. Patent

US 6,966,038 B1

U.S. Patent

Nov. 15, 2005

Sheet 3 of 7

US 6,966,038 B1

O

Program Control

Window Selection

Module

Module

Window initiation

Window Presentation

Module

Module

2

4.

Window Creation

Bookmark Presentation

Bookmark Selection

Module

lege

18

Module

120
Wisdow Selection

Bookmark Creation

Presentation Module

logs

Display

Bookmark Execution

Module
o

16

U.S. Patent

Nov. 15, 2005

Sheet 4 of 7

US 6,966,038 B1

200

Open Program

Open Window

Present Window Sollection

Display
Corresponding to the
Opened Window on Gl

Modify other Selectable

Graphical
Displays to Show inactive
State

tlaer Activity
Selection

Window Selection

Display Sefeeted
Perform Window Activity

Present Window

Corresponding to

Closed
Close Window to be Closed

Selected Graphical Display
Rerusovo Window Selection

splay

Corresponding to Closed Window
from G

Present Aother Window if

any others Exist

Fig. 4

s

U.S. Patent

US 6,966,038 B1

s

20€

US 6,966,038 B1
1
SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR IMPROVED
NAVIGATION USING BOOKMARKS FOR
MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOCATIONS IN A
WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/112,203, entitled “System
and Method For Improved Navigation In a Windowing
Environment With Window Tabs and Bookmarks, filed

Dec. 15, 1998. This application is also related to U.S. Pat.
No. 6,489,975, entitled, “System and Method for Improved
Navigation Between Open Windows. In An Application
Program Using Window Tabs,” which issued Dec. 3, 2002.

15

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a System and method for present
ing a graphical user interface that improves navigation
within a computer System by using bookmarks to enable the
user to move to any location within the computer System.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graphical user interfaces (GUI) enable users to navigate

among various options, programs, and features available by
a System and have become a Standard feature for computer
Systems. Some Systems may enable a user to open and
operate multiple different programs simultaneously, with
each program having a GUI that enables users to Select
features and functions in that program. In order to move
between multiple open programs GUIs, an operating sys
tem GUI may be provided that has a task bar containing
icons that may be Selected to activate a different open
program. A different icon may be presented in the taskbar
for each program that is opened by the System. Additional
icons may also be presented in the taskbar.
These systems do not provide a mechanism within a GUI
for easily opening other programs or files within particular
programs. To open a program, these Systems require the user

to either (1) utilize a start menu and enter the name of the
program or file to be opened (which requires the user to

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
25

35

through a number of files) or (2) minimize all currently

45

50

55

Select the icon from the task bar for the electronic mail

program and then open the desired file. This requires per
forming Several Steps for each action.
Other current Systems may present a plurality of available
programs Superimposed within a program window. For
example, a plurality of Selectable icons may be presented
near the top of the program GUI. The user may open one of
these programs by Selecting the icon presented at the top. To
open a particular file within that program, the user must still
open the program from one of the Superimposed icons and
then open the file within the program.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
overcome these and other drawbacks of current Systems.
One object of the present invention is to provide a System,
method, and computer readable medium that facilitates
navigation to any portion of a computer System.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
System, method, and computer readable medium that
enables a user to quickly acceSS any portion of a computer
System through the use of bookmarkS.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, a System and method are provided for providing
a bookmark section within each program GUI. The book
mark Section may contain one or more Selectable portions
that enable a user to Select one or more bookmarks corre

40

remember the name of the file for the program or browse

displayed program GUIs to reveal a desktop on which
various icons may be presented that, when Selected, open a
particular program that is available on the System. To open
a file within a particular program, a user repeats these Steps,
opens the desired program GUI, and then, after the desired
program GUI has been opened, the user proceeds with
various Steps within that program to open a desired file.
For example, if a user has a word processing GUI opened
and desires to read a particular electronic mail message, the
user must first open an electronic mail program and then
open the desired message within that program. If the elec
tronic mail program is already active, the user must still

2
Further, within each program a user may open multiple
files or have multiple windows opened at the same time
within that program's GUI. To navigate between various
open windows, the program GUI may provide a menu bar
with pull-down menus that provide a variety of selectable
functions. One of the pull-down menus may comprise a
listing of the opened windows within the program. The user
may thereby activate a different window by selecting from
the list of windows presented in the pull-down menu.
Some current Systems also permit the user to have mul
tiple windows presented within a program GUI window at
the same time. The user may Select the size of each window
and may have the windows tiled or cascaded, for example.
Additionally, Some Systems enable a user to minimize each
window within a program window. Accordingly, multiple
icons corresponding to each opened window within a pro
gram window may be presented within the program window.
The user may then select the window to be maximized by
Selecting the icon corresponding to the program window.
These current Systems therefore do not provide an easy way
to move between open windows within a program GUI.
Other drawbacks also exist with existing Systems.

60

sponding to programs, files within programs, views within
programs or files, or any other graphical presentation that is
accessible within the System. The user may thereby simply
Select a bookmark and proceed directly to the desired
location in the System corresponding to that bookmark with
a single Step. Further, the user may create bookmarks So that
locations within the System may be quickly accessed. For
example, if a particular word processing file within a word
processing program is frequently updated, the user may
desire to bookmark the file So that the user can open that file
by Simply Selecting the corresponding bookmark.
This system may be realized by the provision of a
plurality of modules including a bookmark Selection module
that enables a user to Select a bookmark presented in the
GUI. A bookmark execution module responds to the book
mark Selection module to present the location corresponding
to the Selected bookmark. A bookmark database is provided
that contains entries for each bookmark on the System, each
entry containing an identification of the bookmark and the
link associated with that bookmark. A bookmark creation
module enables a user to create a bookmark to a location

within the computer System. The bookmark presentation
module responds by presenting the bookmark button that has
been created.
65

Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent from reviewing the detailed
description and drawings of the present invention Set forth
herein.

US 6,966,038 B1
4
the opened window may comprise a kill box 36 associated
therewith. By selecting kill box 36, the window with which
it corresponds may be closed. For example, kill box 36 may
be selected by moving pointer 38 over the kill box and
activating pointer 38 through an external device, Such as a
keyboard or mouse. Similarly, pointer 38 may be used to
select window selection displays 34.
According to another embodiment, kill box 36 may be
presented with a window selection display 34 when pointer
38 is moved near or over that window selection display 34.
Accordingly, even if a window is not presented in opened
window area 32, the user may close that window by moving
pointer 38 over the window selection display 34 correspond
ing to that window and selecting kill box 36 presented for

3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a program GUI according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another example of a program GUI according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a System according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a method of operation of
Selectable graphical displays for windows according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 depicts a bookmark database according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 depicts a method of creating a bookmark according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 depicts a method of selecting a bookmark accord
ing to an embodiment of the present invention.

15

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
System, method and computer readable medium is provided
for facilitating navigation within a computer System. FIG. 1
depicts one embodiment of a system GUI 10 according to
one embodiment of the present invention. GUI 10 may
comprise Several features for improved navigation including

25

a window bar 33 with one or more window selection

displays 34 and one or more bookmark buttons 60.
Specifically, a window bar 33 may comprise one or more
window Selection displayS 34, each of which may corre
spond to an open window within GUI 10. In one example,
a window selection display 34 may be presented within
window bar 33 for each window opened within GUI 10.
Window selection display 34 may be selectable by a user
through any known mechanism for Selecting portions within
a GUI, including a mouse, keyboard, touch Screen, Voice
response, computer pen, motion detector or any other like
mechanism.

According to one embodiment, only one window may be
active within GUI 10. The active window may comprise the
window in which editing may be performed or from which
information may be printed, for example. According to this
embodiment, by Selecting a window Selection display 34, the
window corresponding to that window Selection display 34
may become active.
GUI 10 may also comprise an opened window area 32, as
shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which an opened
window may be displayed. Selection of a window selection
display 34 may cause the window corresponding thereto to
be presented within opened window area 32. Accordingly, a
user may navigate between a plurality of opened windows
within GUI 10 by selecting the window selection display 34
corresponding to the desired window. For example, by
Selecting window Selection display 34a, as depicted in FIG.
1, Window 1 corresponding to window selection display 34a
may be presented in opened window area 32, as depicted in

According to another embodiment of the present
invention, multiple window Selection displayS 34 may have
kill boxes 36 presented therewith within GUI 10. Also, all of
the window selection displays 34 may have kill boxes 36.
Further, to assist in navigating, GUI 10 may also comprise
a navigation bar 40 comprising, for example, one or more of
the following navigation buttons: an administration button
42, a designer module initiation button 44, a backward
button 46, a forward button 48, a stop button 50, a refresh
button 52, a search button 54 and a home button 56.

Operation of these buttons may be according to known
methods of using Such buttons. Additional uses of these
buttons is described in greater detail below. Further, admin
istration button 42 may also be implemented as a bookmark,
as those bookmarks are described below.

35

40

45

50

55

FIG. 2.

According to one embodiment of the present invention,
window Selection display 34 corresponding to the window
presented in opened window area 32 may be displayed
differently than the other window selection displays 34. Any
method for distinguishing between display portions of a GUI
may be used including colors, size, shape, tinting, flashing,
rotating, Scrolling, lining, highlighting, or any other method.
Further, the window Selection display 34 corresponding to

that window.

60

65

Forward and backward navigation buttons 46 and 48 may
also be used to navigate between windows within opened
window area 32. Selecting backward navigation button 46
presents each window opened in reverse order. Similarly,
Selecting forward navigation button 48 presents each opened
window in the order it was presented. Forward and back
ward navigation buttons 46 and 48 may also be selected
Successively to present each window that was previously
active until the final or original window is presented. Other
navigation buttons may also be used.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, GUI 10 may also comprise a bookmark bar 58.
Bookmark bar 58 may comprise one or more bookmark
buttons 60. According to this embodiment, bookmark but
tons 60 may comprise Selectable graphical presentations that
contain a presentation area containing graphics depicting
what bookmark button 60 represents. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, bookmark buttons 60
may correspond to a link to a portion of a System. The links
may refer to a program, View, page, file within a program,
View within a file within a program, action, or any other
linkable portion of a computer System. Accordingly, the user
may be able to open a view within a file within a program
by selecting bookmark button 60 in GUI 10. By enabling a
user to create bookmarks to anything within the System,
navigation within the System is vastly improved. Bookmark
buttons 60 may be replaced with any other user selectable
mechanism within a GUI, Such as a pull-down menu or the
like. Further, bookmark buttons 60 may be created in
bookmark folders which allow the user to organize the
bookmarks. Accordingly, a depiction of the folder may
appear within bookmark bar 58. The user may then activate
a bookmark button 60 by selecting the folder and then
Selecting the bookmark button or other Selectable portion
depicted within the bookmark folder.
GUI 10 may also comprise other features. Specifically,
GUI 10 may comprise a taskbar 12 comprising one or more

US 6,966,038 B1
6

S
icons for Selecting open programs in System 10. Taskbar 12
may comprise an initiation icon 14, a plurality of opened
program icons 16 and a time icon 18. Task bar 12 may
operate according to known methods of operation of task
bars.

GUI 10 may also comprise a program header 20 which
has one or more window control icons 22 within that header.

Program header 20 may display the name of the program
that is operating on the System. GUI 10 may also comprise
a file menu bar 24 comprising one or more file names 26.
Each file name 26 may represent a pull-down menu accord
ing to known methods.
GUI 10 may also comprise a toolbar 28 having one or
more tool icons 30. Tool icons 30 may be selected by a user
to perform one or more functions within the program
displayed in GUI 10. Specifically, GUI 10 may comprise a
taskbar 12 comprising one or more icons for Selecting open
programs in System 10. Task bar 12 may comprise an
initiation icon 14, a plurality of opened program icons 16
and a time icon 18. Taskbar 12 may operate according to
known methods of operation of task bars.
GUI 10 may also comprise a program header 20 which

15

has one or more window control icons 22 within that header.

Program header 20 may display the name of the program
that is operating on the System. GUI 10 may also comprise
a file menu bar 24 comprising one or more file names 26.
Each file name 26 may represent a pull-down menu accord
ing to known methods.
GUI 10 may also comprise a toolbar 28 having one or
more tool icons 30. Tool icons 30 may be selected by a user
to perform one or more functions within the program
displayed in GUI 10.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
system 100, as shown in FIG. 3, may be provided for
realizing the features described above. System 100 may
comprise, for example, one or more of the following mod
ules: program control module 102, window initiation mod

25

102, window initiation module 104, and window creation

35

40

tion module 114, bookmark creation module 116, bookmark
Selection module 118, and bookmark execution module 120.

System 100 may comprise a portion of a personal
computer, a network computer, a notebook computer, a
portable electronic device, a mainframe computer System or
any other computer System. It should also be understood that
although Several modules in FIG. 3 are depicted as being
within system 100, such modules may also be part of a
different system as well.
According to one embodiment, program control module
102 may control one or more programs within system 100
and presenting GUIs, such as GUI 10. GUI 10 may therefore
be controlled by program control module 102. Window
initiation module 104 may receive instructions to create a
new window within GUI 10 through a menu, selection of a

45

50

55

mechanism, for example. Window initiation module 104
may cooperate with an external device permitting a user to
60

Window creation module 106 may respond to an initiation
instruction through window initiation module 104. Window
creation module 106 opens a new window and presenting
that window within GUI 10 and also creates a new window

Selection display 34 corresponding to the new window. The
correspondence between the window Selection display 34
and the window may be Stored in a database So that when

Then, in step 210, system 100 waits for one of several
activities by the user. If the user performs one of a plurality
of window activities, step 212 allows the window activity to
be performed and returns to step 210. Window activities may
comprise any activity that may be performed with respect to
an open window within a program. The activity may com
prise editing, modifying, displaying, printing, Sizing,
shifting, highlighting, etc.
If, in Step 210, the System receives a user Selection of a
window selection display 34 through window selection
module 110, the System presents the window corresponding
to that window selection display 34 in step 214. Window
presentation module 112 may be responsible for presenting
the correct window. After Step 214, the System may also
perform step 208, as described above, to correctly display
the current windows.

taskbar button, Selection of a tool bar button, or Some other
utilize one of these initiation mechanisms.

module 106. When a window is opened, in step 206, a
window selection display 34 may be presented in GUI 10 by
window selection display presentation module 108. Next, in
Step 208, if other window Selection displays 34 are present
in GUI 10, those window selection displays 34 may be
modified to be distinguishable from window selection dis
play 34 corresponding to the now-opened window. Window
selection display presentation module 108 may perform this
function.

ule 104, window creation module 106, window selection

display presentation module 108, window selection module
110, window presentation module 112, bookmark presenta

window Selection display 34 is Selected, the corresponding
window may be activated and/or presented.
Window selection display presentation module 108 may
be responsible for displaying the window Selection displayS
34 in GUI 10. Window selection display presentation mod
ule 108 may also be responsible for presenting the window
Selection displayS 34 in Such a way to distinguish between
window Selection display 34 corresponding to the active or
presented window and other window selection displays 34.
Window selection module 110 may be responsible for
receiving selection of window selection displays 34. Win
dow selection module 110 may cooperate with an external
mechanism that enables a user to Select a graphical display
within a GUI, Such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. Upon Selec
tion of window selection display 34, window selection
module 110 may call window presentation module 112 and
window selection display presentation module 108 to
present the selected window and modify the display of the
window selection displays 34 within GUI 10. Window
presentation module 112 may present a window within
opened window area 32 of GUI 10.
Operation of modules 102-112 may be understood in
greater detail as described below with respect to FIG. 4. FIG.
4 is a block diagram of a method 200 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. In Step 202, a program
is opened by program control module 102. A user may then
open a window in Step 204 through program control module

65

If, in Step 210, the System receives an instruction to close
a window, then in Step 216, the window that was requested
to be closed is closed by window presentation module 112.
Then, in step 218, the window selection display 34 corre
sponding to the closed window is also removed from GUI 10
by window selection display presentation module 108. Then,
in step 220, if another window is still open within the
program, then another window is presented in opened win
dow area 32 by window presentation module 112. According
to one embodiment, the window Selected may be the last
opened window, the previously displayed window, or a
random window. Any method for Selection between a plu
rality of windows may be used to determine the window to
present. The system then performs step 208.

US 6,966,038 B1
7
If, in Step 210, a user desires to open a new window, then
steps 204, 206, and 208 may be performed, as described
above. This cycle may continue until, in Step 210, the user
decides to close the program or exit the System, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, system 100 may also present bookmarks in GUI
10. Accordingly, bookmark presentation module 114 may be
provided to present bookmarks within GUI 10. Predeter
mined bookmarks may be provided by the system. For
example, bookmarks for a home page within the program, a
mail program, a headlines page, an electronic calendar
program, an address book program, a “to-do' list, a database
replication program, “favorites” of the user, databases, cre
ating a new file, an Internet browser, etc., may be provided
by the program. Additionally, bookmarks for pages available
on the World Wide Web or other Internet location may also
be provided. For example, bookmarks Stored in a browser
application may also be displayed within these bookmarkS.
BookmarkS may comprise links to any file, View, or page
within the computer System including a view from a pro
gram operating on the computer System, execution of a
program on the computer System, a file on a Server to which
the computer System is connected, and even multiple loca
tions to retrieve multiple files. The bookmark may also
comprise a link to content outside the computer System, Such
as information accessible through a packet-Switched net

8
Further, a bookmark execution module 120 may be pro
vided that responds to bookmark creation module 116 and
interfaces with bookmark database 300 to determine the link

corresponding to the bookmark Selected. Bookmark execu
tion module 120 then opens the program identified in the
link and performs the operations necessary to present the
View, page, file or other portion identified for this bookmark.
A method 350 of creating a bookmark is described with
respect to FIG. 6. In step 352, a bookmark creation request
is received through bookmark creation module 116. The
request may be generated within any view, window, or
portion of GUI 10 of a program operation on system 100. In
step 354, bookmark creation module 116 determines the
program in which the request was generated. For example,
15

if the user desires to bookmark a view within a word

processing program, then the Word processing program in
which the bookmark is initiated is identified by bookmark
creation module 116. Also in step 354, bookmark creation
module 116 determines any additional information that is to
be stored in bookmark database 300 for this link. For

example, the file name, View, database, or other portion
within the System that is being bookmarked may be identi
fied. For example, FIG. 5 depicts information that may be
Stored for a bookmark link including a message name, as in
25

the first row, a file name as in the Second row, a web address
as in the third row, or a database name as in the fourth row.

work Such as the Internet and the World Wide Web.

Other link information may also be identified and stored

Some or all of these predetermined bookmarks may be
presented by bookmark presentation module 114. AS
depicted in FIG. 1, bookmark presentation module 114 may
present bookmark buttons 60 along one side of opened
window area 32 or in any other location.
Bookmark presentation module 114 may present a graphi
cal display within bookmark button 60 that indicates what
the bookmark represents. For example, a house may be
depicted for a home page, a newspaper may be depicted for
a Subscription, and a calendar may be depicted for a calendar
program. Bookmark buttons 60 may also be presented with
words to indicate what the bookmark represents.
Additionally, various levels of bookmarks may be provided
by bookmark presentation module 114.
Specifically, a button may be selected and then bookmark
presentation module 114 may present additional Selections.
The additional Selections may be in the form of a menu, a
pull-down Screen or a pop-up listing of additional buttons
that may be selected or other mode of selection. Multiple
levels of additional selections may also be provided by
bookmark presentation module 114.
A bookmark creation module 116 may also be provided

within bookmark database 300.

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40

45

50

that enables a user to create a bookmark. Bookmark creation

module 116 may create a bookmark database 300, as, for
example, depicted in FIG. 5. For each bookmark created,
bookmark database 300 may comprise a bookmark name
entry 302, a program entry 304, and an operations entry 306.
Program entry 304 may contain linking information, Such as
the name of the program. Operations entry 306 may contain
additional linking information, Such as the location within a
program that the bookmark represents, Such as a desired
view, file, or other portion of the system. Other database
formats may also be used for Storing the links that corre
spond to bookmark button 60 presented in the GUI 10.
A bookmark selection module 118 may also be provided.

55

60

functions described.

Bookmark selection module 118 enables a user to select a

bookmark button 60 presented in GUI 10. Bookmark selec
tion module 118 may cooperate with an external device that
enables selection of a display within a GUI.

In step 356, the information collected in step 354 may be
used to create an entry for the new bookmark in bookmark
database 300. Step 354 may be performed by bookmark
creation module 116. Then, in step 358, a bookmark button
60 may be created in GUI 10. Step 358 may be performed
by bookmark creation module 116 and bookmark selection
module 118. Other mechanisms for enabling a user to select
a bookmark button 60 may also be provided.
FIG. 7 depicts a method 370 for opening a bookmark by
a user according to one embodiment of the present inven
tion. According to this method, in Step 372, a user may select
bookmark button 60 through bookmark selection module
118. In step 374, bookmark button 60 may be used to
determine the program and other operation information
associated with the selected bookmark button 60 by using
bookmark database 300. Step 374 may be performed by
bookmark execution module 120. Then, in step 376, the
program and other operations Stored for this bookmark may
be performed by bookmark execution module 120.
Specifically, bookmark execution module 120 may open a
program, a file within a program or a view within a program,
for example. Bookmark execution module 120 may open
any location within system 100.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, a computer usable medium having computer
readable program code embodied therein for presenting
table information in portions may be provided. For example,
the computer usable medium may comprise a CD ROM, a
floppy disk, a hard disk, or any other computer usable
medium. One or more of the modules of system 100 may
comprise computer readable program code that is provided
on the computer usable medium Such that when the com
puter usable medium is installed on a computer System,
those modules cause the computer System to perform the

65

According to one embodiment, program control module
102, window initiation module 104, window creation mod

ule 106, window selection display presentation module 108,

US 6,966,038 B1
9

10

window selection module 110, window presentation module
112, bookmark presentation module 114, bookmark creation

views with in the programs, wherein the bookmarks are
presented in the graphical user interface; and respond
ing to the bookmark Selection means to resolve the link
and present information to which the link refers,
wherein the link is capable of referring to a Uniform
ReSource Locator and is also capable of referring other
location identifying information within the computer

module 116, bookmark selection module 118, and bookmark

execution module 120 may comprise computer readable
code that, when installed on a computer, perform the func
tions described above. Also, only Some of the modules may
be provided in computer readable code.
According to one specific embodiment of the present
invention, System 1100 may comprise components of a
Software system licensed by the Lotus Development Cor
poration under the names Lotus NotesTM and Lotus Domino
DesignerTM. System 100 may operate on a network and may
be connected to other systems 100 sharing a common
database. Other hardware arrangements may also be pro
vided.

System.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of
Storing entries for each bookmark on the System, each entry
containing an identification of the bookmark and the link
asSociated with that bookmark.
15

Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
consideration of the Specification and practice of the inven
tion disclosed herein. The Specification and examples should
be considered exemplary only. The intended Scope of the
invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.

the bookmark button that has been created.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on a hard drive of the
user's computer.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on the Internet.

What is claimed is:

1. A System for enabling a user to navigate within a
computer System through the use of bookmarks comprising:
a bookmark presentation module that presents one or
more bookmarks in a graphical user interface, the one
or more bookmarks corresponding to at least one link
to any location within the computer System;
a bookmark Selection module comprising one or more
Selection portions, the Selection portion enabling the
user to select one or more bookmarks corresponding to
one or more programs and one or more views with in
the programs, wherein the bookmarks are presented in
the graphical user interface; and
a bookmark execution module that responds to the book
mark Selection module to resolve the link and present

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more
25

35

information to which the link refers, wherein the link is

capable of referring to a Uniform Resource Locator and
is also capable of referring to other location identifying
information within the computer System.
2. The System of claim 1 further comprising a bookmark
database containing entries for each bookmark on the
System, each entry containing an identification of the book
mark and the link associated with that bookmark.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a bookmark

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45

creation module that enables a user to create a bookmark

button to any location within the computer System;
wherein the bookmark presentation module is responsive
to present the bookmark button that has been created.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on a hard drive of a
user's computer.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on the Internet.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on an intranet Server to

System;

enabling the user to Select one or more bookmarkScor
responding to one or more programs and one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on an intranet Server to
which a user's terminal is attached.

13. A System for enabling a user to navigate within a
computer System through the use of bookmarks comprising:
bookmark presentation means for presenting one or more
bookmarks in a graphical user interface, the one or
more bookmarks corresponding to at least one link to
any location within the computer System;
a bookmark Selection means comprising one or more
Selection portions, the Selection portion enabling the
user to Select one or more bookmarks corresponding to
one or more programs and one or more views with in
the programs, wherein the bookmarks are presented in
the graphical user interface; and
bookmark execution means for responding to the book
mark Selection means to resolve the link and present
information to which the link refers, wherein the link is

capable of referring to a Uniform Resource Locator and
is also capable of referring to other location identifying
information within the computer System.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising bookmark
database means for containing entries for each bookmark on
the System, each entry containing an identification of the
bookmark and the link associated with that bookmark.

50

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising bookmark
creation means for enabling the user to create a bookmark
button to any location within the computer System;
wherein the bookmark presentation means responds to the
bookmark creation means for presenting the bookmark
button that has been created.

55

which a user's terminal is attached.

7. A method for enabling a user to navigate within a
computer System through the use of bookmarks comprising
the Steps of:
presenting one or more bookmarks in a graphical user
interface, the one or more bookmarks corresponding to
at least one link to any location within the computer

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of
enabling the user to create a bookmark button to a location
within the computer System;
responding to the bookmark creation means for presenting

60

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on a hard drive of the
user's computer.
17. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on the Internet.
18. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more
bookmarks correspond to locations on an intranet Server to
which a user's terminal is attached.

65

19. A processor readable medium having processor read
able code embodied therein for enabling a user to navigate
within a computer System comprising:
processor readable code for causing a processor to present
one or more bookmarks in a graphical user interface,

US 6,966,038 B1
11
the one or more bookmarks corresponding to at least
one link to any location within the computer System;
processor readable code for causing a processor to enable
the user to Select one or more bookmarks correspond
ing to one or more programs and one or more views
with in the programs, wherein the bookmarks are
presented in the graphical user interface; and
processor readable code for causing a processor to
respond to the bookmark Selection means to present
information to which the link refers, wherein the link is

capable of referring to a Uniform Resource Locator and
is also capable of referring to other location identifying
information within the computer System.
20. The medium of claim 19 further comprising processor
readable code means for causing a processor to Store entries
for each bookmark on the System, each entry containing an

1O

15

identification of the bookmark and the link associated with
that bookmark.

21. The medium of claim 19 further comprising:
processor readable code for causing a processor to enable

located on the Internet.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the file, page, view,
portion of a file, portion of a page, portion of a view,
program or action available within the computer System are

the user to create a bookmark to a location within the

computer System;

processor readable code for causing a processor to
respond to the bookmark creation means for resolving
the link and presenting information to which the link
refers, wherein the link is capable of referring to a
Uniform Resource Locator and is also capable of
referring to other location identifying information
within the computer System.

25

22. The medium of claim 19 wherein the one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on a hard drive of the

user's computer.

23. The medium of claim 19 wherein the one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on the Internet.

35

24. The medium of claim 19 wherein the one or more

bookmarks correspond to locations on an intranet Server to
which a user's terminal is attached.

25. A System for enabling a user to navigate within a
computer System through the use of bookmarks comprising:
a bookmark presentation module that presents one or
more bookmarks in a graphical user interface, the one
or more bookmarks corresponding to links to any file,
page, View, portion of a file, portion of a page, portion
of a view, program or action available within the
computer System;

12
a bookmark Selection module comprising one or more
Selection portions, the Selection portion enabling the
user to Select one or more bookmarks corresponding to
one or more programs and one or more views with in
the programs, wherein the bookmarks are presented in
the graphical user interface; and
bookmark execution module for responding to the book
mark Selection module to resolve the link and present
information to which the link refers, wherein the link is
capable of referring to a Uniform Resource Locator and
is also capable of referring to other location identifying
information within the computer System.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the file, page, view,
portion of a file, portion of a page, portion of a view,
program or action available within the computer System are
located on a hard drive of the user's computer.
27. The system of claim 25 wherein the file, page, view,
portion of a file, portion of a page, portion of a view,
program or action available within the computer System are

40

located on an intranet Server to which a user's terminal is
attached.

29. A method of navigating among application programs
on a System comprising:
from a first application program, providing a bookmark to
a user, Said bookmark including a reference to a Second
application program and an object within the Second
application program;
in response to the user Selecting the bookmark, invoking
the Second application program; and
presenting the user with the object within the Second
application program.
30. A method of navigating among application programs
on a System comprising:
presenting one or more bookmarks to a user, wherein at
least one bookmark corresponds to a reference to at
least one object accessed within an application pro
gram,

upon the user Selecting the at least one bookmark, invok
ing the application program; and
presenting the at least one object to the user.
45
k

k

k

k

k