• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A system and method for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework are disclosed. A database that includes a plurality of hierarchically structured tables is maintained. Each table defines a set of attributes for a managed Web page. A Web site is defined by a set of one or more of the tables. A framework for managing the Web site is executed on a server. A user logon sequence is processed. A data file that specifies one or more tables to which the user logon sequence grants permission is retrieved. One or more tables specified within the data file are retrieved from the database. Each retrieved table corresponds to one such managed Web page within the Web site.Web page code from the retrieved tables is generated. The Web page code includes an interpretable script written in a tag-delimited language. The generated Web page code is exported to a browser. Attributes for the Web page are interactively redefined by modifying values within at least one of the retrieved tables for the generated Web page. New Web page code is generated from the modified values within the retrieved tables. The generated new Web page code is exported to a browser.
    公开号:CA2340298A1
    申请号:C002340298
    申请日:2001-03-09
    公开日:2001-09-09
    发明作者:Thomas Nelson；Terry L. Eilers
    申请人:ETHEREAL MINDS Inc；
    IPC主号:G06F16-9538
    专利说明:
    [1" class="description-paragraph] S SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY MANAGING WEB CONTENT USING A BROWSER INDEPENDENT FRAMEWORK Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to Web content management and, in particular, to a system and method for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework. Background of the Invention Currently, Web (shorthand for "Worldwide Web's pages are gaining increasing popularity as a flexible and nearly universal medium for communicating in electronic form. Web pages typically include formatted text and graphics and are increasingly incorporating multimedia content, such as analog video and audio, and moving and still imagery, or their digital facsimiles. Individual Web pages can be logically interconnected via embedded hyperlinks. A collection of related, linked Web pages organized into a hierarchy is collectively known as a Web site. The topmost Web page within the hierarchy is referred to as the "home page."0150.O1.ap2 - 1 -Web pages are typically expressed as interpretable scripts written in a tag-delimited language, such as the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) or the Extensible Markup Language (xiViL). Generally, Web pages are downloaded from Web servers and the scripts that define the Web page content are interpreted by Web browsers executing on individual clients. Many popular Web browsers are available commercially or in the public domain, .including the Internet Explorer browser, licensed by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, and the Navigator browses, licensed by Netscape Communications Corporation, Mountain View, California. Web pages can be shared in both stand-alone and distributed computing environments, including both local area networks or "intranetworks," wide area networks or "internetworks," such as the Internet, and in other settings, such as television, movie theaters, information kiosks, or in any similar medium which includes some type of display, preferably with interactive capabilities. Web pages, HTML, XML, and related concepts are described generally in R. Orfali, "Client/Server Survival Guide," Chs. 26-29, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (3d ed.1999), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Web pages have been quite popular in the commercial sector where the effectiveness of Web page content is often measured in numbers of repeat visits.However, like newspapers, Web pages depend on fresh content as the primary enticement to attract and maintain regular viewers. Unchanging content quickly becomes stale and users rapidly lose their interest in the Web site. Thus, to be effective and attractive, Web page content needs to be frequently updated, preferably both in terms of layout and substance. Numerous Web page layout and management tools exist in the prior art. For instance, FrontPage 2000, licensed by Microsoft Corporation, provides a complete graphical user interface environment with Web site management capabilities. Web pages can be created, imported and edited. However, FrontPage 2000 operates as a stand-alone application in a Windows operating environment. Working with Web pages requires a licensed copy of the oiso.oi.~2 - 2 -application.. In addition, each user must have the computational resources and environment in which to execute FrontPage 2000 and access permissions to individual Web pages within a given Web site. This proprietary solution poses problems for users working in other computational environments and for Web masters who risk losing control over their Web sites due to open permissions. Therefore, there is a need for an approach to providing a generic Web content management environment. Preferably, such an approach would itself operate as simple Web pages in a application-independent fashion, as, for instance, provided by a Web browser. Moreover, dynamic updates of Web content would be supported with minimal administrative overhead. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an interactive system for enabling dynamic updating of Web content to "live" Web sites. A logically defined content management framework is executed to provide server-side fiznctionality. Generic Web page code is generated by the framework which can then be interpreted by commonly available Web browser applications executing within various operating environments. Web page attributes are defined in tables hierarchically organized within a database. An initial Web page is generated and later re-generated upon completion of an interactive redefinition of Web page attributes. An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent frameyvork. Adatabase that includes a plurality of hierarchically structured tables is maintained. Each table defines a set of attributes for a managed Web page. A Web site is defined by a set of one or more of the tables. A framework for managing the Web site is executed on a server. A user logon sequence is processed. A data file that specifies one or more tables to which the user logon sequence grants permission is retrieved. One or more tables specified within the data file are retrieved from the database. Each retrieved table corresponds to one such managed Web page within the Web site. Weli page code from the retrieved tables is generated. The Web page code includes an interpretable script written in a tag-delimited oiso.oi.~2 - 3 -language. The generated Web page code is exported to a browser. Attributes for the Web page are interactively redefined by modifying values within at least one of the retrieved tables for the generated Web page. New Web page code is generated from the modified values within the retrieved tables. The generated new Web page code is exported to a browser. Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is described embodiments of the invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Brief Description of the Drawing FIGURE 1 is a functional block diagram showing a distributed computing environment with a server for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram showing a generic detailed view of the system of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a block diagram showing the functional software modules of a server for use in the system of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a hierarchical tree diagram showing interrelationships between the tables used in the database of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 5 is a screen shot showing, by way of example, a Web site information definition screen exported by the server of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 6 is a screen shot showing, by way of example, a table definition screen exported by the server of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 7 is a screen shot showing, by way of example, an article body definition screen exported by the server of FIGURE 2; and 0150.O1.ap2 - 4 -FIGURE 8 is a flow diagram showing a method for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework in accordance with the present invention. Detailed Description FIGURE 1 is a functional block diagram showing a distributed computing environment 10 with a server 11 for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework in accordance with the present invention. In the described embodiment, each system operating within the distributed computing environment 10 implements a Transmission Control Protocol/Intemet Protocol (TCP/1P) network stack, although other preferably packet-based network protocols could equally apply. Within the distributed computing environment 10, the server 11 provides conventional network services, such as file access, remote system access, and content provision, to various client systems. Typically, these types of network services are available through standardized TCP/IP protocols, such as the File Transport Protocol (FT'I'), Telnet, and Hypertext Transport Protocol (H'TTP). In particular; the server 11 includes a Worldwide Web ("Web's server 21, an Active Server Page (ASP) interpreter 22, and a dynamic content management framework 23. The Web server 21 hosts Web sites by serving Web content in the form of Web pages to client systems. The ASP interpreter 22 executes server-side application code embedded within the Web pages to provide various services to the client systems. Finally, the framework 23 provides a browser-independent Web site management capability to a plurality of clients, as fiu~ther described below beginning with reference to FIGURE 2.Individual client systems are communicatively interfaced to the server 11.By way of illustration, several types of clients are interfaced to the server 11 via a plurality of interfacing means. For instance, a dedicated client 12 is interfaced via a dedicated, direct connection to the server 11. As well, the dedicated client could be logically interfaced as part of an integrated system 9 including both the server 1 I and dedicated client 12 operating on the same physical machine. Also, ouo.oi.~2 a dial-up client 13 is interfaced via a modem 14. Similarly, a remote client 15 is interfaced via an internetwork 16, such as the Internet. In addition, a network client 17 is configured to operate within an intranetwork 18 locally serviced by a local server 19 and is interfaced to the server 11 via the internetwork 16. Each client includes a browser application 20 for interpreting Web pages received from the server 11. Other network topologies and configurations of computational resources, including various combinations of intranetworks and internetworks, are possible. The individual computer systems included in the distributed computing environment 10 are general purpose, programmed digital computing devices consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), non-volatile secondary storage, such as a hard drive or CD ROM drive, network interfaces, and peripheral devices, including user interfacing means, such as a keyboard and display. Program code, including software programs, and data are loaded into the RAM for execution and processing by the CPU and results are generated for display, output, transmittal, or storage. FIGURE 2 is a block diagram showing a generic detailed view 30 of the system 10 of FIGURE 1. A server 31 is interfaced to a client 32 via some form of interconnection 33; such as via a direct connection, t3ial-up connection, internetwork, intranetwork, or similar means, including a logical interconnection internal to the same physical machine. Thus, the server 31 and client 32 could be interfaced over a distributed computing environment or configured as a stand-alone system. Both the server 31 and client 32 include a persistent storage device 35, 39, respectively, such as a hard drive or other form of randomly accessible read-write device. The server 31 includes a Web server 21 for serving Web content 36 to the client 32. The Web content 36 consists primarily of Web pages written as scripts in an interpretable, tag-delimited language. Two commonly used languages for creating Web pages are the Hypertext Markup Language (HTMI,), which is used in the 'described embodiment, and the Extensible Markup Language (xiVll,), 0150.Oi.ap2 . - 6 -although other interpretable.tag-delimited languages are equally applicable. The scripts defining the Web content 36 are interpreted by a browser application executing on the client 32. The server 31 also logically incorporates an ASP interpreter 22 providing server-side scripting capabilities. Like a browser application 34, the active server interpreter 22 interprets executable scripts, known as Active Server Pages, embedded within the Web content 36. In the described embodiment, the Active Server Page technology, licensed by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, is used. Upon execution, the Active Server Pages are converted into pure Web content 36, typically written in HT'ML, or XMI,. In the described embodiment, the Active Server Pages are written as either JavaScripts or VBScripts, both of which are described in A.K. Weissinger, "ASP in a Nutshell, A Desktop Quick Reference," chs. 1-3, 0'Reilly & Assocs. (1999), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Finally, the server 31 includes a framework 23 for dynamically maintaining the Web content 36 from any browser 34 executing on a client 32.The framework 23 consists of an ASP script which functionally defines a content management environment in a browser-independent manner. In the described embodiment, the Web content 36 is generated as scripts written in HTML, version
    [2" class="description-paragraph] 2.0, a commonly used version of HTML which is nearly universally understandable by almost every browser application 34, regardless of operating environment. The server 31 also maintains a database 37 in the storage device 35, as further described below with reference to FIGURE 3, in which user records and select Web content are stored. FIGURE 3 is a block diagram showing the functional software modules of the server 31 for use in the system 10 of FIGURE 1. Each module is a computer program written as source code in a conventional programming language, such as the Visual Basic programming language, and is presented for execution by the CPU of the server 31 as object or byte code, as is known in the art. The various implementations of the source code and object and byte codes can be held on a oiso.oi.~2 - 7 -computer-readable storage medium or embodied on a transmission medium in a carrier wave. The server 31 consists of three main components: Web server 21, ASPinterpreter 22, and framework 23. The Web server 21 serves Web pages 58, principally consisting of interpretable, tag-delimited scripts, in response to Web page requests 57 received from clients 32 (shown in FIGURE 2). In the described embodiment, the Web pages 58 are written and generated in HTML, version 2.0, although any similar Web page description language, such as XlVa,, could be used. However, H'TML, version 2.0, is widely understandable by browser applications running in a variety of operating environments, thereby allowing the framework 23 to operate in a virtually browser-independent fashion. In providing Web service, the Web server 21 accesses a collection of stored Web pages 54 and Active Server Page (ASP) scripts 55. The ASP interpreter 22 interprets ASP scripts SS, both as embedded within Web pages and as.individual code modules, in response to the Web page requests 57. Upon the receipt of a request 57 for Web content management, the ASP interpreter 22 logically generates the framework 23 via an ASP script 55.The framework 23 includes three main components: database manager 51, code generator 52, and content manager 53. The database manager 51 interfaces to the database 37. The database 37 stores a plurality of tables 56 that define a set of attributes for the various Web pages 58 within the Web site. In the described embodiment, the database manager 51 connects to the database 37 using an Open Database Connectivity' (ODBC) driver which enables access to database management systems using the Structured Query Language (SQL) for access. The code generator 52 generates HTML code describing each Web page based on the various attributes sets stored in the tables 56 within the database 37.New code is generated on-the-fly after the re-definition of page attributes. Thus, the Web pages 58 can be dynamically updated during an interactive session with a user running a browser application 34 (shown in FIGURE 2) executing on a client 32. The individual sets of page attributes are further described below with OISO.Ol.ap2 _ $ -reference to FIGURE 4. Finally, the content manager 53 provides a graphical navigation interface for interactively viewing and modifying the tables 56, preferably via the browser application 34. In the described embodiment, the content manager 53 consists of a series of hierarchically organized tables and menus, illustrated by way of example below with reference to FIGURES 5-7, although any other type of user interface could also be used. The server 31 operates in accordance with a sequence of process steps, as further described below beginning with reference to FIGURE 8. FIGURE 4 is a hierarchical tree diagram 70 showing interrelationships between the tables 56 used in the database 37 of FIGURE ~. The tables 56 are structured in a hierarchical manner with the root node 71 containing general information regarding the Web site ("SiteInfo"). Each Web site is organized by individual Web pages as specified by a set of page attributes 72. In turn, each Web page includes one or more menus 73 and "bodies" 74, that is, content.Different nodes are linked to each body 74, depending upon the type of content used in each Web page body. These include article headers 75, categories 76, and article bodies 77. Article bodies 77 differ from Web page bodies 74 in that they store actual content and not just links to nodes containing content. Seven types of categories are supported: user data 78, scroll text 79, shopping 80, links 81, questions 82, tips 83, and glossaries 84. Each user data 78 node includes a title 85 and definition 86. A database schema for each of the tables 56 is included in Appendix A. FIGURE 5 is a-screen shot showing, by way of example, a Web site information definition screen 100 exported by the server 31 of FIGURE 2. The purpose of this screen is to describe default Web site information used by the framework 23 to establish a standard look and feel. This information includes contact information and logo images placed in default locations on the home page. Each Web site is described by a plurality of table entries 101 that include an index 102, site name 103, electronic mail ("emaif7 address 104; subject matter expert 105; image logo 106, image link 107, site directory 108, a list of active tips oiso.oi.~2 _ 9 109, a list of active definitions 110, a hit counter 111, a set of five rotating images 112-116, and an image hyperlink 117.FIGURE 6 is a screen shot showing, by way of example, a table definition screen 130 exported by the server 31 of FIGURE 2. Each set of page attributes (shown in FIGURE 4) is stored in a separate table. The user is prompted 131 to select a table 132 on which to work. The available tables are presented as a plurality of table entries 133 with each entry consisting of an index 134, menu 135, link 136, style sheet ("Style SS's 137, and hidden flag ("Show YN'~ 138 fields. The index field 134 presents "edit" and "delete" modes for each table.The menu field 135 identifies the menu table used in generating a selections menu available on each Web page. The link field 136 identifies an index number of a Web page table for creating hyperlinks within the Web site. The style sheet field 137 describes the standardized layout used by each particular Web page. Finally, the hidden flag field 138 creates a placeholder hyperlink for indicating a logical location within the Web site. In the described embodiment, fifteen standardized layouts are used. These layouts allow multiple Web sites to be administered using a single content management framework 23 (shown in FIGURE 2). The layouts allow a given Web site to adopt a uniform look and field using screen regions for pre-defined areas of each Web page. The standardized layouts are as follows:1. One panel without a title;2. Two panels without a title;
    [3" class="description-paragraph] 3. One panel with a title and an image on the left;
    [4" class="description-paragraph] 4. One panel with a large image on the top;
    [5" class="description-paragraph] 5. One panel with a title and an image on the right;
    [6" class="description-paragraph] 6. Two panels with a title and an image;
    [7" class="description-paragraph] 7. A video panel;
    [8" class="description-paragraph] 8. A registration panel;
    [9" class="description-paragraph] 9. A links panel;
    [10" class="description-paragraph] 10. An article list;oiso.oi.~,z - 10 -
    [11" class="description-paragraph] 11. An article pull-down;
    [12" class="description-paragraph] 12. A feedback form;
    [13" class="description-paragraph] 13. Scrolling text;
    [14" class="description-paragraph] 14. A hot box; and
    [15" class="description-paragraph] 15. An information tracking panel.The foregoing list is non-exclusive and other types of standardized layouts could also be used.In the describe embodiment, the video panel is presented as a multi-screen clinic as described in the commonly-assigned, related U.S. patent application, Serial No. 09/560,017, filed April 27, 2000, pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The registration panel generates a user logon prompt. The feedback form allows a user to send electronic mail comments to the Web site administrator. Scrolling text generates horizontally scrolling text presented by way of client-side functionality using either a Java Applet or VBScript. A "hot box" is an off color text box displayed to attract attention.Finally, an information tracking box allows a user to follow changes to selected Web content. FIGURE 7 is a screen shot showing, by way of example, an article body definition screen 150 exported by the server 31 of FIGURE 2. Each article body is described by a plurality of entries 151 that include an index 152, a page number 153, content 154, up to three sets of images 155, 158, 161, titles 156, 159, 162, and text 157, 160, 163, and links to up to three additional pages 164-166. FIGURE 8 is a~flow diagram showing a method for dynamically managing Web content 170 using a browser-independent framework 23 (shown in FIGURE2) in accordance with the present invention. Web content is managed according to individual Web site administrators. Thus, the method begins by initializing attributes and setting up the page layout (blocks 171-174). Site information is loaded and the page attribute variables are set (block 171). The user is prompted to select a menu with highlighting and the highlighted menu is shown (block 172). A shopping menu (or similar commercial advertisement) is shown (block 173).oiso.oi.~2 -11 -Finally, a "Smart Tips" question is shown (block 174). Smart Tips questions are shown in dialogue boxes and are meant to entice a user to read advertisements hyperlinked to each question. Next, the method processes user requested changes to the Web content, including Menu items (blocks 175-178), Categories (blocks 179-181), and Articles (blocks 182-185). If a menu item is selected (block 175), a database Select query is performed on the Body data file (block 176). A panel for the selected menu item is shown (block 177). If more body items are selected (block 178), a panel for each successive selected menu item is shown (block 177). Similarly, if a category is selected (block 179), a database Select query is performed on the Video data file (block 180). A list of videos for the selected category is shown (block 181). Finally, if an article is selected (block 182), a database Select query is performed on the Article data file (block 183). A text, image, or line section for the selected article is shown (block 184). If more body items are selected (block 185), a panel for each successive selected article is shown (block 184). Lastly, the method performs final page layout (blocks I86-189). Thus, if the flag indicating that the categories are to be shown is set to "On" (block 186), a database Select query is performed on the Category data file (block 187). The category list and icons are shown (block 188). Finally, the page footer is shown (block 189). The method then terminates. While the invention has been particularly shown and described as referenced to the embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.oiso.oi.~2 _ 12 _ DataFile Fieid Name AD_Tracking IDX ID . AD Clicked Date Admin IDX UserName Password Site Access Level Master Access Article Body IDX Article X Content A Body T Article Header IDX Title Author Long Descrip Active Date Style SS Body IflX PgNo Content Image1 Title 1 Text1 Image2 Title2 Text2 oiso.oi.~z - 13 -DataFile Field Name Image3 Title3 Text3 Link1~gno Link2~gno Link3~gno Category IDX Category Description Style SS Image Icon External Link Glossary IDX Term Description Highlights IDX Active Date Video HL Links IDX Link Address Description Official Menu IDX Menu Link Style SS Show YNotso.ot.~z - 14 -DataFile Field Name pg attributes IDX Style TXT CLR BG CLR Menu TXT CLR Menu CLR Menu BRDR CLR Heading TXT CLR Heading BG_CLR Menu HD TXT CLRMenu HD BG CLR HLT TXT CLR HLT BG CLR Link CLR Questions IDX Question Answer Image Icon Link Scroll Text IDX Text Link Shopping IDX Shopping Link Siteinfo IDX SiteName Email otso.ot.~2 - 15 -DataFile Field Name Expert Image Logo Image Link Site Directory Tips Active Definitions Active HitCount Image Rot1 Image Rot2 Image Rot3 Image Rot4 Image Rot5 Image Hyperlink Tips IDX Tip Description Tracking IDX Site IDProgram Date UserData IDX Email Data1 ...... Data 50 UserDataDefinition IDX Field Name Description Schedule Email oiso.o~.~2 - 16 -DataFile Field Name Interval UserDataTitle IDX UserDataName FromEmail Users IDX Email Password First Name Last Name Address City State Zip Country Phone Videos IDX Program Name Description Host Image Spd 300k Location Spd 56k Location Spd 28K Location Active Date FrontPage img_Count img Dir Category_CX Length oiso.oi.~z -17 -DataFile Field Name Current Version IDX Ver Revision History IDX Ver Change Made 0150.Ot.ap2 _ 1$ _
    权利要求:
    Claims (23)
    [1] 1. A system for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework, comprising:a database comprising a plurality of hierarchically structured tables, each table defining a set of attributes for a managed Web page with a Web site being defined by a set of one or more of the tables;a framework for managing the Web site executed on a server, comprising:a security module processing a user logon sequence and retrieving a data file that specifies one or more tables to which the user logon sequence grants permission;a database manager retrieving one or more tables specified within the data file retrieved from the database, each retrieved table corresponding to one such managed Web page within the Web site;a code generator generating Web page code from the retrieved tables, the Web page code comprising an interpretable script written in a tag-delimited language and exporting the generated Web page code to a browser;a content manager interactively redefining attributes for the Web page by modifying values within at least one of the retrieved tables for the generated Web page; and the code generator generating new Web page code from the modified values within the retrieved tables and exporting the generated new Web page code to a browser.
    [2] 2. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising:a screen definitions table within the data file logically defining a plurality of screen regions within the managed Web page, each screen region corresponding to a pre-defined area of the managed Web page.
    [3] 3. A system according to Claim 2, further comprising: a set of content types within each screen region selected from the group comprising a panel, title, placement, video panel, registration panel, hyperlinks, article list, article menu, feedback form, scrolling text, hot box, and information tracking panel.
    [4] 4. A system according to Claim 2, further comprising:a set of individual attributes within each screen region selected from the group comprising boldface text, italicized text, underlined text, arrow, and button.
    [5] 5. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising:a code segment embedded within the Web page for execution by a browser, the code segment being delimited within the interpretable script from the Web page code.
    [6] 6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein the code segment comprises code expressed as at least one of a Java Applet and a VBScript.
    [7] 7. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising:a set of references to hidden Web pages within the Web page, each hidden Web page reference comprising a placeholder within the retrieved tables indicating a logical location within the Web site.
    [8] 8. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising:a modular framework defining an integrated presentation space within a browser application executing on a client, comprising:a view window forming an interactive user interface with one or more hyperlinked controls for selecting video content;a still image presentation panel generated within the view window and displaying still image content, the still image content comprising a plurality of still images each uniquely identified by an index; and a video presentation panel generated within the view window and displaying video content, the video content comprising an index track of indices; an image pre-loader downloading substantially all of the still image content upon selection of the video content via one of the hyperlinked controls and generating a start signal indicating completion of the download; and a video player initiating playback of the video content in the video presentation panel responsive to the start signal, the still image presentation panel displaying each still image in the still image content having an index matching each index in the index track encountered during playback.
    [9] 9. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the framework comprises active server code expressed as at least one of a JavaScript and a Visual Basic script.
    [10] 10. A method for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework, comprising:maintaining a database comprising a plurality of hierarchically structured tables, each table defining a set of attributes for a managed Web page with a Web site being defined by a set of one or more of the tables;executing a framework for managing the Web site on a server, comprising:processing a user logon sequence and retrieving a data file that specifies one or more tables to which the user logon sequence grants permission;retrieving one or more tables specified within the data file retrieved from the database, each retrieved table corresponding to one such managed Web page within the Web site;generating Web page code from the retrieved tables, the Web page code comprising an interpretable script written in a tag-delimited language and exporting the generated Web page code to a browser;interactively redefining attributes for the Web page by modifying values within at least one of the retrieved tables for the generated Web page; and generating new Web page code from the modified values within the retrieved tables and exporting the generated new Web page code to a browser.
    [11] 11. A method according to Claim 10, further comprising:logically defining a plurality of screen regions within the managed Web page via a screen definitions table within the data file, each screen region corresponding to a pre-defined area of the managed Web page.
    [12] 12. A method according to Claim 11, further comprising:defining a set of content types within each screen region selected from the group comprising a panel, title, placement, video panel, registration panel, hyperlinks, article list, article menu, feedback form, scrolling text, hot box, and information tracking panel.
    [13] 13. A method according to Claim 11, further comprising:defining a set of individual attributes within each screen region selected from the group comprising boldface text, italicized text, underlined text, arrow, and button.
    [14] 14. A method according to Claim 10, further comprising:embedding a code segment within the Web page for execution by a browser, the code segment being delimited within the interpretable script from the Web page code.
    [15] 15. A method according to Claim 14, wherein the code segment comprises code expressed as at least one of a Java Applet and a VBScript.
    [16] 16. A method according to Claim 10, further comprising:defining a set.of references to hidden Web pages within the Web page, each hidden Web page reference comprising a placeholder within the retrieved tables indicating a logical location within the Web site.
    [17] 17. A method according to Claim 10, further comprising:exporting a modular framework defining an integrated presentation space within a browser application executing on a client, comprising: forming a view window as an interactive user interface with one or more hyperlinked controls for selecting video content;generating a still image presentation panel within the view window and displaying still image content, the still image content comprising a plurality of still images each uniquely identified by an index; and generating a video presentation panel within the view window and displaying video content, the video content comprising an index track of indices;downloading substantially all of the still image content with an image pre-loader upon selection of the video content via one of the hyperlinked controls and generating a start signal indicating completion of the download; and initiating playback of the video content in the video presentation panel with a video player responsive to the start signal, the still image presentation panel displaying each still image in the still image content having an index matching each index in the index track encountered during playback.
    [18] 18. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the framework comprises active server code expressed as at least one of a JavaScript and a Visual Basic script.
    [19] 19. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for dynamically managing Web content using a browser-independent framework, comprising:maintaining a database comprising a plurality of hierarchically structured tables, each table defining a set of attributes for a managed Web page with a Web site being defined by a set of one or more of the tables;executing a framework for managing the Web site on a server, comprising:processing a user logon sequence and retrieving a data file that specifies one or more tables to which the user logon sequence grants permission;retrieving one or more tables specified within the data file retrieved from the database, each retrieved table corresponding to one such managed Web page within the Web site; generating Web page code from the retrieved tables, the Web page code comprising an interpretable script written in a tag-delimited language and exporting the generated Web page code to a browser;interactively redefining attributes for the Web page by modifying values within at least one of the retrieved tables for the generated Web page; and generating new Web page code from the modified values within the retrieved tables and exporting the generated new Web page code to a browser.
    [20] 20. A storage medium according to Claim 19, further comprising:logically defining a plurality of screen regions within the managed Web page via a screen definitions table within the data file, each screen region corresponding to a pre-defined area of the managed Web page.
    [21] 21. A storage medium according to Claim 19, further comprising:embedding a code segment within the Web page for execution by a browser, the code segment being delimited within the interpretable script from the Web page code.
    [22] 22. A storage medium according to Claim 19, further comprising:defining a set of references to hidden Web pages within the Web page, each hidden Web page reference comprising a placeholder within the retrieved tables indicating a logical location within the Web site.
    [23] 23. A storage medium according to Claim 19, further comprising:exporting a modular framework defining an integrated presentation space within a browser application executing on a client, comprising:forming a view window as an interactive user interface with one or more hyperlinked controls for selecting video content;generating a still image presentation panel within the view window and displaying still image content, the still image content comprising a plurality of still images each uniquely identified by an index; and. generating a video presentation panel within the view window and displaying video content, the video content comprising an index track of indices;downloading substantially all of the still image content with an image pre-loader upon selection of the video content via one of the hyperlinked controls and generating a start signal indicating completion of the download; and initiating playback of the video content in the video presentation panel with a video player responsive to the start signal, the still image presentation panel displaying each still image in the still image content having an index matching each index in the index track encountered during playback.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    2004-03-09| FZDE| Dead|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US18807600P| true| 2000-03-09|2000-03-09||
    US60/188,076||2000-03-09||
    US62792500A| true| 2000-04-27|2000-04-27||
    US09/627,925||2000-04-27||
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