US 20040205492A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0205492 A1
(43) Pub. Date:
Newsome
(54) CONTENT CLIPPING SERVICE
(76)
Inventor:
Oct. 14, 2004
Publication Classi?cation
Mark R. NeWsome, Corvallis, OR (US)
(51)
Int. Cl.7 ................................................... .. G06F 15/00
(52)
US. Cl. ..................... .. 715/501.1; 715/502; 715/530
Correspondence Address:
(57)
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Intellectual Property Administration
P_()_ BOX 272400
ABSTRACT
Within a netWork document to be clipped, the content is
Fort Collins, CO 805274400 (Us)
parsed for clickable images. Any discovered clickable
Content clipping is provided. Upon a user selecting content
images are displayed to a user. An image is clickable if it is
enclosed in an anchor tag or other structure that indicates a
(21)
Appl, No;
09/916,392
(22)
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2001
1_2_
referenced content address. Upon a user selecting one of the
clickable images a bit-mapped image of the selected click
able image is stored for later access by the user.
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Patent Application Publication Oct. 14, 2004 Sheet 1 of 8
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PRIVACY STATEMENT FOR THE
hunger site
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FIGURE1
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Patent Application Publication Oct. 14, 2004 Sheet 2 of 8
12
the
US 2004/0205492 A1
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PRIVACY STATEMENT FOR THE
hunger site
HUNGER SITE
Home
The Hunger Site is a licensee of the
About Us
About Hunger
Donation Totals
TRUSTe Privacy Program. This
statement discloses the privacy
practices for The Hunger Site.
FAs
Be a Sponsor
You Can Help
Sig; Up
mum
Corrections/Updates/Unsubseribes
This site gives users the following options for contacting
us at any time regarding privacy concerns. This is also
the means to change or update any information you Wish
to supply us with or ask that your personal information
be removed from our list.
1. E-mail With UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
1_1
2. Write us at the address below:
the
If
Contacting
you
practices
have any
the
of this
questions
Web
site,
Site
orabout
your this
dealings
privacy
With
statement
this Web§
site, please contact:
Customer Relations
The Hunger Site 720 Olive Way, Suite 1800
Seattle, WA 98101 USA.
Privac hehun ersite.com
comments@thehun ersite.com
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Patent Application Publication Oct. 14, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 8
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Oct. 14, 2004
US 2004/0205492 A1
CONTENT CLIPPING SERVICE
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention pertains to Web browsers and
pertains particularly to a content clipping service.
[0002] Consumers commonly clip advertising and cou
pons from traditional print media (e.g., neWspapers and
magazines). With the increasing popularity of the Web
broWser, many companies are turning to on-line advertising.
[0011]
A broWser plug-in, When enabled, alloWs a user to
select content for clipping from a Web page or other netWork
document. A netWork document is any document (such as a
Web page) that is available over a netWork (e.g., the inter
net). The tool saves the selected content and associated
information (e.g., URL, date, user-speci?ed description) in a
database such as a card-?le. This user de?ned database
alloWs the user to store content in a ?le structure hierarchy
With search capabilities.
HoWever, Web broWsers do not provide easy means for users
[0012] For example, in FIG. 1, the broWser plug-in is
(consumers) to “clip” advertising and coupons. Instead,
represented by an icon button 13 and an icon button 14 on
users are forced to print an entire Web document. Printing a
a button bar 12.
Web page often requires printing signi?cantly more than a
[0013]
For example, a coupon or add can be captured by
desired advertisement or coupon. Many users are unlikely to
print an entire Web page for an advertisement because of the
stretching a “rubber-band” around a desired region of a
high-cost of printer ink and paper.
computer screen. The selected region is saved in bitmap
form.
[0003] Another option for a user of a Web broWser is to
bookmark the Web page containing an interesting ad or
interesting content. HoWever, revisiting a book-marked page
does not guarantee that the “interesting” ad Will still be
there. Many Web sites dynamically place ads. In this case
each vieW of the page is likely to shoW a different ad.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment, the “rubber band” is
brought up by selecting icon button 14 on button bar 12. A
cursor 15, may then be used to draW a “rubber band” or
bounding box around information Within a Web page 11 to
be selected for placement in a database, for example a card
?le.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance With the preferred embodiment of
the present invention content clipping is provided. Upon a
user selecting content Within a netWork document to be
clipped, the content is parsed for clickable images. Any
discovered clickable images are displayed to a user. An
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates cursor 15 being used to place a
bounding box around area 21 of page 11. The information
Within area 21 is extracted and placed in a card ?le 30, as
shoWn in FIG. 3.
image is clickable if it is enclosed in an anchor tag or other
[0016] For example, as shoWn by FIG. 3, the information
extracted includes bit mapped information 36 extracted from
structure that indicates a referenced content address. Upon a
Within area 21 of page 11 (shoWn in FIG. 2), as Well as a title
user selecting one of the clickable images a bit-mapped
and Web address 37 for page 11 (shoWn in FIG. 2).
image of the selected clickable image is stored for later
access by the user.
[0017]
Card ?le 30 has a user-de?ned ?le structure hier
archy With search capabilities. For example, in FIG. 3, card
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 shoWs the display of interface tools used to
clip portions of a Web page in accordance With a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates use of an interface tool to clip a
portion of a Web page in accordance With a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 shoWs storage of a clipped portion of a Web
page in accordance With a preferred embodiment of the
?le 30 is shoWn With a user-de?ned tab 31 labeled business,
a user-de?ned tab 32 labeled advertising, a user-de?ned tab
33 labeled coupons and a user-de?ned tab 34 labeled good
causes. Within the category represented by user-de?ned tab
34, a user can select one of several existing sub-categories.
As shoWn in FIG. 3, a user has selected the sub-category
contacts, represented by the display of a second level tab 35.
The information extracted from area 21 of page 11 has been
placed as a card Within the category “good causes” Within
the subcategory “contacts”.
present invention.
[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, card
?le 30 is invoked by simply clicking icon button 13 on
[0008] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate use of another inter
face tool to clip a portion of a Web page in accordance With
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
button-bar 12. Clicking icon button 13 on button-bar 12
again hides card ?le 30. In this Way a location Within card
?le 30 can be selected to receive clipped material from page
11.
[0009] FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 also illustrate use of an
interface tool to clip a portion of a Web page in accordance
With a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
[0019] In order to clip coupons and advertisements in Web
pages, the preferred embodiment of the present invention
takes advantage of the fact that most Web-based coupons and
advertisements are encoded as images in a common format
such as jpg, gif, or png. The Web broWser accesses the
HTML currently displayed in the broWser WindoW to obtain
[0010] The present invention enables users (consumers) to
selectively save electronic ads and coupons, organiZe them
these images.
in a database such as a card-?le, and later revieW, discard,
[0020] For example, an advertising/coupon clipping tool is
email, or print them.
represented in FIG. 4 by an icon button 49 on button bar 12.
Oct. 14, 2004
US 2004/0205492 A1
A page 40 includes Web page content 44, an advertisement
41, an advertisement 42 and an advertisement 43. Using a
cursor 15 to click on icon button 49 results in the appearance
of a WindoW 50 shoWn in FIG. 5. WindoW 50 shoWs a
thumbnail icon 51 of advertisement 41, a thumbnail icon 52
of advertisement 42 and a thumbnail icon 53 of advertise
ment 43.
I claim:
1. Amethod for content clipping comprising the folloWing
steps:
(a) providing a selection tool to a user, the selection tool
alloWing the user to indicate content Within a netWork
document to be clipped; and,
(b) upon the user selecting content Within the netWork
[0021] For example, advertisement 41, advertisement 42
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
and advertisement 43 are found by parsing the HTML of
substeps:
page 40, looking for “clickable images”. An image is
(b.1) storing a bit-mapped image of the selected content
“clickable” if it is enclosed in an anchor tag or other
structure that indicates a referenced content address. For
example, an anchor tag has the folloWing form:
[0023] Selecting one of the thumbnail icons shoWn in
FIG. 5 results in the advertisement being placed at a selected
location Within card ?le 30. For example, FIG. 6 shoWs that
advertisement 41 has been placed Within a card 60 of card
?le 30. Originally displayed information from advertisement
41 is placed in an area 61 Within card 60. AWeb address for
advertisement 41 is placed Within an area 62 of card 60.
[0024] The clipping tool icon button 49 on button bar 12
can be used in conjunction With the “rubber band” brought
up by selecting icon button 14 on button bar 12. For
example, as illustrated by FIG. 7, the “rubber band” is
brought up by selecting icon button 14 on button bar 12.
Cursor 15 may then be used to draW a “rubber band” or
bounding box around information Within a page 40. Once
this information is selected, the bits Within the bounding box
are collected. Selecting clipping tool icon button 49 results
in a parsing of the HTML that generates the displayed
information Within the bounding box. The parsing is done
looking for “clickable images”. As de?ned above, an image
is “clickable” if it is enclosed in an anchor tag of the
folloWing form:
[0025]
<A href= . . . ><IMG SRC=xxx></a>.
[0026] An attempt is made to match bits Within the bound
ing box to any coupons/ads harvested from the HTML (by
parsing). If there is only one clickable image found, this
image is placed in a user de?ned location Within card ?le 30.
If there is no match to a clickable image the user is prompted
to try again.
[0027] If there is more than one match, this results in the
appearance of a WindoW 80 shoWn in FIG. 8. WindoW 80
shoWs a thumbnail icon 81 of advertisement 41 and a
thumbnail icon 82 of advertisement 42, since both these
advertisements Were Within the bounding box shoWn draWn
in FIG. 7. Selecting one of the thumbnail icons results in the
advertisement being placed at a selected location Within card
?le 30.
[0028] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes
merely exemplary methods and embodiments of the present
invention. As Will be understood by those familiar With the
art, the invention may be embodied in other speci?c forms
Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention
is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of
the invention, Which is set forth in the folloWing claims.
Within a database, and
(b2) storing a netWork address for the netWork docu
ment along With the bit-mapped image of the
selected content.
2. Amethod as in claim 1 Wherein the database is in form
of a card ?le.
3. A method as in claim 1 Wherein in substep (b1) the
bit-mapped image of the selected content is stored in a user
selected location Within the database.
4. Amethod for content clipping comprising the folloWing
steps:
(a) providing a selection tool to a user; and,
(b) upon a user selecting the selection tool, performing the
folloWing substeps:
(b. 1) parsing a current netWork document for clickable
images,
(b.2) indicating to the user, clickable images found in
substep (b1), and
(b3) upon a user selecting one of the clickable images,
performing the folloWing substep:
(b.3.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
5. A method as in claim 4 Wherein in substep (b3), upon
the user selecting one of the clickable images, the folloWing
substep is also performed:
(b.3.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
6. A method as in claim 5 Wherein:
in substep (b.3.1) the bit-mapped image of the selected
clickable image is stored in a card ?le; and,
in substep (b.3.2) the netWork address for the clickable
image is stored in the card ?le.
7. A method as in claim 4 Wherein:
in substep (b.3.1) the bit-mapped image of the selected
clickable image is stored in a card ?le.
8. A method as in claim 7 Wherein in substep (b.3.1) the
bit-mapped image of the selected content is stored in a user
selected location Within the card ?le.
9. A method as in claim 4 Wherein substep (b2) includes
the folloWing substep:
displaying thumbnail sketches of the clickable images.
10. A method for content clipping comprising the folloW
ing step:
(a) upon the user selecting content Within a netWork
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
substeps:
Oct. 14, 2004
US 2004/0205492 A1
(a.1) parsing the content for clickable images,
(a) providing a selection tool to a user; and,
(a.2) indicating to the user clickable images found in
(b) upon a user selecting the selection tool, performing the
substep (b1), and
(a3) upon a user selecting one of the clickable images,
performing the following substep:
(a.3.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
11. Amethod as in claim 10 Wherein in substep (a.3), upon
the user selecting one of the clickable images, the folloWing
substep is also performed:
(a.3.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
12. A method as in claim 11 Wherein:
in substep (a.3.1) the bit-mapped image of the selected
clickable image is stored in a card ?le; and,
folloWing substeps:
(b.1) parsing a current netWork document for clickable
images,
(b.2) indicating to the user, clickable images found in
substep (b1), and
(b.3) upon a user selecting one of the clickable images,
performing the folloWing substep:
(b.3.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
19. Storage media as in claim 18 Wherein in substep (b.3),
upon the user selecting one of the clickable images, the
folloWing substep is also performed:
(b.3.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
20. Storage media as in claim 19 Wherein in substep
in substep (a.3.2) the netWork address for the clickable
image is stored in the card ?le.
(b.3.1) the bit-mapped image of the selected content is
13. A method as in claim 10 Wherein:
stored in a user selected location Within a card ?le.
in substep (a.3.1) the bit-mapped image of the selected
includes the folloWing substep:
21. Storage media as in claim 19 Wherein substep (b.2)
clickable image is stored in a card ?le.
14. Amethod as in claim 13 Wherein in substep (a.3.1) the
bit-mapped image of the selected content is stored in a user
selected location Within the card ?le.
15. A method for content clipping comprising the folloW
displaying thumbnail sketches of the clickable images.
22. Storage media for storing softWare, the softWare When
executed on a computing system performing a method for
content clipping, the method comprising the folloWing step:
(a) upon the user selecting content Within a netWork
ing step:
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
(a) upon the user selecting content Within a netWork
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
substeps:
(a.1) parsing the content for clickable images, and
a. 2'f
1 on ly one c1c
a e 1ma g es 1s
l'kbl~
'foun d'1n sub ste p
(a.1), performing the folloWing substep:
(a.2.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
substeps:
(a.1) parsing the content for clickable images,
(a.2) indicating to the user clickable images found in
substep (b1), and
(a3) upon a user selecting one of the clickable images,
performing the folloWing substep:
(a.3.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
16. A method as in claim 15 Wherein in substep (a.2), if
23. Storage media as in claim 22 Wherein in substep (a.3),
only one clickable images is found in substep (a.1), the
upon the user selecting one of the clickable images, the
folloWing substep is also performed:
(a.2.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
17. Storage media for storing softWare, the softWare When
executed on a computing system performing a method for
content clipping, the method comprising the folloWing steps:
folloWing substep is also performed:
(a.3.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
24. Storage media for storing softWare, the softWare When
executed on a computing system performing a method for
content clipping, the method comprising the folloWing step:
(a) upon the user selecting content Within a netWork
(a) providing a selection tool to a user, the selection tool
alloWing the user to indicate content Within a netWork
document to be clipped; and,
(b) upon the user selecting content Within the netWork
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
substeps:
(b.1) storing a bit-mapped image of the selected content
Within a database, and
(b2) storing a netWork address for the netWork docu
ment along With the bit-mapped image of the
selected content.
18. Storage media for storing softWare, the softWare When
document to be clipped, performing the folloWing
substeps:
(a.1) parsing the content for clickable images,
(a.2) if only one clickable images is found in substep
(a.1), performing the folloWing substep:
(a.2.1) storing for later access by the user a bit
mapped image of the selected clickable image.
25. Storage media as in claim 24 Wherein in substep (a.2),
if only one clickable images is found in substep (a.1), the
folloWing substep is also performed:
(a.2.2) storing for later access by the user a netWork
address for the clickable image.
executed on a computing system performing a method for
content clipping, the method comprising the folloWing steps:
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