WO2002003223A1

WO2002003223A1 - System and method for managing background of internet

Info

Publication number: WO2002003223A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000396
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ho-Sik Lee
Original assignee: Mcglobal Inc.
Priority date: 2000-07-05
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2002-01-10
Also published as: AU2001244750A1

Abstract

A system and method for managing a background picture on the Internet allows all users their computers like a server computer. A user accesses to the server computer managing a background picture and subscribes for the server as a member. Thereafter, the user selects any one among various background pictures stores din a database of the server computer and links to an address of a bookmark web site using the main menu and sub-menu similarly to the starting menu of a window system, or creates an icon stores at an icon information database on the background picture and links to the address of the bookmark web site. After that, the user registers the background picture having a linked web site icon on an initial page of a used browser or a background picture of the home page.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING BACKGROUND OF INTERNET

Technical Field

The present invention relates to system and method for managing a background picture on the Internet allowing all users to conveniently use the Internet, and more particularly, to system and method for managing a background picture on the Internet which link the URL (or address) of a favorite website to the start menu or an icon to allow another computer to maintain the same environment as an exclusive computer has and effectively access another websites.

Background Art

Generally, in order for a user to move to a website where the user wishes to access, the user inputs an address of the website or clicks the URL of a website retrieved using a site having a search engine. Thus, these methods need two steps of actions. To solve this problem, a user adds his favorite site to the favorite item menu of a web browser such as Internet explorer or Netscape navigator installed in his own computer.

However, this method renders useless in a case the user uses another computer. Alternatively, in case that the user has his own homepage, there is a method that after the user logins his homepage, the user can add items linked to the URL (address) of the website that he wishes to visit to the menu on the initial picture of his own homepage.

However, since the user has to manually link the URL of the website to the menu of his own homepage, this method is inconvenient and consequently allows the user to feel difficulty in altering and deleting the URL or managing a work.

Therefore, there is requested a system that enables the linking to a favorite website in various ways and a management is easy in order to effectively access another website.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, an object of the invention is to resolve the above problem and to move into a linked site with ease by registering the URL (or address) of a favorite website on a start menu composed of main menu or sub menu within the background picture or registering an icon on the background picture.

Another object of the invention is for an Internet user to directly register the URL of a website on the start menu of the background picture comprised of a main menu or sub menus or easily register it using an icon from a picture displayed during Internet surfing. Further another object of the invention is for an Internet user to easily use services provided by other websites without space and time limitation by registering on the background picture various functions of a searching function of a search site, a searching function of a dictionary-provided site, a stock searching function, a weather information searching function, etc. To accomplish the above objects and advantages, there is provided a method for managing a background picture on the Internet. According to the method, a user accesses to a server computer of managing a background picture and subscribes for the server computer as a member. Thereafter, the user selects any one among various background pictures stored in a database of the server computer and links to an address of a favorite website using the main menu and sub-menu similarly to the starting menu of a window system, or creates an icon stored at an icon information database on the background picture and links to the address of the favorite website. After that, the user registers the background picture having a linked website icon on an initial page of a used browser or a background picture of the home page.

Preferably, the URL includes an HTML source for performing a searching function of a search site, a searching function of a dictionary-provided site, a stock information searching function, weather information searching function, etc., including the address of a website.

Accordingly, the user clicks the sub menu or icon to which a corresponding website is linked, on the background picture, to thereby move into the corresponding website with ease or the use inputs a searching word and so on into the searching function of the search site to thereby obtain a searched result with ease. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for managing a background picture on the Internet comprising: a client; a background picture managing server connected with the client, for providing background picture information; and a data server including a background picture information DB storing the background picture information, an icon information DB storing icon information and a client information DB storing client information in relation to constructing the background picture. The background picture managing server comprises: a background picture managing part which constructs the background picture provided for a user and stores the background picture at the background picture information DB (Database); an icon managing part which stores and manages an icon provided for the user at the icon information DB; a menu setting part which adds, alters or deletes a start menu composed of a main menu and a sub menu on the background picture and links the URL(or address) of a website to the sub menu; a client managing part which stores the client's information including the subscription and secession at the client's information DB; and an icon setting part which adds, alters or deletes the icon extracted from the icon information DB and links the URL of the website to the icon.

Preferably, the background picture managing server further comprises a homepage setting part which allows a user not having his own homepage to select a homepage appropriate for him from the homepage information DB. Preferably, the background picture managing server further comprises: a background picture managing part which constructs various background pictures, stores the constructed background pictures at the background picture information DB and manages the stored background pictures; an icon managing part which stores variously constructed icons and an icon for a registered client at the icon information DB and manages the stored icons; a homepage managing part which constructs various kinds of homepage, stores the constructed homepages at the homepage information DB and manages the stored homepages; and a client managing part which stores client information including the subscription and secession of a client at the client information DB and manages the stored client information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above object, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a concept diagram for describing that an Internet user logins an Internet background picture managing server in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the Internet background picture managing server in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for constructing an Internet background picture in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing one example of the Internet background picture realized by the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing steps linking Internet site to background picture; Fig. 6a to 6b are schematic views showing one preferred embodiment realized by Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an example showing web page in which a user having own homepage registers related things about above homepage.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

Start menu used in this invention is similar to that of the windows system. If the cursor moves on the start menu, there appears main menu and sub menu one after another while if the cursor moves on the main menu, there appear many sub menus pertaining to the main menu one after another. And the URL of a website is directly linked to the sub menu.

Fig. 1 is a concept diagram for describing that an Internet user logins an Internet background picture managing server in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the Internet background picture managing server in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for constructing an Internet background picture in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing one example of the Internet background picture realized by the present invention, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing steps linking an Internet site to the background picture in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b are schematic views showing one example realized by the method of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, a user who intends to utilize the background picture logins the background picture managing server 300 using a web browser of a client computer 100 through the Internet 200.

Referring to Fig. 2, detailed explanation about this invention will be made.

Background picture managing server 300 comprises a background picture managing part 202, a homepage managing part 204, an icon managing part 206, a client managing part 208, a background picture setting part 210, a menu setting part 212, an icon setting part 214, a homepage setting part 216 and a homepage registering part 217 and these parts interact with databases (DBs) 218, 220, 222 and 224 related with the format of various background pictures.

Database (DB) comprises a background picture information DB 218 which stores information about a background picture variously constructed in order for a user to set the background picture, a homepage information DB 220 which stores information about homepages having a basic format and variously constructed in order for a user who does not have a homepage to use the basic homepage as his own homepage, an icon information DB 222 which stores information about a folder and icon linked to the URL of a website on the surface of background picture and a client's information DB 224 which stores client's information and registered client's background picture information.

The background picture managing part 202 constructs various and basic background pictures and stores the constructed basic pictures at the background picture information DB 218 such that a user who is one of the members uses the constructed background picture as his own background picture.

The homepage managing part 204 constructs a basic homepage and stores the homepage at the homepage information DB 220 such that a user who does not have his own homepage uses it.

The icon managing part 206 constructs a folder or an icon added to the surface of background picture and stores the constructed folder or icon at icon information DB 222. In this case, the folder can be stored in the format of image or character (for example, "computer & Internet", "science & technology", "entertainment & amusement" etc.) and as described in Fig. 4, the icon can be registered with separately linking a HTML source which carries out searching function 412 of a searching site (for example, searching function of dictionary-provided site, stock searching function and proverb searching function etc.).

In addition, as described in Fig. 7, the icon can be used for the purpose of storing additional icon information in order for another user to make use of the icon added when the user who has own homepage registers the own homepage.

The client managing part 208 stores client's information including subscription and secession information about registered homepage at client's information DB 224 and manages the Information. The background picture setting part 210 manages that a user who is a client selects and completes the background picture stored at the background picture information DB 218.

The menu setting part 212 adds, alters or deletes the start menu composed of a main menu having the same function as the folder) and a sub menu to which the URL of a website is linked within the main menu, to thereby manage to set the URL within the sub menu. At this time, the sub menu can be located in the main menu or be located within the start menu with the same level as the main menu has.

Preferably, the menu setting part 212 manages to register favorite item menu installed in user's web browser as the start menu of background picture.

The icon setting part 214 manages to add, alter or delete a folder or icon stored at the icon information DB 222 and links the URL of a website to the icon. In this case, if a user does not make use of the icon stored at the icon information DB 222, the user can link only the name and URL of the website without icon or make use of an image as icon having an image format with an appointed size of 30 pixels in height and 88 pixels in length.

The homepage setting part 216 constructs a basic homepage, stores the constructed basic homepage at the homepage information DB 220 and manages the basic homepage such that a user uses it. The homepage registering part 217 is used when a user registers his own homepage on a managing server, stores content of the registered homepage at the client information DB 224 and manages the stored contents. In this case, user can register advertising phrase, URL and representative icon of registered homepage as shown in Fig. 7 and the background picture managing server 300 stores the registered icon separately at the icon information DB 222 in order for other user to use it.

Preferably, the menu setting part 212 comprises a menu managing part 232 a menu managing part which links a user to the website with inputting the URL of the website at the location of the main menu or the sub menu, moves the location of the main menu or the sub menu with dragging a mouse and deletes or backups the main menu or the sub menu and a menu view module 234 which displays the sub menu when clicking the main menu and alters the color of the menu when the mouse is on/off on the main menu or the sub menu.

Also, the icon setting part 214 includes an icon managing module 236. The icon managing module 236 creates a folder and icon at the surface of the background picture, inputs the URL of a. website directly, moves the folder or icon by dragging them using a mouse, deletes the folder or icon, views the registered information and renews the registered information.

Hereinafter, operation of the system having the above constitution is described with reference to the accompanying drawings of Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 and Fig. 7.

As a user having the Internet background picture accesses to the background picture managing server 300 at the client computer 100 through the Internet 200, the managing server 300 confirms identification number (ID) and password and checks whether the accessed user is a registered client (S302). If the accessed user is not the registered client, the user subscribes to the managing server 300 (S304) and then selects a basic page stored at the background picture information DB 218 through the background picture setting part 210.

After selecting the background picture, the user selects the URL of a website intended to be registered (S308) and determines whether to place the URL of the website at start menu 402 having similar format as the window system has or the surface of the background picture.

If it is determined to place the URL at the start menu 402, the menu setting part 212 determines whether to manage the URL as main menu 404 or sub menu 406. (S312)

If the URL is managed as main menu 404, a folder corresponding to the main menu 404 is constructed (S314), the name of a corresponding site is made by creating the sub menu 406 within the main menu 404 and the URL is linked. (S316) For example, if a user is interested in stocks, the sub menu 406 of "stock site" is constructed and then the sub menu 406 which the names and URLs corresponding to Internet sites of "XX stock", "YY stock", "ZZ stock" are registered is set.

If the URL is managed as sub menu 406, sub menu is created directly in the start menu 402, the name of a corresponding site is designated and the URL is linked. (S316)

Therefore when user's cursor moves into the main menu 404 from the start menu 402, the sub menu 406 is displayed and user can move into a related website by clicking one item of the sub menu 406.

If it is determined to place the URL at the surface of background picture, the icon setting part 214 determines whether to manage the corresponding website as folder or as icon. (S320) If the icon setting part 214 determines to manage the URL as folder, it creates folder 408 at the surface of the background picture (S322), selects an icon 410 stored at icon information DB 222 within the folder 408 and links the URL of the corresponding website to the icon 410. (S324) Thus, icon linked to the name and URL of favorite site exists in final folder. In addition, the folder 408 can be utilized in the form of character such as "computer & Internet", "science & technology", "entertainment & amusement". Within the folder 408, lower level folders such as "electron mail", "web game", "open materials" can be located sequentially. If the icon setting part 214 determines to manage the URL as icon 410, it selects the icon 410 stored at the icon information DB links and then links the selected icon to the URL of a corresponding website. (S324)

When the user wishes to link a corresponding website to the surface of the background picture but does not select a proper icon from the icon information DB 222, the user can register only the name of the website without the icon and also construct a proper icon of the website by himself.

As the icon for the background picture, there can be used an image file having a size of 30 pixels in height and 88 pixels in length. Also, it is possible to register only HTML source, which carries out searching function 412 of searching site (for example, searching function of dictionary-provided site, stock searching function and proverb searching function etc.), on the surface of the background picture, perform a corresponding search and obtain a search result of related site.

To perform such works, main menu, sub menu, folder and icon are freely moved by dragging the mouse. As the URL of website is registered on the background picture, user registers own homepage. (S326) In this case, a user who does not have own homepage can utilize a homepage stored at the homepage information DB 220 as his homepage through the homepage setting part 216.

Depending on user's will, the registered background picture can be used as the initial picture of web browser or of homepage.

Hereinafter, another operation of the managing system is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, user who intends to add the URL of a related site to the start menu or the surface of background picture with surfing the Internet creates a background picture registration icon on an Internet browser of the user's computer with installing the background picture creation program in the user's computer. (S502)

If the user finds a website to wish to add during the Internet surfing, the user clicks the background picture registration icon created on the web browser (S504) and determines whether to register the website at the start menu or the surface of the background picture. (S506)

When it is determined to register the URL of the website at the start menu, the user again determines whether to register the URL of the website at the main menu or the sub menu through the menu setting part 212. (S508) When it is determined to register the URL of the website at the main menu, the user selects a corresponding main menu. If there is no corresponding main menu, the user makes a new main menu. (S510) After that, the user makes the name and URL of the website (S512) and registers them as the sub menu.

If it is determined to directly register the URL at the sub menu, the user directly makes the name and URL of the website and registers them. (S512)

If it is determined to register the URL at the surface of the background picture, the user makes the name and URL of the website (S514) and selects an icon properly representing the characteristic of the website from the icon information DB 222. (S522) In this case, if there is no relevant icon, icon can be made and used by capturing a specified part of the website or by making the icon in advance. (S520 and S522)

If the setting of the name of website, URL and icon is completed, these elements are registered. (S524)

While the system and method for managing an Internet background picture of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Background picture is embodied in response to user's taste by using main and sub menu as favorites.

2. User can easily move into a corresponding site only by one click since the URL (or address) of website is linked to folder and icon.

3. User can easily manage the background picture by directly adding a website to main and sub menu or to background picture with icon.

4. Icon can be made and used by capturing a specified part of website or by user himself making it if there is no relevant icon. 5. Main menu, sub menu, folder and icon are freely moved with dragging mouse.

6. By linking a HTML source, which carries out the searching function of searching site such as searching function of dictionary-provided site, stock searching function and proverb searching function etc. to the surface of background picture, user can easily acquire the result of search of related site.

7. User can easily use the Internet service without a space and time limitation with other computer log-in managing server.

8. By checking users registered at the background picture managing server and websites registered at the background picture, it is possible to know a tendency of user, i.e., preference and standings depending on the distinction of sex, age, region and history. As a result, it is possible to utilize client's information as a marketing report.

Claims

Claims:

1. A system for managing a background picture on the Internet comprising: a client; a background picture managing server connected with the client, for providing background picture information; and a data server including a background picture information DB storing the background picture information, an icon information DB storing icon information and a client information DB storing client information in relation to constructing the background picture, wherein the background picture managing server comprises: a background picture managing part which constructs the background picture provided for a user and stores the background picture at the background picture information DB (Database); an icon managing part which stores and manages an icon provided for the user at the icon information DB; a menu setting part which adds, alters or deletes a start menu composed of a main menu and a sub menu on the background picture and links the URL(or address) of a website to the sub menu; a client managing part which stores the client's information including the subscription and secession at the client's information DB; and an icon setting part which adds, alters or deletes the icon extracted from the icon information DB and links the URL of the website to the icon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the background picture managing server further comprises: a homepage managing part which constructs a homepage and stores and manages the constructed homepage at a homepage information DB; and a homepage setting part which allows a homepage user to select the homepage from the homepage information DB.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the menu setting part comprises: a menu managing part which links a user to the website with inputting the URL of the website at the location of the main menu or the sub menu, moves the location of the main menu or the sub menu with dragging a mouse and deletes or backups the main menu or the sub menu; and a menu displaying part which displays the sub menu when clicking the main menu and alters the color of the menu when the mouse is on/off on the main menu or the sub menu.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the icon setting part comprises an icon managing module which produces a folder and an icon directly linking the URL of the website on the background picture, moves the folder and the icon with dragging the mouse, deletes the folder and the icon, displays registration information and alters the registration information.

5. A method for managing a background picture on the Internet in a system for managing the background picture comprising: a client; a background picture managing server connected with the client, for providing background picture information; and a data server including a background picture information DB storing the background picture information, an icon information DB storing icon information and a client information DB storing client information in relation to constructing the background picture, the method comprising the steps of: checking whether a user is registered from the client information DB when the user logins the background picture managing server through the Internet; allowing a registered user to select the processed and stored background picture extracted from the background picture information DB; determining whether letting the URL of a website intended to be added to the background picture be located at the start menu or on the surface of the background picture; when it is determined that the URL should be located at the start menu, determining whether letting the URL be located at a main menu or a sub menu through a menu setting part; when it is determined that the URL should be located at the main menu, constructing the main menu, creating the sub menu within the main menu and linking the URL of the website; and when it is determined that the URL should be located at the sub menu, directly creating the sub menu at the start menu and linking the URL of the website.

6. The method of claim 5, when it is determined that the URL of the website should be located at the surface of the background picture, further comprises the steps of: determining whether an icon setting part manages the URL of the website as a folder, creating the folder on the surface of the background picture when it is determined to do so, and linking the URL to the created icon; and when it is determined that the background picture should be managed by the icon, creating the icon on the surface of the background picture and linking the URL to the created icon.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the icon is extracted and selected from the icon information DB.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the user directly constructs the icon.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of setting a homepage, extracted from a homepage information DB through a homepage setting part when the user does not have an own homepage.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the background picture is set as an initial picture of a web browser.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the background picture is set as an initial picture of the homepage.

12. A method for managing a background picture on the Internet in a system for managing the background picture, the system comprising: a client; a background picture managing server connected with the client, for providing background picture information; and a data server including a background picture information DB storing the background picture information, an icon information DB storing icon information and a client information DB storing client information in relation to constructing the background picture, the method comprising the steps of: installing a background picture creating program to the client to create a background picture registration icon on an Internet browser of the client; clicking the background picture registration icon on a picture in which a favorite website is displayed; determining whether to register the website at the start menu or on the surface of the background picture; when it is determined to register the website at the start menu, positioning the URL of the website at the start menu and again determining whether to place the URL at a main menu or a sub menu through a menu setting part; when it is determined to place the URL at the main menu, constructing the main menu, creating the sub menu within the main menu and linking the URL to a name of the website; when it is determined to place the URL at the sub menu, linking the URL to the name of the website; and registering the linked main menu or the sub menu.

13. The method of claim 12, when it is determined to register the website on the surface of the background picture, further comprising the steps of: linking the URL to the name of the website and determining whether to select an icon corresponding to the website from the icon information DB or to directly construct the icon; when it is determined to select the icon from the icon information DB, selecting and registering the icon.

14. The method of claim 12, when it is determined to directly construct the icon, capturing a picture of the website, storing the captured picture as an image file and altering the size of the image file to another size.