WO2001069362A2

WO2001069362A2 - Method for visualizing news on a computer

Info

Publication number: WO2001069362A2
Application number: PCT/CH2001/000158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Hellweg; Daniel Oscar Schindler; Rolf Carl Nimmrichter; Gabriela Crescini Monn; Mirco John Nimmrichter; Patrick Sibenaler
Original assignee: Snowwwhite Communications Ag
Priority date: 2000-03-16
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2001-09-20
Also published as: AU3719001A; WO2001069362A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for visualizing news on a computer (6.1, 6.2, ...) according to which news (1.1, 1.2, ...) are saved on a server (4). The server (4) transmits the saved news (3.1, 3.2, ...) to the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...) upon inquiry via an electronic data network (5), preferably internet, and visualizes them on a visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...) of the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...). Visualization is carried out pseudostatically and in a predetermined, unalterable area (70), for example a bar of the visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...). Pseudostatically means that a message is visualized during a limited period, preferably one to ten minutes, and is then replaced by another message, thereby providing the computer user with the current news (3.1, 3.2, ...) without any need to actively look for the news and without the danger of missing time-critical, transient information.

Description

PROCEDURE FOR VISUALIZING MESSAGES

ON A COMPUTER

The invention relates to a method for visualizing messages on a computer according to the preamble of the independent claim.

A computer is a frequently used, and for many jobs, indispensable tool in work and leisure. The computer is often connected to an electronic data network, in particular the Internet or an internal data network, a so-called intranet.

Many people nowadays have a great and constantly growing need for current information or news, e.g. in the fields of politics, economy, sport, culture, technology and science etc. To get such information, an information-hungry person becomes one Buying a newspaper, dialing a corresponding phone number, turning on a specific radio or television program, calling up a corresponding website via the Internet etc. All of these situations have in common that the person has to become active, that is, perform a special activity. If it does not develop such an activity - be it out of forgetfulness, indolence, deepening into other activities and the like - it will not remain up to date. This can have serious disadvantageous consequences, especially in the case of time-critical, volatile information - think, for example, of missing a convenient time for a transaction on the stock exchange. Constantly listening to radio or television is a bad solution, at least during an intellectual job, because constant irrigation with acoustic signals has been shown to interfere with the ability to concentrate and greatly hamper the exercise of an intellectual activity.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method with which a computer user can be supplied with messages without having to accept the disadvantages described above. The object is achieved by the method as defined in the independent claim.

The invention is explained with reference to the figures. Show:

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the inventive method and

Figure 2 shows an example of a visualization on a computer screen.

In the method according to the invention for the visualization of messages on a computer 6.1, 6.2, ... messages 1.1, 1.2, ... are stored on a server 4. The stored messages 3.1, 3.2, ... are transmitted on request by the computer 6.1, 6.2, ... via an electronic data network 5, preferably the Internet, from the server 4 to the computer 6.1, 6.2, ... and on a visual output device 7.1, 7.2, ... of the computer 6.1, 6.2, ... visualized. For this purpose, a corresponding program must be installed on the computer 6.1, 6.2, ...

The visualization is pseudo-static and in a predetermined, unchangeable area 70 of the visual output device 7.1, 7.2, ... In this context, pseudo-static means that a message during a limited Duration, preferably one minute to ten minutes, visualized and then replaced by another message. Due to the pseudostatic visualization, on the one hand there is a high probability that a message will be noted, and on the other hand an update of the messages is still possible. Time-critical, volatile information is not lost, but is delivered repetitively or redundantly.

The messages 3.1, 3.2, ... are preferably periodically queried by the server 4 from the computer 6.1, 6.2, ..., the frequency of the query being preferably adjustable by the user. Suitable polling frequencies are between one and ten minutes and for example 3 or 5 minutes. The program can also be configured so that a query is only made at the request of the user when a corresponding button is clicked. The news 3.1, 3.2, ... appear as headlines 71. If you are interested, clicking the headline 71 opens an Internet browser that is set up as standard on the system, and detailed information on the topic is displayed.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is also possible to visualize a message that has already been replaced. A history button 72 is preferably used for this purpose, with which the ten most recent messages, for example, can be displayed. Clicking on the Hystoy button 72 opens a history window in which these news appear in the form of headlines. The last ten messages are stored in a cache memory of the program. For this reason, information that has already passed is not permanently lost for the computer user, as is the case, for example, with information transmitted by the radio, but can be taken note of later. It is also still possible to call up detailed information on the headlines from the history window. The news 3.1, 3.2, ... are fed into the server 4 by an editor 2. You can access server 4 in three main ways. First, messages 1.1, 1.2, ... can be obtained automatically and preferably via the Internet from corresponding information centers, agencies and / or services and loaded onto the server 4. Secondly, messages 1.1, 1.2, ... can be compiled by one or more editors and entered into the server 4, for example via a keyboard. Third, sponsoring companies with the appropriate authorization can upload their own messages 1.1, 1.2, ... to the server 4. The messages 3.1, 3.2, ... are provided with a possibly time-dependent priority and an expiry time, for example. The selection of the message forwarded to the computer 6.1, 6.2,... During a query is made, for example, by means of a random generator, with messages with a higher priority being given a higher probability. Each message is deleted by the server 4 after its expiry time, although a message can of course also be deleted manually by an editor.

In a preferred embodiment, the visual output device 7.1, 7.2, ... is a substantially rectangular screen. The predetermined, unchangeable area 70 of the screen is a so-called bar, visually comparable to the taskbar 80 from MS Windows ® or the Mac OS. Such a bar 70 is a rectangle, the width of which extends essentially over the entire width of the screen and the height of which is less than 10%, preferably approximately 3%, of the screen height. This bar 70 is preferably arranged in the bottom quarter of the screen 7. The bar 70 cannot be covered by any other element to be displayed on the screen, for example a Windows window, and therefore always remains visible, ie "on top". The bar 70 is a polyfunctional element which is constantly visible on the desktop. The bar 70 starts again the system start automatically opens and cannot be ended using the conventional exit command.

The bar 70 is divided into different areas. As stated above, messages 71 appear in a central area. In addition, other areas can also be provided as so-called "3 buttons". A specific action of the computer can be triggered by clicking such a button. Examples of such "buttons" include the mentioned history button 72 also buttons for program settings (for example the message query repetition frequency) or service buttons in question. Via six such special service buttons 73.1-73.6, for example, additional functionality and services such as e-mail directories, catering, tour operators, chat boxes, etc. a. delivered. These buttons 73.1-73.6 can be set separately. Depending on that, another button, the sponsor button 74, is central. One such example shows the logo of a sponsor selected by the user. When clicked on, a window configured by the sponsor opens in which the sponsor offers, for example, advertising or sales information. A sponsor window is also particularly suitable for the presentation of user information such as timetables or flight schedules from transport companies, special price reductions or availability information from goods suppliers etc.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Process for the visualization of messages (3.1, 3.2, ...) on a computer (6.1, 6.2, ...), whereby

Messages (1.1, 1.2, ...) are stored on a server (4),

the stored messages (3.1, 3.2, ...) on request by the computer

(6.1, 6.2, ...) are transmitted via an electronic data network (5) from the server (4) to the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...) and

the transmitted messages are visualized on a visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...) of the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...),

characterized in that

that the visualization takes place pseudosatically and in a predetermined, unchangeable area (70.1, 70.2, ...) of the visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...) periodically polls the messages from the server.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a message (3.1, 3.2, ...) is visualized for a limited period of time, for example one minute to ten minutes and preferably three or five minutes, and then replaced by another message becomes.

, Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...) is a substantially rectangular screen.

A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined, unchangeable area (70.1, 70.2, ...) of the screen (7.1, 7.2, ...) is a rectangle, the width of which extends substantially over the entire width of the screen, the height of which is less than 10%, preferably about 3%, of the screen height and which is preferably arranged in the bottom quarter of the screen.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined, unchangeable area (70.1, 70.2, ...) of the visual output device (7.1, 7.2, ...) by no other on the visual output device (7.1, 7.2, .. .) element to be displayed can be covered.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information that is no longer visualized is temporarily stored and, if necessary, can be visualized outside the unchangeable area (70.1, 70.2, ...) on the output device (7.1, 7.2, ...).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the server

(4) messages transmitted to the computer (6.1, 6.2, ...) by a

Random generator can be selected from the messages (3.1, 3.2, ...) stored in the server, the probability of selection preferably depending on a priority assigned to each message.

, Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each message (3.1, 3.2, ...) stored in the server (4) has an expiry time and is deleted by the server (4) after this expiry time.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic data network (5) is the Internet.