US6724403B1 — System and method for simultaneous display of mul…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

A method executed by a device under the control of a program, said device including a memory for storing said program, said method comprising: selecting a plurality of information sources; partitioning a visual display of the device into an array of tiles, wherein each tile in said array of tiles is associated with an information source in said plurality of information sources; assigning a first refresh rate to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second refresh rate to a second tile of said array of tiles; updating information from a first information source in said plurality of information sources presented to said first tile in accordance with said first refresh rate; and simultaneously updating information from a second information source in said plurality of information sources presented to said second tile in accordance with said second refresh rate.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 142 words

A method executed by a device under the control of a program, said device including a memory for storing said program, said method comprising: selecting a plurality of information sources; partitioning a visual display of the device into an array of tiles, wherein each tile in said array of tiles is associated with an information source in said plurality of information sources; assigning a first refresh rate to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second refresh rate to a second tile of said array of tiles; updating information from a first information source in said plurality of information sources presented to said first tile in accordance with said first refresh rate; and simultaneously updating information from a second information source in said plurality of information sources presented to said second tile in accordance with said second refresh rate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said partitioning includes partitioning said array of tiles in accordance with a user-defined array size.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said partitioning includes partitioning said array of tiles in a non-overlapping configuration wherein each tile of said array of tiles is a uniform size and shape.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said assigning includes assigning said first refresh rate and said second refresh rate in accordance with a first priority value of a first information source associated with said first tile and a second priority value of a second information source associated with said second tile.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said assigning includes attributing a selected state or an unselected state to said first tile and said second tile.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said first refresh rate is different from said second refresh rate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first refresh rate and said second refresh rate is specified by a user.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said array comprises more than one row and more than one column.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 wherein at least one attribute of each tile in said array of tiles is assigned uniformly.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said attribute is a refresh rate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said first refresh rate is assigned automatically.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said array comprises a grid wherein each of said tiles occupies a fixed position on said grid.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 1 wherein a unit tile size is associated with said array of tiles, dependent upon a maximum number of tiles displayed vertically and a maximum number of tiles displayed horizontally, and wherein each tile in said array of tiles has a fixed size that is equal to said unit tile size, or a multiple thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said array is displayed in a web-browser.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising storing said array of tiles on a second device.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said array of tiles is retrieved from a second device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a mobile telephone.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a television.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a computer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a personal digital assistant.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of information sources comprises at least two information sources selected from the group consisting of: analog signal; video signal; audio signal; text; an e-mail program; a world-wide-web page; streaming video; streaming audio; and graphics.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 160 words

An electronic readable memory to direct an electronic device to function in a specified manner, comprising: a first set of instructions to control simultaneous communication with a plurality of information sources; a second set of instructions to arrange a display into an array of tiles; a third set of instructions to associate a first information source of said plurality of information sources to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second information source of said plurality of information sources to a second tile of said array of tiles; a fourth set of instructions to retrieve information from said first information source in accordance with a first retrieval rate and retrieve information from said second information source in accordance with a second retrieval rate; and a fifth set of instructions to present information to said first tile in accordance with said first retrieval rate and present information to said second tile in accordance with said second retrieval rate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 160 words

An electronic readable memory to direct an electronic device to function in a specified manner, comprising: a first set of instructions to control simultaneous communication with a plurality of information sources; a second set of instructions to arrange a display into an array of tiles; a third set of instructions to associate a first information source of said plurality of information sources to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second information source of said plurality of information sources to a second tile of said array of tiles; a fourth set of instructions to retrieve information from said first information source in accordance with a first retrieval rate and retrieve information from said second information source in accordance with a second retrieval rate; and a fifth set of instructions to present information to said first tile in accordance with said first retrieval rate and present information to said second tile in accordance with said second retrieval rate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to process a network datastream from a network data source.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to process a tuner signal from a tuner device.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said second set of instructions arrange said array of tiles on a display of a mobile telephone.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said second set of instructions arrange said array of tiles on a display of a television.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said second set of instructions arrange said array of tiles on a display of a computer.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said second set of instructions arrange said array of tiles on a personal digital assistant.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to assign a password to a selected tile of said array of tiles.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said second set of instructions produce an array of non-overlapping tiles wherein each tile has a uniform size and shape.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said fourth set of instructions assign said first retrieval rate and said second retrieval rate in accordance with a predetermined priority scheme.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 29 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to selectively assign a selected or unselected state to specified tiles of said array of tiles.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to interrupt said first retrieval rate and present said first tile with static information from said first information source.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to deliver selected textual content from said first information source to said first tile.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to deliver a video signal to a selected tile of said array of tiles.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to deliver a frame of a broadcast TV signal to a selected tile of said array of tiles.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 29 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to deliver information from a network document to a selected tile of said array of tiles.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions to deliver a web page to a selected tile of said array of tiles.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said first retrieval rate is different from said second retrieval rate.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said array comprises more than one row and more than one column.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 28 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 further comprising a set of instructions for uniformly assigning at least one attribute of each tile in said array of tiles.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 14 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 41 wherein said attribute is a retrieval rate.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 15 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 wherein said first retrieval rate is assigned automatically.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 21 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 additionally comprising instructions for storing said array of tiles on a second electronic device.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 21 words

The electronic readable memory of claim 22 additionally comprising instructions for retrieving said array of tiles from a second electronic device.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 165 words

A system for facilitating the organization and management of multiple data sources, comprising: a device that includes a processor configured to execute instructions, a memory connected to said processor to store at least one program that includes a graphical user interface, and an input device, wherein said processor executes instructions to: control simultaneous communication with a plurality of information sources; arrange a display into an array of tiles; associate a first information source of said plurality of information sources to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second information source of said plurality of information sources to a second tile of said array of tiles; retrieve information from said first information source in accordance with a first retrieval rate and retrieve information from said second information source in accordance with a second retrieval rate; and present information to said first tile in accordance with said first retrieval rate and present information to said second tile in accordance with said second retrieval rate.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 165 words

A system for facilitating the organization and management of multiple data sources, comprising: a device that includes a processor configured to execute instructions, a memory connected to said processor to store at least one program that includes a graphical user interface, and an input device, wherein said processor executes instructions to: control simultaneous communication with a plurality of information sources; arrange a display into an array of tiles; associate a first information source of said plurality of information sources to a first tile of said array of tiles and a second information source of said plurality of information sources to a second tile of said array of tiles; retrieve information from said first information source in accordance with a first retrieval rate and retrieve information from said second information source in accordance with a second retrieval rate; and present information to said first tile in accordance with said first retrieval rate and present information to said second tile in accordance with said second retrieval rate.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 46 wherein said array comprises more than one row and more than one column.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system of claim 46 wherein said processor additionally executes instructions for uniformly assigning at least one attribute of each tile in said array of tiles.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 48 wherein said attribute is a retrieval rate.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 46 wherein said first retrieval rate is assigned automatically.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 46 wherein said processor additionally executes instructions for storing said array of tiles on a second device.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 46 wherein said processor additionally executes instructions for retrieving said array of tiles from a second device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-04-20	2007-10-20	2008-04-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-04-20	2011-10-20	2012-04-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-04-20	2015-10-20	2016-04-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources

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