EP1203277A2

EP1203277A2 - Homepage building method

Info

Publication number: EP1203277A2
Application number: EP00948370A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoon-Chan Seok
Original assignee: Technophil Co Ltd
Current assignee: Technophil Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-28
Filing date: 2000-07-27
Publication date: 2002-05-08
Also published as: AU6185500A; KR100326425B1; WO2001007978A3; CN1282913A; JP2001084212A; KR20010011443A; WO2001007978A2

Abstract

A homepage building method including the steps of: executing a wizard function composed of a site manager step of determining a desired homepage structure of a user, a style manager step of selecting the page pre-built and stored by a professional designer for each page constituting the homepage according to a desired style of the user and a layout manager step of determining a banner word and a menu position of each page where the style has been determined; and executing an editor function of editing each page determined by the wizard function with characters, images, site links and the like. The homepage building method is capable of moving the components thereof in a free manner, thereby achieving the homepage building and the change of the homepage pre-built in an easy manner. In addition, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, in case where the homepage building method is provided on the on-line by a server, only by storing the homepage built according to the present invention in the server, the corresponding homepage is uploaded on the Web site by the server, without taking a separate step of uploading the homepage built on the Web site.

Description

HOMEPAGE BUILDING METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a homepage building method and more particularly, to a homepage building method capable of providing a wizard function and an editor function, thereby building the homepage in an easy manner as well as changing the homepage built in an easy manner.

BACKGROUND ART To build homepage, conventionally, an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) should be learned, which is not really familiar to general users. Therefore, the general users think that the homepage building is one of difficult works.

As a result, there occurs a need for a homepage building method having a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) function, as a word processor as a homepage building tool is used.

Also, in case of building the homepage in a conventional off-line editor tool, there is a disadvantage that for the purpose of uploading the corresponding homepage, an empty space co-operated with a Web server over Internet should be arranged and thus, the corresponding homepage should be transmitted using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) command through the FTP.

Particularly, in case of the off-line-editor, if the homepage pre-built is to be corrected, there is a disadvantage that whenever the correction is needed, the correction should be carried out through the editor and then, the corrected contents should be transmitted through the FTP to the directory of the Web server over the Internet where the account of the builder of the homepage is registered.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a homepage building method capable of achieving homepage building and various changes of homepage such as the change of the structure, the addition of the contents and the change of style of the homepage built, in a simple manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a homepage building method capable of building, correcting, managing and changing homepage through an Internet browser where Java language can be executed in a connection state to Internet.

To attain these and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a home page building method comprising the steps of: executing a wizard function composed of a site manager step of determining a desired homepage structure of a user, a style manager step of selecting the page pre-built and stored by a professional designer for each page constituting the homepage according to a desired style of the user and a layout manager step of determining a banner word and a menu position of each page where the style has been determined; and executing an editor function of editing each page determined by the wizard function with characters, images, site links and the like. According to the present invention, a user who builds the homepage is enrolled and managed as a member by a homepage management server and the homepage building is carried out on an Internet Web site, namely, on the on-line state, by the homepage management server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating main steps of a homepage building method according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a site manager step of the wizard function in the homepage building method of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a style manager step of the wizard function in the homepage building method of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a layout manager step of the wizard function in the homepage building method of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of the editor function in the homepage building method of Fig. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, an explanation of a homepage building method according to the present invention will be hereinafter discussed with reference to accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the main steps of a homepage building method according to the present invention.

As shown, a homepage building method according to the present invention has a wizard function 11 and an editor function 12. The wizard function 11 is composed of a site manager step 21 , a style manager step 22 and a layout manager step 23.

The wizard function 11 determines the structure of homepage and the style and position of each page in the homepage. In more detail, the wizard function 11 selects a desired hierarchical structure of homepage of a user, selects a desired each page style for various pages designed and pre-stored by styles, and determines a banner word and a menu position on the selected page.

The editor function 12 edits each page of the homepage determined by the wizard function 11 with characters, images, page links and the like. In the site manager step 21 of the wizard function 11 , the user determines his desired homepage structure. In other words, the number of pages of homepage and the contents on the each page of the homepage are determined. Also, in the above step the hierarchical structure of homepage is determined and a name, a keyword and summary of each page based upon the contents of the page are inputted. Fig. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of the site manager step 21 of the wizard function 11 in the homepage building method of Fig. 1.

A main page is given at an initial step and after the user clicks an icon of a house shape, if he selects 'add', while pressing a right button of a mouse, other pages on a lower hierarchy of the main page are built. If one page is to be built on the lower hierarchy of the main page, the user clicks the icon of the house shape and then selects the 'add', while pressing the right button of the mouse.

On the other hand, if the page built in the structure of the homepage is to be deleted, the user clicks the icon of the house shape on a desired page to be deleted and then selects the 'delete', while pressing the right button of the mouse, thereby deleting the corresponding page.

In the site manager step 21, the name, page keyword and page summary on each page of the homepage can be inputted. The name of page is the title of page, the page keyword is a word to be used upon search, and the page summary is the explanation on the homepage when the search is carried out. If the structure of the homepage desired by the user is determined in the site manager step 21, the style manager step 22 begins.

The style manager step 22 determines the style (atmosphere) of the corresponding page for each page of the homepage. In other words, the user selects the page pre-stored according to his desired style for each page of the homepage. The page pre-stored is designed by a professional designer according to styles and therefore, a homepage user can select the page of his desired style out of the various kinds of pages provided by the style manager step 22 of the wizard function 11 in the homepage building method according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of the style manager step 22 of the wizard function 11 in the homepage building method of Fig. 1. As shown, the style manager step 22 suggests various kinds of styles, in which the page at the time when the user selects "natural" and then selects "ladybird is displayed on the right screen. If the page style is determined in the style manager step 22, the layout manager step 23 begins.

The layout manager step 23 is a final step of the wizard function 11, in which the banner word and the menu position of the corresponding page are determined.

Fig. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of the layout manager step 23 of the wizard function 11 in the homepage building method of Fig. 1.

As shown, the layout manager step suggests five kinds of layouts, in which when the user selects 'Left' in the five styles, the corresponding layout is displayed on the right screen.

If the banner word and the menu position of the page are determined in the layout manager step 23, the editor function 12 begins.

The editor function 12 edits the page determined by the wizard function 11 with characters, images or page links.

Fig. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of the editor function 12 in the homepage building method of Fig. 1. According to the present invention, the editor function is divided into editing elements and page construction elements.

Examples of the editing elements of the editor function 12 of the homepage building method according to the present invention are 'site manager', 'save', 'copy and paste', 'cut', 'delete', 'link', 'preview', "send forward', 'send backward'. If the pages of the homepage are built by the above-mentioned three steps of the wizard function 11 and the editor function 12, the user clicks the editing element 'site manager' in order to build a new page.

The editing element 'save' is used to save the pages of the homepage after the homepage building. Particularly, in case where the user who builds the homepage using the homepage building method according to the present invention is enrolled and managed as a member and by a homepage management server and the homepage building is carried out on an Internet Web site, namely, on the on-line state, by the homepage management server, if the user clicks the editing element 'save' and stores the homepage built in a designated Internet address of the user (the member), he can open his homepage by the input of the corresponding address all over the world, without having a separate operation for uploading the homepage.

The editing elements such as 'copy and paste', 'cut' and 'delete' are the general editing functions used in the editor.

The editing element 'link' is used to move on the corresponding page to another Internet site. The 'link' links the corresponding page to external Internet site, another page on the corresponding homepage, or the uploaded image using 'image loading' as will be discussed below. After the user clicks the 'link', he inputs an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address of the external Internet site, selects another page of the corresponding homepage, or inputs the name of the image file.

The editing element 'preview' is used to preview the building state of the homepage during the building. Particularly, in case where the user who builds the homepage using the homepage building method according to the present invention is enrolled and managed as a member and by a homepage management server and the homepage building is carried out on an Internet Web site, namely, on the on-line state, by the homepage management server, if the user clicks the 'preview', he can preview the building state of the homepage through a browser such as EXPLORE or NESCAPE.

During the homepage building, the text and image or the images are likely to be overlapped. In this case, it should be determined whether what image or text is displayed in front. At this time, after the selection of the corresponding image or text, if the user clicks the 'send forward', the selected image or text is displayed in front.

The editing element 'send backward' has a reverse function of the 'send forward', in case where the text and image or the images are overlapped, if the user clicks the 'send backward' after the selection of the corresponding image or text, the selected image or text is hidden in rear.

Examples of the page construction elements of the editor function 12 are 'banner', 'menu', 'character string input', 'notice board', 'E-mail', 'counter', 'image retrieve', 'file retrieve', 'image', 'navigation', 'separate line', 'list icon', 'background image' and the like.

The page construction element 'banner' represents the title of the corresponding page. The user clicks the 'banner' and selects the font to be used and the background image of the banner. In order to select the font to be used, the user clicks a font tap and searches and selects the font to be used. And, upon building the banner on a banner character string, he inputs the phrase to be used on the window 'banner character string'. The character color is selected by the click of a desired color in a round color table. If the user searches and clicks the appropriate image of the background screen by the click of a background image tap, he can see the banner that is built by overlapping the selected font and the background image.

The page construction element 'menu' is used to produce a menu icon on the corresponding page, with which the font to be used and the icon types are selected. In order to select the font to be used, the user clicks the font tap to select the character kind, type and size and then selects the character color in the round color table to thereby input the phrase to be used on the icon. Also, in order to select the icon types, if the user clicks the background image tap and then searches and clicks an appropriate image of the menu icon type, he can see the menu icon that is built by overlapping the selected font and the image.

The page construction element 'character string input' is used to insert and move text on the corresponding page. If the user clicks the 'character string input', the window of 'character string input' is displayed. In this case, the user moves the cursor to the inside of the window and inputs contents to be inserted into the corresponding page. After the character string input, he can select character size, kind, type, and color in the menu displayed on the lower portion of the window of 'character string input'. If he desires to move the formalized text to an appropriate position, he clicks the portion where the 'character string input' is read and drags it to move to the appropriate position.

The page construction element 'notice board' is used to add a notice board function on the homepage. The user clicks a background screen folder and selects the icon to be automatically linked to the notice board to thereby move it to an appropriate position. After the formation of the notice board icon, for the purpose of setting the environment of the notice board the user inputs the title of the notice board and selects the pattern, size and color of the font to be used, the number of passages displayed per page, the arrangement order of the passages to be displayed, the color of icon, the width of the both side of the notice board and the like. The selected contents can be viewed through the editing element 'preview' as mentioned above.

The page construction element 'E-mail' is used to form an icon functioning to receive Electronic mail on the homepage. To form the icon for the Electronic mail, the user checks whether the address of the Electronic mail suggested is his address and if he desires to use another address, inputs the desired address. Then, he selects the icon where the Electronic mail is automatically linked.

The page construction element 'counter' is used to insert the counter for checking the number of visitors to the homepage. After the user clicks the 'counter', he selects an appropriate image as the counter image.

The page construction element 'image retrieve' is used to insert the image owned by the user into the homepage. To insert the corresponding image, the user inserts the image (for example, gif, jpg file) stored in his computer into the homepage. If he clicks a button 'new uploading', the search window where the image to be inserted into the homepage is found is displayed. At this time, he selects 'image search' and then selects the image stored.

The page construction element 'file retrieve' is used to give materials to the visitors to the homepage. The user clicks the button 'new uploading' and searches and selects the materials to be shared with the visitors to the homepage.

The page construction element 'image' is used to receive the pre-stored image. The user clicks the image folder and selects an appropriate image to be inserted into the homepage.

The page construction element 'navigation' is used to generate the icon of an arrow shape on the homepage.

The page construction element 'separate line' is used to insert the separate line on the homepage. If the separate line is inserted into the homepage, the contents on the homepage can be easily recognized.

The page construction element 'list icon' is used to insert small icons used when several lists are arranged on the contents of the homepage.

The page construction element 'background image' is used to change the whole background screen of the homepage.

Next, an explanation of the homepage building and the change of the homepage built, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, will be discussed.

In case of building the homepage, first the structure of the homepage is determined in the site manager step of the wizard function and then, each page of the homepage is built through the style manager step, the layout manager step and the editor function. On the other hand, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, the change of the homepage pre-built can be carried out in a simple manner.

In case of changing the structure of the homepage, first the user deletes or adds the page to be changed of the homepage in the site manager step of the wizard function.

In case of changing the style, the layout or the editing contents of the page pre-built of the homepage, the user clicks the icon of the page to be changed pre-built in the site manager step of the wizard function. Then, if he presses a button 'Next', in the case where the clicked page is pre- built in the homepage building method according to the present invention, the editor function directly begins. The reason why the editor function directly begins is that the most of contents to be changed on the page pre-built consist of the editing contents.

On the other hand, in case of changing the style and layout of the page pre- built, the user clicks the icon of the page to be changed in the site manager step and if clicks the right button on the mouse in the state where the mouse is positioned on the button 'Next', he can delete the page contents on the page contents deletion menu and designate new style and layout of the page.

In addition, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, the construction elements thereof move in a free manner. For example, the user can move in the style manager step of the wizard function to the site manager step and the layout manager step and move in the layout manager step of the wizard function to the style manager step and the editor function. Therefore, the user can move to a pre-step during the building of the homepage, thereby changing the structure of the homepage and the style and layout of each page.

Specifically, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, if the user connects to a specific Web site over Internet and builds, corrects or changes his homepage, he can build, correct or change the homepage, without taking a separate uploading step and at the same time connect over Internet. This is remarkably different from the conventional off-line editor. In this case, there is no need to install any program for the homepage building.

For this end, a server provides a tool of the homepage building method according to the present invention on the on-line, assigns a member ID to a user who builds the homepage, and stores the homepage built by each member therein. Only by storing the homepage built according to the present invention in the server, the member (user) uploads the corresponding homepage on the Web site by the server, without taking a separate step of uploading the homepage built on the Web site. The address of the homepage stored is, for example, "http://www.server.com/~member ID, and therefore, only if the user inputs the corresponding address, he can enter his homepage all over the world.

As set forth in the foregoing, a homepage building method according to the present invention is composed of a wizard function where the structure of the homepage and the style and layout of each page of the homepage are determined and an editor function where the contents of each page are edited, wherein the components thereof can move to each other in a free manner, such that the homepage building and the change of the homepage pre-built are all achieved in an easy manner. In addition, with the homepage building method according to the present invention, in case where the homepage building method is provided on the on-line by a server, only by storing the homepage built according to the present invention in the server, the corresponding homepage is uploaded on the Web site by the server, without taking a separate step of uploading the homepage built on the Web site.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A homepage building method comprising the steps of: executing a wizard function composed of a site manager step of determining a desired homepage structure of a user, a style manager step of selecting the page pre- built and stored by a professional designer for each page constituting the homepage according to a desired style of the user and a layout manager step of determining a banner word and a menu position of each page where the style has been determined; and executing an editor function of editing each page determined by the wizard function with characters, images, site links and the like.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user who builds the homepage is enrolled and managed as a member by a homepage management server and the homepage building is carried out on an Internet Web site, namely, on the on-line state, by the homepage management server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said editor function is composed of editing elements and page construction elements, said editing elements comprising a function of storing the homepage built by the user in a designated Internet address according to the member (user) by the homepage management server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said editor function is composed of editing elements and page construction elements, said editing elements comprising a function of checking the building state of the homepage during the homepage building through an Internet browser.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said editor function is composed of editing elements and page construction elements, said editing elements comprising a function of moving the corresponding page of the homepage to another Internet site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said editor function is composed of editing elements and page construction elements, said page construction elements comprising 'notice board', 'E-mail', 'counter', 'Java Script', 'DHTML (Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language)' and the like.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said editing function comprises character string input means which is appended on the lower, upper, right and left portions of the space where the character string is inputted.

8. A recording medium readable by a computer where a program is stored, said program executing a wizard function composed of a site manager step of determining a desired homepage structure of a user, a style manager step of selecting the page pre-built and stored by a professional designer for each page constituting the homepage according to a desired style of the user and a layout manager step of determining a banner word and a menu position of each page where the style has been determined, and an editor function of editing each page determined by the wizard function with characters, images, site links and the like.