Abstract: A web browsing environment that provides a graphical spatial context to associate web sites to one another and allows for interaction between users browsing the space is provided.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating electronic commerce and/or information exchange. The technique of the present invention enables a content provider to create a web space which can surface large amounts of product data into one single view. In addition, the display and layout of the web space may be dynamically customized. Further, if desired, customer specific data may be overlaid on product catalog data. In this way, customers are able to quickly grasp the extent of the virtual store and access products of interest by drilling-down on any single region of the store. Additionally, customer behavior patterns and activities may be tracked in real-time. This information may be used to enable a on-line merchant to respond appropriately, in real-time, in order to facilitate sales of merchandise to current on-line shoppers.

Abstract: A web browsing environment that provides for visual and interactive mapping techniques to enable users to organize, visualize and navigate complex information spaces. The Urbanpixel system supports atomic units of information organized into a tiled browser environment. The system's mapping technology allows the information environment to be surfaced into a global, active map view. Because the system supports a process of data abstraction and the use of stylesheets to create multiple views, users can drill down on areas of interest to get views at multiple levels of detail and abstraction. The navigation model keeps a one-to-one spatial correspondence between the levels, making it easier for users to find their way around by providing spatial context at every level.

Abstract: The system described herein extends the server described in application Ser. No. 09/596,305 to allow the content of browser windows or the interaction of browser windows to affect other browser windows or to be affected by other browser windows. This system of linked browser windows allows intelligence to be added to the system specified in application Ser. No. 09/596,305. Changes affecting a browser window can now have ripple effects through the landscape for various uses, e.g., data can propagate more visibly, easily and transparently, “what-if” scenarios are possible, error and special conditions can be highlighted at a glance, etc.

Abstract: A graphical user interface provides a scalable information structure. Interactive categories are displayed as expansive locations on a display as part of a desktop. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, each category in a tier of an information structure occupies a dedicated expansive location in a list displayed within a defined region on the display. A location occupied by a selected category is expanded or compressed to display the next tier in the information hierarchy as a list, or as a cluster. Remaining locations are resized to accommodate newly-displayed contents within the defined region. The list is directly scrolled by selecting and moving locations with a pointing device. In a second, equally preferred embodiment of the invention, expansive locations are displayed as a cluster arrangement. A selected cluster is highlighted and expanded to display the next tier in the information hierarchy as a list, or as a cluster. Any previously-selected cluster is deselected and contracted.