Dynamically modifying a toolbar
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method for dynamically modifying a toolbar, the method comprising:
- displaying the toolbar, at a user Internet device, that includes one or more toolbar buttons, the toolbar defined by toolbar data stored in one or more toolbar-defining databases, the toolbar data comprising a plurality of toolbar button attributes associated with the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein at least one of the plurality of toolbar button attributes identifies a function to be performed by a specific toolbar button upon actuation of the specific toolbar button;
invoking, from the user Internet device without user intervention, communication of information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases to a server associated with a network address;
receiving, at the server, the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases;
determining, based on the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases, that the user Internet device should receive updated toolbar data;
receiving, at the user Internet device, the updated toolbar data in response to determining that the user Internet device should receive the updated toolbar data;
initiating, at the user Internet device and without user interaction, an operation to update the toolbar data in accordance with the received updated toolbar data;
updating the toolbar data at the user Internet device based on the operation and in accordance with the updated toolbar data, thereby updating the toolbar data, the updating comprising at least one member of a group comprising (a) and (b);
(a) updating the toolbar data to include at least one new attribute of the toolbar data to change the toolbar by adding a toolbar button to the toolbar; and
(b) updating the toolbar data to modify an attribute of at least one of the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar; and
displaying at the user Internet device the toolbar as defined by the updated toolbar data,wherein the information associated with the toolbar data includes at least one member of a group comprising a revision level, version, time, date, user ID, account owner ID, PAP ID, IP address, session keys, billing data, name, address, account information, connection history, procedures performed by a user, group ID, e-mail address, e-mail ID, e-mail password, residential address, and phone number.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.
269 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for dynamically modifying a toolbar, the method comprising:
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displaying the toolbar, at a user Internet device, that includes one or more toolbar buttons, the toolbar defined by toolbar data stored in one or more toolbar-defining databases, the toolbar data comprising a plurality of toolbar button attributes associated with the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein at least one of the plurality of toolbar button attributes identifies a function to be performed by a specific toolbar button upon actuation of the specific toolbar button; invoking, from the user Internet device without user intervention, communication of information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases to a server associated with a network address; receiving, at the server, the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases; determining, based on the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases, that the user Internet device should receive updated toolbar data; receiving, at the user Internet device, the updated toolbar data in response to determining that the user Internet device should receive the updated toolbar data; initiating, at the user Internet device and without user interaction, an operation to update the toolbar data in accordance with the received updated toolbar data; updating the toolbar data at the user Internet device based on the operation and in accordance with the updated toolbar data, thereby updating the toolbar data, the updating comprising at least one member of a group comprising (a) and (b); (a) updating the toolbar data to include at least one new attribute of the toolbar data to change the toolbar by adding a toolbar button to the toolbar; and (b) updating the toolbar data to modify an attribute of at least one of the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar; and displaying at the user Internet device the toolbar as defined by the updated toolbar data, wherein the information associated with the toolbar data includes at least one member of a group comprising a revision level, version, time, date, user ID, account owner ID, PAP ID, IP address, session keys, billing data, name, address, account information, connection history, procedures performed by a user, group ID, e-mail address, e-mail ID, e-mail password, residential address, and phone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. One or more computer-readable memory embodied with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method for dynamically modifying a toolbar, the method comprising:
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displaying a toolbar, at a user Internet device, that includes one or more toolbar buttons, the toolbar defined by toolbar data stored in one or more toolbar-defining databases, the toolbar data comprising a plurality of toolbar button attributes associated with the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein at least one of the plurality of toolbar button attributes identifies a function to be performed by a specific toolbar button upon actuation of the specific toolbar button; invoking, at the user Internet device and without user interaction, communication of information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining database to a server associated with a network address; receiving the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases at the server; determining at the user Internet device, based on the information associated with the one or more toolbar-defining databases, that the user Internet device should receive updated toolbar data; receiving, at the user Internet device, the updated toolbar data; initiating, at the user Internet device and without user interaction, an operation to update the toolbar data in accordance with the received updated toolbar data; updating the toolbar data at the user Internet device based on the operation and in accordance with the updated toolbar data, thereby updating the toolbar data, the updating comprising at least one member of a group comprising (a) and (b); (a) updating the toolbar data to include at least one new attribute of the toolbar data to change the toolbar by adding a toolbar button to the toolbar; and (b) updating the toolbar data to modify an attribute of at least one of the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar; and
displaying at the user Internet device the toolbar as defined by the updated toolbar data;wherein the information associated with the toolbar data includes at least one member of a group comprising a revision level, version, time, date, user ID, account owner ID, PAP ID, IP address, session keys, billing data, name, address, account information, data about a user, connection history, procedures performed by a user, group ID, e-mail address, e-mail ID, e-mail password, residential address, and phone number. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for dynamically modifying a toolbar using a remote source accessible through a network, wherein the toolbar is displayable on a user Internet device and includes one or more toolbar buttons that are defined by toolbar data stored in one or more toolbar-defining databases of the user Internet device, the toolbar data includes a plurality of toolbar button attributes associated with the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein at least one of the plurality of toolbar button attributes identifies a function to be performed by a specific toolbar button, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection with a user Internet device, the connection invoked by the user Internet device; receiving, at the remote source, information associated with the toolbar data stored in the one or more toolbar-defining databases of the user Internet device; determining, based on the information associated with the toolbar data stored in the one or more toolbar-defining databases of the user Internet device, that the user Internet device should receive updated toolbar data; and sending, from the remote source via the network to the user Internet device, the updated toolbar data to be stored in the one or more toolbar-defining databases of the user Internet device, wherein the toolbar of the user Internet device is configured to receive the updated toolbar data, and to perform an operation that includes at least one member of a group comprising (a) and (b); (a) updating the toolbar data to include at least one new attribute of the toolbar data to change the toolbar by adding a toolbar button to the toolbar; and (b) updating the toolbar data to modify an attribute of at least one of the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein the information associated with the toolbar data includes at least one member of a group comprising a revision level, version, time, date, user ID, account owner ID, PAP ID, IP address, session keys, billing data, name, address, account information, connection history, procedures performed by a user, group ID, e-mail address, e-mail ID, e-mail password, residential address, and phone number. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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17. A method for dynamically modifying a toolbar of a user Internet device, the method comprising:
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displaying a toolbar, at the user Internet device, that includes one or more toolbar buttons, the toolbar defined by toolbar data stored in one or more toolbar-defining databases, the toolbar data comprising a plurality of toolbar button attributes associated with the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar, wherein at least one of the plurality of toolbar button attributes identifies a function to be performed by a specific toolbar button upon actuation of the specific toolbar button; invoking, from the user Internet device and without user interaction, communication of information associated with the toolbar data to a server associated with a network address, wherein the information is used to determine that the user Internet device should receive updated toolbar data; communicating the information associated with the toolbar data to the server; receiving, at the user Internet device, the updated toolbar data in response to determining that the user Internet device should receive the updated toolbar data; initiating, at the user Internet device and without user interaction, an operation to update the toolbar data in accordance with the updated toolbar data; updating the toolbar data at the user Internet device based on the operation and in accordance with the updated toolbar data, thereby updating the toolbar data, the updating comprising at least one member of a group comprising (a) and (b); (a) updating the toolbar data to include at least one new attribute of the toolbar data to change the toolbar by adding a toolbar button to the toolbar; and (b) updating the toolbar data to modify an attribute of at least one of the one or more toolbar buttons of the toolbar; and displaying at the user Internet device the toolbar as defined by the updated toolbar data, wherein the information associated with the toolbar data includes at least one member of a group comprising a revision level, version, time, date, user ID, account owner ID, PAP ID, data about a user, and one or more IP addresses. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification