Thanks to Dave Winer for this link...
[0010] The present invention provides techniques for detecting, managing, and presenting syndication XML (news feeds). In one embodiment, a web browser automatically determines that a web site is publishing syndication XML and notifies the user. The user is then able to access the feed easily. The user can be notified, for example, by displaying a badge in the address bar of the browser window. The user can access the feed, for example, by using the badge to toggle between viewing the web page and viewing the feed.
[0011] In another embodiment, a web browser automatically determines that a web page or feed is advertising relationship XML. The web browser then determines that the relationship XML identifies a feed or web page. The user is then able to access the identified feed or web page easily. In one embodiment, when relationship XML is found, information about the people identified in the relationship XML is displayed. For example, a person's name can be displayed and can link to her syndication XML or to her homepage.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, a web browser automatically determines whether a file contains syndication XML. If it does, the web browser enables the user to view the feed in a user-friendly way. For example, the web browser can open the feed file in an application handler to display the feed. As another example, the web browser can display the feed in its content window. In one embodiment, the web browser converts the feed to HTML and then displays the HTML.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, a user can bookmark feeds and organize the bookmarks using folders. In one embodiment, a user can aggregate multiple feeds by selecting a folder containing multiple feed bookmarks. In one embodiment, a bookmark displays the number of "read" or "unread" items in its associate feed. A user can also subscribe to feeds.
[0014] In yet another embodiment, a user can modify how a feed is displayed. For example, the user can specify which content is to be displayed. In one embodiment, the user can control the order in which articles are displayed. In another embodiment, the user can specify which articles are to be displayed. In yet another embodiment, the user can control the amount of each article that is displayed. As another example, a user can modify the format in which a feed is displayed. A format can specify which information is displayed (and in what order) and how the displayed information should be formatted. In one embodiment, a modification regarding how a feed is to be displayed is stored so that it can be used again at a later time.
[0015] In yet another embodiment, feed state information is stored in a repository that is accessible by applications that might be used to view the feed. In one embodiment, if the state of a feed changes, an application notifies the repository, and the repository updates the state accordingly. In another embodiment, a feed is parsed and stored in a structured way.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, a user can create a custom feed through aggregation and/or filtering of existing feeds. Aggregation includes, for example, merging the articles of multiple feeds to form a new feed. Filtering includes, for example, selecting a subset of articles of a feed based on whether they satisfy a search query. Aggregation and/or filtering can be performed server-side or client-side.
[0017] In yet another embodiment, a user can find articles from feeds that she has not bookmarked or subscribed to. The user can enter a search query into a search engine that searches feeds, which will identify one or more feed articles that satisfy the query. Once the articles that satisfy the query have been identified, the search engine returns the results. In one embodiment, the results are presented to the user in the form of a web page containing one or more links to feed articles. In another embodiment, the articles that satisfy the query are assembled into a feed, which is then presented to the user.
Recent Comments