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.
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