Dynamic data assembling on internet client side

Abstract

A new method is invented to assemble data into a data set, such as item list in an Internet shopping cart, on client side that is necessary for a transaction between two parties on the Internet server side and client side. The method is to arrange application logic and data access logic on both client side and server side according to execution efficiency to achieve optimal implementations of transactions. A web browser with a build-in engine that can execute client side application program, such as Netscape Navigator 3.0 or above, is needed to implement the method. Web pages used in the method are specifically designed in which client side application program written with script language, such as JavaScript, is embedded. Also a frame in a window, which is preferred, or a new window is created on client side as a data assembling monitor window. In addition, data needed for a transaction in web pages can be retrieved dynamically and individually and assembled with necessary user input in the monitor window by the client side application program actuated by users. In an assembling process, all or at least first two of following editing operations of adding, deleting, updating, entry check, calculation, and backup, are executed on client side until final submission, save, or print. An Internet Client Side Shopping Cart is used to illustrate how to implement this method by using HTML, JavaScript, and CGI. This method can also be used on a local area network and a metropolitan area network.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of dynamic data assembling on client side of a LAN, a MAN, or the Internet using a web browser with a build-in engine that can execute client side application program on client side, comprising the steps of:

downloading a top file that controls directly or indirectly the setting of Display Window and Data Assembling Monitor Window from a server and getting client side application program ready to execute on the client side with said browser;

downloading a data file from said server or another server into said Display Window in which key data and nonkey data are specifically designed and can be retrieved dynamically and individually by said client side application program;

retrieving said key data and nonkey data from said data file and adding said key data and nonkey data into said Data Assembling Monitor Window by said client side application program actuated by actions of client party;

deleting data from said Data Assembling Monitor Window by said client side application program actuated by actions of client party and/or manually if necessary;

repeating above last three steps until the data set needed for a transaction is complete;

submitting said data set to a server, saving, and/or printing said data set on client side.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including the step of adding other key data and nonkey data automatically and/or manually.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 and further including the step of updating automatically and/or manually.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 and further including the step of checking entries automatically in said Data Assembling Monitor Window.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 and further including the step of updating automatically and/or manually.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including the step of backing up and reloading automatically.

9. A method for an implementation of an Internet client side shopping cart using a web browser with a build-in engine that can execute client side application program on client side, comprising the steps of:

downloading a top file that controls directly or indirectly the setting of Display Window and Data Assembling Monitor Window as Internet Client Side Shopping Cart from a server and getting client side application program ready to execute on Internet client side with said browser;

downloading an item list file or an item introduction file from said server or another server into said Display Window in which key data and nonkey data about an items or items can be retrieved dynamically and individually;

retrieving said key data and nonkey data from said item list file or said item introduction file and adding them into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart by said client side application program actuated by actions of client party;

adding other key data and nonkey data into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart automatically and/or manually, and checking entries automatically in said Internet Client side Shopping Cart if necessary;

deleting data from said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart by said client side application program actuated by actions of client party and/or manually if necessary;

updating key data and nonkey data in said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart automatically and/or manually if necessary;

calculating total price, subtotal, and/or grand total in said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart automatically;

repeating above last six steps until the items in said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart needed for an order is complete;

submitting said order to a server.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 and further including the step of putting user ID and/or password into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9 and further including the step of putting URLs of web pages for each item as links into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart automatically.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 and further including the step of putting user ID and/or password into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

15. The method as set forth in claim 9 and further including the step of tax calculation.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15 and further including the step of putting user ID and/or password into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

19. The method as set forth in claim 15 and further including the step of putting URLs of web pages for each item as links into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart automatically.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and further including the step of putting user ID and/or password into said Internet Client Side Shopping Cart.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

22. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said top file also creates a Control Panel to control routine operations that facilitate making a transaction.

23. The method as set forth in claim 9 and further including the step of backing up and reloading automatically.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the Internet has seen an explosive growth of all kinds of applications. In a relative short period, the Internet has grown from a static information delivery system to a full-blown interactive medium. As more and more information exchanges and business get online on the Internet, the congestion of the information traffic on the Internet is becoming more severe. This newly invented method, called Dynamic Data Assembling On Internet Client Side (DDAICS), is useful to assemble data retrieved from server side or from both client side and server side into a data set on Internet client side that is necessary for a transaction until final submission, save, or print. This method, if widely used, will cut down data transmissions, reduce load on servers, speed up information traffic, and save time and scarce resources for Internet users on the Internet.

In the traffic on the Internet, there are a lot of unnecessary transmissions of useful data, transmissions of useless data, and their overheads. Internet server side shopping cart (ISSSC) used by retailers and other firms, such as Wal-Mart Online(www.wal-mart.com), Netscape Store (merchant.netscape.com), Oracle Store (www.oracle.com), on the Internet at present is a typical example. For example, if a shopper wants to order only one item online, first his choice of the item and/or quantity is sent to the sever and put into the cart (one-way transmission). Then he has to retrieve this information back from the cart (two-way transmission). Finally the order form is sent to the server to complete this transaction. Here four one-way transmissions are needed. Also a lot of overheads, such as setting up a connection between a client computer and a server computer, closing the connection, and so on, occur associated with these transmissions.

A key shortcoming of ISSSCs is that they manage the shopping information on the server side, and every change of shopping information is recorded on the server side through transmissions of data to the server side on the Internet. This results in many unnecessary transmissions of useful data between client side and server side. If the data entered by a shopper is wrong, the data are also sent to the server and checked there. Then an error message is returned to the client side. This results in many unnecessary transmissions of useless data.

On the other hand, the newly invented method can be used to design an Internet client side shopping cart (ICSSC). If an ICSSC is used, a shopper can put the item into the cart on his computer. If that is the only item wanted, he can submit the order immediately. Here only one one-way transmission is needed to finish the transaction. As items the shopper order increase, the times of the transmissions by using ISSSCs also increase. Deletion, update, calculation of tax, data checking, and the like, will increase transmissions further. But with an ICSSC, no matter how many items a shopper order, only one transmission is enough. Here transmission of data refers to shopping data transmission in which the data record the shopper's choices of the items, quantity, tax, total price, and the like. Other data transmissions of Internet shopping, such as downloading the item lists, pictures, and introduction materials from server side to client side, are considered as same in both ICSSCs and ISSSCs.

Another example is large online documents such as government regulations, or other lengthy documents. In most cases, Internet users do not need the whole document, but only part of it is of the interest. If these documents are designed in such a way that after downloading of the whole document, every individual title, provision or paragraph of the document is retrievable and editable dynamically on client side, a user can use the "find" function of a browser to locate the title, provision, or paragraph of the interest, retrieve and put into an assembling monitor window on the screen of a client side computer. After all related materials are retrieved and assembled, users can save it as a new file or print it. This will save a lot of effects and resources of users used for editing, storing, or printing the whole document.

Still another example is online multiple-choice examinations or surveys. In fact, if there are four answers starting with a check box or a radio button for each question, only one of them chosen is of concern. If the answers are assembled on client side, three fourth of answers that are not chosen do not need to be submitted. With a little design effect, nearly three fourth of traffic volume can be cut down in these cases.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invented DDAICS method is an alternative diverse type of dynamic information retrieval, storage, and exchange method. Unlike those conventional Internet data retrieval and exchange methods on the Internet in which most application logic and data access logic are located on the server side, the newly invented DDAICS method is to arrange application logic and data access logic on both client side and server side according to execution efficiency to achieve optimal implementations of transactions. A web browser with a build-in engine that can execute client side application program, such as Netscape Navigator 3.0 or above, is needed to implement the method. Web pages used in the method are specifically designed in which client side application program, such as one written with JavaScript, is embedded. Also a frame in a window, which is preferred, or a new window is created on client side as a data assembling monitor window. In addition, data needed for a transaction in a web page must be designed in such a way that they can be retrieved dynamically and individually and assembled with necessary user input in the monitor window by the client side application program actuated by users. In an assembling process, all or some of editing operations, such as adding, deleting, updating, entry check, calculation, and backup, are executed on client side until final submission, save, or print. The philosophy behind the DDAICS method is that where execution efficiencies lie, where application logic and data access logic go.

One objective of using the DDAICS method in the Internet applications is to eliminate unnecessary transmissions of useful data by implementing all edit operations, such as adding, deleting, updating, entry check, calculation, and backup on client side in a data assembling process. Also transmissions of useless data will be reduced to minimum if data checking mechanism is well designed. As a result, the Internet information traffic will be reduced significantly if this method is widely used, and Internet traffic will speed up as a result of reduction of Internet traffic. Also load on servers will be reduced significantly. Overall result is that the scarce Internet resources will be used more effectively and efficiently.

Another objective is to reduce the time needed to assemble a data set needed to make a transaction on the Internet for Internet users. This objective is realized by dynamic data retrieval, storage, and editing on the client side until a data set needed for a transaction is assembled completely ready for submit, save, or print.

Still another objective is to make an online transaction a pleasant experience for Internet users instead of a tedious and time-consuming activity. Most Internet users are frustrated by slow traffic on the Internet and long waiting time. With very effect of all users on both server side and client side of the Internet, it is hopeful that the environment on the Internet will be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention is embodied and illustrated by an ICSSC designed by using this invented method. For a more complete understanding of the drawings, the present invention and its advantages, reference should be made to the following DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and programs.

FIG. 1 shows that the client side window is divided into three frames by using frame tags in HTML. The frame on the left-hand side of the window is named as Control Panel, the upper frame on the right-hand side as Display Window, and the bottom frame on the right-hand side as Data Assembling Monitor Window. If the Data Assembling Monitor Window is used as a shopping cart, this frame is called Internet Client Side Shopping Cart.

FIG. 2 shows the client side shopping cart with selected items in the shopping cart. By clicking on the check boxes, as shown in the Display Window, the selected items are dropped into the shopping cart automatically.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom part of the shopping cart. By clicking on the button "Send This Order", the order will be sent to the server side.

FIG. 4 illustrates three other ways to select an item and drop it into the shopping cart.

FIG. 5 is a web page for a search engine displayed on the Display Window and created on the fly by clicking on the button "Search" on the Control Panel.

FIG. 6 shows that a new window created on the fly is used as a client side shopping cart instead of using a frame as the shopping cart as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a part of the flow chart of the client side application program for the ICSSC that is connected to the flow chart in FIG. 8 at point marked as circle A 20.

FIG. 8 is the rest of the flow chart of the client side application program for the ICSSC.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First some terms used in this description are defined as follows to eliminate ambiguities:

Transaction--any activity conducted between two parties on client side and server side of a LAN, a MAN, or the Internet that involves data deliveries or data exchanges. Some examples are Internet shopping, online examination, online survey, and retrieval of information from server side.

Server party--the party on server side who offers information, services, or products, and/or retrieves information from client parties.

Client party--the party on client side who receives or wants to receive information, services, or products, and/or submits information to a server party.

datum--a meaningful character or a string of characters for both parties.

Key datum--a necessary datum for a transaction. For a shopping cart, the key data are name or ID number of items, and quantity.

Nonkey datum--unnecessary datum for a transaction but facilitating that transaction. For a shopping cart, the monkey data are total price, subtotal, grand total, and the like.

Data set--a well-organized and meaningful set of data for a transaction that includes all key data and nonkey data. Some examples are order forms, examination answer sheets, survey answer sheets.

Action of client party--clicking a mouse button, typing on a key, or other actions functioning the same.

client side application program--a program written with a script language or other computer language which is embedded or called in one or more web pages, executed on client side, and used for controls of editing operations of client parties, assembling the file of the web page for the Data Assembling Monitor Window on the fly and writing the file into that window on client side, creating of a new window as a data assembling monitor window, and/or implementing other functionality needed for a transaction and/or facilitating a transaction.

top file--a file that controls frame and/or window setting of client side screen directly or indirectly and contains all or part of client side application program.

Data file--a file that contains key data and nonkey data for a transaction.

Data Assembling Monitor Window--a frame in a window, or a window on client side in which the data set is dynamically assembled.

Display Window--a frame in a window or a window on client side in which data files and other files are displayed.

Control Panel--a frame or a window where functional buttons, links, and/or images are located. The imagines in this window function as buttons, links, or decorations.

Retrieve data individually--retrieve datum/data out piece by piece from a data file, but not retrieve the whole file.

Manually--using a mouse, a key board, or other instruments to control operations by client parties.

Automatically--actuating a computer program which controls operations.

LAN--local area network.

MAN--metropolitan area network.

Generally the DDAICS method includes the client side application program that implement following functionality:

Picking up datum/data dynamically and individually from a web page in a display window by client side application program actuated by an action of a client party, and checking if the selected datum/data are needed for a transaction. If needed, adding the selected datum/data to data assembling monitor window. Otherwise, taking other necessary actions. And being capable to do that from unlimited number of web pages fetched into the display window.

Adding other key data and nonkey data automatically and/or manually, and checking entries automatically in the data assembling monitor window.

Deleting datum/data from the data assembling monitor window.

Updating datum/data in the data assembling monitor window.

Calculating numeric datum/data in the data assembling monitor window.

Backing up datum/data in the data assembling monitor window automatically when a major change has occurred.

Submitting a data set to a server party, saving it as a file, or printing it on a client side printer. Before executing these actions, checking if all key data are present.

Assembling the file of the web page for the Data Assembling Monitor Window on the fly and writing the file into that window, and/or other functionality.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an Internet Client Side Shopping Cart (ICSSC) is used to illustrate how to implement this method by using HTML, JavaScript, CGI, and Netscape Navigator 3.0 or above. The top file has the structure as follows:

    __________________________________________________________________________
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
    <TITLE>GB Shopping Center</TITLE>
    <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
    <|-- start
    //Put JavaScript client side application program here|||
    // end-->
    </SCRIPT>
    </HEAD>
    <FRAMESET COLS="20%,*">
    <FRAME NAME="control" SRC="html/control.html" MARGINHEIGHT=2
    MARGINWIDTH=1>
    <FRAMESET ROWS="80%,*">
    <FRAME NAME="display"SRC="html/whatsHot.html">
    <FRAME NAME="cart" SRC="html/clearCart.html" onLoad="reload()"
    onUnload="backup()">
    </FRAMESET>
    </FRAMESET>
    </HTML>
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    <FORM NAME=formForDisplay>
    <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="462">
    <TR>
    <TD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="6">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">
    <|-In the "box" below, thc arguments in the function"top.pickup()" Are
    (item ID, item name, unit price, order number of the link
    ". . ./html/item00.htm" in this homepage starting from zero)
    ->
    <INPUT TYPE=CHECKBOX NAME=box onClock="top.pickupOneItem(`0001`,`Batman
    Soundtrack
    CD`,`$12.88`,0)"></A>
    </TD>
    <VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="280">
    <A HREF=". . ./html/item00.html"TARGET="display"> Batman Soundtrack
    CD</A>
    </TD>
    <TD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="111">
    <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#AF0000">$12.88</FONT>
    </TD>
    </TR>
    //list all other items below.
    </TABLE>
    </FORM>
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    <A HREF="javascript: top.pickupOneItem(`0001`,Batman Soundtrack
    CD`,`$12.88`,4)">Put
    "Batman Soundtrack CD" into your cart |<A>
    By click on <BR>the picture below,<BR>add this CD<BR>into your cart
    |<BR><A
    HREF="javascript: top.pickupOneItem(`0001`,`Batman Soundtrack
    CD`,`$12.88`,4)"><IMG
    SRC=". . . /images/buttons/buyit.gif"><A>
    <INPUT TYPE=RADIO NAME=radio onClick="top.pickupOneItem(`0001`,`Batman
    Soundtrack CD`,`$12.88`,4)">
    <A HREF=". . ./html/item00.html" TARGET="display">Batman Soundtrack
    __________________________________________________________________________
    CD<A>

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //This function adds a new item into the cart. It also checks if the
    newly added item
    //is already in the cart. If so, it will focus on the quantity field of
    that item in the cart.
    //Then user can change the quantity there.
    function pickupOneItem(itemID,itemName,unitePrice,linkOrderNum) {
    //store item ID, itemName, unit price, and order number of the link
    //in a array "numberName".
    //Order number of links in a web page starting from zero. Of the four
    parameters,
    //the first is put into numberName›0!, second into numberName›1!, and so
    on.
    numberName=new Array()
    numberName›0!=itemID
    numberName›1!=itemName
    numberName›2!=unitePrice
    numberName›3!=linkOrderNum
    if(top.cart.document.links.length =.ltoreq.0) {
    //This is the first item which is put into shopping cart if true.
    opSwitchBoard("firstItem", numberName)
    else {
    //there are some items already in the cart.
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    var repeatItem=false
    for (var i = 0; i < numOfItemInCart;i++) {
    if (numberName›1! == top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›i*3!.name) {
    //check if the newly added item is already in the shopping cart.
            alert("This item is already in your cart| If you want more,
            change the
    Quantity, please|")
            top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›i*3+1!.focus()
            repeatItem=true
    }
    }
    if(|repeatItem) {
    //the newly added item is not in the shopping cart.
    opSwitchBoard("addOneItem",numberName)
    }
    }
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    ______________________________________
    function opSwitchBoard(mySwitch, numberName) {
    if(mySwitch=="reload") {
    writeToCart(cartBackup)
    else {
    var cart=writeToVarCart(mySwitch, numberName)
    if(mySwitch|="backup")
    writeToCart(cart)
    }
    if(mySwitch|="backup") {
    calcSubtotal()
    calcTax()
    calcTotal()
    mySwitch=null
    }
    }
    ______________________________________

    ______________________________________
    function writeToCart(cart){
    top.cart.document.open()
    top.cart.document.write(cart)
    top.cart.document.close()
    ______________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //this function write a web page for the cart, but put the content of the
    page into a variable "cart" first.
    function writeToVarCart(mySwitch, numberName) {
    var cart=writeCartHeader()
    if(mySwitch|="firstItem") {
    cart+=keepOldItemsInCart()
    if(mySwitch=="firstItem" .vertline..vertline. mySwitch=="addOneItem") {
    cart+= putNewItemIntoCart(numberName)
    }
    cart+= writeSubtotal()
    cart+= writeTax()
    cart+= writeTotal()
    cart+= writeCartFooter()
    cartBackup=cart  //backup the content of the web page for the cart.
    return cart
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //Function that write a head, a title, a form title, etc. of a web page
    on the fly. The web page is used as
    //a client side shopping cart and displayed in the shopping cart frame
    when completed.
    function writeCartHeader() {
    var cart ="<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>
    cart +="Your Shopping Cart</TITLE></HEAD>"
    cart +="<BODY>"
    cart +="<center><h2><hold>Your Shopping Cart<h2></bold><(center>"
    cart +="<P><FORM NAME=`formForCart` ACTION=`http://URL of CGI program
    which receives the
    submitted form` METHOD=`POST` TARGET=`display`>"
    cart +="<TABLE BORDER=0 WIDTH=`100%`>"
    cart +="<TR>"
    cart +="<VALIGN=TOP WIDTH=`100%`>"
    cart +="<TH ALIGN=LEFT>Description</TH>"
    cart +="<TH ALIGN=RIGHT>Unit Price</TH>"
    cart +="<TH ALIGN=RIGHT>Quantity</TH>"
    cart +="<TH ALIGN=RIGHT>Total Price</TH>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    cart += writeHrOrBlankLine("HR")
    return cart
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    function putNewItemIntoCart(numberName){
    //In the cart, first column is item name with a link to homepage that
    introduce the item.
    var cart ="<TR><TD><A HREF="+top.display.document.links›parseInt(numberNam
    e›3!)!+"
    TARGET=`display`>"
    cart +=numberName›1!+"</A>"+"</TD>"
    //The second column is unit price. Its type is text of form with
    NAME=item name and
    /VALUE=unite price
    cart +="TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME=.backslash.`"+numberName›1!
    cart +=".backslash.`VALUE=.backslash.`"+numberName›2!+ ".backslash.`
    SIZE=6 onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)>"+">/TD>"
    //The third column is the quantity. Its type is text of form with
    NAME=item ID and
    //VALUE=quantity.CGI program on server side should retrieve this pair of
    data to form the order
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=text NAME=.backslash.`"+numberName›0!
    cart+=".backslash.`VALUE=`1` onChange=`top.totalPrice(this,
    this.form)`SIZE=3></TD>"
    //The forth column is total price. Its type is text of form with
    NAME=`totalPrice` and
    //VALUE=total price
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME=totalPrice
    VALUE=.backslash.`"+
    numberName›2!+".backslash.`SIZE=10 onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)></TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    return cart
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //subtotal=sum of all totalPrice
    function calcSubtotal() {
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    var subtotal=0
    var value=""
    for (var i = 0; i < numOfItemInCart; i++){
    //calculate the sum of the totalPrice
    value=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›i*3+2!.value//total price
    for each item
    value= deleteString(value,"$")
                      //delete "$" from money value
    value= parseFloat(value)
                      //change to float number
    subtotal+=value   //sum up total price
    subtotal=formatNum(subtotal,2)
                      //keep only two digit after thc decimal point
    top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3!.value
    ="$"+subtotal //write back to the
    shopping cart frame
    calcTax()
    calcTotal()
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //This function put the data of the items already in the shopping cart at
    the top of the cart
    //when new item is added.
    function keepOldItemsInCart() {
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    var cart=""
    for (var j = 0; j<numOfItemInCart; j++) {
    if(top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›j*3+1!.value |="0") {
    //put the old items into the cart if quantity |=0
    cart +="<TR><TD><A HREF=.backslash.`"+top.cart.document.links›j!
    cart +=".backslash.`TARGET=display>"
    cart +=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›j*3!.name+"+"</TD>"
    cart +="<TH ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME=.backslash.`"+ top.cart.docu
    ment.
    formForCart.elements.differential.j*3!.name
    cart +=".backslash.`VALUE=.backslash.`"top.cart.document.formForCart.eleme
    nts›j*3.!.value
    cart +=".backslash.` SIZE=6 onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)>" +"</TD>"M
    cart +="TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT type=text name=.backslash.`"+ top.cart.docum
    ent.
    formForCart.elements›j*3+1!.name
    cart +=".backslash.` VALUE=.backslash.`"+top.cart.document.formForCart.ele
    ments›j*3+1!.value +".backslash.`size=3
    onChange=`top.totalPrice(this, this.form)`></TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME=totalPrice"
    cart +="VALUE=.backslash.`"+top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›j*3+2!.
    value+".backslash.` SIZE=10"
    cart +="onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)></TD>"
    cart +="/TR>"
    }
    return cart
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    //Screen out all illegal effects to changes unit price, total price, and
    so on.
    function cartWarning(thisPoint) {
    var length=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements.length
    for(var i = 0; i <length; i++) {
    if(thisPoint.name==top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›i!.name) {
    //check which cell the user is clicking on, and make it unaccessible
    top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›i!.blur()
    }
    alert("You can't change this field by yourself|")
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________
    // function to check if the input is a valid number
    function isValidNumber(inputStr) {
    if (isEmpty(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please enter a number into the field |")
    return false
    else {
    if (|isNumber(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please make sure entry is a number|")
    return false
    }
    }
    return true
    }
    // function to check if the input is a valid positive number
    function isValidPosNumber(inputStr) {
    if (isEmpty(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please enter a positive number into the field |")
    return false
    }
    else {
    if (|isPosNumber(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please make sure entries is a positive number|")
    return false
    }
    }
    return true
    }
    // function to check if the input is a valid positive integer
    function isValidPosInteger(inputStr) {
    if (isEmpty(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please enter a positive integer into the field |")
    return false
    }
    else {
    if(|isPosInteger(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please make sure entries is a positive integer|")
    return false
    }
    }
    return true
    }
    function isValidAlpha(inputStr) {
    if (isEmpty(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please enter letters.")
    return false
    }
    else {
    if (|isAlpha(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please make sure entries are letters only.")
    return false
    }
    }
    return true
    }
    function isValidAlphaNum(inputStr) {
    if (isEmpty(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please enter letters or number or their combination.")
    return false
    }
    else {
    if (|isAlphaNum(inputStr)) {
    alert("Please make sure entries are letters or number or their
    combination.")
    return false
    }
    }
    return true
    }
    //Checking user's ID and password
    function isValidIDPasswd( ) {
    var length=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements.length
    var ID = top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›length-3!.value
    var passwd = top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›length-2!.value
    if (isEmpty(ID) .parallel. isEmpty(passwd)) {
    alert("Your ID and/or Password is Empty |")
    }
    else {
    if ((|isValidAlphaNum(ID) ).parallel.( |isValidAlphaNum(passwd))){
    alert("check your ID and Password, Please |")
    }
    else {
    top.cart.document.formForCart.submit( )
    }
    }
    }
    function writeSubtotal( ) {
    var cart =writeHrOrBlankLine("HR")
    cart += writeHrOrBlankLine(" ")
    cart +="<TR>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT> Type the tax rate into the field below.</TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> Subtotal </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEST NAME=subtotal VALUE=" SIZE=10
    onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)></TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    return cart
    }
    function writeTax( ) {
    var taxRate=parseInt(0)
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    if ( numOfItemInCart>0) {
    //if tax rate is entered, retrieve it, and write it into the cart again
    when update.
    taxRate= top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+1!.value
    N
    }
    var cart ="<TR>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT>Tax Rate<INPUT TYPE=TEST NAME=`taxRate`VALUE=" +
    taxRate
    + " SIZE=5 onChange=top.calcTax( )>% </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT>Tax</TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEST NAME=tax VALUE=" SIZE=10
    onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)></TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    return cart
    }
    function writeTotal( ) {
    var cart =writeHrOrBlankLine("HR")
    cart +=writeHrOrBlankLine(" ")
    cart +="<TR>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT> </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> Grand Total </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><INPUT TYPE=TEST NAME=total VALUE="  SIZE=10
    onFocus=top.cartWarning(this)></TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    return cart
    }
    function writeCartFooter( ) {
    var yourID=" "
    var yourPassword=" "
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    if ( numOfItemInCart>0) {
    //if users have entered user ID and password, keep them
    yourID= top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+4!.value
    N
    yourPassword= top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+5!.
    value
    }
    var cart =" </TABLE></CENTER>"
    cart +=" <br><hr>"
    cart +=" <CENTER> If you have not registered, please register first, and
    then submit your order |
    <br><br>"
    cart +="<TABLE BORDER=0 WIDTH=`100%`>"
    cart +="<TR>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT></TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT> Your ID </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT></TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT><INPUT TYPE=`TEXT`  NAME=`userID`
    VALUE=.backslash.`"+yourID+".backslash.`onChange=`top.isValidAlphaNum(this
    .value)`> </TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    cart += writeHrOrBlankLine(" ")
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT></TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT > Your Password </TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=RIGHT></TD>"
    cart +="<TD ALIGN=LEFT><INPUT TYPE=`PASSWORD`  NAME=`PASSWORD`
    VALUE=.backslash.`"+yourPassword+".backslash.`onChange=`top.isValidAlphaNu
    m(this.value)`></TD>"
    cart +=" </TR>"
    cart +="</TABLE><BR>"
    cart +="<INPUT TYPE=`SUBMIT` VALUE=`Send This Order`
    onClick=`top.isValidIDPasswd( )`></CENTER>"
    cart +="</TABLE>"
    cart +="</FORM>"
    cart +="</BODY>"
    cart +="</HTML>"
    return cart
    }
    //totalPrice for each item = unite price*quantity
    function totalPrice(thisPoint, thisForm) {
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    if (|isValidPosInteger(thisPoint.value)) {
    //invalid quantity|
    thisPoint.focus( )
    }
    else {
    for (var i = 0; i < numOfItemInCart; i++) {
    if (thisPoint.name==thisForm.elements›i*3+1!.name){
    //detect the quantity of which item is changed, and put order # of the
    item into j.
            var j=i
            i=numOfItemInCart
    }
    }
    var price= thisForm.elements›j*3!.value
    price= deleteString(price, "$")
    price= parseFloat(price)
    var qty= thisForm.elements›j*3+1!.value
    qty= parseFloat(qty)
    var total=price*qty
    total=formatNum(total,2)
    if (total |=0.00) {
    thisForm.elements›j*3+2!.value="$"+total
    calcSubtotal( )
    calcTax( )
    calcTotal( )
    }
    else {
    //quantity is changed to zero, delete the item from the cart.
    opSwitchBoard("deleteOneItem")
    }
    }
    }
    //tax=subtotal*taxRate
    function calcTax( ) {
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length)
    if (|isValidPosNumber (top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInC
    art*3+1!.value
    )) {
    //checking if input value is valid. If invalid, the cursor will focus on
    the tax rate cell
    top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+1!.focus( )
    }
    else{
    //take tax rate
    var taxRate= top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+1!.v
    alue
    var value=0
    value=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3!.value
    //take subtotal
    value=  deleteString(value, "$")
    value= parseFloat(value)
    var taxAmount =taxRate*value/100
    taxAmount=formatNum(taxAmount,2)
    top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+2!.value
    ="$"+taxAmount
    calcTotal( )
    }
    }
    function calcTotal( ) {
    var numOfItemInCart=parseInt(top.cart.document.links.length) //get the
    total # of items in the cart
    var tax= top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+2!.value
     //take tax
    var total=top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3!.value
    //take subtotal first
    tax= deleteString(tax, "$")
    total= deleteString(total, "$")
    tax= parseFloat(tax)
    total= parseFloat(total)
    total +=tax
    total=formatNum(total,2)
    top.cart.document.formForCart.elements›numOfItemInCart*3+3!.value
    ="$"+total
    }
    //The variable "cartBackup" is a global variable for backup purpose when
    users go to other home page,
    //and return late. The variable "mySwitch" is used to decide what kind of
    the operation is to execute
    // according to the "mySwitch"  value,
    //such as "firstItem" to cart, "addOneItem", "backup", and so on. It is
    also a global variable.
    var cartBackup, mySwitch
    function backup( ) {
    mySwitch="backup"
    opSwitchBoard( )
    }
    function reload( ) {
    mySwitch="reload"
    opSwitchBoard( )
    }
    //if "HR" is passed to this function, it write s horizontal ruler in the
    cart. Otherwise, it write a blank line.
    function writeHrOrBlankLine(HR) {
    var leftBrace=" ", rightBrace=" "
    if (HR=="HR"){
    leftBrace=" <"
    RightBrace">"
    }
    var cart =" <TR>"
    cart +=" <TD COLSPAN=`4`>"
    cart +=leftBrace+HR+rightBrace+"</TD>"
    cart +="</TR>"
    return cart
    }
    //this function create a web page for a search engine on the fly.
    function writeSearchEngine( ){
    var engine="<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Search Engine</TITLE></HEAD>"
    engine+="<BODY>"
    engine+="<CENTER>"
    engine+="<H2>The Search Engine</H2>"
    engine+="<HR>"
    engine+="<H4> Enter the name of the item you want. Then click the `Seach
    the Store|`button.</H4>"
    engine+="<P><P>"
    engine+="<FORM method post action= >"
    engine+="<INPUT TYPE=`text`  NAME=`query` SIZE=`40`
    onChange=`top.isValidAlpha(this.value)`><P>"
    engine+=" <INPUT TYPE=`RESET`  VALUE=`Clear Up`>"
    engine+=" <INPUT TYPE=`SUBMIT` VALUE=`Seach the Store|`
    onClick=`top.isValidAlpha(query.value)`>"



    engine+="</FORM>"
    engine+="</CENTER>"
    engine+="</BODY></HTML>"
    top.display.document.open( )
    top.display.document.write(engine)
    top.display.document.close( )
    }
    __________________________________________________________________________

• Inventors
  Xue, Yansheng;
• Published
  Sep-21-1999
• Current US Classes:
  705/26
  705/27
  707/3
  707/4
• Application #
  900941
• International Classes
  G06F 017/30
• Field of Search
  707/3 707/4 707/103
• Examiner
  Lintz; Paul R.
• US Patent References:
  5715453
  5721908
  5737619
  5745681
  5751956
  5793964
  5793966