{
  "patent_number": "US 5838906",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Web Browsers Run Embedded Programs Inside Documents",
  "original_title": "Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document",
  "summary": "A 1994 invention that allowed web browsers to automatically launch and run external programs directly inside a webpage, enabling interactive content like 3D models or complex data viewers.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a method for a web browser to identify a specific tag in a document that points to an external object. When the browser encounters this 'embed' tag, it automatically launches an external application to handle that object. The browser then creates a display area within the webpage where that application can run. Crucially, the patent allows for ongoing communication between the browser and the launched application, meaning the user can interact with the embedded content (like rotating a 3D model) while the browser manages the window.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover static images or text that are simply displayed by the browser without an external executable application.",
    "Does not cover server-side rendering where the browser only receives a flat image file rather than running an interactive application.",
    "Does not cover browser plugins that require manual user installation or activation before the document is parsed."
  ],
  "filed": "1994-10-17",
  "granted": "1998-11-17",
  "expires": "2015-11-17",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "University of California San Diego UCSD",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/university-of-california-san-diego-ucsd",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "David C. Martin",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/david-c-martin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cheong S. Ang",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/cheong-s-ang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael D. Doyle",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/michael-d-doyle"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 576,
  "tags": [
    "software",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "telecommunications"
  ],
  "abstract": "A system allowing a user of a browser program on a computer connected to an open distributed hypermedia system to access and execute an embedded program object. The program object is embedded into a hypermedia document much like data objects. The user may select the program object from the screen. Once selected the program object executes on the user's (client) computer or may execute on a remote server or additional remote computers in a distributed processing arrangement. After launching the program object, the user is able to interact with the object as the invention provides for ongoing interprocess communication between the application object (program) and the browser program. One application of the embedded program object allows a user to view large and complex multi-dimensional objects from within the browser's window. The user can manipulate a control panel to change the viewpoint used to view the image. The invention allows a program to execute on a remote server or other computers to calculate the viewing transformations and send frame data to the client computer thus providing the user of the client computer with interactive features and allowing the user to have access to greater computing power than may be available at the user's client computer.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5838906/microsoft-internet-browser",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5838906/microsoft-internet-browser/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US5838906",
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}