EP1800228A1 - Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing

Info

Publication number
EP1800228A1
EP1800228A1 EP05800017A EP05800017A EP1800228A1 EP 1800228 A1 EP1800228 A1 EP 1800228A1 EP 05800017 A EP05800017 A EP 05800017A EP 05800017 A EP05800017 A EP 05800017A EP 1800228 A1 EP1800228 A1 EP 1800228A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
content
page
enhanced browsing
window
links
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP05800017A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Scott Milener
Wendell Brown
James Kelly
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cufer Asset Ltd LLC
Original Assignee
Browster Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/985,700 external-priority patent/US20060069618A1/en
Priority claimed from US11/180,261 external-priority patent/US8732610B2/en
Application filed by Browster Inc filed Critical Browster Inc
Publication of EP1800228A1 publication Critical patent/EP1800228A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/957—Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F17/00—Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of computer systems. More particularly, a method and apparatus are provided for improving the quality and efficiency of users' browsing experiences.
  • a browser generally displays just a single page, which may include hyperlinks to any number of other pages or sites.
  • the browser does not allow the user to see what is on a linked page until he or she redirects the browser to that page (e.g., by selecting a hyperlink). Only then can the user determine whether the page contains anything of interest to her. If not, she must retrace her action to return to another possible branching point (e.g., by clicking a "back" button).
  • This pattern of selecting a link to go to a new page, reviewing its content, and possibly selecting a link on that page - may continue any number of levels deep, all of which must be retraced to return to a starting point.
  • that starting point is a list of links to web sites or pages (e.g., at a search engine site) or a list of links to goods or services (e.g., at a retail or auction site)
  • a user may have to traverse a number of chains of linked pages, and continually return to the starting point, in the hope of finding content that more closely matches her interest.
  • a method and apparatus are provided for enhanced browsing of electronic data.
  • a first page e.g., web page, image, electronic mail message
  • a browser includes a link from the first page to a second page.
  • An enhanced browsing window containing content from the second page is constructed, and may be cached, but is initially invisible.
  • the content may be augmented by one or more ads that are relevant to the content or that are deemed to be possible interest to the user.
  • the user mouses-over (places a cursor over) the link to the second page or an icon or status indicator associated with the link, or otherwise indicates an interest in the link, the enhanced browsing window is automatically displayed.
  • the content used to populate an enhanced browsing window may be fetched when the user expresses an interest in the content, or may be prefetched beforehand.
  • Content from any number of pages linked to the first page may be fetched or prefetched; the links may be prioritized to determine the order of content retrieval.
  • actual content of a linked page is retrieved (e.g., not just an image of the content).
  • status indicators or icons may be placed near some or all of the links to other pages.
  • the icons are configured to indicate the status of the fetching or prefetching of content from the linked pages, or some other status of the content. For example, different icons may be employed or an icon's appearance may be changed to indicate that a link has been identified for prefetching, that retrieval or prefetching is in progress, that retrieval has completed, that prefetching was delayed or interrupted, that the linked content could not be retrieved, etc.
  • an icon associated with a link may be configured to indicate that the linked content matches content already viewed, that the content presents a security risk (e.g., contains a virus or spyware), that the content will take an extended period of time to load, that the content may be inappropriate (e.g., obscene material), etc.
  • the icons may be enabled as controls for facilitating access to the content and/or for configuring the enhanced browsing.
  • An enhanced browsing window may be approximately 75% of the size of the browser window, may be located anywhere on top of the browser, and the cursor may be moved to a location within the window when the window is opened. If the cursor is moved out of the window, the enhanced browsing window may close. Another window may open with other content if the user mouses-over a different link in the first page. If the user chooses (e.g., by clicking a user interface control), the first page (in the browser) may be replaced by the page that was displayed in an enhanced browsing window. Content identified by a link in an enhanced browsing window may also be prefetched, so that a user may enjoy multiple levels of enhanced browsing.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus includes a fetcher for fetching (or prefetching) content identified by links in a page displayed by a browser, a window generator for generating and/or displaying an enhanced browsing window, and a cache for storing the enhanced browsing window.
  • the apparatus may also include an ad interface for retrieving advertisements for inclusion in the window, and may include an interface to a central server for exchanging data regarding user browsing behavior, facilitating identification of links on pages, prioritizing links for fetching of identified data, etc.
  • An enhanced browsing apparatus may be implemented with, or as, a browser or graphical user interface, and may accept user input from a pointing device (e.g., a mouse controlling a cursor), keyboard and/or other devices.
  • a pointing device e.g., a mouse controlling a cursor
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an enhanced browsing apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an enhanced browsing window, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart demonstrating a method of providing enhanced browsing, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart demonstrating a method of prefetching target content, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 depicts a method of using an enhanced browsing column or stripe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a navigation tree for facilitating a user' s navigation of content that was browsed or searched, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 depicts an enhanced browsing window, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 depicts illustrative icons for indicating the status of target content or target content retrieval, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a method and apparatus are provided for enhanced browsing of electronic data.
  • a user browses or navigates his browser to a first electronic page (e.g., web page, document, electronic mail message) that contains one or more links or references to other pages.
  • a first electronic page e.g., web page, document, electronic mail message
  • an enhanced browsing window or frame containing content of the second page is displayed on top of or in front of the browser.
  • the enhanced browsing window contains actual content from the second page, such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), not just an image (e.g., a .gif or jpg image) of the content.
  • the content of the second page may be prefetched before the user chooses to preview it, and so the enhanced browsing window can be displayed almost immediately when the user selects the link to the second page.
  • the contents of the window may change as the user mouses-over other links, or separate enhanced browsing windows may be generated for each link.
  • a "link” that identifies or is associated with data that may be retrieved or prefetched may take any form - graphical, textual or other.
  • a link may therefore include any object (e.g., an icon) or information that embodies or is accompanied by a link (e.g., a hyperlink) or reference to other electronic data or content.
  • the apparatus for providing enhanced browsing may include various program modules, which may be written in software using any appropriate programming language or coded in firmware.
  • An illustrative apparatus includes a graphical user interface for presenting the enhanced browsing window and controls associated with enhanced browsing, a cache for caching content for display in the window, and a fetcher or prefetcher for fetching the content.
  • the apparatus may also include one or more interfaces to servers storing ads for display in an enhanced browsing window and data describing users' viewing activity.
  • One such interface couples the enhanced browsing apparatus to a central server for facilitating enhanced browsing.
  • the apparatus may be constructed as a plug-in to an existing browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox), a plug-in to another application (e.g., Microsoft Outlook) or as a complete browser or other application.
  • the content of the second page displayed in an enhanced browsing window may be augmented with ads, particularly ads relevant to the content.
  • the content may be analyzed to determine a theme or nature of the second page or, if the links from which data are retrieved comprise a list of search results, the ads may be selected based on the search criteria that yielded the search results.
  • ads retrieved as part of the second page's content may be replaced with different ads.
  • content for an enhanced browsing window may be scanned for security purposes (e.g., to detect viruses, spyware, etc. Details of this enhanced browsing embodiment of the invention are provided in a following section.
  • content of a page linked to a browsed web page is prefetched, possibly for viewing in an enhanced browsing window.
  • Various methods or heuristics may be applied to determine which linked pages or content to fetch or prefetch.
  • prefetching is done automatically for some or all of the linked pages or content (e.g., web pages or sites that may have information relevant to the user's search criteria).
  • pref etching of content may automatically begin with the linked items. Prefetching may be initiated as soon as the browser receives or displays the main browser page. The prefetching may therefore coincide with the user's review of the page and/or the list of linked pages or other content. Thus, before the user even selects a link to content that he would like to see, that content (and/or other content) may be prefetched. Prefetched content (or content that is to be prefetched) may be scanned for viruses, spyware, adware, pornography and/or other undesired content or code. Icons or other indicators may be associated with links and configured to indicate the status of the retrieval or prefetching of content through the links.
  • a choice of what to prefetch may be heuristically determined based on the font size of a link, the link's location on the browser page, its position within a list of links, etc. Further details of this embodiment of the invention for prefetching are provided in a following section.
  • a mechanism for maintaining a user's ability to enjoy an enhanced browsing experience while scrolling through a list of links (e.g., hyperlinks).
  • a graphical stripe or column overlaps or is superimposed on the list.
  • the stripe may be arranged as (or adjacent to) a border or edge of an enhanced browsing window.
  • the list of links may extend multiple pages or screens, and the stripe is configured to extend as the list is scrolled into view.
  • the user may scroll through the list by sliding a user interface cursor along or within the stripe (e.g., up/down or left/right). While navigating within the stripe, content described by the links is previewed or displayed in an enhanced browsing window.
  • a user operates a mouse wheel or provides other control input (e.g., an arrow key, page up or page down key), while an enhanced browsing window is open with a first page of content, to quickly exchange the current contents of the window with content from another link in a series of links.
  • the mouse wheel is operated while a cursor is located proximate to (e.g., on top of, adjacent to) an icon or indicator associated with a link to the first page. When the scroll wheel is rotated, the cursor moves to the icon associated with the next link, and the page containing the links may also scroll.
  • the apparatus displays a graphical depiction of a user's navigation or viewing of content (e.g., web pages, documents, electronic mail messages).
  • content e.g., web pages, documents, electronic mail messages.
  • the depiction may be rendered as a vertical or horizontal tree, wherein each node corresponds to one item (e.g., web page, image, document) or one set of items.
  • a tree root is created when the user initiates a new search (e.g., on a search engine site or at a site offering a good or service) and a page of search results is displayed in the user' s browser.
  • a new node in the tree is generated and connected to the previous node.
  • more and more nodes are added.
  • the user may click on a node and be taken back to the corresponding content. From there, he may choose to navigate a different path. Similarly, the user may quickly move to any other content represented in the tree by selecting the appropriate node.
  • the user may be able to mark a node by altering its appearance (e.g., color, size, pattern); this may facilitate the user's return to a particular page. Further details of this embodiment of the invention are provided in a following section.
  • FIG. 1 depicts an apparatus for enhanced browsing of electronic data, according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • the apparatus is configured as a plug-in or add-on to a web browser such as Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation, Firefox by the Mozilla Foundation, Netscape Communicator by Netscape
  • the apparatus may be provided as part of a distinct application or browser, or as a plug-in or add-on to a different type of application (e.g., electronic mail, instant messaging, database).
  • a different type of application e.g., electronic mail, instant messaging, database.
  • target link may be used herein to refer to a link whose content is, or may be, selected for retrieval for display in an enhanced browsing window.
  • target content may be used to refer to content that is or may be retrieved for display, with or without prefetching.
  • Enhanced browsing apparatus 102 operates on virtually any type of computing device
  • Enhanced browsing apparatus 102 is coupled to computer systems or networks containing web sites, web pages, documents, electronic mail messages and/or other electronic data or content.
  • the apparatus may be coupled to these entities by any types of communication links, which may be shared (e.g., network) or dedicated, and wired or wireless.
  • apparatus 102 may be coupled to a central server, which may include or be coupled to a database or other collection of data for facilitating enhanced browsing, as described below.
  • Content accessed through enhanced browsing apparatus 102 may also, or instead, be stored on the same computing device as the apparatus.
  • User interface 104 is configured to build, display and manipulate an enhanced browsing window.
  • the user interface may also provide any number and type of controls to allow a user to navigate or manipulate content within such a window, such as buttons, icons, a toolbar, etc., and may also accept keyboard input (e.g., key sequences using the CTRL or ALT keys, up and down arrow keys, page-up or page-down keys).
  • the various controls may allow a user to initiate or terminate fetching or prefetching of target content, open or close an enhanced browsing window, navigate his or her browser to retrieved content (e.g., by directing the browser to a page displayed in an enhanced browsing window), fetch content linked to content displayed in an enhanced browsing window, replace the content displayed in an enhanced browsing window with other content, replace a displayed window with another window, etc.
  • user interface 104 may provide controls, menus or other means for allowing the user to customize the enhanced browsing apparatus or change how it operates.
  • User customization options may include: size or position of an enhanced browsing window, number of target links at a time from which to fetch content (e.g., none, all, ten, twenty), how to identify or prioritize target links, default action(s) to take in response to certain user activity ( ⁇ -g., when the user clicks inside a window or on a link within the displayed target content), how long to delay opening, closing or changing an enhanced browsing window, etc.
  • user interface 104 builds an enhanced browsing window when target content is retrieved, but keeps the window invisible until and unless the user actually indicates an interest in (e.g., mouses-over) the associated target link or an indicator (e.g., an icon) associated with the link. The window is then made visible. Invisible windows may be stored in cache(s) 108.
  • Content prefetcher 106 is responsible for fetching content from appropriate sources (e.g., web sites, databases, document repositories, electronic mail gateways) based on default criteria and/or a user's specified criteria. For example, content prefetcher 106 may commence prefetching target content immediately after the browser loads or displays a page containing one or more target links, thereby taking advantage of communication bandwidth that is idle while a user examines the page. Any number of links on the browser page may be treated as target links. Content from a specific link may be fetched in response to a predetermined user input (e.g., an ALT-click or ALT-mouse-over of the link or an associated status indicator).
  • appropriate sources e.g., web sites, databases, document repositories, electronic mail gateways
  • content prefetcher 106 may commence prefetching target content immediately after the browser loads or displays a page containing one or more target links, thereby taking advantage of communication bandwidth that is idle while a user examines the page. Any number
  • content prefetcher 106 may fetch or prefetch target content when a user expresses an interest in a link by mousing-over or otherwise indicating an interest in a target link or an indicator (e.g., icon) associated with a target link.
  • an indicator associated with a target link may be configured (e.g., by user interface 104) to indicate a status of the fetching or prefetching (e.g., commenced, in process, completed, aborted, broken link) and/or a status of the content (e.g., previously viewed, contains a virus, contains spyware, contains obscene material).
  • prefetch templates may be employed to identify target links in some web pages or other content.
  • a prefetch template is designed for a specific page (or set of pages) and indicates where on the page a target link (or set of target links, such as a list of search results) may be found.
  • a target link or set of target links, such as a list of search results
  • any list of links or set of links apparently arranged in a list format may be treated as target links.
  • target links are chosen (e.g., by the user, according to a default rule or template), they may be prioritized before the target content is retrieved.
  • Rules for prioritizing target links are discussed below, and may be based upon the order of the links in a list of search results, their position on the page on which they appear, their font size, etc.
  • the associated content is retrieved by content prefetcher 106.
  • content prefetcher 106 Upon retrieval of the target content, user interface 104 and/or some other component of apparatus 102 constructs an enhanced browsing window for the content.
  • prefetching and/or prefetch status indication are not required for all embodiments of the invention. Although prefetching content may speed up a user's browsing or previewing of content, other benefits of the invention may be enjoyed without content being prefetched.
  • unwanted content e.g., spyware, viruses, pornography
  • Cache(s) 108 include one or more caches for storing target links, target content, prefetch templates, enhanced browsing windows, a user history (e.g., a sequence of sites browsed or previewed) and/or other data.
  • a cache used by enhanced browsing apparatus 102 is separate and distinct from any cache(s) maintained by the browser.
  • Cache(s) 108 need not be included in all embodiments of the invention, or its functions may be performed by some other component of apparatus 102.
  • target content when displayed in an enhanced browsing window, it may be accompanied by one or more advertisements.
  • the retrieval of ads is managed by ad server interface 110.
  • the ad server interface interacts with any number of ad sources (e.g., advertisers, media organizations) and/or central server 120.
  • ad server interface 110 may communicate with central server 120 to determine which ad(s) to retrieve.
  • the ad server interface may then contact the appropriate source to obtain the ad or retrieve it from the central server.
  • the same ads may be displayed in enhanced browsing windows opened for different target links, particularly for all target links appearing on one browser page.
  • Ads may be content-based, to match or reflect target content within an enhanced browsing window, or may be matched to a main browser page containing the associated target link. For example, if target links on the main browser page comprise a list of search results, the search terms that yielded the search results may be used to select an ad. Thus, ad selection may be made by apparatus 102, central server 120, some other entity (e.g., an ad source) or any combination of these components.
  • Ad server interface 110 may be optional in other embodiments of the invention, or its functions may be performed by another component of apparatus 102.
  • Central server 120 maintains a database or other collection of prefetch templates, user behavior (e.g., navigation activity or patterns), prefetch or prioritization heuristics, and/or other data.
  • the central server may collect, from users' enhanced browsing apparatuses, information regarding web pages (or other content) accessed by the users, what links in those pages were selected for browsing or previewing, the order in which they were browsed, etc.
  • This information may be used to help generate prefetch templates, to prioritize prefetching, and/or for other purposes. For example, by assembling information on central server 120 from many users' enhanced browsing apparatuses, the most popular links within content viewed by those users can be determined and/or prioritized for prefetching. Some or all of this data may be replicated on, or shared with, enhanced browsing apparatus 102.
  • Central server 120 may also be a source of ads and content for display in an enhanced browsing window.
  • the central server may be operated by an organization that provides enhanced browser apparatus 102 or by a different organization.
  • Optional central server interface 112 communicates with central server 120 to access and share data with the central server, as described above.
  • the central server interface may forward to the central server information regarding a user's activity (e.g., sites visited, links clicked, search terms employed) and may retrieve information useful in identifying or prioritizing target links (e.g., prefetch templates, analyses of users' preferred links or content).
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus may include more or fewer components, or the functionality of the components described above may be distributed in a different fashion.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus may also include a component for scanning prefetched content for viruses, pornography (or other material unsuitable for certain users), spyware, adware, other malware, etc.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an enhanced browsing window according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • browser 200 e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • FIG. 2 depicts an enhanced browsing window according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • browser 200 e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • FIG. 2 is open to a first page 202, which includes a list of links 204 (e.g., 204a - 204i).
  • Links 204 are search results in this example, but in other implementations may comprise any types of links, to any type of content.
  • the content identified by or associated with links 204 may or may not be inter- related. For example, if the links comprise results of one search operation, as do links 204 in page 202, their content may be considered inter-related.
  • Enhanced browsing window 210 is positioned so as to allow a user to see portions of links 204. However, in other implementations, window 210 may cover links 204 to a greater or lesser degree. Alternatively, any or all of window 210 may be made fully or partially transparent, so that some or all of the content of browser page 202 is viewable even when window 210 is displayed. As described above, enhanced browsing window 210 may be constructed and cached prior to being displayed.
  • window 210 when a user mouses-over the link (e.g., link 204i) corresponding to the content 212 of the enhanced browsing window, or a control (e.g., icon, indicator) associated ⁇ vith the link, the window is automatically and quickly displayed.
  • the size and/or position of window 210 may be adjustable by a user, but limits may be placed on the user's ability to re-size or re-position the window.
  • Ad frame 220 is also positioned within enhanced browsing window 210.
  • the ad frame may be arranged in any position or along any edge of the window.
  • ads received along with or as part of content 212 from a location identified by link 204c may be removed or replaced prior to display of th.e content within window 210.
  • Content 212 may be reduced in font size to allow it to more fully or easily fit within window 210, and/or scroll bars (e.g., scroll bar 214) may be provided to allow a user to scroll vertically and/or horizontally. If the user clicks (e.g., left-clicks) within window 210, page 202 of browser 200 may be replaced by ttie page or content displayed in the enhanced browsing window. The user may be able to close window 210 by simply moving the cursor out of the enhanced browsing window (e.g., to somewhere within browser page 202) or taking other action (e.g., right-clicking wdthin the enhanced browsing window).
  • a selectable tab or drop-down menu 230 is positioned adjacent to or within enhanced browsing window 210. Clicking on tab 230 opens a menu allowing a user to customize one or more features of the enhanced browsing window or apparatus (e.g., size of window 210, how long the user must pause over a link before the window opens, degree of transparency).
  • menus or controls for customizing a user's enhanced browsing may be located elsewhere within enhanced browsing window 210, or may be summoned with a particular command or user interface input. hi other embodiments of the invention, other user interface controls or options may be provided.
  • buttons or controls may be provided with an enhanced browsing window to allow a user to specifically request the target content or target page to be loaded into a browser, to prefetch content, or take some other action.
  • a "hold” button may allow a user to specify that the enhanced browsing window should remain open on its current content regardless of subsequent mouse movements, perhaps until the user selects a "hold off' button or clicks within the window.
  • Another button or control may be provided to enable a user to immediately return to the results of the latest search he or she conducted. For example, every time the user initiates a search, a "Back to Search Results" button may be configured with the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the search results. Then, until the user Initiates a new search, he or she can select the button to return (in his or her browser or an enhanced browsing window) to the latest results.
  • URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • FIG. 7 depicts an enhanced browsing window according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • enhanced browser window 710 is employed to preview content within an electronic mail application (e.g., Microsoft Outlook).
  • an electronic mail application e.g., Microsoft Outlook
  • content identified by or associated with a link included in the message e.g., link 704
  • content 712 within enhanced browsing window 710 comprises content retrieved from a location identified by link 704.
  • the enhanced browsing window also includes ad frame 720, which may present ads relevant to content 712 or message 702.
  • an enhanced browsing window may be employed to preview content of electronic mail messages, such as messages listed or indexed in message folder window 706.
  • FIG. 3 demonstrates a method for enhanced browsing, according to one embodiment of the invention. This method may be employed with apparatus 102 of FIG. 1 and is thus implemented on a user's client computing device, which is equipped with a browser.
  • the user's browser is opened at a web page or other collection of content, which may be considered the "browser page" herein to differentiate it from another page or other target content displayed in an enhanced browsing window.
  • the enhanced browsing apparatus applies default or custom rules to locate a target link on the browser page. Any number of additional target links may also be identified. For example, the apparatus may automatically locate all links on the browser page and treat them as target links. Or, the apparatus may apply a prefetch template, customized for the browser page, to identify links most likely to be of interest to the user.
  • a prefetch template may be stored (e.g., cached) within the enhanced browsing apparatus, or may be stored on a central server for retrieval by the apparatus before or when the browser page is opened.
  • the template or other information for identifying (and/or prioritizing) target links may be retrieved from the same server that served the browser page, or may be received as part of the browser page.
  • the target content may include all or a portion of the web page, document, image or other data identified by the target link.
  • the target content may include HTML, XML or other markup language, but in this embodiment of the invention is not just an image of the content.
  • the prefetched content will not be presented as "thumbnails” or other non-navigable, often illegible, images.
  • One or more ads may also be retrieved, to display with the target content.
  • the ads may be retrieved from any suitable ad source, and may be selected based on the target content, the browser page, search terms entered by the user, the user's browsing history, or other information.
  • a target link or status indicator associated witri a target link changes appearance (e.g., design, color, size, underlining, bold) to indicate when the target content has been prefetched.
  • a target link may first appear (in the browser page) in a first color (e.g., light blue), but then change to a different color (e.g., dark blue) after the target content has been fetched.
  • Multiple color palettes may be employed to allow link colors to be changed easily and rapidly.
  • a status indicator associated with the target link changes appearance or is altered to indicate the status of the prefetching of content from the target link has changed (e.g., been initiated, completed, failed).
  • the content can load almost immediately from the enhanced browsing apparatus' cache (or wherever else it was stored).
  • the user's browsing experience is enhanced even without using an enhanced browsing window to preview content.
  • an enhanced browsing window is constructed and populated with the target content and any ads that were retrieved to accompany the content.
  • the content may be resized or may retain its full size, in which case scroll bars may be provided for scrolling vertically and/or horizontally.
  • ads received as part of the target content may be retained, excised or replaced.
  • enhanced browser windows may be generated (but not displayed) for any number of the links.
  • enhanced browsing windows may initially be generated for any number of the target links, from zero to fifty. Windows may be generated for the remainder later (e.g., after the user starts previewing content).
  • state 310 the enhanced browsing window is cached without being displayed. By constructing the window before it needs to be displayed, the enhanced browsing window can be presented almost instantly when the user indicates an interest in the target link. In the method of FIG. 3, a separate enhanced browsing window is constructed and cached for each target link whose content was prefetched. Thus, states 304 through 310 may be repeated for any number of target links.
  • the enhanced browsing apparatus detects a user mouse-over or other selection of the target link.
  • a user interface cursor e.g., mouse cursor, a cursor or selector controlled by the TAB key
  • a control e.g., icon, status indicator
  • a predetermined period of time e.g., one second
  • This time period may be adjustable by the user.
  • selection of the target link may be identified by the user's tabbing to the link and pausing for the necessary time period.
  • the enhanced browsing window is made visible.
  • the window is approximately 75% of the size of the user's browser, and may be positioned adjacent to (or overlapping) the target link or a list of links that includes the target link.
  • the screen cursor may be positioned within the enhanced browsing window, near (or over) the target link.
  • enhanced browsing may be extended to the target content so that the user can navigate the content or the enhanced browsing window. That is, one or more links within the target content may be treated as target links, in which case their associated content is prefetched. Then, if the user mouses-over a target link in the target content, or a control (e.g., status indicator) associated with that link, another enhanced browsing window may be created to display the new target content. Or, the target content of the enhanced browsing window may be replaced with the new target content.
  • a control e.g., status indicator
  • the browser page may be replaced by the target content or the page containing the target content.
  • the same action may be taken if the user leaves the cursor motionless within the enhanced browsing window for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 5 seconds). If the user clicks on a link within the target content, the linked content may replace the target content within the enhanced browsing window or the user's browser may be directed to that content or page.
  • state 318 if the user moves the cursor out of the enhanced browsing window, it may close because it may be assumed that the user is no longer interested in viewing the target content. Or, right-clicking (clicking a mouse button other than the primary button) within the window (e.g., but not on a link) may cause it to close. If the user moves the cursor from the window to a second target link, the window may disappear and be replaced with the enhanced browsing window constructed for the second target content (or the target content may be replaced by the second target content).
  • the cursor may be automatically moved to the next (or previous) link and the corresponding target content will be displayed in an enhanced browsing window.
  • the state of an enhanced browsing window may be retained for some period of time after it is closed. Then, if a link to the same content is moused-over or otherwise selected for enhanced browsing, the window may open with the same state (e.g., centered or scrolled to the same portion of the content).
  • the enhanced browsing experience described herein differs significantly from a traditional "pop-up" within a web page.
  • Traditional pop- ups when selected, merely display information that was received with or as part of the web page.
  • an enhanced browsing window displays content from a different page or source, and that content may be navigable.
  • the enhanced browsing apparatus may be configured to suppress traditional pop-ups.
  • the illustrated method ends after state 318.
  • the same or similar ads may accompany each set of target content.
  • the ads may change, however, if the user directs her browser to a different page, initiates a new search (with new search terms) in the browser page, or doesn't click on any of the ads. In the latter case, if a set of ads is presented a number of times and the user expresses no interest in them, another examination may be performed of the user's latest search criteria and/or the content of pages she has chosen to view, and a new set of ads may be selected for placement in an enhanced browsing window.
  • a user's enhanced browsing apparatus or windows may be branded or customized by an organization that provides the enhanced browsing apparatus (e.g., a favored web site) or by some other organization.
  • an enhanced browsing window may be constructed with the provider's logo, with a link to the provider, with ads sponsored by the provider, etc.
  • the enhanced browsing apparatus is installed and operated at a central server. In this implementation a user navigates to the server to engage and employ the apparatus. This implementation may be well suited for thin clients.
  • An embodiment of the invention has thus been described in which: content from a second web page is prefetched while a browser displays in a first window a first web page containing a link to the second page; a set of advertisements is retrieved; a second window is constructed to contain the prefetched content and advertisements, but is not displayed; placement of a cursor in the first window and proximate to the link is detected; and the second window is then displayed in front of the first window.
  • an apparatus for facilitating the viewing of electronic data comprises: a browser for displaying a first page having links to other pages; a first cache managed by the browser; an enhanced browsing window for displaying a second page while the browser displays the first page; a second cache for caching the enhanced browsing window; a fetcher (or prefetcher) configured to retrieve content identified by the links in the first page; and a user interface configured to detect positioning of a cursor (or other pointing tool) proximate to a link to the second page; wherein the enhanced browsing window is invisible until positioning of the cursor is detected.
  • links may be identified within a web page or other browsable object (e.g., document, image, electronic mail message). Content from any number of links on the page (i.e., zero or more) may be retrieved.
  • a web page or other browsable object e.g., document, image, electronic mail message.
  • prefetching of content may be done in a default manner, or may be based on user-specified criteria and/or criteria customized for a particular web page or site.
  • content from links that are more popular or more likely to be selected by a user may be prefetched before (or instead of) content from links less likely to be selected by the user.
  • a prefetch template may be used to identify a set of links on a page.
  • a prefetch template may be designed for a specific web page or site, to identify target links (or recommended target links) by their location or position on the page. For example, lists of search results (e.g., from a search engine or merchant web site) may be located in various locations on different pages (e.g., in a single column on the left or right hand side of a page, in a two-column table), and prefetch templates for those pages would be designed accordingly. Content described by links other than those identified by a prefetch template may also be prefetched, but the target links identified by the prefetch template may be awarded higher priority.
  • the default order of prefetching target content may match the order in which their links are posted on the page (or in a list of search results), or content for some or all target links may be prefetched simultaneously (e.g., in parallel)
  • Enhanced browsing apparatuses may maintain (or even generate) prefetch templates, or may retrieve them from a central server or other source.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus operating with the browser may quickly retrieve a prefetch template from the central server.
  • a prefetch template for a web page may comprise a list of target links on that page.
  • the list may be prioritized, and may be derived by observing any number of users' selection of links while browsing or viewing the page.
  • a central server may collect data regarding multiple users' browsing activity (e.g., pages visited, links selected), and distill the data to identify and/or prioritize links on web pages those users' visited.
  • all links on a page may be treated as target links by default, or all links within a list of search results. Content from any number of target links may be prefetched in any order and/or in parallel with other links' content.
  • a link retrieved as part of the content associated with a target link may also be treated as a target link, in which case content that is multiple pages or multiple links removed from the current page (the current page to which a browser is open) may be prefetched without leaving the current page.
  • heuristics may be used to help identify and/or prioritize target links, in addition to or instead of using a prefetch template (e.g., for a page for which no prefetch template is available).
  • a set of heuristics may specify that links having certain characteristics or meeting certain criteria should be target links, or that target links should be prioritized based on those characteristics or criteria.
  • Illustrative characteristics include: the region of a page in which a link is located (e.g., center, top, left side), font size, link color, the number of links to the same content (e.g., the more links there are to a particular page of content, the higher priority it should receive), a link's proximity to an image or other notable content, etc.
  • a user may be able to select or de ⁇ select target links for prefetching.
  • the user may be able to enter one particular key sequence (e.g., ALT-B) or select one particular control or button within a user interface to instruct a content prefetcher to target one certain link, or all links, on a page, or some other key sequence (e.g., ALT-N) or control to prevent the apparatus from targeting a certain link or any links.
  • one particular key sequence e.g., ALT-B
  • select one particular control or button within a user interface to instruct a content prefetcher to target one certain link, or all links, on a page, or some other key sequence (e.g., ALT-N) or control to prevent the apparatus from targeting a certain link or any links.
  • a user may be able to train an enhanced browsing apparatus to identify target links.
  • the user may be able to select desired target links on a page (e.g., by drawing a box around them, by mousing-over or clicking on them), after which the apparatus memorizes the links for automatic identification the next time the user visits the page.
  • the user may first initiate a training mode (e.g., by activating a particular user interface control), then select the target links and disengage the training mode.
  • a user may be able to construct or customize a prefetch template, which may be useful if the user often visits a page for which the enhanced browsing apparatus does not have a template.
  • a user interface for the apparatus may provide controls allowing the user to construct the template by identifying locations of target links in the page, by specifying that all links are target links, by selecting individual links as target links, choosing characteristics for selecting target links, etc.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus may collect a user's browsing or previewing (i.e., enhanced browsing) activity to help identify target links.
  • a user's browsing or previewing activity i.e., enhanced browsing activity to help identify target links.
  • the user's enhanced browsing apparatus may automatically treat such links as target links and prefetch their associated content.
  • the enhanced browsing apparatus may prioritize prefetching of the links' content accordingly.
  • Data accumulated by the apparatus may be shared with a central server in order to accumulate and analyze data for multiple users, which may then be distributed to their (and/or other users') enhanced browsing apparatuses to help identify or prioritize target links. For example, based on activity data collected from users who visited a particular web site, the central server may identify certain links (or links in a certain location of a page at that site) as being most popular. That information may be shared with users' apparatuses to make those links target links. In one implementation, however, users may be provided with an option to not share information regarding their browsing activity. Thus, a centralized database for identifying and/or prioritizing target links may be maintained.
  • Individual enhanced, browsing apparatuses may receive data from the database on periodic intervals, when a browser is opened (or opened to a particular page), or on some other schedule. For example, when a browser is directed to a particular page, the database may be accessed to retrieve pertinent data. In addition to, or instead of, collecting at a central database data regarding users' activity (e.g., what sites they visited, what links they clicked on), similar data may be retrieved from web sites. This information may indicate which pages/links were most often selected by the web sites' visitors, the most popular order in which they were selected, etc. This information may be retrieved by a central server or by a user's enhanced browsing apparatus.
  • users' activity e.g., what sites they visited, what links they clicked on
  • links may be chosen as target links, or target links may be prioritized for prefetching, based on a point system. For example, from information accumulated by the enhanced browsing apparatus or a central server, links on a web page may be assigned points based on their popularity (e.g., how often they were selected). Points may also be awarded based on heuristics (e.g., font size, location of a link within a page). The more points awarded to a link, the more likely it is treated as a target link and/or the higher priority it will receive for prefetching.
  • Prefetching is not limited to links present or visible in a single page.
  • a page displayed in a browser may be too long to view at once, and so some links on that page may be off-screen.
  • a list of links may span multiple pages, with each, page linked to the next (e.g., using "previous" and "next" buttons). Therefore, in one method of prefetching content for enhanced browsing, links may be target links even if they are off-screen or on a page linked to the current page.
  • any number of pages that continue or are forward-linked to a current page may be prefetched, and/or links appearing on those pages.
  • prefetched content, or content to be prefetched is scanned for viruses, malware (e.g., spyware, adware), obscene or pornographic material, etc.
  • FIG. 4 demonstrates a method of prefetching electronic data or content, according to one embodiment of the invention. As described above, prefetching may be performed in many different ways in other embodiments.
  • a user's browser is opened at a web page or other electronic content (e.g., document, image, electronic mail message), which may be considered the "browser page" herein to differentiate it from a page or other target content displayed in an enhanced browsing window.
  • a web page or other electronic content e.g., document, image, electronic mail message
  • a set of data for identifying target links in the browser page may be retrieved from local or remote storage (e.g. , from a central server).
  • the data may include a prefetch template, a list of specific links, heuristics, etc.
  • one or more target links are selected in a default manner (e.g., all links on the page) and/or using data retrieved in state 404. For example, if the page contains a relatively small number of links (e.g., five, ten), they may all be considered target links (and prefetching may begin immediately) without waiting for data designed to facilitate the identification of target links. Some or all of the links are to pages or sites different from the browser page, and therefore will require prefetching of content from different locations than the browser page was received from.
  • a relatively small number of links e.g., five, ten
  • the target links may be prioritized.
  • data for prioritizing target links may be retrieved separately or in conjunction with data for identifying target links.
  • Data for prioritizing target links may include information regarding the relative popularities of links on the page (e.g., from, a central server, from the web site that provided the browser page), a recommended order of priority, heuristics, etc.
  • the target content is prefetched. If the target links were prioritized, their content may be prefetched in priority order. Additionally, content from multiple target links may be retrieved in parallel. The number of prefetch operations performed in parallel may depend upon the available communication bandwidth. For example, if the user has a broadband connection, more prefetches may be done in parallel than if the user has a dial-up, connection.
  • the prefetched content may include the full content described by a target link or located at the specified location (e .g., URL or Uniform Resource Locator). Or, some of the content located at or retrieved from that location (e.g., an ad, an image) may be discarded.
  • a target link or located at the specified location e.g., URL or Uniform Resource Locator
  • state 412 it is determined whether prefetching should proceed to the next level (i.e., to links within prefetched content) or another page. If so, another page is selected, such as a page retrieved as target content in state 410, and the method returns to state 404. Otherwise, the method ends.
  • State 412 may be applied sometime after target content is retrieved. For example, after content is retrieved in state 410, it may be cached until a user chooses to preview it in an enhanced browsing window. When this occurs, the method of FIG. 4 may be applied to the page or content being previewed.
  • identification of target links and/or prioritization of target links for prefetching may be dynamic, and depend upon a user's enhanced browsing activity. For example, if a user selects for previewing a first link in a particular position on a web page, it may be assumed that he or she will also want to preview content from links close to the first link. Thus, some prediction may be made to what content a viewer may wish to preview.
  • content may be prefetched from a pay-per-click or pay-for-performance ad (e.g., a textual ad, a banner, an image) without the prefetching counting as a "click.”
  • a pay-per-click or pay-for-performance ad e.g., a textual ad, a banner, an image
  • an ad or other type of content may register each user "click through” (or selection) of the ad, with each click through generating revenue to an entity that presented the ad.
  • content from the ad is prefetched like other content, but no
  • the URL or XML code used for thte prefetching may include a tag, keyword or other indicator that the ad content is not being retrieved as part of a click through.
  • a normal "click through” of the ad may be initiated. This helps ensure that the ad revenue is correctly apportioned.
  • the content may be served from the prefetched version rather than awaiting the newly requested copy.
  • an automated method of prefetching a second page of content identified by a first page comprises: retrieving data for facilitating the identification of links to pages of content; identifying in the first page one or more links to other pages; prioritizing the one or more links; for each link, prefetching content from a page identified by the link; constructing an enhanced browsing window comprising prefetched content for a first link to the second page, without displaying the window; detecting placement of a cursor proximate to the first link; and displaying the enhanced browsing window after detecting placement of the cursor.
  • a computer- implemented method of prefetching content from a second electronic page linked to a first electronic page while the first electronic page is bro ⁇ vsed comprises: while the first electronic page is displayed within a browser, identifying a set of links to target electronic pages, including a link to the second electronic page; and for each link in the set of links, prior to selection of the link by an operator of the browser, prefetching content from the target electronic page.
  • an automated method of fetching content of a pay-per-click ad for which a payment is normally registered for each click-through of the ad comprising: when a first page of electronic data is browsed, identifying ⁇ vithin the first page a first link to a first pay-per-click ad; prefetching content from the pay-per-click ad without causing a payment to be registered; constructing, without displaying, an enhanced browsing window comprising the prefetched content; and causing a payment to be registered for the pay-per-click ad only if a user selects the first link.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus which comprises: a prefetcher configured to prefetch content from a second page of electronic data while a browser displays a first page of electronic data containing a first link to the second page; data configured to facilitate prefetching of content by said prefetcher, wherein the data includes link identification data configured to identify the first link and/or link prioritization data configured to prioritize the first link among a set of links within the first page; a window generator configured to generate an enhanced browsing window comprising the prefetched content; and a cache configured to store the prefetched content and/or the enhanced browsing window.
  • icons, buttons or other indicators are displayed within a page of electronic data to indicate the status of content fetching or prefetching from a target link within that page, and/or the status of the target content.
  • the indicators which may be considered "status indicators,” may comprise any type of object (e.g., an animated or static icon) that can embedded within electronic content and provide a visual and/or audio status indication.
  • a status indicator When configured to indicate content status, a status indicator may reveal whether a security threat was detected within the target content.
  • Security threats may include viruses, spyware, adware, other malware, pornography, other types of obscene or inappropriate content, etc.
  • a status indicator may also, or instead, indicate the status of a target link or an electronic connection to a content location identified by the link. For example, a status indicator may reveal that a link is broken, that an electronic connection to the linked site or page has low bandwidth or is noisy, that a connection is fast or slow, or may provide some other information regarding the quality or status of the link or communication connection. Status indicators may be received as part of the web page or other content in which they are displayed. Alternatively, the indicators may be dynamically inserted by some script or code included in the web page, by a user interface configured to facilitate enhanced browsing (e.g., user interface 104 of FIG. 1), another component of an enhanced browsing apparatus, or by some other client application or browser plug-in.
  • a user interface configured to facilitate enhanced browsing (e.g., user interface 104 of FIG. 1), another component of an enhanced browsing apparatus, or by some other client application or browser plug-in.
  • Individual status indicators may be associated with each target link (or one indicator may be associated with multiple target links), and may comprise controls for taking some action relating to enhanced browsing. For example, left-clicking or mousing-over an indicator associated with a target link (with or without some other key input, such as an ALT key) may serve as a trigger for fetching, re-fetching or prefetching the corresponding target content and/or displaying an enhanced browsing window containing the content.
  • Some other action may open a menu or set of options for configuring an enhanced browsing experience (e.g., to turn prefetching on or off, adjust the timing with which an enhanced browsing window is opened or closed, choose the type of information to indicate with an indicator, configure user interface controls).
  • indicators are inserted when target links are identified, and may change appearance to indicate that prefetching of target content is initiated, completed, delayed, impossible, etc.
  • An indication that prefetching is complete may mean that the target content has been prefetched and is ready for display in an enhanced browsing window.
  • An indication of successful prefetching may inherently indicate that the content has been cached, or such status may be separately indicated. Indications of prefetching failure may differ for different reasons for the failure (e.g., connection timed out, target content unavailable, broken link) or may be uniform and simply reveal that prefetching could not be completed.
  • a status indicator may indicate that prefetching is partially complete, and may even indicate how complete (e.g., by fraction or percentage).
  • Embodiments of the invention may be implemented within a search result listing, a shopping site, electronic mail (web or client-based), online classified ads, job boards, blogs, news story listing, and virtually any other type of application or utility that involves collections of links. These implementations may therefore be configured for operation with browsers, electronic mail programs, news readers, search clients, word processing applications, spreadsheet programs, databases, etc.
  • a status indicator may be placed beside, above, below or in some other location that readily indicates an association between the indicator and the associated link. Placement of status indicators may be user-configurable.
  • Indicators may be embedded into a web page via DHTML (Dynamic HyperText Markup Language), javascript or some other programming or scripting language.
  • the indicators may become part of the layout of the page in which, they appear, or may float over the browsing window and therefore not be part of the page.
  • Indicators need not always be visible. Whether a particular indicator is displayed may depend on the number of target links on a page, the type of information represented by the indicator, how the page is laid out, etc. For example, if a page comprises multiple frames with many links, indicators associated with some links may not appear until a cursor is moved into a particular frame, hi one embodiment, a status indicator may not be displayed for a link if content cannot be prefetched from that link. As prefetching of target content proceeds, a status indicator associated with the corresponding target link may change appearance. For example, a status indicator may flash, blink, change color or intensity, change sound, changed design, exhibit motion, etc. Or, an indicator indicating a first status of the prefetching may be replaced by another indicator indicating a different status. The status indicator associated with target content currently displayed in an enhanced browsing window may be highlighted or otherwise marked to show that it is the current status indicator.
  • FIG. 8 demonstrates how status indicators for indicating prefetching and/or content status may appear in one embodiment of the invention.
  • web page 802 is displayed by browser 800, and includes target links 804a - 804d.
  • Individual indicators 814a - 814d are associated with the target links.
  • a status indicator comprises a rectangular icon, possibly pronounced of a miniature web page.
  • an icon may be plain, dim or opaque, as shown by indicator 814c.
  • a lightning bolt, check mark or other affirmative symbol is added to the icon.
  • a status indicator may include an arrow or other symbol of activity. If a particular target link's content cannot be fetched (e.g., or prefetching times out), the associated status indicator may be marked with an "X", a slash or other negative symbol, as illustrated by indicator 814d.
  • a status indicator such as indicator 814c may first appear when a target link is identified. The indicator may retain the same appearance until prefetching succeeds (e.g., indicator 814a) or fails (e.g., indicator 814d). In this alternative embodiment, therefore, indicator 814b may not be employed, especially if a high-speed data connection is available, which would allow prefetching to be completed quickly.
  • content from a first taiget link is displayed when a user mouses-over or selects in some other manner an indicator associated with the first target link.
  • the user may then rotate a mouse scroll wheel or provide other input (e.g., press an arrow key) to display content fetched or prefetched from a next target link or previous target link, depending on the direction of rotation.
  • content from multiple target links may be viewed quickly, without requiring fine cursor movement.
  • a scroll wheel or equivalent input
  • the main browser page may be scrolled by the distance between the two status indicators, unless the page can no longer be scrolled in the corresponding direction.
  • the cursor used to mouse-over the status indicator may be repositioned to the next status indicator.
  • a time delay may be imposed when a user scrolls from one status indicator to another, to help prevent from scrolling too far or to the wrong status indicator.
  • the cursor is automatically moved to the next, or previous, status indicator.
  • the web page in which the target links are displayed may also scroll (e.g., to keep the cursor in relatively the same location of the display screen).
  • the target links and associated status indicators need not be aligned linearly. If not linear in alignment, as the web page scrolls in one direction the cursor may be offset to place it over the next indicator.
  • an enhanced browsing window in which target content is displayed normally closes after some period of time when the user's cursor is outside the enhanced browsing window (e.g., when it is hovering over the associated status indicator), in this embodiment of the invention, that behavior may be modified so that the window does not close while the cursor remains on (or near) an indicator. For example, until the cursor is no longer positioned above a status indicator, or some other action is taken, scrolling the mouse wheel may continue to cause content from different target links to be displayed (jn the same or different enhanced browsing windows).
  • buttons may affect the user's enhanced browsing experience in similar or different ways. For example, pressing up and down arrow keys (or left and right arrow keys) while a mouse cursor is positioned within the enhanced browsing window may cause the displayed target content to scroll. Pressing those keys while the cursor is in the main browser page, however, may cause the cursor to move to the previous or next status indicator (and change the target content displayed in an enhanced browsing window).
  • pressing page-up and page-down keys or clicking appropriate controls e.g., "previous” and “next,” “forward” and “backward” while a mo-use cursor is positioned within the enhanced browsing window may cause the displayed target content to be replaced by the content associated with the previous or next status indicator.
  • pressing page-up and page-down keys or clicking appropriate controls e.g., "previous” and “next,” “forward” and “backward” while a mo-use cursor is positioned within the enhanced browsing window may cause the displayed target content to be replaced by the content associated with the previous or next status indicator.
  • Providing the same input while the cursor is positioned in the main browser page may cause the content of that page to scroll.
  • an automated method of enhanced browsing of a second web page linked to a first web page displayed by a browser in a browser window comprises: identifying, in the first web page, a target link to the second web page; displaying in the browser window a first indicator associated with the target link, the first indicator indicating the initiation of prefetching of content from the second web page; prefetching the content from the second web page; displaying a second indicator in place of the first indicator, the second indicator indicating completion of the prefetching; detecting placement of a cursor proximate to the second indicator; and in response to detecting placement of the cursor, displaying a second window comprising the prefetched content.
  • a computer- implemented method of enhanced browsing comprises: displaying in a browser window a first electronic page containing a set of target links; displaying a first status indicator associated with a first target link, to indicate a status of prefetching of content via the first target link; and displaying the prefetched content in an enhanced browsing window if a cursor is positioned over the first status indicator.
  • Also described is a computer-implemented method of enhanced browsing of electronic content comprising: displaying in a browser windo-w a first electronic page comprising a set of target links; for each target link, indicating a status of content corresponding to the target link; altering a first status indication associated with a first target link if the status of content corresponding to the first target link changes; and displaying the content corresponding to a first target link in an enhanced browsing window if a cursor is positioned over the first status indication.
  • An apparatus for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data comprises: a browser for displaying a main page of electronic data comprising links to other pages; an enhanced browsing window configured to display a first page of electronic data while the browser displays the main page; a prefetcher configured to automatically retrieve content identified by the links in the main page, including a first link to the first page, without awaiting a user request to retrieve the content; and a user interface configured to (1) display a first status indicator associated with the first link, to indicate a status of prefetching of content of the first page, (2) alter an appearance of the first status indicator if the status of the prefetching changes, and (3) detect the positioning of a cursor proximate to the first status indicator; wherein the enhanced browsing window is invisible until detection of the positioning of the cursor, at which time the enhanced browsing window is made visible.
  • a graphical user interface for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data
  • the graphical user interface comprising: a browser window for displaying electronic data; a set of target links displayed within the electronic data, wherein each target link identifies corresponding target content; for each target link, an associated status indicator configured to indicate a status of prefetching of the corresponding target content; a cursor operable by a user; and an enhanced browsing window configured to display target content; wherein the enhanced browsing window is invisible until the cursor is placed on or near a status indicator.
  • an enhanced browsing stripe or column is provided for facilitating enhanced browsing of target content identified by multiple links in a page. For example, when a list of search result links (e.g., from a search engine, from a merchant or auction site) is displayed in a browser, the enhanced browsing stripe may be overlaid or superimposed on the list.
  • search result links e.g., from a search engine, from a merchant or auction site
  • a user interface cursor may then be moved within the stripe and, as the cursor passes over or adjacent to a link, an enhanced, browsing window may be opened to display the target content. Or, if an enhanced browsing window is already open, the displayed target content may change as the cursor reaches different links.
  • an enhanced browsing stripe or column may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or even non-linear, so as to overlay or remain close to links in a browser page.
  • a stripe may be of any thickness (e.g., one-quarter inch, one centimeter), and may be transparent or semi-transparent (e.g., light gray) so as to allow a user to read or identify a link underneath the stripe.
  • the stripe When a list of links is first presented (e.g., in a browser page), the stripe may or may not be automatically applied. If not, when a user mouses-over or selects a first target link in a list and an enhanced browsing window is displayed with the corresponding taxget content, the stripe may be presented at that time. The stripe may therefore appear adjacent to an enhanced browsing window or as one edge or border of the window.
  • stripe 230 is adjacent to the left edge of enhanced browsing window 210, but extends over the list of links 204 only, not the full length of the window.
  • the stripe may extend the full length of the window in other implementations.
  • stripe 230 may extend below the bottom edge of window 210, so that it appears over all links 204.
  • a user interface cursor e.g., mouse cursor 240 in FIG. 2
  • a user interface cursor may be moved to a position within the stripe and on top of or near the target link whose content is displayed within the window. This may make it easier for a user to quickly preview content from other links, by moving the cursor within the stripe to those links.
  • the stripe may be closed or removed if the cursor is moved (or clicked) outside of the stripe and an open enhanced browsing window. Alternatively, the cursor may be initially placed within the enhanced browsing window.
  • the web page or other content containing the list of links may be automatically scrolled to reveal additional links.
  • the stripe will automatically extend as the content is scrolled, for as long as additional links appear.
  • a stripe may extend even beyond the list of links, to allow a user to continue scrolling the web page (e.g., to the end of the page). If an enhanced browsing window is open when the web page is scrolled, the window may remain in the same location of the display device as scrolling continues.
  • An enhanced browsing stripe may be generated and maintained by a user interface or other component of an enhanced browsing apparatus.
  • FIG. 5 demonstrates a method of using an enhanced browsing stripe or column to facilitate enhanced browsing, according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • a user's browser is opened at a web page or other electronic content (e.g., document, image, electronic mail message) that contains a list of search result links.
  • the web page may be considered the "browser page" herein to differentiate it from a page or other target content displayed in an enhanced browsing window.
  • target links are identified, including some or all of the search result links. Any or all links may be identified by default, a prefetch template may be applied, a list of most popular links may be used, etc. The links may be prioritized, and content identified by some or all target links is retrieved.
  • Enhanced browsing windows may be constructed (but not yet displayed) for target content for some or all of the target links. Illustratively, all target content is retrieved, but not necessarily all at the same time (i.e., in parallel).
  • an enhanced browsing stripe is displayed on top of the list of search results. The stripe may be displayed as soon as one or more target links' content is retrieved, may be displayed when a first enhanced browsing window is displayed, or may be displayed as soon as the target links are identified.
  • target content for the links is displayed in one or more enhanced browsing windows. For example, a first window may be opened when the user mouses-over a first target link. That window may remain open while the user moves the cursor, and other links' content may replace the first link's content in the window.
  • an enhanced browsing window may open when the user mouses-over a target link, and then close when the cursor leaves the link.
  • state 510 if the cursor is moved to the edge of the browser window and the list of search results extends to another page or screen, the browser page will be scrolled as needed (e.g., upward, to the left) to bring other links onscreen.
  • the enhanced browsing stripe will extend or elongate as the page scrolls.
  • a computer- implemented method of facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic content comprises: when a first page of electronic content is browsed in a browser, identifying within the first page a set of links to other pages of electronic content, including a first link to a second page; superimposing a stripe on the set of links within the browser; detecting placement of a cursor within the stripe and in proximity to the first link; and in response to detecting placement of the cursor, displaying an enhanced browsing window containing electronic content of the second page.
  • a graphical user interface for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, comprising: a browser window for displaying a first page of electronic data, wherein the first page comprises a plurality of links to other pages of electronic data; and a non-opaque stripe superimposed on the plurality of links.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data
  • the apparatus comprises: a prefetcher configured to prefetch content from a second page of electronic data while a browser displays a first page of electronic data containing multiple links, wherein the multiple links include a first link to the second page; and a user interface configured to display a stripe superimposed on the multiple links and, when a cursor is placed within said stripe and in proximity to the first link, display an enhanced browsing window comprising said prefetched content.
  • a method and apparatus are provided for facilitating a user's navigation or browsing of search results or some other collection of interrelated links to electronic data.
  • a graphical history navigation tree is rendered, wherein each node corresponds to a different web page or other set of data (e.g., documents, images, electronic mail messages).
  • the tree may be displayed anywhere within the user's display screen, such as within a window placed immediately below an enhanced browsing window (or immediately below a location at which an enhanced browsing window may be opened), along the left or right side of the display screen, etc.
  • a history navigation tree may start with a root representing a new set of search results or a new browsing session, and thereafter grow in any direction (e.g., from left to right, from top to bottom).
  • a new tree root may be placed when a new search is initiated, when a new browser window is opened, or anytime a user requests a new tree be started.
  • Execution of a new search may be detected by monitoring the web site or page a user is browsing. Initiation of a new browsing session may be assumed when a browser is opened. If the site the user is browsing employs a search engine and the user engages the engine, a root of a new history navigation tree may be placed at that time. Any previous history navigation trees may still appear in the same window, but may be scrolled off-screen as the current tree grows. hi one embodiment, each time the user navigates (e.g., in the browser) to or previews (e.g., in an enhanced browsing window) one of the search result listings (or some other top- level link within the page being browsed), a new child node is added to the current tree and connected to the root. As the user continues to navigate or preview linked content, yet more nodes are added and linked to the history navigation tree. Thus, for each page, site or other collection of content the user accesses, another node is added to the tree.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus's cache may store content corresponding to any number of nodes in the current history navigation tree, and/or previous trees.
  • the content may be retrieved from the target page or site at the time the user clicks on or mouses-over a node.
  • a user may be permitted to alter the appearance of a node. For example, if the user decides that a particular page warrants a closer examination if nothing more interesting or helpful is found, he may choose to change the node's color, size or other characteristic (e.g., make it blink, animate it) to mark it.
  • One particular marking may be applied to identify the node corresponding to content the user is currently browsing or previewing.
  • the user may be able to notate a node and/or search (e.g., to name the search) by selecting it (e.g., right-clicking) and entering his notes into a file that will be saved with the tree.
  • search e.g., to name the search
  • a new search/browsing history navigation tree may be started for each new search.
  • a user merely modifies the search terms of a current (or previous) search, this may simply result in a new branch being added to the current (or previous) tree.
  • a search/browsing history navigation tree may be generated and maintained by a user interface or other component of an enhanced browsing apparatus.
  • FIG. 6 depicts a search/browsing history navigation tree, according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Program code for generating such a tree may be implemented as a plug-in to an existing browser,
  • the horizontal nature of window 602 makes the window suited for placement above or below an enhanced browsing window.
  • window 602 may be oriented vertically.
  • the history navigation tree displayed in tree frame 604 begins with root 610, which, in this example, corresponds to a search for a used Honda automobile.
  • This search may have returned any number of links to relevant content.
  • the user has so far browsed or previewed web pages or sites identified by two top-level links, corresponding to nodes 612, 614.
  • additional nodes were added to represent that content.
  • any number of nodes may be notated. Such notations may be automatically extracted from HTML of the corresponding content, or may be specified by the user.
  • logos of organizations associated with a node's content may be displayed in addition to (or instead of) descriptive text.
  • Window 602 is expanded in FIG. 6 to allow for closer inspection.
  • the window may be relatively narrow in height (when aligned horizontally) or width (when aligned vertically), on the order of 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches.
  • the visual history navigation tree allows a user to easily track his navigation and quickly jump from one node's content to another's. Because window 602 may remain open even after the user navigates away from the search results, he can quickly and easily return.
  • Window 602 may include standard controls (e.g., buttons) to close, expand, minimize or otherwise manipulate the window. Because a history navigation tree may be saved (e.g., to disk), the user may open a history navigation tree window (e.g., using the normal browser drop-down menus), which may be automatically populated with the most recent tree.
  • Ads displayed in ad frame 606 may include ads relevant to the search associated with the tree in tree frame 604, ads relevant to the specific node the user is at, pay-per-click sponsored ads, etc.
  • Either or both of tree frame 604 and ad frame 606 may include scroll bars (horizontal and/or vertical).
  • a computer- implemented method of facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic content comprises: in association with a user's viewing of a first page of electronic content, presenting a root node of a navigable tree, wherein the root node corresponds to the first page; in response to selection by the user of a second page of electronic content linked to the first page, adding a child node to the tree, wherein the child node corresponds to the second page and is connected to the root node; and as additional pages of electronic content are selected by the user, adding additional nodes to the tree, the additional nodes corresponding to the additional pages.
  • a graphical user interface for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data comprises: a tree window configured for display in conjunction with a browser window for browsing electronic data and/or an enhanced browsing window for previewing electronic data; and, displayed within said tree window, a navigable graphical tree comprising nodes corresponding to electronic data that has been browsed or previewed.
  • an enhanced browsing apparatus for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, the apparatus comprising: a browsing window configured to display electronic data to a user; and a user interface configured to construct a tree comprising nodes corresponding to content displayed in the browsing window and facilitate the user's navigation of the content by re-displaying, in the browsing window, content corresponding to a node selected by the user.
  • the program environment in which a present embodiment of the invention is executed illustratively incorporates a general-purpose computer or a special purpose device such as a hand-held computer. Details of such devices (e.g., processor, memory, data storage, display) may be omitted for the sake of clarity.
  • the techniques of the present invention may be implemented using a variety of technologies.
  • the methods described herein may be implemented in software executing on a computer system, or implemented in hardware utilizing either a combination of microprocessors or other specially designed application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, or various combinations thereof.
  • the methods described herein may be implemented by a series of computer-executable instructions residing on a suitable computer-readable medium.
  • Suitable computer-readable media may include volatile (e.g., RAM) and/or non-volatile
  • carrier waves may take the form of electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals conveying digital data streams along a local network, a publicly accessible network such as the Internet or some other communication link.

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  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
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EP05800017A 2004-09-27 2005-09-26 Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing Ceased EP1800228A1 (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US61346304P 2004-09-27 2004-09-27
US10/985,700 US20060069618A1 (en) 2004-09-27 2004-11-10 Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing
US64771005P 2005-01-27 2005-01-27
US11/180,261 US8732610B2 (en) 2004-11-10 2005-07-13 Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing, using icons to indicate status of content and/or content retrieval
PCT/US2005/034852 WO2006037054A1 (en) 2004-09-27 2005-09-26 Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing

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EP1800228A1 true EP1800228A1 (en) 2007-06-27

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KR20070101237A (ko) 2007-10-16
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KR101225292B1 (ko) 2013-01-22
CN101460945B (zh) 2012-03-28

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