RU2813299C2 - Method and system for controlling web page display - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: web browsing.

SUBSTANCE: invention is related to methods for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application. The method includes obtaining data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining, based on the data, on the web page at least one user-activated layout element to be displayed when the web page is displayed; initiating a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in at least one user-activated layout element; in response to a layout change, preventing the browser application from providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed.

EFFECT: prevention of a conflict between personalized tooltips of web pages and the browser in a web page layout element when displaying a web page in a browser application.

20 cl, 8 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

[01] The present technology generally relates to web browsing, and in particular to a method and system for controlling the display of certain layout elements on a web page.

State of the art

[02] When a user browses web pages on a network (such as the Internet), using a browser application (such as a Yandex.Browser™ browser application, a Google Chrome™ browser application, an Opera™ browser application, etc.), he may offer hints in some web page layout elements. For example, a web page is capable of receiving information from a user and accordingly may include an input field for text input from the user, such as the user's shipping address, for which the input field may offer autocomplete.

[03] In one example, hints may be provided by a browser application. In particular, the browser application may (a) store user input in various layout elements as the user browses web pages and (b) determine the presence of an input field on the web page, for example, for entering an address, banking information cards, product names, provide corresponding input data that the user has previously entered using the browser application. In particular, such input may be presented in the form of an auto-populated text string or a drop-down menu.

[04] However, the web page itself can also provide personalized suggestions in the input field. For example, based on the user's current location being determined, the web server hosting the web page is able to automatically fill in the address the user enters into an input field.

[05] This leads to the possibility of conflict between the prompts provided by the browser application and the web page, for example, they may overlap each other in the input field in which the user provides their input, which can negatively impact the user's experience of the web experience. -page.

[06] To solve the technical problem described above, some known approaches have been proposed.

[07] Patent US9330200B2 “System and method for presenting input suggestions in input fields of a specific type in web pages by replacing the input field with a combo box” (Capital Intellect Inc., issued May 3, 2016) describes systems and methods for displaying input hints on web pages that contain an input field for receiving specific kinds of user input. The user device stores a module located remotely from the database containing input hints. The module detects the presence of input fields of a specific type on a web page. For each detected input field of a specific type, the module generates a combined control element that is displayed so as to close and visually replace the input field. Combo controls display tooltips for database input. The database may be updated to add or remove input hints on specific websites determined to be valid or invalid for those websites. Input hint validity analysis can be based on page analysis results sent from the module, with analysis performed before and after the proposed input hint is sent.

[08] Patent US7716596B2 "Dynamic input field protection" (Twitter Inc., issued May 11, 2010) describes a computer method and computer program product for protecting a pre-populated user input field on a provided web page from being unintentionally overwritten. The method determines a pre-filled input field by detecting when a mouse pointer is hovering over it. In response to a user command to change the state of a pre-populated input field, the method switches an initially unlocked pre-populated input field to a locked state or switches an initially locked pre-populated input field to an unlocked state.

Disclosure of the Invention

[09] Consequently, systems and methods are required to eliminate, reduce or overcome the limitations of known technologies.

[010] The developers of this technology have determined that conflicts between hints provided by a browser application and a web page can be avoided if the layout elements of the latter in which the web page is capable of providing its hints are predefined before the user activates them for input data in them.

[011] In particular, developers have developed methods and systems designed to analyze the responses of web page layout elements to simulated user actions, such as hit testing. In particular, if a web page layout element changes its appearance in response to a corresponding simulated user action, this may indicate the web page's ability to provide personalized cues within it. The present methods and systems are designed to prevent a browser application from providing personalized browser hints in that layout element.

[012] Thus, various non-limiting embodiments of the present technology provide preference for some prompts over others, such as personalized web page prompts over personalized browser prompts, and prevent conflicts between them in a layout element, such as overlapping them. , which can positively influence user perception.

[013] The developers have also found that the present methods and systems for defining layout elements used to display tooltips on a web page are particularly useful when the web page is developed using the JavaScript programming language or the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) programming language. , the source codes of which may not provide complete data about the types of layout elements to be displayed on a web page, unlike, for example, the HTML language (HyperText Markup Language).

[014] Specifically, according to the first aspect of the present technology, a method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application is implemented. The method is executed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application. The browser application is capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element. The method includes: receiving by a processor data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide, in at least one user-activated layout element, personalized web page cues generated by the web page independent of the browser application; preventing a browser application from providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element in a web page while it is being displayed, if the layout change indicates the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in that at least one user-activated element layout.

[015] In some embodiments of the method, the data representing the web page comprises JavaScript and/or CSS source code.

[016] In some embodiments of a method for initiating a simulated user action, the method further includes: obtaining, by the processor, a scanning pattern for the at least one user-activated layout element comprising a plurality of points representing the appearance of the at least one user-activated web layout element pages; the processor applying a scanning pattern in the area of the at least one user-activated layout element, wherein initiating a simulated user action with the at least one user-activated layout element includes initiating a simulated user action with each point of the plurality of points.

[017] In some embodiments of the method, initiation of a simulated user action on a point from a plurality of points occurs at a predetermined time interval.

[018] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes the processor increasing a predetermined amount of time if the simulated user action with a dot of the plurality of dots does not trigger the web page to provide personalized web page suggestions in the at least one user-activated layout element.

[019] In some embodiments of the method, increasing a predetermined time interval at each iteration of initiating a simulated user action with a point from a set of points is performed according to an exponential law.

[020] In some embodiments of the method, the simulated user action includes testing for access to at least one user-activated layout element.

[021] In some embodiments of the method, initiation of the simulated user action occurs before the web page is displayed.

[022] In some embodiments of the method, initiation of the simulated user action occurs while the web page is being displayed.

[023] In some embodiments of the method, the initiation of a simulated user action is in response to a web page refresh.

[024] In some embodiments of the method, it further includes preventing the web page from providing personalized web page cues in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed if the layout change indicates the ability of the web page to pages provide personalized web page suggestions in the at least one user-activated layout element.

[025] According to a second aspect of the present technology, a method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application is implemented. The method is executed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application. The browser application is capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element. The method includes: receiving by a processor data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action initiates a layout change in the at least one user-activated layout element; disabling, by the processor, browser modifications generated by the web browser application in the content of at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed if the simulated user action triggers a layout change in the at least one user-activated layout element.

[026] In some embodiments of the method, the layout change in at least one user-activated layout element indicates the ability of the web page to provide the user viewing the web page with personalized web page suggestions generated by the web server on which the web page is hosted , in at least one user-activated layout element.

[027] In some embodiments of the method, browser modifications to the content of the at least one user-activated element include the processor providing the browser application providing, in the at least one user-activated element, a layout of personalized browser prompts generated by the browser application.

[028] According to a third aspect of the present technology, a method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application is implemented. The method is executed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application. The browser application is capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element. The method includes: receiving by a processor data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide, in at least one user-activated layout element, personalized web page cues generated by the web page independent of the browser application; disabling the processor to do one of the following predetermined actions: the browser application providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed, and the web page providing personalized web page cues in at least one user-activated element layout on a web page while it is being displayed, if the layout change indicates the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in the at least one user-activated layout element.

[029] In some embodiments of the method, the data representing the web page comprises JavaScript and/or CSS source code.

[030] In some embodiments of the method, before initiating the simulated user action, the method further includes: obtaining, by the processor, a scan pattern for the at least one user-activated layout element comprising a plurality of points representing the appearance of the at least one user-activated web layout element; pages;

[031] The processor applying a scanning pattern in the region of the at least one user-activated layout element, wherein initiating a simulated user action with the at least one user-activated layout element includes initiating a simulated user action with each point of the plurality of points.

[032] In some embodiments of the method, initiation of a simulated user action on a point from a plurality of points occurs at a predetermined time interval.

[033] In some embodiments of the method, it further includes the processor increasing a predetermined amount of time if the simulated user action with a dot of the plurality of dots does not trigger the web page to provide personalized web page suggestions in the at least one user-activated layout element.

[034] In some embodiments of the method, increasing a predetermined time interval at each iteration of initiating a simulated user action with a point from a set of points is performed according to an exponential law.

[035] In some embodiments of the method, the simulated user action includes testing for access to at least one user-activated layout element.

[036] According to another aspect of the present technology, a system is implemented for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application. The system includes an electronic device executing a browser application capable of providing personalized browser prompts in at least one user-activated web page layout element. The electronic device contains a processor and a machine-readable physical storage medium that stores instructions. The processor, when executing commands, is capable of: receiving data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; based on this data, determine on the web page at least one user-activated layout element that is displayed when the web page is displayed; initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determine whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide, in at least one user-activated layout element, personalized web page cues generated by the web page independent of the browser application; prevent a browser application from providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element on a web page while it is being displayed, if the layout change indicates the web page's ability to provide personalized web page hints in that at least one user-activated layout element .

[037] In some embodiments of the system, prior to initiating a simulated user action, the processor is further capable of: obtaining a scan pattern for the at least one user-activated layout element comprising a plurality of points representing the appearance of the at least one user-activated layout element of the web page; apply a scanning pattern in the region of the at least one user-activated layout element, wherein to initiate a simulated user action on the at least one user-activated layout element, the processor is capable of initiating a simulated user action on each point of the plurality of points.

[038] In some system embodiments, the processor is capable of initiating a simulated user action on a point from a plurality of points using a predetermined time interval.

[039] In some system embodiments, the processor is further capable of increasing a predetermined time interval if a simulated user action with a dot of the plurality of dots does not trigger the web page to provide personalized web page suggestions in at least one user-activated layout element.

[040] In some system embodiments, the processor is capable of exponentially increasing a predetermined time interval at each iteration of initiating a simulated user action on a point of a plurality of points.

[041] In some system embodiments, the simulated user action includes testing for access to at least one user-activated layout element.

[042] As used herein, the term “server” means a computer program executed by associated hardware and capable of receiving requests (eg, from electronic devices) via a network and executing or initiating execution of those requests. The hardware can be implemented in the form of one physical computer or one computer system, which is not essential for this technology. In the present context, the expression "server" does not mean that every task (for example, a received command or request) or any specific task is accepted, executed or launched by the same server (i.e. the same software and/or hardware ). This expression means that any number of software or hardware can receive, send, execute, or cause execution of any task or request, or the results of any tasks or requests. All of these software and hardware may be a single server or multiple servers, both of which are implied by the expression “at least one server.”

[043] As used herein, the term "electronic device" means any computer hardware capable of executing programs suitable for solving a given task. As used herein, the term "electronic device" implies that the device can function as a server for other electronic devices, however, this is not necessary for the present technology. Thus, some (non-limiting) examples of electronic devices include autonomous driving units, personal computers (desktops, laptops, netbooks, etc.), smartphones and tablets, and networking equipment such as routers, switches, and gateways. It should be understood that in the present context, the fact that a device functions as an electronic device does not mean that it cannot function as a server for other electronic devices.

[044] As used herein, the expression “information” includes information of any kind or kind capable of being stored in a database. Thus, information includes visual works (for example, maps), audio-visual works (for example, images, films, sound recordings, presentations, etc.), data (for example, location data, meteorological data, traffic data, numerical data, etc.), text (such as, but not limited to, opinions, comments, questions, messages, etc.), documents, spreadsheets, etc.

[045] As used herein, the term “database” means any structured collection of data, regardless of its specific structure, database management software, or computer hardware for storing, using, or otherwise making use of that data. The database may reside in the same hardware as the process that stores or uses the information stored in the database, or the database may reside in separate hardware, such as a dedicated server or multiple servers.

[046] In the context of the present description, the numerals “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are used only to indicate differences between the nouns they refer to, but not to describe any specific relationships between those nouns. Moreover, as appears herein in other contexts, reference to a “first” element and a “second” element does not preclude the possibility that the two elements may in fact be the same element.

[047] Each embodiment of the present technology relates to at least one of the above-mentioned objectives and/or one of the above-mentioned aspects, but not necessarily all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology associated with attempting to achieve the above purpose may not be consistent with that purpose and/or may be consistent with other purposes not expressly mentioned herein.

[048] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present technology are set forth in the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

Brief description of drawings

[049] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology are set forth in the following description, in the appended claims and in the following drawings.

[050] In FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example computer system that may be used to implement some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[051] In FIG. 2 is a diagram of a networked computing environment containing the computer system shown in FIG. 1, and suitable for use with certain non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[052] In FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a graphical user interface (GUI) of a browser application running on an electronic device from the network computing environment shown in FIG. 2, and providing a visual representation of a web page, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[053] In FIG. 4 and 5 provide schematic illustrations of various approaches to providing personalized cues in specific elements of the web page layout shown in FIG. 3, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[054] In FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an overlay in a web page layout element of FIG. 3, two types of personalized suggestions independently generated by the server hosting the web page and the browser application providing its visual representation, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[055] In FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an approach to scanning an element of the web page layout shown in FIG. 3, for the purpose of the processor identifying an electronic device from the network computing environment shown in FIG. 2, the ability of a web page to provide its personalized hints independent of the browser application, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[056] In FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for control by a processor of an electronic device from the network computing environment shown in FIG. 2 by displaying the web page shown in FIG. 3, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

Carrying out the invention

[057] The examples and conventional language presented here are intended to provide a better understanding of the principles of this technology and not to limit its scope to such specifically provided examples and conditions. It is obvious that those skilled in the art are capable of developing various methods and devices that are not explicitly described or shown, but implement the principles of the present technology within its spirit and scope.

[058] In addition, to facilitate a better understanding, the following description may contain simplified embodiments of the present technology. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the present technology may be significantly more complex.

[059] In some cases, useful examples of modifications to the present technology are provided. They promote understanding, but also do not define the scope or boundaries of the actual technology. The presented list of modifications is not exhaustive and a person skilled in the art may develop other modifications within the scope of this technology. In addition, if in some cases modifications are not described, this does not mean that they are impossible and/or that the description contains the only possible implementation of a particular element of this technology.

[060] Moreover, the description of the principles, aspects and embodiments of the present technology, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to cover their structural and functional equivalents, whether currently known or developed in the future. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any block diagrams described herein correspond to the conceptual representations of illustrative circuit diagrams implementing the fundamentals of the present technology. It should also be clear that any flowcharts, process diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo codes, etc. correspond to various processes that may be represented on a computer-readable physical storage medium and may be performed by a computer or processor, whether such computer or processor is explicitly shown or not.

[061] The functions of the various elements shown in the drawings, including any functional block designated as a “processor,” may be implemented using dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. If a processor is used, these functions may be performed by one dedicated processor, one shared processor, or a plurality of separate processors, some of which may be shared. In addition, explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be construed as referring solely to hardware capable of executing software and may include, but is not limited to, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, network processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Read Only Memory (ROM) for storing software, Random Access Memory (RAM), and Non-Volatile Memory. Other hardware, general purpose and/or custom, may also be included.

[062] Software modules, or simply modules intended to be implemented in software, may be represented herein as any combination of flowchart elements or other elements indicating the execution of process steps and/or containing a textual description. Such modules may be executed by hardware, shown explicitly or implicitly.

[063] Given the foregoing principles, some non-limiting examples are provided below to illustrate various embodiments of aspects of the present technology.

Computer system

[064] In FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system 100 suitable for use in some embodiments of the present technology. The computer system 100 includes various hardware elements, including one or more single- or multi-core processors, generally represented by a processor 110, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 111, a solid-state drive 120, a RAM 130, a display interface 140, and an input/output interface 150.

[065] Communication between elements of the computer system 100 may occur through one or more internal and/or external buses 160 (such as a PCI bus, a USB bus, an IEEE 1394 FireWire bus, a SCSI bus, a Serial-ATA bus, etc.) , to which various hardware elements are connected electronically.

[066] The input/output interface 150 may be coupled to a touch screen 190 and/or to one or more internal and/or external buses 160. The touch screen 190 may also be referred to as a screen (e.g., a screen (not specifically identified) of the electronic device 210 illustrated by in Fig. 2). In the ones shown in FIGS. 1 embodiments, touch screen 190 includes touch hardware 194 (e.g., pressure-sensitive cells embedded in the display layer to detect physical interaction between the user and the display) and a touch I/O controller 192 that communicates with display interface 140 and/or with one or more internal and/or external buses 160. In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, I/O interface 150 may be coupled to a keyboard (not separately shown), mouse (not separately shown), or touch pad (not shown separately) that provide user interaction with the computer system 100 in addition to or instead of the touch screen 190.

[067] It should be noted that in some non-limiting embodiments of the invention, certain elements of the computer system 100 may be missing. For example, a keyboard and mouse (not separately shown) may be absent, particularly if the computer system 100 is implemented as a small electronic device such as (but not limited to) a smartphone.

[068] In embodiments of the present technology, solid state drive 120 stores software instructions suitable for loading into RAM 130 and execution by processor 110 and/or graphics processor 111. The software instructions may, for example, be part of a library or application.

Network computing environment

[069] In FIG. 2 illustrates a network computing environment 200 (not shown) suitable for use in certain non-limiting embodiments of the present technology. Networked computing environment 200 includes an electronic device 210 connected via a communication network 240 to a server 250. In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the electronic device 210 may be associated with a user 230.

[070] In non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, electronic device 210 may be any computer hardware capable of executing programs suitable for solving a given task. Thus, some non-limiting examples of electronic device 210 include personal computers (desktops, laptops, netbooks, etc.), smartphones, and tablets. Electronic device 210 may include some or all of the elements of the computer system 100 shown in FIG. 1.

[071] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, server 250 may be implemented as a traditional computer server and may include some or all of the elements of the computer system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. In one non-limiting example, server 250 is implemented as a Dell™ PowerEdge™ server running the Microsoft™ Windows Server™ operating system, but it may also be implemented using any other suitable hardware, application software and/or or embedded software or a combination thereof. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, server 250 is a single server. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology (not shown), the functions of the server 250 may be distributed among multiple servers.

[072] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, server 250 may contain a web resource 255. In general, the web resource 255 may contain and thus provide access to various types of information, such as text, images, audio, and video material hosted on at least one web page (such as web page 302 presented in FIG. 3) that can be identified in the communication network 240, for example, using a universal resource locator (URL), associated with at least one page. Examples of web property 255 include a website such as a commercial website designed to advertise specific products, a social network (such as Facebook.com™), an online video service (for example, Kinopoisk.ru™), etc. .d.

[073] Thus, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, a user 230 using an electronic device 210 may request access to a web page 302, for example, by submitting a URL in the address bar (not shown in FIG. 2). browser application 215 (not shown in the drawings) running on electronic device 210. In another example, user 230 may be redirected to web page 302 from another web page containing a link to web page 302 selected by user 230. In response, the server 250 may provide electronic device 210 access to web page 302 of web resource 255 by sending a digital document representing it to electronic device 210 for display to user 230.

[074] As used herein, browser application 215 may be a software application running on an electronic device, such as electronic device 210, and capable of providing access to resources of network nodes, such as communications network 240, in response to receiving their addresses in that networks. In a specific, non-limiting example, the browser application 215 may be implemented as the Yandex.Browser™ browser application provided by Yandex LLC, st. Lev Tolstoy, 16, Moscow, 119021, Russia.

[075] In addition, the digital document representing the web page 302 may contain executable source code, such as developed in HTML. However, in other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, at least a portion of the executable source code may be developed in another programming language, such as JavaScript and/or CSS.

[076] Upon receipt of this digital document, it is possible for the browser application 215 to cause the electronic device 210 to execute executable source code associated with the web page 302 and thereby generate, for example, a rendering unit of the browser application 215, a visual representation thereof for display to the user 230.

[077] In FIG. 3 illustrates a GUI interface of a browser application 215 providing a visual representation of a web page 302, in accordance with some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[078] As shown in FIG. 3, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, a web page 302 may contain a plurality of layout elements that define its visual presentation. For example, some elements of the set of layout elements may be static, i.e. unable to respond to user actions with them. Such layout elements are referred to herein as non-user-activated layout elements. An example is a non-user-activated layout element 304 containing the title "Contact Information" which, once rendered by the renderer of the browser application 215, is not expected to respond to user actions by the user 230 on it.

[079] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the visual presentation of the web page 302 may also include layout elements with which the user 230 can interact. Such layout elements are referred to herein as user-activated layout elements and may include layout elements capable of receiving user input, such as clicks, text input from user 230, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, user-activated layout element 306 may include an input field for receiving text information representing an address to be provided by user 230. Other examples of user-activated layout elements are not limited in any way. Depending on the content of the corresponding web page, these may include checkboxes, radio buttons, drop-down menus, and other interactive web elements whose appearance may change in response to user actions 230.

[080] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, a user-activated element 306 of the layout of a web page 302 may display personalized prompts in response to specific user actions. In this context, a personalized prompt is the predictive automatic completion of a user action on a user-activated layout element 306.

[081] In FIG. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of an approach to providing personalized suggestions 404 for a user-activated layout element 306 in response to user actions 402 thereon, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology. It is contemplated that user actions 402 may, for example, correspond to partially entered text information representing an address. However, user actions 402 on user-activated layout element 306 may also include a “click,” such as placing a cursor on user-activated layout element 306 or hovering a pointer (e.g., a mouse pointer) over user-activated layout element 306, etc. P.

[082] In one example shown in FIG. 4, in response to user actions 402, personalized tooltips 404 displayed in the user-activated layout element 306 may include automatic completion of partial user input 230. In response to the personalized prompts 404 provided, the user 230 may (a) confirm the personalized prompts 404, for example, by providing predetermined confirming input information (such as “click” on the prompt), or (b) reject the personalized prompts 404, for example, by continuing entering an address from the keyboard.

[083] In another example, personalized prompts 404 displayed in user-activated layout element 306 may include multiple auto completion options corresponding to user actions 402 and placed, for example, in a drop-down menu as shown in FIG. 5, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology. In this example, the user 230 can (a) select one of the provided autocomplete options from among the personalized 404 suggestions, such as by “clicking” on it, or (b) reject all personalized 404 suggestions, such as by continuing to enter the address using the keyboard.

[084] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, personalized suggestions 404 may be generated and provided by browser application 215. In this case, personalized suggestions 404 are referred to herein as personalized browser suggestions. In particular, the processor 110 of the electronic device 210 may cause the browser application 215 to: (a) store, for example, on the solid state drive 120 of the electronic device 210 or in the cloud storage, information indicating the user input provided by the user 230 in the activated user elements of the layout of various web pages; (b) determining the type of user-activated layout element in response to user actions 402; (c) based on past user actions with similar user-activated layout elements, generating and providing personalized browser prompts for completing user actions 402.

[085] There is no limitation on the manner in which the browser application 215 determines the type of user-activated element 306. For example, it may include parsing the executable source code of the web page 302 to determine (1) portions of the executable source code of the web page 302 corresponding to a user-activated layout element 306; (2) the content of web page 302; (3) other layout elements adjacent to the user-activated layout element 306, such as representing the "Address" header; (4) the size and/or shape of the user-activated layout element 306.

[086] In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, personalized suggestions 404 may be generated and provided by web page 302. In this case, personalized suggestions 404 are referred to herein as personalized web page suggestions. For example, the server 250 hosting a web resource 255 containing a web page 302 may (a) determine the current location of the user 230, for example, using the IP address associated with the electronic device 210 or based on data from its module GPS; (b) determine the appearance of the user-activated layout element 306, as described above; (c) in response to receiving data indicative of user actions 402, generate personalized web page prompts that complete user actions 402 for display in a user-activated layout element 306.

[087] It is contemplated that the browser application 215 and the web page 302 may independently provide personalized browser prompts and personalized web page prompts, respectively, which may negatively impact the experience of the user 230 interacting with the web page 302. For example, as schematically illustrated in fig. 6, without taking advantage of non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, personalized browser prompts and personalized web page prompts may be simultaneously displayed in the user-activated layout element 306 and thus overlap each other therein, which may negatively impact their recognizability.

[088] Developers of the present technology have developed methods for prioritizing personalized browser prompts and personalized web page prompts relative to each other. In particular, the methods and systems described herein are designed to (a) determine, prior to receipt of user actions 402, by the processor 110 of the electronic device 210 the ability of the web page 302 to provide personalized web page suggestions in the user-activated layout element 306 while it is being displayed by the browser application 215, and (b) disabling the processor 110 from providing the browser application 215 with personalized browser hints in the user-activated layout element 306 if it is determined that the web page is capable of providing personalized web page hints in the user-activated layout element 306. Thus, the methods and systems described herein are designed to resolve conflicts between personalized cues that are to be displayed on the same layout element.

[089] Determination by processor 110 of the ability of web page 302 to provide personalized web page suggestions according to certain non-limiting embodiments of the present technology is described below with reference to FIG. 7 and 8.

Communication network

[090] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, communications network 240 is the Internet. In alternative, non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the communications network 240 may be implemented as any suitable Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), private communications network, or the like. Obviously, the communication network embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only. The implementation of the respective communication lines (not specifically designated) between the electronic device 210 and the server 250 on the one hand and the communication network 240 on the other hand depends, among other things, on the implementation of the electronic device 210 and the server 250. By way of non-limiting example only, in those embodiments of the present technology where the electronic device 210 is implemented as a wireless communication device, such as a smartphone, the communication link may be implemented as a wireless communication link. Examples of wireless communication links include a 3G network channel, a 4G network channel, etc. The communication network 240 may also utilize a wireless connection to the server 250 and to the electronic device 210.

Detecting web page hints

[091] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, to determine the ability of a web page 302 to provide personalized web page suggestions independent of the browser application 215, the processor 110 may generate a simulated user action with a user-activated layout element 306. Then, in response to changing the layout of the user-activated layout element 306, the processor 110 may determine that the web page 302 is capable of providing personalized web page suggestions.

[092] For example, as used herein, a change in the layout of a layout element in response to interaction with it, such as a simulated user action on the user-activated layout element 306, corresponds to a change in the size and/or shape and/or content of the user-activated layout element 306. In another example, changing the layout may further include the rendering unit of the browser application displaying additional interactive layout elements, such as an additional input field associated with a user-activated layout element 306, additional controls such as a scroll element and/or a button allowing different selections options, etc.

[093] It should be noted that in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may determine that web page 302 is capable of providing personalized web page suggestions if the layout changes in response to a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306 in any layout element presented on the 302 web page.

[094] As used herein, a simulated user action corresponds to an action that simulates a user action but is not initiated by a human user, such as user 230, and is generated automatically, for example, by processor 110 executing appropriate software instructions. In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be a simulated user "click" on a user-activated layout element 306. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be simulated character input. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be a simulated “click” followed by simulated typing.

[095] In a specific, non-limiting example, a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306 may include processor 110 checking for reference to user-activated layout element 306.

[096] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to user-activated layout element 306 prior to initiating display of web page 302. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to a user-activated layout element 306 after the display of the web page 302 is initiated, for example, within a predetermined time interval after the web page 302 is loaded and displayed by the browser application 215 (for example, within 0.3-0 ,5 s). In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to user-activated layout element 306 after triggering the display of web page 302 at certain times, for example, regularly at a predetermined period, such as 5 or 10 Seconds.

[097] In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action on a user-activated layout element 306 in response to a predetermined user action 230. In one example, such a predetermined user action may include updating a web page 302. In another example, the predetermined user action may include scrolling a predetermined portion of the web page 302, such as 60%. Other user actions with respect to the web page 302 that trigger the processor 110 to initiate simulated user actions on the user-activated layout element 306 are also possible without going beyond the scope of the present technology.

[098] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, to determine the ability of web page 302 to provide personalized web page cues in a user-activated layout element, processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action at specific points in the visual presentation of user-activated layout element 306. In particular, the processor 110 may “scan” the visual representation of the user-activated layout element 306 at specific points thereof to determine if there is a change in the layout of the user-activated layout element 306 indicative of the ability of the web page 302 to provide personalized web page suggestions.

[099] It should be noted that some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology are based on the assumption that the renderer of the browser application 215 can recognize that the response to a simulated user action is generated by the web page 302 and not by the browser application 215. In particular, According to non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the renderer may be implemented so that it is not part of the GUI interface of the browser application 215 and thus does not receive changes initiated by the browser application 215. Thus, any layout changes available to the renderer are appear to be caused by the web page 302 rather than the browser application 215.

[0100] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, a renderer may determine that a layout change (such as the corresponding layout change schematically represented in FIG. 7) is initiated by applying a simulated user action to a user-activated layout element 306 , is initiated by the web page 302 rather than the browser application 215. Thus, the processor 110 may determine that the layout change 704 is indicative of the web page's personalized cues rather than the browser's personalized cues.

[0101] For example, processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306 according to a predetermined pattern associated therewith. In fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a scanning circuit 702 applied to the visual presentation of a user-activated layout element 306 to initiate a simulated user action thereon, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology.

[0102] It is assumed that the scanning circuit 702 contains a plurality of points, each of which may include a set of coordinate values, such as Cartesian coordinates, in a coordinate system associated with the web page 302. Thus, the processor 110 may: (a) using the coordinate values, determine each point of the plurality of points on the web page 302 and (b) initiate a simulated user action thereon to determine whether any layout change occurs in response, such as a layout change 704.

[0103] In the illustrated embodiments, layout change 704 is an additional layout element that defines an area for the drop-down menu. However, it should be understood that other layout changes associated with the user-activated element 306, such as displaying text therein, are also possible. It should also be noted that the specific implementation of the layout change 704 generally depends on the implementation of the user-activated layout element 306. For example, in those embodiments of the present technology where the user-activated layout element 306 is a radio button or checkbox and therefore the simulated user action with it is a “click” on it, changing the layout 704 may include automatically changing other radio buttons or checkboxes (not shown) on web page 302, displaying input of additional input fields, etc.

[0104] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, scan circuit 702 may be pre-associated with a user-activated layout element 306 in the memory of electronic device 210, such as solid state drive 120, and processor 110 may, before initiating a simulated user action: ( a) parse the executable source code of the 302 web page; (b) define in the executable source code a user-activated layout element 306; (c) obtain a scanning pattern 702 for application to the visual representation of a user-activated layout element 306.

[0105] In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may determine scan pattern 702. In particular, by defining a user-activated design element 306, the processor 110 can determine its parameters, such as its dimensions and geometric shape, and based on these parameters determine the type of scanning pattern 702 and the number of points to be scanned therein. For example, processor 110 may define scan pattern 702 as a plurality of points defining a straight line segment along one side of user-activated layout element 306, as shown in FIG. 7. In another example (not shown), processor 110 may define scan pattern 702 as a plurality of points located along the contour of user-activated layout element 306. In yet another example (also not shown), processor 110 may define scan pattern 702 as a plurality of dots distributed, for example, uniformly, in the visual presentation area of user-activated layout element 306. However, no restrictions are imposed on the distribution of the plurality of points in the visual representation area of the user-activated layout element 306. For example, it may correspond to a normal probability distribution of a user-activated layout element 306 being hovered over.

[0106] In addition, it is assumed that the density value of the set of points defining the scan pattern 702 is indicative of the frequency of scanning of the user-activated element 306 by the processor 110. The value of the density of the set of points can be predetermined based on a trade-off between the scanning accuracy of the user-activated element 306 and the desired computing resources of the processor 110.

[0107] It will be appreciated that scanning circuit 702 is shown in FIG. 7 as superimposed on a visual representation of user-activated element 306 for illustrative purposes only. According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the scanning circuit 702 may be hidden when the web page 302 is actually displayed.

[0108] As described above, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may regularly scan user-activated layout element 306 at a predetermined period. In particular, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may scan each point of the plurality of points defining scanning pattern 702 with the same period, i.e. with a predetermined period. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may scan each point of the plurality of points differently. For example, processor 110 may increase the scan period for those points that do not initiate layout changes 704 in response to a simulated user action thereon. In a specific non-limiting example, processor 110 may increase the scan period exponentially. It should be noted that other functions, such as the power function or the logarithmic function, and their various parameters, can also be used to determine the extended point scanning period. This allows processor 110 to save computational resources when scanning those points of the scan pattern 702 that do not respond to a simulated user action on them. It should also be noted that processor 110 may reset the scan period of each point of the plurality of points to its original value in response to a predetermined user action, such as, for example, refreshing web page 302.

[0109] Thus, according to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action with each point of a plurality of points of the scan pattern 702 to determine the presence of a responsive layout change 704. Additionally, by determining that a simulated user action on any one of the plurality of points triggers a layout change 704, the processor 110 may determine that the web page 302 is capable of providing personalized web page suggestions. Accordingly, according to non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may prevent browser application 215 from providing personalized browser hints in user-activated layout element 306. In this way, the processor 110 is able to prevent the browser's personalized suggestions from interfering with the web page's personalized suggestions, which is expected to improve the user's experience of interacting with the browser application 215 and the web page 302.

[0110] It should be understood that providing an advantage of personalized web page suggestions over personalized browser suggestions is described above only to explain non-limiting embodiments of the present technology. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, if a simulated user action on any point of the plurality of points defining the scanning pattern 702 is determined to trigger layout changes 704, then the processor 110 may prevent the server 250 from providing personalized web page suggestions. to display them in a user-activated layout element 306.

Way

[0111] The architecture and examples described above enable a method for controlling the display of a web page, such as web page 302, as described above. In fig. 8 is a flow diagram of a method 800 according to non-limiting embodiments of the present technology. The method 800 may be executed by a processor 110 of the electronic device 210. As described above, the electronic device 210 may execute a browser application 215 through which the processor 110 may execute the method 800.

Step 802: The processor receives data representing a web page to be displayed in the browser application.

[0112] Method 800 begins at step 802, where processor 110 is capable of receiving data representing web page 302 for display in browser application 215. As described above with reference to FIG. 2 and 3, such data may comprise a digital document containing executable source code for the web page 302, for example developed in HTML. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, at least a portion of the executable source code may be developed in another programming language, such as the JavaScript and/or CSS programming language.

[0113] Thus, by executing the executable source code of web page 302, processor 110 can display, for example, using a browser application renderer 215, a visual representation of web page 302 in browser application 215, for example, as schematically shown in FIG. 3.

[0114] Method 800 then continues at step 804.

Step 804: Determine on the web page, based on the received data, at least one user-activated layout element to be displayed when the web page is displayed.

[0115] At step 804, the processor 110 may determine, for example, by parsing the executable source code of the web page 302, a user-activated layout element, such as the user-activated layout element 306 described above, is present therein.

[0116] Method 800 then continues at step 806.

Step 806: The processor initiates a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element.

[0117] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, at step 806, the processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action on the user-activated layout element 306 to determine the presence of any responsive layout change, such as the layout change 704 described above with reference to in fig. 7.

[0118] As described above, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be a simulated user "click" on a user-activated layout element 306. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be simulated character input. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, the simulated user action may be a simulated “click” followed by simulated typing.

[0119] In a specific, non-limiting example, a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306 may include processor 110 checking for reference to user-activated layout element 306.

[0120] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to user-activated layout element 306 prior to initiating display of web page 302. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to a user-activated layout element 306 after the display of the web page 302 is initiated, for example, within a predetermined time interval after the web page 302 is loaded and displayed by the browser application 215 (for example, within 0.3-0 ,5 s). In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may generate and apply a simulated user action to user-activated layout element 306 after triggering the display of web page 302 at certain times, for example, regularly at a predetermined period, such as 5 or 10 Seconds.

[0121] In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may initiate a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306 in response to a predetermined user action 230. In one example, such a predetermined user action may include updating a web page 302. In another example, the predetermined user action may include scrolling a predetermined portion of the web page 302, such as 60%. Other user actions with respect to the web page 302 that trigger the processor 110 to initiate simulated user actions on the user-activated layout element 306 are also possible without going beyond the scope of the present technology.

[0122] Additionally, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, prior to initiating a simulated user action on user-activated layout element 306, processor 110 may obtain or otherwise determine appropriate schema associated with user-activated layout element 306, such as circuit 702 scan shown in Fig. 7. The processor 110 may then apply the scanning circuit 702 to the visual representation of the user-activated layout element 306 to initiate a simulated user action according to the scanning circuit 702.

[0123] Scan pattern 702 includes a plurality of points, each of which may include a corresponding set of coordinate values, such as Cartesian coordinates, in a coordinate system associated with web page 302. Thus, processor 110 can: (a) using coordinate values, determine each point of the plurality of points on the web page 302 and (b) initiate a simulated user action on them to determine whether any layout change occurs in response.

[0124] In some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may regularly scan user-activated layout element 306 at a predetermined period. In particular, in some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may scan each point of the plurality of points defining scanning pattern 702 with the same period, i.e. with a predetermined period. In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may scan each point of the plurality of points differently. For example, processor 110 may increase the scan period for those points that do not initiate layout changes 704 in response to a simulated user action thereon. In a specific non-limiting example, processor 110 may increase the scan period exponentially. However, it should be noted that other functions, such as the power function or logarithmic function, and their various parameters, can also be used to determine the extended point scanning period. This allows processor 110 to save computational resources when scanning those points of the scan pattern 702 that do not respond to a simulated user action on them. It should also be noted that the processor 110 may reset the scan period of each point of the plurality of points to its original value in response to a predetermined user action, such as refreshing the web page 302.

[0125] Method 800 then proceeds to step 808.

Step 808: The processor determines whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in at least one user-activated layout element.

[0126] At step 808, the processor 110 may determine whether the simulated user action on any point of the plurality of points defining the scanning pattern 702 that was applied to the user-activated layout element 306 triggers a layout change 704.

[0127] As described above with reference to FIG. 7, the layout change 704 may, for example, be an additional layout element defining an area for the drop-down menu. However, it should be understood that other layout changes associated with the user-activated element 306, such as displaying text therein, are also possible. It should also be noted that the specific implementation of the layout change 704 generally depends on the implementation of the user-activated layout element 306. For example, in those embodiments of the present technology where the user-activated layout element 306 is a radio button or checkbox, and therefore the simulated user action with it is a “click” on it, changing the layout 704 may include automatically changing other radio buttons or checkboxes (not shown) on the 302 web page, displaying the entry of additional input fields, etc.

[0128] Method 800 then continues at step 810.

Step 810: Disable the processor from providing the browser application with personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed if the layout change indicates the ability of the web page to provide personalized web page hints in that at least one user-activated layout element.

[0129] According to some non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, at step 810, the processor 110, by determining that a simulated user action on any one of the plurality of points triggers a layout change 704, may determine that the web page 302 is capable of providing personalized web page suggestions. Accordingly, according to non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, processor 110 may prevent browser application 215 from providing personalized browser hints in user-activated layout element 306. In this way, the processor 110 is able to prevent the browser's personalized suggestions from interfering with the web page's personalized suggestions, which is expected to improve the user's experience of interacting with the browser application 215 and the web page 302.

[0130] In other non-limiting embodiments of the present technology, if a simulated user action on any point of the plurality of points defining the scanning pattern 702 is determined to trigger layout changes 704, then the processor 110 may prevent the server 250 from providing personalized hints web pages to display them in a user-activated layout element 306.

[0131] This completes the method 800.

[0132] Thus, some non-limiting embodiments of method 800 are designed to prioritize personalized browser prompts and personalized web page prompts relative to each other, thereby purporting to improve the user's experience of interacting with web pages.

[0133] Possible changes and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present technology may be apparent to one skilled in the art. The foregoing description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of protection of this technology is determined solely by the scope of the attached claims.

[0134] Although the embodiments described above are given with reference to specific steps performed in a particular order, it should be understood that these steps can be combined, separated, or their order can be changed without departing from the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the order and grouping of steps are not restrictive for this technology.

Claims (42)

1. A method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application, performed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element, comprising: receipt by the processor of data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the received data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide, in at least one user-activated layout element, personalized web page cues generated by the web page independent of the browser application; preventing a browser application from providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element in a web page while it is being displayed, if the layout change indicates the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in that at least one user-activated element layout. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data representing the web page contains source code in JavaScript and/or CSS. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before initiating the simulated user action, the method additionally includes: receiving by the processor a scanning pattern for the at least one user-activated layout element comprising a plurality of points representing the appearance of the at least one user-activated layout element of the web page; the processor applying a scanning pattern in the area of the at least one user-activated layout element, wherein initiating a simulated user action with the at least one user-activated layout element includes initiating a simulated user action with each point of the plurality of points. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the initiation of a simulated user action with a point from a plurality of points is performed at a predetermined time interval. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising increasing the processor to a predetermined time interval if the simulated user action with a dot of the plurality of dots does not trigger the web page to provide personalized web page suggestions in at least one activated by the user of the layout element. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the increase in a predetermined time interval at each iteration of initiating a simulated user action with a point from a set of points is performed according to an exponential law. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the simulated user action includes checking access to at least one user-activated layout element. 8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the initiation of the simulated user action is performed before the web page is displayed. 9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the initiation of the simulated user action is performed while the web page is being displayed. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated user action is initiated in response to a web page update. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the layout change indicating the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues is determined by a renderer of the browser application as follows: the renderer determines that the layout change is indicative of the web page's ability to provide personalized web page prompts if a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element triggers a change to its layout. 12. A method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application, performed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element, comprising: receipt by the processor of data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the received data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action triggers a layout change indicative of the web page's ability to provide, in at least one user-activated layout element, personalized web page cues generated by the web page independent of the browser application; prohibition by the processor of one predefined action from the following: providing the browser application with personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed; providing a web page with personalized web page cues in at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed, if the layout change indicates the web page's ability to provide personalized web page cues in the at least one user-activated layout element. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the data representing the web page contains source code in JavaScript and/or CSS. 14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that before initiating the simulated user action, the method additionally includes: receiving by the processor a scanning pattern for the at least one user-activated layout element comprising a plurality of points representing the appearance of the at least one user-activated layout element of the web page; the processor applying a scanning pattern in the area of the at least one user-activated layout element, wherein initiating a simulated user action with the at least one user-activated layout element includes initiating a simulated user action with each point of the plurality of points. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the initiation of a simulated user action with a point from a plurality of points is performed at a predetermined time interval. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the processor increasing a predetermined amount of time if the simulated user action with a dot of the plurality of dots does not trigger the web page to provide personalized web page suggestions in at least one activated by the user of the layout element. 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the simulated user action includes checking for access to at least one user-activated layout element. 18. A method for controlling the display of a web page in a browser application, performed by a processor of an electronic device executing a browser application capable of providing personalized browser hints in at least one user-activated web page layout element, comprising: receipt by the processor of data representing a web page to be displayed in a browser application; determining on the web page, based on the received data, at least one user-activated layout element displayed when the web page is displayed; causing the processor to initiate a simulated user action with at least one user-activated layout element; determining by the processor whether the simulated user action initiates a layout change in the at least one user-activated layout element; disabling, by the processor, browser modifications generated by the web browser application in the content of at least one user-activated layout element on the web page while it is being displayed if the simulated user action triggers a layout change in the at least one user-activated layout element. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the layout change in the at least one user-activated layout element indicates the ability of the web page to provide a user viewing the web page in the at least one user-activated layout element with personalized web prompts. pages generated by the web server that hosts the web page. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the browser modifications to the content of the at least one user-activated element include the processor providing the browser application providing, in the at least one user-activated element, a layout of personalized browser hints generated by the browser application.