Hyperlink with graphical cue

• US 10,042,823 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Arav, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): Smarth, Gerald A
• Application Number:
  US14/224,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for causing display of a first set of representations of a first set of hyperlinks. In operation, a first input from a user is received indicating a selection of one of the first set of hyperlink representations and causes, in response to receiving the first input, display of a second set of representations of a second set of hyperlinks. Further, a second input from the user is received indicating a selection of one of the second set of hyperlink representations, and causes, in response to receiving the second input, navigation to a destination specified by the selected one of the second set of hyperlink representations.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and

one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to;

cause, after an access to a server, display of a first set of one or more representations of a first set of one or more hyperlinks without any first-set-related images used in the display of the first set of one or more representations in connection with a webpage that includes a second set of one or more representations of a second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, wherein the second set of one or more representations are initially hidden, and the second set of one or more representations take the form of hypertext including one or more textual representations of one or more hyperlinks;

allow receipt of a first input from a user that indicates a selection of one of the first set of representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, the receipt of the first input being implemented without Java;

cause, in response to receiving the first input from the user indicating the selection of one of the first set of representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, a substantially immediate display of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage such that the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a menu in a same window as a corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, and at least partially below the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks;

allow receipt of a second input from the user indicating a selection of one of the second set of representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks;

cause, in response to receiving the second input from the user indicating the selection of one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, navigation to a destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks; and

in response to the navigation to the destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, display at least a portion of content associated with the destination simultaneously with the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, so as to allow continued review of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and continued review of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks while the at least portion of the content is simultaneously displayed, for additional navigation to at least one additional destination and display of at least a portion of additional content which is also simultaneously displayed with the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that both the display of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and the display of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, are performed without requiring an additional access to the server;

wherein the apparatus is further configured such that the webpage allows receipt of user input from the user in a form of hovering.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the absence of any first-set-related images in the display of the first set of one or more representations reduces a download time associated with the pre-downloading of the first set of one or more representations.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks is displayed so as to overlap at least a portion of a content section of the webpage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that use of the one or more textual representations minimizes an amount of data required to pre-download the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a first portion of the webpage, and the at least portion of the content associated with the destination is displayed in a second portion of the webpage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least part of the first portion including at least a portion of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks overlaps at least part of the second portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a distance between multiple of the one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks remains constant before and after the display of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that each instance of the receipt and the display is performed without invoking Java.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the receipt of the first input is implemented without Java for improving a speed of the receipt of the first input and the display of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that each instance of the receipt and the display is performed without invoking Java for improving a speed of each instance of the receipt and the display.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage are displayed utilizing a static object.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage each include a static object.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the second set of one or more representations is immediate in response to receiving the first input.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so as to allow receipt of a third input from the user after the first input and before the second input for causing a visual emphasis of at least a portion of the webpage.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the visual emphasis is accomplished via highlighting and without replacing an object being emphasized.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that letters of the one or more textual representations do not change in response to particular user input.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first input is capable of including the hovering.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the hovering permits the user to more quickly view the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, as compared to clicking, by permitting the user to move a cursor over the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the hovering permits the user to more quickly view different sets of one or more representations of different sets of one or more hyperlinks, as compared to clicking, by permitting the user to move a cursor over different ones of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the hovering permits the user to more quickly view and hide the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, as compared to clicking, by permitting the user to move a cursor over the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and subsequently move the cursor off of the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the hovering permits the user to view and hide different sets of one or more representations of different sets of one or more hyperlinks by permitting the user to move a cursor over different ones of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and subsequently move the cursor off.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks includes a set including a single representation of a single hyperlink;

the second set of one or more hyperlinks are displayed below and to a side the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations;

the second set of one or more hyperlinks are displayed immediately below the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations;

other portions of the webpage other than the first set of representations include images;

images other than any first-set-related images are pre-downloaded with the webpage;

second-set-related images are pre-downloaded with the webpage for use in the display of the second set of representations;

the first input includes the hovering;

the second input includes the hovering;

additional input other than the first input and the second input, includes the hovering;

the hovering results in a visual emphasis;

the hovering results in content display;

the hovering results in display of at least a portion of content that was previously hidden;

the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items and the at least portion of the content is simultaneously displayed in separate frames;

the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks are pre-downloaded with the webpage by being downloaded prior to the first input;

or

the at least a portion of the webpage includes a text item.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and

one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to;

cause, after an access to a server, display of a first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items without any first-set-related images used in the display of the first set of one or more representations in connection with a webpage that includes a second set of one or more representations of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, wherein the second set of one or more representations are initially hidden, and the second set of one or more representations take the form of non-AJAX elements including one or more textual representations of one or more hyperlinks;

allow, without using AJAX, receipt of a first input from a user indicating a selection of one of the first set of representations of the one or more menu items;

cause, in response to receiving the first input from the user indicating the selection of one of the first set of representations of the one or more menu items, an immediate display of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage such that the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a menu in a same window as a corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items, and at least partially adjacent to the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items;

allow receipt of a second input from the user indicating a selection of one of the second set of representations of the one or more hyperlinks;

cause, in response to receiving the second input from the user indicating the selection of one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks, navigation to a destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks; and

in response to the navigation to the destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks, display at least a portion of content of the destination simultaneously with the first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items, so as to allow continued review of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items and continued review of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks while the at least portion of the content is simultaneously displayed, for additional navigation to at least one additional destination and display of at least a portion of additional content which is also simultaneously displayed with the first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items;

wherein both the display of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items and the display of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, are performed without requiring an additional access to the server;

wherein the webpage receives user input from the user including hovering.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the absence of any first-set-related images in the display of the first set of one or more representations minimizes a download time associated with the pre-downloading of the first set of one or more representations.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first input includes the hovering, where the hovering permits the user to more quickly view and hide the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks, as compared to clicking, by permitting the user to move a cursor over the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first input includes the hovering, where the hovering permits the user to view and hide different sets of one or more representations of different sets of one or more hyperlinks, by permitting the user to move a cursor over different ones of the first set of one or more representations.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a distance between multiple of the representations of multiple of the menu items remains constant before and after the display of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the multiple of the representations of the multiple of the menu items and the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a first portion of the webpage, and the at least portion of the content associated with the destination is displayed in a second portion of the webpage.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least part of the first portion including at least a portion of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks overlaps at least part of the second portion.

30. A method comprising:

generating content for use in populating a webpage that, when downloaded, performs the following;

displaying, in response to an access to a server, a first set of one or more representations of a first set of one or more hyperlinks without any first-set-related images used in the display of the first set of one or more representations in connection with a webpage that includes a second set of one or more representations of a second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, wherein the second set of one or more representations are hidden when the displaying of the first set of one or more representations occurs, and the second set of one or more representations take the form of hypertext including one or more textual representations of one or more hyperlinks;

receiving, without Java, a first input from a user indicating a selection of one of the first set of representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks;

in response to receiving the first input from the user indicating the selection of one of the first set of representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, displaying, immediately and without Java, the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage such that the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a menu in a same window as a corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, and at least partially below the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks;

receiving a second input from the user indicating a selection of one of the second set of representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks;

in response to receiving the second input from the user indicating the selection of one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, navigating to a destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks; and

in response to the navigation to the destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks, displaying at least a portion of content associated with the destination simultaneously with the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks, so as to allow continued review of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and continued review of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks while the at least portion of the content is simultaneously displayed, for additional navigation to at least one additional destination and display of at least a portion of additional content which is also simultaneously displayed with the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks;

wherein both the display of the first set of one or more representations of the first set of one or more hyperlinks and the display of the second set of one or more representations of the second set of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, are performed without requiring an additional access to the server;

wherein receipt of user input from the user including hovering, is allowed.

31. A method comprising:

generating content for use in populating a webpage that, when downloaded, performs the following;

displaying, after a first access to a server and without using Java, a first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items without any first-set-related images used in the display of the first set of one or more representations in connection with a webpage that includes a second set of one or more representations of one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, wherein the second set of one or more representations are hidden without particular user input in connection therewith;

receiving, without using Java, a first input from a user indicating a selection of one of the first set of representations of the one or more menu items;

in response to receiving the first input from the user indicating the selection of one of the first set of representations of the one or more menu items, displaying, immediately and without using Java, the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage such that the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks are displayed in a menu in a same window as a corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items, and at least partially adjacent to the corresponding one of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items;

detecting, without using Java, a second input from the user indicating a selection of one of the second set of representations of the one or more hyperlinks;

in response to detecting the second input from the user indicating the selection of one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks, navigating, without using Java, to a destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks; and

in response to the navigation to the destination corresponding to the selected one of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks, displaying at least a portion of content of the destination simultaneously with the first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items, so as to allow continued review of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items and continued review of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks while the at least portion of the content is simultaneously displayed, for additional navigation to at least one additional destination and display of at least a portion of additional content which is also simultaneously displayed with the first set of one or more representations of one or more menu items;

wherein both the display of the first set of one or more representations of the one or more menu items and the display of the second set of one or more representations of the one or more hyperlinks that are pre-downloaded with the webpage, are performed without using Java and without requiring a second access to the server after the first access to the server;

wherein user input from the user including hovering is permitted to be received.