Delivery and display of page previews during page retrieval events
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- by a computer system comprising one or more server computing devices, wherein individual server computing devices of the one or more server computing devices comprise a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions,retrieving a page of a content site;
generating a preview representation of the page, wherein the preview representation comprises a screenshot of at least a portion of the page and markup code, and is at least partially optimized to reduce a loading time, such that a user-perceived loading time of the page is reduced;
storing the preview representation of the page in a cache of the computer system; and
subsequently, responding to a request for the page from a user device separate from the one or more server computing devices by at least delivering the preview representation of the page to the user device for temporary display on the user device, wherein the markup code of the preview representation causes the user device to (1) retrieve from the computer system, and display, at least the screenshot, and (2) transmit to the computer system a follow-up request for the page regardless of whether a user interacts with the preview representation; and
responding to the follow-up request for the page by sending to the user device a non-preview representation of the page, said non-preview representation based on page content retrieved by the computer system;
wherein the markup code causes the user device to temporarily display the screenshot while loading the non-preview representation of the page.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and process are disclosed for providing users with page previews during page loading events, such that the delay experienced before the display of page content is reduced. The previews may include screenshots of the pages or of portions thereof, and may be generated periodically and cached by the system for delivery to user devices. The process of generating and delivering the previews via the Internet or some other network may be implemented partly or wholly within an intermediary system that sits logically between the user devices and content servers. The process may be used with existing browsers without the need for any browser modifications, or may be used with a “preview-aware” browser that includes special program code for providing page previews.
159 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
by a computer system comprising one or more server computing devices, wherein individual server computing devices of the one or more server computing devices comprise a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, retrieving a page of a content site; generating a preview representation of the page, wherein the preview representation comprises a screenshot of at least a portion of the page and markup code, and is at least partially optimized to reduce a loading time, such that a user-perceived loading time of the page is reduced; storing the preview representation of the page in a cache of the computer system; and subsequently, responding to a request for the page from a user device separate from the one or more server computing devices by at least delivering the preview representation of the page to the user device for temporary display on the user device, wherein the markup code of the preview representation causes the user device to (1) retrieve from the computer system, and display, at least the screenshot, and (2) transmit to the computer system a follow-up request for the page regardless of whether a user interacts with the preview representation; and responding to the follow-up request for the page by sending to the user device a non-preview representation of the page, said non-preview representation based on page content retrieved by the computer system; wherein the markup code causes the user device to temporarily display the screenshot while loading the non-preview representation of the page. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system that acts as an intermediary between user devices and content sites, the computer system comprising one or more server computing devices, wherein individual server computing devices of the one or more server computing devices comprise a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, and wherein the computer system is programmed to perform a process that comprises:
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retrieving a page of a content site; generating a preview representation of the retrieved page, wherein the preview representation comprises a screenshot of at least a portion of the retrieved page and markup code, and is at least partially optimized to reduce a loading time, such that a user-perceived loading time of the retrieved page is reduced; storing the preview representation in a cache of the computer system; and responding to a request for the page from a user device separate from the one or more server computing devices by at least delivering the preview representation of the page to the user device for temporary display on the user device, wherein the markup code of the preview representation instructs the user device to (1) retrieve from the computer system, and display, at least the screenshot, and (2) transmit to the computer system a follow-up request for the page regardless of whether a user interacts with the preview representation; and sending to the user device a non-preview representation of the page, said non-preview representation based on page content retrieved by the computer system; whereby the markup code causes the user device to temporarily display the screenshot while loading the non-preview representation of the page. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer system that acts as an intermediary between user devices and content sites, the computer system comprising one or more server computing devices, wherein individual server computing devices of the one or more server computing devices comprise a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, and wherein the computer system is programmed to at least:
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retrieve a content page from a content site; generate a preview version of the content page comprising; a screenshot of at least a portion of the content page; and markup code comprising a first instruction to transmit a request for the screenshot and a second instruction that causes a follow-up type request for the content page to be transmitted regardless of whether a user interacts with the preview version; and in response to a request, received from a user device separate from the one or more server computing devices, for the content page; determine whether the request is a follow-up request; if the request is not a follow-up request, transmit the markup code to the user device, wherein the markup code instructs the user device to (1) retrieve from the computer system, and display, the screenshot, and (2) transmit to the computer system the follow-up request for the content page regardless of whether user interaction with the preview version occurs on the user device, whereby the markup code causes the user device to temporarily display the screenshot while loading a non-preview version of the content page; and if the request is a follow-up request, transmit the non-preview version of the content page to the user device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification