Enhanced hyperlink

• US 20020052890A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iLOR LLC
• Inventors: Ingram, Gerald W., Mansfield, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

An enhanced hyperlink and method for providing an enhanced hyperlink are provided. This invention permits the user to interact with a hyperlink in a variety of ways without necessarily having to open and/or follow the hyperlink. This is accomplished by detecting the presence of a cursor near a hyperlink. After detecting the hyperlink, a toolbar is displayed containing one or more link enhancements that the user may select. In response to the users'"'"' selection of a particular link enhancement, that link enhancement function would be performed without requiring any further action by the user.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing a hyperlink, the method comprising:

displaying a toolbar if a pointer is proximate the hyperlink, the toolbar displaying at least one link enhancement;

in response to a users selection of a selected link enhancement, performing the selected link enhancement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the toolbar is displayed after the pointer is proximate the hyperlink for a predetermined time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one link enhancement displayed comprises at least one of:

open in new window, open in new window minimized, check it later, or anchor current Page.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing the selected link enhancement comprises:

opening the page associated with the selected link in a new browser window.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of performing the selected link enhancement further comprises:

minimizing the new browser window without any user action.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing the selected link enhancement comprises:

creating a clickable item in a window;

associating the selected hyperlink with the clickable item; and

in response to a click event, proximate the clickable item, opening a browser window with a URL of the selected hyperlink.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of creating a clickable item creates a clickable label.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of creating a clickable item creates a clickable image.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing the selected link enhancement comprises:

creating clickable item in a window;

associating the hyperlink at the current page with the clickable item;

opening the page associated with the selected hyperlink; and

in response to a click event proximate the clickable item, opening a browser window with a URL of the hyperlink associated with the clickable item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of creating a clickable item creates a clickable label.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of creating a clickable item creates a clickable image.

13. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 12, wherein the display means displays the toolbar when the pointer remains proximate the hyperlink greater than a predetermined time

14. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 13, wherein one of the at least one link enhancement comprises at least one of:

open in new window, open in new window minimized, check it latter;

or anchor current page.

15. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 13 wherein the at least one link enhancement comprises:

opening means for opening the page associated with the selected link in a new browser window.

16. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 15 wherein the at least one link enhancement further comprises:

minimizing means for minimizing the new browser window without any user action.

17. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one link enhancement comprises:

creating means for creating a clickable item in a window;

associating means for associating the selected hyperlink with the clickable item; and

opening means for opening a browser window with a URL of the selected hyperlink in response to a click event proximate the clickable item.

18. The hyperlink enhancement of claim 17, where in the clickable item is a clickable label.

19. The hyperlink enhancement of claim 17, where in the clickable item is a clickable image.

20. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 12 wherein the selected link enhancement comprises:

creating means for creating a clickable item in a window;

associating means for associating the hyperlink of the current page with the clickable item;

opening means for opening a browser window with a URL of the hyperlink of the current page in response to a click event proximate the clickable item.

22. A method for enhancing an hyperlink, the method comprising:

displaying a toolbar after a presence of a pointer is detected, the toolbar displaying at least one link enhancement;

in response to a users selection, performing the selected link enhancement.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the user may select the toolbar skin.

12. A hyperlink enhancement system comprising:

detecting means for detecting the presence of a pointer proximate a hyperlink;

display means for displaying a toolbar, the display means displaying the toolbar after the detecting means detects the hyperlink, the toolbar containing at least one link enhancement; and

calling means for calling the link enhancement in response to a user'"'"'s selection.

21. A hyperlink enhancement system comprising:

displaying means for displaying a toolbar when the presence of the pointer is detected, the toolbar containing at least one link enhancement; and

calling means for calling the link enhancement in response to a user'"'"'s selection.

21-1. A hyperlink enhancement system comprising:

a hyperlink detector that receives a position signal from a cursor; and

a display system, the display system having a display, the display configured to display a page, the display configured to display a toolbar upon the display system receiving a toolbar display signal from the hyperlink detector, the displayed toolbar comprising at least one hyperlink enhancement for selection by a user.

22-2. The hyperlink enhancement system of claim 17 wherein the window is an HTML form and the clickable item is places on the form as HTML CheckBox items.