Semantic thumbnails

• US 20060085743A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Baudisch, Patrick Markus, Lam, Heidi Lap Mun
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing

Abstract

A method is provided for displaying a page formed of discrete elements, such as a Web page, on different computing devices. The method converts the page into a semantic thumbnail, which preserves the overall appearance of the page and displays readable text segments that enable a user to identify main areas of the page. The semantic thumbnail is adaptable to different screen sizes and target font sizes. The method enlarges unreadable text segments in a miniature version of the page. The method also trims the enlarged text segments to fit the width of the semantic thumbnail by summarizing or cropping text in the enlarged text segments.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for converting a page formed of discrete elements, such as a Web page, into a semantic thumbnail, comprising:

(a) receiving information about display parameters of a semantic thumbnail version of the page, wherein the semantic thumbnail preserves the overall appearance of the page, and displays text in readable form; and

(b) based on the display parameters, converting the page into the semantic thumbnail.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display parameters include:

(a) the target width of the semantic thumbnail; and

(b) the minimum font size that ensures text to be readable on a computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein converting the page into the semantic thumbnail includes:

(a) processing text in the page; and

(b) scaling the page.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein processing text in the page includes:

(a) partitioning the page into elements;

(b) calculating a threshold value, which is the minimum font size if the page has been scaled, and is the result of multiplying the minimum font size by the display width of the page and dividing the product by the target width of the semantic thumbnail if the page has not been scaled;

(c) enlarging text in an element to a font size of the threshold value if the text has a font size that is smaller than the threshold value;

(d) trimming the enlarged text so it fits the width of the element; and

(e) repeating (c) and (d) for each element in the page.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes removing words in each line that have the highest frequencies of appearances in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the remaining text in each line fits the width of the element.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes preserving words in each line that occur frequently in the enlarged text, but rarely in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the preserved text in each line fits the width of the element.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes:

(a) receiving information about a word in the enlarged text; and

(b) preserving the word.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes, if the element cannot fit even one word, selecting a word in the enlarged text and cropping the word so that it fits into the element.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a detail view of an unabbreviated version of the page, upon receiving a zooming request on the semantic thumbnail.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising overlaying the semantic thumbnail over a thumbnail of the page, wherein the thumbnail serves as a background for the semantic thumbnail.

11. A computing system for converting a page formed of discrete elements, such as a Web page, into a semantic thumbnail that preserves the overall appearance of the page and displays text in readable form, is configured with computer-implemented instructions for:

(a) receiving information about display parameters of a semantic thumbnail version of the page, wherein the semantic thumbnail preserves the overall appearance of the page, and displays text in readable form; and

(b) based on the display parameters, converting the page into the semantic thumbnail.

12. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the display parameters include:

(a) the target width of the semantic thumbnail; and

(b) the minimum font size that ensures text to be readable on a computing device.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein converting the page into the semantic thumbnail includes:

(a) processing text in the page; and

(b) scaling the page.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein processing text in the page includes:

(a) partitioning the page into elements;

(b) calculating a threshold value, which is the minimum font size if the page has been scaled, and is the result of multiplying the minimum font size by the display width of the page and dividing the product by the target width of the semantic thumbnail if the page has not been scaled;

(c) enlarging text in an element to a font size of the threshold value if the text has a font size that is smaller than the threshold value;

(d) trimming the enlarged text so it fits the width of the element; and

(e) repeating (c) and (d) for each element in the page.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes removing words in each line that have the highest frequencies of appearances in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the remaining text in each line fits the width of the element.

16. The computing system of claim 14, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes preserving words in each line that occur frequently in the enlarged text, but rarely in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the preserved text in each line fits the width of the element.

17. The computing system of claim 14, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes:

(a) receiving information about a word in the enlarged text; and

(b) preserving the word.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes, if the element cannot fit even one word, selecting a word in the enlarged text and cropping the word so that it fits into the element.

19. The computing system of claim 11, further comprising providing a detail view of an unabbreviated version of the page, upon receiving a zooming request on the semantic thumbnail.

20. The computing system of claim 11, further comprising overlaying the semantic thumbnail over a thumbnail of the page, wherein the thumbnail serves as a background for the semantic thumbnail.

21. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for converting a page formed of discrete elements, such as a Web page, into a semantic thumbnail, the method comprising:

(a) receiving information about display parameters of a semantic thumbnail version of the page, wherein the semantic thumbnail preserves the overall appearance of the page, and displays text in readable form; and

(b) based on the display parameters, converting the page into the semantic thumbnail.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the display parameters include:

(a) the target width of the semantic thumbnail; and

(b) the minimum font size that ensures text to be readable on a computing device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein converting the page into the semantic thumbnail includes:

(a) processing text in the page; and

(b) scaling the page.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein processing text in the page includes:

(a) partitioning the page into elements;

(b) calculating a threshold value, which is the minimum font size if the page has been scaled, and is the result of multiplying the minimum font size by the display width of the page and dividing the product by the target width of the semantic thumbnail if the page has not been scaled;

(c) enlarging text in an element to a font size of the threshold value if the text has a font size that is smaller than the threshold value;

(d) trimming the enlarged text so it fits the width of the element; and

(e) repeating (c) and (d) for each element in the page.

25. The computing system of claim 24, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes removing words in each line that have the highest frequencies of appearances in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the remaining text in each line fits the width of the element.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes preserving words in each line that occur frequently in the enlarged text, but rarely in the language that the enlarged text is written in so that the preserved text in each line fits the width of the element.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes:

(a) receiving information about a word in the enlarged text; and

(b) preserving the word.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein trimming the enlarged text includes, if the element cannot fit even one word, selecting a word in the enlarged text and cropping the word so that it fits into the element.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising providing a detail view of an unabbreviated version of the page, upon receiving a zooming request on the semantic thumbnail.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising overlaying the semantic thumbnail over a thumbnail of the page, wherein the thumbnail serves as a background for the semantic thumbnail.