HYPERLINK WITH GRAPHICAL CUE

• US 20090199135A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Boadin Technology LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Arav, Gal
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/841
• 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 computer program provides a first set of representations (e.g., textual representations) of a first set of hyperlinks. In response to selection by a user of one of the first set of hyperlink representations (such as by clicking on or hovering a cursor over the representation), the program displays a second set of representations (e.g., graphical representations) of a second set of hyperlinks. The user may select one of the second set of representations, in response to which the program navigates to the destination of the hyperlink. The second set of representations may, for example, be logos of companies, and the second set of hyperlinks may be hyperlinks to the companies'"'"' web sites.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

(A) displaying a first set of representations of a first set of hyperlinks;

(B) receiving first input from a user indicating a selection of one of the first set of hyperlink representations;

(C) in response to receiving the first input, displaying a second set of representations of a second set of hyperlinks;

(D) receiving second input from the user indicating a selection of one of the second set of hyperlink representations; and

(E) in response to receiving the second input, navigating to a destination specified by the selected one of the second set of hyperlink representations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of representations is a set of textual representations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (B) comprises receiving input from the user indicating a mouse click on the selected one of the first set of hyperlink representations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (B) comprises receiving first input from the user indicating a mouse cursor hovering over the selected one of the first set of hyperlink representations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of representations is a set of graphical representations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (D) comprises receiving input from the user indicating a mouse click on the selected one of the second set of hyperlink representations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (D) comprises receiving first input from the user indicating a mouse cursor hovering over the selected one of the second set of hyperlink representations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (C) comprises displaying the second set of representations of the second set of hyperlinks substantially immediately after receiving the first input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of representations is specified by the user before displaying the first set of representations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of representations is specified by the user before displaying the second set of representations.