Web Page Content Discovery

• US 20100042948A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Truelove, Benjamin N., Pavlicic, Miladin, Kim, Jane T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

Various embodiments enable discovery of functionality associated with a webpage'"'"'s content. In at least some embodiments, a user interface instrumentality can be automatically presented to a user to inform the user of functionality associated with content appearing on a webpage. The user interface instrumentality can, in some instances, reside in the form of a clickable button that is automatically presented when a user moves their cursor on or near a particular piece of webpage content. By clicking on the presented button, the user can access functionality associated with the particular piece of webpage content. In at least some other embodiments, a browser'"'"'s chrome includes a discovery button that provides a listing of items that have functionality that can be performed relative to the items.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving HTML code associated with a webpage;

parsing the HTML code to identify content to which a user can subscribe;

detecting a cursor over or near content to which the user can subscribe; and

responsive to said detecting and independent of a user selecting the content, presenting a user interface instrumentality that can enable a user to subscribe to the content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said detecting and presenting are performed by a Web browser.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises a clickable button.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises a clickable button that can enable a user to automatically subscribe to the content.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises a clickable button that can be clicked to present a dialog that enables the user to subscribe to the content.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises an audible sound.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises a physical feedback mechanism.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising visually highlighting the content to which the user can subscribe.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving HTML code associated with a webpage;

parsing the HTML code to identify content having functionality that can be performed relative to the content;

detecting a cursor over or near identified content having said functionality; and

responsive to said detecting, and independent of a user selecting the content, presenting a user interface instrumentality in the form of a clickable button that can be clicked by a user to access said functionality.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said functionality comprises subscription functionality that can enable a user to subscribe to identified content.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said functionality comprises functionality other than subscription functionality.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said clickable button is configured to present a dialog when clicked by the user.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said clickable button is configured to present a menu of functionalities when clicked by the user.

14. A system comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;

computer readable instructions embodied on the one or more computer readable storage media which, when executed, implement a Web browser configured to;

identify content on a webpage to which a user can subscribe; and

provide a discovery button for listing the content to which the user can subscribe, wherein the content is listed in a drop-down menu feature.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the discovery button is provided in the Web browser'"'"'s chrome.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the Web browser is further configured to visually highlight the content to which the user can subscribe.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the Web browser is configured to visually highlight the content to which the user can subscribe by providing a visual border around the content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the Web browser is configured to highlight multiple pieces of content to which a user can subscribe by providing visual borders around said multiple pieces of content.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the Web browser is configured to automatically scroll to content on the webpage based on a user action relative to the drop-down menu feature.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said user action comprises moving a cursor on or near a drop-down menu entry.