Framework for providing visual context to www hyperlink

• US 20120110426A1
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Girafacom Incorporated (Girafa)
• Inventors: Ran, Shirli, Barnoon, Eldad, Yarom, Yuval
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

A method and a system for presenting Internet information to a user including providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink, and at least partially concurrently providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by the at least one hyperlink.

Claims

1. A method for presenting Internet information comprising:

causing the display of a visual image of a first web page containing at least one hyperlink, said web page being defined by code served from a web server; and

causing the display of a visual image of a second web page representing said at least one hyperlink, said visual image of a second web page being retrieved from an image server, separate from said web server, that stores and provides said visual image of a second web page.

2. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed at least partially concurrently with the display of said visual image of a first web page.

3. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one hyperlink refers to a third web page.

4. A method according to claim 3 and wherein said second web page is the same as said third web page.

5. A method according to claim 3 and wherein said second web page is different from said third web page.

6. A method according to claim 5 and wherein a URL of said second web page is a portion of a URL of said third web page.

7. A method according to claim 6 and wherein said URL of said second web page is a top level URL of a host of said third web page.

8. A method according to claim 5 and wherein said second web page is a home page for said third web page.

9. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is a snapshot of said second web page.

10. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is in a bitmap form.

11. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is resized to be smaller than said second web page.

12. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed within the visual image of said first web page.

13. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed alongside the visual image of said first web page.

14. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed alongside said at least one hyperlink.

15. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed hovering alongside said at least one hyperlink.

16. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed hovering above said at least one hyperlink.

17. A method according to claim 1 and wherein a user selects said hyperlink to a second web page.

18. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said first web page includes commands operable to cause said display of a visual image of a second web page.

19. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said causing the display of a visual image of a second web page comprises employing a web browser including a visualization functionality to display said visual image of a second web page.

20. A method of presenting Internet information comprising:

receiving, at an image server, a request via the Internet, said request originating from a web browser displaying a first web page served from a web server separate from said image server, said first web page including a hyperlink to a second web page; and

transmitting, in response to said request, an image of a third web page.

21. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said third web page is the same as said second web page.

22. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said third web page is different from said second web page.

23. A method according to claim 22 and wherein a URL of said third web page is a portion of a URL of said second web page.

24. A method according to claim 23 and wherein said URL of said third web page is a top level URL of a host of said second web page.

25. A method according to claim 22 and wherein said third web page is a home page for said second web page.

26. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said image server employs an image storage for storing images of web pages.

27. A method according to claim 26 and wherein said image storage comprises a first database containing images of web pages.

28. A method according to claim 27 and wherein said image storage further comprises a second database containing URLs of web pages the images of which are contained in said first database.

29. A method according to claim 27 and wherein and wherein said first database stores said images of web pages in a directory structure on a file system.

30. A method according to claim 28 and wherein said second database is a relational database.

31. A method according to claim 26 and wherein said image storage is at least partially populated by a plurality of downloaders.

32. A method according to claim 31 and wherein said plurality of downloaders includes at least three downloaders.

33. A method according to claim 20 and also comprising:

downloading web pages to at least one computer; and

rendering said web pages, using said at least one computer, to a predetermined size.

34. A method according to claim 33 and wherein said predetermined size is smaller than the original size of said web pages.

35. A method according to claim 26 and also comprising:

generating at least one image of a web site; and

storing said image of a web site in said image storage, prior to said image server receiving any request for an image of said web site.

36. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said request includes a URL.

37. A method according to claim 36 and wherein said URL is a URL of said second web page.

38. A method according to claim 36 and wherein said URL is not a URL of said second web page.

39. A method according to claim 36 and wherein said URL is a URL of a home page of said second web page.

40. An Internet information system comprising:

a web server; and

an image server separate from said web server,

said web server serving code defining a first web page including a hyperlink to a second web page,

said code including commands operable to retrieve an image of a third web page from said image server,

said image of a third web page corresponding to said hyperlink to a second web page.

41. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said third web page is the same as said second web page.

42. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said third web page is different from said second web page.

43. A system according to claim 42 and wherein a URL of said third web page is a portion of a URL of said second web page.

44. A system according to claim 43 and wherein said URL of said third web page is a top level URL of a host of said second web page.

45. A system according to claim 42 and wherein said third web page is a home page for said second web page.

46. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said image of a third web page is a snapshot of said third web page.

47. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said image of a third web page is in a bitmap form.

48. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said image of a third web page is resized to be smaller than said third web page.

49. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said image server employs an image storage for storing images of web pages.

50. A system according to claim 49 and wherein said image server comprises a first database containing images of web pages.

51. A system according to claim 50 and wherein said image server further comprises a second database containing URLs of web pages the images of which are contained in said first database.

52. A system according to claim 50 and wherein said first database stores said images of web pages in a directory structure on a file system.

53. A system according to claim 51 and wherein said second database is a relational database.

54. A system according to claim 49 and further comprising a plurality of downloaders.

55. A system according to claim 54 and wherein said plurality of downloaders includes at least three downloaders.

56. A system according to claim 49 and further comprising at least one computer that downloads web pages and renders them to a predetermined size.

57. A system according to claim 56 and wherein said predetermined size is smaller than the original size of said web pages.

58. A system according claim 40 and wherein said code also includes commands operable to display said image of a third web page within said first web page.

59. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said code also includes commands operable to display said image of a third web page alongside said first web page.

60. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said code also includes commands operable to display said image of a third web page alongside said hyperlink to a second web page.

61. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said code also includes commands operable to display said image of a third web page above said hyperlink to a second web page.

62. A system according to claim 40 and wherein said code also includes commands operable to receive user selection of said hyperlink to a second web page.

63. A system according to claim 49, wherein at least one image of a web site is generated and stored in said image storage in advance of said image server receiving a request for an image of said web site, said request having been generated based on code served from said web server.

64. A system according to claim 49, wherein at least one image of a web site is generated and stored in said image storage in advance of said web server requesting the generation or storage of an image of said web site.

65. An apparatus for displaying Internet information comprising:

first web page display functionality operable to display a visual image of a first web page containing at least one hyperlink, said web page being defined by code served from a web server; and

second web page display functionality operable to display a visual image of a second web page representing said at least one hyperlink, said visual image of a second web page being retrieved from an image server, separate from said web server, that stores and provides said visual image of a second web page.

66. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed at least partially concurrently with the display of said visual image of a first web page.

67. An apparatus according to claim 66 and wherein said at least one hyperlink refers to a third web page.

68. An apparatus according to claim 67 and wherein said second web page is the same as said third web page.

69. An apparatus according to claim 67 and wherein said second web page is different from said third web page.

70. An apparatus according to claim 69 and wherein a URL of said second web page is a portion of a URL of said third web page.

71. An apparatus according to claim 70 and wherein said URL of said second web page is a top level URL of a host of said third web page.

72. An apparatus according to claim 69 and wherein said second web page is a home page for said third web page.

73. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is a snapshot of said second web page.

74. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is in a bitmap form.

75. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is resized to be smaller than said second web page.

76. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed within the visual image of said first web page.

77. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed alongside the visual image of said first web page.

78. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed alongside said at least one hyperlink.

79. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed hovering alongside said at least one hyperlink.

80. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said visual image of a second web page is displayed hovering above said at least one hyperlink.

81. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said apparatus also includes user selection functionality operable to allow user selection of said hyperlink to a second web page.

82. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said first web page includes commands operable to cause said display of a visual image of a second web page.

83. An apparatus according to claim 65 and wherein said apparatus also comprises a web browser including a visualization functionality to display said visual image of a second web page.

84. An apparatus comprising an image server, said image server being operable to receive a request via the Internet from a web browser displaying a first web page served from a web server separate from said image server, said first web page including a hyperlink to a second web page, said image server also being operable to transmit, in response to said request, an image of a third web page.

85. An apparatus according to claim 84 and wherein said third web page is the same as said second web page.

86. An apparatus according to claim 84 and wherein said third web page is different from said second web page.

87. An apparatus according to claim 86 and wherein a URL of said third web page is a portion of a URL of said second web page.

88. An apparatus according to claim 87 and wherein said URL of said third web page is a top level URL of a host of said second web page.

89. An apparatus according to claim 86 and wherein said third web page is a home page for said second web page.

90. An apparatus according to claim 84 and wherein said image server employs an image storage for storing images of web pages.

91. An apparatus according to claim 90 and wherein said image storage comprises a first database containing images of web pages.

92. An apparatus according to claim 91 and wherein said image storage further comprises a second database containing URLs of web pages the images of which are contained in said first database.

93. An apparatus according to claim 91 and wherein and wherein said first database stores said images of web pages in a directory structure on a file system.

94. An apparatus according to claim 92 and wherein said second database is a relational database.

95. An apparatus according to claim 90 and wherein said image storage is at least partially populated by a plurality of downloaders.

96. An apparatus according to claim 95 and wherein said plurality of downloaders includes at least three downloaders.

97. An apparatus according to claim 84 and also comprising functionality operable to download web pages to at least one computer and to render said web pages, using said at least one computer, to a predetermined size.

98. An apparatus according to claim 97 and wherein said predetermined size is smaller than the original size of said web pages.

99. An apparatus according to claim 90 and also comprising functionality operable to generate at least one image of a web site and to store said image of a web site in said image storage, prior to said image server receiving any request for an image of said web site.

100. An apparatus according to claim 84 and wherein said request includes a URL.

101. An apparatus according to claim 100 and wherein said URL is a URL of said second web page.

102. An apparatus according to claim 100 and wherein said URL is not a URL of said second web page.

103. An apparatus according to claim 100 and wherein said URL is a URL of a home page of said second web page.

104. A method for presenting Internet information to a user comprising:

providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and

at least partially concurrently

providing a thumbnail visual image of a home page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image.

105. A method according to claim 104 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

106. A method according to claim 105 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

107. A method according to claim 104 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

108. A method according to claim 107 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

109. A method according to claim 104 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

110. A method according to claim 104 and wherein said providing a thumbnail visual image comprises:

employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with said image server.

111. A method according to claim 110 and wherein said visualization functionality is operable to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

112. A method according to claim 110 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises:

generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page;

elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page;

determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and

providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

113. A method according to claim 110 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises:

receiving a list of hyperlinks;

splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component;

trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and

constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component.

114. A method according to claim 104 and wherein said providing a thumbnail visual image comprises:

employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

115. A method according to claim 114 and wherein said visualization functionality is operable to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated page.

116. A method according to claim 115 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

117. A method according to claim 104 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

118. A system for presenting Internet information to a user comprising:

first functionality providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink; and

second functionality operable at least partially concurrently with said first functionality for providing a thumbnail visual image of a home page of at least one web site which is represented by said at least one hyperlink via the Internet by employing an image server that stores and provides said thumbnail visual image.

119. A system according to claim 118 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed alongside the visual image of said web page.

120. A system according to claim 119 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

121. A system according to claim 118 and wherein said thumbnail visual image is displayed within the visual image of said web page.

122. A system according to claim 121 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.

123. A system according to claim 118 and wherein a plurality of thumbnail visual images represented by at least one hyperlink are displayed simultaneously along with said visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink.

124. A system according to claim 118 and wherein said second functionality comprises third functionality employing a web browser including visualization functionality which interfaces via the Internet with said image server.

125. A system according to claim 124 and wherein said visualization functionality is operable to download via the image server from an image database images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated web page.

126. A system according to claim 124 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises:

generation of a list of hyperlinks from a web page;

elimination of links which refer back to a web server sending said web page;

determination of whether redirection links are present and if so, providing thumbnail visual images of ultimate destinations thereof; and

providing thumbnail visual images of remaining hyperlinks.

127. A system according to claim 124 and wherein said visualization functionality comprises:

receiving a list of hyperlinks;

splitting a URL of each hyperlink into URL components including at least a path component and a host component;

trimming a path component based on the consideration of finding the most representative image of a given web page; and

constructing a new URL including a trimmed path component

128. A system according to claim 118 and wherein said second functionality comprises fourth functionality employing a web browser which interfaces via the Internet with a web server including visualization functionality.

129. A system according to claim 128 and wherein said visualization functionality is operable to embed commands to the web browser to download, via said image server, thumbnail visual images of web pages which represent hyperlinks contained in the web page and to provide to a user, via the web browser, an annotated page.

130. A system according to claim 129 and wherein said annotated web page includes the web page having within it thumbnail visual images of homepages of web sites referenced by hyperlinks contained in the web page.

131. A system according to claim 118 and wherein said thumbnail visual image appears hovering over said hyperlink.