Method for adding a plurality of user selectable functions to a hyperlink

• US 7,076,743 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iLOR LLC
• Inventors: Mansfield, Steve, Ingram, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, KHANH B
• Application Number:
  US09/847,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 345/760, 345/779, 345/853, 345/857, 715/513, 715/760, 715/779, 715/853, 715/854, 709/200
• US Class Current: 715/854
• 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 of operating a computer, comprising:

providing a visual display;

displaying digital content in a first window on the visual display, the digital content including a hyperlink;

providing a graphical interface on the visual display that is operative to effectuate a designation of a hyperlink;

visually generating a plurality of individually selectable user options on the visual display in response to the designation of the hyperlink, including at least one option for performing the non-linking functionality of automatically copying the hyperlink to a second window in a manner that permits the copied hyperlink to be independently activated and processed; and

selecting the individually selectable user option of copying the hyperlink to a second window and automatically performing such non-linking functionality of automatically copying the hyperlink to a second window in response to the selection;

wherein the non-linking functionality further comprises copying any associated graphical elements corresponding to the hyperlink to the second window, and further wherein the associated graphical element comprises a graphical image embedded in the hyperlink.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of a hyperlink comprises positioning a pointer at or near the hyperlink.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second window comprises a temporary, session-based window.