System and method for pinning tabs in a tabbed browser

• US 7,921,372 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sauve, Aaron J., Schreiner, Tony E., Van Dok, Cornelis K., Cummins, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hope; Darrin
• Application Number:
  US11/090,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 715/767, 715/777, 715/802, 715/804
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for pinning a tab in a tabbed browser. Briefly stated, browsing software is configured to recognize a “pin” event, such as a hot key, a menu selection, and the like. Upon recognizing the pin event, the browsing software splits a display screen into a pinned window and a tabbed window. The tabbed window displays one or more open tabs and the content of the currently in focus tab. The pinned window may display content that was previously displayed within one of the tabs in the tabbed window or may display new content. The browsing software may configure the navigation of the pinned window differently than the navigation for the tabs in the tabbed window.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying content in tabbed browsing software, the method comprising:

detecting an activation of a mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window;

in response to the activation of the mechanism, splitting a browser frame to simultaneously accommodate a pinned window and a mini-navigation bar directly adjacent to a tabbed window and a primary navigation bar, the tabbed window displaying a plurality of tabs where each tab is associated with its respective content, the respective content being displayed when a corresponding tab is in focus;

displaying pinned content within the pinned window;

displaying the primary navigation bar within the tabbed window directly adjacent to the pinned window, wherein the primary navigation bar enables navigation of the tabbed window between pages of content; and

displaying the mini-navigation bar within the pinned window directly adjacent to the tabbed window, wherein the mini-navigation bar enables navigation between pages of content within the pinned window,

wherein the primary navigation bar includes an address field to accept an address of a page of content, and wherein the mini-navigation bar includes an address field to accept another address of another page of content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the pinned content is the content associated with a tab in focus.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a hot key.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a menu item.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a pin icon.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising removing a tab from the tabbed window that has the same content as the pinned content.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying characteristics of the pinned window.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the modifying includes modifying navigation of links within the pinned window in a manner such that activating a link within the pinned window drives one of the tabs within the tabbed window.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the modifying further includes enabling a link that targets itself to update the pinned window when activated.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the primary navigation bar includes both forward and back buttons and the mini-navigation bar includes both mini-forward and mini-back buttons.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for displaying content in a tabbed-browsing software, the instructions comprising:

one or more modules to;

detect an activation of a mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window;

in response to the activation of the mechanism, split a display to simultaneously accommodate a pinned window and a mini-navigation bar directly adjacent to a tabbed window and a primary navigation bar, the tabbed window to display a plurality of web browser tabs where each web browser tab is associated with its respective content, the respective content being displayed when a corresponding web browser tab is in focus;

display the primary navigation bar within the tabbed window directly adjacent to the pinned window, wherein the primary navigation bar enables navigation of the tabbed window between pages of content and includes an address field to accept an address of a page of content;

display the mini-navigation bar within the pinned window directly adjacent to the tabbed window, wherein the mini-navigation bar enables navigation between pages of content within the pinned window and includes an address field to accept an address of a page of content;

display pinned content within the pinned window; and

modify characteristics of the pinned window in a manner such that activation of a link within the pinned window drives one of the web browser tabs within the tabbed window, and activation of another link within the pinned window updates the pinned window with content associated with the another link.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the pinned content comprises the content associated with a web browser tab in focus.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the mechanism comprises a hot key, a menu item, or a pin icon.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more modules further to remove a web browser tab from the tabbed window that has the same content as the pinned content.

15. A system configured to pin tabs within a tabbed browser, the system comprising:

a processor; and

memory into which a plurality of computer-executable instructions are loaded, the plurality of instructions performing a method comprising;

displaying a tabbed browser comprising a mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window;

detecting an activation of the mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window;

in response to the activation of the mechanism, splitting a display to simultaneously accommodate a pinned window and a mini-navigation bar directly adjacent to a tabbed window and a primary navigation bar, the tabbed window displaying a plurality of tabs where each tab is associated with its respective content, the respective content being displayed when a corresponding tab is in focus;

transferring a tab that was in focus when the mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window was detected to the pinned window; and

removing the tab that was in focus when the activation of the mechanism dedicated for generating a pinned window was detected from the tabbed window.

16. A computer-implemented method for displaying content in tabbed browsing software, the method comprising:

displaying a tabbed browser dedicated for generating a pinned window;

detecting an initiation of a search request in response to user entry of a search request within the tabbed browser;

in response to the initiation of the search request, splitting a display to simultaneously accommodate a pinned window and a mini-navigation bar directly adjacent to a tabbed window and a primary navigation bar, the tabbed window displaying a plurality of web browser tabs where each web browser tab is associated with its respective content, the respective content being displayed when a corresponding web browser tab is in focus;

transferring a web browser tab that was in focus when the initiation of the search request was detected to the pinned window; and

displaying pinned content within the pinned window, wherein the pinned window displays at least search results based on the search request.