Managing bookmarks for web pages

• US 8,433,995 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US11/739,478
• Time in Patent Office: 2,198 Days
• Field of Search: 715/843, 715206-208, 715/234, 715738-739
• US Class Current: 715/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing bookmarks associated with web pages. A button is displayed on a graphical user interface associated with a browser displaying a web page on the computer display. A user input selecting the button is received. Each time the button is selected, an editing window is displayed, which includes several bookmark editing operations for the displayed web page. The bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing bookmarks associated with web pages, comprising:

providing an interface element on a graphical user interface associated with a browser currently displaying a web page on a computer display, the interface element being operable to be displayed in three different states, wherein each state indicates a bookmarking status of the currently displayed web page;

displaying the interface element in a non-bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has not been bookmarked;

displaying the interface element in a bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has been bookmarked;

receiving a user input selecting the interface element; and

each time the interface element is selected, displaying an editing window including a plurality of bookmark editing operations for the currently displayed web page, and a plurality of bookmark categories with respect to which the bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window, and changing the display of the interface element to an intermediate editing state while a bookmark for the currently displayed web page is being edited by the user,

wherein the interface element is operable to transition only between being displayed in the non-bookmarked state and being displayed in the intermediate editing state and between being displayed in the intermediate editing state and being displayed in the bookmarked state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input performing one or more bookmark editing operations in the editing window; and

updating a bookmark record for the user at a remote server in response to the received user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is a toolbar in a browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying a semi-transparent editing window overlaying the currently displayed web page.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying an editing window with a text box in which a user can enter a custom name for the currently displayed web page.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying an editing window with one or more categories with which the currently displayed webpage can be associated.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a checkbox adjacent to each category in the editing window, the checkboxes being operable to be checked by a user to indicate an association between the currently displayed web page and the category adjacent to the checked checkbox.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving user input selecting multiple checkboxes prior to closing the editing window.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying an editing window with an option for creating a new category to be added to the one or more categories.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying an editing window with a user selectable option for saving a bookmark associated with the currently displayed web page.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an editing window includes displaying an editing window having a user selectable option for discarding a bookmark associated with the currently displayed web page.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window without opening any additional windows.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface element is a button on the graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is a menu item on the graphical user interface.

15. A computer program product, stored on a machine-readable medium, for managing bookmarks associated with web pages, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:

provide an interface element on a graphical user interface associated with a browser currently displaying a web page on a computer display, the interface element being operable to be displayed in three different states, wherein each state indicates a bookmarking status of the currently displayed web page;

display the interface element in a non-bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has not been bookmarked;

display the interface element in a bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has been bookmarked;

receive a user input selecting the interface element; and

each time the interface element is selected, display an editing window including a plurality of bookmark editing operations for the currently displayed web page, and a plurality of bookmark categories with respect to which the bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window, and change the display of the interface element to an intermediate editing state while a bookmark for the currently displayed web page is being edited by the user,

wherein the interface element is operable to transition only between being displayed in the non-bookmarked state and being displayed in the intermediate editing state and between being displayed in the intermediate editing state and being displayed in the bookmarked state.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:

receive user input performing one or more bookmark editing operations in the editing window; and

update a bookmark record for the user at a remote server in response to the received user input.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface is a toolbar in a browser.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display a semi-transparent editing window overlaying the currently displayed web page.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display an editing window with a text box in which a user can enter a custom name for the currently displayed web page.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display an editing window with one or more categories with which the currently displayed webpage can be associated.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising instructions to display a checkbox adjacent to each category in the editing window, the checkboxes being operable to be checked by a user to indicate an association between the currently displayed web page and the category adjacent to the checked checkbox.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising instructions to receive user input selecting multiple checkboxes prior to closing the editing window.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display an editing window with an option for creating a new category to be added to the one or more categories.

24. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display an editing window with a user selectable option for saving a bookmark associated with the currently displayed web page.

25. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display an editing window include instructions to display an editing window having a user selectable option for discarding a bookmark associated with the currently displayed web page.

26. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window without opening any additional windows.

27. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the interface element is a button on the graphical user interface.

28. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the user interface element is a menu item on the graphical user interface.

29. An apparatus for managing bookmarks associated with web pages, comprising:

a computer memory storing instructions executable by a computer processor;

a computer display operatively coupled to the computer memory and the computer processor;

a computer processor, operable to perform the following operations upon execution of the instructions in the computer memory;

providing an interface element on a graphical user interface associated with a browser currently displaying a web page on the computer display, the interface element being operable to be displayed in three different states, wherein each state indicates a bookmarking status of the currently displayed web page;

displaying the interface element in a non-bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has not been bookmarked;

displaying the interface element in a bookmarked state if the currently displayed web page has been bookmarked;

receiving a user input selecting the interface element; and

displaying an editing window including a plurality of bookmark editing operations for the displayed web page and a plurality of bookmark categories with respect to which the bookmark editing operations can be completed by a user in the editing window each time the interface element is selected, and changing the display of the interface element to an intermediate editing state while a bookmark for the currently displayed web page is being edited by the user,

wherein the interface element is operable to transition only between being displayed in the non-bookmarked state and being displayed in the intermediate editing state and between being displayed in the intermediate editing state and being displayed in the bookmarked state.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer processor is further operable to perform the following operations:

receiving user input performing one or more bookmark editing operations in the editing window; and

updating a bookmark record for the user at a remote server in response to the received user input.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer processor is further operable to perform the following operations:

displaying a checkbox adjacent to each category in the editing window, the checkboxes being operable to be checked by a user to indicate an association between the currently displayed web page and the category adjacent to the checked checkbox.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the interface element is a button on the graphical user interface.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the user interface element is a menu item on the graphical user interface.