Web page content discovery

• US 8,612,881 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Jane T., Truelove, Benjamin N., Pavlicic, Miladin
• Primary Examiner(s): ITURRALDE, ENRIQUE W
• Application Number:
  US12/190,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/785, 715/787
• US Class Current: 715/785
• 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 HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code associated with a webpage;

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

providing a discovery button in a Web browser'"'"'s chrome;

responsive to the acts of parsing and providing, independent of user input with respect to specific feed content on the webpage, visually altering the discovery button in the Web browser'"'"'s chrome to notify the user that the content to which the user can subscribe has been identified, the discovery button being selectable to present a list of the content to which the user can subscribe, the Web browser being configured to automatically scroll to a particular piece of content on the webpage based on a user action, relative to the list of the content to which the user can subscribe, to identify the particular piece of content, the list comprising multiple different selectable menu items that each include less than all of the content to which the Web browser is configured to scroll;

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. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface instrumentality comprises a clickable button that is configured to present a menu of functionalities when clicked by the user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the menu of functionalities comprises multiple different functionalities that can each be performed relative to the content.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code associated with a webpage;

parsing the HTML code to identify content having functionality that can be performed relative to the content, the functionality comprising subscription functionality and functionality other than the subscription functionality;

providing a discovery button in a Web browser'"'"'s chrome;

responsive to the acts of parsing and providing, visually altering the discovery button in the Web browser'"'"'s chrome, independent of and without requiring any user action other than loading the webpage, to notify a user that the content has been identified, the discovery button being selectable to present a list of identified content, the Web browser being configured to automatically scroll to a particular piece of content on the webpage based on a user action relative to the list of identified content to identify the particular piece of content, the list comprising multiple different menu item selections that each include less than all of the identified content to which the Web browser can scroll;

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

responsive to said detecting, and independent of the 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.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein said subscription functionality can enable a user to subscribe to identified content.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein said clickable button is configured to present a dialog when clicked by the user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein said clickable button is configured to present a menu of functionalities when clicked by the user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the functionality other than the subscription functionality comprises at least one of a map functionality, a definition functionality, a copy functionality, or an e-mail functionality.

16. A system comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media devices;

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

receive HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code associated with a webpage;

parse the HTML code to identify content having functionality that can be performed relative to the content, the functionality comprising subscription functionality and functionality other than the subscription functionality;

provide a discovery button in a Web browser'"'"'s chrome;

responsive to parsing the HTML code and providing the discovery button, visually alter the discovery button in the Web browser'"'"'s chrome, independent of and without requiring any user action other than loading the webpage, to notify a user that the content has been identified, the discovery button being selectable to present a list of identified content, the Web browser being configured to automatically scroll to a particular piece of content on the webpage based on a user action relative to the list of identified content to identify the particular piece of content, the list comprising multiple different menu item selections that each include less than all of the identified content to which the Web browser can scroll;

detect a hover over or near identified content having said functionality; and

responsive to detecting the hover, and independent of the user selecting the content, present a user interface instrumentality for accessing said functionality.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said subscription functionality can enable a user to subscribe to identified content.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said accessing is configured to present a dialog when clicked by the user.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said accessing is configured to present a menu of functionalities when clicked by the user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the functionality other than the subscription functionality comprises at least one of a map functionality, a definition functionality, a copy functionality, or an e-mail functionality.