Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing, using icons to indicate status of content and/or content retrieval

• US 8,732,610 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: BT Web Solutions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Kelly, James, Milener, Scott, Brown, Wendell
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US11/180,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,233 Days
• Field of Search: 715/748, 715/749, 715/760, 715/762, 715/804, 715/805, 715/802, 715/738, 715856-863, 715/767, 715/711
• US Class Current: 715/805
• 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: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing. The apparatus includes a user interface for presenting an enhanced browsing window of content identified by a link in a page displayed by a browser. The apparatus may include a prefetcher for fetching or prefetching the content and a cache for storing the window. The apparatus may also include an ad interface for retrieving advertisements for display with the content. When a first page is displayed in the browser, content identified by a link to a second page is automatically fetched and an enhanced browsing window, which may initially be invisible, is built. When a user mouses-over a status indicator associated with the link, the window is automatically displayed and the user can navigate the displayed content. The status indicator may change appearance to indicate a status of the prefetching (e.g., initiated, completed, success, failure, communication error).

Claims

1. A method of enhanced browsing comprising:

identifying, in a first web page displayed by a browser in a browser window, a target link to a second web page;

a computer system automatically prefetching content from the second web page;

displaying in the browser window a first indicator proximate to and associated with the target link and prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link, the first indicator configured to visually convey in real-time an initiation of the prefetching of content from the second web page;

in response to completion of the prefetching, displaying in the browser window a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching;

detecting placement of a cursor proximate to said second indicator, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator; and

in response to said detecting, displaying a second window comprising the prefetched content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first indicator and said second indicator comprise active controls.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first indicator comprises an icon having a first appearance; and

said second indicator comprises said icon having a second appearance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first indicator comprises an icon; and

said second indicator comprises said icon and a symbol superimposed on said icon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to said displaying a second window:

generating but not displaying the second window;

populating the second window with the prefetched content and a set of ads; and

caching the second window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said prefetching comprises:

automatically fetching content of the second page prior to selection of the target link to the second page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting placement of the cursor proximate to said second indicator comprises:

detecting use of a mouse to position the cursor proximate to the second indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor is proximate to said second indicator if the cursor is over said second indicator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second window is displayed on top of the browser window.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting rotation of a scroll wheel on a user interface device; and

in response to said detecting rotation, displaying content prefetched from a third web page.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said scroll wheel rotation is detected while the cursor is on said second indicator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the content prefetched from a third web page is displayed in the second window.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the content prefetched from a third web page is displayed in a third window displayed in place of the second window.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting placement of the cursor on a third indicator associated with a link to the third web page.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first user input; and

in response to said detecting a first user input;

if a user-controlled cursor is positioned in the first web page and not in the second web page, replacing the prefetched content with content prefetched from a third web page; and

if the user-controlled cursor is positioned in the second web page, scrolling the prefetched content.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first user input; and

in response to said detecting a first user input;

if a user-controlled cursor is positioned in the first web page and not in the second web page, scrolling the first web page; and

if the user-controlled cursor is positioned in the second web page, replacing the prefetched content with content prefetched from a third web page.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator comprises an icon having a first appearance;

and said second indicator comprises said icon having a second appearance, said icon to reflect an extent of completion of prefetching, wherein a visual appearance of said icon continually changes in conjunction with the prefetching to reflect in real-time said extent of completion of prefetching until completion.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, instructions that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations of enhanced browsing, the operations comprising:

identifying, in a first web page displayed by a browser in a browser window, a target link to a second web page;

prefetching automatically the content from the second web page;

displaying in the browser window a first indicator proximate to and associated with the target link and prior to receiving a selection of the target link, the first indicator configured to visually convey in real-time an initiation of prefetching of content from the second web page;

upon completion of the prefetching, displaying a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator;

detecting placement of a cursor proximate to said second indicator; and

in response to said detecting, displaying a second window comprising the prefetched content.

18. A computer-implemented method of enhanced browsing, the method comprising:

displaying in a browser window a first electronic page containing a set of target links;

displaying a first status indicator proximate to and associated with a first target link, to visually convey in real-time a status of automatic prefetching of content via the first target link, wherein the first status indicator is displayed prior to receiving a selection of the target link;

upon completion of the prefetching, displaying a second indicator in place of said first status indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching, wherein the second indicator is different than the first status indicator; and

displaying the prefetched content in an enhanced browsing window if a cursor is positioned over said second indicator.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

prefetching the content prior to a user selection of the first target link.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator if the status of the prefetching changes.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said altering comprises replacing said first status indicator.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said altering comprises changing an appearance of said first status indicator to reflect in real-time a progress of prefetching.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator when the prefetching is successfully completed, to convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator in response to failure of the prefetching.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator in response to initiation of the prefetching.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator in response to identification of a communication problem.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

altering said first status indicator in response to detection of a security threat within the content.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the security threat comprises executable code configured to damage or compromise a computing device.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein said first status indicator is an active control usable by a user to configure the enhanced browsing.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if the cursor is moved proximate to a second status indicator associated with a second target link, closing said enhanced browsing window and displaying another enhanced browsing window containing content prefetched via the second target link prior to the movement of the cursor proximate to said second status indicator.

31. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting a first user input while the cursor is positioned over said first status indicator;

in response to said detecting a first user input;

detecting placement of the cursor over a second status indicator associated with a second target link; and

displaying in said enhanced browsing window, in place of the prefetched content, other content prefetched via the second target link.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first user input comprises rotation of a scroll wheel.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first user input comprises a predetermined keyboard input.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the first user input would cause the first electronic page to scroll if the cursor were not positioned over a status indicator.

35. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, instructions that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations of enhanced browsing, the operations comprising:

displaying in a browser window a first electronic page containing a set of target links;

displaying a first status indicator proximate to and associated with a first target link and prior to the computer receiving a selection of the target link, to convey visually in real-time a status of progress of automatic prefetching of content via the first target link;

upon completion of the prefetching, displaying a second indicator in place of said first status indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching, wherein the second indicator is different than the first status indicator; and

displaying the prefetched content in an enhanced browsing window if a cursor is positioned over said second indicator.

36. A computer-implemented method of enhanced browsing of electronic content, the method comprising:

displaying in a browser window a first electronic page comprising a set of target links;

for each target link, displaying, in the browser window and positioned proximate to and associated with each target link and prior to a selection of each target link, a status indication to visually convey in real-time a status of content from each target link;

altering in real-time a visual appearance of a first status indication positioned within the browser window and proximate to and associated with a first target link to visually convey a change in the status of the content from the first target link, as the status of content from the first target link changes and prior to a selection of the first target link;

a computer system retrieving content from the first target link; and

displaying the content from the first target link in an enhanced browsing window as a cursor is positioned over said first status indication.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first status indication conveys a status as to whether the content from the first target link comprises a security risk.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the security risk comprises one or more of:

a virus;

a worm; and

spyware.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said first status indication indicates whether the content from the first target link comprises undesired content.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the undesired content comprises obscene content.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein said first status indication indicates whether the content from the first target link comprises previously viewed content.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein said first status indication indicates whether retrieval of the content from the first target link is likely to be delayed.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

while the content from the first target link is displayed in the enhanced browsing window;

receiving a first predetermined user input; and

in response to the first user input;

moving the cursor to a second target link; and

displaying content from the second target link in the enhanced browsing window in place of the content from the first target link.

44. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

while the content from the first target link is displayed in the enhanced browsing window;

receiving a first predetermined user input; and

in response to the first user input;

moving the cursor to a second target link; and

displaying content from the second target link in a second enhanced browsing window displayed in place of the enhanced browsing window.

45. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, instructions that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations of enhanced browsing of electronic content, the operations comprising:

displaying in a browser window a first electronic page comprising a set of target links;

for each target link, displaying proximate to and associated with a first target link a status indication to visually convey in real-time a status of content from the target link, wherein the status indication is displayed prior to a selection of the target link;

altering in real-time a visual appearance of a first status indication proximate to and associated with a first target link to visually convey a change in the status of the content from the first target link, if the status of content from the first target link changes;

retrieving content from the first target link; and

displaying the content from the first target link in an enhanced browsing window if a cursor is positioned over said first status indication.

46. An apparatus for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, the apparatus comprising:

a browser for displaying a main page of electronic data comprising links to other pages;

an enhanced browsing window configured to display a first page of electronic data while the browser displays the main page;

a prefetcher configured to automatically retrieve content identified by the links in the main page, including a first link to the first page, prior to a user request to retrieve the content; and

a user interface configured to;

display a first status indicator positioned proximate to and associated with the first link prior to a user selection of the first link, to visually convey in real-time a status of progress of prefetching of content of the first page wherein an appearance of the first status indicator visually changes in conjunction with the prefetching to convey the progress of prefetching;

alter the appearance of said first status indicator in real-time in conjunction with the progress of prefetching to convey the status of the progress of prefetching as the status of the progress of the prefetching changes; and

detect the positioning of a cursor proximate to said first status indicator;

wherein said enhanced browsing window is invisible until said detection of the positioning of the cursor, at which time said enhanced browsing window is made visible.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first status indicator comprises an icon and wherein the user interface is configured to alter an appearance of said icon in response to successful completion of the prefetching.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the user interface is configured to alter the appearance of said first status indicator in response to failure of the prefetching.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the user interface is configured to alter the appearance of said first status indicator in response to initiation of the prefetching.

50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the user interface is configured to alter the appearance of said first status indicator in response to identification of a security risk in the content of the first page.

51. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:

an ad interface configured to retrieve a set of ads to display within said enhanced browsing window.

52. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said detecting the positioning of the cursor proximate to said first status indicator comprises detecting use of a mouse to position the cursor proximate to said first status indicator.

54. A method of enhanced browsing comprising:

identifying, in a first web page displayed by a browser in a browser window, a target link to a second web page;

a computer system automatically prefetching content from the second web page;

displaying in the browser window an icon proximate to and associated with the target link, and prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link, to reflect in real-time a progress of completion of the prefetching of content from the second web page, the icon configured to change in visual appearance in conjunction with the prefetching to visually convey in real-time said progress of completion of prefetching;

altering in real-time the visual appearance of the icon as prefetching progresses toward completion to visually convey a change in said progress;

detecting placement of a cursor proximate to said icon; and

in response to said detecting, and in response to completion of prefetching, displaying an enhanced browsing window comprising the prefetched content.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the visual appearance of the icon is altered in response to initiation of prefetching of target content associated with the target link.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the visual appearance of the icon is altered in response to successful completion of prefetching of target content associated with the target link.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the visual appearance of the icon is altered in response to failure of prefetching of target content associated with the target link.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the visual appearance of the icon is altered in response to prefetching of target content associated with the target link not being possible.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein said enhanced browsing window comprises:

a content window configured to display the content from the second web page; and

an ad frame configured to display a set of ads.