Terminal, history management method, and computer usable storage medium for history management

• US 8,756,523 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2008
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Inventors: Chiba, Ohki, Aida, Satoshi, Arima, Kazuhiro, Nagamachi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, DAEHO D
• Application Number:
  US12/602,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,213 Days
• Field of Search: 715/777, 715/733, 715/738, 715/838
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• 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: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A terminal device which can access Web contents individually for each window, the terminal device comprising a history storing means for associating each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, and storing the histories of the Web contents so that the histories of the Web contents can be managed for each window, an input means for receiving user'"'"'s input operations, an image retrieving means for retrieving the image information by referring to the histories of each window, when a predetermined input operation is received, an image arranging means for arranging the retrieved image information for each window in a row, which is made to be in correspondence with each window, in a time series by referring to the histories, and displaying the arranged image information on a screen, and a focusing means for focusing on one piece of the arranged image information in response to the input operation.

Claims

1. A terminal device for accessing Web contents individually for a plurality of tab windows, comprising:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

a history storing unit configured to associate each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, wherein the Web contents were displayed in the plurality of tab windows, and

the history storing unit further configured to store the histories of the Web contents and separately manage the histories of the Web contents for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

an input unit configured to receive user input operations;

an image retrieving unit configured to retrieve the image information for the plurality of tab windows by referring to the histories of the Web contents of the plurality of tab windows, the image information retrieved in response to the input unit receiving a predetermined input operation;

an image arranging unit configured to arrange the retrieved image information for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows in different rows, with each row corresponding to each tab window, by referring to the separately managed histories of the Web contents of the plurality of tab windows, and

wherein arranging the retrieved image information comprises arranging the retrieved image information in a time series by referring to the separately managed histories of the Web contents of the plurality of tab windows, and the image arranging unit further configured to display the arranged image information on a screen;

a focusing unit configured to focus on one piece of the arranged image information in response to the input operation; and

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a first directional key to shift a focus in a first direction, and a second directional key to shift the focus in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, and

wherein the focusing unit is configured to shift the focus in the first direction in response to detecting an operation of the first directional key and shift the focus in a second direction in response to detecting an operation of the second directional key, and change the image information to be focused.

3. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the image arranging unit is configured to arrange image information corresponding to histories of the Web contents of an active tab window in a row corresponding to the first direction in a time series, and arrange image information corresponding to a Web content which is lastly displayed by a tab window except for the active tab window in the second direction.

4. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the image arranging unit is configured to arrange image information corresponding to histories of the Web contents of an active tab window in a row corresponding to a first direction, at the same time, for a Web content which is lastly displayed by a tab window except for the active tab window, the image arranging unit is configured to arrange a message in a second direction, the message indicating an availability to access the tab window.

5. The terminal device according to claim 1,

further comprising:

a display magnification changing unit configured to change a magnification on the pieces of image information arranged on the screen.

6. The terminal device according to claim 5, wherein when a magnification on a piece of image information which is currently displayed attains a predetermined magnification, the terminal device accesses a Web content by referring to a history corresponding to the piece of image information.

7. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein when an input operation to decide to select a piece of image information which has been focused is made, the terminal device accesses a Web content by referring to a history corresponding to the piece of image information which has been focused.

8. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a thumbnail generating unit configured to generate a thumbnail of a Web content, which has been accessed, as the predetermined image information.

9. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is a touch panel, and the focusing unit is configured to focus on a piece of image information which is selected on the touch panel.

10. A terminal device for accessing Web contents individually for a plurality of tab windows, comprising:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

a history storing unit configured to associate each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, wherein the Web contents were displayed in the plurality of tab windows, and

the history storing unit further configured to store the histories of the Web contents sand separately manage the histories of the Web contents for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

an input unit configured to receive user input operations;

an image retrieving unit configured to retrieve pieces of image information corresponding to a first Web content which is in a state in which the first Web content is currently browsed on an active tab window, second Web contents which are accessed before and after the first Web content within the active tab window, and third Web contents which are lastly displayed on other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, respectively, by referring to the separately managed histories of the Web contents of each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

a first piece of image information of the first Web content, which is in the state in which the first Web content is browsed on the active tab window, at the center of the active tab window,

at least a portion of second pieces of image information of the second Web contents, which are accessed before and after the first Web content within the active tab window, at a left part and at a right part of the center of the active tab window,

at least a portion of third the pieces of image information of the third Web contents, which are lastly displayed on the other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, at an upper part and at a lower part of the center of the active tab window,

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.

11. The terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the input unit comprises a first directional key for moving the focus of pieces of image information in the horizontal direction of the screen and a second directional key for moving the focus of pieces of image information in the vertical direction of the screen;

and wherein the terminal device further comprises;

an image arrangement changing unit configured to change the arrangement of the pieces of image information on the screen to cause the pieces of image information placed in the horizontal direction to slide in the horizontal direction in response to operations on the first directional key, the pieces of image information of each tab window placed in the vertical direction to slide in the vertical direction in response to operations on the second directional key, and wherein the pieces of image information of the tab window corresponding to the piece of image information placed at the center of the screen are arranged in a time series in the horizontal direction of the screen.

12. The terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the tab windows except for the active tab window are tab windows having tabs that are neighboring a tab of the active tab window on a tab bar of the main tab window.

13. A history management method for accessing Web contents individually for a plurality of tab windows, comprising:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

a history storing step of associating each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, wherein the Web contents were displayed in the plurality of tab windows, and

the history storing step further storing the histories of the Web contents and separately manage the histories of the Web contents for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

an image retrieving step of retrieving the image information by referring to the histories of the Web contents of each tab window of the plurality of tab windows, when a predetermined input operation by a user is received;

an image arranging step of arranging the retrieved image information for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows in different rows, with each row corresponding to each tab window, in a time series by referring to the separately managed histories, and

the image arranging step further displaying the arranged image information on a screen;

a focusing step of focusing on one piece of the arranged image information in response to the input operation; and

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.

14. The history management method according to claim 13, wherein the image arranging step arranges image information corresponding to histories of the Web contents of an active tab window in a row corresponding to a first direction in a time series, at the same time, for a Web content which is lastly displayed by a tab window except for the active tab window, the image arranging step arranges a message in a second direction, the message indicating an availability to access the tab window.

15. The history management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a display magnification changing step of changing a magnification of the pieces of image information arranged on the screen.

16. The history management method according to claim 13, wherein when a magnification on a piece of image information which is currently displayed reaches a predetermined magnification, a Web content is accessed by referring to a history corresponding to the piece of image information.

17. The history management method according to claim 13, wherein when an input operation to decide to select a piece of image information which has been focused is made, a Web content is accessed by referring to a history corresponding to the piece of image information.

18. The history management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a thumbnail generating step of generating a thumbnail of a Web content, which has been accessed, as the predetermined image information.

19. A history management method for accessing Web contents individually for a plurality of tab windows, comprising:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

a history storing step of associating each of histories of the Web contents with predetermined image information, storing the histories of the Web contents, and separately managing the histories of the Web contents can be separately managed for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows, wherein the Web contents were displayed in the plurality of tab windows;

an image retrieving step of retrieving pieces of image information corresponding to a Web content which is in a state in which the Web content is currently browsed on an active tab window, Web contents which are accessed before and after the Web content within the active tab window, and Web contents which are lastly displayed on other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, respectively, by referring to histories of the Web contents of each window, when a predetermined input operation by a user is received;

an image arranging step of arranging;

a first piece of image information of the Web content, which is in the state in which the Web content is browsed, at the center of the active tab window,

at least a portion of second pieces of image information of the Web contents, which are accessed before and after the first Web content, at a left part and at a right part of the center of the active tab window, and

at least a portion of third pieces of image information of the Web contents, which are lastly displayed on the other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, window are placed at an upper part and at a lower part of the active tab window;

a focusing step of focusing on one of the arranged pieces of image information; and

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.

20. The history management method according to claim 19, further comprising:

an image arrangement changing step of changing the arrangement of the pieces of image information on the screen to cause;

in response to receiving an input operation for moving a subject of focus to the pieces of image information at the left part or at the right part of the screen, sliding the pieces of image information placed in the horizontal direction in a direction corresponding to the input operation;

in response to receiving an input operation for moving the subject of focus to the pieces of image information at the upper part or at the lower part of the screen, sliding the pieces of image information of each tab window placed in the vertical direction in a direction corresponding to the input operation; and

the pieces of image information of the tab window corresponding to the piece of image information placed at the center of the screen to be arranged in a time series in the horizontal direction of the screen.

21. The history management method according to claim 19, wherein the tab windows except for the active tab window are tab windows tabs that are neighboring a tab of the active tab window on a tab bar of the main tab window.

22. A non-transitory computer usable storage medium having computer readable instruction stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor of a terminal device, configures the processor to perform the steps of:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

associating each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, wherein the Web contents were displayed in a plurality of tab windows;

storing the histories of the Web contents and separately managing the histories of the Web contents can be separately managed for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

retrieving the image information by referring to the separately managed histories of the Web contents of each tab window of the plurality of tab windows, when a predetermined input operation by a user is received;

arranging the retrieved image information for each tab window in different rows, which is made to be in correspondence with each tab window, in a time series by referring to the separately managed histories, and displaying the arranged image information on a screen;

focusing on one piece of the arranged image information in response to the input operation

and

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.

23. A non-transitory computer usable storage medium having computer readable instruction stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor of a terminal device, configures the processor to perform the steps of:

at least one memory that has stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions executed by a processor;

associating each of histories of Web contents with predetermined image information, wherein the Web contents were displayed in a plurality of tab windows; and

storing the histories of the Web contents and separately managing the histories of the Web contents for each tab window of the plurality of tab windows;

retrieving pieces of image information corresponding to a first Web content which is in a state in which the first Web content is currently browsed on an active tab window, second Web contents which are accessed before and after the first Web content within the active tab window, and third Web contents which are lastly displayed on other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, respectively, by referring to the separately managed histories of the Web contents of each tab window of the plurality of tab windows, when a predetermined input operation by a user is received;

arranging a first piece of image information of the first Web content, which is in the state in which the first Web content is browsed, at the center of the active tab window;

arranging at least a portion of second pieces of image information of the second Web contents, which are accessed before and after the first Web content within the active tab window, at a left part and at a right part of the center of the active tab window;

arranging at least a portion of third pieces of image information of the third Web contents, which are lastly displayed on the other tab windows of the plurality of tab windows except for the active tab window, at an upper part and at a lower part of the active tab window;

focusing on one of the arranged pieces of image information; and

wherein each tab window of the plurality of tab windows was opened within a single main window, and wherein the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed within a currently active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the horizontal direction and the pieces of image information representing the Web content accessed from selecting different tab windows other than the active tab window are displayed on the single main window by navigating in the vertical direction.