Keyboard navigation

• US 8,977,966 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saurav, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gattew, Asteway T
• Application Number:
  US13/172,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/854, 715/827, 715/788, 715/767, 345/172, 345/178
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure enable use of a keyboard to navigate a webpage presented in a web browser. According to an embodiment, a two-dimensional grid is placed over a webpage and elements of the webpage are assigned to the nearest cells of the grid. The grid specifies the directional and distance relations among the various elements of the webpage. Functionality is provided that enables users to quickly navigate the elements of the webpage using arrow keys of a keyboard. For example, if a selection indicator is currently focused on a webpage element that is assigned to a particular cell of the grid, a press of the left-arrow key moves the selection indicator leftward along the grid to the element that is assigned to the nearest leftward cell. The same functionality is applied to up-arrow, down-arrow, and right-arrow keys. Further, functionality is provided that enables users to quickly navigate the elements of the webpage using hotkeys.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions for enabling keyboard navigation of a webpage having a plurality of webpage elements, the processor-executable instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising:

receiving, at a web browser, a plug-in for the web browser, the web browser configured to display the webpage, the plug-in adapted to be utilized in a plurality of web browsers;

overlaying, by the plug-in, a grid on the webpage, the grid having a plurality of cells;

assigning, by the plug-in, each of the plurality of webpage elements to a nearest cell of the grid;

assigning, by the plug-in, a plurality of hotkey commands to at least one portion of the plurality of webpage elements, wherein the at least one portion of the plurality of webpage elements includes (a) at least two of the plurality of webpage elements that correspond to a first type of webpage element and that are assigned to a same hotkey command and (b) at least one of the plurality of webpage elements that corresponds to a second type of webpage element and that is assigned to a different hotkey command;

in response to receiving a first directional command from a keyboard, causing to be moved, by the plug-in, a selection indicator to a first webpage element that is assigned to a first cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction indicated by the directional command;

in response to receiving a first hotkey command from the keyboard, causing to be moved, by the plug-in, the selection indicator to a second webpage element to which the first hotkey command is assigned and that is assigned to a second cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator; and

in response to receiving, simultaneously, (a) one of the first directional command or a second directional command and (b) one of the first hotkey command or a second the hotkey command from the keyboard, causing to be moved, by the plug-in, the selection indicator to a third webpage element to which the one of the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command is assigned and that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction indicated by the one of the first directional command or the second directional command.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the set of operations further comprises:

determining, upon receiving the first directional command, the first hotkey command, or the second hotkey command from the keyboard, whether the selection indicator is currently being applied to one of the plurality of webpage elements; and

causing the selection indicator to be applied to an origin element when the selection indicator is not currently being applied to any of the plurality of webpage elements.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein when the directional command is received from the keyboard and the selection indicator is not currently being applied to any of the plurality of webpage elements, the origin element is a webpage element that is located nearest a top-left corner of the grid.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein when the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command is received from the keyboard and the selection indicator is not currently being applied to any of the plurality of webpage elements, the origin element is a webpage element that is located nearest a top-left corner of the grid and that is assigned to the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command.

5. A method of enabling navigation of a webpage containing a plurality of webpage elements, comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

overlaying a grid on the webpage, the grid having a plurality of cells;

assigning each of the plurality of webpage elements to a nearest cell of the grid, wherein at least two of the plurality of webpage elements correspond to a first type of webpage element and to a same hotkey command, and at least one of the plurality of webpage elements corresponds to a second type of webpage element and to a different hotkey command;

in response to receiving a first hotkey command from a keyboard, causing a selection indicator to be moved to a first webpage element that corresponds to the hotkey command and that is assigned to a first cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator; and

in response to receiving a combination of (a) a directional command and (b) one of the first hotkey command or a second hotkey command from the keyboard, causing the selection indicator to be moved to a second webpage element that corresponds to the one of the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command and that is assigned to a second cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction corresponding to the directional command.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

assigning a plurality of hotkey commands to at least one portion of the plurality of webpage elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of webpage elements are HTML elements and the plurality of hotkey commands correspond to the HTML elements.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to receiving a navigational input command, determining whether a selection indicator is applied to one of the plurality of webpage elements.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the selection indicator is currently applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements and when the navigational input command is one of the directional command or a second directional command, moving the selection indicator to a third webpage element that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in the direction of the one of the directional command or the second directional command.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the selection indicator is currently applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements and when the navigational input command is a hotkey command, moving the selection indicator to a third webpage element that corresponds to the hotkey command and that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the selection indicator is currently applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements and when the navigational input command is a second combination of (a) one of the directional command or a second directional command and (b) a hotkey command, moving the selection indicator to a third webpage element to which the hotkey command is assigned and that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in the Han direction of the one of the directional command or the second directional command.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the selection indicator is not currently applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements, applying the selection indicator to an origin element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the origin element is the webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements that is located nearest a top-left corner of the grid.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the directional command is one of an up-arrow input, an up-left arrow input, an up-right arrow input, a down-arrow input, a down-left arrow input, a down-right arrow input, a left-arrow input, a right arrow input, or a center input.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command is an “

R”

keystroke and is assigned to one or more of the plurality of webpage elements that are user review elements.

16. A method of enabling navigation of a webpage containing a plurality of webpage elements, comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving, at a web browser, a plug-in for the web browser, the web browser configured to display at least a portion of the webpage, the plug-in adapted to be utilized in a plurality of web browsers;

overlaying, by the plug-in, a grid on the webpage, the grid having a plurality of cells;

assigning, by the plug-in, each of the plurality of webpage elements to a nearest cell of the grid;

assigning, by the plug-in, a plurality of hotkey commands to at least one portion of the plurality of webpage elements, wherein the at least one portion of the plurality of webpage element include (a) at least two of the plurality of webpage elements that correspond to a first type of webpage element and that are assigned to a same hotkey command and (b) at least one of the plurality of webpage elements that corresponds to a second type of webpage element and that is assigned to a different hotkey command;

in response to receiving a first hotkey command from a keyboard, causing a selection indicator to be moved to a first webpage element to which the hotkey command is assigned and that is assigned to a first cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator; and

in response to receiving, at least substantially simultaneously, (a) a directional command and (b) one of the first hotkey command or a second hotkey command from the keyboard, causing the selection indicator to be moved to a second webpage element to which the one of the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command is assigned and that is assigned to a second cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction corresponding to the directional command.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to receiving one of the directional command or a second directional command from the keyboard, causing the selection indicator to be moved to a third webpage element that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction specified by the one of the directional command or the second directional command.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining, upon receiving the one of the directional command or the second directional command from the keyboard, whether the selection indicator is currently being applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements; and

causing the selection indicator to be applied to an origin element of the grid when the selection indicator is not already being applied to any webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the origin element is one of the plurality of webpage elements that is located nearest a top-left corner of the grid.

20. A system for enabling navigation of a webpage containing a plurality of webpage elements, the system comprising:

a processor;

a microphone; and

a memory device including instructions operable to be executed by the processor to perform a set of actions, enabling the system to;

receive, at a web browser, a plug-in for the web browser, the web browser configured to display at least a portion of the webpage, the plug-in adapted to be utilized in a plurality of web browsers;

overlay, by the plug-in, a grid on the webpage, the grid having a plurality of cells;

assign, by the plug-in, each of the plurality of webpage elements to a nearest cell of the grid, wherein at least two of the plurality of webpage elements correspond to a first type of webpage element and to a same hotkey command, and at least one of the plurality of webpage elements corresponds to a second type of webpage element and to a different hotkey command;

in response to receiving a first directional command via the microphone, cause a selection indicator to be moved to a first webpage element that is assigned to a first cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in a direction indicated by the first directional command;

in response to receiving a first hotkey command, cause the selection indicator to be moved to a second webpage element that corresponds to the first hotkey command and that is assigned to a second cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator; and

in response to receiving a combination of (a) one of the first directional command or a second directional command and (b) one of the first hotkey command or a second hotkey command, cause the selection indicator to be moved to a third webpage element that corresponds to the one of the first hotkey command or the second hotkey command and that is assigned to a third cell that is located nearest to the selection indicator in as direction corresponding to the one of the first directional command or the second directional command.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the memory device includes further instructions, which when executed by the processor, further enable the system to:

assign a plurality of hotkey commands to at least one portion of the plurality of webpage elements.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first hotkey command, the combination, the second directional command, or the second hotkey command is an audible command that is received via the microphone.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the memory device includes further instructions, which when executed by the processor, further enable the system to:

determine, upon receiving the first directional command from the microphone, whether the selection indicator is currently being applied to a webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements; and

cause the selection indicator to be applied to an origin element of the grid when the selection indicator is not already being applied to any webpage element from among the plurality of webpage elements.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the origin element is one of the plurality of webpage elements that is located nearest a top-left corner of the grid.