Function extension for browsers or documents

• US 8,984,414 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US13/290,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 715/841, 715/764, 715/744, 709/203
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

Computer implemented methods and systems for generating a menu of browser extensions. A first user interaction with a first set of information is detected. The first set of information is associated with one or more browser extensions. A first menu for display of the one or more browser extensions is generated. A second user interaction with the one or more associated browser extensions is detected, wherein the second user interaction executes at least one of the associated browser extensions. A second set of information is extracted from one or more uniform resource locators in response to the second user interaction with the one or more associated browser extensions. A second menu for display of the second set of information is generated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a menu of browser extensions comprising:

detecting a first user interaction with a first set of information contained within a browser;

determining a plurality of category classifications of the first set of information, the plurality of category classifications (i) changing based on the first set of information and (ii) providing different descriptions of the first set of information;

determining a plurality of different browser extensions such that each browser extension includes a browser extension category that matches at least one browser extension classification of the plurality of browser extension classifications, wherein the plurality of browser extensions are executable applications that are configured to perform different operations on the first set of information such that the operations produce information that describe different characteristics of the first set of information;

retrieving instances of the plurality of determined browser extensions, the instances being stored at a client device of a user or a remote browser extension server, and the storing and a location of retrieval based on a combination of a user preference and the first set of information;

generating a first menu for display of the instances of the plurality of retrieved browser extensions;

detecting a second user interaction with an instance of one of the retrieved browser extensions, wherein the second user interaction executes the instance of the retrieved browser extension;

extracting a second set of information from one or more uniform resource locators in response to the second user interaction with the instance of the retrieved browser extension; and

generating a second menu for display of the extracted second set of information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information is one or more words, phrases or objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interaction is a hover over the first set of information followed by one of a right click, left click, shift-click, or ctrl-click of the selected first set of information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interaction is a selection of the first set of information followed by one of a right click, left click, shift-click, or ctrl-click of the selected first set of information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of browser extensions are retrieved from an online store.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of information provides data about the first set of information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein extracting a second set of information further comprises:

receiving one or more session identifiers from a server, wherein each session identifier is based on the plurality of retrieved browser extensions; and

establishing one or more communication channels with the server based on the one or more session identifiers and the plurality of retrieved browser extensions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the plurality of browser extensions each have a browser extension category that is different from the identified plurality of browser extension classifications;

retrieving new browser extensions that have a browser extension category that matches the identified plurality of browser extension classifications; and

presenting the new browser extensions to the user in the first menu.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the retrieving further comprises:

identifying new browser extensions that are most used by different users for a specific category.

8. A system for generating a menu of browser extensions comprising:

a computing device comprising a processor and memory;

a category identifier association module implemented on the computing device and configured to detect a first user interaction with a first set of information contained within a browser, and

determine a plurality of category classifications of the first set of information, the plurality of category classifications (i) changing based on the first set of information and (ii) providing different descriptions of the first set of information, and determine a plurality of different browser extensions such that each browser extension includes a browser extension category that matches at least one browser extension classification of the plurality of identified browser extension classifications, wherein the plurality of browser extensions are executable applications that are configured to perform different operations on the first set of information such that the operations produce information that describe different characteristics of the first set of information;

an extension manager implemented on the computing device and configured to retrieve instances of the plurality of identified browser extensions, the instances being stored at the computing device or at a remote browser extension server and the storing and a location of retrieval based on a combination of a user preference and the first set of information,

detect a second user interaction with an instance of a retrieved browser extension, wherein the second user interaction executes the instance of the retrieved browser extension, and

extract a second set of information from one or more uniform resource locators in response to the second user interaction with the instance of the retrieved browser extension; and

a menu generator implemented on the computing device and configured to;

generate a first menu for display of the one or more retrieved browser extensions, and generate a second menu for display of the extracted second set of information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the extension manager is further configured to:

receive one or more session identifiers from a server, wherein each session identifier is based on the plurality of retrieved browser extensions; and

establish one or more communication channels with the server based on the one or more session identifiers and the plurality of retrieved browser extensions.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first set of information is one or more words, phrases or objects.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first user interaction is a hover over the first set of information followed by one of a right click, left click, shift-click, or ctrl-click.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first user interaction is a selection of the first set of information followed by one of a right click, left click, shift-click, or ctrl-click of the selected first set of information.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second set of information provides data about the first set of information.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having control logic stored therein that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a first user interaction with a first set of information;

determining a plurality of category classifications of the first set of information, the plurality of category classifications (i) changing based on the first set of information and (ii) providing different descriptions of the first set of information;

determining a plurality of different browser extensions such that each browser extension includes a browser extension category that matches at least one browser extension classification of the plurality of browser extension classifications, wherein the plurality of browser extensions are executable applications that are configured to perform different operations on the first set of information such that the operations produce information that describe different characteristics of the first set of information;

retrieving instances of the plurality of determined browser extensions, the instances being stored at a client device of a user or a remote browser extension server and the storing and a location of retrieval based on a combination of a user preference and the first set of information; and

generating a first menu for display of the instances of the plurality of retrieved browser extensions;

detecting a second user interaction with an instance of one of the retrieved browser extensions, wherein the second user interaction executes the instance of the retrieved browser extension;

extracting a second set of information from one or more uniform resource locators in response to the second user interaction with the instance of the retrieved browser extension; and

generating a second menu for display of the extracted second set of information.