Temporal task-based tab management

• US 9,032,309 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ainslie, Alex, Jitkoff, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US13/245,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20120331408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 715/760, 715/777, 715/788, 715/789
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• 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: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing tabs, such as tabs used for accessing web pages. Such systems and methods may also provide, arrange and identify the tabs based on tasks to be performed using resources accessed via the web pages. A method for task-based web page tab management may include determining a task period. The method may also include selecting one or more tabs of a plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the task period and a task profile. The method may further include adjusting the display of the selected tabs. A system for task-based web page tab management may include a task period determiner and a tab adjuster. The system may also include a task profiler.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for task-based web page tab management, comprising:

detecting one or more actions on a computing device;

determining a current task period based on a comparison of the one or more detected actions to one or more trigger actions, wherein the current task period is defined by a start time and an end time;

selecting tabs of a plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period and a task profile retrieved from a task database, the task profile corresponding to the current task period,

wherein the task profile includes one or more previously determined task periods, the previously determined task periods each associated with one or more candidate tabs, each candidate tab associated with application launch information,

wherein the selected tabs are associated with application launch information that corresponds to the application launch information of the candidate tabs in the task profile;

adjusting the display of the selected tabs to emphasize at least one of the selected tabs during the current task period and to hide at least one of the selected tabs during the current task period; and

adjusting, subsequent to the end time of the current task period, the display of the selected tabs to make visible the at least one of the selected tabs that is hidden during the current task period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the task profile based on user behavior associated with a task.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating includes tracking a time of the task.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating includes tracking the content of web pages in tabs associated with the task.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating includes tracking tab spawning behavior associated with the task.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating includes tracking recently focused tabs related to the task.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes clustering the selected tabs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the size of the selected tabs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the color of the selected tabs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the shape of the selected tabs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more detected actions are associated with a time of day; and

the determining the current task period step includes determining the current task period based on a comparison of the time of day associated with the detected actions and a time of day associated with the one or more trigger actions.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more detected actions include a user tab selection; and

the determining the current task period step includes determining the current task period based on a comparison of the user tab selections to one or more trigger actions.

13. A system for task-based web page tab management, comprising:

a task period determiner implemented with a computing device configured to;

detect one or more actions on a computing device;

determine a current task period based on a comparison of the one or more detected actions to one or more trigger actions, wherein the current task period is defined by a start time and an end time; and

a tab adjuster implemented with the computing device and configured to;

select tabs of a plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period and a task profile retrieved from a task database, the task profile corresponding to the current task period,

wherein the task profile includes one or more previously determined task periods, the previously determined task periods each associated with one or more candidate tabs, each candidate tab associated with application launch information,

wherein the selected tabs are associated with application launch information that corresponds to the application launch information of the candidate tabs in the task profile;

adjust the display of the selected tabs to emphasize at least one of the selected tabs during the current task period and to hide at least one of the selected tabs during the current task period; and

adjust, subsequent to the end time of the current task period, the display of the selected tabs to make visible the at least one of the selected tabs that is hidden during the current task period.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a task profiler configured to create the task profile based on user behavior associated with a task.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the task profiler is further configured to track a time of the task.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the task profiler is further configured to track the content of web pages in tabs associated with the task.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the task profiler is further configured to track tab spawning behavior associated with the task.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the task profiler is further configured to track recently focused tabs related to the task.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the tab adjuster is further configured to cluster the selected tabs.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the tab adjuster is further configured to adjust the size of the selected tabs.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the tab adjuster is further configured to adjust the color of the selected tabs.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more detected actions are associated with a time of day; and

the task period determiner is further configured to determine the current task period based on a comparison of a time of day associated with the detected actions and a time of day associated with the one or more trigger actions.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more detected actions include a user tab selection; and

the task period determiner is further configured to determine the current task period based on a comparison of one or more user tab selections to one or more trigger actions.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the tab adjuster is further configured to adjust the display to make visible at least one tab during the current task period, and

the at least one tab is hidden from the display prior to the start time of the current task period.

25. A computer-implemented method for task-based web page tab management, comprising:

detecting one or more actions on a computing device;

determining a current task period based on a comparison of the one or more detected actions to one or more trigger actions, wherein the current task period is defined by a start time and an end time;

selecting a first set of one or more tabs of a plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period and a task profile retrieved from a task database, the task profile corresponding to the current task period,

wherein the task profile includes one or more previously determined task periods, the previously determined task periods each associated with one or more candidate tabs, each candidate tab associated with application launch information,

wherein the one or more selected tabs are associated with application launch information that corresponds to the application launch information of the candidate tabs in the task profile;

selecting a second set of one or more tabs of the plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period;

selecting a third set of one or more tabs of the plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period;

adjusting the display of the first, second, and third sets of selected tabs, wherein;

the first set of tabs is adjusted to emphasize the first set of tabs during the current task period,

the second set of tabs is adjusted to deemphasize the second set of tabs during the current task period, and

the third set of tabs is adjusted to hide the third set of tabs during the current task period; and

adjusting the display to make visible the third set of tabs subsequent to the end time of the current task period.

26. A system for task-based web page tab management, comprising:

a task period determiner implemented with a computing device configured to;

detect one or more actions on the computing device;

determine a current task period based on a comparison of the one or more detected actions to one or more trigger actions, wherein the current task period is defined by a start time and an end time; and

a tab adjuster implemented with the computing device and configured to;

select a first set of one or more tabs of a plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period and a task profile retrieved from a task database, the task profile corresponding to the current task period,

wherein the task profile includes one or more previously determined task periods, the previously determined task periods each associated with one or more candidate tabs, each candidate tab associated with application launch information,

wherein the one or more selected tabs are associated with application launch information that corresponds to the application launch information of the candidate tabs in the task profile;

select a second set of one or more tabs of the plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period;

select a third set of one or more tabs of the plurality of displayed tabs to adjust based on the current task period;

adjust the display of the first, second, and third sets of selected tabs, wherein;

the first set of tabs is adjusted to emphasize the first set of tabs during the current task period,

the second set of tabs is adjusted to deemphasize the second set of tabs during the current task period, and

the third set of tabs is adjusted to hide the third set of tabs during the current task period; and

adjust the display to make visible the third set of tabs subsequent to the end time of the current task period.