Method and apparatus for presenting and navigating bookmarks in a set of electronic reading material

• US 9,519,623 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Phoenix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Apollo Education Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Andersen, Johnathan, Leshno, Uri, Buerger, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Cong-Lac
• Application Number:
  US14/068,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 715/205, 715/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191

Abstract

An improved mechanism is provided for presenting and navigating bookmarks in a set of electronic reading material (ERM). In one implementation, when a portion of an ERM is displayed, a graphical element, which represents the contents of the ERM, is also displayed. A current location indicator and one or more bookmark indicators are further displayed on or within proximity of the graphical element to show where, within the ERM, the currently displayed portion is located and where bookmarks are located. This provides a useful graphical overview to a user. In addition, the mechanism may facilitate navigation to a bookmark by enabling a user to select one of the bookmark indicators to navigate directly to that bookmark. The mechanism may also enable a user to navigate sequentially from bookmark to bookmark using a previous bookmark control and/or a next bookmark control. With these capabilities, bookmark presentation and navigation are improved.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing content from a particular portion of a set of electronic reading material (ERM) to be displayed in a graphical user interface, wherein the particular portion is located at a particular location within the ERM;

wherein a plurality of user-designated bookmarks have been associated with respective bookmark locations within the ERM;

detecting a first invocation of a previous bookmark control element displayed in the graphical user interface;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

determining that a first user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a first bookmark location within the ERM that;

precedes the particular location, and

is closer to the particular location than any other bookmark location that precedes the particular location;

causing content from a first portion of the ERM that is associated with the first bookmark location to be displayed;

while displaying content from the first portion of the ERM, detecting a second invocation of the same previous bookmark control element;

in response to detecting the second invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

determining that a second user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a second bookmark location within the ERM that;

precedes the first bookmark location, and

is closer to the first bookmark location than any other bookmark location that precedes the first bookmark location; and

causing content from a second portion of the ERM that is associated with the second bookmark location to be displayed;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while displaying content from a certain portion of the ERM that is located at a certain location within the ERM, detecting a first invocation of a next bookmark control element displayed in the graphical user interface;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the next bookmark control element;

determining that a third user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a third bookmark location within the ERM that;

follows the certain location, and

is closer to the certain location than any other bookmark location that follows the certain location;

causing content from a third portion of the ERM that is associated with the third bookmark location to be displayed;

while displaying content from the third portion of the ERM, detecting a second invocation of the same next bookmark control element;

in response to detecting the second invocation of the next bookmark control element;

determining that a fourth user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a fourth bookmark location within the ERM that;

follows the third bookmark location, and

is closer to the third bookmark location than any other bookmark location that follows the third bookmark location; and

causing content from a fourth portion of the ERM that is associated with the fourth bookmark location to be displayed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

while content from the particular portion of the ERM is being displayed in the graphical user interface;

causing an ERM content graphical element that represents the contents of the ERM to be displayed; and

causing a current location indicator to be displayed on or within proximity of the ERM content graphical element, wherein the current location indicator is placed at a particular position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM where the particular portion of the ERM is located;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the next bookmark control element;

causing the current location indicator to be moved to a certain position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the third bookmark location within the ERM.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while content from the particular portion of the ERM is being displayed in the graphical user interface;

causing an ERM content graphical element that represents the contents of the ERM to be displayed; and

causing a current location indicator to be displayed on or within proximity of the ERM content graphical element, wherein the current location indicator is placed at a particular position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM where the particular portion of the ERM is located.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to detecting the first invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

causing the current location indicator to be moved to a certain position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the first bookmark location within the ERM.

6. A method, comprising:

displaying, in a graphical user interface, a content graphical element that represents a set of electronic reading material (ERM);

wherein one or more user-designated bookmarks have been associated with respective bookmark locations within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, and for each user-designated bookmark of the one or more user-designated bookmarks, a bookmark graphical element in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein each bookmark graphical element is placed at a position, along the content graphical element, that corresponds to the bookmark location associated with the user-designated bookmark that corresponds to the bookmark graphical element;

detecting invocation of a first bookmark graphical element that is displayed at a first position along the content graphical element;

wherein the first bookmark graphical element corresponds to a first bookmark location within the ERM; and

in response to detecting invocation of the first bookmark graphical element;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, a first portion of the ERM that is located at the first bookmark location;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

while displaying the first portion of the ERM, causing a current location indicator to be displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the current location indicator is placed at the first position along the content graphical element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the content from the ERM is caused to be displayed in a first portion of the graphical user interface; and

the content graphical element, one or more bookmark graphical elements displayed in visual association with the content graphical element, and the current location indicator are caused to be displayed in a second portion, of the graphical user interface, that is separate from the first portion of the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting invocation of a second bookmark graphical element that is displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the second bookmark graphical element corresponds to a second bookmark location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location; and

in response to detecting invocation of the second bookmark graphical element;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, a second portion of the ERM that is located at the second bookmark location.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a user command to insert a second user-designated bookmark identifying a second portion of the ERM, wherein the second portion is located at a second bookmark location within the ERM that is different from the first bookmark location; and

causing a second bookmark graphical element to be displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the second bookmark graphical element is placed at a second position along the content graphical element that corresponds to the second bookmark location within the ERM;

wherein the second position is different from the first position.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving user instruction to navigate to a particular location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location;

wherein a particular portion of the ERM is located at the particular location within the ERM;

in response to receiving the user instruction to navigate to the particular location within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, the particular portion of the ERM, and

displaying a current location indicator, in visual association with the content graphical element, at a particular position, along the content graphical element, that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM;

receiving user input to navigate to a previous bookmark;

in response to receiving user input to navigate to a previous bookmark;

determining that the first bookmark location within the ERM both;

precedes the particular location within the ERM; and

is closer to the particular location within the ERM than any other bookmark location that precedes the particular location; and

causing the first portion of the ERM to be displayed in the graphical user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

causing a previous bookmark control element and a next bookmark control element to be displayed;

wherein user input to navigate to a previous bookmark is received via user selection of the previous bookmark control element.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving user instruction to navigate to a particular location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location;

wherein a particular portion of the ERM is located at the particular location within the ERM;

in response to receiving the user instruction to navigate to the particular location within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, the particular portion of the ERM, and

displaying a current location indicator, in visual association with the content graphical element, at a particular position, along the content graphical element that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM;

receiving user input to navigate to a next bookmark;

in response to receiving user input to navigate to a next bookmark;

determining that the first bookmark location within the ERM both;

follows the particular location within the ERM; and

is closer to the particular location within the ERM than any other bookmark location that follows the particular location; and

causing the first portion of the ERM to be displayed in the graphical user interface.

14. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

causing content from a particular portion of a set of electronic reading material (ERM) to be displayed in a graphical user interface, wherein the particular portion is located at a particular location within the ERM;

wherein a plurality of user-designated bookmarks have been associated with respective bookmark locations within the ERM;

detecting a first invocation of a previous bookmark control element displayed in the graphical user interface;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

determining that a first user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a first bookmark location within the ERM that;

precedes the particular location, and

is closer to the particular location than any other bookmark location that precedes the particular location;

causing content from a first portion of the ERM that is associated with the first bookmark location to be displayed;

while displaying content from the first portion of the ERM, detecting a second invocation of the same previous bookmark control element;

in response to detecting the second invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

determining that a second user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a second bookmark location within the ERM that;

precedes the first bookmark location; and

is closer to the first bookmark location than any other bookmark location that precedes the first bookmark location; and

causing content from a second portion of the ERM that is associated with the second bookmark location to be displayed.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

while displaying content from a certain portion of the ERM that is located at a certain location within the ERM, detecting a first invocation of a next bookmark control element displayed in the graphical user interface;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the next bookmark control element;

determining that a third user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a third bookmark location within the ERM that;

follows the certain location, and

is closer to the certain location than any other bookmark location that follows the certain location;

causing content from a third portion of the ERM that is associated with the third bookmark location to be displayed;

while displaying content from the third portion of the ERM, detecting a second invocation of the same next bookmark control element;

in response to detecting the second invocation of the next bookmark control element;

determining that a fourth user-designated bookmark, of the plurality of user-designated bookmarks, is associated with a fourth bookmark location within the ERM that;

follows the third bookmark location, and

is closer to the third bookmark location than any other bookmark location that follows the third bookmark location; and

causing content from a fourth portion of the ERM that is associated with the fourth bookmark location to be displayed.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

while content from the particular portion of the ERM is being displayed in the graphical user interface;

causing an ERM content graphical element that represents the contents of the ERM to be displayed; and

causing a current location indicator to be displayed on or within proximity of the ERM content graphical element, wherein the current location indicator is placed at a particular position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM where the particular portion of the ERM is located;

in response to detecting the first invocation of the next bookmark control element;

causing the current location indicator to be moved to a certain position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the third bookmark location within the ERM.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

while content from the particular portion of the ERM is being displayed in the graphical user interface;

causing an ERM content graphical element that represents the contents of the ERM to be displayed; and

causing a current location indicator to be displayed on or within proximity of the ERM content graphical element, wherein the current location indicator is placed at a particular position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM where the particular portion of the ERM is located.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

in response to detecting the first invocation of the previous bookmark control element;

causing the current location indicator to be moved to a certain position along the ERM content graphical element that corresponds to the first bookmark location within the ERM.

19. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

displaying, in a graphical user interface, a content graphical element that represents a set of electronic reading material (ERM);

wherein one or more user-designated bookmarks have been associated with respective bookmark locations within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, and for each user-designated bookmark of the one or more user-designated bookmarks, a bookmark graphical element in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein each bookmark graphical element is placed at a position, along the content graphical element, that corresponds to the bookmark location associated with the user-designated bookmark that corresponds to the bookmark graphical element;

detecting invocation of a first bookmark graphical element that is displayed at a first position along the content graphical element;

wherein the first bookmark graphical element corresponds to a first bookmark location within the ERM; and

in response to detecting invocation of the first bookmark graphical element;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, a first portion of the ERM that is located at the first bookmark location.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

while displaying the first portion of the ERM, causing a current location indicator to be displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the current location indicator is placed at the first position along the content graphical element.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 20, wherein:

the content from the ERM is caused to be displayed in a first portion of the graphical user interface; and

the content graphical element, one or more bookmark graphical elements displayed in visual association with the content graphical element, and the current location indicator are caused to be displayed in a second portion, of the graphical user interface, that is separate from the first portion of the graphical user interface.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

detecting invocation of a second bookmark graphical element that is displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the second bookmark graphical element corresponds to a second bookmark location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location; and

in response to detecting invocation of the second bookmark graphical element;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, a second portion of the ERM that is located at the second bookmark location.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

detecting a user command to insert a second user-designated bookmark identifying a second portion of the ERM, wherein the second portion is located at a second bookmark location within the ERM that is different from the first bookmark location; and

causing a second bookmark graphical element to be displayed in visual association with the content graphical element;

wherein the second bookmark graphical element is placed at a second position along the content graphical element that corresponds to the second bookmark location within the ERM;

wherein the second position is different from the first position.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

receiving user instruction to navigate to a particular location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location;

wherein a particular portion of the ERM is located at the particular location within the ERM;

in response to receiving the user instruction to navigate to the particular location within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, the particular portion of the ERM, and

displaying a current location indicator, in visual association with the content graphical element, at a particular position, along the content graphical element, that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM;

receiving user input to navigate to a previous bookmark;

in response to receiving user input to navigate to a previous bookmark;

determining that the first bookmark location within the ERM both;

precedes the particular location within the ERM; and

is closer to the particular location within the ERM than any other bookmark location that precedes the particular location; and

causing the first portion of the ERM to be displayed in the graphical user interface.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 24, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

causing a previous bookmark control element and a next bookmark control element to be displayed;

wherein user input to navigate to a previous bookmark is received via user selection of the previous bookmark control element.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

receiving user instruction to navigate to a particular location, within the ERM, that is distinct from the first bookmark location;

wherein a particular portion of the ERM is located at the particular location within the ERM;

in response to receiving the user instruction to navigate to the particular location within the ERM;

displaying, in the graphical user interface, the particular portion of the ERM, and

displaying a current location indicator, in visual association with the content graphical element, at a particular position, along the content graphical element, that corresponds to the particular location within the ERM;

receiving user input to navigate to a next bookmark;

in response to receiving user input to navigate to a next bookmark;

determining that the first bookmark location within the ERM both;

follows the particular location within the ERM; and

is closer to the particular location within the ERM than any other bookmark location that follows the particular location; and

causing the first portion of the ERM to be displayed in the graphical user interface.