Method for adding a user-selectable function to a hyperlink

• US 20050259120A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanna, Patrick, Mansfield, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/661
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A multifunction hyperlink and method for providing an multifunction hyperlink are provided. This invention permits the user to interact with a hyperlink in a variety of ways without necessarily having to open and/or follow the hyperlink. This is accomplished by detecting the presence of a cursor near a hyperlink. After detecting the hyperlink, a toolbar is displayed containing one or more link functions that the user may select. In response to the users'"'"' selection of a particular link function, that link function would be performed without requiring any further action by the user.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing a hyperlink, comprising:

displaying a hyperlink in a first window of an application, wherein said hyperlink is associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) and a page;

detecting a cursor in proximity to said hyperlink;

displaying a graphical toolbar in proximity to said cursor while said cursor is in proximity to said hyperlink, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted to provide a plurality of user-selectable link enhancements, said plurality of user-selectable link enhancements comprising a user-selectable link enhancement to display a link snapshot based on said hyperlink;

receiving a first user selection of said link enhancement; and

as a result of said first user selection,

capturing a displayable element and said URL associated with said hyperlink; and

displaying a link snapshot, wherein said link snapshot comprises said captured displayable element, and is associated with said captured URL, and wherein said link snapshot is adapted to cause said page to be displayed as a result of a second user selection of said link snapshot, said page to be displayed based on said captured URL,

wherein the graphical toolbar is adapted to display one or more skins.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing said displayable element further comprises:

reducing the size of said captured displayable element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said link snapshot is displayed at an edge of a display displaying said first window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying said page in a second window upon said second user selection of said link snapshot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retaining said link snapshot when said first window is closed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing and said displaying said link snapshot are performed by a second application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayable element comprises a graphic element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayable element comprises a text element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the hyperlink.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the first page.

11. A method for enhancing a hyperlink, comprising:

displaying a first page having a hyperlink in a first window of an application, wherein said first page is associated with a first uniform resource locator (URL), wherein said hyperlink is associated with a second URL and a second page;

detecting a cursor in proximity to said hyperlink;

displaying a graphical toolbar in proximity to said cursor while said cursor is in proximity to said hyperlink, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted to provide a plurality of user-selectable link enhancements, said plurality of user-selectable link enhancements comprising a user-selectable link enhancement to display an icon based on said first URL;

receiving a first user selection of said link enhancement; and

as a result of said first user selection,

capturing said first URL associated with said first page;

displaying an icon, said icon associated with said captured first URL, said icon adapted to cause said first page to be displayed as a result of a second user selection of said icon; and

displaying said second page in said first window,

wherein the graphical toolbar is adapted to display one or more skins.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said icon is displayed at an edge of a display displaying said first window.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said icon is displayed as a button in said graphical toolbar.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said capturing and said displaying said icon are performed by a second application.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the hyperlink.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the first page.

17. A method for enhancing a hyperlink, comprising:

displaying a first page having a hyperlink in a first window of an application, wherein said first page is associated with a first uniform resource locator (URL), wherein said hyperlink is associated with a second URL and a second page;

detecting a cursor in proximity to said hyperlink;

displaying a graphical toolbar in proximity to said cursor while said cursor is in proximity to said hyperlink, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted to provide at least one user-selectable link enhancement selected from a user-selectable link enhancement to display a link snapshot based on said hyperlink, a user-selectable link enhancement to display an icon based on said first URL, a user-selectable link enhancement to store a copy of said second page, and a user-selectable link enhancement to display said second page in a second window; and

receiving a first user selection of one of said user-selectable link enhancements,

wherein the graphical toolbar is adapted t display one or more skins.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the hyperlink.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more skins correspond to the first page.