Portal linking tool

• US 20060168541A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, Timothy A., Sankaran, Karthiksundar, Patrawala, Zakir S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for retrieving web documents. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a web retrieval tool interface configured to display a context menu from any web page that is being viewed. The context menu displays at least one option for retrieving a document at a predetermined network address. The system further includes logic configured to retrieve the document corresponding to a selected option in the context menu. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for retrieving web documents, comprising:

a web retrieval tool interface configured to display a context menu from any web page that is being viewed, the context menu displaying at least one option for retrieving a document at a predetermined network address; and

logic configured to retrieve the document corresponding to a selected option in the context menu.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the context menu is displayed in response to a right click operation of a mouse input control.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined network address is provided by an affiliate of a merchant web site, wherein activation of the web link, from any web page, by a user results in the user being directed to the merchant web site and also results in the affiliate receiving compensation from the merchant web site for sending the user to the merchant web site.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein contents of the document is based upon a query provided in the web link, the query comprising text selected from the web page being currently viewed at the time that the context menu is displayed.

5. A method for retrieving web documents, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one option for retrieving a web document at a predetermined web site, wherein a selected phrase from a currently viewed web page is included as part of a resource locator for retrieving a web document from the predetermined web site; and

retrieving the web document from the predetermined web site in accordance with a selected option, wherein the contents of the web document is formulated from the selected phrase provided in the resource locator.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

receiving at least one selected textual phrase from a web page.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

presenting the retrieved web document within a web site of an external web site.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined network address is provided by the external web site which is an affiliate of a merchant web site, wherein activation of the web link, from any web page, by a user results in the user being directed to the merchant web site and also results in the affiliate receiving compensation from the merchant web site for sending the user to the merchant web site.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the external site is a portal web site.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one option includes an option for performing a web search.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the subject of the web search is determined from text that is selected from the web page being currently viewed.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one option includes an option for performing a search from a listing of businesses.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one option includes an option for performing a search from a listing of commercially available products.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one option includes an option for retrieving a dictionary meaning of a phrase selected from the web page being currently viewed.

15. A computer readable medium having a computer program for retrieving web documents, the program for performing the steps of:

displaying at least one option for retrieving a web document at a predetermined web site, wherein a selected phrase from a currently viewed web page is included as part of a resource locator for retrieving a web document from the predetermined web site; and

retrieving the web document from the predetermined web site in accordance with a selected option, wherein the contents of the web document is formulated from the selected phrase provided in the resource locator.

16. The medium of claim 15, the program further performing the step of:

receiving at least one selected textual phrase from a web page.

17. The medium of claim 15, the program further performing the step of:

presenting the retrieved web document within a web site of an external web site.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the predetermined network address is provided by the external web site which is an affiliate of a merchant web site, wherein activation of the web link, from any web page, by a user results in the user being directed to the merchant web site and also results in the affiliate receiving compensation from the merchant web site for sending the user to the merchant web site.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one option includes an option for performing a web search.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the subject of the web search is determined from text that is selected from the web page being currently viewed.