Systems and methods for improved web-based document retrieval and object manipulation

• US 20100325533A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Artz, David Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,792,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for improving web-based document retrieval and object manipulation. In an implementation, objects within web documents (e.g., a web page) are manipulated when the objects are visible through a viewport of a user'"'"'s web browser. According to a method, an object selected from a web document is manipulated when that selected object is displayed within the viewport of the user'"'"'s browser. The manipulation may include downloading content associated with the stored object and additionally, or alternatively, executing a script associated with the stored object. Additionally, or independently, methods may be provided for blocking the download of an object in a retrieved web document until that object is displayed or visible in the user'"'"'s browser viewport.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for manipulating objects in a web document, the method comprising the following steps, performed by one or more processors:

identifying a portion of a retrieved web document that is displayed to a user, the identified portion having a first boundary and a second boundary in a scrolling direction;

selecting at least one object from the retrieved web document, the at least one selected object being associated with a corresponding manipulation;

detecting whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries; and

performing the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

detecting whether the at least one selected object falls entirely between the first and second boundaries.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding the at least one selected object to a polling queue when no portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries, the polling queue comprising one or more objects from the retrieved web document.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying an additional portion of the retrieved web document that is displayed to the user, the additional portion having a corresponding first boundary and a corresponding second boundary.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing a source of the at least one selected object as a temporary variable;

replacing the source of the at least one selected object with a blank placeholder, wherein the blank placeholder blocks a manipulation of the at least one selected object;

detecting whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document;

replacing the blank placeholder with the stored source of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

performing the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object based on the stored source.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting whether a portion of an object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

performing a corresponding manipulation of the object in the polling queue when the portion of the object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises:

determining a position of the at least one selected object within the retrieved web document using a stored position of the at least one selected object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation corresponding to the at least one selected object executes a script associated with the at least one selected object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

expanding each of the first and second boundaries of the identified portion of the retrieved web document according to a threshold detection distance; and

detecting whether the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second expanded boundaries.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor coupled to the storage device, wherein the storage device stores a program for controlling the processor, and wherein the processor, being operative with the program, is configured to;

identify a portion of a retrieved web document that is displayed to a user, the identified portion having a first boundary and a second boundary in a scrolling direction;

select at least one object from the retrieved web document, the at least one selected object being associated with a corresponding manipulation;

detect whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries; and

perform the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to detect is further configured to:

detect whether the at least one selected object falls entirely between the first and second boundaries.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

add the at least one selected object to a polling queue when no portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries, the polling queue comprising one or more objects from the retrieved web document.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify an additional portion of the retrieved web document that is displayed to the user, the additional portion having a corresponding first boundary and a corresponding second boundary.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

store a source of the at least one selected object as a temporary variable;

replace the source of the at least one selected object with a blank placeholder, wherein the blank placeholder blocks a manipulation of the at least one selected object;

detect whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document;

replace the blank placeholder with the stored source of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

perform the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object based on the stored source.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect whether a portion of an object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

perform a corresponding manipulation of the object in the polling queue when the portion of the object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to detect is further configured to:

determine a position of the at least one selected object within the retrieved web document using a stored position of the at least one selected object.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the manipulation corresponding to the at least one selected object executes a script associated with the at least one selected object.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor configured to detect is further configured to:

expand each of the first and second boundaries of the identified portion of the retrieved web document according to a threshold detection distance; and

detect whether the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second expanded boundaries.

19. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for manipulating objects in a web document, the method comprising:

identifying a portion of a retrieved web document that is displayed to a user, the identified portion having a first boundary and a second boundary in a scrolling direction;

selecting at least one object from the retrieved web document, the at least one selected object being associated with a corresponding manipulation;

detecting whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries; and

performing the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the detecting comprises:

detecting whether the at least one selected object falls entirely between the first and second boundaries.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the method further comprising:

adding the at least one selected object to a polling queue when no portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second boundaries, the polling queue comprising one or more objects from the retrieved web document.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, the method further comprising:

identifying an additional portion of the retrieved web document that is displayed to the user, the additional portion having a corresponding first boundary and a corresponding second boundary.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the method further comprising:

storing a source of the at least one selected object as a temporary variable;

replacing the source of the at least one selected object with a blank placeholder, wherein the blank placeholder blocks a manipulation of the at least one selected object;

detecting whether a portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document;

replacing the blank placeholder with the stored source of the at least one selected object when the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

performing the corresponding manipulation of the at least one selected object based on the stored source.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the method further comprising:

detecting whether a portion of an object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document; and

performing a manipulation corresponding to the object in the polling queue when the portion of the object in the polling queue falls between the boundaries of the additional portion of the retrieved web document.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein detecting comprises:

determining a position of the at least one selected object within the retrieved web document using a stored position of the at least one selected object.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the manipulation corresponding to the at least one selected object executes a script associated with the at least one selected object.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the detecting comprises:

expanding each of the first and second boundaries of the identified portion of the retrieved web document according to a threshold detection distance; and

detecting whether the portion of the at least one selected object falls between the first and second expanded boundaries.