Enhanced favorites service for web browsers and web applications
View Patent ↗The invention provides enhancements for the use of favorites during a Web browsing session. A first enhancement identifies when a user is adding a favorite to his favorites list and auto-suggests a category under which the favorite could be stored. A second enhancement allows a user to review his favorites list and see a summary of feed content (RSS or other standard) on each feed enabled page on his favorites list, without requiring the user to link to the page in question. A third enhancement allows the user to view an manipulate the feed in an independent display window.
1. A computer implemented method for accessing a feed listing in a web page comprising the steps of:
via a computational device, providing a list linking to at least one feed-enabled page;
via a computational device, displaying in a browser window an in-line summary of content from said at least one feed-enabled page without requiring a user to link to said at least one feed-enabled page;
via a computational device, selecting at least one of said at least one in-line summary by said user with a pointing device; and
via a computational device, dragging said at least one of said at least one in-line summary as a tearoff object to its own position on the user's desktop so that it is displayed in a separate window from said browser window and wherein said tearoff object is a persistent object, independent from said browser and having characteristics independent of said browser.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
via a computational device, identifying each of said at least one feed-enabled page with an icon; and
via a computational device, selecting a feed-enabled page by said user by selecting an icon identifying said page.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
via a computational device, providing expanded and collapsed views of the summary for a selected feed-enabled page; and
via a computational device, switching between said expanded and collapsed views in response to an action from said user.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
via a computational device, selecting an item from an expanded view of a summary of a feed-enabled page.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
via a computational device, displaying content associated with said selected item in a window separate from a window displaying said summary.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
via a computational device, embedding said tearoff object in a document distinct from said web page.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
via a computational device, displaying said summary in a window separate from said first window as a ticker-style display.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tearoff object automatically updates itself with updated feed information.
9. An apparatus for accessing a feed listing in a web page comprising:
at least one storage element containing a list linking to at least one feed-enabled page;
a first processor executing a client; and
a second processor programmed for displaying a user interface to said client, the user interface comprising:
a browser window displaying said list, said list displaying at least one in-line summary of content from said at least one feed-enabled page without requiring a user to access said at least one feed-enabled page; and
at least one selector for dragging at least one of said at least one in-line summary as a persistent tearoff object independent from said browser, so that it is displayed on said user's desktop in a window separate from said browser window,
said tearoff object additionally having characteristics independent of said browser.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for:
identifying, in the displayed user interface, each feed-enabled page with an icon; and
receiving a selection of the icon, the selected icon being indicative of a corresponding feed-enabled page.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for:
providing, within the displayed user interface, expanded and collapsed views of the summary for a selected feed-enabled page; and
switching between said expanded and collapsed views in response to an action from said user.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for:
receiving a selection of an item from an expanded view of a summary of a feed-enabled page.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for:
displaying content associated with said selected item in a separate window from said first window.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for embedding said tearoff object in a document distinct from said displayed list.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second processor is further programmed for:
displaying said summary in a window separate from said browser window as a ticker-style display.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said tearoff object automatically updates itself with updated feed information.