Methods and systems for identifying content elements

1. A method of identifying content of interest in a structured electronic document by an electronic device having a processor, an input device, and a display device, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the processor, a structured electronic document from an originating web server;

rendering the structured electronic document to the display device;

receiving through the input device at least two separate indications of content elements within the rendered structured electronic document;

identifying with the processor a common characteristic of the indicated content elements; and

identifying any further content element within the rendered structured electronic document sharing the common characteristic with the indicated content elements,

wherein the input device comprises a pointing device and wherein receiving the at least two separate indications of content elements comprises receiving each indication from the pointing device when applied at a displayed location of a content element in the rendered structured electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, following receipt of the at least two separate indications, individually highlighting in the rendered structured electronic document each of the at least two separately indicated content elements.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a cancel indicator adjacent a previously indicated content element for receiving from the pointing device an indication to cancel the previously indicated content element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising highlighting a content element when the pointing device is located at the control element prior to receiving an indication of the content element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at least two separate indications of content elements further comprises identifying a content element surrounding an indicated structural element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at least two separate indications of content elements further comprises offering a choice to indicate a content element from a plurality of coincident content elements.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a keyboard and wherein receiving at least two separate indications of content elements further comprises receiving a key press at the keyboard.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a text box on the display device for receiving input of a name for a content element, and storing the inputted name.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions which when executed by an electronic device having a processor, an input device, and a display device cause the electronic device to carry out:

obtaining, by the processor, a structured electronic document from an originating web server;

rendering the structured electronic document to the display device;

receiving through the input device at least two separate indications of content elements within the rendered structured electronic document;

identifying with the processor executing in accordance with the stored computer program a common characteristic of the indicated content elements, and identifying any further content element within the rendered structured electronic document sharing the common characteristic with the indicated content elements,

wherein the input device comprises a pointing device and wherein receiving the at least two separate indications of content elements comprises receiving each indication from the pointing device when applied at a displayed location of a content element in the rendered structured electronic document.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions are extensions of a browser forming part of the electronic device for rendering structured electronic documents to the display device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the extensions have access to a DOM tree of the structured electronic document, and the extensions utilize various browser features.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a stored computer program,

a processor executing in accordance with the stored computer program,

an input device, and

a display device,

wherein the computer program comprises instructions which when executed by the electronic device carry out:

obtaining a structured electronic document from an originating web server;

rendering the structured electronic document to the display device;

receiving through the input device at least two separate indications of content elements within the rendered structured electronic document;

identifying with the processor executing in accordance with the stored computer program a common characteristic of the indicated content elements, and

identifying any further content element within the rendered structured electronic document sharing the common characteristic with the indicated content elements,

wherein the input device comprises a pointing device and wherein receiving the at least two separate indications of content elements comprises receiving each indication from the pointing device when applied at a displayed location of a content element in the rendered structured electronic document.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the instructions are extensions to a browser.