Domain-specific browser tab creation and management
View Patent ↗Methods and systems directed to a web browser application that efficiently manages tab creation and switching. The application creates a new browser tab for each top-level domain visited, and stores the data structure for the tab, including forward and backward history, in a table. The application also creates a new browser tab in response to a separate application invoking a web browser, or in response to an explicit command by a user to create a browser tab. Thus, a user may efficiently switch between multiple browser tabs without having to expend time and energy in managing, opening, or closing browser tabs.
1. A method comprising, by one or more computing systems:
receiving a command from a user to navigate to a first URL;
searching a table of entries for a matching entry, the matching entry comprising a different URL having a domain matching a domain of the first URL, wherein the different URL is open in an open browser tab for the user;
in response to finding the matching entry, displaying a web page for the first URL in the browser tab and updating the matching entry;
in response to not finding the matching entry, creating a new browser tab associated with the domain of the first URL, and displaying a web page for the first URL in the new browser tab.
2. The method of claim 1 , each entry associated with a domain, and comprising:
a date and time of a last visit to its associated domain;
a screenshot of a last-visited URL in its associated domain;
forward and reverse history for its associated domain; and
any cookies or form data for its associated domain.
3. The method of claim 2 , updating the matching entry comprising:
replacing the date and time of the last visit to a current date and time;
replacing the screenshot with a screenshot of the first URL;
adding the first URL to the history for the matching entry; and
updating any cookies or form data.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to not finding the matching entry, adding a new entry associated with the domain of the first URL to the table of entries.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is received from the user via a separate application.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command contains an explicit instruction to create a new browser tab.
7. A non-transitory, computer-readable media comprising instructions operable, when executed by one or more computing systems, to:
receive a command from a user to navigate to a first URL;
search a table of entries for a matching entry, the matching entry comprising a different URL having a domain matching a domain of the first URL, wherein the different URL is open in an open browser tab for the user;
in response to finding the matching entry, display a web page for the first URL in the browser tab and update the matching entry;
in response to not finding the matching entry, create a new browser tab associated with the domain of the first URL, and display a web page for the first URL in the new browser tab.
8. The media of claim 7 , wherein each entry is associated with a domain, and comprises:
a date and time of a last visit to its associated domain;
a screenshot of a last-visited URL in its associated domain;
forward and reverse history for its associated domain; and
any cookies or form data for its associated domain.
9. The media of claim 8 , updating the matching entry comprising:
replacing the date and time of the last visit to a current date and time;
replacing the screenshot with a screenshot of the first URL;
adding the first URL to the history for the matching entry; and
updating any cookies or form data.
10. The media of claim 7 , the instructions further operable when executed to, in response to not finding the matching entry, add a new entry associated with the domain of the first URL to the table of entries.
11. The media of claim 7 , wherein the command is received from the user via a separate application.
12. The media of claim 7 , wherein the command contains an explicit instruction to create a new browser tab.
13. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
receive a command from a user to navigate to a first URL;
search a table of entries for a matching entry, the matching entry comprising a different URL having a domain matching a domain of the first URL, wherein the different URL is open in an open browser tab for the user;
in response to finding the matching entry, display a web page for the first URL in the browser tab and update the matching entry;
in response to not finding the matching entry, create a new browser tab associated with the domain of the first URL, and display a web page for the first URL in the new browser tab.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each entry in the table of entries is associated with a domain and comprises:
a date and time of a last visit to its associated domain;
a screenshot of a last-visited URL in its associated domain;
forward and reverse history for its associated domain; and
any cookies or form data for its associated domain.
15. The system of claim 14 , updating the matching entry comprising:
replacing the date and time of the last visit to a current date and time;
replacing the screenshot with a screenshot of the first URL;
adding the first URL to the history for the matching entry; and
updating any cookies or form data.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to, in response to not finding the matching entry, add a new entry associated with the domain of the first URL to the table of entries.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command is received from the user via a separate application.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the command contains an explicit instruction to create a new browser tab.