IP Library Granted Patent US 8,627,194
Granted Patent B2
US 8,627,194 · App. 13/226,078 · Granted Jan 7, 2014

Hyperlink destination visibility

Inventors: Hatem Zeine (Redmond, WA); Meir Shmouely (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,627,194
App. No.
13/226,078
Granted
Jan 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments utilize page scripting and parsing to identify the target destination of a hyperlink and provide a visual indication of the destination to the user without causing redirection to the target destination. In some embodiments, hyperlink color, highlighting, or icons are used to indicate the destination. Particular colors and/or icons selected to indicate the destination can, in some embodiments, be selected based on the domain hosting the target destination. In at least some embodiments, the destination of a link is determined by the page script run by a web browser on a user's device, while in other embodiments, information is transmitted to a web request handler on the server hosting the web site to determine the destination.

Claims (44)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying, using a computing device, at least one hyperlink displayed in a webpage, the at least one hyperlink being associated with a target webpage;

determining, using the computing device, at least one style to be applied to the webpage based at least in part upon information associated with the target webpage, the at least one style comprising a mouse indicator; and

visually applying, using the computing device, said at least one style to the webpage, without causing navigation of an associated browser to the target webpage,

wherein the information associated with the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink comprises information regarding a domain hosting the target webpage,

wherein said identifying comprises identifying multiple hyperlinks at least some of which being associated with different target webpages;

wherein said determining comprises determining multiple respective styles to be applied to the webpage based at least upon information associated with said different respective target webpages; and

wherein said visually applying comprises applying said multiple respective styles to the webpage, the multiple respective styles comprising different respective styles.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the at least one style further comprising a color of an anchor within a webpage from which the at least one hyperlink can be followed or a background color.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , said determining comprising determining at least one style to be applied utilizing a look up table.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , said determining comprising extracting style information from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising ascertaining the target webpage by extracting information regarding the target webpage from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the at least one hyperlink comprising a dynamic hyperlink.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising receiving information regarding the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink from a server.

8. One or more computer-readable storage memories storing a web browser, said web browser being executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying at least one hyperlink displayed in a webpage, the at least one hyperlink being associated with a target webpage;

determining at least one style to be applied to the webpage based at least in part upon information associated with the target webpage, the at least one style comprising a mouse indicator; and

visually applying said at least one style to the webpage, without causing navigation of an associated browser to the target webpage,

wherein the information associated with the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink comprising information regarding a domain hosting the target webpage,

wherein said identifying comprises identifying multiple hyperlinks at least some of which being associated with different target webpages;

wherein said determining comprises determining multiple respective styles to be applied to the webpage based at least upon information associated with said different respective target webpages; and

wherein said visually applying comprises applying said multiple respective styles to the webpage, the multiple respective styles comprising different respective styles.

9. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 8 , the at least one style further comprising a color of an anchor within a webpage from which the at least one hyperlink can be followed or a background color.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 8 , said determining comprising determining at least one style to be applied utilizing a look up table.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 8 , said determining comprising extracting style information from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise ascertaining the target webpage by extracting information regarding the target webpage from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 8 , the at least one hyperlink comprising a dynamic hyperlink.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving information regarding the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink from a server.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage memories embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, implement a method comprising:

identifying at least one hyperlink displayed in a webpage, the at least one hyperlink being associated with a target webpage;

determining at least one style to be applied to the webpage based at least in part upon information associated with the target webpage, the at least one style comprising a mouse indicator; and

visually applying said at least one style to the webpage, without causing navigation of an associated browser to the target webpage,

wherein the information associated with the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink comprising information regarding a domain hosting the target webpage,

wherein said identifying comprises identifying multiple hyperlinks at least some of which being associated with different target webpages;

wherein said determining comprises determining multiple respective styles to be applied to the webpage based at least upon information associated with said different respective target webpages; and

wherein said visually applying comprises applying said multiple respective styles to the webpage, the multiple respective styles comprising different respective styles.

16. The system of claim 15 , the at least one style further comprising a color of an anchor within a webpage from which the at least one hyperlink can be followed or a background color.

17. The system of claim 15 , said determining comprising determining at least one style to be applied utilizing a look up table.

18. The system of claim 15 , said determining comprising extracting style information from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising ascertaining the target webpage by extracting information regarding the target webpage from a page script corresponding to the webpage.

20. The system of claim 15 , the at least one hyperlink comprising a dynamic hyperlink.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving information regarding the target webpage of the at least one hyperlink from a server.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034544/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2011
From: ZEINE, HATEM; SHMOUELY, MEIR
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026860/0821 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130061120A1 · Mar 7, 2013