Method and system for causing a browser to preload web page components
Disclosed is a server computer that receives, over a network from a computing device, a request for a search suggestion related to a search query that is input into a search term entry area displayed by a web browser executing on the computing device. In response to receiving the request, the server computer transmits over the network to the computing device, instructions for the computing device to display a search suggestion related to the search query, the search suggestion corresponding to a search results web page. The instructions further cause the computing device to store, in a memory of the computing device, a web page component associated with the search results web page without causing the computing device to visibly display the web page component during display of the search suggestion.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a server computing device, a first request for a first search suggestion related to a first search query that has been input into a search term entry field provided by a user computing device;
instructing, by the server computing device, the user computing device to display the first search suggestion related to the first search query;
setting, by the server computing device, a cookie comprising information indicating a retrieval time period corresponding to the user computing device and a web component;
using, by the server computing device, the cookie's information indicating the retrieval time period to determine whether the user computing device has the web component; and
transmitting, by the server computing device, an instruction to the user computing device instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component when it is determined that the retrieval time period indicated by the cookie's information has not elapsed indicating that the user computing device does not have the web component.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search term entry field is in an area displayed by a web browser executing on the user computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first search suggestion represents content from first search results.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the server computing device, a second request for a second search suggestion related to a second search query that has been input into the search term entry field; and
instructing, by the server computing device, the user computing device to display the second search suggestion related to the second search query prior to displaying second search results corresponding to the second search suggestion.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second search suggestion represents content from the second search results.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
making, by the server computing device, a determination that the retrieval time period has not elapsed indicating that the user computing device does not have the web component; and
responsive to the determination indicating that the retrieval time period has not elapsed, the server computing device instructing the user computing device to display the second search suggestion and further instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
making, by the server computing device, a determination that the retrieval time period has elapsed indicating that the user computing device has the web component; and
responsive to the determination indicating that the retrieval time period has elapsed and the user computing device has the web component, the server computing device instructing the user computing device to display the second search suggestion without further instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
instructing, by the server computing device, the user computing device to retrieve and store a web component associated with first search results prior to providing the first search results.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
setting an expire time for the web component associated with the first search results.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the expire time corresponds to a date and time upon which the web component will no longer be stored by the user computing device.
11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions configured to be executed by a computer processor to cause a computer to:
receive, from a user computing device, a first request for a first search suggestion related to a first search query that has been input into a search term entry field provided by the user computing device;
instruct the user computing device to display the first search suggestion related to the first search query;
set a cookie comprising information indicating a retrieval time period corresponding to the user computing device and a web component;
use the cookie's information indicating the retrieval time period to determine whether the user computing device has the web component; and
transmit an instruction to the user computing device instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component when it is determined that the retrieval time period indicated by the cookie's information has not elapsed indicating that the user computing device does not have the web component.
12. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the search term entry field is in an area displayed by a web browser executing on the user computing device.
13. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the first search suggestion represents content from first search results.
14. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further configured to be executed by the computer processor to cause the computer to:
receive a second request for a second search suggestion related to a second search query that has been input into the search term entry field; and
instruct the user computing device to display the second search suggestion related to the second search query.
15. The medium of claim 14 , wherein the second search suggestion represents content from second search results.
16. The medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are further configured to be executed by the computer processor to cause the computer to:
responsive to a determination indicating that the retrieval time period has not elapsed signifying that the user computing device does not have the web component, instruct the user computing device to display the second search suggestion and further instruct the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component; and
responsive to a determination indicating that the retrieval time period has elapsed signifying that the user computing device has the web component, instruct the user computing device to display the second search suggestion without instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component.
17. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further configured to be executed by the computer processor to cause the computer to:
instruct the user computing device to retrieve and store a web component associated with first search results prior to providing the first search results.
18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further configured to be executed by the computer processor to cause the computer to set an expire time for the web component associated with the first search results, and wherein the expire time corresponds to a date and time upon which the web component will no longer be stored by the user computing device.
19. A computing device:
a processor; and
a non-transitory storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising:
receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a first request for a first search suggestion related to a first search query that has been input into a search term entry field provided by a user computing device;
instructing logic executed by the processor for instructing the user computing device to display the first search suggestion related to the first search query;
setting logic executed by the processor for setting a cookie comprising information indicating a retrieval time period corresponding to the user computing device and a web component;
using logic executed by the processor for using the cookie's information indicating the retrieval time period to determine whether the user computing device has the web component; and
transmitting logic executed by the processor for transmitting an instruction to the user computing device instructing the user computing device to retrieve and store the web component when it is determined that the retrieval time period indicated by the cookie's information has not elapsed indicating that the user computing device does not have the web component.