IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,673,233
Granted Patent B2
US 7,673,233 · App. 11/222,424 · Granted Mar 2, 2010

Browser tab management

Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,673,233
App. No.
11/222,424
Granted
Mar 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The management of tabs in browser applications may be at least partially automated. In a described implementation, a link present in browser content information may include a link property indicating that the new browser content information targeted by the link is to be opened in a new tab. A browser application can therefore automatically launch a new tab without a user request. In another described implementation, a new travelogue created for a new tab may be initially populated with an historical entry that points to spawning browser content information and identifies the originating tab. When a user attempts to move backward from an initial page of the new tab, a browser application can therefore automatically redisplay the spawning browser content information at the originating tab.

Claims (12)

1. One or more processor-accessible media comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, direct a device to perform actions comprising:

from a first page at an original tab in an internet browser, receiving user input to retrieve a second page;

launching a new tab for the second page in the internet browser;

in a travelogue for the new tab in the internet browser, including a historical entry pointing to the first page at the original tab in the internet browser;

from the second page at the new tab, receiving user input to perform a back operation;

switching to the first page at the original tab responsive to the user input to perform a back operation; and

closing the new tab responsive to the user input to perform a back operation from the second page at the new tab;

wherein the switching action is further performed responsive to the historical entry pointing to the first page at the original tab; and

wherein the traveloque for the new tab indicates which tabs precede and succeed the new tab.

2. The one or more processor-accessible media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the launching is performed responsive to a manual user request for the new tab or responsive to an open-in-new-tab indicator link property for a selected link.

3. The one or more processor-accessible media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the switching action is further performed responsive to the historical entry pointing to the first page at the original tab.

4. The one or more processor-accessible media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the launching is performed responsive to a manual user request for the new tab or responsive to an open-in-new-tab indicator link property for a selected link.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034543/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2005
From: MOORE, JASON F.; MANN, JUSTIN; VAN TILBURG, MARTIJN ELDERT
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016897/0850 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070067733A1 · Mar 22, 2007