Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing

A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of displaying content of a second web page linked to a first web page displayed by a browser, the method comprising:

• prefetching content from the second web page while a browser displays in a first window a first web page comprising a plurality of links to other web pages;
• retrieving a set of ads;
• constructing, without displaying, a second window comprising said prefetched content and the set of ads;
• detecting placement of a cursor, in the first window, proximate to a link to the second web page;
• and
• in response to said detecting, displaying said second window in front of the first window.

A computer-implemented method of previewing a second electronic page linked to a first electronic page while the first electronic page is browsed, the method comprising:

• while the first electronic page is displayed within a browser, retrieving content of the second electronic page;
• generating, without displaying, an enhanced browsing window comprising said content of the second electronic page;
• receiving a selection of a link to the second electronic page;
• and
• displaying the enhanced browsing window.

A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of previewing a second electronic page linked to a first electronic page while the first electronic page is browsed, the method comprising:

• while the first electronic page is displayed within a browser, retrieving content of the second electronic page;
• generating, without displaying, an enhanced browsing window comprising said content of the second electronic page;
• receiving a selection of a link to the second electronic page;
• and
• displaying the enhanced browsing window.

An apparatus for facilitating viewing of electronic data, the apparatus comprising:

• a browser for displaying a first page of electronic data comprising links to other pages;
• a first cache managed by the browser;
• an enhanced browsing window configured to display a second page of electronic data while the browser displays the first page;
• a second cache configured to cache said enhanced browsing window, wherein said second cache is separate from said first cache;
• a prefetcher configured to automatically retrieve content identified by the links in the first page, including a link to the second page;
• and
• a user interface configured to detect the positioning of a cursor proximate to the link to the second page;
• wherein said enhanced browsing window is invisible until said detection of the positioning of the cursor, at which time said enhanced browsing window is made visible.

An enhanced browsing apparatus for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, the apparatus comprising:

• a prefetcher configured to prefetch content from a second page while a browser displays a first page containing a link to the second page;
• a window generator configured to generate an enhanced browsing window comprising the prefetched content;
• a cache configured to store said enhanced browsing window;
• and
• a user interface configured to detect a positioning of a cursor proximate to the link to the second page;
• wherein, in response to detection of the positioning of the cursor, said enhanced browsing window is displayed.

A graphical user interface for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, comprising:

• a browser window for displaying a first page of electronic data, wherein the first page comprises a plurality of links to other pages of electronic data, including a first link to a second page of electronic data;
• a cursor operable by a user;
• and
• an enhanced browsing window configured to display content from the second page;
• wherein said enhanced browsing window is invisible until the cursor is placed in proximity to the first link.