Method of controlling an Internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface
AssigneeYahoo! Inc.
InventorThomas Shafron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling and displaying an Internet browser interface, and to a dynamically controllable Internet browser interface. In accordance with the present invention, a browser interface may be customized using a controlling software program that may be provided by an Internet content provider, an ISP, or that may reside on an Internet user's computer. The controlling software program enables the Internet user, the content provider, or the ISP to customize and control the information and/or functionality of a user's browser and browser interface.
Claims70
A method of controlling an Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser, the Internet browser having a user interface area and a web page display area and enabling a user of the Internet browser to access and navigate the Internet and to receive and display one or more web pages from one or more Internet sites, including the display of a web page from a predetermined Internet site, the Internet browser having at least one Internet browser toolbar having at least one toolbar button providing a predetermined functionality to the user, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing, at the predetermined Internet site, one or more web pages via which a program for controlling the Internet browser interface can be downloaded;
- and
- (b) making available for downloading by the predetermined Internet site said program that causes the displaying of a user toolbar within the bounds of the user interface area such that the user toolbar does not overlay the web page display area or anything that was displayed in the bounds of the user interface area prior to downloading, and that makes additional functionality available to the user as part of the Internet browser interface such that once the user toolbar is displayed the user toolbar remains displayed and said additional functionality remains available to the user regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate.
An Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser, the Internet browser interface comprising:
- a user interface area and a web page display area, said browser facilitating navigation to one or more Internet sites, including a predetermined Internet site;
- the Internet browser interface further comprising at least one Internet browser toolbar having predetermined functionality available to a user of the Internet browser, the Internet browser further facilitating display of one or more web pages from the one or more Internet sites, including display of web pages from the predetermined Internet site;
- and
- said Internet browser interface further comprising, after download of software from said predetermined Internet site, a user toolbar that is displayed as part of the Internet browser interface within the bounds of the user interface area such that the user toolbar does not overlay the web page display area or anything that was displayed in the bounds of the user interface area prior to download, said user toolbar being displayed along with the Internet browser toolbar while the Internet browser is activated regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate.
A system for controlling an Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, said browser interface comprising a user interface area and a web page display area, said system comprising:
- a server, said server hosting a download feature accessible over the Internet by a user for controlling the Internet browser interface;
- and
- a file downloadable by said server for controlling the Internet browser interface in the form of an added user toolbar offering user toolbar functionality that remains available to a user of the computer regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate, the user toolbar being displayed within the bounds of the user interface area such that the user toolbar does not overlay the web page display area or anything that was displayed in the bounds of the user interface area prior to download.
A system for controlling an Internet browser displayable on a display of a computer, said system comprising:
- a server for downloading files;
- and
- a file, downloadable by said server, said file controlling the Internet browser so that the Internet browser enables a user of the computer to perform functions via the Internet browser not available to the user via the Internet browser prior to said filed being downloaded, said functions being made available via a user toolbar that is added to and displayed within the bounds of a user interface area of the Internet browser such that the user toolbar does not overlay a web page display area of the Internet browser or anything that was displayed in the bounds of the user interface area prior to download.
A system for adding functionality to a user interface displayable on a display of a computing device capable of communicating with the Internet, said system comprising:
- a server for downloading files from a predetermined Internet site;
- a file downloadable by said server to the computing device for causing the display, within the bounds of the user interface, of an interface object that, by virtue of its being downloaded, appears in the user interface making additional functionality that is not part of the user interface prior to download available to the user after download, such that once the interface object is displayed the interface object remains displayed within the bounds of the user interface and said additional functionality remains available to the user regardless of other functionality available to the user via the user interface after download;
- and
- wherein said additional functionality is in the form of a search window in which a search term can be entered to enable a search to be conducted at the predetermined Internet site regardless of any other functionality or activity available to the user through said user interface so as to engender an affinity between said user and a provider of the predetermined Internet site.
A method of controlling an Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, the Internet browser enabling a user of the computer and Internet browser to access and navigate the Internet and to receive and display on the computer display one or more web pages from one or more Internet sites, including the display of a web page from a predetermined Internet site, the Internet browser having at least one Internet browser toolbar having at least one toolbar button providing a predetermined functionality to the user of the computer and Internet browser, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing, at the predetermined Internet site, access to a program for controlling the Internet browser interface;
- and
- (b) making available for downloading by the predetermined Internet site, a file for displaying a user toolbar that makes additional functionality available to the user as part of the Internet browser interface such that once the user toolbar is displayed the user toolbar remains displayed and said additional functionality remains available to the user regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate.
An Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, the Internet browser facilitating connection between the computer and one or more Internet sites, including a predetermined Internet site, the Internet browser having at least one Internet browser toolbar having predetermined functionality available to a user of the computer and Internet browser, the Internet browser further facilitating display on the computer display of one or more web pages from the one or more Internet sites, including display of web pages from the predetermined Internet site, said Internet browser interface including a user toolbar that is displayed as part of the Internet browser interface and along with the Internet browser toolbar while the Internet browser is activated regardless of the Internet site to which the computer is connected via the Internet browser.
A system for controlling an Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, said system comprising:
- a server, said server including a program accessible over the Internet by a user of the computer for controlling the Internet browser interface;
- and
- a file downloadable by said server to the computer for controlling the Internet browser interface in the form of an added user toolbar offering user toolbar functionality that remains available to a user of the computer regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate.
A system for controlling an Internet browser displayable on a display of a computer, said system comprising:
- a server for downloading files;
- and
- a file, downloadable by said server, said file controlling the Internet browser so that the Internet browser enables a user of the computer to perform functions via the Internet browser not available to the user via the Internet browser prior to said filed being downloaded.
A system for adding functionality to a user interface displayable on a display of a computing device capable of communicating with the Internet, said system comprising:
- a server, said server comprising a program, accessible over the Internet by a user of the computing device, for controlling the user interface;
- a file downloadable by said server to the computer for causing the display, within the bounds of the user interface, of an interface object that, by virtue of its being downloaded, appears in the user interface making additional functionality that is not part of the user interface prior to download available to the user after download, such that once the interface object is displayed the interface object remains displayed within the user interface and said additional functionality remains available to the user regardless of other functionality available to the user via the user interface after download;
- and
- wherein said additional functionality is in the form of a search window in which a search term can be entered to enable a search to be conducted at a predetermined Internet site regardless of any other functionality or activity available to the user through said user interface so as to engender an affinity between said user and a provider of said predetermined Internet site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.