Abstract:
A method of bookmarking an address of a web page, includes, with a computing device programmed for bookmarking an address of a web page: obtaining first metadata to be associated with a first web page address; identifying a further web page address to be associated with the first web page address; obtaining second metadata to be associated with further web page address; and storing an indication of an association between the first web page address, first metadata, further web page address and second metadata.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(b) and C.F.R. 1.55(a), the present application corresponds to and claims the priority of European Patent Application No. 09290575.1, filed on Jul. 20, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Web browser applications, generally referred to as web browsers, enable users to view web pages accessible over the Internet, an intranet, or other appropriate private or public network. Web browsers provide the ability to navigate from one web page to another when the user of the web browser selects or ‘clicks’ on a link, such as a hyperlink, embedded within a viewed web page. A link typically comprises a visually identifiable part of the displayed web page, such as some text or an image, to which is associated an address of a further web page. Clicking on the link causes the web browser to retrieve the further web page from a web server and then display it. A link may also reference an index mark within a currently viewed web page, in which case the web browser displays the indexed part of the web. 
         [0003]    Web browsers generally provide bookmark functionality that enable a user to bookmark, or store, a link to a viewed web page or to a web page identified by a link on a viewed web page. Such bookmark functionality enables a user to subsequently revisit a previously bookmarked web page by retrieving a link to the bookmarked web page and sending a request to retrieve the bookmarked web page to a web server identified in the link. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles described herein and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system incorporating a web browser according to an embodiment of the present exemplary system and method; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a simplified flow diagram outlining example processing steps taken by an element of a web browser according to an embodiment of the present exemplary system and method; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a graphical illustration of a display generated according to an embodiment of the present exemplary system and method; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a graphical illustration of a display generated according to an embodiment of the present exemplary system and method. 
       
    
    
       [0009]    Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    According to one aspect of embodiments of the present exemplary system and method there is provided a method of bookmarking an address of a web page. The method comprises viewing a web page on a web browser application, obtaining a web page address from a currently viewed web page, obtaining first metadata to be associated with the obtained web page address, identifying a further web page address to be associated with the obtained web page address, obtaining second metadata to be associated with further web page address, and storing the obtained associated web page address, obtained first metadata, further web page address and second metadata. 
         [0011]    According to a further aspect of embodiments of the present exemplary system and method there is provided apparatus for creating a record of viewed web pages. The apparatus comprises a bookmark module configured to obtain a web page address from a currently viewed web page, to obtain first metadata to be associated with the obtained web page address, to identify a further web page address to be associated with the obtained web page address, to obtain second metadata to be associated with further web page address, and to store the obtained associated web page address, obtained first metadata, further web page address and second metadata. 
         [0012]    According to a further aspect of embodiments of the present exemplary system and method there is provided a method creating a file for use in displaying stored bookmark data. The method comprises obtaining bookmark data comprising a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a first web page address, first metadata associated with the first web page address, a further web page address associated with the first web page address, and second metadata associated with the further web page address. The method further comprises creating first mark-up language, to cause the display on a first portion of a display device of bookmark information relating to first metadata, and creating second mark-up language, to cause the display on a second portion of a display device of bookmark information relating to first metadata, and storing the first and second created mark-up language in a file. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    One problem with conventional web browser bookmarks is that each stored bookmark is independent from other stored bookmarks. At best, users may organize their bookmarks into groups of related, but independent, bookmarks, to assist in subsequently finding and accessing previously stored bookmarks. 
         [0014]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least that one embodiment, but not necessarily in other embodiments. The various instances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a block diagram of a system  100  incorporating a web browser according to an embodiment of the present exemplary system and method. A web client device  102 , has a web browser application  104  to enable a user of the device  102  to request and receive web pages  110  served by one or more web servers  108  through a network  106 . Received web pages are displayed on a display device (not shown) associated with the device  102 . The user may interact with the web browser  104  through use of a suitable user interface (not shown), such as a keypad, mouse, touch sensitive screen, or the like. The web client device  102  may be any suitable computing device, for example, a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a portable communication device, or the like. The network  106  may be the Internet, or any other suitable public or private network, intranet or the like. 
         [0016]    In a first embodiment, the web browser  104  has a bookmarking module  105 , as described in further detail below, with reference to  FIG. 2 . As a user of the device  102  browses the web pages  110  the web browser  104  displays a requested page on the display device associated with the web client device  102 . If the user decides to store a bookmark to a web page the bookmark module  105  obtains (step  202 ) the address of the page to bookmark. The obtained address may, for example, be the address of the page currently being viewed, or be the address of a further web page identified in a link on the currently viewed page. The address may suitably be in the form of a uniform resource indicator (URI). 
         [0017]    At step  204  the bookmark module  105  obtains (step  204 ) metadata relating to the address obtained in step  204 . The metadata may be obtained, for example, automatically by the bookmark module  105 . This may be achieved, for example, by having the bookmark module  105  extract context information from the web page relating to the link. For example, if the address obtained in step  202  is the address of the currently viewed page, the bookmark module  105  may extract the title of the currently viewed web page and use the extracted title as the obtained metadata. If the address obtained in step  202  is a link to another web page, the bookmark module  105  may extract a description of the link from the web page, and use the extracted description as the obtained metadata. In these cases the extraction of the metadata may be achieved by suitably parsing the mark-up description language defining the currently viewed page. Alternatively, the bookmark module  105  may request the web page at the obtained address and extract metadata from the requested web page. 
         [0018]    The metadata may also be obtained, for example, by requesting the user of the web client device  102  to input appropriate metadata through the user interface of the device  102 . The metadata could be entered, for example, as free text or could be chosen from a predetermined list of metadata tags. The metadata may also include, for example, a user rating to indicate the usefulness or importance of the web page to which it relates, or any other appropriate information. The aim of the obtained metadata is to assist a user in subsequently finding stored bookmarks. 
         [0019]    At step  206 , the bookmark module  105  determines whether the obtained address and obtained metadata are to be linked, or associated, with a further web page address. This may be achieved, for example, by displaying a suitable message to the user via the display device of the device  102 , and by receiving user input through the user interface of the device  102 . 
         [0020]    If it is determined that the obtained address and obtained metadata are not to be linked with a further web page address, the bookmark module  105  stores (step  212 ) the obtained address and corresponding metadata in a bookmark store  103  accessible to the web client device  102 . The bookmark store  103  may be any suitable locally or remotely accessible storage device, such as a non-volatile memory card, a hard disk drive, or the like. 
         [0021]    If it is determined (step  206 ) that the obtained address and obtained metadata are to be linked with a further web page address, the bookmark module  105  obtains (step  208 ) a further web page address to use as a link to the obtained address and metadata. The further web page address may be, for example, a previously bookmarked address stored in the bookmark store  103 , an address of a web page contained in a link on the currently viewed web page, or an address of a previously visited web paged stored, for instance, in a browser cache (not shown) of the web browser  104 . 
         [0022]    At step  210  the bookmark module  105  obtains metadata to be associated with the link to the obtained further web page address. As previously described, the metadata may be obtained either automatically by the bookmark module  105 , or in response to a user input. 
         [0023]    At step  212  the bookmark module  105  stores the obtained address, further address, and associated obtained metadata in a suitable format in the bookmark store  103 . As the user of the device  102  browses different web pages, stores bookmarks to web pages, and links bookmarks to further web pages, a personalized user browsing experience is recorded or stored. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment the bookmark module  105  and visualization module  107  are integrated modules of the web browser application  104 . In a further embodiment the bookmark module  105  and visualization modules are plug-in modules that may be added to an existing web browsing module. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present exemplary system and method will now be further described by way of an example use-case scenario. In one use-case scenario the user of the device  102  uses the web client device  102  to browse the Internet  106  to investigate purchasing a new digital camera. Note that in the following examples any web addresses given are intended to be fictitious and are given solely for the purposes of illustration. 
         [0026]    The user starts by browsing the web site of an on-line shop (www.shop1.com), and navigates eventually to a web page (www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01) describing a digital camera the user is interested in purchasing. The user decides to save a bookmark to the currently viewed web page (www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01) and enters the associated metadata “Digital Camera Shop” when prompted (steps  202  and  204 ) to describe the web page. Since this is the first web site the user has visited in his quest to investigate digital cameras he doesn&#39;t link the current web page to a further address (step  206 ), and a bookmark is stored (step  212 ) in the bookmark store  103 . A representation of the data stored is shown below in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 URI 
                 URI METADATA 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01 
                 Digital camera shop 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0027]    Since the camera sounds of interest to the user, the user performs a web search for reviews of the camera model he has chosen. The user navigates to a web page www.userreviews.com/Cam01 which is a user review website having a review of the chosen camera model. The review is a negative review of the chosen camera model. However, the user decides to bookmark the web page and enters the metadata “Camera discussion forum” to be associated with the web page address (steps  202  and  204 ). At step  206  the user decides to link the user review webpage to the on-line shop web page by selecting, at step  208 , the previously saved bookmark of the on-line shop. At step  210  the user enters the metadata “Negative review” through the user interface of the device  102  to describe the link. At step  212  the linked-to web page and link metadata are associated with the previously stored bookmark in the bookmark store  103 , for example as shown below in Table 2. Note that in the present embodiment the web address of the linked-to web page appears twice—once as a link to the first bookmarked page, and secondly as an independent bookmark. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 URI 
                 URI METADATA 
                 LINKED-TO URI(s) 
                 LINK METADATA 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01 
                 Digital camera shop 
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 Negative Review 
               
               
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 User Forum 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0028]    Next, the user returns to his previously performed web search of camera reviews, this time navigating to the web page www.camerareview.com/Cam01 which is a web page of a trade review magazine having a positive review of the chosen camera. Again, the user decides to bookmark (step  202 ) the viewed web page and, when prompted (step  204 ) enters the metadata “Trade Review” to be associated with the web page address of the currently viewed web page. When prompted (step  206 ) to link the web page address www.cameraview.com/Cam01 to a further address, the user selects (step  208 ) the previously bookmarked address www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01, and enters the metadata “Positive review” to be associated with the linked-to webpage. This data is then stored in the bookmark stored, for example as shown below in Table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 URI 
                   
                 LINK 
               
               
                 URI 
                 METADATA 
                 LINKED-TO URI(s) 
                 METADATA 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01 
                 Digital camera 
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 Negative 
               
               
                   
                 shop 
                   
                 Review 
               
               
                   
                   
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Positive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Reviews 
               
               
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 User Forum 
                   
                   
               
               
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Trade review 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0029]    As the user continues his browsing experience, adding bookmarks and linking web pages to further web pages, a record of the user browsing experience is built up, as shown in Table 4. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 LINK 
               
               
                 URI 
                 URI METADATA 
                 LINKED-TO URI(s) 
                 METADATA 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 www.shop1.com/cameras/ModelCam01 
                 Digital camera 
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 Negative Review 
               
               
                   
                 shop 
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Positive Reviews 
               
               
                   
                   
                 www.lenschooser.com 
                 Technical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Information, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Approved 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 accessories 
               
               
                   
                   
                 www.pricecompare.com/Cam01 
                 Price Info 
               
               
                   
                   
                 www.camermaker/Cam01 
                 Manufacturers 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 website, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Technical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 information 
               
               
                 www.userreviews.com/Cam01 
                 User forum 
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Positive Review 
               
               
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Trade Review 
                 www.lenschooser.com 
                 Approved 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Accessories, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Technical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 information 
               
               
                 www.pricecompare.com/Cam01 
                 Price comparitor 
                 www.camermaker/Cam01 
                 On-line Shop 
               
               
                 www.camermaker/Cam01 
                 Manufacturer site 
                 www.lenschooser.com 
                 Approved 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Accessories, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Technical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 information 
               
               
                   
                   
                 www.camerareview.com/Cam01 
                 Positive Review 
               
               
                 www.lenschooser.com 
                 Lens information 
                 www.pricecompare.com/Lenses 
                 Price info 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    In the present embodiment the bookmarks, metadata and links related to a specific web browsing experience are stored in together, for example in a single file, object, container, or in a distinguishably separate part of a common file, object or container. A record of a web browsing experience may be built up over multiple web browsing sessions. This may be achieved, for example, by requesting a user to assign a name or identifier to a particular web browsing experience, and to record all bookmarks and links relating to that web browsing experience in an appropriate file, object, or portion thereof. 
         [0031]    One advantage of this is that a stored user web experience may be shared with other users. For example, a file, object, or portion thereof, containing a collection of bookmarks, bookmark metadata, links and link metadata may be sent or exchanged with other users who may then modify, add to or remove bookmarks, bookmark metadata, links or link metadata to enhance or update a recorded web browsing experience. Furthermore, one recorded user web experience may be linked to a further user web experience or multiple user web experiences may be combined into a single user web experience or multi-user web experience. 
         [0032]    To enable users to visualize and to navigate through a recorded web browsing experience, the bookmark module  105  includes a visualization module  107 . The visualization module  107  generates a visual map from a selected recorded web browsing experience. For example,  FIG. 3  shows one representation of a graphical map generated from the recorded web browsing experience shown in Table 4 above, and as displayed on the display device associated with the device  102 . 
         [0033]    The map shows not only the individual web sites bookmarked, but also the metadata relating to those web sites, as well as showing which bookmarked web pages are linked to other web pages. Additionally, the link metadata is shown, enabling a user to see and understand the reason why one web page was linked to another web page. 
         [0034]    The map is generated in such a way that a user may navigate around the map by clicking on various parts of the map. For example, clicking on a URI or metadata associated with a web page address will cause the web browser application  104  to retrieve and display the appropriate web page. The map may be suitably generated as a web page, for instance by creating mark-up language, such as the hypertext markup language (HTML), so that viewing of the generated web page on a web browser will display the generated map. The generated web page may then be shared and sent to other users. 
         [0035]    The visualization module  107  may generate maps in many different ways, depending on user requirements. For example,  FIG. 4  shows a map  400  divided into to different areas  402 ,  404 , and  406 . Each area  402 ,  404 , and  406  shows web pages grouped according to the link metadata associated with each web page address in the stored web browsing experience. For example, area  402  shows only web addresses in which the link metadata includes the word “review”. Area  404  shows only web address in which the link metadata includes the words “technical information”. Similarly, area  406  shows only web addresses in which the link metadata includes the words “price” or “shop”. 
         [0036]    Other map displays may be generated, for example, by grouping web addresses having common web address metadata and/or link metadata terms, or any other appropriate parameters. The visualization module  107  may also generate a map to show only a subset of the information stored in the recorded web browser experience, for example, by excluding or filtering out any web page addresses or links having metadata including one or more specified words or terms. 
         [0037]    In a further embodiment, if appropriate metadata is available, the visualization module  107  may generate a map based on context information obtained from the user. For example, if the user device  102  is able to determine the geographical location of the device  102 , for example using a global positioning system (GPS) module, a specific map may be generated for the current location. For example, if the device  102  is a mobile device and is located in proximity to a physical shop for which a web page address is included in the recorded web browser experience, the map may show only details of the physical shop or shops to which the user is within a predetermined distance. 
         [0038]    It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present exemplary system and method can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present exemplary system and method. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as claimed in any preceding claim and a machine readable storage storing such a program. In particular, a computer-readable storage medium will refer to a physical electronic data storage device as opposed to carrier waves or mere electronic signals that might convey computer-readable data. 
         [0039]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0040]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0041]    The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe embodiments and examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.